Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 81, Shloka 3

Adhyaya 81 — Suratha and Samadhi Seek Sage Medhas; Introduction to Mahamaya and the Madhukaitabha Origin Account

Sanskrit

स्वारोचिषेऽन्तरे पूर्वं चैत्रवंशसमुद्भवः ।

सुरथो नाम राजाभूत् समस्ते क्षितिमण्डले ॥

Transliteration

svārociṣe ’ntare pūrvaṃ caitravaṃśa-samudbhavaḥ |

suratho nāma rājābhūt samaste kṣiti-maṇḍale ||

Translation

往昔，在斯瓦罗奇沙（Svārociṣa）之摩奴劫（Manvantara）中，有一位名为苏罗他（Suratha）的国王，出自柴特罗（Caitra）族系，统御全大地。

Word by Word

• svārociṣe: in (the period of) Svārociṣa
• svārociṣe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svārociṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• antare: during (the interval)
• antare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; used adverbially = 'within/during'

• pūrvam: formerly, earlier
• pūrvam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• caitra-vaṃśa-samudbhavaḥ: born of the Caitra dynasty
• caitra-vaṃśa-samudbhavaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of surathaḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caitra (प्रातिपदिक) + vaṃśa (प्रातिपदिक) + samudbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'caitra-vaṃśa' (genitive relation) + 'samudbhava' = 'born from the Caitra lineage'

• surathaḥ: Suratha
• surathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Sambandha/Name-marker (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle indicating name (नाम-शब्दः)

• rājā: king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate nominative with abhūt)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• abhūt: was/became
• abhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, aorist), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; 'was/became'

• samaste: in the entire
• samaste: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; agrees with kṣitimaṇḍale

• kṣiti-maṇḍale: in the whole realm (on earth)
• kṣiti-maṇḍale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣiti (प्रातिपदिक) + maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'earth-circle' = 'earth/realm'

Speakers

• Narrator within the Devi Mahatmyam frame (traditionally Medhas Rishi narrating to Suratha and Samadhi)

Key Themes

• Manvantara chronology
• Royal genealogy
• Narrative framing for Goddess-teaching

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The Devi Mahatmyam is anchored in historical-time (manvantara) to show that devotion and delusion occur in every age; even a universal ruler can become vulnerable to attachment and reversal of fortune.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Manvantara: the verse explicitly situates the story in the Svārociṣa Manvantara, aligning the narrative with purāṇic chronological structuring.

What is the esoteric significance?

A ‘king of the whole earth’ symbolizes the mind’s sovereignty; placing him in a named Manvantara hints that inner cycles (rise/fall) mirror cosmic cycles.