मन्वन्तरे सर्वभक्षो यदा मृत्युर्हरन् प्रजाः । बलमेत्यब्जजाक्रान्तावारम्भमकरोत्स्वयम् ॥ ४७ ॥
manvantarē sarvabhakṣō yadā mṛtyurharan prajāḥ | balamētyabjajākrāntāvārambhamakarōtsvayam || 47 ||
Translation
In a Manu's age, when Death, the devourer of all, carrying off the creatures, grew strong, he himself set about attacking the lotus-born one.
Word by word
- manvantarē
- in a Manu's age
- sarva
- of all
- bhakṣō
- (bhakṣaḥ) the devourer
- yadā
- when
- mṛtyur
- (mṛtyuḥ) Death
- haran
- carrying off
- prajāḥ
- the creatures
- balam
- strong
- ēti
- grew
- abjaja
- the lotus-born one
- ākrāntāv
- (ākrāntau) attacking
- ārambham
- set about
- akarōt
- he
- svayam
- himself
Meaning
The occasion of the story: in one of the ages that make up a cosmic day, Death, swollen with his successes, turned on Brahmā himself, the lotus-born, who sits on the lotus rising from Viṣṇu's navel. The commentary: when the all-devouring Death had grown strong by carrying off all creatures, he undertook, of himself, the attack on Brahmā. Another commentary adds: of himself, without the help of any actions.