Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 18, Shloka 51

Adhyaya 18 — Arjuna Declines the Throne; Garga Directs Him to Dattatreya; The Gods Defeat the Daityas through Dattatreya’s Vision and the Movement of Lakshmi

Sanskrit

लक्ष्मीर् लक्ष्मीवतां श्रेष्ठा कण्ठस्था कण्ठभूषणम् ।

अभीष्टबन्धुदारैश्च तथाश्लेषं प्रवासिभिः ॥

Transliteration

lakṣmīr lakṣmīvatāṃ śreṣṭhā kaṇṭhasthā kaṇṭhabhūṣaṇam / abhīṣṭabandhudāraiś ca tathāśleṣaṃ pravāsibhiḥ

Translation

সৌভাগ্যবতীদের শ্রেষ্ঠা লক্ষ্মী কণ্ঠে বাস করলে গ্রীবার অলংকার দান করেন; এবং প্রবাসে থাকা লোকদেরও প্রিয় আত্মীয় ও দম্পতির সঙ্গ/মিলন প্রদান করেন।

Word by Word

• lakṣmīḥ: Lakṣmī (fortune)
• lakṣmīḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nom.), एकवचन

• lakṣmīvatām: of the fortunate (people)
• lakṣmīvatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣmīvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (समूह/जन), षष्ठी (Gen.), बहुवचन; ‘-वत्’ प्रत्ययान्त (possessor)

• śreṣṭhā: best/supreme
• śreṣṭhā: Karta-anvaya
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (lakṣmīḥ)

• kaṇṭhasthā: situated on the neck
• kaṇṭhasthā: Karta-anvaya
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaṇṭha + sthā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (lakṣmīḥ)

• kaṇṭhabhūṣaṇam: neck-ornament
• kaṇṭhabhūṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇṭha + bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन

• abhīṣṭabandhudāraiḥ: with beloved relatives and wives
• abhīṣṭabandhudāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument/Association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhīṣṭa + bandhu + dāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (bandhu + dāra) with abhīṣṭa as qualifier

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: तुल्यार्थक-अव्यय (likewise)

• āśleṣam: embrace
• āśleṣam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ā-√śliṣ (धातु) + ghañ (कृत्; आश्लेष)
• Form: घञ्-प्रत्ययान्त भाववाचक-नाम (verbal noun), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc.), एकवचन

• pravāsibhiḥ: by/for those who are away (travellers/exiles)
• pravāsibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Agent-instrument; ‘by/for those’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pravāsin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instr.), बहुवचन

Speakers

• Dattātreya to Devas

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "bhakti", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Dattātreya
• Lakṣmī

Shakti Aspects

• Śrī/Lakṣmī

Key Themes

• Auspiciousness
• Social bonds
• Prosperity as reunion and honor

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Prosperity is not only objects (ornaments) but also relational fulfillment—reunion, affection, and social harmony are treated as Lakṣmī’s higher gifts.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Didactic passage on auspicious living (śrī) within narrative dialogue; ancillary to the five-fold purāṇic markers.

What is the esoteric significance?

The throat/neck is associated with expression and dignity; Lakṣmī here symbolizes honored speech/presence that attracts affection and restores bonds across distance.