Shloka 19

Adhyaya 3 — The Dharmapakshis’ Past-Life Curse and Indra’s Test of Truthfulness

Sanskrit

आजगाम महावर्ष्मा भग्नपक्षो जरान्वितः ।

आताम्रनेत्रः स्रस्तात्मा पक्षी भूत्वा सुरेश्वरः ॥

Transliteration

ājagāma mahāvarṣmā bhagnapakṣo jarānvitaḥ / ātāmranetraḥ strastātmā pakṣī bhūtvā sureśvaraḥ

Translation

তখন দেবরাজ ইন্দ্র সেখানে পাখির রূপ ধারণ করে এলেন—বিশাল দেহ, ভগ্ন ডানা, বার্ধক্যে ক্লিষ্ট। তাঁর চোখ তাম্র-লাল, মন বিষণ্ণ, আর শক্তি ও উদ্যোগ শিথিল ছিল।

Word by Word

• आजगाम: came/arrived
• आजगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्शभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• महावर्ष्मा: the great-bodied one
• महावर्ष्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महावर्ष्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—महৎ + वर्ष्मन् (great-bodied)

• भग्नपक्षः: with broken wings
• भग्नपक्षः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भग्नपक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—भग्न + पक्ष (broken-winged)

• जरान्वितः: afflicted with old age
• जरान्वितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जरान्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—जरा + अन्वित (endowed with old age)

• आताम्रनेत्रः: with reddish eyes
• आताम्रनेत्रः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आताम्रनेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—आताम्र + नेत्र (copper-reddish-eyed)

• स्रस्तात्मा: dejected/weak
• स्रस्तात्मा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्रस्तात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—स्रस्त + आत्मन् (with drooping/weak body-spirit)

• पक्षी: a bird
• पक्षी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• सुरेश्वरः: the lord of the gods (Indra)
• सुरेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—सुर + ईश्वर (lord of the gods)

Speakers

• Narrator within the Markandeya Purana’s frame narrative (not a direct speech-verse)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Indra

Key Themes

• Frame narrative
• Transformation
• Karma/decline of status
• Humility
• Disguise motif

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even the highest worldly sovereignty (Indrahood) is unstable; decline, humiliation, and vulnerability can befall the mighty. The verse sets an ethical tone of humility and prepares the listener for instruction that is not dependent on rank or power.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily Itihāsa/Ākhyāna (narrative episode) rather than a direct pañcalakṣaṇa item. Indirectly it supports Dharma teaching through story, but it is not Sarga/Pratisarga/Manvantara/Vaṁśa/Vaṁśānucarita as a standalone verse.

What is the esoteric significance?

Indra as a ‘broken-winged, aged bird’ symbolizes the fall of ego and the limitation of celestial power. ‘Wings’ can signify agency and ascent; their breaking indicates loss of former capacity, pushing the being toward receptivity, inquiry, and inner reorientation rather than dominance.