Shloka 24

Adhyaya 28 — Alarka Inquires into Varna and Ashrama Dharma; Madalasa Defines the Fourfold Duties

Sanskrit

अपत्यसन्ततिं दृष्ट्वा प्राज्ञो चानतिम् ।

वानप्रस्थाश्रमं गच्छेदात्मनः शुद्धिकारणात् ॥

Transliteration

apatyasantatiṃ dṛṣṭvā prājño cānatim /

vānaprasthāśramaṃ gacched ātmanaḥ śuddhikāraṇāt //

Translation

Nachdem er gesehen hat, dass seine Nachkommenschaft gefestigt ist, und nachdem er auch den Niedergang/das Altern erkannt hat, soll der Weise in das Āśrama des Waldbewohners (vānaprastha) eintreten, um sich selbst zu läutern.

Word by Word

• अपत्य-सन्ततिम्: continuity of offspring
• अपत्य-सन्ततिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्तति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अपत्यस्य सन्ततिः)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund): 'having seen'

• प्राज्ञः: a wise man
• प्राज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• अनतिम्: decline/waning (of strength/age)
• अनतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वानप्रस्थ-आश्रमम्: the vānaprastha stage of life
• वानप्रस्थ-आश्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानप्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वानप्रस्थस्य आश्रमः)

• गच्छेत्: should go/enter
• गच्छेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• आत्मनः: of himself/of the self
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• शुद्धि-कारणात्: for the sake of purification
• शुद्धि-कारणात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शुद्धेः कारणम्)

Speakers

• Dharma-instruction narrative voice (contextual teacher-speaker within Markandeya Purana’s didactic discourse)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Vānaprastha
• Detachment
• Purification
• Life-cycle ethics

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Withdrawal is not escapism but a timed dharmic transition: once family continuity is secured and life’s decline is evident, one turns toward austerity and purification.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra-dharma and varṇāśrama instruction; indirectly supports the Purāṇic project of sustaining social-cosmic order across generations (vaṃśa continuity).

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Seeing progeny’ symbolizes completion of outward obligations; ‘purification’ points to the inward journey—shifting identity from roles to the witnessing Self.