Shloka 123

Yugapramāṇa–Kaliyuga-lakṣaṇa–Pralaya-kathā

Markandeya’s Account of Yugas, Kali Signs, and Dissolution

Devanagari script

एवमुक्त्वा जगामाशु वैन्ययज्ञं महातपा: । गत्वा च यज्ञायतनमत्रिस्तुष्टाव तं नूपम्‌ १२ ।। वाक्यैर्मड्गलसंयुक्तैे: पूजयानो<ब्रवीद्‌ वच: । ऐसा कहकर महातपस्वी अत्रि शीघ्र ही राजा पृथुके यज्ञमें गये। यज्ञमण्डपमें पहुँचकर उन्होंने उस राजाका मांगलिक वचनोंद्वारा स्‍्तवन किया और उनका समादर करते हुए इस प्रकार कहा

Transliteration

evam uktvā jagāmāśu vainyayajñaṁ mahātapāḥ | gatvā ca yajñāyatanaṁ atris tuṣṭāva taṁ nṛpam || vākyair maṅgalasaṁyuktaiḥ pūjayāno ’bravīd vacaḥ ||

Translation

Having spoken thus, the great ascetic Atri swiftly went to the Vainya sacrifice. Reaching the sacrificial enclosure, he praised that king with auspicious words; and, honoring him with due reverence, he then addressed him.

Word by Word

• {'evam': 'thus, in this manner', 'uktvā': 'having said (gerund of √vac)', 'jagāma': 'went (perfect of √gam)', 'āśu': 'quickly, swiftly', 'vainya-yajñam': 'the sacrifice of Vainya (i.e., King Pṛthu, descendant of Vena)', 'mahā-tapāḥ': 'one of great austerity

• great ascetic', 'gatvā': 'having gone (gerund of √gam)', 'yajña-āyatanam': 'sacrificial place/enclosure

• ritual arena', 'Atriḥ': 'Atri (a great ṛṣi)', 'tuṣṭāva': 'praised, extolled (perfect of √stu)', 'tam': 'him', 'nṛpam': 'the king', 'vākyaiḥ': 'with words, by utterances (instrumental plural)', 'maṅgala-saṁyuktaiḥ': 'endowed with auspiciousness

• containing blessings', 'pūjayānaḥ': 'honoring, paying respect (present participle)', 'abravīt': 'said, spoke (imperfect of √brū)', 'vacaḥ': 'speech, statement'}

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Markandeya
• Atri
• King Pṛthu (Vainya)
• Vainya sacrifice (yajña)
• sacrificial enclosure (yajñāyatana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic etiquette: spiritual authority approaches royal authority through auspicious, respectful, and truthful speech. Honor (pūjā) and blessing-laden words (maṅgalasaṁyukta vākyāni) are presented as the proper means to counsel or address a king.

What is happening in the narrative?

Markandeya narrates that the sage Atri, after speaking earlier, quickly goes to King Pṛthu’s (Vainya’s) sacrifice. Upon arriving at the ritual arena, he praises the king with auspicious words and then begins to speak to him formally.