Shloka 3

Agni’s Withdrawal to the Forest and Identification with Āṅgirasa (अग्न्याङ्गिरस-इतिहासः)

Devanagari script

उपरिष्टाच्च वृक्षस्थ बलाका संन्यलीयत । तया पुरीषणमुत्सूष्ट ब्राह्मणस्य तदोपरि,उस समय उस वृक्षके ऊपर एक बगुली छिपी बैठी थी। उसने ब्राह्मण देवताके ऊपर बीट कर दी

Transliteration

upariṣṭāc ca vṛkṣasthā balākā saṃnyalīyata | tayā purīṣaṇam utsṛṣṭaṃ brāhmaṇasya tadopari ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: “Just then, a heron that was concealed above, perched in the tree, let fall its droppings upon the brāhmaṇa.”

Word by Word

• उपरिष्टात्: from above / overhead
• उपरिष्टात्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरिष्टात्
• Form: Adverb

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: Conjunction

• वृक्षस्थ: situated on a tree
• वृक्षस्थ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृक्षस्थ
• Form: Masculine, nominative, singular

• बलाका: a heron
• बलाका: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलाका
• Form: Feminine, nominative, singular

• संन्यलीयत: hid / lay concealed
• Type: Verb
• Root: ली
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, singular, Parasmaipada; with prefix सम् + नि (संन्य-)

• तया: by her
• तया: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, instrumental, singular

• पुरीषणम्: droppings / excrement
• पुरीषणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरीष
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular

• उत्सृष्टम्: released / let fall
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्सृज्
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), neuter accusative singular (agreeing with पुरीषणम्)

• ब्राह्मणस्य: of the Brahmin
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण
• Form: Masculine, genitive, singular

• तदा: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा
• Form: Adverb

• उपरि: upon / on
• उपरि: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि
• Form: Preposition/Adverb (governing genitive here)

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• brāhmaṇa
• balākā (heron)
• tree (vṛkṣa)
• droppings (purīṣaṇa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse sets up a moral test: even a minor affront can provoke anger, and the narrative invites reflection on whether one responds with restraint and discernment (dharma) or with impulsive wrath.

What is happening in the narrative?

A heron hidden above in a tree drops excrement on a brāhmaṇa. This incident functions as the triggering event that will lead to a larger lesson about conduct, self-control, and ethical response.