Shloka 8

Mārkaṇḍeya’s Consolation to the King: Exempla of Rāma and the Efficacy of Allies (मार्कण्डेयाश्वासनम्)

Devanagari script

मालिनी जनयामास पुत्रमेक॑ विभीषणम्‌ । राकायां मिथुनं जज्ञे खर: शूर्पणखा तथा,मालिनीने एक ही पुत्र विभीषणको जन्म दिया। राकाके गर्भसे एक पुत्र और एक पुत्री हुई। पुत्रका नाम खर था और पुत्रीका शूर्पणखा

Transliteration

Mālinī janayāmāsa putram ekaṁ Vibhīṣaṇam | Rākāyāṁ mithunaṁ jajñe Kharaḥ Śūrpaṇakhā tathā ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Mālinī bore a single son, Vibhīṣaṇa. And from Rākā there were born twins as well—a son named Khara and a daughter named Śūrpaṇakhā. Thus the lineage is recounted, showing how later moral choices arise within a shared family origin.

Word by Word

मालिनीMalinī (a woman, proper name)

जनयामासgave birth to / begot

पुत्रम्a son

एकम्one

विभीषणम्Vibhīṣaṇa (proper name)

राकायाम्in/at Rākā (proper name; also name of a lunar day in other contexts)

मिथुनम्a pair, twins (a couple)

जज्ञेwas born / came into being

खरःKhara (proper name)

शूर्पणखाŚūrpaṇakhā (proper name)

तथाand also; likewise

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Mālinī

Vibhīṣaṇa

Rākā

Khara

Śūrpaṇakhā

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores that family origin does not determine virtue: individuals born within the same extended lineage may later embody very different ethical choices, so dharma is ultimately personal and enacted through conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya is recounting births within a lineage: Mālinī bears Vibhīṣaṇa, and Rākā bears twins—Khara and Śūrpaṇakhā—setting up background for later events involving these figures.