Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 22, Shloka 18

Adhyaya 22 — Kuvalayashva’s Death through Daitya-Deceit and Madalasa’s Self-Immolation

Sanskrit

युध्यमानो यथाशक्ति निघ्नन् ब्रह्मद्विषो युधि ।

मायामाश्रित्य पापेन भिन्नः शूलेन वक्षसी ॥

Transliteration

yudhyamāno yathāśakti nighnan brahmadviṣo yudhi | māyāmāśritya pāpena bhinnaḥ śūlena vakṣasī ||

Translation

Fighting to the utmost of his power, striking down in battle those who hate Brahman (the brahminical order and sacred law), he was—by that sinful one resorting to māyā—pierced in the chest with a trident.

Word by Word

• युध्यमानः: fighting
• युध्यमानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्/Present middle participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• यथा: as/according to
• यथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/रीति-वाचक (manner)

• शक्ति: strength
• शक्ति: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (in adverbial phrase)

• निघ्नन्: slaying
• निघ्नन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नि-उपसर्ग

• ब्रह्मद्विषः: the haters of Brahman
• ब्रह्मद्विषः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + द्विष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः द्विषः = haters of Brahman)

• युधि: in battle
• युधि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युध् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• मायाम्: illusion
• मायाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आश्रित्य: having resorted to
• आश्रित्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Gerundial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), आ-उपसर्ग; अव्ययभाव

• पापेन: by a sinful (one)
• पापेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुं, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण

• भिन्नः: was pierced/split
• भिन्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शूलेन: by a spear
• शूलेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• वक्षसि: in the chest
• वक्षसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Speakers

• Tālāketu reporting (continuation)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "raudra", "secondaryRasa": "vira", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Righteous battle
• Māyā/deception in warfare
• Defense of brahmanical order

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even righteous strength can be endangered by adharma’s reliance on deception (māyā). The verse contrasts straightforward valor (yathāśakti) with crooked means (māyā-āśraya).

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ākhyāna. It is a moralized battle vignette rather than cosmological or genealogical enumeration.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘trident to the chest’ can symbolize a threefold affliction (tāpa-traya or guṇa-triśūla) piercing the heart when vigilance against illusion lapses.