Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 23, Shloka 53

Adhyaya 23 — Ashvatara’s Vow for Madalasa and the Bestowal of Musical Science by Sarasvati

Sanskrit

ज्ञास्यसे मत्प्रसादेन भुजगेन्द्रापरं तथा ।

चतुर्विधं पदं तालं त्रिः प्रकारं लयत्रयम् ॥

Transliteration

jñāsyase matprasādena bhujagendrāparaṃ tathā / caturvidhaṃ padaṃ tālaṃ triḥ prakāraṃ layatrayam

Translation

“By my grace you shall also come to know the other Nāga-lord; you shall know the fourfold pada, the tāla, the threefold varieties, and the triad of layas.”

Word by Word

• jñāsyase: you will know/learn
• jñāsyase: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• mat-prasādena: by my grace
• mat-prasādena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad + prasāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन); ‘by my favor/grace’

• bhujagendra-aparam: the other (apart from) Bhujagendra
• bhujagendra-aparam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhujagendra + apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); ‘other than/next to the lord of serpents’ (contextual epithet/qualification)

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• catur-vidham: fourfold
• catur-vidham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with padaṃ/tālaṃ

• padam: a unit/step (metrical/musical ‘pada’)
• padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• tālam: tāla (rhythmic cycle/beat)
• tālam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• triḥ: three times / threefold
• triḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: triḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (संख्यावाचक अव्यय)

• prakāram: a kind/type
• prakāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prakāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• laya-trayam: the three layas (tempos)
• laya-trayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laya + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); dvigu ‘three layas’

Speakers

• Sarasvatī addressing a Nāga disciple

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Sarasvatī

Shakti Aspects

• Sarasvatī

Key Themes

• Divine grace
• Music theory
• Tempo and rhythm
• Pedagogy

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse frames expertise as a blend of śāstra (structured categories like fourfold/threefold) and anugraha (divine enabling), discouraging pride and emphasizing proper discipleship.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Ancillary narrative material supporting dharma and culture; it is not a direct pancalakṣaṇa unit, but a didactic insertion typical of Purāṇic encyclopedic style.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Four’ and ‘three’ encode completeness (catur) and triadic balance (traya): sound-practice is presented as a harmonized structure mirroring cosmic order.