Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 23, Shloka 63

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

Sanskrit

व्यज्ञापयन्महादेवं शितिकण्ठमुमापतिम् ।

यदि नौ भगवान्प्रीतो देवदेवस्त्रिलोचनः ॥

Transliteration

vyajñāpayan mahādevaṃ śitikaṇṭham umāpatim | yadi nau bhagavān prīto devadevas trilocanaḥ ||

Translation

They petitioned Mahādeva—the blue-throated one, Umā’s lord: “If the Blessed Lord, the God of gods, the three-eyed one, is pleased with us…”

Word by Word

• व्यज्ञापयत्: informed/represented
• व्यज्ञापयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ज्ञा + णिच् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद; causative (णिजन्त) of √ज्ञा: “caused to know/informed”

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: महा + देव (कर्मधारय); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• शितिकण्ठम्: the blue-throated one
• शितिकण्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिति + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: शिति(नील) + कण्ठ (कर्मधारय); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उमापतिम्: husband of Umā
• उमापतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उमा + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: उमायाः पति (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तबोधक अव्यय (conditional particle)

• नौ: to us / for us
• नौ: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Genitive/Dative), द्विवचन (dual); “of us/to us”

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रीतः: pleased
• प्रीतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्री (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भावः: “pleased”

• देवदेवः: god of gods
• देवदेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: देवानां देवः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्रिलोचनः: three-eyed (one)
• त्रिलोचनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: यस्य त्रि लोचने स्तः (बहुव्रीहि); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speakers

• Aśvatara and Kambala addressing Śiva (petition begins)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Śiva
• Umā (as referenced by epithet Umāpati)

Key Themes

• Supplication
• Divine epithets and theology (Śaiva)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The petition frames boons as conditional upon prīti (divine satisfaction) and approached through reverent address; it underscores relational devotion rather than transactional demand.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Ānucarita: an instructional story illustrating how devotees approach a deity using recognized epithets (nāma-rūpa) and humility.

What is the esoteric significance?

Śiva’s epithets point to inner yogic realities: trilocana (awareness of three states), śitikaṇṭha (transmuted poison—mastery of suffering), Umāpati (union of consciousness and power).