Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 3, Shloka 16

Adhyaya 3 — The Dharmapakshis’ Past-Life Curse and Indra’s Test of Truthfulness

Sanskrit

सुकृषस्य वयं पुत्राश्चत्वारः संयतात्मनः ।

तस्यर्षेर्विनयाचारभक्तिनम्राः सदैव हि ॥

Transliteration

sukṛṣasya vayaṃ putrāś catvāraḥ saṃyatātmanaḥ |

tasyarṣer vinayācāra-bhakti-namrāḥ sadaiva hi ||

Translation

We are the four sons of Sukṛṣa, a sage of self-restraint. Indeed, we are always humble—bowed down through devotion—and grounded in the disciplined conduct taught by that ṛṣi.

Speakers

• The four wise birds (Dharmapakṣins) speaking (to Jaimini in the frame narrative)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Vinaya (humility)
• Sadācāra (right conduct)
• Self-restraint (saṃyama)
• Guru/ṛṣi-led formation