Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 6, Shloka 25

Adhyaya 6 — Balarama’s Dilemma, Drunken Wanderings in Revata’s Grove, and the Slaying of the Suta

Sanskrit

विविधेषु च सम्भूतान् वंशेषु द्विजसत्तमान् ।

कथाश्रवणबद्धोत्कानुपविष्टान् महत्सु च ॥

Transliteration

vividheṣu ca sambhūtān vaṃśeṣu dvijasattamān | kathāśravaṇa-baddha-utkān upaviṣṭān mahatsu ca ||

Translation

And (he saw) the best of twice-born men, born in various lineages, seated among the great ones—eager and intent, their enthusiasm bound to the hearing of the sacred narratives.

Word by Word

• विविधेषु: in various
• विविधेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying वंशेषु)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• सम्भूतान्: born/originated
• सम्भूतान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + भू (धातु) → सम्भूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying द्विजसत्तमान्)

• वंशेषु: in lineages
• वंशेषु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• द्विज-सत्तमान्: the best of Brahmins
• द्विज-सत्तमान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ("द्विजानां सत्तमाः" = best among Brahmins)

• कथा-श्रवण-बद्ध-उत्कान्: eagerly intent on hearing tales
• कथा-श्रवण-बद्ध-उत्कान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक) + बद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + उत्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying द्विजसत्तमान्); समासः—बहुपद-तत्पुरुष ("कथाश्रवणे बद्धा उत्काः येषाम्" = whose eagerness is fixed on hearing stories)

• उपविष्टान्: seated
• उपविष्टान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + विश् (धातु) → उपविष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past active/PPP in sense 'seated'), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying द्विजसत्तमान्)

• महत्त्सु: in great (places/assemblies)
• महत्त्सु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (elliptically: 'in great (seats/assemblies)')

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Markandeya Purana (specific speaker not identifiable from the single verse alone)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Itihasa-Purana listening (kathā-śravaṇa)
• Satsaṅga (assembly of the great)
• Genealogy/lineage consciousness

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse elevates śravaṇa (reverent listening) in the company of the mahats (the spiritually great). Dharmic knowledge is portrayed as best received through attentive hearing, disciplined eagerness, and association with learned elders—implying that lineage or background is secondary to sincere receptivity to sacred discourse.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Most closely aligns with Vaṃśa (genealogies of sages/kings) and, by extension, supports Manvantara narration when these lineages are situated within Manu-epochs. This specific verse depicts the audience (dvijasattamas from diverse vaṃśas) typical of Purāṇic transmission within genealogical/manvantara frameworks.

What is the esoteric significance?

Symbolically, the 'various lineages' indicate the diversity of embodied conditions, while 'seated among the great' suggests aligning the mind with higher sattva through satsaṅga. 'Bound to hearing' hints at the yogic principle of ekāgratā—attention tethered to śāstra—where listening becomes a transformative discipline, not mere entertainment.