Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 69, Shloka 55

Adhyaya 69 — The King’s Neglect of His Wife and the Restoration of Dharma

Sanskrit

सत्यं राजन् ! त्वमर्घार्हः कुले स्वायम्भुवस्य च ।

तथापि नार्घयोग्यं त्वां मन्यामो वयमुत्तमम् ॥

Transliteration

satyaṃ rājan! tvam arghārhaḥ kule svāyambhuvasya ca | tathāpi nārgha-yogyaṃ tvāṃ manyāmo vayam uttamam ||

Translation

True, O King—you are fit for arghya and are of the lineage of Svāyambhuva (Manu). Yet at present we do not consider you, the excellent one, to be worthy of arghya.

Word by Word

• satyam: truly
• satyam: Vākyālaṅkāra (वाक्यालङ्कार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sentence adverb (वाक्योपपद-अव्यय): 'truly/indeed'

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• argha-arhaḥ: worthy of an honor-offering
• argha-arhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: argha (प्रातिपदिक) + arha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुषः: arghasya arhaḥ = 'worthy of argha'

• kule: in the lineage
• kule: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• svāyambhuvasya: of Svāyambhuva
• svāyambhuvasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svāyambhuva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; proper name (Svāyambhuva Manu)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• tathāpi: nevertheless
• tathāpi: Virodha (विरोध/व्यतिरेक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय) + api (अव्यय)
• Form: Concessive particle (तथापि = 'nevertheless')

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• argha-yogyam: fit for argha
• argha-yogyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: argha (प्रातिपदिक) + yogya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; predicate adjective qualifying tvām; तत्पुरुषः: arghasya yogyaḥ

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Accusative, Singular

• manyāmaḥ: we consider
• manyāmaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Plural; Ātmanepada

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative, Plural

• uttamam: excellent/supreme
• uttamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; apposition/predicate to tvām

Speakers

• Ṛṣi to the king

Primary Deities

• Svāyambhuva Manu

Key Themes

• Lineage vs conduct
• Ritual entitlement
• Dharma as qualification

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Birth and pedigree are acknowledged, yet overridden by conduct. The verse asserts a central Purāṇic ethic: dharma is the real qualifier for honor; lineage without right action does not secure spiritual respect.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Manvantara-linked genealogy (vaṃśa/anuvaṃśa flavor) appears via Svāyambhuva reference, but the operative function is dharma-teaching within the manvantara narrative frame.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Worthiness’ is an inner luminosity (adhikāra) that can be obscured by adharma. The text hints that spiritual status is dynamic—maintained by alignment with dharma, not fixed by origin.