Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 8, Shloka 115

Adhyaya 8 — Harishchandra’s Trial: Truth, the Sale of Family, and Bondage to a Chandala

Sanskrit

गायतां भूतवेतालपिशाचगणरक्षसाम् ।

श्रूयते सुमहान् घोरः कल्पान्त इव निःस्वनः ॥

Transliteration

gāyatāṃ bhūta-vetāla-piśāca-gaṇa-rakṣasām /

śrūyate sumahān ghoraḥ kalpānta iva niḥsvanaḥ

Translation

As hosts of bhūtas, vetālas, piśācas, and rākṣasas sang, there was heard an immense and dreadful roar—like the sound at the end of an aeon.

Word by Word

• गायताम्: (they) sing
• गायताम्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धाातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्); परस्मैपद; प्रथमा-पुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष); बहुवचन — 3rd plural; वर्तमानकाले (they sing)

• भूतवेतालपिशाचगणरक्षसाम्: of the hosts of bhūtas, vetālas, piśācas, and rākṣasas
• भूतवेतालपिशाचगणरक्षसाम्: कर्ता (Karta/Agent; genitive of agents with verbal noun sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + वेताल (प्रातिपदिक) + पिशाच (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी); बहुवचन — Genitive plural; समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective dvandva)

• श्रूयते: is heard
• श्रूयते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्); आत्मनेपद; प्रथमा-पुरुष (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष); एकवचन — 3rd singular; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• सुमहान्: very great
• सुमहान्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + महान् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा); एकवचन — Nominative singular; उपपद-विशेषण (intensified: very great)

• घोरः: terrible
• घोरः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा); एकवचन — Nominative singular

• कल्पान्ते: at the end of an aeon
• कल्पान्ते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्पान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी); एकवचन — Locative singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कल्पस्य अन्तः)

• इव: as if / like
• इव: उपमान (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• निःस्वनः: a roar; loud sound
• निःस्वनः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निःस्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा); एकवचन — Nominative singular

Speakers

• Narratorial description

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Apocalyptic simile (kalpānta)
• Spirit-hosts
• Fear as literary rasa
• Liminal spaces

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The ‘end-of-aeon’ comparison magnifies the gravity of adharmic company and environments: the mind becomes overwhelmed by tamas when it dwells among destructive impressions.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Not a direct sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vaṃśa unit; it functions as ākhyāna (narrative) that prepares for later instruction and transformation in the storyline.

What is the esoteric significance?

Kalpānta is also inner dissolution: when prāṇa and mind are seized by fear, one experiences a personal ‘world-end’—a cue for seeking refuge in higher dharma or divinity.