Shloka 5
Mārkaṇḍeya’s Consolation to the King: Exempla of Rāma and the Efficacy of Allies (मार्कण्डेयाश्वासनम्)
पुष्पोत्कटा च राका च मालिनी च विशाम्पते । अन्योन्यस्पर्धया राजन् श्रेयस्कामा: सुमध्यमा:,महाराज! उनके नाम थे--पुष्पोत्कटा, राका तथा मालिनी। वे तीनों सुन्दरियाँ अपना भला चाहती थीं। इसलिये एक-दूसरीसे स्पर्धा रखकर मुनिकी सेवा करती थीं
puṣpotkaṭā ca rākā ca mālinī ca viśāmpate | anyonyaspardhayā rājan śreyaskāmāḥ sumadhyamāḥ ||
Dijo Mārkaṇḍeya: «Oh señor del pueblo, había tres mujeres llamadas Puṣpotkaṭā, Rākā y Mālinī. De cintura esbelta y deseosas de su propio bien supremo, rivalizaban entre sí, oh rey, en un servicio devoto: cada una procuraba superar a las otras».
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the pursuit of śreyas (higher welfare) through disciplined service: even rivalry can be ethically redirected into constructive striving—competing to do better in devotion and duty rather than in harm or envy.
Mārkaṇḍeya introduces three women—Puṣpotkaṭā, Rākā, and Mālinī—describing how, motivated by their own welfare, they competed with one another to excel in service (to a sage/muni, as implied by the surrounding context).