Shloka 124

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

Sanskrit

जीर्णकर्पण्टसुग्रन्थिकृतकन्थापरिग्रहः ।

चिताभस्मरजोलिप्तमुखबाहूदराङ्घ्रकः ॥

Transliteration

jīrṇa-karpaṇṭa-su-granthi-kṛta-kanthā-parigrahaḥ / citā-bhasma-rajo-lipta-mukha-bāhūdarāṅghrakaḥ

Translation

Il portait pour vêtement un haillon rapiécé et noué, et son visage, ses bras, son ventre, ses cuisses et ses pieds étaient enduits de la poussière de cendre des bûchers funéraires.

Word by Word

• जीर्ण: worn-out, tattered
• जीर्ण: विशेषणम् (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीर्ण (कृदन्त; √जॄ/जॄण्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषणम् — Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; past participle used adjectivally

• कर्पण्ट: rag, patchwork cloth
• कर्पण्ट: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्पण्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग) — Masculine, Nominative, Singular (as compound member)

• सुग्रन्थि: well-knotted
• सुग्रन्थि: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुग्रन्थि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग); विशेषणम् — Masculine, Nominative, Singular (compound member); adjective

• कृत: made, fashioned
• कृत: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग); भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषणम् — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; past participle

• कन्था: patched cloak, mantle
• कन्था: कर्म (Object/कर्म) (internal to compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग) — Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (object within compound)

• परिग्रहः: possession, wearing/holding
• परिग्रहः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् — Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• चिता: of a funeral pyre
• चिता: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे षष्ठी-एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग) — Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (as compound member)

• भस्म: ash
• भस्म: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग) — Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular (compound member)

• रजः: dust
• रजः: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग) — Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular (compound member)

• लिप्त: smeared, coated
• लिप्त: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिप्त (कृदन्त; √लिप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग); भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषणम् — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; past participle

• मुख: face
• मुख: अधिकरण/अवयव (Body-part locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग) — Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular (compound member)

• बाहू: arms
• बाहू: अवयव (Body part)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्विवचनम् (समासाङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया) — Masculine, Dual (Nom/Acc) as compound member

• उदर: belly
• उदर: अवयव (Body part)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग) — Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular (compound member)

• अङ्घ्रकः: feet (and the rest) / having feet (smeared)
• अङ्घ्रकः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता) (as descriptor of the person)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्घ्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (समासान्त) — Masculine, Nominative, Singular (compound final)

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Markandeya Purana (frame-speakers not identifiable from excerpt alone)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "bibhatsa", "secondaryRasa": "karuna", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Karma and consequence
• Impurity and liminality (śmaśāna imagery)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Association with the cremation-ground and a life marked by neglect, grief, or adharma is depicted through external signs—rags and pyre-ash—showing how inner collapse manifests outwardly. The verse functions as a warning: one’s choices and attachments can drive one toward states of social and ritual marginality.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily Vamśānucarita/Carita (exemplary narrative about an individual’s fate) used to teach dharma; not directly Sarga/Pratisarga/Manvantara/Vamśa in this excerpt.

What is the esoteric significance?

Pyre-ash symbolizes impermanence (anityatā) and the stripping away of worldly identity. The ragged cloak and ash-smeared body portray a forced ‘vairāgya’ (dispassion) born of suffering rather than insight.