Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 27, Shloka 21

Adhyaya 27 — Madālasa’s Instruction to King Alarka: Royal Ethics, Self-Conquest, and Statecraft

Sanskrit

शक्रार्कयमसोमानां तद्वद्वायोर्महीपतिः ।

रूपाणि पञ्च कुर्वोत महीपालनकर्मणि ॥

Transliteration

śakrārka-yama-somānāṃ tadvad vāyor mahīpatiḥ | rūpāṇi pañca kurvota mahīpālana-karmaṇi ||

Translation

પૃથ્વીના રક્ષણના કાર્યમાં રાજાએ પાંચ ‘રૂપ’ ધારણ કરવા જોઈએ—શક્ર (ઇન્દ્ર), અર્ક (સૂર્ય), યમ, સોમ (ચંદ્ર) તથા વાયુ સમાન.

Word by Word

• śakra-arka-yama-somānām: of Indra, the Sun, Yama, and Soma
• śakra-arka-yama-somānām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra + arka + yama + soma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (contextual)

• tadvat: likewise
• tadvat: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadvat (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग)
• Form: Avyaya; manner-adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• vāyoḥ: of Vāyu (Wind)
• vāyoḥ: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahīpatiḥ: the king (lord of the earth)
• mahīpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahīpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: mahyāḥ patiḥ

• rūpāṇi: forms
• rūpāṇi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• pañca: five
• pañca: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (प्रातिपदिक/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: Numeral adjective (संख्याविशेषण), indeclinable-like; qualifying rūpāṇi

• kurvota: should make/assume
• kurvota: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada

• mahīpālana-karmaṇi: in the duty of protecting the earth
• mahīpālana-karmaṇi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahīpālana + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: mahyāḥ pālanam; then tatpurusha with karman: mahīpālanasya karma

Speakers

• Didactic narrator within rājadharma teaching

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Indra
• Surya
• Yama
• Soma
• Vayu

Key Themes

• Rājadharma
• Divine kingship ideals
• Role-based governance
• Justice and welfare

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Good rule is multi-modal: like Indra (leadership/protection), the Sun (collection and oversight), Yama (impartial justice), Soma (nourishment/comfort), and Vāyu (swift, pervasive administration).

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

A rājadharma teaching embedded within Purāṇic narration; not a pancalakṣaṇa unit.

What is the esoteric significance?

The five deities map to five royal energies (tejas, tapas, dharma-niyama, saumyatā, and gati). The ideal king harmonizes these rather than ruling from a single temperament.