Shloka 5

Adhyaya 3 — The Dharmapakshis’ Past-Life Curse and Indra’s Test of Truthfulness

Sanskrit

ऋषेः शिष्यानुकम्पार्थं वदतो धर्मनिश्चयम् ।

कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणं सर्वे चरणावभ्यवावदयन् ॥

Transliteration

ṛṣeḥ śiṣyānukampārthaṃ vadato dharmaniścayam / kṛtvā pradakṣiṇaṃ sarve caraṇāvabhyavādayan

Translation

શિષ્યો પ્રત્યે કરુણાથી ઋષિ ધર્મવિષયક સ્થિર નિશ્ચય સમજાવી રહ્યા હતા; ત્યારે તેઓ સૌએ આદરપૂર્વક તેમની પ્રદક્ષિણા કરી, નમીને તેમના ચરણોમાં પ્રણામ કર્યો।

Word by Word

• ṛṣeḥ: of the sage
• ṛṣeḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• śiṣya-anukampā-artham: for (showing) compassion to the disciples
• śiṣya-anukampā-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiṣya + anukampā + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष-समासः—‘शिष्येषु अनुकम्पायाः अर्थम्’ (for the purpose of compassion toward disciples)

• vadataḥ: of (him) speaking
• vadataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vad (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); ‘speaking’ (of the sage)

• dharma-niścayam: the determination of dharma
• dharma-niścayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma + niścaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष-समासः—‘धर्मस्य निश्चयः’ (determination/decision regarding dharma)

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable); ‘having done’

• pradakṣiṇam: circumambulation
• pradakṣiṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradakṣiṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used as object of kṛtvā

• sarve: all (of them)
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• caraṇau: (his) two feet
• caraṇau: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• abhi-avādayan: they saluted/revered
• abhi-avādayan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-ava-vad (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); causative sense not intended; ‘they saluted’

Speakers

• Narratorial description within the Markandeya Purana’s opening frame (disciples honoring the ṛṣi)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Guru-śiṣya tradition
• Reverence (pradakṣiṇa, pāda-vandana)
• Transmission of ethical knowledge

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma is to be received through humility and disciplined reverence toward the teacher. The verse models the proper etiquette of receiving instruction: respectful circumambulation and salutations, indicating receptivity and the sanctity of dharma-teaching.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This verse is not a direct instance of the pañcalakṣaṇa topics (sarga, pratisarga, vaṃśa, manvantara, vaṃśānucarita). It belongs to the purāṇic frame-narrative and dharma-upadeśa context that often surrounds and introduces those five characteristics.

What is the esoteric significance?

Pradakṣiṇa symbolizes aligning one’s inner orientation around the locus of wisdom (the guru), and touching/bowing to the feet signifies surrender of ego and grounding knowledge in lived conduct. ‘Dharma-niścaya’ implies dharma is not mere opinion but a clarified, steady discernment attained through right guidance.