Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 81, Shloka 6

Adhyaya 81 — Suratha and Samadhi Seek Sage Medhas; Introduction to Mahamaya and the Madhukaitabha Origin Account

Sanskrit

ततः स्वपुरमायातो निजदेशाधिपोऽभवत् ।

आक्रान्तः स महाभागस्तैस्तदा प्रबलारिभिः ॥

Transliteration

tataḥ svapuram āyāto nija-deśādhipo ’bhavat |

ākrāntaḥ sa mahā-bhāgas tais tadā prabala-aribhiḥ ||

Translation

પછી તે પોતાના નગરમાં પાછો આવ્યો અને માત્ર પોતાના દેશનો જ રાજા રહ્યો; તે સમયે તે ભાગ્યવાન રાજા તે પ્રબળ શત્રુઓથી દબાઈ ગયો.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• sva-puram: his own city
• sva-puram: Karma (कर्म) (goal of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; karmadhāraya: 'own city'

• āyātaḥ: having come
• āyātaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (participle qualifying saḥ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√yā (या, धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'having come/arrived'

• nija-deśa-adhipaḥ: the ruler of his own land
• nija-deśa-adhipaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate nominative with abhavat)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nija (प्रातिपदिक) + deśa (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'lord of (his) own country'

• abhavat: became/was
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, aorist), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• ākrāntaḥ: overrun, attacked
• ākrāntaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया) (passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√kram (क्रम्, धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'overrun/attacked'

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karma/Karta (कर्म/कर्ता) (patient in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• mahā-bhāgaḥ: the noble one
• mahā-bhāgaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of saḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; karmadhāraya: 'greatly fortunate/noble'

• taiḥ: by them
• taiḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता) in passive
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• tadā: at that time
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, temporal adverb (कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण)

• prabala-aribhiḥ: by powerful enemies
• prabala-aribhiḥ: Kartṛ (कर्ता) in passive (agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabala (प्रातिपदिक) + ari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; karmadhāraya: 'strong enemies'

Speakers

• Narrator within the Devi Mahatmyam frame

Key Themes

• Contraction of sovereignty
• Political instability
• Suffering as catalyst for spiritual inquiry

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Status and territory are impermanent; when outer supports shrink, the person is driven to examine what truly belongs to the self.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Vaṃśānucarita: narrative of a king’s decline used as a moral-spiritual preface to the Goddess teaching.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘kingdom narrowing’ mirrors the ego’s contraction under adversity, preparing receptivity to śakti (transformative power).