Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 23, Shloka 59

Adhyaya 23 — Ashvatara’s Vow for Madalasa and the Bestowal of Musical Science by Sarasvati

Sanskrit

ततः कैलासशैलेन्द्र-शिखरस्थितमीश्वरम् ।

गीतकैः सप्तभिर्नागौ तन्त्रीलयसमन्वितौ ॥

Transliteration

tataḥ kailāsaśailendra-śikharasthitamīśvaram / gītakaiḥ saptabhirnāgau tantrīlayasamanvitau

Translation

तब उन दोनों नागों ने कैलास-शिखर पर स्थित प्रभु की, तंत्री-वाद्य और लय से युक्त सात गीतों द्वारा स्तुति की।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anantara (काल/अनन्तर)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), ‘thereupon/then’

• kailāsa-śaila-indra-śikhara-sthitam: situated on the peak of Mount Kailāsa
• kailāsa-śaila-indra-śikhara-sthitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kailāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + śaila (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक) + śikhara (प्रातिपदिक) + sthita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying ‘īśvaram’; meaning ‘situated on the peak of the lord of mountains, Kailāsa’

• īśvaram: the Lord (Śiva)
• īśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• gītakaiḥ: with songs; by song-verses
• gītakaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gītaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• saptabhiḥ: with seven
• saptabhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); numeral qualifying ‘gītakaiḥ’

• nāgau: the two Nāgas
• nāgau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• tantrī-laya-samanvitau: endowed with stringed-instrument and rhythm
• tantrī-laya-samanvitau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tantrī (प्रातिपदिक) + laya (प्रातिपदिक) + samanvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); qualifying ‘nāgau’; ‘endowed with lute/strings and rhythm’

Speakers

• Narrative voice

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Śiva

Key Themes

• Bhakti
• Śiva worship
• Music as worship
• Kailāsa

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Art becomes sādhana when offered to God: refined musical order (tāla/laya) is redirected into devotion rather than display.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

A devotional episode within narrative; not a pancalakṣaṇa classification.

What is the esoteric significance?

Kailāsa symbolizes the summit of consciousness; ‘seven songs’ can resonate with seven notes or inner centers—devotion harmonizing the whole being.