Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 43, Shloka 73
Adhyaya 43 — Portents of Death (Ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇas) and the Yogin’s Response; Alarka Renounces Kingship
काशिराज उवाच
किमलर्क ! परित्यक्तं राज्यं ते संयुगं विना ।
क्षत्रियस्य न धर्मोऽयं भवांश्च क्षत्रधर्मवित् ॥
kāśirāja uvāca kim alarka! parityaktaṃ rājyaṃ te saṃyugaṃ vinā / kṣatriyasya na dharmo 'yaṃ bhavāṃś ca kṣatradharmavit
काशी के राजा ने कहा— “अलर्क! तुमने बिना युद्ध किए राज्य क्यों छोड़ दिया? यह क्षत्रिय का धर्म नहीं है, और तुम तो क्षत्रिय-धर्म के ज्ञाता हो।”
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FAQs
The verse articulates the orthodox social-ethical view: rulers must not abdicate responsibility out of fear or weakness; renunciation must be distinguished from escapism.
Dharma instruction embedded in vaṃśānucarita (royal conduct).
The objection represents the ‘voice of varṇāśrama’—the binding power of role-identity. The later teaching (Alarka’s reply) typically resolves this by elevating inner freedom over role.