Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 63, Shloka 17

Adhyaya 63 — The Birth of Svarocis and the Rescue of Manoramā: The Astra-Heart and the Healing of Curses

Sanskrit

क्षामक्षामस्वरः किञ्चित्कल्पिताधरपल्लवः । त्वयावहसितो यस्मादनार्ये दुष्टतापसि ॥

Transliteration

kṣāmakṣāmasvaraḥ kiñcit kalpitādharapallavaḥ / tvayāvahasito yasmād anārye duṣṭatāpasi

Translation

‘क्षीणता से जिसकी वाणी मंद है, जिसके ओष्ठ भी ठीक से बने नहीं—ऐसे मुझे तुमने उपहास किया; हे नीच, दुष्टाचारी, तपस्वी का तिरस्कार करने वाले!’—ऐसा उस मुनि ने कहा।

Word by Word

• क्षामक्षामस्वरः: with a very feeble voice
• क्षामक्षामस्वरः: Visheshana (विशेषण/attribute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षाम + क्षाम + स्वर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (पुनरुक्त-विशेषण) ‘अत्यन्त-क्षामः स्वरः यस्य’

• किञ्चित्: slightly
• किञ्चित्: Prakāra (प्रकार/manner adjunct)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: परिमाणवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘a little/somewhat’)

• कल्पिताधरपल्लवः: whose lips were (as if) delicately formed like sprouts
• कल्पिताधरपल्लवः: Visheshana (विशेषण/attribute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कल्पित + अधर + पल्लव (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘कल्पितः अधरपल्लवः यस्य’ (lips as if fashioned like tender leaves)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karta (कर्ता/agent in passive participle)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अवहसितः: mocked
• अवहसितः: Kriyā (क्रिया/predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + √हस् (धातु) + क्त (अवहसित)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि—‘was mocked’

• यस्मात्: because
• यस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (ablatival relative: ‘because/from which reason’)

• अनार्ये: O ignoble woman
• अनार्ये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• दुष्टतापसि: O wicked female ascetic
• दुष्टतापसि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुष्ट + तापसि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘दुष्टा तापसी’

Speakers

• The sage (speaker) addressing the maiden

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Condemnation of disrespect
• Speech as karmic trigger
• Ascetic authority

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

‘Ārya’ here signals cultured restraint and reverence. The verse teaches that refinement is measured by how one treats the vulnerable-looking—especially those engaged in tapas.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Didactic ākhāna: illustrates dharma via transgression (mockery) and its immediate repercussion (curse).

What is the esoteric significance?

The sage’s ‘faint voice’ contrasts with the force of his words: mantra-like speech can carry power independent of bodily strength, highlighting vāg-śakti (potency of utterance).