Shloka 1

अग्निवंशवर्णनम् (Agni-vaṃśa-varṇana) / The Genealogy and Function of Agni

Devanagari script

हि मो न (0) हि २ 7 एकादशाधिकद्धिशततमो< ध्याय: पञ्चमहा भूतोंके गुणोंका और इन्द्रियनिग्रहका वर्णन मार्कण्डेय उवाच एवमुक्त: स विदप्रस्तु धर्मव्याधेन भारत । कथामकथयद्‌ भूयो मनसः प्रीतिवर्धनीम्‌,मार्कण्डेयजी कहते हैं--भरतनन्दन! धर्मव्याधके इस प्रकार उपदेश देनेपर कौशिक ब्राह्मणने पुनः मनकी प्रसन्नताको बढ़ानेवाली वार्ता प्रारम्भ की

Transliteration

Mārkaṇḍeya uvāca—evam uktaḥ sa vipras tu dharmavyādhena bhārata | kathām akathayad bhūyo manasaḥ prītivardhanīm ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: “O descendant of Bharata, when the Dharma-hunter had spoken thus, that brāhmaṇa (Kauśika) again began a discourse that increased the gladness of the mind.”

Word by Word

• मार्कण्डेयः: Markandeya
• मार्कण्डेयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्कण्डेय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्तः: having been spoken to / addressed
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Past passive participle (kta), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विप्रः: the brahmin
• विप्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• धर्मव्याधेन: by the righteous hunter
• धर्मव्याधेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्मव्याध
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• भारत: O Bharata
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• कथाम्: a story/discourse
• कथाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• अकथयत्: told / narrated
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ्
• Form: Imperfect, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• भूयः: again/further
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूयस्

• मनसः: of the mind
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• प्रीतिवर्धनीम्: increasing delight/pleasure
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीतिवर्धनी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Dharmavyādha
• Kauśika (brāhmaṇa)
• Bhārata (addressee, i.e., Yudhiṣṭhira in context)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames an ethical instruction: true dharma can be taught and embodied even by someone of humble occupation (the Dharmavyādha), and the right discourse brings clarity and joy to the mind—preparing the listener for teachings on self-restraint and virtues.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya narrates to the Bhārata (Yudhiṣṭhira) that after receiving the Dharmavyādha’s counsel, the brāhmaṇa Kauśika resumes speaking, beginning another mind-pleasing and instructive conversation.