Shloka 30

Devanagari script

दर्श च पौर्णमासं च यस्य तिछेत्‌ प्रतिष्ठितम्‌ । इष्टिरष्टाकपालेन कार्या पथिकृतेडग्नये

Transliteration

darśaṁ ca paurṇamāsaṁ ca yasya tiṣṭhet pratiṣṭhitam | iṣṭir aṣṭākapālena kāryā pathikṛte 'gnaye ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: “For one who has duly established the observances of the new-moon and full-moon rites, an offering should be performed with an oblation prepared in eight potsherds, dedicated to Agni as the protector of travellers. Thus, even a journey is placed under sacred order—so that movement through the world is guided by discipline, reverence, and the wish to cause no harm.”

Word by Word

darśanew-moon rite (Darśa sacrifice)

caand

paurṇamāsamfull-moon rite (Paurṇamāsa sacrifice)

caand

yasyaof whom/whose

tiṣṭhetshould stand / should be established

pratiṣṭhitamestablished, set up

iṣṭiḥoffering; sacrificial rite

aṣṭākapālenawith an eight-pot-sherd (oblation)

kāryāto be done; should be performed

pathikṛtefor the path-maker (Agni as maker of paths)

agnayeto/for Agni

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Agni

Darśa (new-moon rite)

Paurṇamāsa (full-moon rite)

Aṣṭākapāla (eight-potsherd oblation)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

That dharma is sustained by regular discipline: one who is steady in foundational rites (new- and full-moon observances) should also sanctify practical life-events like travel through a prescribed offering to Agni, aligning action with reverence and order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya instructs about a specific Vedic procedure: after establishing the Darśa and Paurṇamāsa observances, one should perform an iṣṭi using an eight-potsherd oblation for Agni connected with travellers, indicating ritual guidance for safe and righteous journeying.