Shloka 15

Mārkaṇḍeya’s Consolation to the King: Exempla of Rāma and the Efficacy of Allies (मार्कण्डेयाश्वासनम्)

Devanagari script

जातामर्षस्ततस्ते तु तपसे धृतनिश्चया: । ब्रह्माणं तोषयामासुर्घोरेण तपसा तदा,उनका वैभव देखकर इन बालकोंके हृदयमें डाह पैदा हो गयी। अतः उन्होंने मन-ही- मन तपस्या करनेका निश्चय किया और घोर तपस्याके द्वारा उन्होंने ब्रह्माजीको संतुष्ट कर लिया

Transliteration

jātāmarṣas tataḥ te tu tapase dhṛtaniścayāḥ | brahmāṇaṃ toṣayāmāsur ghoreṇa tapasā tadā ||

Translation

Markandeya said: Then, stung by resentment, those boys—firmly resolved to undertake austerities—performed severe penance, and by that fierce tapas they satisfied Brahmā. The passage highlights how envy can harden into determination; the same power of resolve that can purify the mind through ascetic discipline is here first ignited by jealousy, warning that spiritual effort should be guided by right intention rather than rivalry.

Word by Word

• जातामर्षः: one whose anger/envy has arisen
• जातामर्षः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जातामर्ष
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• तपसे: for austerity
• तपसे: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Dative, Singular

• धृतनिश्चयाः: having firm resolve (resolved)
• धृतनिश्चयाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृतनिश्चय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तोषयामासुः: they pleased/satisfied
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष्
• Form: Perfect (periphrastic), Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• घोरेण: by severe (means)
• घोरेण: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• तदा: at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Brahmā
• te (those boys/children)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse cautions that powerful spiritual practices (tapas) can be driven by impure motives like envy (amarṣa). While determination and austerity can yield results—even divine favor—the ethical lesson is to align effort with dharmic intention, not rivalry or jealousy.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya narrates that certain boys, feeling resentment after seeing another’s splendor, resolved to perform severe austerities. Through intense tapas they succeeded in pleasing Brahmā.