Shloka 14

Devanagari script

मार्कण्डेय उदाच अर्कपुष्पैस्तु ते पजच गणा: पूज्या धनार्थिभि: | व्याधिप्रशमनार्थ च तेषां पूजां समाचरेत्‌,मार्कण्डेयजी कहते हैं-राजन्‌! धनार्थी पुरुषोंको आकके फूलोंसे उन पाँचों गणोंकी सेवा करनी चाहिये। रोगोंकी शान्तिके लिये भी उनका पूजन करना उचित है

Transliteration

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca—arkapuṣpaistu te pañca gaṇāḥ pūjyā dhanārthibhiḥ | vyādhipraśamanārthaṃ ca teṣāṃ pūjāṃ samācaret ||

Translation

マールカンデーヤは言った。「王よ、財を求める者は、アルカ（arka）の花をもって、あの五つの従者の群（ガナ）を礼拝すべきである。また病を鎮めるためにも、しかるべき作法で彼らの供養を行うがよい。」

Word by Word

मार्कण्डेयःMarkandeya

उवाचsaid

अर्कपुष्पैःwith arka-flowers (Calotropis flowers)

तुindeed/but

तेthose

पञ्चfive

गणाःgroups/attendant deities (ganas)

पूज्याःto be worshipped

धनार्थिभिःby those desiring wealth

व्याधिप्रशमनार्थम्for the purpose of pacifying disease

चand

तेषाम्of them

पूजाम्worship

समाचरेत्should perform/should practice

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

King (rājan)

arka flowers (arkapuṣpa)

five gaṇas (pañca gaṇāḥ)

wealth (dhana)

disease/illness (vyādhi)

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?

The verse teaches that disciplined worship (pūjā) directed to specific divine hosts, using prescribed offerings (arka-flowers), is recommended for two aims: prosperity (dhanārtha) and the alleviation of illness (vyādhi-praśamana). It frames ritual devotion as a dharmic means to seek well-being without harm to others.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya addresses a king and gives practical religious instruction: he specifies an offering (arka flowers) and identifies the recipients (five gaṇas), explaining the intended benefits—wealth for those who seek it and relief from disease.