Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

अध:शायी कुम्भकर्णो यताहारो यतव्रतः । विभीषण: शीर्णपर्णमेकम भ्यवहारयन्‌,कुम्भकर्णने भी आहारका संयम किया। वह भूमिपर सोता और कठोर नियमोंका पालन करता था। विभीषण केवल एक सूखा पत्ता खाकर रहते थे

Transliteration

adhaḥśāyī kumbhakarṇo yatāhāro yatavrataḥ | vibhīṣaṇaḥ śīrṇaparṇam ekam abhyavahārayan |

Translation

マールカンデーヤは語った。「クンバカルナは地に伏し、食を慎み、厳しい誓戒を守った。これに対しヴィビーシャナは、枯れた葉一枚のみを食として身を支えた。」この段は、苦行と自制を倫理の鍛錬として示し、同じ血統のうちにある節制のあり方の差を対照している。

Word by Word

अधःशायीlying on the ground (one who lies below)

कुम्भकर्णःKumbhakarna

यताहारःrestrained in food; of controlled diet

यतव्रतःrestrained in vows; observing strict vows

विभीषणःVibhishana

शीर्णपर्णम्a withered/dry leaf

एकम्one (single)

अभ्यवहारयन्eating; consuming

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Kumbhakarṇa

Vibhīṣaṇa

withered leaf (śīrṇa-parṇa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores ethical self-mastery: restraint in food (yatāhāra) and steadfast observance of vows (yatavrata) are presented as forms of disciplined living, where simplicity and control over appetite support moral steadiness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya describes two figures practicing austerity: Kumbhakarṇa sleeps on the ground while maintaining dietary restraint and vows, and Vibhīṣaṇa survives on only a single withered leaf, emphasizing extreme simplicity.