Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

राक्षसा: पुरुषादाश्ष पिशाचाश्न महाबला: । सर्वे समेत्य राजानमभ्यषिज्चन्‌ दशाननम्‌,नरभक्षी राक्षस तथा महाबली पिशाच--सबने मिलकर दशमुख रावणको राक्षसराजके पदपर अभिषिक्त किया

Transliteration

rākṣasāḥ puruṣādāś ca piśācāś ca mahābalāḥ | sarve sametya rājānam abhyasiñcan daśānanam ||

Translation

マールカンデーヤは語った。「人喰いの強大なラークシャサたちと、力あるピシャーチャたちは皆集い、ダシャーナナ（十の顔を持つ者）を王として灌頂し、戴いた。」

Word by Word

राक्षसाःrakshasas (demons)

पुरुषादाःman-eaters

पिशाचाःpisachas (ghouls)

महाबलाःvery strong, mighty

सर्वेall

समेत्यhaving assembled / having come together

राजानम्the king

अभ्यषिञ्चन्they anointed / consecrated

दशाननम्the ten-faced one (Ravana)

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Mārkaṇḍeya

Rākṣasas

Piśācas

Daśānana (Rāvaṇa)

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 contrasts mere power-based enthronement with dharmic legitimacy: a ruler can be installed by forceful factions, but such authority—rooted in predation and fear—stands ethically compromised.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya narrates that the Rākṣasas and Piśācas gathered and performed an abhiṣeka (royal consecration), installing Daśānana (Rāvaṇa) as their king.