Shloka 5
Mārkaṇḍeya’s Consolation to the King: Exempla of Rāma and the Efficacy of Allies (मार्कण्डेयाश्वासनम्)
पुष्पोत्कटा च राका च मालिनी च विशाम्पते । अन्योन्यस्पर्धया राजन् श्रेयस्कामा: सुमध्यमा:,महाराज! उनके नाम थे--पुष्पोत्कटा, राका तथा मालिनी। वे तीनों सुन्दरियाँ अपना भला चाहती थीं। इसलिये एक-दूसरीसे स्पर्धा रखकर मुनिकी सेवा करती थीं
puṣpotkaṭā ca rākā ca mālinī ca viśāmpate | anyonyaspardhayā rājan śreyaskāmāḥ sumadhyamāḥ ||
マールカンデーヤは言った。「おお、民の主よ。プシュポートカター、ラーカー、マーリニーという三人の女がいた。細き腰をもち、自らの最高の善を求めるがゆえに、王よ、彼女らは互いに競い合って献身の奉仕に励み、それぞれが他の二人を凌ごうとした。」
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the pursuit of śreyas (higher welfare) through disciplined service: even rivalry can be ethically redirected into constructive striving—competing to do better in devotion and duty rather than in harm or envy.
Mārkaṇḍeya introduces three women—Puṣpotkaṭā, Rākā, and Mālinī—describing how, motivated by their own welfare, they competed with one another to excel in service (to a sage/muni, as implied by the surrounding context).