Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 23, Shloka 25
Adhyaya 23 — Ashvatara’s Vow for Madalasa and the Bestowal of Musical Science by Sarasvati
नागराडश्वतर उवाच यद्यशक्यमिति ज्ञात्वा न करिष्यन्ति मानवाः ।
कर्मण्युद्यममुद्योगहाण्या हानिस्ततः परम् ॥
nāgarāḍ aśvatara uvāca yady aśakyam iti jñātvā na kariṣyanti mānavāḥ | karmaṇy udyamam udyoga-hānyā hānis tataḥ param ||
ナーガ王アシュヴァタラは言った。「『不可能だ』と思って人々が行動しないなら、行為における発意と努力を失うがゆえに、たださらなる破滅が続くのみである。」
{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "vira", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
FAQs
Despair (‘impossible’) is itself a cause of downfall; dharma requires udyama—steady exertion. Even uncertain outcomes do not justify abandoning right effort.
Ethical upadeśa embedded in narrative (Ākhyāna), not a pañcalakṣaṇa category proper.
Udyama is the inner ‘prāṇa’ of sādhana; when effort collapses, the subtle current that supports mantra and tapas dissipates, producing ‘hāni’ (spiritual and worldly).