Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 20, Shloka 20

Adhyaya 20 — Ritadhvaja’s Companionship with the Naga Princes and the Origin of the Horse Kuvalaya

Sanskrit

अनापृष्टकथो वाग्मी विद्वान् मैत्रो गुणाकरः ।

मान्यमानयिता धीमान् ह्रीमान् विनयभूषणः ॥

Transliteration

anāpṛṣṭakatho vāgmī vidvān maitro guṇākaraḥ |

mānyamānayitā dhīmān hrīmān vinaya-bhūṣaṇaḥ ||

Translation

“ລາວບໍ່ເວົ້າໂດຍບໍ່ຖືກຖາມ; ລາວເວົ້າເກັ່ງ, ຮູ້ຫຼາຍ, ເປັນມິດ, ເປັນຄັງແຫ່ງຄຸນຄ່າ; ນັບຖືຜູ້ຄວນນັບຖື, ສະຫຼາດ, ຖ່ອມຕົນ, ແລະ ປະດັບດ້ວຍຈັນຍາດີ.”

Word by Word

• anāpṛṣṭa-kathaḥ: one who speaks unasked
• anāpṛṣṭa-kathaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: an- (नञ्) + āpṛṣṭa (ā-√pṛcch धातु, क्त) + katha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (तत्पुरुष): ‘anāpṛṣṭā kathā yasya’ (one whose talk is unasked / who speaks without being asked); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• vāgmī: eloquent
• vāgmī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāgmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• vidvān: learned
• vidvān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidvas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• maitraḥ: friendly
• maitraḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• guṇa-ākaraḥ: treasury of virtues
• guṇa-ākaraḥ: Viśeṣya-nāma/Upādhi (उपाधि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ākara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (तत्पुरुष): ‘guṇānām ākaraḥ’ (mine/store of virtues); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• mānya-mānayitā: honorer of the worthy
• mānya-mānayitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānya (प्रातिपदिक) + mānayitṛ (√man धातु, णिच् + तृच्)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (तत्पुरुष): ‘mānyān mānayati’ (one who honors the honorable); Agent noun (कर्तृवाचक तृच्), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• dhīmān: intelligent
• dhīmān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• hrīmān: modest
• hrīmān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• vinaya-bhūṣaṇaḥ: ornament of humility
• vinaya-bhūṣaṇaḥ: Viśeṣya-nāma/Upādhi (उपाधि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vinaya (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound (तत्पुरुष): ‘vinayasya bhūṣaṇam’ (ornament of humility); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speakers

• Nāga-sons to their father (reported by Jaḍa)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "bhakti", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Ethics of speech (anāpṛṣṭa-kathā)
• Virtue catalogue (guṇa)
• Royal/ideal personality traits
• Vinaya and hrī

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

A compact dharma-profile: restraint in speech, learning, friendliness, and humility are presented as the true ornaments of a person—more valuable than status or power.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Didactic characterization within vaṃśānucarita-style storytelling (describing a notable person’s virtues), though not a formal dynastic list.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Not speaking unasked’ indicates mastery over vāk-indriya; such restraint is a subtle tapas that preserves prāṇa and steadies manas, enabling higher clarity (dhī).