Shloka 23

Adhyaya 28 — Alarka Inquires into Varna and Ashrama Dharma; Madalasa Defines the Fourfold Duties

Sanskrit

एष तूद्देशतः प्रोक्तो गृहस्थस्याश्रमो मया ।

वानप्रस्थस्य धर्मं ते कथयाम्यवधार्यताम् ॥

Transliteration

eṣa tūddeśataḥ prokto gṛhasthasyāśramo mayā /

vānaprasthasya dharmaṃ te kathayāmy avadhāryatām //

Translation

ഇങ്ങനെ സംക്ഷിപ്തമായി ഞാൻ ഗൃഹസ്ഥാശ്രമത്തെ വിവരിച്ചു. ഇനി ഞാൻ നിന്നോട് വാനപ്രസ്ഥധർമ്മം പറയും; അതു ശ്രദ്ധയോടെ ശ്രവിക്കണം।

Word by Word

• एषः: this
• एषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक/विरोधार्थक (indeed/but)

• उद्देशतः: briefly/in outline
• उद्देशतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उद्देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): 'in brief/according to outline'

• प्रोक्तः: has been stated
• प्रोक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (आश्रमः)

• गृहस्थस्य: of the householder
• गृहस्थस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृहस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आश्रमः: stage of life (āśrama)
• आश्रमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम; तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/कर्तृ), एकवचन

• वानप्रस्थस्य: of the forest-dweller (vānaprastha)
• वानप्रस्थस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानप्रस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धर्मम्: duty
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम; चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• कथयामि: I tell/describe
• कथयामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु, णिच्)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• अवधार्यताम्: let it be understood
• अवधार्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√धृ (धातु) → अवधार्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive): 'let it be understood/ascertained'

Speakers

• Dharma-instruction narrative voice (contextual teacher-speaker within Markandeya Purana’s didactic discourse)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Textual structure
• Āśrama system
• Vānaprastha

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma is taught progressively: first stabilizing society through gṛhastha duties, then guiding withdrawal. The listener is urged toward attentive assimilation, not casual hearing.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Meta-didactic connective tissue within the Purāṇa; outside direct pancalakṣaṇa categories.

What is the esoteric significance?

The shift from ‘outline’ to the next āśrama mirrors inner evolution: once duties are internalized, the seeker is ready for subtler disciplines of detachment.