Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 23, Shloka 77

Adhyaya 23 — Ashvatara’s Vow for Madalasa and the Bestowal of Musical Science by Sarasvati

Sanskrit

कस्मान्नानीयते वत्सावुपकाराय मानदः ।

एवमुक्तौ ततस्तेन पित्रा स्नेहवता तु तौ ॥

Transliteration

kasmān nānīyate vatsāv upakārāya mānadaḥ |

evam uktau tatas tena pitrā snehavatā tu tau ||

Translation

‘ਹੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਪੁੱਤਰੋ, ਉਸ ਦੇ ਉਪਕਾਰ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਤਿਦਾਨ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ, ਹੇ ਮਾਨਦ, ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਉਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਲਿਆਂਦਾ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ?’ ਇਹ ਸੁਣ ਕੇ ਸਨੇਹੀ ਪਿਤਾ ਨੇ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੋਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪਿਆਰ ਨਾਲ ਉੱਤਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ।

Word by Word

• कस्मात्: from what? why?
• कस्मात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• आनीयते: is brought
• आनीयते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Passive voice (कर्मणि प्रयोग), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• वत्सौ: the two boys/sons (dear ones)
• वत्सौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन)

• उपकाराय: for help/assistance
• उपकाराय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• मानदः: the honor-giver (a person so named/epithet)
• मानदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• उक्तौ: when (it) was said thus
• उक्तौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृत् प्रत्यय), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Dual (द्विवचन); ‘when (these two) were spoken to/when it was said thus’

• ततः: then
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• पित्रा: by the father
• पित्रा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• स्नेहवता: affectionate
• स्नेहवता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्नेहवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying ‘पित्रा’

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) indicating contrast/emphasis

• तौ: those two (them)
• तौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

Speakers

• Nāga-king (father) to his two sons

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Filial duty
• Gratitude
• Honor and social obligation

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The narrative reinforces that gratitude is not merely private feeling but must become timely action; honor (māna) is sustained by fulfilling obligations.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita with social-dharma emphasis (ācāra): how rulers/elders instruct dependents to uphold reciprocal duty.

What is the esoteric significance?

The father’s ‘affectionate’ authority symbolizes benevolent inner governance—discipline guided by care rather than fear.