Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 43, Shloka 39

Adhyaya 43 — Portents of Death (Ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇas) and the Yogin’s Response; Alarka Renounces Kingship

Sanskrit

विलोक्या विशदा चैषां फलपङ्क्तिः सुभीषणाः ।

विज्ञाय कार्यो मनसि स च कालो नरेश्वर ॥

Transliteration

vilokyā viśadā caiṣāṃ phalapaṅktiḥ subhīṣaṇāḥ / vijñāya kāryo manasi sa ca kālo nareśvara

Translation

ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਾਫ਼ ਤੌਰ ਤੇ ਵੇਖ ਕੇ, ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਫਲਾਂ ਦਾ ਕ੍ਰਮ—ਬਹੁਤ ਹੀ ਭਿਆਨਕ—ਮਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੱਕਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ; ਅਤੇ ਹੇ ਨਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ, ਉਸ ਕਾਲ ਨੂੰ ਪਛਾਣਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• विलोक्य: having observed
• विलोक्य: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + लोक् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव/Absolutive), ‘having seen/after observing’

• विशदा: clear, distinct
• विशदा: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom.), एकवचन; agrees with फलपङ्क्तिः

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/Conjunction)

• एषाम्: of these
• एषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen.), बहुवचन; ‘of these’

• फलपङ्क्तिः: the series/row of results
• फलपङ्क्तिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फलपङ्क्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom.), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: फलानां पङ्क्तिः

• सुभीषणा: very dreadful
• सुभीषणा: विशेषण (Qualifier of फलपङ्क्तिः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुभीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: सु + भीषण (very terrible)

• विज्ञाय: having understood
• विज्ञाय: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव/Absolutive), ‘having ascertained’

• कार्यः: should be done
• कार्यः: विधेय (Predicative obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + यत् (कृत्) / कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (भाव्य/gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; predicative: ‘to be done/should be done’

• मनसि: in the mind
• मनसि: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc.), एकवचन; ‘in the mind’

• सः: that (one)
• सः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom.), एकवचन; ‘he/that’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/Conjunction)

• कालः: time
• कालः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom.), एकवचन

• नरेश्वर: O lord of men (king)
• नरेश्वर: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Voc.), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: नराणाम् ईश्वरः

Speakers

• Instructional voice addressing King Alarka (ālarka)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Yoga
• Discernment (viveka)
• Time (kāla) and destiny
• Ariṣṭa interpretation

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The teaching emphasizes sober discernment: even frightening indications are to be registered clearly, not sensationalized; the mind is trained to recognize ‘the time’ for decisive spiritual effort.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Didactic instruction (dharma/yoga upadeśa) rather than the five lakṣaṇas; it supports the Purāṇic role of guiding conduct and liberation.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Phalapaṅkti’ suggests karmic sequencing: subtle impressions (saṃskāras) mature in ordered patterns; insight into these patterns is a doorway to non-reactive awareness.