Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 75, Shloka 36

Adhyaya 75 — The Fall and Restoration of Revatī Nakṣatra and the Birth of Raivata Manu

Sanskrit

स ददर्श महात्मानं राजानं दुर्गमं मुनिः ।

नरेन्द्रचिह्नसहितं प्रश्रयावनतं पुरः ॥

Transliteration

sa dadarśa mahātmānaṃ rājānaṃ durgamaṃ muniḥ |

narendracihnasahitaṃ praśrayāvanataṃ puraḥ ||

Translation

ਉਸ ਰਿਸ਼ੀ ਨੇ ਮਹਾਤਮਾ ਰਾਜਾ ਦੁਰਗਮ ਨੂੰ ਵੇਖਿਆ—ਰਾਜਸੀ ਲੱਛਣਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਯੁਕਤ, ਨਿਮਰਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਆਦਰ ਨਾਲ ਝੁਕਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ, ਆਪਣੇ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਖੜਾ ਸੀ।

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• mahātmānam: great-souled
• mahātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (mahān ātmā yasya), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying rājānam)

• rājānam: the king
• rājānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• durgamam: hard to approach
• durgamam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durgama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying rājānam)

• muniḥ: the sage
• muniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• narendracihnasahitam: accompanied by royal insignia
• narendracihnasahitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: narendra (प्रातिपदिक) + cihna (प्रातिपदिक) + sahita (प्रातिपदिक/क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (narendrasya cihnaiḥ sahitaḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying rājānam)

• praśraya-avanatam: bowed in humility
• praśraya-avanatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praśraya (प्रातिपदिक) + avanata (प्रातिपदिक/क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (praśrayena avanataḥ = bowed with humility), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• puraḥ: in front
• puraḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: puras (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: in front)

Speakers

• Mārkaṇḍeya narrating

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Humility before sages
• Royal insignia vs spiritual authority
• Meeting protocol

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

True greatness is shown when power bows to wisdom; the king’s external signs are subordinated to inner reverence.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita (ethical depiction of a ruler’s comportment).

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘insignia’ represent ego-identities; bowing indicates their temporary suspension in the presence of higher knowledge.