Shloka 124

Adhyaya 8 — Harishchandra’s Trial: Truth, the Sale of Family, and Bondage to a Chandala

Sanskrit

जीर्णकर्पण्टसुग्रन्थिकृतकन्थापरिग्रहः ।

चिताभस्मरजोलिप्तमुखबाहूदराङ्घ्रकः ॥

Transliteration

jīrṇa-karpaṇṭa-su-granthi-kṛta-kanthā-parigrahaḥ / citā-bhasma-rajo-lipta-mukha-bāhūdarāṅghrakaḥ

Translation

स खण्डग्रन्थितजीर्णवस्त्रं परिधानं कृत्वा, श्मशानचिता-भस्मरजसा मुखबाहूदरऊरुपादान् लिप्तवान्।

Word by Word

• जीर्ण: worn-out, tattered
• जीर्ण: विशेषणम् (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जीर्ण (कृदन्त; √जॄ/जॄण्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम्; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषणम् — Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; past participle used adjectivally

• कर्पण्ट: rag, patchwork cloth
• कर्पण्ट: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्पण्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग) — Masculine, Nominative, Singular (as compound member)

• सुग्रन्थि: well-knotted
• सुग्रन्थि: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुग्रन्थि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग); विशेषणम् — Masculine, Nominative, Singular (compound member); adjective

• कृत: made, fashioned
• कृत: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग); भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषणम् — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; past participle

• कन्था: patched cloak, mantle
• कन्था: कर्म (Object/कर्म) (internal to compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग) — Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (object within compound)

• परिग्रहः: possession, wearing/holding
• परिग्रहः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् — Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• चिता: of a funeral pyre
• चिता: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे षष्ठी-एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग) — Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (as compound member)

• भस्म: ash
• भस्म: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग) — Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular (compound member)

• रजः: dust
• रजः: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग) — Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular (compound member)

• लिप्त: smeared, coated
• लिप्त: समासाङ्ग (Compound member)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिप्त (कृदन्त; √लिप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग); भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषणम् — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; past participle

• मुख: face
• मुख: अधिकरण/अवयव (Body-part locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग) — Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular (compound member)

• बाहू: arms
• बाहू: अवयव (Body part)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्विवचनम् (समासाङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया) — Masculine, Dual (Nom/Acc) as compound member

• उदर: belly
• उदर: अवयव (Body part)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (समासाङ्ग) — Neuter, Nom/Acc Singular (compound member)

• अङ्घ्रकः: feet (and the rest) / having feet (smeared)
• अङ्घ्रकः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता) (as descriptor of the person)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्घ्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (समासान्त) — Masculine, Nominative, Singular (compound final)

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Markandeya Purana (frame-speakers not identifiable from excerpt alone)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "bibhatsa", "secondaryRasa": "karuna", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Karma and consequence
• Impurity and liminality (śmaśāna imagery)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Association with the cremation-ground and a life marked by neglect, grief, or adharma is depicted through external signs—rags and pyre-ash—showing how inner collapse manifests outwardly. The verse functions as a warning: one’s choices and attachments can drive one toward states of social and ritual marginality.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily Vamśānucarita/Carita (exemplary narrative about an individual’s fate) used to teach dharma; not directly Sarga/Pratisarga/Manvantara/Vamśa in this excerpt.

What is the esoteric significance?

Pyre-ash symbolizes impermanence (anityatā) and the stripping away of worldly identity. The ragged cloak and ash-smeared body portray a forced ‘vairāgya’ (dispassion) born of suffering rather than insight.