Shloka 19

Mārkaṇḍeya’s Consolation to the King: Exempla of Rāma and the Efficacy of Allies (मार्कण्डेयाश्वासनम्)

Devanagari script

खर: शूर्पणखा चैव तेषां वै तप्यतां तप: । परिचर्या च रक्षां च चक्रतुर्हष्टमानसौ

Transliteration

kharaḥ śūrpaṇakhā caiva teṣāṃ vai tapyatāṃ tapaḥ | paricaryā ca rakṣāṃ ca cakratur hṛṣṭamānasau ||

Translation

மார்கண்டேயர் கூறினார்—கரனும் சூர்ப்பணகையும் மகிழ்ந்த மனத்துடன் தவத்தில் ஈடுபட்டிருந்த அவர்களுக்கு பணிவிடையும் பாதுகாப்பும் செய்தனர்; அவர்களின் விரத-தவத்தைத் துணைநின்று காத்தனர்.

Word by Word

खरःKhara

शूर्पणखाŚūrpaṇakhā

चand

एवindeed/just

तेषाम्of them / for them

वैindeed (emphatic particle)

तप्यताम्let (them) perform austerity / let (them) be engaged in penance

तपःausterity, penance

परिचर्याम्attendance, service

चand

रक्षाम्protection, guarding

चand

चक्रतुःthey two did/made

हृष्टमानसौwith delighted minds

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Khara

Śūrpaṇakhā

tapas (austerity)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a dharmic ideal: austerity (tapas) is strengthened when supported by paricaryā (attentive service) and rakṣā (protection). Ethical life includes not only personal discipline but also safeguarding and assisting those pursuing spiritual vows.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya narrates that Khara and Śūrpaṇakhā, feeling pleased, took on the roles of attendants and guardians for certain ascetics or vow-keepers, ensuring their penance could proceed without obstruction.