Shloka 2

Adhyaya 71 — The King’s Remorse and the Sage’s Counsel on the Necessity of a Wife

Sanskrit

अनर्घयोग्यता कष्टं स मामाह महामनाः ।

वैकल्यं विप्रमुद्दिश्य तथाहायं निशाचरः ॥

Transliteration

anarghayogyatā kaṣṭaṃ sa mām āha mahāmanāḥ / vaikalyaṃ vipram uddiśya tathāha ayaṃ niśācaraḥ

Translation

“இத்தகைய தகுதியுள்ளவர்க்கு இது வேதனையளிக்கும் தகுதியின்மை!”—என்று அந்த மகாமனத்தவர் பிராமணனின் குறையைச் சுட்டிக் காட்டி என்னிடம் கூறினார்; அதுபோல அந்த நிசாசர ராட்சசனும் கூறினான்।

Word by Word

अनर्घयोग्यताfitness for something priceless (i.e., being worthy)

कष्टम्difficult, painful

सःhe

माम्me

आहsaid, spoke

महामनाःgreat-minded

वैकल्यम्defect, impairment

विप्रम्the brahmin

उद्दिश्यhaving pointed out / intending

तथाthus, in that manner

आहsaid

अयम्this (one)

निशाचरःthe night-roamer (demon)

Speakers

King (recounting) within Markandeya’s narration; references to a “great-minded” person and the rākṣasa’s statement

Key Themes

Conscience and guiltFitness/unfitness (yogyatā)Concern for brāhmaṇa welfareMoral injury

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The king internalizes the critique: dharma is not only outward correction but also recognition of one’s lapse and its impact on the vulnerable (here, the brāhmaṇa).

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ethical instruction embedded in manvantara narrative; not a genealogical vaṃśa list but a dharma-illustration within that epochal setting.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Deficiency’ (vaikalya) can be read as a symbol of incomplete discernment; the episode pushes the ruler toward wholeness through counsel from a seer.