Shloka 4

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

Sanskrit

स गत्वा वसुधापालो दिव्यां वाराणसीं पुरीम् । नैषा मनुष्यभोग्येति शूलपाणेः परिग्रहः ॥

Transliteration

sa gatvā vasudhāpālo divyāṁ vārāṇasīṁ purīm / naiṣā manuṣyabhogyeti śūlapāṇeḥ parigrahaḥ //

Translation

தெய்வீகமான வாராணசீ நகரை அடைந்த அந்த பூமிபதி உணர்ந்தான்—“இது மனித இன்பத்திற்கான இடமல்ல; இது சூலபாணி (சிவன்) அவர்களின் உரிமை.”

Word by Word

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; pronoun

• gatvā: having gone
• gatvā: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having gone’

• vasudhā-pālaḥ: the earth-protector (king)
• vasudhā-pālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasudhā (प्रातिपदिक) + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘protector of the earth’

• divyām: divine
• divyām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; agrees with purīm

• vārāṇasīm: Vārāṇasī
• vārāṇasīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vārāṇasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• purīm: city
• purīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• eṣā: this (city)
• eṣā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• manuṣya-bhogyā: fit to be enjoyed by humans
• manuṣya-bhogyā: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (प्रधानविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manuṣya (प्रातिपदिक) + bhogya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘enjoyable by humans’

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति—उद्धरणसूचक-अव्यय)

• śūla-pāṇeḥ: of Śūlapāṇi (Śiva)
• śūla-pāṇeḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक) + pāṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः: ‘he whose hand holds a trident’ (Śiva)

• parigrahaḥ: possession/consortship (belonging)
• parigrahaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

Speakers

• Narratorial verse within the Markandeya Purana’s discourse (frame context not explicitly given in the input); not a direct speech quotation

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Shiva (Śūlapāṇi)

Key Themes

• Tirtha/Kshetra Mahatmya
• Sacred Geography
• Renunciation vs. Possessiveness
• Divine Sovereignty over holy places
• Kingship restrained by Dharma

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even a king—symbol of worldly authority—must recognize limits set by Dharma: certain realms (kṣetras) are not objects for exploitation or pleasure. The verse teaches restraint (saṁyama) and reverence: the sacred is approached for purification and devotion, not for consumption or ownership.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This verse aligns most closely with Vamśānucarita/Carita (narrative of exemplary conduct) and indirectly supports Dharma-oriented kṣetra-māhātmya material rather than Sarga/Pratisarga/Manvantara proper. It functions as a didactic episode within the Purāṇic narrative framework.

What is the esoteric significance?

Vārāṇasī is presented as a ‘divine city’ under Śiva’s direct lordship; calling it ‘not for human enjoyment’ signals that the kṣetra is a liminal space where ordinary egoic appropriation must cease. Esoterically, the ‘king’ can also symbolize the ruling ego-mind, which, upon entering the sacred interior (Kāśī), must surrender claims of possession to the higher Lord (Śiva).