Shloka 29

Adhyaya 61 — The Second Manvantara Begins: The Brahmin’s Swift Journey and Varuthini’s Temptation on Himavat

Sanskrit

प्रयास्यामि क्रियाहानिमग्निशुश्रूषणादिकम् ।

कथमत्र करिष्यामि सङ्कटं महदागतम् ॥

Transliteration

prayāsyāmi kriyāhānim agniśuśrūṣaṇādikam | katham atra kariṣyāmi saṅkaṭaṃ mahad āgatam ||

Translation

అగ్నిహోత్రాది నియత కర్తవ్యములలో నేను విఘాతం పొందబోతున్నాను; నాపై మహా ఆపద వచ్చి పడింది—ఇప్పుడు ఇక్కడ నేను ఏ విధంగా ప్రవర్తించాలి?

Word by Word

• prayāsyāmi: I shall go/set out
• prayāsyāmi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā या (धातु) + pra-
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्; periphrastic future), Uttama-puruṣa (उत्तमपुरुष/1st person), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• kriyāhānim: loss of (ritual) duties
• kriyāhānim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā-hāni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; tatpuruṣa: kriyāyāḥ hāniḥ

• agniśuśrūṣaṇa-ādikam: fire-service and the like
• agniśuśrūṣaṇa-ādikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni-śuśrūṣaṇa-ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: agneḥ śuśrūṣaṇam; with ādi-suffix meaning 'etc.'

• katham: how?
• katham: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्नवाचक-अव्यय)

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• kariṣyāmi: shall I do
• kariṣyāmi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ कृ (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्; future), Uttama-puruṣa, Singular, Parasmaipada

• saṅkaṭam: difficulty/crisis
• saṅkaṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅkaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• mahat: great
• mahat: Karma-pradhāna viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; agrees with saṅkaṭam

• āgatam: that has come/arrived
• āgatam: Karma-pradhāna viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āgata (कृदन्त; √gam गम् + ā-)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Accusative, Singular; agrees with saṅkaṭam

Speakers

• Narrated by Mārkaṇḍeya; the brāhmaṇa’s inner deliberation (implied)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Agni (implicit via agniśuśrūṣaṇa)

Key Themes

• Nitya-karma concern
• Dharma under adversity
• Ritual continuity

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma is not merely ideal but practical: the anxiety is about ‘kriyāhāni’—the moral weight of neglecting daily obligations. The Purāṇic ethic recognizes emergencies while urging conscientiousness.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

It is dharma-upadeśa embedded in narrative (ākhyāna). Not a pancalakṣaṇa core (sarga etc.), but a didactic moment typical of Purāṇas.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘agni’ can be read as inner tapas/awareness; fear of ‘agni-neglect’ hints at vigilance in spiritual practice even when outer circumstances disrupt routine.