Shloka 19

Mārkaṇḍeya’s Birth and Boon; Puṣkara’s Glory; Rāma’s Śrāddha; Refuge-Hymn to Śiva

Devanagari script

अल्पायुषस्त्वस्य मुनिर्बध्वेमां चापि मेखलाम् । यज्ञोपवीतं दंडं च दत्वा चैनमबोधयत्

Transliteration

alpāyuṣastvasya munirbadhvemāṃ cāpi mekhalām | yajñopavītaṃ daṃḍaṃ ca datvā cainamabodhayat

Translation

ครั้นเห็นว่าเด็กนี้มีอายุสั้น มุนีจึงผูกเมขลาไว้ที่เอว แล้วมอบยัชโญปวีตและไม้เท้าให้ พร้อมทั้งสั่งสอนอบรมเขา

Word by Word

• अल्प-आयुषः: of (one) having short life
• अल्प-आयुषः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव): ‘अल्पम् आयुः यस्य’; पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; विशेषण (of ‘अस्य’)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), contrast/emphasis

• अस्य: of this (boy)
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बध्वा: having tied
• बध्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund), √बन्ध्; ‘having tied/bound’

• इमाम्: this
• इमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle): ‘also/even’

• मेखलाम्: girdle
• मेखलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेखला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• यज्ञ-उपवीतम्: sacred thread
• यज्ञ-उपवीतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + उपवीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘यज्ञस्य उपवीतम्’ (sacred thread for sacrifice); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दण्डम्: staff
• दण्डम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय अव्यय (conjunction)

• दत्वा: having given
• दत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund), √दा (to give); ‘having given’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय अव्यय (conjunction)

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अबोधयत्: instructed/made (him) understand
• अबोधयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच् (Causative) ‘to make know/teach’; √बुध्

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration; specific dialogue pair not explicit in this single verse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: अल्पायुषस्त्वस्य = अल्प-आयुषः + तु + अस्य; मुनिर्बध्वेमाम् = मुनिः + बध्वा + इमाम्; चापि = च + अपि; यज्ञोपवीतं = यज्ञ-उपवीतम्; दत्वा चैनम् = दत्वा + च + एनम्.

FAQs

What ritual is described in this verse?

It describes elements of upanayana (initiation): tying the mekhalā (girdle), conferring the yajñopavīta (sacred thread), giving the daṇḍa (staff), and then instructing the student.

What is the ethical or spiritual lesson emphasized here?

Urgency in pursuing dharma and learning: even with a short lifespan, one should be properly initiated and guided toward disciplined study and right conduct.

Why are the mekhalā, yajñopavīta, and daṇḍa significant?

They symbolize restraint and discipline (mekhalā), eligibility and commitment to Vedic study and sacred duty (yajñopavīta), and the regulated life of a student/ascetic under guidance (daṇḍa).