Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 19, Shloka 11

Adhyaya 19 — Kartavirya Arjuna at Dattatreya’s Ashram: Boons, Sovereignty, and Vaishnava Praise

Sanskrit

लक्ष्मीसामेतं गीतैश्च ब्राह्मणानां तथार्चनैः ।

वाद्यैर्मनोहरैर्वीणा-वेणु-शङ्खादिभिस्तथा ॥

Transliteration

lakṣmīsametaṃ gītaiś ca brāhmaṇānāṃ tathārccanaiḥ /

vādyair manoramair vīṇā-veṇu-śaṅkhādibhis tathā

Translation

—(pagsamba) na may kasamang Lakṣmī, na may mga awit, at gayundin ang paggalang sa mga Brāhmaṇa; at may mga kaaya-ayang instrumentong pangmusika gaya ng vīṇā, plauta, kabibe (conch), at mga katulad nito—

Word by Word

• lakṣmī-sametam: accompanied by Lakṣmī
• lakṣmī-sametam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lakṣmī (प्रातिपदिक) + sameta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'accompanied by Lakṣmī' (qualifying an implied object of worship)

• gītaiḥ: with songs
• gītaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gīta (कृदन्त; √gai)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चय)

• brāhmaṇānām: of Brahmins
• brāhmaṇānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'likewise/also'

• arcanaiḥ: with acts of worship
• arcanaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arcana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• vādyaiḥ: with musical instruments
• vādyaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• manoharaiḥ: charming
• manoharaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manohara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; agreeing with vādyaiḥ

• vīṇā-veṇu-śaṅkha-ādibhiḥ: with vīṇā, flute, conch, etc.
• vīṇā-veṇu-śaṅkha-ādibhiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīṇā (प्रातिपदिक) + veṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; list-compound with ādi: 'with vīṇā, flute, conch, etc.'

• tathā: also/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

Speakers

• Dattātreya speaking (to Kārtavīrya)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Dattātreya
• Lakṣmī

Shakti Aspects

• Lakṣmī (as auspicious accompaniment; not Devi-Māhātmya context)

Key Themes

• Auspicious worship
• Dāna to Brāhmaṇas
• Saṅgīta in ritual
• Śrī (prosperity)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Ritual is not isolated piety: it includes social dharma—especially honoring learned and virtuous Brāhmaṇas—and cultivating auspiciousness (śrī) through orderly, uplifting celebration.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita/Vamśānucarita-oriented narrative material: it supports the biography of a king and the means (devotional acts) by which sovereignty is legitimized.

What is the esoteric significance?

Music and śaṅkha are classic markers of maṅgala (auspicious vibration). ‘Lakṣmīsameta’ hints that worship aligned with dharma naturally attracts śrī—order, beauty, and prosperity.