Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 22, Shloka 27

Adhyaya 22 — Kuvalayashva’s Death through Daitya-Deceit and Madalasa’s Self-Immolation

Sanskrit

राजा च तां मृतां दृष्ट्वा विना भर्त्रा मदालसाम् ।

प्रत्युवाच जनं सर्वं विमृश्य सुस्थमानसः ॥

Transliteration

rājā ca tāṃ mṛtāṃ dṛṣṭvā vinā bhartrā madālasām /

pratyuvāca janaṃ sarvaṃ vimṛśya susthamānasaḥ

Translation

Ang hari, nang makita si Mādālasā na patay at wala na ang kanyang asawa, ay sumagot sa buong bayan matapos magnilay nang may matatag na isip.

Word by Word

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मृताम्: dead
• मृताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृत (कृदन्त; √मृ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• विना: without
• विना: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: उपपद-अव्यय; तृतीया-योग्य (governs instrumental)

• भर्त्रा: with (her) husband / by the husband
• भर्त्रा: Sahakarana/Apadana (सह/अपादान-संबन्धः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• मदालसाम्: Madālasā
• मदालसाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदालसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; नामविशेष

• प्रत्युवाच: replied / spoke in return
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• जनम्: the people
• जनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of जनम्)

• विमृश्य: having reflected
• विमृश्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि-√मृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• सुस्थमानसः: one whose mind was steady/calm
• सुस्थमानसः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुस्थ-मानस (प्रातिपदिक; सुस्थ + मानस)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (of राजा)

Speakers

• King (addressing the gathered people)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Viveka (discernment)
• Stoic kingship
• Instruction after tragedy
• Mental steadiness

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The ideal response to calamity is reflection leading to steadiness, not impulsive despair. The king models dhairya (fortitude) and prepares to teach anityatā.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Didactic royal narrative (vaṃśānucarita-type), functioning as an ethical instruction segment.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘king’ symbolizes the buddhi (higher intellect). When buddhi is ‘steady,’ it can address and pacify the ‘people’ (sense-mind complex).