Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 23, Shloka 103

Adhyaya 23 — Ashvatara’s Vow for Madalasa and the Bestowal of Musical Science by Sarasvati

Sanskrit

मणिविद्रुमवैदूर्य-जालान्तरितरूपके ।

स ताभ्यां दर्शितस्तस्य तातोऽस्माकमसाविति ॥

Transliteration

maṇi-vidruma-vaidūrya-jālāntarita-rūpake | sa tābhyāṃ darśitas tasya tāto 'smākam asāv iti ||

Translation

Sa loob ng anyong iyon na hinabing parang sala-sala ng mga hiyas, korales, at vaidūrya, itinuro siya ng dalawang iyon: “Ito ang aming ama.”

Word by Word

• maṇi-vidruma-vaidūrya-jāla-antarita-rūpake: in the figure/image interlaced with nets of gems, coral, and vaidūrya
• maṇi-vidruma-vaidūrya-jāla-antarita-rūpake: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + vidruma (प्रातिपदिक) + vaidūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + jāla (प्रातिपदिक) + antarita (कृदन्त; √tṝ/antar?; here ‘antarita’ = interspersed) + rūpaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (एकवचन); viśeṣaṇa/adhikaraṇa: ‘in/at the image/figure interlaced with nets of gems, coral, and cat’s-eye’

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (1/प्रथमा), Ekavacana (एकवचन); sarvanāma

• tābhyām: by those two
• tābhyām: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3/तृतीया), Dvivacana (द्विवचन); instrumental ‘by those two (women)’

• darśitaḥ: was shown
• darśitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु) + darśita (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: Bhūtakṛdanta past passive participle (क्त), Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; passive sense ‘having been shown’

• tasya: of him / to him (contextual)
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī (6/षष्ठी), Ekavacana; sambandha (सम्बन्ध)

• tātaḥ: father
• tātaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; predicate nominative

• asmākam: of us
• asmākam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ṣaṣṭhī (6/षष्ठी), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); genitive ‘of us’

• asau: that one (there)
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; deictic pronoun

• iti: thus
• iti: Vacana-sūcaka (वचनसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग) marking direct speech

Speakers

• Narrative voice; the ‘two’ speak the identification

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Lineage recognition
• Family identity
• Courtly ornamentation

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The narrative emphasizes continuity of family and duty: recognition of the father becomes the doorway for reverence (namaskāra), blessing, and later moral instruction.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Again, it functions within Vaṃśānucarita/ākhyāna (royal-family narrative), not within cosmological sarga/pratisarga.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘jeweled lattice’ can symbolize māyā’s splendor through which true relation (pitṛ-sambandha) must be discerned—identity is affirmed beyond external brilliance.