Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 24, Shloka 15

Adhyaya 24 — Kuvalayashva’s Refusal of Gifts and the Vision of Madalasa’s Maya

Sanskrit

नाग उवाच यदि रत्नसुवर्णादि मत्तोऽवाप्तुं न ते मनः ।

यदन्यन्मनसः प्रीत्यै तद्ब्रूहि त्वं ददाम्यहम् ॥

Transliteration

nāga uvāca yadi ratna-suvarṇādi matto 'vāptuṃ na te manaḥ |

yad anyan manasaḥ prītyai tad brūhi tvaṃ dadāmy aham ||

Translation

Wika ng Nāga: Kung ang iyong isip ay hindi nagnanais tumanggap ng mga hiyas, ginto, at katulad mula sa akin, sabihin mo kung ano pa ang makalulugod sa iyong puso—ibibigay ko iyon.

Word by Word

• nāgaḥ: the serpent
• nāgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (लिट्, Perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), conditional particle

• ratna-suvarṇa-ādi: jewels, gold, etc.
• ratna-suvarṇa-ādi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratna (प्रातिपदिक) + suvarṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāhāra-dvandva (समाहार-द्वन्द्व) with ādi; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) (as a class/collection)

• mattaḥ: from me
• mattaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: First person pronoun (अस्मद्), Ablative (पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• avāptum: to obtain
• avāptum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√āp (धातु)
• Form: Tumun-infinitive (तुमुन्), ‘to obtain’

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), negation particle

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• manaḥ: mind; desire
• manaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• yat: whatever
• yat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun (यद्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• anyat: other (thing)
• anyat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); with yat

• manasaḥ: of (your) mind
• manasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• prītyai: for pleasure/satisfaction
• prītyai: Sampradāna / Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Dative (चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• brūhi: tell (me)
• brūhi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √brū (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्, Imperative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Madhyama-puruṣa (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• dadāmi: I give
• dadāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्, Present), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Uttama-puruṣa (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speakers

• Nāga speaking to the prince

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Boon-giving
• Non-attachment
• Right desire (kāma-niyama)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse distinguishes between material and higher aims: refusal of gold/jewels hints at vairāgya or at least disciplined desire. The benefactor invites the seeker to articulate a worthy, heart-aligned request.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Narrative ethics (ākhyāna) focused on conduct and intention; not pañcalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

A ‘Nāga’ as guardian of subterranean treasure symbolizes latent siddhis/resources. The teaching: if one does not chase glittering externals, subtler fulfillments (dharma-appropriate boons) become accessible.