Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 43, Shloka 55

Adhyaya 43 — Portents of Death (Ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇas) and the Yogin’s Response; Alarka Renounces Kingship

Sanskrit

द्रवपूर्णमुपादाय पात्रमारोहतो भुवः ।

तुङ्गमार्गं विलोक्योच्चैर्विज्ञातं किं न योगिना ॥

Transliteration

dravapūrṇam upādāya pātram ārohato bhuvaḥ | tuṅgamārgaṃ vilokyoccair vijñātaṃ kiṃ na yoginā ||

Translation

Magdala ng sisidlang punô ng likido at makita ang (isang tao) na umaakyat mula sa lupa sa matarik na daan—ano pa ang hindi mauunawaan ng yogin tungkol sa maingat na balanse at pag-akyat?

Word by Word

• drava-pūrṇam: filled with liquid
• drava-pūrṇam: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: drava + pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies pātram

• upādāya: having taken
• upādāya: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: upa + ā + dā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), 'having taken up'

• pātram: a vessel
• pātram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ārohataḥ: of (one) ascending
• ārohataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā + ruh (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ) used in Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; 'of one who is ascending'

• bhuvaḥ: from the earth
• bhuvaḥ: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative-source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक: bhuvan/bhū)
• Form: Feminine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (bhuvaḥ = bhū + abl. sg.); 'from the earth/ground'

• tuṅga-mārgam: the lofty path
• tuṅga-mārgam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tuṅga + mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; 'lofty path' as karmadhāraya

• vilokya: having observed
• vilokya: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi + lok (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), 'having looked/observed'

• uccaiḥ: high/upwards
• uccaiḥ: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uccaiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• vijñātam: known/understood
• vijñātam: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi + jñā (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular; used predicatively: 'is known/has been understood'

• kim: what?
• kim: Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative focus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; interrogative pronoun

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• yoginā: by a yogin
• yoginā: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण/Agent-instrument in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

Speakers

• Didactic narrator

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Mindfulness
• Balance
• Care in ascent
• Discernment
• Yoga as skillful means

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Spiritual ascent requires steady attentiveness; a small lapse spills the ‘liquid.’ The yogin learns to move carefully through difficult terrain (inner and outer).

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Instructional ethics/discipline; not sarga etc.

What is the esoteric significance?

The liquid-filled vessel can symbolize prāṇa or concentrated awareness. The steep path is suṣumṇā/inner ascent: steadiness prevents dissipation.