Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 43, Shloka 74

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

Sanskrit

निर्जितामात्यवर्गस्तु त्यक्त्वा मरणजं भयम् ।

सन्दधीत शरं राजा लक्ष्यं उद्दिश्य वैरिणम् ॥

Transliteration

nirjitāmātyavargas tu tyaktvā maraṇajaṃ bhayam / sandadhīta śaraṃ rājā lakṣyam uddiśya vairiṇam

Translation

“Matapos mapasailalim sa pagpipigil ang kaniyang lupon ng mga ministro, at iwaksi ang takot na nagmumula sa kamatayan, dapat itakda ng hari ang palaso at tumudla, na ang kaaway ang siyang target.”

Word by Word

• nirjita-amātya-vargaḥ: (he) whose ministerial faction is subdued
• nirjita-amātya-vargaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirjita (नि+जि, कृदन्त) + amātya (प्रातिपदिक) + varga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—निर्जितः अमात्यवर्गः यस्य सः (whose minister-group is conquered)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषणार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• tyaktvā: having abandoned
• tyaktvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tyaj (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘त्यक्त्वा’ = having abandoned

• maraṇa-jam: born of death (death-caused)
• maraṇa-jam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—मरणात् जातम् इति पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुषः

• bhayam: fear
• bhayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• sandadhīta: should fix/should aim (an arrow)
• sandadhīta: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-dhā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• śaram: arrow
• śaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• rājā: the king
• rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• lakṣyam: target
• lakṣyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• uddiśya: having aimed at
• uddiśya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-diś (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्/तुमुन्-समकक्ष अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘उद्दिश्य’ = having aimed at/pointing toward

• vai riṇam: the enemy
• vai riṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaira (प्रातिपदिक) / vairin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; रूपम् ‘वैरिणम्’ (enemy)

Speakers

• Kāśīrāja continuing counsel/critique to Alarka

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Rāja-dharma
• Fearlessness
• Statecraft and control of ministers
• Martial duty

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The king is expected to master internal governance (ministers) and internal fear (death-anxiety) before confronting external foes—an ethic of disciplined courage.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Dharma (rāja-dharma) within vaṃśānucarita narrative context.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Enemy as target’ can also mirror yogic psychology: once fear (abhiniśiveśa) is dropped and inner faculties are ordered, the ‘arrow’ of attention can be aimed steadily—though here expressed in kṣatriya idiom.