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Shloka 8

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

गृध्रः कपोतः काकालो वायसो वापि मूर्धनि ।

क्रव्यादो वा खगो नीलः षण्मासायुः प्रदर्शकः ॥

gṛdhraḥ kapotaḥ kākālo vāyaso vāpi mūrdhani / kravyādo vā khago nīlaḥ ṣaṇmāsāyuḥ pradarśakaḥ

اگر گِدھ، کبوتر، کوا یا رَیون جیسا پرندہ کسی کے سر پر آ بیٹھے—یا نیلا گوشت خور پرندہ ایسا کرے—تو کہا جاتا ہے کہ باقی عمر چھ ماہ رہ جاتی ہے۔

गृध्रःvulture
गृध्रः:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootगृध्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
कपोतःpigeon
कपोतः:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootकपोत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
काकालःcrow (a kind of crow/bird)
काकालः:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootकाकाल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
वायसःcrow
वायसः:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootवायस (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
वाor
वा:
समुच्चय/विकल्प-सूचक (connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formविकल्पार्थक-निपात (particle of alternative: “or”)
अपिalso/even
अपि:
सम्बन्ध-सूचक (particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-निपात (particle: also/even)
मूर्धनिon the head
मूर्धनि:
अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
TypeNoun
Rootमूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन
क्रव्यादःflesh-eater (carnivorous bird)
क्रव्यादः:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootक्रव्याद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
वाor
वा:
समुच्चय/विकल्प-सूचक (connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formविकल्पार्थक-निपात (particle of alternative: “or”)
खगःbird
खगः:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootखग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
नीलःblue/dark
नीलः:
कर्ता-विशेषण (adjectival to subject)
TypeAdjective
Rootनील (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)
षण्मासायुःhaving a lifespan of six months
षण्मासायुः:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootषण्मास + आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): षण्मासानाम् आयुः
प्रदर्शकःindicator/foreteller
प्रदर्शकः:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रदर्शक (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
Dialogue-context unspecified in given excerpt (within Markandeya Purana’s didactic discourse on omens)

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

Nimitta-śāstraAriṣṭa (death-portents)Karma and mortalityDidactic instruction

FAQs

The passage frames mortality as legible through ‘nimittas’ (signs), encouraging vigilance, detachment, and timely performance of dharma (repentance, charity, rites) when ominous indicators appear.

It is not a Pancalakṣaṇa topic (sarga, pratisarga, vaṃśa, manvantara, vaṃśānucarita). It belongs to ancillary dharma/nimitta instruction embedded within the Purāṇic dialogue tradition.

Carrion birds symbolize the approach of dissolution (mṛtyu) and the body’s impermanence; the ‘head’ locus suggests the eclipse of one’s vital radiance/tejas and impending severance from embodied identity.