Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 23, Shloka 42

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

Sanskrit

विश्वावासं विश्वरूपं विश्वेशं परमेश्वरम् ।

सांख्यवेदान्तवादोक्तं बहुशाखास्थिरीकृतम् ॥

Transliteration

viśvāvāsaṃ viśvarūpaṃ viśveśaṃ parameśvaram /

sāṃkhyavedāntavādoktaṃ bahuśākhāsthirīkṛtam

Translation

Ngài là nơi nương tựa của vũ trụ, là hình thể phổ quát, là Chúa tể của muôn loài, là Đấng Tối Thượng cai trị—được các học thuyết Sāṅkhya và Vedānta tuyên thuyết, và được xác lập trong nhiều ngành giáo pháp thánh điển.

Word by Word

• viśva-āvāsam: the abode of the universe
• viśva-āvāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक) + āvāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘विश्वस्य आवासः’ इति, here as accusative qualifier

• viśva-rūpam: having the form of the universe
• viśva-rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘विश्वस्य रूपम्’

• viśva-īśam: lord of the universe
• viśva-īśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘विश्वस्य ईशः’

• parama-īśvaram: the supreme Lord
• parama-īśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘परमः ईश्वरः’

• sāṃkhya-vedānta-vāda-uktam: declared in Sāṃkhya and Vedānta doctrines
• sāṃkhya-vedānta-vāda-uktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāṃkhya (प्रातिपदिक) + vedānta (प्रातिपदिक) + vāda (प्रातिपदिक) + ukta (कृदन्त; √vac/√vad? here ukta from √vac ‘to say’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘उक्त’ (past passive participle, क्त-प्रत्यय) from √vac (वच्) ‘to say’; तत्पुरुष-समासः—‘सांख्यवेदान्तवादेन उक्तम्’ (said/declared in the doctrines of Sāṃkhya and Vedānta)

• bahu-śākhā-sthirī-kṛtam: made firm in many branches (of teaching)
• bahu-śākhā-sthirī-kṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + śākhā (प्रातिपदिक) + sthirī (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्; from sthira ‘firm’) + kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘स्थिरीकृत’ = causative/denominative formation ‘sthirī-√kṛ’ (to make firm/establish), past passive participle (क्त); तत्पुरुषः—‘बहुशाखासु स्थिरीकृतम्’ (made firm in many branches)

Speakers

• Aśvatara (Nāga) praising the Goddess; addressed to Sarasvatī (Viṣṇu’s tongue)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Sarasvatī
• Devī

Shakti Aspects

• Sarasvatī as transcendent Śakti/Brahman

Key Themes

• Shaktism
• Non-dual Brahman
• Philosophical synthesis
• Stuti (hymn)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The hymn asserts Devī as the ultimate ground of reality, transcending sectarian limits: even differing darśanas (Sāṅkhya/Vedānta) converge in pointing to the Supreme as the support and form of the cosmos.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily within Vaṃśānucarita/Upākhyāna-style theological narration rather than strict cosmography; as Devi Mahatmyam it functions as dharma-upadeśa through stuti (devotion as a means), not as sarga/pratisarga detail.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Many branches’ hints that mantra, śruti, and śāstra are diverse expressions of one Śakti; the Goddess is both the meaning and the stability behind all articulated knowledge.