Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 23, Shloka 75

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

Sanskrit

ऋतध्वजेन सहितौ चिक्र्रीडातेऽमराविव ।

एकदा तु सुतौ प्राह नागराजौ मुदान्वितः ॥

Transliteration

ṛtadhvajena sahitau cikrīḍāte 'marāv iva |

ekadā tu sutau prāha nāgarājau mudānvitaḥ ||

Translation

Cùng với Ṛtadhvaja, họ vui đùa như hai bậc bất tử. Rồi một ngày kia, vua nāga tràn đầy hoan hỷ, nói với hai người con trai của mình.

Word by Word

• ऋतध्वजेन: with Ṛtadhvaja
• ऋतध्वजेन: Saha (सह/सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋतध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सहितौ: together (the two)
• सहितौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहित (प्रातिपदिक/क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण (together/associated)

• चिक्र्रीडाते: they two played/sported
• चिक्र्रीडाते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अमरौ: two immortals (gods)
• अमरौ: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upama-sambandha (उपमा-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• एकदा: once
• एकदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (once)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), विरोध/अनुवाद (but/indeed)

• सुतौ: the two sons
• सुतौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह्/अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नागराजौ: O two serpent-kings
• नागराजौ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागराज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (नागानां राजा); पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन/प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; संबोधनार्थे प्रथमा-रूपप्रयोगः

• मुदा-अन्वितः: filled with joy
• मुदा-अन्वितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुदा (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक/क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मुदया अन्वितः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speakers

• Narrative voice within Markandeya Purana (frame-speaker not identifiable from excerpt alone)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Friendship/companionship (with Ṛtadhvaja)
• Royal affection
• Narrative transition to request/duty

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Joy and play are shown as natural within dharmic life, but they also set the stage for responsibility—pleasure is followed by speech that initiates repayment of obligation.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita: situational narration preparing for a moral action (kṛtajñatā/repaying a benefactor).

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘play like immortals’ motif hints at a liminal state—beings moving between worlds (human/nāga/divine), a common Purāṇic device to introduce dharma-testing situations.