Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 27, Shloka 22

Adhyaya 27 — Madālasa’s Instruction to King Alarka: Royal Ethics, Self-Conquest, and Statecraft

Sanskrit

यथेन्द्रश्चतुरो मासान् तोयोत्सर्गेण भूगताम् ।

आpyāययेत् तथा लोकं परिहारैर्महीपतिः ॥

Transliteration

yathendraś caturaḥ māsān toyotsargeṇa bhū-gatām | āpyāyayet tathā lokaṃ parihārair mahīpatiḥ ||

Translation

Như Indra, trong bốn tháng, ban nước mưa làm tươi mát mặt đất, cũng vậy nhà vua nên làm cho dân chúng được hồi sức bằng sự miễn giảm, cứu trợ và lòng khoan dung nhẫn nhịn.

Word by Word

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमान-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; comparative conjunction (यथार्थे)

• indraḥ: Indra
• indraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• caturo: four
• caturo: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; numeral adjective qualifying māsān

• māsān: months (for four months)
• māsān: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण; accusative of duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• toya-utsargeṇa: by the discharge of water
• toya-utsargeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: toya + utsarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भाव: toya-utsarga = 'release of water'

• bhū-gatām: (the earth) that has become dry/earth-bound
• bhū-gatām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhū + gata (गम्-धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; kta-participle used adjectivally; bhū-gatā = 'gone to the earth' (i.e., dried/earth-bound)

• āpyāyayet: should nourish/refresh
• āpyāyayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + pyai (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• tathā: so/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमेय-निर्देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; correlative adverb (तथार्थे)

• lokam: the people/world
• lokam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• parihāraiḥ: by remissions/reliefs (concessions)
• parihāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parihāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• mahīpatiḥ: the king
• mahīpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahīpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

Speakers

• Didactic narrator within rājadharma teaching

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "dharma", "secondaryRasa": "karuna", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Indra

Key Themes

• Rājadharma
• Welfare governance
• Tax relief and compassion
• Seasonal analogy

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Extraction must be balanced by replenishment: the king’s legitimacy depends on periodically easing burdens—through relief, exemptions, and humane administration—mirroring rain that sustains the land.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Instructional rājadharma; not pancalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Rain’ symbolizes timely grace (anugraha). Power that only ‘takes’ dries the realm; power that also ‘releases’ restores vitality and loyalty.