Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 43, Shloka 72

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

Sanskrit

राज्यकामुक काशीश ! भुज्यतां राज्यमूर्जितम् ।

तथा च रोचते तद्वत् सुबाहोः संप्रयच्छ वा ॥

Transliteration

rājyakāmuka kāśīśa! bhujyatāṃ rājyam ūrjitam / tathā ca rocate tadvat subāhoḥ saṃprayaccha vā

Translation

“Hỡi chúa tể Kāśī, kẻ khát vọng vương quyền! Hãy thụ hưởng vương quốc hùng mạnh này. Hoặc nếu điều ấy làm ngươi vừa lòng, thì cũng hãy trao nó cho Subāhu.”

Word by Word

• राज्यकामुक: O one desirous of the kingdom
• राज्यकामुक: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कामुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (राज्यस्य कामुकः)

• काशीश: O lord of Kāśī
• काशीश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशी-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (काश्याः ईशः)

• भुज्यताम्: let (it) be enjoyed
• भुज्यताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; ‘let it be enjoyed’

• राज्यम्: the kingdom
• राज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ऊर्जितम्: mighty/strengthened
• ऊर्जितम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्जित (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from √ऊर्ज्/ऊर्ज्-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying राज्यम्)

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (thus/so)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• रोचते: is pleasing/seems good
• रोचते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• तद्वत्: accordingly
• तद्वत्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: ‘in that manner/accordingly’)

• सुबाहोः: of Subāhu
• सुबाहोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुबाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• संप्रयच्छ: hand over / give
• संप्रयच्छ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-प्र-यम्/यच्छ् (धातु; √यम् with desiderative/causative-like present stem ‘यच्छ’)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थ (disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

Speakers

• Alarka speaking to the king of Kāśī (his brother)
• with Subāhu present

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Renunciation of political power
• Non-attachment
• Family/royal succession

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Alarka reframes kingship as transferable and non-essential; by offering power away, he demonstrates that sovereignty is not the self’s fulfillment.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Vaṃśānucarita (royal succession episode) used as a vehicle for dharma and moksha-oriented teaching.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Enjoy the kingdom’ is spoken almost as a diagnostic: it exposes rāga (craving) in the listener while confirming the speaker’s vairagya.