Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 50, Shloka 42
Adhyaya 50 — Mind-Born Progeny, Svayambhuva Manu’s Lineage, and Brahmā’s Ordinance to Duḥsaha (Alakṣmī’s Retinue)
दुःसह उवाच क्षुत्क्षामोऽस्मि जगन्नाथ ! पिपासुश्चापि दुर्बलः ।
कथं तृप्तिमियान्नाथ ! भवेयं बलवान् कथम् ।
कश्चाश्रयो ममाख्याहि वर्तेयं यत्र निर्वृतः ॥
duḥsaha uvāca kṣutkṣāmo 'smi jagannātha! pipāsuścāpi durbalaḥ | kathaṃ tṛptim iyān nātha! bhaveyaṃ balavān katham | kaścāśrayo mamā'khyāhi varteyaṃ yatra nirvṛtaḥ ||
Duḥsaha thưa: “Con bị đói làm cho tiều tụy, ôi Chúa tể của thế gian, lại còn khát và yếu. Làm sao con được thỏa mãn, ôi Chúa tể? Làm sao con trở nên mạnh mẽ? Xin hãy nói: nương tựa của con là gì, nơi nào con có thể an trú yên ổn?”
{ "primaryRasa": "karuna", "secondaryRasa": "bhaya", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
FAQs
The text shows how destructive impulses rationalize themselves as ‘need’ (hunger/thirst) and seek a sanctioned outlet. Ethically, it warns that unchecked craving looks for environments that will feed it—hence the importance of guarding one’s habits and home.
Didactic dialogue within narrative; not one of the five characteristics directly, but supports dharma teaching by dramatizing guṇa-driven appetites.
Hunger/thirst symbolize endless lack (abhāva) at the root of tamas. The request for ‘āśraya’ implies: every tendency seeks an abode in the psyche; the sādhaka must deny abode to tamasic patterns.