Shloka 29

Adhyaya 61 — The Second Manvantara Begins: The Brahmin’s Swift Journey and Varuthini’s Temptation on Himavat

Sanskrit

प्रयास्यामि क्रियाहानिमग्निशुश्रूषणादिकम् ।

कथमत्र करिष्यामि सङ्कटं महदागतम् ॥

Transliteration

prayāsyāmi kriyāhānim agniśuśrūṣaṇādikam | katham atra kariṣyāmi saṅkaṭaṃ mahad āgatam ||

Translation

“Ta sắp mắc lỗi trong các bổn phận đã được quy định—như chăm nom lửa tế và những việc tương tự. Nay khi đại nạn đã giáng xuống ta, ta phải hành xử thế nào ở đây?”

Word by Word

• prayāsyāmi: I shall go/set out
• prayāsyāmi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā या (धातु) + pra-
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्; periphrastic future), Uttama-puruṣa (उत्तमपुरुष/1st person), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• kriyāhānim: loss of (ritual) duties
• kriyāhānim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kriyā-hāni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; tatpuruṣa: kriyāyāḥ hāniḥ

• agniśuśrūṣaṇa-ādikam: fire-service and the like
• agniśuśrūṣaṇa-ādikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni-śuśrūṣaṇa-ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative, Singular; tatpuruṣa: agneḥ śuśrūṣaṇam; with ādi-suffix meaning 'etc.'

• katham: how?
• katham: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: Interrogative adverb (प्रश्नवाचक-अव्यय)

• atra: here
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• kariṣyāmi: shall I do
• kariṣyāmi: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ कृ (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (लुट्; future), Uttama-puruṣa, Singular, Parasmaipada

• saṅkaṭam: difficulty/crisis
• saṅkaṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅkaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• mahat: great
• mahat: Karma-pradhāna viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; agrees with saṅkaṭam

• āgatam: that has come/arrived
• āgatam: Karma-pradhāna viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āgata (कृदन्त; √gam गम् + ā-)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Accusative, Singular; agrees with saṅkaṭam

Speakers

• Narrated by Mārkaṇḍeya; the brāhmaṇa’s inner deliberation (implied)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Agni (implicit via agniśuśrūṣaṇa)

Key Themes

• Nitya-karma concern
• Dharma under adversity
• Ritual continuity

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma is not merely ideal but practical: the anxiety is about ‘kriyāhāni’—the moral weight of neglecting daily obligations. The Purāṇic ethic recognizes emergencies while urging conscientiousness.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

It is dharma-upadeśa embedded in narrative (ākhyāna). Not a pancalakṣaṇa core (sarga etc.), but a didactic moment typical of Purāṇas.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘agni’ can be read as inner tapas/awareness; fear of ‘agni-neglect’ hints at vigilance in spiritual practice even when outer circumstances disrupt routine.