Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 18, Shloka 18

Adhyaya 18 — Arjuna Declines the Throne; Garga Directs Him to Dattatreya; The Gods Defeat the Daityas through Dattatreya’s Vision and the Movement of Lakshmi

Sanskrit

विप्रचित्तिमुखैर्देवा दानवैस्ते पराजिताः ।

पलायनकृतोत्साहा निरुत्साहा द्विषज्जये ॥

Transliteration

vipracittimukhair devā dānavair te parājitāḥ |

palāyanakṛtotsāhā nirutsāhā dviṣajjaye ||

Translation

诸天被由毗钵罗质底（Vipracitti）统领的达那婆（Dānava）击败。他们的勇气只化为逃遁；面对敌方的胜利，诸神意气消沉。

Word by Word

• विप्रचित्ति-मुखैः: by the leaders headed by Vipracitti
• विप्रचित्ति-मुखैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्रचित्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विप्रचित्तेः मुखाः)

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• दानवैः: by the Dānavas (demons)
• दानवैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• ते: they (those gods)
• ते: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• पराजिताः: defeated
• पराजिताः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराजि (धातु) → पराजित (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकालिक विशेषण (past passive participle)

• पलायन-कृत-उत्साहाः: whose resolve was set on fleeing
• पलायन-कृत-उत्साहाः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Attribute of subject/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पलायन (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त/क्त) + उत्साह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; समासः (पलायने कृतः उत्साहः येषाम्) बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-आश्रित बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रयोगः

• निरुत्साहाः: discouraged, without enthusiasm
• निरुत्साहाः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Attribute of subject/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरुत्साह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• द्विषत्-जये: in the victory over enemies
• द्विषत्-जये: अधिकरण (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विषत् (प्रातिपदिक) + जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (द्विषतां जयः)

Speakers

• Narrator voice (contextual narration; explicit speaker not marked in this verse)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Devas (collective)

Key Themes

• Deva–Asura warfare
• Loss of sovereignty
• Seeking remedial counsel

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Power and fortune are shown as unstable: even devas can fall into despair when dharma-supporting order is overwhelmed. The text sets up the dharmic response—not mere panic, but seeking right counsel and a lawful means to restore balance.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This is not sarga/pratisarga proper; it aligns best with ‘manvantara/vaṃśānucarita’-type narrative material (itihāsa-like episodes illustrating cosmic governance and conflict), serving as contextual history within the Purāṇic flow.

What is the esoteric significance?

The devas’ ‘nirutsāha’ symbolizes the mind’s collapse when confronted by overpowering vāsanās (asuric forces). The coming turn toward a guru-like figure (Dattātreya) indicates restoration through higher wisdom rather than brute reaction.