Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 20, Shloka 11

Adhyaya 20 — Ritadhvaja’s Companionship with the Naga Princes and the Origin of the Horse Kuvalaya

Sanskrit

नागराजात्मजौ तौ च स्नानसंवाहनादिकम् ।

वस्त्रगन्धानुसयुक्तां चक्रुर्भागभुजिक्रियाम् ॥

Transliteration

nāgarājātmajau tau ca snānasaṃvāhanādikam | vastragandhānusayuktāṃ cakrur bhāgabhujikriyām ||

Translation

而那伽王的两位儿子安排沐浴、按摩等事，并行侍奉之务，其中包括衣服与香料芬芳。

Word by Word

• नागराजात्मजौ: the two sons of the Nāga-king
• नागराजात्मजौ: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नागराज + आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, द्विवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (नागराजस्य आत्मजौ)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• स्नानसंवाहनादिकम्: bathing, massage, and the like
• स्नानसंवाहनादिकम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान + संवाहन + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (स्नानं च संवाहनं च, तयोः आदिकम् = bathing, massage, etc.)

• वस्त्रगन्धानुसयुक्ताम्: accompanied by garments and perfumes
• वस्त्रगन्धानुसयुक्ताम्: कर्म-विशेषण (qualifies kriyām)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वस्त्र + गन्ध + अनुसं-युज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (PPP) ‘अनुसयुक्त’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग द्वितीया एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वस्त्रगन्धाभ्याम् अनुसयुक्ता = accompanied with garments and perfumes)

• चक्रुः: they performed/did
• चक्रुः: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• भागभुजिक्रियाम्: the service of distributing/partaking portions (attendant duty)
• भागभुजिक्रियाम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग + भुजि + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (भागस्य भुजिः = portion-taking; तस्य क्रिया)

Speakers

• Narrator

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Hospitality and service
• Royal luxury
• Hidden identity acting in the background

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Service (paricaryā) is portrayed as a means of winning affection and integrating into a group; ethically, it highlights the social power of attentive care—though in narratives it may also foreshadow ulterior motives.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita/ākhyāna detail: courtly customs and interpersonal dynamics within the story-world.

What is the esoteric significance?

Bathing, anointing, fragrance, and clothing symbolize the ‘adornment’ of embodied life—suggesting how sensory refinement can further deepen attachment to worldly identity.