Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 20, Shloka 50

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

Sanskrit

पातालाम्बरतॊयेषु न चास्य विहता गतिः ।

समस्तदिक्षु व्रजतो न भङ्गः पर्वतेष्वपि ॥

Transliteration

pātālāmbaratoyeṣu na cāsya vihatā gatiḥ | samastadikṣu vrajato na bhaṅgaḥ parvateṣv api ||

Translation

在地下界、在虚空、在水域之中，它的行进皆不受阻；纵横诸方而行，连群山亦不能为碍。

Word by Word

• pātāla-ambara-toyeṣu: in the netherworld, sky, and waters
• pātāla-ambara-toyeṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātāla + ambara + toya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (पाताले च अम्बरे च तोये च)

• na: not
• na: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• asya: of him/of this (horse)
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• vihatā: obstructed/checked
• vihatā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√han (धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (of gatiḥ)

• gatiḥ: movement/speed
• gatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• samasta-dikṣu: in all directions
• samasta-dikṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samasta + diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (all directions)

• vrajataḥ: of (him) going
• vrajataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vraj (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle); षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्धे (of one who is going)

• na: no/not
• na: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• bhaṅgaḥ: break/cessation
• bhaṅgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• parvateṣu: on/in mountains
• parvateṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपि-कार (also/even)

Speakers

• Aśarīriṇī vāk (continuing)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Trans-realm mobility
• Mythic geography (pātāla/ambara/toya)
• Unobstructed dharmic action

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma’s protection is envisioned as boundary-crossing: the righteous agent must not be limited by terrain, distance, or conventional barriers when confronting adharma.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Uses cosmographic vocabulary (realms like pātāla), but here in service of narrative, not systematic cosmology (sarga/pratisarga).

What is the esoteric significance?

The three domains—nether, sky, waters—can symbolize subconscious, intellect, and emotions; the ‘horse’ as disciplined vitality/prāṇa moves freely when integrated, unhindered by ‘mountains’ (fixed mental blocks).