Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 22, Shloka 6

Adhyaya 22 — Kuvalayashva’s Death through Daitya-Deceit and Madalasa’s Self-Immolation

Sanskrit

एकदा तु चारन् सोऽथ ददर्श यमुनातटे ।

पातालकेतोरनुजं तालकेतुं कृताश्रमम् ॥

Transliteration

ekadā tu cāran so 'tha dadarśa yamunātaṭe | pātālaketor anujaṃ tālaketuṃ kṛtāśramam

Translation

一日游行之际，他在阎牟那河岸见到塔拉凯图（Tālaketu）——帕塔拉凯图（Pātālaketu）之弟——已在彼处建立一座阿湿罗摩（修行林）。

Word by Word

• एकदा: once
• एकदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (once)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• चरन्: while roaming
• चरन्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु) → चरन्त् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘walking/roaming’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Pronoun, Nominative, Singular

• अथ: then
• अथ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then)

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Perfect, 3rd person singular (parasmaipada)

• यमुनातटे: on the bank of the Yamunā
• यमुनातटे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमुना + तट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (यमुनायाः तटः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; Masculine, Locative, Singular

• पातालकेतोः: of Pātālaketu
• पातालकेतोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पातालकेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अनुजम्: younger brother
• अनुजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तालकेतुम्: Tālaketu
• तालकेतुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तालकेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular; apposition to ‘अनुजम्’

• कृताश्रमम्: having established a hermitage
• कृताश्रमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कृतः आश्रमः येन/कृत-आश्रमः); क्त-प्रत्यय (कृत) + नाम; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; agrees with ‘तालकेतुम्’

Speakers

• Narrator

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Daitya deception motif
• Sacred geography (Yamunā)
• Hermitage setting

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Not every outward sign of asceticism indicates genuine virtue; discernment is necessary, especially for rulers tasked with protecting authentic sages.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Narrative (vaṃśānucarita/ākhyāna) used to convey dharmic discernment; not a direct pancalakṣaṇa cosmology unit in these lines.

What is the esoteric significance?

The riverbank (a liminal space) often marks transitions and tests; the 'constructed āśrama' hints at an artificial spirituality that can mislead the unwary.