Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 23, Shloka 23

Adhyaya 23 — Ashvatara’s Vow for Madalasa and the Bestowal of Musical Science by Sarasvati

Sanskrit

एतत्तस्य परं कार्यं तात! तत् केन शक्यते ।

कर्तुमत्यर्थदुष्प्राप्यमीश्वरैः किमुतेतरैः ॥

Transliteration

etattasya paraṁ kāryaṁ tāta tat kena śakyate | kartum aty-artha-duṣprāpyam īśvaraiḥ kim utetaraiḥ ||

Translation

“父亲，这就是他至高的志向；谁能使之成就？即便对强者也极难获得，更何况他人呢？”

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• तस्य: of him/for him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• परम्: highest/supreme
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘कार्यं’ विशेषण (qualifier)

• कार्यम्: task/deed
• कार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तात: O father!
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• केन: by whom/with what means
• केन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• शक्यते: is possible/can be done
• शक्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शक् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), अव्ययभाव

• अति: excessively/very
• अति: Upapada (उपपद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (prefix/adverb)

• अर्थ: meaning/aim; (here) degree ‘very’
• अर्थ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक-रूपेण समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• दुष्प्राप्यम्: hard to obtain/achieve
• दुष्प्राप्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुस्-प्राप्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (दुष् + प्राप्य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तत्/कार्यं’ विशेषण

• ईश्वरैः: by lords (even by the powerful)
• ईश्वरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• किम्: what then?
• किम्: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (particle)

• उत: indeed/then
• उत: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• इतरैः: by others (ordinary people)
• इतरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इतर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

Speakers

• Two sons addressing their father (within Jaḍa’s narration)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Human limitation
• Value of striving
• Setting up puruṣakāra vs daiva discussion

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Acknowledging difficulty is not meant to induce despair but to highlight the magnitude of the goal and the need for extraordinary means (discipline, tapas, divine favor).

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Again, this is narrative-dharma instruction (Ākhyāna/Upadeśa), not sarga/pratisarga/vaṁśa/manvantara/vaṁśānucarita in itself.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘unattainable even for īśvaras’ motif points to the transcendence of the sought siddhi/boon and the necessity of aligning individual will with a higher cosmic intelligence.