Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 24, Shloka 28

Adhyaya 24 — Kuvalayashva’s Refusal of Gifts and the Vision of Madalasa’s Maya

Sanskrit

केनापि कृतवैरेण दानवेन कुबुद्धिना ।

गन्धर्वराजस्य सुता नाम्ना ख्याता मदालसा ॥

Transliteration

kenāpi kṛtavaireṇa dānavena kubuddhinā / gandharvarājasya sutā nāmnā khyātā madālasā

Translation

因一位心怀恶念、伪造仇怨的达那婆（Dānava）所设之计，乾闼婆王之女、以“玛达拉萨”（Madālasā）著称者，被作为阴谋的对象与工具。

Word by Word

• केन: by whom
• केन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अपि: some/indeed
• अपि: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle: 'even/some')

• कृतवैरेण: by one who had formed enmity
• कृतवैरेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत + वैर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कृतं वैरं येन), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'one who has made enmity'

• दानवेन: by a demon
• दानवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुबुद्धिना: by the evil-minded
• कुबुद्धिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुबुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (कु + बुद्धि), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'of evil intellect'

• गन्धर्वराजस्य: of the king of Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वराजस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व + राज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गन्धर्वाणां राजा), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• सुता: daughter
• सुता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ख्याता: known as
• ख्याता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ख्या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'renowned/called'

• मदालसा: Madālasā
• मदालसा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदालसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम (proper name)

Speakers

• Narrative voice

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Enmity (vaira)
• Asuric manipulation
• Identity and fame (khyāti)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Hostility (vaira) coupled with distorted intellect (kubuddhi) drives harmful schemes that exploit the innocent and the renowned. The verse frames evil as intentional and strategic, not accidental.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ānucarita: an episode explaining the backstory of a named figure (Madālasā) and the motive force (dānava-vaira) behind ensuing events.

What is the esoteric significance?

The Gandharva lineage suggests refined, luminous domains (music/beauty), yet even such ‘higher’ spheres can be entangled by asuric intent—hinting that māyā operates across all levels when discernment is absent.