Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 26, Shloka 32

Adhyaya 26 — Madālasa Names Alarka and Reorients Him Toward Kshatriya Duty

Sanskrit

वयोभिः कृमिकीडैश्च नर एवोपजीव्यते ।

तस्मात् तन्वङ्गि ! पुत्रं यत्कार्यं क्षत्रयोनिभिः ॥

Transliteration

vayobhiḥ kṛmi-kīṭaiś ca nara evopajīvyate / tasmāt tanvaṅgi! putraṃ yat kāryaṃ kṣatra-yonibhiḥ //

Translation

人自身也依赖飞鸟，乃至蠕虫与昆虫的扶持而生。故而，噢，肢体纤秀者，凡生于刹帝利者，当就子嗣之事行其所当行。

Word by Word

• वयोभिः: by birds
• वयोभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन

• कृमि-कीटैः: by worms and insects
• कृमि-कीटैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृमि (प्रातिपदिक) + कीट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन; समास: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (worms and insects)

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

• नरः: a man
• नरः: कर्म (Karman/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• एव: indeed / only
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• उपजीव्यते: is lived upon / is consumed for livelihood
• उपजीव्यते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: हेतु (Hetu/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इति हेत्वर्थक अव्यय (ablatival indeclinable: 'therefore/from that')

• तन्वङ्गि: O slender-limbed one
• तन्वङ्गि: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनु-अङ्गी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन; समास: बहुव्रीहि ('she whose limbs are slender')

• पुत्रम्: a son
• पुत्रम्: कर्म (Karman/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• यत्: which / that
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relativizer)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक अव्यय/यदर्थे (relative particle: 'which/that')

• कार्यम्: (is) to be done / should be done
• कार्यम्: विधेय (Predicate/Obligation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृ-धातोः तव्यत्/ण्यत्-निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भाववाचक ('what is to be done')

• क्षत्रयोनिभिः: by those of Kṣatriya lineage
• क्षत्रयोनिभिः: करण/कर्तृसाधन (Agent/Instrument in obligation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्र + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (योनि), तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('of Kṣatriya lineage')

Speakers

• Jaḍa to Madālasā

Key Themes

• Rāja-dharma
• Interdependence of life
• Kṣatriya duties
• Social order

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Because human life is sustained by countless beings, one must repay through dharmic conduct—especially by ensuring responsible succession in a ruling line that protects the social fabric.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Anucarita/dharma instruction; not a formal cosmogenesis/manvantara passage.

What is the esoteric significance?

Birds and insects represent the ‘microcosmic supports’ of embodiment. The teaching implies humility: even rulers depend on the smallest lives; thus power must be tempered by duty and reciprocity.