Shloka 7

Adhyaya 28 — Alarka Inquires into Varna and Ashrama Dharma; Madalasa Defines the Fourfold Duties

Sanskrit

दानं यज्ञोऽथ शुश्रूषा द्विजातीनां त्रिधा मया ।

व्याख्यातः शूद्रधर्मोऽपि जीविका कारुकर्म च ॥

Transliteration

dānaṃ yajño 'tha śuśrūṣā dvijātīnāṃ tridhā mayā | vyākhyātaḥ śūdradharmo 'pi jīvikā kārukarma ca ||

Translation

布施、祭祀，以及侍奉二次出生者（dvija）——此三者我已阐明。首陀罗之法亦如是；其生计在于工艺之业与体力劳作。

Word by Word

• dānam: giving
• dānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• yajñaḥ: sacrifice
• yajñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• atha: and then; also
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/conjunctive indeclinable (अनन्तरार्थक/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय)

• śuśrūṣā: service; attendance
• śuśrūṣā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuśrūṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• dvijātīnām: of the twice-born (classes)
• dvijātīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvijāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tridhā: in three ways
• tridhā: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tridhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vyākhyātaḥ: explained; expounded
• vyākhyātaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi+ā+khyā (धातु) → vyākhyāta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicative ‘has been explained’

• śūdra-dharmaḥ: Shudra-dharma; duty of the Shudra
• śūdra-dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūdra (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘duty of the Shudra’

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• jīvikā: livelihood
• jīvikā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kāru-karma: craft-work; artisan labor
• kāru-karma: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāru (प्रातिपदिक) + karma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘work of an artisan’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

Speakers

• Not specified in the provided excerpt (Ācāra instruction within Markandeya Purāṇa’s discourse context)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Varṇadharma
• Service (śuśrūṣā)
• Livelihood (craft)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse frames dignity of work through dharma: service and skilled labor are treated as legitimate life-paths when done with right intention and social responsibility, alongside the universal virtues of giving and participation in sacred order.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra/Dharma instruction (ancillary to the five lakṣaṇas), functioning as a prescriptive ethical layer within the Purāṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Service’ signifies the purification of ego through duty; craftsmanship (kāru) symbolizes shaping the outer world while inwardly cultivating discipline and humility.