Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 44, Shloka 27

Adhyaya 44 — Subahu’s Counsel to the King of Kashi and Alarka’s Renunciation through Yoga

Sanskrit

एवमुक्त्वा ययौ धीमान् ! सुबाहुः काशिभूमिपम् ।

काशिराजोऽपि संपूज्य सोऽलर्कं स्वपुरं ययौ ॥

Transliteration

evam uktvā yayau dhīmān! subāhuḥ kāśi-bhūmipam | kāśi-rājo ’pi saṃpūjya so ’larkaṃ svapuraṃ yayau ||

Translation

言毕，智者苏婆呼（Subāhu）离开了迦尸（Kāśī）之主。迦尸王如法恭敬供养之后，那阿罗迦（Alarka）亦回归其本城。

Word by Word

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनम्

• dhīmān: wise
• dhīmān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; गुणवाचक विशेषण

• subāhuḥ: Subāhu
• subāhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: subāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; proper name

• kāśi-bhūmipam: the king of Kāśī
• kāśi-bhūmipam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāśī (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūmipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘काश्याः भूमिपः’; पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचनम्

• kāśi-rājaḥ: the king of Kāśī
• kāśi-rājaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāśī (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘काश्याः राजा’; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: also/even)

• saṃpūjya: having honored
• saṃpūjya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (धातु) + sam + ya (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• alarkam: Alarka
• alarkam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: alarka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्; proper name

• sva-puram: his own city
• sva-puram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + pura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘स्वं पुरम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनम्

Speakers

• Narrator voice (Purāṇic narrator within the frame)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Guru-honor (ācārya-pūjā)
• Narrative closure
• Transmission of liberating instruction

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even after receiving high knowledge, the king performs proper reverence to the teacher. Dharma here supports jñāna: humility and gratitude safeguard realization from pride.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Falls under ‘vaṃśānucarita’ (accounts of royal persons) used as an exemplum to teach liberation.

What is the esoteric significance?

The teacher’s departure symbolizes the completion of instruction; the disciple must now internalize the teaching and embody it in life (and later, renunciation).