Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 63, Shloka 35
Adhyaya 63 — The Birth of Svarocis and the Rescue of Manoramā: The Astra-Heart and the Healing of Curses
Sanskrit
तदाभिभूतः स तदा तामुत्सृज्य निशाचरः ।
प्रसीद शाम्यतामस्त्रं श्रूयताञ्चेत्यभाषत ॥
Transliteration
tadābhibhūtaḥ sa tadā tāmutsṛjya niśācaraḥ | prasīda śāmyatāmastraṃ śrūyatāñcetyabhāṣata
Translation
被其威势所压倒，那夜行之者立刻放开她，说道：“愿你垂怜；请令此兵器平息。请听我一言。”
Word by Word
तदाthen
तदा:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottadā (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)
अभिभूतःoverpowered
अभिभूतः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootabhi-√bhū (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of sa/niśācaraḥ)
सःhe
सः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
तदाat that time
तदा:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottadā (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक अव्यय
ताम्that (her/it)
ताम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (refers to the weapon/force)
उत्सृज्यhaving released/let go
उत्सृज्य:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootud-√sṛj (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत्)
Formल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)
निशाचरःnight-roamer (demon)
निशाचरः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootniśā + cara (प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (niśāyāṃ carati), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
प्रसीदbe gracious, calm down
प्रसीद:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpra-√sad (धातु)
Formलोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन
शाम्यताम्let it subside
शाम्यताम्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√śam (धातु)
Formलोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आज्ञार्थे (let it be pacified)
अस्त्रम्the weapon
अस्त्रम्:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootastra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here subject of śāmyatām (nominative sense)
श्रूयताम्let (me) be heard / please listen
श्रूयताम्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√śru (धातु)
Formलोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आज्ञार्थे (let it be heard)
चand
च:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक अव्यय
इतिthus
इति:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiti (अव्यय)
Formउक्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)
अभाषतhe spoke
अभाषत:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootabhi-√bhāṣ (धातु)
Formलङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
Speakers
Rākṣasa speaking; narrative reported by Mārkaṇḍeya
Key Themes
Power of controlled forceMercy and de-escalationWithdrawal of astras
FAQs
Effective protection can end violence without annihilation. The narrative validates de-escalation once the threat is neutralized—strength paired with mercy.
Manvantara: illustrates conduct and consequences within a historical cycle.
The demon’s request to ‘calm the weapon’ mirrors the inner process: once harmful impulses are checked, the seeker must also withdraw the ‘heat’ of force to return to equilibrium (śama).