Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 7, Shloka 18

Adhyaya 7 — Harishchandra Tested by Vishvamitra: The Gift of the Kingdom and the Pandava Curse-Backstory

Sanskrit

दातव्यं रक्षितव्यं च धर्मज्ञेन महीक्षिताः ।

चापं चोद्यंय योद्धव्यं धर्मशास्त्रानुसारतः ॥

Transliteration

dātavyaṃ rakṣitavyaṃ ca dharmajñena mahīkṣitā /

cāpaṃ codyamya yoddhavyaṃ dharmaśāstrānusārataḥ //

Translation

知法（dharma）之王，当施与布施，亦当护持臣民；并且执弓而战，须依《法论》（Dharmashastra）之规而行。

Word by Word

• dātavyam: should be given
• dātavyam: Kārya (कार्य/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive/obligative (कृत्य/तव्यत्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); ‘to be given’

• rakṣitavyam: should be protected
• rakṣitavyam: Kārya (कार्य/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: rakṣ (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive (कृत्य/तव्यत्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative, Singular; ‘to be protected’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• dharmajñena: by the knower of dharma
• dharmajñena: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharmajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: dharma + jña ‘knower of dharma’

• mahīkṣitā: the king
• mahīkṣitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahīkṣit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: mahī + kṣit ‘protector/ruler of the earth’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• āpam: bow
• āpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• udyamya: having raised
• udyamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-yam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having lifted/raised’

• yoddhavyam: should be fought
• yoddhavyam: Kārya (कार्य/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yudh (धातु)
• Form: Gerundive (कृत्य/तव्यत्), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative, Singular; ‘to be fought’

• dharmaśāstra-anusārataḥ: according to the dharmaśāstra
• dharmaśāstra-anusārataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dharmaśāstra (प्रातिपदिक) + anusāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative-based adverbial formation with -tas (तस्-प्रत्यय), ‘according to’; avyayībhāva sense: ‘in accordance with dharmaśāstra’

Speakers

• Not specified in input (likely within the Purana’s instructional narration on dharma/rulership)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Raja-dharma
• Protection of subjects
• Dana (charity)
• Just war / righteous force
• Dharmaśāstra alignment

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse compresses rāja-dharma into a triad: (1) dāna—supporting society through rightful giving, (2) rakṣaṇa—protecting subjects and order, and (3) daṇḍa/yuddha—using force only as a duty, bounded by Dharmaśāstra. Power is legitimate only when restrained by dharma and directed to welfare.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily under 'Vṛtti' (ethical conduct/duties sustaining society) rather than cosmological categories like sarga or manvantara. It is normative dharma teaching embedded within the Purana’s narrative discourse.

What is the esoteric significance?

Symbolically, 'giving' and 'protecting' represent the two outward movements of kingship—nourishing and guarding—while 'raising the bow' signifies disciplined will (icchā-śakti) applied under higher law. The teaching implies that even conflict becomes purifying when subordinated to dharma rather than ego or greed.