Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 7, Shloka 49

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

Sanskrit

पिबामो नेत्रभ्रमरैः कदा द्रक्ष्यामहे पुनः ।

यस्य प्रयातस्य पुरो यान्ति पृष्ठे च पार्थिवाः ॥

Transliteration

pibāmo netrabhramaraiḥ kadā drakṣyāmahe punaḥ /

yasya prayātasya puro yānti pṛṣṭhe ca pārthivāḥ

Translation

我们何时才能再见到他，并以眼之蜂群将他啜饮于心？——那位出行之时，诸王在其前后步行随从的人。

Word by Word

• पिबामः: we drink
• पिबामः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• नेत्र: eye
• नेत्र: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; (समासपूर्वपद)

• भ्रमरैः: with (our) bee-like eyes
• भ्रमरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: नेत्रयोः भ्रमराः (eyes as bees); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• कदा: when
• कदा: Prashna (प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक कालवाचक अव्यय (when?)

• द्रक्ष्यामहे: shall we see
• द्रक्ष्यामहे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (again)

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• प्रयातस्य: of (him) who has departed
• प्रयातस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-या (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त, past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; ‘यस्य’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• पुरः: in front
• पुरः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (in front)

• यान्ति: go
• यान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• पृष्ठे: behind, at the back
• पृष्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (behind)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (and)

• पार्थिवाः: kings, rulers
• पार्थिवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन

Speakers

• Dharmapakshis (the wise birds) within the Markandeya Purana frame narrative (exact bird-speaker unspecified for this single verse)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "karuna", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Kingship
• Impermanence
• Loyalty and remembrance
• Poetic imagery (rasa)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse evokes the poignancy of separation and the transience of worldly splendor: even one surrounded by royal honor (kings before and behind) becomes an object of memory and longing once departed. Ethically, it underscores how status is contingent, while affection, gratitude, and dharmic regard for a worthy ruler remain as enduring values in the hearts of dependents and well-wishers.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This verse is not directly a pancalakṣaṇa unit (sarga, pratisarga, vaṃśa, manvantara, vaṃśānucarita). It belongs more to vaṃśānucarita-style narrative coloring around royal life and its social aura, functioning as an illustrative poetic statement within the Purana’s frame-story discourse rather than a cosmological or genealogical datum.

What is the esoteric significance?

The 'eye-bees' metaphor suggests the mind’s restless sensory movement (indriya-vṛtti) seeking sweetness (rasa) in a beloved or revered form. The royal procession imagery—kings both before and behind—can symbolize the ego’s sense of centrality supported by external validations; once the 'departed one' is gone, the seeker confronts absence, pointing inward to the impermanent nature of external honors and the deeper quest for what does not depart.