Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 7, Shloka 59

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

Sanskrit

इत्युक्तः परुषं तेन गच्छामीति सवेपथुः ।

ब्रुवन्नेवं ययौ शीघ्रमाकर्षन् दयितां करे ॥

Transliteration

ity uktaḥ paruṣaṃ tena gacchāmīti savepathuḥ |

bruvann evaṃ yayau śīghram ākarṣan dayitāṃ kare ||

Translation

被他如此严厉斥责，那人战战兢兢地说：“我走。”随即匆忙离去，迅速牵起爱妻之手而奔。

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इत्यादि-निपात)

• उक्तः: addressed, spoken to
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (कर्मणि क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); 'having been spoken to/said to'

• परुषम्: harsh(ly)
• परुषम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial use = 'harshly'

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• गच्छामि: I go
• गच्छामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (निपात)

• सवेपथुः: trembling
• सवेपथुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + vepathu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); avyayībhāva = 'with trembling' (सह + वेपथु)

• ब्रुवन्: saying
• ब्रुवन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• एवम्: thus, in this way
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया)

• आकर्षन्: dragging
• आकर्षन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-kṛṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• दयिताम्: beloved (wife)
• दयिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dayitā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• करे: in/at the hand
• करे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

Speakers

• Narratorial verse (specific speakers not identifiable from the single verse alone)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Fear and coercion
• Human attachment (dayitā)
• Swift action under threat
• Narrative transition

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Harsh speech (paruṣa-vākya) produces fear and impulsive compliance rather than calm discernment; the verse also foregrounds attachment—he does not depart alone but pulls his beloved along—showing how desire and fear can jointly drive hurried, unreflective action.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This verse is best classified as part of the Purana’s narrative framework (ākhyāna/upa-ākhyāna) rather than a direct instance of sarga (creation), pratisarga (re-creation), vaṃśa (genealogies), manvantara, or vaṃśānucarita (dynastic histories). It functions as connective storytelling within the broader discourse.

What is the esoteric significance?

The trembling departure symbolizes the jīva’s movement under the compulsion of rajas and tamas—fear (bhaya) and grasping (ākarṣaṇa). ‘Pulling the beloved by the hand’ can be read as the mind dragging its attachments along even when compelled to change course, illustrating how saṃskāras accompany the traveler unless consciously released.