Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 74, Shloka 12

Adhyaya 74 — King Svarashtra, the Deer-Queen’s Curse, and the Rise of Tamasa Manu

Sanskrit

तेन प्लवेन स ययावूध्यमानो महीतले ।

इतश्चेतश्चान्धकारे आससाद तटं ततः ॥

Transliteration

tena plavena sa yayāv ūhyamāno mahītale | itaś cetaś cāndhakāre āsasāda taṭaṃ tataḥ ||

Translation

他以她作浮具，随流而行，仿佛被托举越过地面；在黑暗中被抛掷摇荡，终于抵达岸边。

Word by Word

• tena: by that
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• plavena: by the float/raft
• plavena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘plava’ = float/raft (here: the fish as a float)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ūhyamānaḥ: being borne along
• ūhyamānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vah (धातु) (उह्यते/वह्यते भाव) + यमान (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (शानच्; वर्तमान कर्मणि-भाव); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘ऊह्यमानः’ = being carried/borne along

• mahī-tale: on the earth’s surface
• mahī-tale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahī (प्रातिपदिक) + tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (मह्याः तलम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• itaḥ: from here/this way
• itaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: itas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• tataḥ: from there/that way
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• andhakāre: in darkness
• andhakāre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: andhakāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• āsasāda: reached/came to
• āsasāda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√sad (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• taṭam: the bank
• taṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tataḥ: then/thereupon
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speakers

• Narrative voice (within Mārkaṇḍeya’s account)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Crossing danger
• Darkness/uncertainty
• Provisional refuge

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even imperfect supports can carry one through immediate peril; yet ‘darkness’ signals that mere survival does not equal clarity or right direction.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Narrative episode; not a direct sarga/manvantara passage.

What is the esoteric significance?

Darkness indicates avidyā; being carried ‘here and there’ reflects the vikṣepa (restlessness) of mind until it finds a temporary shore.