Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 93, Shloka 16

Adhyaya 93 — The Goddess’s Boons to Suratha and the Merchant (Conclusion of the Devi Mahatmyam)

Sanskrit

मार्कण्डेय उवाच इति दत्त्वा तयोर्देवी यथाभिलषितं वरम् ।

बभूवान्तर्हिता सद्यो भक्त्या ताभ्यामभिष्टुता ॥

Transliteration

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca iti dattvā tayor devī yathābhilaṣitaṃ varam | babhūvāntarhitā sadyo bhaktyā tābhyām abhiṣṭutā ||

Translation

摩罗迦ṇḍeya说道：“如是，女神赐予二人所愿之恩后，因他们以虔敬颂赞，便即刻隐没而去。”

Word by Word

• mārkaṇḍeyaḥ: Mārkaṇḍeya
• mārkaṇḍeyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārkaṇḍeya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• iti: thus
• iti: Vakyopapada (वाक्योपपद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• dattvā: having given
• dattvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), indeclinable verbal form

• tayoḥ: of those two; to the two (contextual)
• tayoḥ: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Dual (द्विवचन)

• devī: the Goddess
• devī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• yathā-abhilaṣitam: as desired
• yathā-abhilaṣitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + abhilaṣita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); avyayībhāva: 'as desired'

• varam: boon
• varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• babhūva: became; was
• babhūva: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• antarhitā: disappeared; hidden
• antarhitā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: antarhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) from antar-√dhā (धातु) 'to disappear'; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• sadyaḥ: immediately
• sadyaḥ: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of time

• bhaktyā: with devotion
• bhaktyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• tābhyām: by those two
• tābhyām: Kartr-karana (कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Dual (द्विवचन)

• abhiṣṭutā: praised; hymned
• abhiṣṭutā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: abhi-√stu (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) with prefix abhi-; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speakers

• Mārkaṇḍeya (narrator within the Devi Mahatmyam frame)

Primary Deities

• Devī

Shakti Aspects

• Devī as Antardhānā (one who withdraws/veils herself after granting grace)

Key Themes

• Narrative closure
• Bhakti
• Divine epiphany and withdrawal
• Boons (vara)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Divine vision is not permanent possession; it comes and goes according to grace. The proper response is praise and continued practice, not attachment to the experience.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Carita: it concludes an exemplary episode demonstrating devotion, divine response, and the fruits of worship.

What is the esoteric significance?

The Goddess ‘disappearing’ points to the subtle truth that the ultimate is not an object to be held; once the boon is implanted (outer or inner), the seeker must mature through lived dharma and contemplation.