Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 15, Shloka 28

Adhyaya 15 — Karmic Retribution: Rebirths After Naraka and the King’s Compassion in Hell

Sanskrit

दुकूले शार्ङ्गकः पापो हृते चैवांशुके शुकः ।

तथैवाजाविकं हृत्वा वस्त्रं क्षौमं च जायते ॥

Transliteration

dukūle śārṅgakaḥ pāpo hṛte caivāṃśuke śukaḥ | tathaivājāvikaṃ hṛtvā vastraṃ kṣaumaṃ ca jāyate

Translation

দুকূল (অতি সূক্ষ্ম বস্ত্র) চুরি করলে পাপী শার্ঙ্গক নামক পাখি হয়; অংশুক (হালকা বস্ত্র) চুরি করলে শুক-যোনিতে, অর্থাৎ তোতা রূপে জন্মায়। তদ্রূপ আজাবিক (উলের বস্ত্র) চুরি করলে ক্ষৌম (শণ/তিসির বস্ত্র) সঙ্গে সংশ্লিষ্ট জন্ম লাভ হয়।

Word by Word

• dukūle: in fine cloth (dukūla)
• dukūle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dukūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• śārṅgakaḥ: a śārṅgaka (a kind of bird)
• śārṅgakaḥ: Pratipādya/Phala (फल; resultant state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śārṅgaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• pāpaḥ: sinful
• pāpaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective)

• hṛte: when (it is) stolen
• hṛte: Kāla/Hetu (काल/हेतु; when/if stolen)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (धातु) + क्त (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), सप्तमी-तुल्ये लोके (locative-absolute sense)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (particle of emphasis/limitation)

• aṃśuke: in a garment/cloth (aṃśuka)
• aṃśuke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṃśuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• śukaḥ: a parrot
• śukaḥ: Pratipādya/Phala (फल; resultant state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• tathā: thus/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक; manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (particle of emphasis)

• ājāvikam: goat-wool cloth
• ājāvikam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājāvika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• hṛtvā: having stolen/taken
• hṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action)

• vastram: cloth/garment
• vastram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• kṣaumam: linen (flax cloth)
• kṣaumam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣauma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• jāyate: is born/becomes
• jāyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

Speakers

• Not specified in input

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Karma
• Ethics
• Theft and recompense

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The passage discourages acquisitiveness for luxury goods and personal adornment. It portrays theft as a cause of losing human status and entering instinctive, imitative, or dependent modes of life.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Karma-vipāka/ācāra instruction; not a pañcalakṣaṇa section.

What is the esoteric significance?

Bird-forms often symbolize restlessness and sensory pursuit. The textile mapping suggests karmic ‘entanglement’ in material textures—consciousness caught in surfaces (appearance) rather than substance (dharma).