Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 51, Shloka 101

Adhyaya 51 — Yaksha Injunctions: Graha-Children and Female Spirits Causing Domestic and Ritual Disruptions

Sanskrit

सन्ध्यामैथुनिनञ्चैव नरमाविशति द्विज । कन्यात्रयं प्रसूता सा या कन्या ऋतुहारिणी ॥

Transliteration

sandhyā-maithuninaṃ caiva naram āviśati dvija | kanyā-trayaṃ prasūtā sā yā kanyā ṛtu-hāriṇī ||

Translation

হে দ্বিজ! যে সন্ধ্যাকালে সহবাস করে, তাকে সে অধিকার করে। আর সেই শক্তি তিন কন্যার জন্ম দেয়—তাদের মধ্যে একজন ‘ঋতুহারিণী’ (ঋতু/রজঃ হরণকারিণী) নামে কথিত।

Word by Word

• सन्ध्या-मैथुनिनम्: a twilight-intercourse man
• सन्ध्या-मैथुनिनम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक) + मैथुनिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सन्ध्यायां मैथुनं यस्य/सन्ध्यायाः मैथुनिन्—‘one who has intercourse at twilight’)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Samuccaya/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात

• एव: indeed
• एव: निपात (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण निपात

• नरम्: a man
• नरम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आविशति: enters/possesses
• आविशति: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-विश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• द्विज: O twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विज: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• कन्या-त्रयम्: three girls
• कन्या-त्रयम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (त्रयः कन्याः)

• प्रसूता: having given birth
• प्रसूता: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र- सू (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP) स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having borne/given birth’

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• या: who
• या: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक

• कन्या: a girl
• कन्या: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ऋतु-हारिणी: one who takes away the menses/season
• ऋतु-हारिणी: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋतु (प्रातिपदिक) + हारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (ऋतुं हरति इति)

Speakers

• Not specified in input; addressed to a ‘dvija’

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Brahma-muhūrta/sandhyā discipline
• Sexual ethics (timing and restraint)
• Protection of women/fertility

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Sandhyā is a liminal sacred time reserved for worship and mental steadiness; violating it with sense-indulgence is framed as inviting disorder that can manifest as harm to fertility and social well-being.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This is dharma/ācāra guidance, not one of the five defining Purāṇic characteristics.

What is the esoteric significance?

Twilight symbolizes the junction of prāṇa currents; misusing junction-times intensifies tamas/rajas. The ‘maidens’ personify downstream effects—disruptions of rhythm (ṛtu), nourishment, and protection.