Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 15, Shloka 37

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

Sanskrit

विद्यापहारीणश्चोग्रा निष्क्रयभ्रंशिनो गुरोः । जायामन्यस्य पुरुषः पारख्यां प्रतिपादयन् ॥

Transliteration

vidyāpahāriṇaś cogrā niṣkraya-bhraṃśino guroḥ / jāyām anyasya puruṣaḥ pārakhyāṃ pratipādayan

Translation

Those who steal knowledge, those who cause the loss of a guru’s fee/compensation (guru-dakṣiṇā), and a man who delivers another man’s wife into the possession of others—these are fierce sins.

Word by Word

• विद्यापहारीणः: those who steal knowledge
• विद्यापहारीणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या + अपहारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'knowledge-stealers'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• उग्राः: fierce/terrible
• उग्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• निष्क्रयभ्रंशिनः: defaulters of payment / those who cause loss of ransom
• निष्क्रयभ्रंशिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निष्क्रय + भ्रंशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'those who cause loss of ransom/price' or 'those who default on payment'

• गुरोः: of the teacher
• गुरोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• जायाम्: wife
• जायाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अन्यस्य: of another
• अन्यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; विशेषण

• पुरुषः: a man
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• परख्यायाम्: in another’s bed/with another’s wife (in illicit relation)
• परख्यायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• प्रतिपादयन्: causing/leading (into); engaging in
• प्रतिपादयन्: Karta (कर्ता; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + पद् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speakers

• Not specified in input

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "bhakti", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Guru-śiṣya ethics
• Sexual ethics
• Misappropriation (knowledge/wealth/relationships)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse groups together violations of trust: stealing learning, depriving the teacher of due support, and enabling adultery. All are framed as betrayals that corrode the moral infrastructure of society—education, mentorship, and family.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Didactic dharma material (ācāra/karma-phala), not a pancalakṣaṇa narrative unit.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Stealing knowledge’ can also signify divorcing wisdom from integrity—turning vidyā into mere instrument. The guru’s due is symbolic of sustaining the channel of transmission; disrupting it is disrupting sacred continuity.