Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 15, Shloka 42

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

Sanskrit

उपलक्ष्याणि जानीयान्मुक्तानां नरकादनु । दया भूतेषु संवादः परलोकप्रतिक्रिया ॥

Transliteration

upalakṣyāṇi jānīyān muktānāṃ narakād anu / dayā bhūteṣu saṃvādaḥ paraloka-pratikriyā

Translation

One should know the distinguishing signs of those released from hell: compassion toward beings, harmonious speech and conduct, and proper regard for the other world (acting with awareness of consequences beyond this life).

Word by Word

• उपलक्ष्याणि: to-be-recognized signs
• उपलक्ष्याणि: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-√लक्ष् (धातु) + य (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भाव्य/कर्तव्य-अर्थक कृदन्त (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; ‘to be noted/recognized’

• जानीयात्: should know
• जानीयात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुक्तानाम्: of the liberated (souls)
• मुक्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √मुच् (धातु) + त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘मुक्त’; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; पुं/नपुं/स्त्री—सन्दर्भानुसार (here: ‘of the liberated’)

• नरकात्: from hell
• नरकात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative-source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• अनु: after/thereafter
• अनु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनु (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय (postposition/adverbial particle) ‘after/along’

• दया: compassion
• दया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• भूतेषु: towards/in beings
• भूतेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• संवादः: harmonious speech/dialogue
• संवादः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• परलोक-प्रतिक्रिया: conduct/response concerning the next world
• परलोक-प्रतिक्रिया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परलोक (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतिक्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speakers

• Not specified in input

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Moral rehabilitation
• Compassion
• Right conduct and afterlife accountability

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The text offers a positive diagnostic: genuine moral recovery is seen in compassion, social harmony, and future-oriented accountability—virtues that counteract the earlier catalogue of cruelty, theft, and slander.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Dharma teaching focusing on conduct and karmic trajectory; not a direct pancalakṣaṇa unit.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Release from hell’ can be read inwardly as release from tamasic states; the signs are sattvic markers—dayā and saṃvāda—indicating purification and reintegration into cosmic order.