Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 29, Shloka 38

Adhyaya 29 — Alarka’s Inquiry and Madalasa’s Teaching on Householder Dharma (Gārhasthya), Vaiśvadeva, and Atithi Hospitality

Sanskrit

विकलान् बालवृद्धांश्च भोजयेच्चातुरांस्तथा ।

वाञ्छते क्षुत्परीतात्मा यच्चान्योऽन्नमकिञ्चनः ॥

Transliteration

vikalān bālavṛddhāṃś ca bhojayec cāturāṃs tathā / vāñchate kṣutparītātmā yac cānyo 'nnam akiñcanaḥ

Translation

He should feed the disabled, and children and the aged, and likewise the sick. Also he should feed any other destitute person who, afflicted by hunger, desires food.

Word by Word

• विकलान्: the disabled/weak
• विकलान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (जन-विशेषण)

• बालवृद्धान्: children and the elderly
• बालवृद्धान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल-वृद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; घटक: बाल + वृद्ध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (children and the aged)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: Vidhi-kriyā (विधिक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भुज् (धातु) [णिच्]
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• चातुरान्: the sick/afflicted
• चातुरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चातुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (जन-विशेषण)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/रीति-अव्यय (likewise)

• वाञ्छते: desires
• वाञ्छते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वाञ्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• क्षुत्परीतात्मा: one overcome by hunger
• क्षुत्परीतात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुत्-परित-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; घटक: क्षुत् + परीत (कृदन्त) + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘whose self is overcome by hunger’

• यत्: that which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• अन्यः: another person
• अन्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अकिञ्चनः: destitute/without possessions
• अकिञ्चनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकिञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (अन्य-विशेषण)

Speakers

• Dharma-instruction voice within the Markandeya Purana’s didactic section

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Compassion
• Charity
• Care for vulnerable
• Gṛhastha social duty

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma prioritizes protection of the vulnerable. Feeding is presented as an immediate moral obligation toward those least able to secure sustenance.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ethical-ritual instruction (ācāra) rather than sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vaṃśa/vaṃśānucarita.

What is the esoteric significance?

Hunger is treated as a sacred claim upon surplus; responding to it dissolves separateness and aligns the householder with the sustaining principle of dharma.