Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 31, Shloka 44

Adhyaya 31 — Naimittika and Related Śrāddha Rites: Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa, Eligibility, Timing, and Procedure

Sanskrit

मन्त्रपूर्वं पितॄणाञ्च कुर्यादावाहनं बुधः । अपसव्यं तथा चार्घ्यं यवार्थञ्च तथा तिलैः ॥

Transliteration

mantrapūrvaṃ pitṝṇāñ ca kuryād āvāhanaṃ budhaḥ / apasavyaṃ tathā cārghyaṃ yavārthañ ca tathā tilaiḥ

Translation

Then the wise person should invoke the Pitṛs with mantras. In the apasavya manner, he should also offer arghya, along with barley (yava) and sesame seeds (tila).

Word by Word

• मन्त्रपूर्वम्: with mantra first/preceded by mantra
• मन्त्रपूर्वम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मन्त्र + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्यय (adverb) — ‘मन्त्रेण पूर्वम्/पूर्वकं’ (preceded by mantra)

• पितॄणाम्: of the ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• आवाहनम्: invocation (calling)
• आवाहनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• बुधः: the wise man
• बुधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अपसव्यम्: in the apasavya manner
• अपसव्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपसव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण — ‘अपसव्य-रीत्या’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (thus/likewise)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• अर्घ्यम्: arghya offering (water/oblation)
• अर्घ्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• यवार्थम्: barley (as an offering substance)
• यवार्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यव + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘likewise’

• तिलैः: with sesame seeds
• तिलैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

Speakers

• Dharmic instruction within the Purāṇic discourse (speaker not specified in the provided excerpt)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Pitṛs

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Pitṛ-yajña
• Mantra
• Tila
• Yava
• Śrāddha protocol

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Ancestral rites combine inner intention (mantra) and tangible tokens (tila, yava). The teaching emphasizes that remembrance and gratitude should be enacted, not merely felt.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Ritual/dharma instruction; not sarga/pratisarga/vaṃśa/manvantara/vaṃśānucarita.

What is the esoteric significance?

Sesame (tila) is traditionally linked with ancestral satisfaction and subtle nourishment; mantra is the ‘address’ that directs offering to its intended subtle recipients.