Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 31, Shloka 53

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

Sanskrit

तद्वदाचमनार्थाय दद्यादापः सकृत् सकृत् ।

अनुज्ञां च ततः प्राप्य यतवाक्कायमानसः ॥

Transliteration

tadvadācamanārthāya dadyādāpaḥ sakṛt sakṛt / anujñāñca tataḥ prāpya yatavākkāyamānasaḥ

Translation

Likewise, for sipping water in ācamana, he should give water again and again as required. Thereafter, having obtained permission, he should remain restrained in speech, body, and mind.

Word by Word

• तद्वत्: likewise, in the same way
• तद्वत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverbial: 'in that manner')

• आचमन-अर्थाय: for the purpose of sipping (ācamana)
• आचमन-अर्थाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचमन (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदानार्थ (dative of purpose)

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• आपः: water
• आपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; (plural tantum)

• सकृत्: once
• सकृत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• सकृत्: again/once more
• सकृत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

• अनुज्ञाम्: permission
• अनुज्ञाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/क्रमवाचक (then/thereafter)

• प्राप्य: having obtained
• प्राप्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having obtained)

• यत-वाक्-काय-मानसः: one restrained in speech, body, and mind
• यत-वाक्-काय-मानसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + काय (प्रातिपदिक) + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—'यस्य वाक् कायः मनश्च यतं (नियतम्)'

Speakers

• Dharma-instruction within the Markandeya Purana narrative

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Śrāddha
• Ācamana
• Self-restraint (yama-like)
• Ritual purity

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

External purification (water) is paired with internal purification (restraint). The rite’s success is tied to composure and disciplined conduct.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra/dharma instruction; not pañcalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

Ācamana is a micro-rite of re-centering prāṇa; the tri-restraint (speech/body/mind) seals the ritual field so its intention does not dissipate.