Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 31, Shloka 56

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

Sanskrit

तद्वन् मातामहानां च दत्त्वा पिण्डान् यथाविधि ।

गन्धमाल्यादिसंयुक्तं दद्यादाचमनं ततः ॥

Transliteration

tadvanmātāmahānāñca dattvā piṇḍān yathāvidhi / gandhamālyādisaṃyuktaṃ dadyādācamanaṃ tataḥ

Translation

In the same way, having duly offered piṇḍas to the maternal grandfathers according to rule, he should then give water for ācamana accompanied by fragrance, garlands, and the like.

Word by Word

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (likewise)

• मातामहानाम्: of the maternal grandfathers
• मातामहानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

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

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• पिण्डान्: piṇḍas (rice-balls)
• पिण्डान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• यथा-विधि: according to the prescribed rite
• यथा-विधि: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; क्रियाविशेषण (according to rule)

• गन्ध-माल्य-आदि-संयुक्तम्: accompanied by fragrance, garlands, etc.
• गन्ध-माल्य-आदि-संयुक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + माल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying आचमनम्); समासः—गन्धमाल्यादिभिः संयुक्तम्

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

• आचमनम्: water for sipping (ācamana)
• आचमनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

Speakers

• Dharma-instruction within the Markandeya Purana narrative

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Pitṛ-pūjā
• Śrāddha
• Maternal lineage
• Piṇḍa-dāna
• Upacāras (fragrance/garlands)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Ancestral duty is inclusive of maternal lineage; honor is expressed not only through food/water but also through respectful ‘upacāras’ (fragrance, garlands).

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra/dharma instruction; not pañcalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

Fragrance and garlands represent subtle refinement—transmuting the rite from mere subsistence-offering into a gesture of beauty and regard, mirroring inner reverence.