Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 34, Shloka 103

Adhyaya 34 — Madālāsā’s Instruction on Sadācāra (Householder Conduct, Purity, and Daily Rites)

Sanskrit

कुर्यात्कर्माणि तीर्थेन स्वेन स्वेन यथाविधि । देवादीनां तथा कुर्याद् ब्राह्मेणाचमनक्रियाम् ॥

Transliteration

kuryāt karmāṇi tīrthena svena svena yathāvidhi | devādīnāṃ tathā kuryād brāhmeṇācamanakriyām ||

Translation

He should perform the rites with the appropriate hand-tīrtha, each according to its prescribed procedure. Likewise, for the gods and others, he should perform ācamana (ritual sipping for purification) using the brāhma-tīrtha.

Word by Word

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• कर्माणि: rites/actions
• कर्माणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

• तीर्थेन: with/by the tīrtha (hand-position)
• तीर्थेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• स्वेन: with one’s own
• स्वेन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• स्वेन: each with its own
• स्वेन: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (manner)

• विधि: rule/prescription
• विधि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन (in compound usage with यथा-)

• यथाविधि: according to rule
• यथाविधि: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)

• देव-आदीनाम्: of the gods and others
• देव-आदीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन; देवाः आदयः येषाम् (of the gods and others)

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

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

• ब्राह्मेण: with the brāhma (brāhma-tīrtha)
• ब्राह्मेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्राह्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of तीर्थ/क्रिया)

• आचमन-क्रियाम्: the sipping (ācamana) rite
• आचमन-क्रियाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचमन (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; आचमनस्य क्रिया (the act of sipping)

Speakers

• Not specified in the provided excerpt (instructional narrative voice)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Devas (collective)

Key Themes

• Ritual precision
• Ācamana
• Tīrtha doctrine
• Dharma

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma is expressed through attentiveness: correct intention must be matched by correct method. The verse emphasizes disciplined, non-arbitrary ritual conduct.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra/Dharma instruction rather than pañcalakṣaṇa narration.

What is the esoteric significance?

Different hand-tīrthas encode different channels of offering—subtle ‘routes’ of transmission. Brāhma-ācamana indicates purification aligned with sattva and sacred knowledge.