Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 34, Shloka 16

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

Sanskrit

धर्मो धर्मानुबन्धार्थो धर्मो नात्मार्थबाधकः ।

उभाभ्यां च द्विधा कामस्तेन तौ च द्विधा पुनः ॥

Transliteration

dharmo dharmānubandhārtho dharmo nātmārthabādhakaḥ | ubhābhyāṃ ca dvidhā kāmas tena tau ca dvidhā punaḥ ||

Translation

Dharma is that which brings further dharma in its train; dharma does not obstruct one’s true self-interest. And with respect to both (dharma and artha), kāma becomes twofold; therefore those two (dharma and artha) are again twofold in their relation to kāma.

Word by Word

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• धर्म-अनुबन्ध-अर्थः: having the purpose of dharma’s continuation/connection
• धर्म-अनुबन्ध-अर्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + anubandha (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य अनुबन्धः, तस्य अर्थः/प्रयोजनम्)

• धर्मः: dharma
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (पुनरुक्ति-बलार्थ)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध-निपात (negation)

• आत्म-अर्थ-बाधकः: one that obstructs self-interest
• आत्म-अर्थ-बाधकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + bādhaka (प्रातिपदिक; √bādh बाध् + ण्वुल्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः अर्थः = स्वार्थः, तस्य बाधकः)

• उभाभ्याम्: by/with both
• उभाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, द्विवचन; ‘both (means/with both)’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-निपात

• द्विधा: in two ways
• द्विधा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dvidhā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक

• कामः: kāma (desire/goal)
• कामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तेन: therefore, by that
• तेन: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘therefore/by that’

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (those two)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-निपात

• द्विधा: in two ways
• द्विधा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dvidhā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरावृत्ति/कालवाचक (again)

Speakers

• Didactic voice; conceptual refinement of trivarga

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma rationale
• Self-interest and ethics
• Kāma regulation
• Puruṣārtha theory

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

True dharma is portrayed as self-consistent and welfare-producing: it does not ultimately harm one’s real interest. Desire (kāma) must be interpreted through its compatibility with dharma and artha.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Doctrinal ethics; not pañcalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

The verse points to a deeper identity between dharma and ‘ātmārtha’: when the self is correctly understood, ethical order and personal good converge.