Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 34, Shloka 42

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

Sanskrit

विद्याधिकं गुरुं देवं बुधः कुर्यात् प्रदक्षिणम् ।

उपानद्वस्त्रमाल्यादि धृतमन्यैर्न धारयेत् ॥

Transliteration

vidyādhikaṃ guruṃ devaṃ budhaḥ kuryāt pradakṣiṇam |

upānad-vastra-mālyādi dhṛtam anyair na dhārayet ||

Translation

A wise person should circumambulate one who is superior in learning, the guru, and the deity. One should not wear sandals, garments, garlands, and the like that have been worn by others.

Word by Word

• विद्याधिकम्: more learned
• विद्याधिकम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्याधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विद्यया अधिकः); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• गुरुम्: teacher
• गुरुम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• देवम्: god; divine being
• देवम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• बुधः: a wise person
• बुधः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• प्रदक्षिणम्: circumambulation (clockwise)
• प्रदक्षिणम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• उपानत्: shoe; sandal
• उपानत्: कर्म (Karma/Object; item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपानत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• वस्त्रमाल्यादि: clothes, garlands, etc.
• वस्त्रमाल्यादि: कर्म (Karma/Object; items)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + माल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective dvandva) with आदि ‘etc.’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• धृतम्: worn; held
• धृतम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृत (कृदन्त; √धृ)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• अन्यैः: by others
• अन्यैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrumental agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negative particle)

• धारयेत्: should wear/put on
• धारयेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

Speakers

• Dharmic instruction within the Markandeya Purana’s didactic section (speaker not specified in the provided extract)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Deva (generic reference to deity)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Reverence practices
• Ritual purity
• Guru-bhakti

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Honor is enacted through bodily gesture (pradakṣiṇā) and personal discipline. The prohibition on wearing others’ used items reflects purity norms and also discourages dependency and impropriety.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra-dharma instruction; ancillary to pañcalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

Pradakṣiṇā externalizes an inner orientation: placing knowledge, teacher, and deity at the center of one’s life. Avoiding others’ worn items symbolizes not taking on others’ ‘residual impressions’ (saṃskāra) and maintaining inner clarity.