Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 34, Shloka 64

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

Sanskrit

कुर्वोत सम्यगाचम्य तद्वदन्नभुजिक्रियाम् ।

अफेनाभिरगन्धाभिरद्भिरच्छाभिरादरात् ॥

Transliteration

kurvota samyag ācāmya tadvad annabhujikriyām | aphenābhir agandhābhir adbhir acchābhir ādarāt ||

Translation

Having properly performed ācamana, one should likewise undertake the act of eating in due manner, using clear water that is without foam and without foul smell, and doing so with care.

Word by Word

• kurvota: do (perform)
• kurvota: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्), Madhyama-puruṣa (मध्यमपुरुष), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); parasmaipada; imperative ‘do (you all)’

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (रीतिवाचक)

• ācamya: having performed ācamana (sipping)
• ācamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-cam (आ + चम धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having sipped (water)’

• tadvat: in the same manner
• tadvat: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; manner adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• anna-bhuji-kriyām: the act/rite of eating food
• anna-bhuji-kriyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक) + bhuji (प्रातिपदिक) + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘eating of food’ + ‘act/rite’

• a-phenābhiḥ: with foamless (waters)
• a-phenābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + phena (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3 विभक्ति), Plural (बहुवचन); negative adjective ‘foamless’ qualifying adbhiḥ

• a-gandhābhiḥ: with odorless (waters)
• a-gandhābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3 विभक्ति), Plural (बहुवचन); negative adjective ‘odorless’ qualifying adbhiḥ

• adbhiḥ: with waters
• adbhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ap (आप्/अप् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3 विभक्ति), Plural (बहुवचन)

• acchābhiḥ: with clear (waters)
• acchābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: accha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3 विभक्ति), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective ‘clear/pure’ qualifying adbhiḥ

• ādarāt: with reverence / respectfully
• ādarāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial ablative ‘out of respect’

Speakers

• Unspecified in input (instructional voice)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Śauca
• Ācamana
• Ritual hygiene
• Bhojana-vidhi

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Purity is practical and ritual: clean water and correct preparatory rites sanctify ordinary acts, making daily life continuous discipline rather than occasional ceremony.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ancillary dharma instruction; not pañcalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

Ācamana symbolizes internal cleansing through ‘mantric water’; insisting on clear, odorless water reflects the ideal of transparent mind and prāṇa before nourishment.