Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 35, Shloka 12

Adhyaya 35 — Madālasa’s Instruction on Purity, Impurity, and Corrective Rites (Śauca and Aśauca)

Sanskrit

पुनः पाकेन भाण्डानां पार्थिवानाञ्च मेध्यता ।

शुचिर्भैक्षं कारुहस्तः पण्यं योषिन्मुखं तथा ॥

Transliteration

punaḥ pākena bhāṇḍānāṃ pārthivānāñ ca medhyatā /

śucir bhaikṣaṃ kāru-hastaḥ paṇyaṃ yoṣin-mukhaṃ tathā //

Translation

Again, vessels—and earthenware in particular—become fit (pure) by heating or cooking. Alms-food is deemed pure; goods handled by artisans are deemed pure for trade; and likewise (food or water) that has touched a woman’s mouth is treated under a specific purity convention.

Word by Word

• पुनः: again; further
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक-अव्यय (adverb: again/further)

• पाकेन: by cooking; by heating
• पाकेन: करण (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• भाण्डानाम्: of vessels; utensils
• भाण्डानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी / Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पार्थिवानाम्: earthen; made of clay
• पार्थिवानाम्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण (qualifying भाण्डानाम्)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction: and)

• मेध्यता: purity; fitness for ritual
• मेध्यता: कर्ता (कर्तृ / Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेध्यता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• शुचिः: pure
• शुचिः: विधेय-विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विधेय-विशेषण (predicative adjective)

• भैक्षम्: alms-food; what is obtained by begging
• भैक्षम्: कर्ता (कर्तृ / Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• कारु-हस्तः: the artisan’s hand
• कारु-हस्तः: कर्ता (कर्तृ / Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कारु (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: ‘artisan’s hand’), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• पण्यम्: merchandise; goods for sale
• पण्यम्: कर्ता (कर्तृ / Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• योषित्-मुखम्: a woman’s face/mouth
• योषित्-मुखम्: कर्ता (कर्तृ / Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योषित् (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध: ‘woman’s face/mouth’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकार-वाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/so)

Speakers

• Instructional narrator within Dharma discourse (frame-speaker not explicit in provided excerpt)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Śauca (purity)
• Household ritual practice
• Social conventions of purity

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Purity is linked to function and social order: heat purifies objects meant for cooking; alms are protected as a dharmic institution; commerce requires practical presumptions of cleanliness.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra/dharma material; not part of sarga/pratisarga/vaṃśa/manvantara/vaṃśānucarita.

What is the esoteric significance?

Fire/heat (pāka) is the inner 'tapas' principle—transforming and rendering fit; it mirrors austerity that refines the practitioner.