Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 35, Shloka 36

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

Sanskrit

अभोज्यं सूतिका-षण्ढ-मार्जाराखुश्वकुक्कुटान् । पतिताविद्धचण्डाल-मृतहारांश्च धर्मवित् ॥

Transliteration

abhojyaṃ sūtikā-ṣaṇḍha-mārjārākhu-śva-kukkuṭān / patitāviddha-caṇḍāla-mṛtahārāṃś ca dharmavit

Translation

A knower of dharma should deem unfit for eating food connected with a woman in childbirth-impurity, an impotent person, cats, rats, dogs, and cocks; likewise food connected with the fallen, one of pierced/tainted status, a caṇḍāla, and those who live by carrying the dead.

Word by Word

• abhojyam: not fit to be eaten
• abhojyam: Vidhāna (विधेय/qualification)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (उपसर्ग/निषेध) + bhojya (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective; bhojya = √bhuj (धातु) + यत् (यत्-कृदन्त), with negation a-

• sūtikā-ṣaṇḍa-mārjāra-ākhu-śva-kukkuṭān: women in childbirth, eunuchs, cats, rats, dogs, and cocks
• sūtikā-ṣaṇḍa-mārjāra-ākhu-śva-kukkuṭān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūtikā (प्रातिपदिक) + ṣaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + mārjāra (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhu (प्रातिपदिक) + śva (प्रातिपदिक) + kukkuṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative): 'sūtikāḥ ca ṣaṇḍāḥ ca ...' (collective list)

• patita-avidha-caṇḍāla-mṛta-hārān: outcastes, the unpierced, caṇḍālas, and corpse-bearers
• patita-avidha-caṇḍāla-mṛta-hārān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patita (प्रातिपदिक) + aviddha (प्रातिपदिक) + caṇḍāla (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + hāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व sense: 'patitāḥ ca aviddhāḥ ca caṇḍālāḥ ca mṛta-hārāḥ ca'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• dharma-vit: the knower of dharma
• dharma-vit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + vid (धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; upapada-kṛdanta: √vid (धातु) + क्विप् (क्विप्-प्रत्यय) = vit; समास: धर्मं वेत्ति (tatpuruṣa)

Speakers

• Dharma-instruction voice within the Purāṇic discourse (didactic narration; not Devi Māhātmya)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Food ethics
• Śauca (purity)
• Aśauca (impurity)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Food is treated as a primary carrier of purity/impurity; thus dharma regulates sources and associations of food. The categories reflect classical ritual norms and social boundaries of the time.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Ancillary dharma/ācāra instruction.

What is the esoteric significance?

Eating symbolizes internalization. ‘Abhojya’ lists warn against internalizing tamasic influences—whether literal (unclean sources) or symbolic (morally degraded company).