Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 41, Shloka 10
Adhyaya 41 — Yogic Conduct and the Discipline Leading to Siddhi
अत ऊर्ध्वं पश्चापि अदुष्टापतितेषु च । भैक्ष्यचर्या विवर्णेषु जघन्या वृत्तिरिष्यते ॥
ata ūrdhvaṃ paścāpi aduṣṭāpatiteṣu ca | bhaikṣyacaryā vivarṇeṣu jaghanyā vṛttir iṣyate ||
Beyond that (in a lower order), even among those who are not wicked though fallen (from proper conduct), and among those outside the varṇa order (vivarṇa), the practice of living by alms is regarded as the lowest livelihood.
{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "bibhatsa", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
FAQs
The passage ranks sources of support, aiming to protect the renunciant’s discipline and reputation; it reflects the text’s social-ritual purity framework, where association and dependence are carefully regulated.
Not pañcalakṣaṇa; it is social-ethical instruction (ācāra) within a yogic teaching sequence.
On an inner reading, ‘higher’ and ‘lower’ vṛttis symbolize subtler vs. grosser supports for the mind: purer contexts reduce agitation and help stabilize meditation.