Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 50, Shloka 28

Adhyaya 50 — Mind-Born Progeny, Svayambhuva Manu’s Lineage, and Brahmā’s Ordinance to Duḥsaha (Alakṣmī’s Retinue)

Sanskrit

सुखं सिद्धिर्यशः कीर्तिरित्येते धर्मयोनयः ।

कामादतिमुदं हर्षं धर्मपौत्रमसूयत ॥

Transliteration

sukhaṃ siddhir yaśaḥ kīrtir ity ete dharmayonayaḥ | kāmād atimudaṃ harṣaṃ dharmapautram asūyata ||

Translation

Happiness (Sukha), Success/Accomplishment (Siddhi), Fame (Yaśas), and Renown (Kīrti)—these are born of Dharma. From Desire (Kāma) were born Exultation (Atimuda) and Joy (Harṣa), a grandson (in lineage) of Dharma.

Word by Word

• sukham: happiness
• sukham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/समुच्चय), एकवचन; Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• siddhiḥ: success, accomplishment
• siddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• yaśaḥ: fame
• yaśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yaśas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• kīrtiḥ: renown, glory
• kīrtiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kīrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• iti: thus
• iti: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-निपात (quotative/marker ‘thus’)

• ete: these
• ete: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Pronoun, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• dharma-yonayaḥ: sources/origins of Dharma
• dharma-yonayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + yoni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: dharmasya yonayaḥ); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• kāmāt: from Kāma (Desire)
• kāmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; Masculine, Ablative (5th), Singular

• atimudam: great joy, excessive delight
• atimudam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ati (अव्यय-उपसर्ग) + muda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (ati + muda); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• harṣam: happiness, exhilaration
• harṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: harṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• dharma-pautram: Dharma’s grandson
• dharma-pautram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + pautra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: dharmasya pautram); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative, Singular

• asūyata: gave birth to, produced
• asūyata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sū (सू धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Imperfect, 3rd person, Singular; आत्मनेपद

Speakers

• Frame dialogue tradition (sage-narration within Markandeya Purana); specific speaker not explicit in supplied excerpt

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Karma and fruits
• Ethical psychology
• Virtue genealogy

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The Purāṇic model ties social and inner goods (happiness, success, reputation) to dharmic living, while noting that joy and exhilaration also arise from desire—implying the need to govern kāma so that pleasure remains aligned with dharma.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Sarga/Pratisarga-style genealogical enumeration: the ‘creation’ of moral qualities and their outcomes is presented as lineage.

What is the esoteric significance?

Yaśas and kīrti symbolize the ‘outer radiance’ of inner order; harṣa/atimuda are the volatile waves of kāma, which can either support dharma (as a descendant) or destabilize it when excessive.