Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 50, Shloka 46

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

Sanskrit

भग्नासनस्थितैर्भुक्तमासन्नागतमेव च ।

विदिङ्मुखं सन्ध्ययोश्च नृत्यवाद्यस्वनाकुलम् ॥

Transliteration

bhagnāsanasthitair bhuktam āsannāgatam eva ca | vidiṅmukhaṃ sandhyayośca nṛtyavādyasvanākulam ||

Translation

“Food eaten while seated on broken seats, and food brought close (in a disorderly/unclean manner); (food taken) facing improper directions, and at the twilight times; and (food taken) amid the tumult of dance, instruments, and noise—these are your (conditions).”

Word by Word

• भग्न-आसन-स्थितैः: by those seated on broken seats
• भग्न-आसन-स्थितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भग्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √भञ्ज्, क्त) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्था, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (भग्नासने स्थिताः = टूटे आसन पर बैठे/स्थित)

• भुक्तम्: eaten
• भुक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुज् (धातु) → भुक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कृदन्तः—क्त (PPP)

• आसन्न-आगतम्: brought near/come close
• आसन्न-आगतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आसन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + आगत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √गम्, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (आसन्नं च तत् आगतम् च = पास आकर पहुँचा/निकट-आगत)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• विदिङ्मुखम्: facing a wrong direction
• विदिङ्मुखम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विदिक् (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (विदिशि मुखं यस्य/विदिशं मुखं = गलत दिशा की ओर मुख वाला)

• सन्ध्ययोः: at/of the two twilights (morning & evening)
• सन्ध्ययोः: Adhikarana/Sambandha (अधिकरण/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6th/7th), द्विवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• नृत्य-वाद्य-स्वन-आकुलम्: filled with the noise of dance and instruments
• नृत्य-वाद्य-स्वन-आकुलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वन (प्रातिपदिक) + आकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (नृत्य-वाद्य-स्वनेन आकुलम् = नाच-गान/वाद्य-ध्वनि से व्याकुल/भरा)

Speakers

• Brahmā to Duḥsaha

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Brahmā

Key Themes

• Ritual timing (sandhyā)
• Auspicious directionality
• Mindfulness in eating
• Orderliness (ācāra)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse links outer order with inner order: eating in broken, noisy, ill-timed, or careless settings cultivates restlessness and dullness. Sandhyā is traditionally reserved for purification; violating it symbolizes prioritizing appetite over discipline.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra-dharma guidance embedded in narrative; not a pancalakṣaṇa core heading.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Wrong direction’ and ‘twilight’ can indicate liminal, unstable states of mind. Consuming impressions in such instability feeds tamas and makes consciousness ‘directionless.’