Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 50, Shloka 75

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

Sanskrit

दानाध्ययनयज्ञेषु सदोद्युक्तञ्च दुःसह ।

क्षत्रियं त्यज सच्छुल्कशस्त्राजीवात्तवेतनम् ॥

Transliteration

dānādhyayana-yajñeṣu sadodyuktaṃ ca duḥsaha | kṣatriyaṃ tyaja sacchulka-śastrājīvāt tavetanam ||

Translation

Avoid the kṣatriya who is ever engaged in giving, study, and sacrifice, who is hard to overpower, and who lives by righteous wages, in accord with dharma, through the profession of arms.

Word by Word

• dāna-adhyayana-yajñeṣu: in giving, studying, and sacrifices
• dāna-adhyayana-yajñeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक) + adhyayana (प्रातिपदिक) + yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (yajña m.), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; द्वन्द्व-समासः (समाहार/इतरेतर) — ‘दाने, अध्ययने, यज्ञेषु’

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb

• udyuktam: engaged/active
• udyuktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udyukta (कृदन्त; √yuj with ud-)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; past passive participle used adjectivally

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• duḥsaham: hard to bear/intolerable
• duḥsaham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥsaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘difficult to endure’

• kṣatriyam: a Kshatriya
• kṣatriyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tyaja: abandon/avoid
• tyaja: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tyaj (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), Parasmaipada, Madhyama-puruṣa, Singular

• sat-śulka-śastra-ājīvāt: from livelihood by paid weaponry (mercenary service)
• sat-śulka-śastra-ājīvāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + śulka (प्रातिपदिक) + śastra (प्रातिपदिक) + ājīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; तत्पुरुष-समासः — ‘शुल्केन (वेतनेन) शस्त्रेण च आजीवः’ (livelihood by paid weaponry/mercenary service)

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun

• etanam: wage/payment
• etanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘wage/fee’

Speakers

• Dharma-instructor addressing a Yakṣa (didactic counsel within the Purāṇic dialogue frame)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Varṇāśrama duties
• Righteous protection
• Generosity

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Strength combined with dharmic practice (dāna, yajña, learning) is portrayed as both socially stabilizing and spiritually protective—therefore not a suitable target for a Yakṣa.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ethical-social dharma guidance; not pancalakṣaṇa proper.

What is the esoteric significance?

Righteous force (dharma-bala) is subtly contrasted with predation; legitimate earning (sat-śulka) implies karmic cleanliness that blocks affliction.