Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 78, Shloka 26

Adhyaya 78 — Hymn to Surya and the Distribution of Solar Splendour; Genealogy of Vaivasvata and Chaya’s Line

Sanskrit

स्वरूपधारिणीं चैमामानिनाय निजाश्रयम् ।

संज्ञां भार्यां प्रीतिमतीं भास्करो वारितस्करः ॥

Transliteration

svarūpadhāriṇīñ caimām ānināya nijāśrayam / saṃjñāṃ bhāryāṃ prītimatīṃ bhāskaro vāritaskaraḥ

Translation

And Bhāskara (the Sun), the restrainer of thieves (that is, the dispeller of darkness), brought this Saṃjñā—now bearing her own true form—back to his own abode, as his beloved wife.

Word by Word

• स्वरूपधारिणीम्: bearing (her) true form
• स्वरूपधारिणीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वरूप + धारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘own-form-bearing’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; qualifies ‘इमाम्/संज्ञाम्’

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

• इमाम्: this (woman)
• इमाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• आनिनाय: brought
• आनिनाय: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-नी (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• निजाश्रयम्: to his own abode
• निजाश्रयम्: Gati/Deshya-karma (गति/देश्यकर्म; destination as object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘own abode/refuge’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• संज्ञाम्: Saṃjñā
• संज्ञाम्: Karma (कर्म; apposition to ‘इमाम्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; proper name ‘Saṃjñā’

• भार्याम्: wife
• भार्याम्: Karma (कर्म; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; in apposition

• प्रीतिमतीम्: affectionate; full of love
• प्रीतिमतीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीतिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective to ‘संज्ञाम्/भार्याम्’

• भास्करः: Bhāskara (the Sun)
• भास्करः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• वारितस्करः: one who has repelled the thief
• वारितस्करः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वारित + स्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: ‘whose thief has been prevented/repelled’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; epithet of Bhāskara

Speakers

• Narratorial Purāṇic narration

Primary Deities

• Sūrya (Bhāskara)
• Saṃjñā

Key Themes

• Restoration of order
• Household (gṛhastha) stability
• Light as moral guardian

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The household is portrayed as a moral institution: reconciliation and rightful placement (return to ‘nija-āśraya’) restore social-cosmic order.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Vaṃśānucarita: it closes the separation motif and re-establishes the legitimate marital context for ensuing genealogical outcomes.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Vārita-taskara’ hints at consciousness as light: when inner ‘sun’ rises, the ‘theft’ of ignorance and moral lapse is checked.