Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 78, Shloka 29

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

Sanskrit

धर्मदृष्टिर्यतश्चासौ समो मित्रे तथाहिते ।

ततो नियोगं तं याम्ये चकार तिमिरापहः ॥

Transliteration

dharmadṛṣṭir yataś cāsau samo mitre tathāhite / tato niyogaṃ taṃ yāmye cakāra timirāpahaḥ

Translation

And because that Dharma-dṛṣṭi was impartial alike to friend and foe, the Dispeller of darkness—the Sun—appointed him to an office and commission connected with Yama.

Word by Word

• dharmadṛṣṭiḥ: Dharmadṛṣṭi
• dharmadṛṣṭiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + dṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नाम)

• yataḥ: since/because
• yataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, हेतुवाचक (causal indeclinable): 'because/since'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• asau: that one/he
• asau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); सर्वनाम (demonstrative pronoun)

• samaḥ: equal/partial to none
• samaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण

• mitre: toward a friend
• mitre: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी (Loc. 7), एकवचन (sg.); 'in/with regard to a friend' (locative of sphere)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner): 'so/likewise'

• ahite: toward an unfriendly one/enemy
• ahite: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी (Loc. 7), एकवचन (sg.); 'in/with regard to an enemy/one who is not well-disposed'

• tataḥ: thereupon
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रमसूचक (sequence adverb): 'thereupon'

• niyogam: appointment/commission (niyoga)
• niyogam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)

• tam: that
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); सर्वनाम

• yāmye: in Yama's domain/office
• yāmye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.)/नपुंसक (n.), सप्तमी (Loc. 7), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण; 'in Yama's (realm/office)'

• cakāra: made/appointed
• cakāra: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.)

• timira-apahaḥ: the remover of darkness
• timira-apahaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: timira (प्रातिपदिक) + apaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.); तत्पुरुषः: 'remover of darkness' (epithet)

Speakers

• Narratorial Purāṇic narration

Primary Deities

• Sūrya (timirāpaha)
• Yama (yāmya sphere)
• Dharmadṛṣṭi

Key Themes

• Impartial justice
• Dharma
• Cosmic administration (niyoga)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Fitness for governance—especially judicial governance—requires impartiality. Dharma is not favoritism; it is even-sightedness toward friend and enemy.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Vaṃśānucarita with a dharma-ethical gloss: lineage narrative is used to justify cosmic offices by virtues.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘Sun appointing’ symbolizes illumination installing discernment: when darkness is removed, judgment becomes unbiased—an inner model for ethical decision-making.