Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 78, Shloka 6

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

Sanskrit

न शून्यभूतैः श्रोतव्यमेतत्तु सफलं भवेत् । सर्वकारणभूताय निष्ठायै ज्ञानचेतसाम् ॥

Transliteration

na śūnyabhūtaiḥ śrotavyametattu saphalaṃ bhavet / sarvakāraṇabhūtāya niṣṭhāyai jñānacetasām

Translation

This should not be listened to by those who are empty (without earnestness); then it becomes fruitful. It is meant for the steadfastness of those whose minds are set on knowledge, and for realizing the One who is the cause of all.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Avyaya (अव्यय/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• śūnya-bhūtaiḥ: by empty-minded persons
• śūnya-bhūtaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūnya (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (कृदन्त; भू धातु)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘those who have become empty/void’), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), बहुवचन

• śrotavyam: should be listened to
• śrotavyam: Kriyā (क्रिया; obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु) + tavya (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (Gerundive/तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निषेधेन सह ‘should not be heard’

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Avyaya (अव्यय/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle), विरोध/विशेषणार्थ (but/indeed)

• saphalam: fruitful
• saphalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘with fruit/result’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of etat)

• bhavet: would be / may become
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लोट्/विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• sarva-kāraṇa-bhūtāya: to the one who is the cause of all
• sarva-kāraṇa-bhūtāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + kāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (कृदन्त; भू धातु)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (‘who has become the cause of all’ / ‘the all-causal’), पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative, 4th), एकवचन

• niṣṭhāyai: for steadfast devotion/firmness
• niṣṭhāyai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niṣṭhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative, 4th), एकवचन

• jñāna-cetasām: of those whose minds are (set on) knowledge
• jñāna-cetasām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘whose mind is (fixed on) knowledge’), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-सम्भव (cetas often neuter; here gen. pl. form), षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), बहुवचन

Speakers

• Textual injunction within the hymn context

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Supreme cause of all (sarva-kāraṇa)

Key Themes

• Adhikāra (qualification)
• Efficacy of scripture
• Knowledge-oriented devotion
• Supreme causality

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Scripture is effective when approached with sincerity and preparedness. The ethical implication is cultivation of inner fitness—attention, restraint, and genuine aspiration—rather than treating sacred recitation as mere performance.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Again primarily Dharma/Ācāra: it defines eligibility and the conditions for fruitfulness (phala) of listening/recitation, not dynastic or manvantara material.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Empty’ can indicate a mind scattered by rajas/tamas; ‘jñānacetasām’ points to sattvic clarity. The verse implies that mantra/stotra operates as a catalyst only when consciousness is aligned.