Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 92, Shloka 10

Adhyaya 92 — Devi’s Assurance of Protection and the Fruits of Reciting the Devi Mahatmyam

Sanskrit

जानताजानता वापि बलिपूजां तथा कृताम् ।

प्रतीच्छिष्याम्यहं प्रीत्या वह्निहोमं तथा कृतम् ॥

Transliteration

jānatājānatā vāpi balipūjāṃ tathā kṛtām |

pratīcchiṣyāmy ahaṃ prītyā vahnihomaṃ tathā kṛtam ||

Translation

Whether done knowingly or unknowingly, I accept with delight such worship with offerings (bali and pūjā), and likewise the fire-offering (homa) performed in that manner.

Word by Word

• जानता: knowingly
• जानता: Karana (करण/Instrumental)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + शतृ (वर्तमान-कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (instrumental: ‘by one who knows’); (पाठे ‘जानता अजानता’ अपेक्षितम्)

• अजानता: unknowingly
• अजानता: Karana (करण/Instrumental)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + ज्ञा (धातु) + शतृ (वर्तमान-कृदन्त)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक शतृ-कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘by one who does not know’ = unknowingly

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (विकल्प particle: ‘or’)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/अपि = ‘also/even’)

• बलि-पूजाम्: bali-offering and worship
• बलि-पूजाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (इतरेतर: ‘bali and worship’ as a pair); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (रीति/समुच्चय: ‘thus/likewise’)

• कृताम्: performed
• कृताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् to ‘बलिपूजाम्’—‘done/performed’

• प्रतीच्छिष्यामि: I will accept
• प्रतीच्छिष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति+इष्/इच्छ्? (धातु: प्रति+इ (ग्रहणे) → प्रतीच्छ्)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपदम्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘I will accept/receive’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

• प्रीत्या: with delight
• प्रीत्या: Karana (करण/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण—‘with pleasure/affection’

• वह्नि-होमम्: fire-oblation
• वह्नि-होमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘वह्निहोम’ = oblation into fire); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (रीति/समुच्चय)

• कृतम्: performed
• कृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् to ‘वह्निहोमम्’—‘done/performed’

Speakers

• Devī

Primary Deities

• Devī

Shakti Aspects

• Devī’s grace (anugraha) overriding imperfect knowledge; compassionate acceptor of offerings

Key Themes

• Grace
• Accessibility of worship
• Ritual acceptance
• Bhakti over technicality

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse emphasizes divine compassion: sincere engagement is valued even when ritual knowledge is incomplete. It encourages participation while still allowing room for learning and refinement.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Dharma: it legitimizes worship practice and describes its efficacy, typical of Purāṇic dharma-bridging between elite ritual expertise and popular devotion.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Knowing/unknowing’ points to the Devī as the inner knower (antaryāmin) who receives intention (bhāva). The acceptance ‘with delight’ suggests that devotion aligns the practitioner with śakti regardless of conceptual sophistication.