Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 14, Shloka 21

Adhyaya 14 — The Messenger of Yama Explains Karmic Retribution and the Causes of Naraka Torments

Sanskrit

व्यालकुञ्जरदुर्गाणि सर्पचौरभयानि तु ।

हताः पापेन गच्छन्ति पापिनः किमतः परम् ॥

Transliteration

vyālakuñjaradurgāṇi sarpacaurabhayāni tu / hatāḥ pāpena gacchanti pāpinaḥ kimataḥ param

Translation

À travers les périls des bêtes et des éléphants, par des lieux rudes, parmi les peurs des serpents et des voleurs—ainsi vont les pécheurs, frappés par leur propre faute. Que dire de plus ?

Word by Word

• व्यालकुञ्जरदुर्गाणि: (various) dangers: beasts, elephants, strongholds
• व्यालकुञ्जरदुर्गाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याल + कुञ्जर + दुर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective: 'wild beasts, elephants, and forts/strongholds' as a set), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन (plural)

• सर्पचौरभयानि: fears from snakes and thieves
• सर्पचौरभयानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्प + चौर + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective: 'snake- and thief-fears'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), बहुवचन (plural)

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक अव्यय (particle: 'but/indeed')

• हताः: struck down, afflicted
• हताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु) → हत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• पापेन: by sin
• पापेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• गच्छन्ति: go, proceed
• गच्छन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• पापिनः: sinners
• पापिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), बहुवचन (plural)

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (singular); प्रश्नवाचक (interrogative)

• अतः: therefore, from this
• अतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): हेतौ/तस्मात्-अर्थे (therefore/from this)

• परम्: beyond, further
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (singular)

Speakers

• Dialogue setting (speaker not specified in the provided excerpt)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Pāpa
• Consequences
• Fear
• Danger
• Moral causality

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Adharma externalizes as insecurity: the sinful life is depicted as moving through a landscape of threats. The teaching motivates restraint and ethical repair to avoid self-created peril.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ethical instruction (Dharma/karma-phala) embedded in the narrative; not a core Pancalakṣaṇa unit.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘beasts, snakes, thieves’ can symbolize inner predators—anger, craving, deceit—that ‘kill’ clarity. Pāpa is both outer misfortune and inner fragmentation.