Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 43, Shloka 52

Adhyaya 43 — Portents of Death (Ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇas) and the Yogin’s Response; Alarka Renounces Kingship

Sanskrit

मृद्वाहिकाल्पदेहापि मुखाग्रेणाप्यणीयसाः ।

करोति मृद्भारचयमुपदेशः स योगिनः ॥

Transliteration

mṛdvāhikālpadehāpi mukhāgreṇāpy aṇīyasā | karoti mṛdbhāracayam upadeśaḥ sa yoginaḥ ||

Translation

Même une fourmi qui porte la terre, bien que son corps soit minuscule et l’extrémité de sa bouche plus petite encore, forme un tas de terre lourde. Ceci est un enseignement pour le yogin.

Word by Word

• mṛt-vāhikā-alpa-dehā: the ant (small-bodied earth-carrier)
• mṛt-vāhikā-alpa-dehā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛt (प्रातिपदिक) + vāhikā (प्रातिपदिक) + alpa (प्रातिपदिक) + deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः — 'she whose body is small (alpa-deha) and who carries earth (mṛt-vāhikā)' (i.e., an ant)

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (also/even)

• mukha-agreṇa: with the tip of its mouth
• mukha-agreṇa: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः — 'by the tip/front of the mouth'

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (also/even)

• aṇīyasā: by a very tiny (means)
• aṇīyasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṇīyas (प्रातिपदिक; तद्धित-तर/ईयसुन्)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; अतिशय-तुलनार्थक (comparative) — 'by something very minute' (agreeing with mukha-agreṇa as instrument)

• karoti: makes, forms
• karoti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• mṛt-bhāra-cayam: a heap of earth-loads
• mṛt-bhāra-cayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛt (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāra (प्रातिपदिक) + caya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः — 'a heap/accumulation of loads of earth'

• upadeśaḥ: instruction, teaching
• upadeśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upadeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• saḥ: that
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; सर्वनाम

• yoginaḥ: of the yogin
• yoginaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

Speakers

• Didactic narrator

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Abhyāsa (repeated practice)
• Incremental progress
• Subtle power
• Perseverance
• Yoga discipline

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Small, consistent effort yields great results. Yogic attainment is accumulated through repeated practice, not sudden force.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Didactic yoga material; not pancalakṣaṇa narrative.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘minute mouth-tip’ hints at subtle means: attention (dhāraṇā) is tiny yet can move enormous inner burdens when applied steadily.