Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 51, Shloka 78

Adhyaya 51 — Yaksha Injunctions: Graha-Children and Female Spirits Causing Domestic and Ritual Disruptions

Sanskrit

सरीसृपाणि चाऽन्यानि पुरीषमथवा पुनः ।

षण्मासान् गुर्विणीं मांसमश्नुवानामसंयताम् ॥

Transliteration

sarīsṛpāṇi cānyāni purīṣam athavā punaḥ | ṣaṇmāsān gurviṇīṃ māṃsam aśnuvānām asaṃyatām ||

Translation

Et d’autres êtres rampants—voire même des excréments—peuvent se manifester. Cela est dit d’une femme enceinte de six mois qui mange de la viande et demeure sans maîtrise (indisciplinée).

Word by Word

• सरीसृपाणि: reptiles/creeping creatures
• सरीसृपाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरीसृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• अन्यानि: other
• अन्यानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• पुरीषम्: feces/filth
• पुरीषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरीष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अथवा: or
• अथवा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle: ‘or’)

• पुनः: again/further
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/पुनरावृत्त्यर्थ (again/further)

• षण्मासान्: six months (for six months)
• षण्मासान्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण्मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगुसमास (षण् + मास); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कालपरिमाण (duration)

• गुर्विणीम्: a pregnant woman
• गुर्विणीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुर्विणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मांसम्: flesh/meat
• मांसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अश्नुवानाम्: of (women) eating
• अश्नुवानाम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/शानच्-वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन (agreeing with implied स्त्रियः)

• असंयताम्: of the unrestrained/undisciplined
• असंयताम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असंयत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; नञ्-समास/निषेध; विशेषण (to the same referent as अश्नुवानाम्)

Speakers

• Not explicit; continuing prescriptive/diagnostic discourse

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Ācāra
• Pregnancy conduct
• Dietary restraint

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The text promotes self-control and regulated diet during pregnancy, presenting extreme negative outcomes as admonitory. The ethical emphasis is on restraint (saṃyama) and responsibility toward new life.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra/dharma material; not pañcalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Creeping creatures’ and ‘impurity’ imagery can signify the subtle ‘contamination’ of mind and body when cravings dominate; pregnancy here becomes a metaphor for the gestation of karmic results.