Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 12, Shloka 7

Adhyaya 12 — The Son Describes the Narakas: Mahāraurava, Tamas, Nikṛntana, Apratiṣṭha, Asipatravana, and Taptakumbha

Sanskrit

काकैर्वकैर्वृकोलूकैर्वृश्चिकैर्मशकैस्तथा ।

भक्ष्यमाणस्तथा गृध्रैर्द्रुतं मार्गे विकृष्यते ॥

Transliteration

kākair vakair vṛkolūkair vṛścikair maśakais tathā /

bhakṣyamāṇas tathā gṛdhrair drutaṃ mārge vikṛṣyate

Translation

कौए, बगुले, भेड़िए और उल्लू, बिच्छू और मच्छर, तथा गिद्ध—इनसे वह खाया जाता है और मार्ग में शीघ्र घसीटा जाता है।

Word by Word

• kākaiḥ: by crows
• kākaiḥ: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vakaiḥ: by herons/cranes
• vakaiḥ: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: baka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vṛka-ulūkaiḥ: by wolves and owls
• vṛka-ulūkaiḥ: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛka (प्रातिपदिक) + ulūka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); dvandva: 'wolves and owls'

• vṛścikaiḥ: by scorpions
• vṛścikaiḥ: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛścika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• maśakaiḥ: by mosquitoes
• maśakaiḥ: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maśaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tathā: also, likewise
• tathā: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Also)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• bhakṣyamāṇaḥ: being devoured
• bhakṣyamāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √bhakṣ (भक्ष्) → bhakṣyamāṇa (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); present passive participle (शानच्/यमान) meaning 'being eaten'

• tathā: also
• tathā: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Also)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• gṛdhraiḥ: by vultures
• gṛdhraiḥ: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛdhra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• drutam: quickly
• drutam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: druta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण द्वितीया)

• mārge: on the path
• mārge: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vikṛṣyate: is dragged
• vikṛṣyate: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√kṛṣ (कृष्)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); passive sense 'is dragged/pulled'

Speakers

• Unspecified in provided excerpt

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Karma-phala
• Retribution imagery
• Naraka

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Cruelty and predation become mirrored back upon the sinner; the verse uses visceral imagery to deter harm and cultivate restraint and compassion.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Didactic supplement—ethical instruction through afterlife narrative; not directly sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vaṃśa/vaṃśānucarita.

What is the esoteric significance?

The many biting creatures symbolize fragmented mental afflictions (kleśas): when integrity is lost, the psyche is ‘consumed’ by swarms of minor but relentless pains.