Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 15, Shloka 45
Adhyaya 15 — Karmic Retribution: Rebirths After Naraka and the King’s Compassion in Hell
Sanskrit
स्वर्गच्युतानां लिङ्गानि पुरुषाणामपापिनाम् ।
एतदुद्देशतो राजन् भवतः कथितं मया ॥
Transliteration
svargacyutānāṃ liṅgāni puruṣāṇām apāpinām | etad uddeśato rājan bhavataḥ kathitaṃ mayā ||
Translation
हे राजन्, जो पुरुष पापी न होते हुए भी स्वर्ग से गिर पड़े हैं, उनके लक्षण—इतना ही मैंने संक्षेप में तुम्हें कहा है।
Speakers
Instructor figure addressing the king (context later identifies a Yamapuruṣa as guide)
Key Themes
KarmaphalaMerit exhaustionHeaven and returnMoral causality