Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 3, Shloka 18

Adhyaya 3 — The Dharmapakshis’ Past-Life Curse and Indra’s Test of Truthfulness

Sanskrit

समित्पुष्पादिकं सर्वं यच्चैवाभ्यवहारिकम् ।

एवं तत्राथ वसतां तस्यास्माकञ्च कानने ॥

Transliteration

samitpuṣpādikaṃ sarvaṃ yaccaivābhyavahārikaṃ | evaṃ tatrātha vasatāṃ tasyāsmākañca kānane ||

Translation

समिधा, पुष्प आदि, और जो कुछ भी नित्य उपभोग के लिए आवश्यक है—वह सब प्राप्त हो जाता है। इस प्रकार उस वन में, उसके लिए और हमारे लिए जो वहाँ निवास करते हैं…

Word by Word

• समित्पुष्पादिकम्: fuel-sticks, flowers, and the like
• समित्पुष्पादिकम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समित् + पुष्प + आदिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — तत्पुरुषः: ‘समिधः पुष्पाणि आदयः यस्मिन्’ = ‘fuel-sticks, flowers, etc. (collection)’

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — adjective qualifying ‘समित्पुष्पादिकम्’

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: कर्म (Object; correlating with ‘सर्वम्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक, सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — relative pronoun ‘whatever/which’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphasis)

• अभ्यवहारिकम्: edible/for consumption
• अभ्यवहारिकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभ्यवहारिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — ‘fit for eating/for consumption; edible’ qualifying implied ‘द्रव्यम्’/‘सर्वम्’

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (thus/in this manner)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (there)

• अथ: then
• अथ: अनुक्रम (Discourse sequencing)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक/प्रारम्भक निपात (then/now)

• वसताम्: of (us) dwelling
• वसताम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle); षष्ठी, बहुवचन — ‘of those dwelling’

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक, सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन — ‘of him’

• अस्माकम्: of us
• अस्माकम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक, सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन — ‘of us’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• कानने: in the forest
• कानने: अधिकरण (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन — locative ‘in the forest’

Speakers

• Not explicitly identifiable from the single verse; likely within the early narrative dialogue describing life in the forest (āśrama context).

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Āśrama-dharma
• Forest hermitage economy
• Ritual requisites (samit, puṣpa)
• Simple living

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse underscores a restrained, dharmic mode of living: necessities for worship (fuel, flowers) and daily sustenance are gathered from the forest without emphasis on possession or luxury—an ethic of simplicity and self-sufficiency consistent with āśrama life.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This verse is not directly sarga/pratisarga/vaṃśa/manvantara/vaṃśānucarita. It belongs more to narrative/ācāra (conduct) material that supports dharma-teaching, rather than the core pañcalakṣaṇa categories.

What is the esoteric significance?

Symbolically, 'samit' (fuel for fire) and 'puṣpa' (offerings) represent inner discipline and devotion: sustaining the sacred fire parallels sustaining tapas and awareness, while flowers signify the refined offering of the mind and senses in a life oriented toward spiritual ends.