Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 50, Shloka 79

Adhyaya 50 — Mind-Born Progeny, Svayambhuva Manu’s Lineage, and Brahmā’s Ordinance to Duḥsaha (Alakṣmī’s Retinue)

Sanskrit

यत्र पुत्रो गुरोः पूजां देवानाञ्च तथा पितुः ।

पत्नी च भर्तुः कुरुते तत्रालक्ष्मीभयं कुतः ॥

Transliteration

yatra putro guroḥ pūjāṃ devānāñ ca tathā pituḥ | patnī ca bhartuḥ kurute tatrālakṣmī-bhayaṃ kutaḥ ||

Translation

जहाँ पुत्र गुरु, देवताओं और पिता की पूजा करता है, और जहाँ पत्नी पति की सेवा तथा सम्मान करती है—वहाँ अलक्ष्मी (दुर्भाग्य) का भय कैसे रह सकता है?

Word by Word

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (relative adverb: 'where')

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन (Singular)

• guroḥ: of the teacher
• guroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन

• pūjām: worship, reverence
• pūjām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• devānām: of the gods
• devānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); बहुवचन (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक (adverb: 'likewise/also')

• pituḥ: of the father
• pituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन

• patnī: wife
• patnī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• bhartuḥ: of (her) husband
• bhartuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन

• kurute: does, performs
• kurute: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb: 'there')

• alakṣmī-bhayam: fear of misfortune
• alakṣmī-bhayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-lakṣmī + bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd); एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive tatpuruṣa: 'fear of misfortune')

• kutaḥ: from where? how (could it be)?
• kutaḥ: Hetu/Prashna (हेतु/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kutaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative adverb: 'whence/how')

Speakers

• Didactic voice addressing a Yakṣa (as indicated by vocative 'yakṣa' in adjacent verses); household-instruction context

Primary Deities

• Lakṣmī (conceptual presence)
• Devas (collective)

Shakti Aspects

• Lakṣmī/Alakṣmī (auspiciousness vs. misfortune; not the Devī Māhātmya battle-forms)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Gṛhastha-dharma
• Guru-pūjā
• Pitṛ-bhakti
• Auspiciousness
• Domestic ethics

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Prosperity and well-being are framed as consequences of right relationship and reverence: honoring guru, gods, and father, and maintaining harmonious marital duty. Social-ethical order (dharma) is treated as the true ward against misfortune.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Primarily outside pañcalakṣaṇa narration (sarga/pratisarga/vaṃśa/manvantara/vaṃśānucarita). It belongs to ancillary dharma-upadeśa (ethical instruction) embedded in the Purāṇic discourse.

What is the esoteric significance?

Lakṣmī/Alakṣmī symbolize inner and outer fortune: reverence, gratitude, and disciplined domestic life ‘invite’ Lakṣmī, while neglect and discord ‘invite’ Alakṣmī. The home becomes a spiritual field shaped by conduct.