Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 72, Shloka 41

Adhyaya 72 — The Reconciliation Rite, Sarasvati Sacrifice, and the Birth of Uttama Manu (Auttama Manvantara Prelude)

Sanskrit

इष्टैर्दारैस्तथा पुत्रैर्बन्धुभिर्वा कदाचन ।

वियोगो नास्य भविता शृण्वतः पठतोऽपि वा ॥

Transliteration

iṣṭair dārais tathā putrair bandhubhir vā kadācana / viyogo nāsya bhavitā śṛṇvataḥ paṭhato 'pi vā

Translation

प्रिय पत्नी, पुत्रों अथवा अन्य किसी स्वजन से उसका वियोग कभी नहीं होता—चाहे वह इसे सुनने वाला हो या इसका पाठ करने वाला।

Word by Word

• iṣṭaiḥ: with dear/beloved
• iṣṭaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/सह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: iṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √iṣ 'to desire' / iṣṭa 'dear')
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त) used adjectivally; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies 'dāraiḥ/putraiḥ/bandhubhiḥ' (understood)

• dāraiḥ: with wives
• dāraiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāra (प्रातिपदिक; usually plural)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tathā: and also
• tathā: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, conjunction/adverb (समुच्चय/प्रकार)

• putraiḥ: with sons
• putraiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bandhubhiḥ: with relatives
• bandhubhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bandhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

• kadācana: ever/at any time
• kadācana: Kālādhi karaṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācana (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, adverb (कालवाचक)

• viyogaḥ: separation
• viyogaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, negation particle (निषेध)

• asya: of him
• asya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhavitā: will be
• bhavitā: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); archaic/variant future form for 'bhaviṣyati'

• śṛṇvataḥ: of (one) listening
• śṛṇvataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śru (धातु) → śṛṇvat (शतृ-कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); 'of one who is listening'

• paṭhataḥ: of (one) reciting
• paṭhataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paṭh (धातु) → paṭhat (शतृ-कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); 'of one who is reciting/reading'

• api: also/even
• api: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, particle (समुच्चय/अपि = 'also/even')

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

Speakers

• Mārkaṇḍeya (continuing phalaśruti)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Phalaśruti
• Householder welfare
• Social harmony

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Purāṇic listening/recitation is treated as a dharmic stabilizer for gṛhastha-life: it cultivates conduct and fortune supportive of cohesion rather than rupture.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Manvantara context with dharma-phala overlay: while the content is manvantara, the verse functions as phalaśruti encouraging transmission and memorization.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Non-separation’ can symbolize integration of one’s inner faculties (putra/bandhu as metaphors for powers and tendencies). Recitation harmonizes the psyche, preventing ‘splitting’ into conflict.