Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 81, Shloka 38

Adhyaya 81 — Suratha and Samadhi Seek Sage Medhas; Introduction to Mahamaya and the Madhukaitabha Origin Account

Sanskrit

ज्ञानेऽपि सति पश्यैतान् पतङ्गाञ्छावचञ्चुषु ।

कणमोक्षादृतान् मोहात्पीड्यमानानपि क्षुधा ॥

Transliteration

jñāne 'pi sati paśyaitān pataṅgāñ chāva-caṃcuṣu / kaṇa-mokṣād ṛtān mohāt pīḍyamānān api kṣudhā

Translation

ज्ञान होने पर भी इन कीटों को देखो—भूख से पीड़ित होते हुए भी वे केवल दानों के बिखरने से आकृष्ट होकर मोहवश बाल पक्षियों की चोंचों में जा गिरते हैं।

Word by Word

• jñāne: in knowledge / despite knowing
• jñāne: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• api: even/though
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), concessive sense ‘even/though’

• sati: being (present)
• sati: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु) → sat (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमानकृदन्त/शतृ), Locative singular neuter agreeing with jñāne; absolute locative sense (सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध)

• paśya: see!
• paśya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• etān: these
• etān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (एतद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• pataṅgān: moths/insects
• pataṅgān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pataṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• chāva-cañcuṣu: in the beaks of the young (birds)
• chāva-cañcuṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chāva (प्रातिपदिक) + cañcu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘in the beaks of young ones’

• kaṇa-mokṣa: from the dropping of grains
• kaṇa-mokṣa: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + mokṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); in verse as Ablative: kaṇamokṣāt

• ā-dṛtān: intent on / taking up (that)
• ā-dṛtān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√dṛ (आ + दृ/दर् धातु ‘to respect/heed’) → ādṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (भूतकृदन्त/क्त), Masculine Accusative Plural (द्वितीया बहुवचन), qualifying pataṅgān

• mohāt: from delusion
• mohāt: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: moha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• pīḍyamānān: being tormented
• pīḍyamānān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīḍ (पीड् धातु) → pīḍyamāna (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present passive participle (वर्तमानकृदन्त/शानच् in passive sense), Masculine Accusative Plural (द्वितीया बहुवचन), qualifying pataṅgān

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) ‘even/also’

• kṣudhā: by hunger
• kṣudhā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣudh (क्षुध् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speakers

• Ṛṣi speaking

Verse Rasa

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

Shakti Aspects

• Mahāmāyā (implicit: bait of sense-objects leading to destruction)

Key Themes

• Sense-bait
• Moha overpowering knowledge
• Karma and compulsion
• Analogy

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even when one ‘knows better,’ craving and compulsion can drive harmful choices. The ethical lesson is to restrain appetite (kāma/lobha) and cultivate steadiness so knowledge becomes lived wisdom.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Didactic illustration within theological discourse; not a pañcalakṣaṇa enumeration.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘grain’ symbolizes small viṣayas (sense-pleasures) that lure jīvas into the ‘beak’ of death/suffering. Mahāmāyā operates as the attractive power of appearances that eclipses discernment.