Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 15, Shloka 30

Adhyaya 15 — Karmic Retribution: Rebirths After Naraka and the King’s Compassion in Hell

Sanskrit

जीवज्जीवकतां याति रक्तवस्त्रापहृन्नरः ।

छुच्छुन्दरीः शुभान् गन्धान् वासो हृत्वा शशो भवेत् ॥

Transliteration

jīvajjīvakatāṃ yāti raktavastrāpahṛn naraḥ | chucchundarīḥ śubhān gandhān vāso hṛtvā śaśo bhavet

Translation

ಕೆಂಪು ವಸ್ತ್ರವನ್ನು ಕದ್ದವನು ಜೀವಜ್ಜೀವಕ ಎಂಬ ಪಕ್ಷಿಯಾಗಿ ಜನ್ಮಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ಸುಗಂಧ ದ್ರವ್ಯ/ಇತ್ರ ಮತ್ತು ವಸ್ತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ಕದ್ದವನು ಚುಚ್ಚುಂದರೀ (ಇಲಿ ಜಾತಿ) ಆಗುತ್ತಾನೆ. ವಸ್ತ್ರ ಕದ್ದವನು ಶಶ (ಮೊಲ) ಆಗುತ್ತಾನೆ.

Word by Word

• jīvat-jīvakatām: the state of being a ‘jīvajjīvaka’ bird
• jīvat-jīvakatām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvat (प्रातिपदिक; वर्तमानकृदन्त) + jīvaka (प्रातिपदिक) + tā (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Feminine abstract noun, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; karmadhāraya ‘jīvat eva jīvakaḥ’ + -tā

• yāti: goes/attains
• yāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• rakta-vastra-apahṛt-naraḥ: a man who steals red garments
• rakta-vastra-apahṛt-naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakta (प्रातिपदिक) + vastra (प्रातिपदिक) + apahṛt (कृदन्त; apa-√hṛ + kta) + nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; multi-member tatpuruṣa: ‘rakta-vastraṃ apahṛtavān naraḥ’ (one who has stolen red cloth)

• chucchundarīḥ: a musk-shrew
• chucchundarīḥ: Karta (कर्ता; resultant form)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chucchundarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (form used as species-name); denotes ‘musk-shrew’

• śubhān: pleasant/auspicious
• śubhān: Karma (कर्म; viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; qualifies gandhān

• gandhān: fragrances/perfumes
• gandhān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• vāsaḥ: clothing/garment
• vāsaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of hṛtvā (also read as vāsaḥ = vastra)

• hṛtvā: having stolen/taken
• hṛtvā: Kriyā (क्रिया; pūrvakāla)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (धातु) + tvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

• śaśaḥ: a hare/rabbit
• śaśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; resultant form)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bhavet: would become
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

Speakers

• Not specified in input

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "dharma", "secondaryRasa": "bhayanaka", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Karma
• Ethics
• Sense-desire

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Stealing objects tied to pleasure and status (colorful garments, perfumes) is portrayed as a fall into small, fearful, survival-driven existences. The moral aim is mastery of desire and respect for others’ property.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ethical/karma-vipāka material; not a pañcalakṣaṇa genealogy or cosmology passage.

What is the esoteric significance?

Red cloth can signify passion/rajas; stealing it intensifies rajas and leads to restless birth. Perfume relates to subtle sensory craving; the “small creature” rebirth symbolizes consciousness narrowed to scent-tracking and anxiety.