Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 34, Shloka 14

Adhyaya 34 — Madālāsā’s Instruction on Sadācāra (Householder Conduct, Purity, and Daily Rites)

Sanskrit

प्रत्यवायभयात् काम्यस्तथान्यश्चाविरोधवान् ।

द्विधा कामोऽपि गदितस्त्रिवर्गस्याविरोधतः ॥

Transliteration

pratyavāyabhayāt kāmyas tathānyaś cāvirodhavān | dvidhā kāmo 'pi gaditas trivargasyāvirodhataḥ ||

Translation

ಕಾಮ್ಯ (ಇಚ್ಛಾಪ್ರೇರಿತ) ಕರ್ಮವು ಪ್ರಾತ್ಯವಾಯ (ಅನಿಷ್ಟ ಫಲ) ಭಯದಿಂದ ಆರಂಭಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತದೆ; ಮತ್ತೊಂದು ಧರ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ವಿರೋಧವಿಲ್ಲದದ್ದು. ಹೀಗೆ ತ್ರಿವರ್ಗಕ್ಕೆ ವಿರುದ್ಧವಾಗದೆ ಕಾಮವೂ ದ್ವಿವಿಧವೆಂದು ಹೇಳಲಾಗಿದೆ.

Word by Word

• प्रत्यवाय-भयात्: from fear of (ritual) demerit/negative consequence
• प्रत्यवाय-भयात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratyavāya (प्रातिपदिक) + bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (प्रत्यवायस्य भयम्)

• काम्यः: the desire-motivated (act)
• काम्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण

• अन्यः: another (kind)
• अन्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of kāmyaḥ)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• अविरोधवान्: non-conflicting, consistent
• अविरोधवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avirodha-vat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; -वत् प्रत्ययान्त (possessive adjective)

• द्विधा: in two ways
• द्विधा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dvidhā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (manner adverb)

• कामः: desire / kāma (goal)
• कामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/अपि-निपात (also/even)

• गदितः: is stated/declared
• गदितः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gad (गद् धातु) + ta (क्त) → gadita (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘कथितः’

• त्रि-वर्गस्य: of the triad (dharma-artha-kāma)
• त्रि-वर्गस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (संख्या) + varga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (त्रयाणां वर्गः = धर्मार्थकाम-त्रयम्)

• अविरोधतः: due to non-conflict / without contradiction
• अविरोधतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: avirodha (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय, तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

Speakers

• Didactic voice; ethical taxonomy of desire

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Kāma regulation
• Pratyavāya
• Trivarga harmony
• Ethical psychology

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Desire is not simply condemned; it is to be structured so it does not collide with dharma and artha. Even ‘kāmya’ actions are evaluated by whether they create pratyavāya or remain ethically non-conflicting.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ethical/doctrinal classification; not pañcalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

The passage implies an inner discernment: desire can be refined into a harmonizing force when subordinated to order (ṛta/dharma), rather than becoming a disruptive compulsion.