Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 14, Shloka 10

Adhyaya 14 — The Messenger of Yama Explains Karmic Retribution and the Causes of Naraka Torments

Sanskrit

किं कर्म कृतवन्तश्च कथयैतज्जुगुप्सितम् ।

हरन्त्येषां तथा जिह्वां जायमानां पुनर्नवाम् ॥

Transliteration

kiṃ karma kṛtavantaś ca kathaya etaj jugupsitam / haranty eṣāṃ tathā jihvāṃ jāyamānāṃ punar-navām //

Translation

ମୋତେ କୁହ: ସେମାନେ କେଉଁ କର୍ମ କରିଥିଲେ, ଯାହା ଫଳରେ ଏହି ଘୃଣ୍ୟ ଘଟଣା ଘଟୁଛି? ସେହିପରି ସେମାନଙ୍କର ଜିଭ ମଧ୍ୟ ଛିଣ୍ଡାଇ ଦିଆଯାଉଛି—ତଥାପି ସେଗୁଡ଼ିକ ବାରମ୍ବାର ପୁନର୍ବାର ଜନ୍ମ ନେଉଛି।

Word by Word

• kim: what
• kim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• karma: deed
• karma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kṛtavantaḥ: having done
• kṛtavantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतुँ-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक

• kathaya: tell
• kathaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kath (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• jugupsitam: disgusting / reprehensible
• jugupsitam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gup (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (desiderative/causative sense in usage), भूतकर्मणि/भावे क्त (PPP-like), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'निन्द्यं/घृणितम्'

• haranti: they take away
• haranti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• eṣām: of these
• eṣām: Apādāna/Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• tathā: also / thus
• tathā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'thus/also')

• jihvām: tongue
• jihvām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jihvā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• jāyamānām: being born / growing anew
• jāyamānām: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/शानच्-वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle, आत्मनेपद-भाव), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; जिह्वाम् विशेषयति

• punar: again
• punar: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'again')

• navām: new
• navām: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; जिह्वाम् विशेषयति

Speakers

• King to Yama’s messenger (contextual inquiry)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Yama

Key Themes

• Ethics of speech
• Karma
• Naraka punishments

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse highlights that harmful actions invite correspondingly targeted consequences; the mention of the tongue naturally evokes the moral weight of speech—truth, restraint, and non-harm.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ethical instruction embedded in narrative; ancillary to pañcalakṣaṇa, functioning as dharma-śikṣā (moral pedagogy).

What is the esoteric significance?

Tongue symbolizes vāṅmaya-karma (verbal action): slander, falsehood, and cruel speech ‘cut’ one’s own spiritual organ of expression, repeatedly, until purified by consequence.