Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 15, Shloka 38

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

Sanskrit

प्राप्नोति षण्डतां मूढो यातनाभ्यः परिच्युतः । यः करोति नरो होममसमिद्धे विभावसौ ॥

Transliteration

prāpnoti ṣaṇḍhatāṃ mūḍho yātanābhyaḥ paricyutaḥ / yaḥ karoti naro homam asamiddhe vibhāvasau

Translation

ଅଗ୍ନି (ବିଭାବସୁ) ସମ୍ୟକ୍ ଭାବେ ପ୍ରଜ୍ୱଳିତ ନ ହେଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ମୋହବଶତଃ ଯେ ନର ହୋମ କରେ, ସେ ଦଣ୍ଡ-ଯାତନାରୁ ଚ୍ୟୁତ ହୋଇ ଷଣ୍ଡତ୍ୱ (ନପୁଂସକତ୍ୱ) ପାଏ।

Word by Word

• प्राप्नोति: attains/reaches
• प्राप्नोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• षण्डताम्: impotence/eunuchhood
• षण्डताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण्डता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मूढः: deluded/foolish
• मूढः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूढ (प्रातिपदिक; √मुह् से)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• यातनाभ्यः: from tortures/punishments
• यातनाभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यातना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), बहुवचन

• परिच्युतः: fallen away/removed
• परिच्युतः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + च्युत (प्रातिपदिक; √च्यु से)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• करोति: does/performs
• करोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• होमम्: a fire-offering (homa)
• होमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• असमिद्धे: when (it is) unkindled
• असमिद्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + समिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; √इन्ध् से)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; नञ्-समास (negation): 'not kindled'

• विभावसौ: in the fire (Vibhāvasu)
• विभावसौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभावसु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अग्निवाचक

Speakers

• Not specified in input

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Agni (Vibhāvasu)

Key Themes

• Ritual correctness
• Dharma (yajña discipline)
• Karmaphala
• Agni as sacred mediator

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Ritual is not mere formality: neglecting the basic sanctity of Agni in yajña is treated as a serious lapse. The text links inner negligence and outer ritual error with embodied consequence.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra/karma-phala instruction; not directly sarga/pratisarga/vaṃśa/manvantara/vaṃśānucarita.

What is the esoteric significance?

Agni represents transformative awareness. Offering into an ‘unkindled’ fire symbolizes action without awakened discernment—hence the metaphorical loss of generative power (ṣaṇḍhatā).