Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 31, Shloka 23

Adhyaya 31 — Naimittika and Related Śrāddha Rites: Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa, Eligibility, Timing, and Procedure

Sanskrit

विशिष्टः श्रोत्रियो योगी वेदविज्ज्येष्ठसामगः ।

त्रिणाचिकेतस्त्रिमधुस्त्रिसुपर्णः षडङ्गवित् ॥

Transliteration

viśiṣṭaḥ śrotriyo yogī vedavid jyeṣṭha-sāmagaḥ /

triṇāciketas tri-madhus tri-suparṇaḥ ṣaḍaṅgavit

Translation

ଶ୍ରାଦ୍ଧ ପାଇଁ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ସେଇ—ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ଶ୍ରୋତ୍ରିୟ, ଯୋଗୀ, ବେଦଜ୍ଞ, ସାମବେଦର ଜ୍ୟେଷ୍ଠ ଗାୟକ; ତ୍ରିନାଚିକେତ ଅଗ୍ନିକର୍ମ, ‘ତ୍ରି-ମଧୁ’ ଶିକ୍ଷା, ‘ତ୍ରି-ସୁପର୍ଣ’ ବିଦ୍ୟାରେ ପାରଙ୍ଗତ ଏବଂ ଷଡ଼ଙ୍ଗ ବେଦାଙ୍ଗଜ୍ଞ।

Word by Word

• विशिष्टः: distinguished, eminent
• विशिष्टः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśiṣṭa (कृदन्त; √śiṣ/√śiṣṭ? विशेषणे)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) विशेषण

• श्रोत्रियः: a Veda-learned Brahmin (śrotriya)
• श्रोत्रियः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrotriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• योगी: yogi, practitioner of yoga
• योगी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वेदवित्: knower of the Veda
• वेदवित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda-vit (प्रातिपदिक; vedam + √vid ‘to know’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (उपपद-तत्पुरुष) ‘वेदं वेत्ति’

• ज्येष्ठसामगः: an excellent Sāma-chanter (Sāmaga)
• ज्येष्ठसामगः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jyeṣṭha-sāmaga (प्रातिपदिक; ज्येष्ठ + सामग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘ज्येष्ठः (श्रेष्ठः) सामगः’

• त्रिणाचिकेतः: one who has performed the three Nāciketa fires
• त्रिणाचिकेतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri-nāciketa (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + नाचिकेत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (संख्यापूर्वक)

• त्रिमधुः: one associated with the ‘three madhus’ (tri-madhu)
• त्रिमधुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri-madhu (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + मधु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः

• त्रिसुपर्णः: one connected with the ‘three Suparṇas’
• त्रिसुपर्णः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri-suparṇa (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + सुपर्ण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः

• षडङ्गवित्: knower of the six Vedāṅgas
• षडङ्गवित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaḍ-aṅga-vit (प्रातिपदिक; षट् + अङ्ग + vit)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘षडङ्गं वेत्ति’ (knower of the six Vedāṅgas)

Speakers

• Not specified in provided excerpt

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Pitṛs
• Agni (implied by Nāciketa/ritual fires)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Recipient qualification
• Vedic learning
• Śrāddha protocol

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Charity and offerings are ethically shaped by the worthiness of recipients; learning, discipline, and integrity are treated as conduits that carry the offering to its intended spiritual end (Pitṛ satisfaction).

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra (ritual conduct) and varṇa-āśrama norms; not pancalakṣaṇa narrative.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘qualified brāhmaṇa’ is a symbolic ‘living altar’: Vedic limbs (Vedāṅga) and yogic restraint represent inner purity, implying that the offering’s subtle efficacy depends on the receiver’s sattva and mantra-embodiment.