Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 50, Shloka 36

Adhyaya 50 — Mind-Born Progeny, Svayambhuva Manu’s Lineage, and Brahmā’s Ordinance to Duḥsaha (Alakṣmī’s Retinue)

Sanskrit

अथेन्द्रियाणि चाक्रम्य रागक्रोधादिभिर्नरान् ।

योजयन्ति यथा हानिं यान्त्यधर्मादिभिर्द्विज ॥

Transliteration

athendriyāṇi cākramya rāgakrodhādibhir narān | yojayanti yathā hāniṃ yānty adharmādibhir dvija ||

Translation

ତାପରେ ସେମାନେ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରିୟଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ଅଭିଭୂତ କରି, ରାଗ-କ୍ରୋଧ ଆଦି ଦ୍ୱାରା ମନୁଷ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କୁ ନିୟୋଜିତ କରନ୍ତି; ଯାହାରେ ସେମାନେ ବିନାଶକୁ ଯାଆନ୍ତି—ଅଧର୍ମ ଓ ସମ୍ବନ୍ଧିତ ଦୋଷମାନଙ୍କରେ, ହେ ଦ୍ୱିଜଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ।

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• indriyāṇi: the senses
• indriyāṇi: Karma (कर्म/Object of ākramya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः

• ākramya: having overpowered
• ākramya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-kram (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तः (gerund/absolutive); 'having attacked/overpowered'

• rāga-krodha-ādibhiḥ: by passion, anger, etc.
• rāga-krodha-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāga (प्रातिपदिक) + krodha (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचनम्; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतर-द्वन्द्व-प्रयोगः (rāgaś ca krodhaś ca ādayaś ca)

• narān: people
• narān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्

• yojayanti: they yoke/engage
• yojayanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yuj (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् (णिच्-अर्थे causative sense)

• yathā: so that/as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Clause linker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकार/उपमानवाचक (as/so that)

• hānim: harm, loss
• hānim: Karma (कर्म/Result-object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hāni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• yānti: they go/lead (to)
• yānti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• adharma-ādibhiḥ: by unrighteousness etc.
• adharma-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adharma (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (adharmaḥ ādiḥ yeṣām/adharma-ādi)

• dvija: O twice-born
• dvija: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्

Speakers

• Frame dialogue tradition (sage-narration within Markandeya Purana); addressee indicated as 'dvija' (a Brahmin/sage)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Rāga–krodha dynamics
• Moral downfall
• Sense-overpowering afflictions
• Dharma vs Adharma

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Rāga and krodha are highlighted as primary engines of ethical collapse. When they seize the senses, a person rationalizes harmful acts, entering a self-reinforcing cycle of loss and adharma.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Didactic Sarga/Pratisarga: not merely naming entities but describing their function in the moral cosmos—how adharma practically manifests.

What is the esoteric significance?

Rāga and krodha correspond to rajas-driven agitation; the verse implies that mastery of prāṇa/mind (yoga) prevents these ‘agents’ from commandeering the indriyas.