Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 50, Shloka 38

Adhyaya 50 — The Pitris

Sanskrit

तथैवान्यो गृहे पुंसां दुःसहो नाम विश्रुतः ।

क्षुत्क्षामोऽधोमुखो नग्रश्चीरी काकसमस्वनः ॥

Transliteration

tathaivānyo gṛhe puṃsāṃ duḥsaho nāma viśrutaḥ | kṣutkṣāmo 'dhomukho nagraścīrī kākasamasvanaḥ ||

Translation

ସେହିପରି ମନୁଷ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କ ଘରେ ‘ଦୁଃସହ’ ନାମରେ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ଆଉ ଜଣେ ପ୍ରକଟ ହେଲା। ସେ ଭୁଖରେ କ୍ଷୀଣ, ମୁହଁ ନମାଇଥିବା, ନଗ୍ନ, ଫାଟା କପଡ଼ା ପିନ୍ଧିଥିବା ଏବଂ କାଉ ଭଳି ସ୍ୱର ଥିବା ଦେଖାଗଲା।

Word by Word

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/connecting adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/emphatic)

• अन्यः: another (one)
• अन्यः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• गृहे: in the house
• गृहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/Locative), एकवचन

• पुंसाम्: of men
• पुंसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṃs (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural)

• दुःसहः: Duḥsaha (name)
• दुःसहः: Karta (कर्ता/subject; apposition to अन्यः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duḥsaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (proper name/epithet)

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/labeling)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle indicating naming: “by name”)

• विश्रुतः: well-known
• विश्रुतः: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier of दुःसहः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viśruta (कृदन्त; √श्रु धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्षुत्-क्षामः: emaciated by hunger
• क्षुत्-क्षामः: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier of दुःसहः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣut + kṣāma (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अधोमुखः: down-faced, looking downward
• अधोमुखः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhas + mukha (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अधः + मुख); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नग्रः: naked
• नग्रः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nagna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चीरी: wearing rags/bark-garments
• चीरी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cīrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (cīrī = cīrin)

• काक-सम-स्वनः: having a crow-like voice
• काक-सम-स्वनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāka + sama + svana (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (काकसदृशः स्वनः यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speakers

• Narrative voice (continuation of the episode; direct speech begins later with Brahmā and Duḥsaha)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Ethics of household life
• Guṇas (tamas)
• Social decay/neglect

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Duḥsaha is introduced as a visible embodiment of deprivation and degradation that can enter human dwellings—suggesting that neglect of dharma (order, cleanliness, right conduct, right offerings) invites tamasic conditions: squalor, hunger, shamelessness, and harsh speech.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Primarily Dharma/ācāra instruction by allegory rather than cosmography; secondarily touches Sarga-like motif (creation/emanation of a being) as a didactic device, but it is not a full sarga account.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘downward face’ and crow-like voice symbolize consciousness pulled down by tamas—speech becomes inauspicious and mind turns earthward. The figure warns that inner impurity externalizes as disorder in one’s home and habits.