Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 50, Shloka 75

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

Sanskrit

दानाध्ययनयज्ञेषु सदोद्युक्तञ्च दुःसह ।

क्षत्रियं त्यज सच्छुल्कशस्त्राजीवात्तवेतनम् ॥

Transliteration

dānādhyayana-yajñeṣu sadodyuktaṃ ca duḥsaha | kṣatriyaṃ tyaja sacchulka-śastrājīvāt tavetanam ||

Translation

ଯେ କ୍ଷତ୍ରିୟ ସଦା ଦାନ, ଅଧ୍ୟୟନ ଓ ଯଜ୍ଞରେ ନିରତ, ଯାହାକୁ ଜିତିବା କଠିନ, ଏବଂ ଶସ୍ତ୍ରବୃତ୍ତିରେ ଧର୍ମସମ୍ମତ ବେତନରେ ଜୀବିକା କରେ—ତାହାକୁ ପରିହାର କର।

Word by Word

• dāna-adhyayana-yajñeṣu: in giving, studying, and sacrifices
• dāna-adhyayana-yajñeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāna (प्रातिपदिक) + adhyayana (प्रातिपदिक) + yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (yajña m.), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; द्वन्द्व-समासः (समाहार/इतरेतर) — ‘दाने, अध्ययने, यज्ञेषु’

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb

• udyuktam: engaged/active
• udyuktam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udyukta (कृदन्त; √yuj with ud-)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; past passive participle used adjectivally

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• duḥsaham: hard to bear/intolerable
• duḥsaham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duḥsaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘difficult to endure’

• kṣatriyam: a Kshatriya
• kṣatriyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣatriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tyaja: abandon/avoid
• tyaja: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √tyaj (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), Parasmaipada, Madhyama-puruṣa, Singular

• sat-śulka-śastra-ājīvāt: from livelihood by paid weaponry (mercenary service)
• sat-śulka-śastra-ājīvāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + śulka (प्रातिपदिक) + śastra (प्रातिपदिक) + ājīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; तत्पुरुष-समासः — ‘शुल्केन (वेतनेन) शस्त्रेण च आजीवः’ (livelihood by paid weaponry/mercenary service)

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun

• etanam: wage/payment
• etanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘wage/fee’

Speakers

• Dharma-instructor addressing a Yakṣa (didactic counsel within the Purāṇic dialogue frame)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Varṇāśrama duties
• Righteous protection
• Generosity

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Strength combined with dharmic practice (dāna, yajña, learning) is portrayed as both socially stabilizing and spiritually protective—therefore not a suitable target for a Yakṣa.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ethical-social dharma guidance; not pancalakṣaṇa proper.

What is the esoteric significance?

Righteous force (dharma-bala) is subtly contrasted with predation; legitimate earning (sat-śulka) implies karmic cleanliness that blocks affliction.