Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 50, Shloka 78

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

Sanskrit

श्रुतिस्मृत्यविरोधेन कृतवृत्तिर्गृहे गृही ।

यत्र तत्र च तत्पत्नी तस्यैवानुगतात्मिका ॥

Transliteration

śruti-smṛty-avirodhena kṛta-vṛttir gṛhe gṛhī | yatra tatra ca tat-patnī tasyaivānugatātmikā ||

Translation

ଯେ ଗୃହସ୍ଥ ଶ୍ରୁତି‑ସ୍ମୃତିବିରୋଧୀ ନୁହେଁ ଏମିତି ଉପାୟରେ ଜୀବିକା ଚାଲାଏ, ଏବଂ ତାହାର ସ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଯେଉଁଠି ଥାଉ, ସେ ତାଙ୍କ ସହ ଏକମନା ଓ ତାଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ରତ ରହେ—ଏମିତି ଗୃହସ୍ଥଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଯେଉଁ ନାହିଁ (ସେ ରକ୍ଷିତ)।

Word by Word

• śruti-smṛti-avirodhena: by (acting) without contradicting Śruti and Smṛti
• śruti-smṛti-avirodhena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śruti (प्रातिपदिक) + smṛti (प्रातिपदिक) + avirodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः — ‘श्रुत्या स्मृत्या च अविरोधः’ (non-contradiction with Śruti and Smṛti)

• kṛta-vṛttiḥ: one who has adopted a livelihood
• kṛta-vṛttiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ) + vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुषः — ‘कृता वृत्तिः यस्य’ (one who has established/undertaken a livelihood)

• gṛhe: in the house
• gṛhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• gṛhī: the householder
• gṛhī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛhin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• yatra: where
• yatra: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; relative adverb (देशवाचक)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; correlative adverb (देशवाचक)

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

• tat-patnī: his wife
• tat-patnī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुषः — ‘तस्य पत्नी’ (his wife)

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (निश्चय/अवधारण)

• anugata-ātmikā: having a nature of following him (devoted)
• anugata-ātmikā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anugata (कृदन्त; anu-√gam) + ātmikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारयः — ‘अनुगता आत्मा/स्वभावः यस्याः’ (whose nature is to follow; devoted/attendant)

Speakers

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

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Śruti-smṛti alignment
• Marital concord
• Right livelihood

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

A household grounded in scriptural ethics and mutual spousal alignment is portrayed as cohesive and resilient—conditions under which harmful presences find no footing.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ethical-ritual instruction supporting social dharma; not a pancalakṣaṇa category passage.

What is the esoteric significance?

Śruti-smṛti harmony represents alignment with cosmic order (ṛta/dharma). Spousal unity symbolizes integrated prāṇa and intention within the home, forming a protective 'field.'