Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 10, Shloka 65

Adhyaya 10 — Jaimini’s Questions on Birth, Death, Karma, and the Embodied Journey

Sanskrit

कुश-कण्टक-वलमीक-शङ्कु-पाषाणकर्कशे ।

तथा प्रदीप्तज्वलने क्वचिच्छृभ्रशतोत्कटे ॥

Transliteration

kuśa-kaṇṭaka-valamīka-śaṅku-pāṣāṇakarkaśe /

tathā pradīptajvalane kvacic chṛbhraśatotkaṭe

Translation

ਕੁਸ਼ਾ ਘਾਹ ਦੇ ਕੰਡਿਆਂ, ਦੀਮਕ ਦੇ ਟੀਲਿਆਂ, ਖੂੰਟਿਆਂ ਅਤੇ ਪੱਥਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਰੁੱਖਾ ਬਣਿਆ ਕਠੋਰ ਰਸਤਾ—ਕਿਤੇ ਭੜਕਦੀ ਅੱਗ ਵਾਲੀਆਂ ਥਾਵਾਂ, ਅਤੇ ਕਿਤੇ ਸੈਂਕੜੇ ਤਿੱਖੀਆਂ ਨੋਕਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਡਰਾਉਣੀਆਂ ਥਾਵਾਂ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ—

Word by Word

• कुशकण्टकवलमीकशङ्कुपाषाणकर्कशे: in/at a place harsh with kuśa, thorns, ant-hills, spikes, stones
• कुशकण्टकवलमीकशङ्कुपाषाणकर्कशे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुश + कण्टक + वलमीक + शङ्कु + पाषाण + कर्कश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.)/पुंलिङ्ग (m.) (contextual), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc. 7), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'harsh with kuśa-grass, thorns, ant-hills, spikes, stones')

• तथा: likewise, also
• तथा: Samuccaya/Prakara (समुच्चय/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: likewise/also)

• प्रदीप्तज्वलने: in blazing fire
• प्रदीप्तज्वलने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदीप्त + ज्वलन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc. 7), एकवचन (sg.); कर्मधारय-समास ('blazing fire')

• क्वचित्: somewhere, in some place
• क्वचित्: Desha-adhikarana (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्वचित् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: somewhere/at times)

• शृभ्रशतोत्कटे: in a very fierce (place) with hundreds of śṛbhra
• शृभ्रशतोत्कटे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शृभ्र + शत + उत्कट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.)/पुंलिङ्ग (m.) (contextual), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Loc. 7), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'very fierce with hundreds of śṛbhra (sharp/rough objects; reading-dependent)')

Speakers

• Frame-dialogue context not explicit in the provided excerpt (likely an instructive narration within Adhyaya 10)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Afterlife journey
• Consequences of sin
• Yātanā imagery

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The harsh landscape externalizes inner moral disorder: harmful actions yield painful passages, encouraging non-violence, charity, and disciplined conduct.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ethical instruction via karmaphala narrative; not part of creation/manvantara/dynasty frameworks.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘spiked, burning path’ can be read as a purgative corridor where latent karmic impressions are forced into experience—an allegory for the mind encountering its own accumulated afflictions.