Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 15, Shloka 11

Adhyaya 15 — Karmic Retribution: Rebirths After Naraka and the King’s Compassion in Hell

Sanskrit

पुंस्कोकिलत्वमाप्नोति स चापि नरकाच्च्युतः । सखिभार्यां गुरोर्भार्यां राजभार्यां च पापकृत् ॥

Transliteration

puṃskokilatvamāpnoti sa cāpi narakāccyutaḥ / sakhibhāryāṃ gurorbhāryāṃ rājabhāryāñca pāpakṛt

Translation

ਉਹ ਪਾਪੀ ਨਰਕ ਤੋਂ ਡਿੱਗ ਕੇ ਨਰ ਕੋਇਲ ਦੀ ਅਵਸਥਾ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ। ਜੋ ਮਿੱਤਰ ਦੀ ਪਤਨੀ, ਗੁਰੂ ਦੀ ਪਤਨੀ ਜਾਂ ਰਾਜੇ ਦੀ ਪਤਨੀ ਦੀ ਬੇਅਦਬੀ ਕਰਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਸ ਦੀ ਇਹੀ ਗਤੀ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• पुंस्-कोकिलत्वम्: male-cuckoo-hood (state of being a male cuckoo)
• पुंस्-कोकिलत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंस् (प्रातिपदिक) + कोकिलत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (singular)

• आप्नोति: attains/gets
• आप्नोति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अप्यर्थे (also/even)

• नरकात्: from hell
• नरकात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन

• च्युतः: fallen (from)/departed
• च्युतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √च्यु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle: 'fallen/departed')

• सखि-भार्याम्: a friend's wife
• सखि-भार्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखि (प्रातिपदिक) + भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गुरोः: of the teacher
• गुरोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case, Genitive), एकवचन

• भार्याम्: wife
• भार्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• राज-भार्याम्: a king's wife
• राज-भार्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक) + भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• पापकृत्: evil-doer/sinner
• पापकृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृदन्त, √कृ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speakers

• Not specified in input (didactic narration)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Guru-bhakti and respect
• Social order (royal authority)
• Karma, naraka, and rebirth

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse marks certain relationships—teacher and king especially—as protected by dharma; violating them is treated as an assault on the moral and civic fabric, not merely a private act.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ancillary dharma/karma-vipāka instruction rather than pancalakṣaṇa narrative material.

What is the esoteric significance?

The cuckoo motif can encode ‘seductive voice’ and clandestine mating; the rebirth image mirrors the misuse of charm and desire that bypasses rightful boundaries.