Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 16, Shloka 15

Adhyaya 16 — The Son’s Counsel on Renunciation and the Anasuya–Mandavya Episode: The Suspension of Sunrise and the Power of Pativrata

Sanskrit

तं तथा व्याधितं भार्या पतिं देवमिवार्च्चयत् । पादाभ्यङ्गाङ्गसंवाह-स्त्रानाच्छादनभोजनैः ॥

Transliteration

taṃ tathā vyādhitaṃ bhāryā patiṃ devamivārccayat / pādābhyaṅgāṅgasaṃvāha-strānācchādanabhojanaiḥ

Translation

ਉਹ ਰੋਗੀ ਹੋਣ ਦੇ ਬਾਵਜੂਦ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਪਤਨੀ ਪਤੀ ਦਾ ਦੇਵਤਾ ਵਾਂਗ ਸਤਿਕਾਰ ਕਰਦੀ ਸੀ— ਪੈਰ ਦਬਾ ਕੇ, ਅੰਗ ਮਲ ਕੇ, ਨ੍ਹਾ ਕੇ, ਕੱਪੜੇ ਪਹਿਨਾ ਕੇ ਅਤੇ ਭੋਜਨ ਕਰਾ ਕੇ।

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तथा: thus/so
• तथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• व्याधितम्: afflicted/sick
• व्याधितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याधित (प्रातिपदिक; व्याधि + त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भार्या: the wife
• भार्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पतिम्: (her) husband
• पतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• देवम्: a god
• देवम्: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; उपमान (object of comparison)

• इव: as if/like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक निपात (comparative particle)

• अर्च्चयत्: worshipped/honoured
• अर्च्चयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पादाभ्यङ्ग: with foot-massage
• पादाभ्यङ्ग: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद + अभ्यङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन (समस्तपदस्य समाहारः साधनरूपेण); साधन/करण

• अङ्गसंवाह: with body-rubbing/massage
• अङ्गसंवाह: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग + संवाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; साधन/करण

• स्नान: with bathing
• स्नान: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; साधन/करण

• आच्छादन: with covering/clothing
• आच्छादन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आच्छादन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; साधन/करण

• भोजनैः: with food/feeding
• भोजनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; साधन/करण

Speakers

• Son → Father (narration continues)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Gṛhastha ethics
• Marital duty and care
• Reverence expressed through service

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma is shown as practical compassion: the wife’s ‘worship’ is not ritual alone but embodied caregiving—presented as a high standard of fidelity and responsibility within gṛhastha life.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Didactic ākhyāna used for dharma-upadeśa; not directly sarga/pratisarga/manvantara.

What is the esoteric significance?

Treating the spouse ‘as a deity’ indicates seeing the divine in one’s immediate duty-field (adhikāra-kṣetra); service becomes a form of yoga (karma-yoga-like discipline) even amid impurity and hardship.