Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 32, Shloka 21

Adhyaya 32 — Rules for Parvana Śrāddha: Foods that Please the Ancestors and Items to Avoid

Sanskrit

नग्नाः पातकिनश्चैव हन्युर्दृष्ट्या पितृक्रियाम् ।

अपुमानपविद्धश्च कुक्कुटो ग्रामशूकरः ॥

Transliteration

nagnāḥ pātakinaś caiva hanyur dṛṣṭyā pitṛ-kriyām / apumāna-paviddhaś ca kukkuṭo grāma-śūkaraḥ

Translation

ਨੰਗੇ ਵਿਅਕਤੀ ਅਤੇ ਪਾਪੀ, ਸਿਰਫ਼ ਦਰਸ਼ਨ ਨਾਲ ਹੀ ਪਿਤ੍ਰ-ਕਰਮ ਨੂੰ ਦੂਸ਼ਿਤ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ। ਅਤੇ ਮੁਰਗਾ, ਪਿੰਡ ਦਾ ਸੂਰ, ਅਤੇ ‘ਅਪੁਮਾਨ-ਪਵਿੱਧ’ (ਨਿੰਦਿਤ/ਅਸ਼ੁੱਧ) ਮਨੁੱਖ—ਇਹਨਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਦੂਰ ਰੱਖੋ।

Word by Word

• नग्नाः: naked (persons)
• नग्नाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नग्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• पातकिनः: sinners
• पातकिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पातकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय

• हन्युः: would destroy/spoil
• हन्युः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• दृष्ट्या: by (their) sight
• दृष्ट्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• पितृक्रियाम्: the rite for the ancestors
• पितृक्रियाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (pitṝṇāṃ kriyā)

• अपुमान्: a eunuch/not a man
• अपुमान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (नञ्) + पुमान् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (not a male/eunuch)

• अपविद्धः: cast off/rejected
• अपविद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप + विध्/व्यध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• कुक्कुटः: a rooster
• कुक्कुटः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुक्कुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ग्रामशूकरः: a village pig
• ग्रामशूकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक) + शूकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (grāmasya śūkaraḥ)

Speakers

• Ritual instruction voice within the Purāṇic dharma discourse (frame-speaker not specified in the provided excerpt)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Pitṛ Pūjā
• Ritual boundaries
• Auspiciousness

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The rite is protected by boundaries: certain behaviors and presences are considered incompatible with the solemnity and purity expected in Pitṛ-karman.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Dharma/ācāra instruction.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘polluting by sight’ motif reflects the belief that states of consciousness and conduct radiate influence. The rite demands a controlled field so the offering-intent remains coherent.