Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 34, Shloka 106

Adhyaya 34 — Madālāsā’s Instruction on Sadācāra (Householder Conduct, Purity, and Daily Rites)

Sanskrit

अङ्गुल्यग्रे तथा दैवं तेन दिव्यक्रियाविधिः । तीर्थं कनिष्ठिकामूले कायं तेन प्रजापतेः ॥

Transliteration

aṅgulyagre tathā daivaṃ tena divyakriyāvidhiḥ | tīrtha kaniṣṭhikāmūle kāyaṃ tena prajāpateḥ ||

Translation

ਉਂਗਲਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਿਰਿਆਂ ‘ਦੈਵ-ਤੀਰਥ’ ਹੈ; ਉਸ ਨਾਲ ਦੇਵ-ਕਰਮਾਂ ਦੀ ਯਥਾਵਿਧੀ ਪ੍ਰਕਿਰਿਆ ਦੱਸੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ। ਅਤੇ ਛੋਟੀ ਉਂਗਲ ਦੇ ਮੂਲ ਵਾਲਾ ਤੀਰਥ ‘ਪ੍ਰਾਜਾਪਤ੍ਯ’ ਹੈ; ਉਸ ਨਾਲ ਪ੍ਰਜਾਪਤੀ ਲਈ ਕਰਮ ਕੀਤਾ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• अङ्गुलि-अग्रे: at the fingertip
• अङ्गुलि-अग्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुलि (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; अङ्गुलेः अग्रे (at the tip of the finger)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अन्वयार्थ (likewise)

• दैवम्: divine (of the gods)
• दैवम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of tīrtha implied)

• तेन: by that
• तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• दिव्य-क्रिया-विधिः: the procedure for divine rites
• दिव्य-क्रिया-विधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; दिव्यायाः क्रियायाः विधिः (rule for divine rites)

• तीर्थम्: tīrtha
• तीर्थम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कनिष्ठिका-मूले: at the base of the little finger
• कनिष्ठिका-मूले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनिष्ठिका (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; कनिष्ठिकायाः मूले (at the base of the little finger)

• कायम्: kāya (pertaining to Prajāpati)
• कायम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (name/quality of tīrtha)

• तेन: by that
• तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• प्रजापतेः: of Prajāpati
• प्रजापतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजापति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

Speakers

• Not specified in the provided excerpt (instructional narrative voice)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Devas (collective)
• Prajāpati

Key Themes

• Ritual anatomy (hand-tīrthas)
• Deva-yajña
• Prajāpati rites
• Dharma

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The tradition systematizes worship: different recipients (devas, Prajāpati) require different ritual ‘interfaces.’ This promotes care, humility, and fidelity to transmitted practice.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra/Dharma instruction; not pañcalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

Fingertips (daiva) signify outward offering and transmission; the base of the little finger (prajāpati) suggests generative/rooted creativity—Prajāpati as the principle of progeny and formation.