Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 35, Shloka 27

Adhyaya 35 — Madālasa’s Instruction on Purity, Impurity, and Corrective Rites (Śauca and Aśauca)

Sanskrit

उपवासस् त्रिरात्रन्तु दुष्टभक्ताशिनो भवेत् ।

अज्ञाते ज्ञानपूर्वन्तु तद्दोषोपशमेन तु ॥

Transliteration

upavāsas trirātraṃ tu duṣṭa-bhaktāśino bhavet | ajñāte jñāna-pūrvaṃ tu tad-doṣopaśamena tu ||

Translation

ਦੂਸ਼ਿਤ ਅੰਨ ਖਾਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਲਈ ਤਿੰਨ ਰਾਤਾਂ ਦਾ ਉਪਵਾਸ ਵਿਹਿਤ ਹੈ। ਅਣਜਾਣੇ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੋਵੇ ਤਾਂ ਉਸ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਸ਼ੁੱਧੀ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ; ਪਰ ਜਾਣ-ਬੁੱਝ ਕੇ ਹੋਇਆ ਹੋਵੇ ਤਾਂ ਉਸ ਦੋਸ਼ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਮਨ/ਨਿਵਾਰਣ ਲਈ ਯੋਗ ਪ੍ਰਾਯਸ਼ਚਿੱਤ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• उपवासः: fasting
• उपवासः: कर्ता (प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• त्रि: three
• त्रि: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective, indeclinable stem; used in compound with रात्र

• रात्रम्: for a night (duration)
• रात्रम्: कालाधिकरण (द्वितीया-अत्यन्तसंयोग)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि/रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (as रात्रम्), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; duration-accusative

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), contrast/emphasis

• दुष्ट: spoiled/impure
• दुष्ट: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/विशेषण)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (in compound sense with भक्त)

• भक्त: food
• भक्त: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (in compound sense)

• अशिनः: of one who eats
• अशिनः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; ‘of the eater’

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: क्रिया (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, 3rd person, Singular

• अज्ञाते: when (it is) unknown
• अज्ञाते: अधिकरण (सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-ज्ञात (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) used adjectivally, Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; ‘when unknown’

• ज्ञान: with knowledge
• ज्ञान: करण (तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (in compound sense with पूर्व)

• पूर्वम्: beforehand
• पूर्वम्: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular used adverbially; ‘beforehand’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• तत्: of that
• तत्: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (in compound sense with दोष)

• दोष: fault/impurity
• दोष: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (in compound sense)

• उपशमेन: by pacification/removal
• उपशमेन: करण (तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपशम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• तु: indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

Speakers

• Dharma-instructional narration within the Purāṇic discourse (speaker not specified in the provided excerpt)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Prāyaścitta (expiation)
• Food ethics
• Intention (knowingly vs unknowingly)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Moral weight depends on intention and awareness: the same act has different consequences and remedies when done unknowingly versus knowingly, reflecting a nuanced ethics of culpability.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra/dharma instruction.

What is the esoteric significance?

The three-night fast can be read as resetting the ‘inner fire’ (agni) and re-establishing mastery over desire; knowingly eating impurity symbolizes deliberate indulgence requiring deeper correction.