Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 50, Shloka 73

Adhyaya 50 — Mind-Born Progeny, Svayambhuva Manu’s Lineage, and Brahmā’s Ordinance to Duḥsaha (Alakṣmī’s Retinue)

Sanskrit

भर्तृशुश्रूषणे युक्तामसत्स्त्रीसङ्गवर्जिताम् ।

कुटुम्बभर्तृशेषान्नपुष्टाञ्च त्यज योषितम् ॥

Transliteration

bhartṛ-śuśrūṣaṇe yuktām asat-strī-saṅga-varjitām | kuṭumba-bhartṛ-śeṣānna-puṣṭāṃś ca tyaja yoṣitam ||

Translation

ਜੋ ਇਸਤਰੀ ਪਤੀ ਦੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਿਸ਼ਠਾਵਾਨ ਹੋਵੇ, ਦੁਸ਼ਟ ਇਸਤਰੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਸੰਗਤ ਤੋਂ ਬਚਦੀ ਹੋਵੇ, ਅਤੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਤੇ ਪਤੀ ਦੇ ਭੋਜਨ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਬਚੇ ਅੰਨ ਨਾਲ ਜੀਵਨ ਗੁਜ਼ਾਰਦੀ ਹੋਵੇ—ਉਸ ਇਸਤਰੀ ਤੋਂ ਦੂਰ ਰਹੋ।

Word by Word

• भर्तृ-शुश्रूषणे: in service to the husband
• भर्तृ-शुश्रूषणे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक) + शुश्रूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘भर्तुः शुश्रूषणम्’

• युक्ताम्: devoted/engaged
• युक्ताम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (kta), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• असत्-स्त्री-सङ्ग-वर्जिताम्: avoiding the company of immoral women
• असत्-स्त्री-सङ्ग-वर्जिताम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असत् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अन्तिमपद ‘वर्जिता’ (kta) ; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘असत्स्त्रीसङ्गेन वर्जिता’

• कुटुम्ब-भर्तृ-शेष-अन्न-पुष्टान्: nourished by the leftover food of the family’s husband (householder)
• कुटुम्ब-भर्तृ-शेष-अन्न-पुष्टान्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुटुम्ब (प्रातिपदिक) + भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक) + शेष (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + पुष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; अन्तिमपद ‘पुष्ट’ (kta) ; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘कुटुम्बभर्तृशेषान्नेन पुष्ट’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• त्यज: abandon
• त्यज: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• योषितम्: a woman
• योषितम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योषित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speakers

• Dharma-instructor addressing a Yakṣa (didactic counsel within the Purāṇic dialogue frame)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Household discipline
• Moral association (saṅga)
• Protection from negative influences

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse frames chastity, disciplined social bonds, and self-restraint as forms of spiritual strength; such a person is 'off-limits' to harmful entities (hence the Yakṣa is told to avoid her).

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ethical instruction (ācāra) within narrative—outside the five defining purāṇic topics.

What is the esoteric significance?

Saṅga (company) is treated as a subtle conduit: avoiding corrupt association preserves sattva and household harmony, which acts as a protective boundary.