Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 51, Shloka 17

Adhyaya 51 — Yaksha Injunctions: Graha-Children and Female Spirits Causing Domestic and Ritual Disruptions

Sanskrit

शुभाशुभञ्च शकुनिः कुमारो 'न्यो ब्रवीति वै ।

तत्रापि दुष्टे व्याक्षेपः प्रारम्भत्याग एव च ॥

Transliteration

śubhāśubhañ ca śakuniḥ kumāro 'nyo bravīti vai | tatrāpi duṣṭe vyākṣepaḥ prārambha-tyāga eva ca ||

Translation

ਸ਼ਕੁਨ-ਪੰਛੀ ਸ਼ੁਭ ਤੇ ਅਸ਼ੁਭ ਦਾ ਸੰਕੇਤ ਦਿੰਦਾ ਹੈ; ਹੋਰ ‘ਕੁਮਾਰ’ ਵੀ ਨਿਸਚੇ ਹੀ ਬੋਲ ਕੇ (ਸੂਚਨਾ ਦੇ ਕੇ) ਫਲ ਦੱਸਦਾ ਹੈ। ਉੱਥੇ ਵੀ ਜਦੋਂ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨ ਅਸ਼ੁਭ ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਾਂ ਉਸ ਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਤਿਕਾਰ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕੀਤਾ ਕੰਮ ਵੀ ਛੱਡ ਦੇਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• śubha: the auspicious (sign)
• śubha: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); used as object-noun

• aśubham: the inauspicious (sign)
• aśubham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); coordinated with śubha

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• śakuniḥ: the bird/omen-bird (śakuni)
• śakuniḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakuni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kumāraḥ: the boy/young one
• kumāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to śakuniḥ

• anyaḥ: another
• anyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); pronominal adjective

• bravīti: says/declares
• bravīti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक अव्यय)

• tatra: there/in that matter
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (सम्भावन/समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय)

• duṣṭe: in the bad/inauspicious (case)
• duṣṭe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); used substantively: 'in the bad (time/condition)'

• vyākṣepaḥ: distraction/obstruction
• vyākṣepaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyākṣepa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• prārambha-tyāgaḥ: abandonment of undertaking
• prārambha-tyāgaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prārambha (प्रातिपदिक) + tyāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'prārambhasya tyāgaḥ'

• eva: only/indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Restrictive/emphatic particle (अवधारणार्थक अव्यय)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

Speakers

• Not explicit; didactic instruction on responding to portents.

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Omens
• Decision-making
• Prudence
• Ritual counteraction

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma includes practical wisdom: if multiple indicators warn of harm, the righteous choice may be to pause, avert, or even relinquish a venture—valuing non-harm and stability over stubbornness.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Supplementary dharma/nimitta instruction.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Abandoning an undertaking’ is also inner renunciation: when the mind receives a clear signal of disorder, withdrawing prevents karmic entanglement and preserves sattva.