Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 51, Shloka 37

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

Sanskrit

कुर्याच्छिखण्डिनोर्द्वन्द्वं रक्षार्थं कुट्रिमां स्त्रियम् ।

रक्षाश्चैव गृहे लेख्या वर्ज्याचोच्छिष्टता तथा ॥

Transliteration

kuryāc chikhaṇḍinor dvandvaṃ rakṣārthaṃ kuṭrimāṃ striyam | rakṣāś caiva gṛhe lekhyā varjyā cocchiṣṭatā tathā ||

Translation

ਰੱਖਿਆ ਲਈ ‘ਸ਼ਿਖੰਡਿਨੀ’ ਦੇ ਜੋੜੇ ਦੇ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਇੱਕ ਕ੍ਰਿਤ੍ਰਿਮ ਇਸਤਰੀ-ਪ੍ਰਤਿਮਾ ਬਣਵਾਉਣੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਹੈ। ਘਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਰੱਖਿਆ-ਚਿੰਨ੍ਹ ਬਣਾਉਣੇ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਉੱਛਿਸ਼ਟ-ਜਨਿਤ ਅਸ਼ੌਚ/ਦੂਸ਼ਣ ਤੋਂ ਵੀ ਬਚਣਾ ਹੈ।

Word by Word

• कुर्यात्: should do/make
• कुर्यात्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधि), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• शिखण्डिनोः: of the two peacocks/crested ones
• शिखण्डिनोः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी (6th/genitive), द्विवचन (dual)

• द्वन्द्वम्: a pair/couplet (dvandva)
• द्वन्द्वम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• रक्षार्थम्: for protection
• रक्षार्थम्: प्रयोजन (Prayojana/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षा + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन (singular); प्रयोजनार्थे (for purpose)

• कुट्रिमाम्: artificial/made
• कुट्रिमाम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुट्रिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• स्त्रियम्: a woman
• स्त्रियम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• रक्षाः: protective marks/charms
• रक्षाः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचन (plural)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Samuccaya/Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/also
• एव: अवधारण (Avadhāraṇa/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• गृहे: in the house
• गृहे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन (singular)

• लेख्याः: should be written/drawn
• लेख्याः: विधेय (Vidheyā/Predicative—‘to be written’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लिख् (धातु) → लेख्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भविष्यत्कर्मणि/विधेयार्थे -य (gerundive/तव्यत्-सदृश), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचन (plural)

• वर्ज्याः: should be avoided
• वर्ज्याः: विधेय (Vidheyā/Predicative—‘to be avoided’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर्ज् (धातु) → वर्ज्य (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मणि -य (gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), बहुवचन (plural)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Samuccaya/Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• उच्छिष्टता: state of impurity (leftover/uncleanliness)
• उच्छिष्टता: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उच्छिष्टता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन (singular)

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb of manner)

Speakers

• Didactic narration

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Ritual protection (rakṣā)
• Household purity (śauca)
• Apotropaic symbols

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Protection is presented as a blend of outer discipline (cleanliness, avoiding contaminating remnants) and ordered symbolic action (marks/effigies), expressing the dharmic ideal of a well-regulated home.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra/rakṣā-vidhi material; not pancalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘constructed figure’ and drawn ‘rakṣā’ signs function as externalized intention—ritual technology for focusing attention, strengthening boundaries, and restoring psychological and social order.