Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 15, Shloka 24

Adhyaya 15 — Karmic Retribution: Rebirths After Naraka and the King’s Compassion in Hell

Sanskrit

मधु हृत्वा नरो दंशः पूपं हृत्वा पिपीलिकः ।

चोरयित्वा तु निष्पावान् जायते गृहगोलकः ॥

Transliteration

madhu hṛtvā naro daṃśaḥ pūpaṃ hṛtvā pipīlikaḥ | corayitvā tu niṣpāvān jāyate gṛhagolakaḥ

Translation

தேன் திருடுபவன் கடிக்கும் பூச்சி (காட்ஃப்ளை போன்றது) ஆக மறுபிறவி எடுப்பான்; அப்பம்/கேக் திருடுபவன் எறும்பாகப் பிறப்பான். நிஷ்பாவம் (ஒருவகை பயறு) திருடுபவன் ‘கிருஹகோலக’—வீட்டில் வாழும் சிறு புழு/தொல்லுயிர்—யோனியில் பிறப்பான்.

Word by Word

• madhu: honey
• madhu: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• hṛtvā: having stolen/taken
• hṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action)

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• daṃśaḥ: a gadfly/biting insect
• daṃśaḥ: Pratipādya/Phala (फल; resultant state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṃśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• pūpam: a cake
• pūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• hṛtvā: having stolen/taken
• hṛtvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action)

• pipīlikaḥ: an ant
• pipīlikaḥ: Pratipādya/Phala (फल; resultant state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pipīlikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• corayitvā: having stolen
• corayitvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: cur (धातु) [चोरयति] + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोग (Causative stem), क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक; discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ (contrast/emphasis)

• niṣpāvān: a niṣpāva (a kind of bean/pulse)
• niṣpāvān: Pratipādya/Phala (फल; resultant state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niṣpāva (प्रातिपदिक) + मतुप् (मत्वर्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive/denom.)

• jāyate: is born/becomes
• jāyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद (Ātmanepada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• gṛha-golakaḥ: a house-lizard/gecko
• gṛha-golakaḥ: Pratipādya/Phala (फल; resultant state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक) + golaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: 'of a house'), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speakers

• Not specified in input (likely within an instructive discourse on dharma/karma)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Karma
• Ethics
• Rebirth (yoni)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The text frames theft as a direct violation of dharma that degrades human agency into instinct-bound forms. The specificity (item-by-item) reinforces that even “small” thefts have consequences, cultivating restraint (asteya) and respect for others’ livelihood.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily Dharma/Ācāra material and karma-vipāka teaching rather than the core pañcalakṣaṇa topics; it aligns most closely with ancillary instruction often embedded alongside Purāṇic narratives (not sarga/pratisarga/manvantara/vaṃśa/vaṃśānucarita).

What is the esoteric significance?

Symbolically, craving (for sweetness/foodstuffs) pulls consciousness downward into forms associated with scavenging and compulsion. The “house-dweller/vermin” result hints at attachment to domestic consumption turning into bondage within the household sphere.