Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 15, Shloka 26

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

Sanskrit

हृते कांस्ये च हारीतः कपोतो रूप्यभाजने ।

हृत्वा तु काञ्चनं भाण्डं कृमियोनौ प्रजायते ॥

Transliteration

hṛte kāṃsye ca hārītaḥ kapoto rupyabhājane | hṛtvā tu kāñcanaṃ bhāṇḍaṃ kṛmiyonau prajāyate

Translation

வெண்கலம்/பித்தளை (bronze) திருடினால் ‘ஹாரீத’ எனும் பச்சைத் தோற்றமுள்ள கிளி போன்ற பறவையாகப் பிறப்பான்; வெள்ளிப் பாத்திரம் திருடினால் புறாவாகப் பிறப்பான். பொன் பாத்திரம் திருடினவன் புழு/கிருமி-யோனியின் கருவில் பிறப்பான்.

Word by Word

• hṛte: when (it is) stolen
• hṛte: Kāla/Hetu (काल/हेतु; when/if stolen)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (धातु) + क्त (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), सप्तमी-तुल्ये लोके (locative-absolute sense)

• kāṃsye: in/with bronze (vessel/metal)
• kāṃsye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāṃsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• hārītaḥ: a green parrot (hārīta)
• hārītaḥ: Pratipādya/Phala (फल; resultant state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hārīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• kapotaḥ: a pigeon
• kapotaḥ: Pratipādya/Phala (फल; resultant state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapota (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• rupya-bhājane: in a silver vessel
• rupya-bhājane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpya (प्रातिपदिक) + bhājana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: 'of silver'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), 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)

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विशेषार्थ (emphasis)

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

• bhāṇḍam: a vessel/utensil
• bhāṇḍam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• kṛmi-yonau: in a worm-womb (as a worm)
• kṛmi-yonau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; womb/state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛmi (प्रातिपदिक) + yoni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative: 'of worms'), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

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

Speakers

• Not specified in input

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Karma
• Ethics
• Property and social order

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The more “refined/valuable” the object (especially gold), the more degrading the stated rebirth. The passage warns against greed and the breach of trust surrounding household and ritual goods.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ancillary dharma/karma-vipāka instruction rather than pañcalakṣaṇa narrative structure.

What is the esoteric significance?

Metals and vessels symbolize containment and value; stealing them reflects inner emptiness and mis-valuation. Worm-birth suggests consciousness trapped in decay and consumption—an inversion of gold’s purity symbolism.