Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 51, Shloka 22

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

Sanskrit

तस्य रक्षा सदा कार्या नित्यं शौचनि सेवनात् ।

प्रसिद्धमन्त्रलिखनाच्छस्तमाल्यादिधारणात् ॥

Transliteration

tasya rakṣā sadā kāryā nityaṃ śauca-niṣevaṇāt / prasiddha-mantra-likhanāc chasta-mālyādi-dhāraṇāt

Translation

அவரது பாதுகாப்பை எப்போதும் மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டும்—தொடர்ந்த தூய்மை அனுஷ்டானத்தால், அங்கீகரிக்கப்பட்ட புகழ்பெற்ற மந்திரங்களை எழுதுவதால், மங்கல மாலைகள் முதலியவற்றை அணிவதாலும்।

Word by Word

• tasya: of him/its
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• rakṣā: protection
• rakṣā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• kāryā: to be done/should be performed
• kāryā: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārya (कृदन्त; √kṛ (धातु))
• Form: Gerundive/Obligative (तव्यत्/यत्-अर्थे), Feminine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with rakṣā

• nityam: constantly
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया एकवचन)

• śauca-niṣevaṇāt: from practicing purity
• śauca-niṣevaṇāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śauca (प्रातिपदिक) + niṣevaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: śaucasya niṣevaṇam); Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• prasiddha-mantra-likhanāt: from writing well-known mantras
• prasiddha-mantra-likhanāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prasiddha (प्रातिपदिक) + mantra (प्रातिपदिक) + likhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय within: prasiddha-mantra; then ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: mantrasya likhanam); Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• śasta-mālya-ādi-dhāraṇāt: from wearing approved garlands etc.
• śasta-mālya-ādi-dhāraṇāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śasta (प्रातिपदिक) + mālya (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + dhāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa: (karmadhāraya) śasta-mālya; ādi = “etc.”; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa overall: (mālyādeḥ) dhāraṇam; Neuter, Ablative, Singular

Speakers

• Dharmic instruction within the Markandeya Purana’s discourse framework (exact speaker not specified in the provided excerpt)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Śauca (purity)
• Protective rites
• Mantra practice
• Auspicious conduct

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Protection is presented as the fruit of disciplined living: purity, sanctioned mantra-practice, and auspicious external markers are treated as supports for inner order and social-religious propriety.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily Dharma/Ācāra instruction (not directly Sarga/Pratisarga/Vaṃśa/Manvantara/Vaṃśānucarita), functioning as ancillary didactic material within the Purāṇic discourse.

What is the esoteric significance?

Śauca and mantra-inscription symbolize purification of the body-mind and stabilization of intention (saṅkalpa); auspicious adornment functions as a ‘seal’ of sattvic alignment that wards off disruptive influences.