Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 14, Shloka 5

Adhyaya 14 — The Messenger of Yama Explains Karmic Retribution and the Causes of Naraka Torments

Sanskrit

होमकाले यथा वह्निराज्यपातमवेक्षते ।

ऋतौ प्रजापतिस्तद्वद् बीजपातमवेक्षते ॥

Transliteration

homakāle yathā vahnirājyapātamavekṣate / ṛtau prajāpatistadvad bījapātamavekṣate

Translation

Kung paanong sa oras ng homa ay nagbabantay ang Apoy sa handog na ghee, gayon din sa wastong panahon (ṛtu) ay nagmamasid si Prajāpati sa “pagbagsak ng binhi” (paglilihi).

Word by Word

• homa-kāle: at the time of the oblation
• homa-kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: homa (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (homasya kālaḥ)

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Upamāna-dyotaka (उपमान-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (comparative particle)

• vahniḥ: fire
• vahniḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vahni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• ājya-pātam: the pouring of ghee
• ājya-pātam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājya (प्रातिपदिक) + pāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ājyasya pātaḥ)

• avekṣate: observes; awaits
• avekṣate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• ṛtau: in the proper season/period
• ṛtau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛtu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• prajāpatiḥ: Prajāpati (Lord of creatures)
• prajāpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajāpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• tadvat: likewise
• tadvat: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तुल्यतावाचक (adverb of similarity)

• bīja-pātam: the casting of seed
• bīja-pātam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bīja (प्रातिपदिक) + pāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (bījasya pātaḥ)

• avekṣate: observes; awaits
• avekṣate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speakers

• Yamakiṅkara continues instruction by ritual analogy

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Agni
• Prajāpati

Key Themes

• Ritual analogy
• Procreative dharma
• Ṛta (cosmic timing)
• Gṛhastha discipline

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse sacralizes procreation by aligning it with yajña: both require right time and right procedure. Sexual conduct is treated as a ritual act with cosmic witnesses and thus moral accountability.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Dharma/ācāra teaching; not one of the five-lakṣaṇa historical-cosmic categories.

What is the esoteric significance?

Agni and Prajāpati represent transformative fire and generative intelligence; the teaching implies that when timing is honored, desire is transmuted into dharmic creation rather than bondage.