Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 15, Shloka 30

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

Sanskrit

जीवज्जीवकतां याति रक्तवस्त्रापहृन्नरः ।

छुच्छुन्दरीः शुभान् गन्धान् वासो हृत्वा शशो भवेत् ॥

Transliteration

jīvajjīvakatāṃ yāti raktavastrāpahṛn naraḥ | chucchundarīḥ śubhān gandhān vāso hṛtvā śaśo bhavet

Translation

Ang lalaking nagnanakaw ng pulang kasuotan ay nagiging jīvajjīvaka (isang uri ng ibon). Ang nagnanakaw ng pinong pabango at damit ay nagiging chucchundarī (dagang-daga/field-mouse). Ang nagnanakaw ng isang kasuotan ay nagiging liyebre.

Word by Word

• jīvat-jīvakatām: the state of being a ‘jīvajjīvaka’ bird
• jīvat-jīvakatām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīvat (प्रातिपदिक; वर्तमानकृदन्त) + jīvaka (प्रातिपदिक) + tā (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Feminine abstract noun, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; karmadhāraya ‘jīvat eva jīvakaḥ’ + -tā

• yāti: goes/attains
• yāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• rakta-vastra-apahṛt-naraḥ: a man who steals red garments
• rakta-vastra-apahṛt-naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rakta (प्रातिपदिक) + vastra (प्रातिपदिक) + apahṛt (कृदन्त; apa-√hṛ + kta) + nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; multi-member tatpuruṣa: ‘rakta-vastraṃ apahṛtavān naraḥ’ (one who has stolen red cloth)

• chucchundarīḥ: a musk-shrew
• chucchundarīḥ: Karta (कर्ता; resultant form)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chucchundarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (form used as species-name); denotes ‘musk-shrew’

• śubhān: pleasant/auspicious
• śubhān: Karma (कर्म; viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; qualifies gandhān

• gandhān: fragrances/perfumes
• gandhān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• vāsaḥ: clothing/garment
• vāsaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of hṛtvā (also read as vāsaḥ = vastra)

• hṛtvā: having stolen/taken
• hṛtvā: Kriyā (क्रिया; pūrvakāla)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (धातु) + tvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा)

• śaśaḥ: a hare/rabbit
• śaśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; resultant form)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• bhavet: would become
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

Speakers

• Not specified in input

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Karma
• Ethics
• Sense-desire

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Stealing objects tied to pleasure and status (colorful garments, perfumes) is portrayed as a fall into small, fearful, survival-driven existences. The moral aim is mastery of desire and respect for others’ property.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ethical/karma-vipāka material; not a pañcalakṣaṇa genealogy or cosmology passage.

What is the esoteric significance?

Red cloth can signify passion/rajas; stealing it intensifies rajas and leads to restless birth. Perfume relates to subtle sensory craving; the “small creature” rebirth symbolizes consciousness narrowed to scent-tracking and anxiety.