Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 28, Shloka 19

Adhyaya 28 — Alarka Inquires into Varna and Ashrama Dharma; Madalasa Defines the Fourfold Duties

Sanskrit

स्वकर्मणा धनं लब्ध्वा पितृदेवातिथींस्तथा ।

सम्यक् सम्प्रीणयन् भक्त्या पोषयेच्चाश्रितांस्तथा ॥

Transliteration

svakarmaṇā dhanaṃ labdhvā pitṛdevātithīṃs tathā /

samyak samprīṇayan bhaktyā poṣayec cāśritāṃs tathā //

Translation

Matapos magtamo ng yaman sa pamamagitan ng sariling wastong gawain, dapat niyang bigyang-lugod nang nararapat ang mga ninuno, ang mga diyos, at ang mga panauhin sa debosyon; at gayundin, dapat niyang alalayan ang mga umaasa sa kanya.

Word by Word

• sva-karmaṇā: by one’s own work
• sva-karmaṇā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (svaṃ karma)

• dhanam: wealth
• dhanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• labdhvā: having obtained
• labdhvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √labh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): 'having obtained'

• pitṝn: ancestors
• pitṝn: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• devān: gods
• devān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• atithīn: guests
• atithīn: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atithi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• tathā: likewise/also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यतार्थक (also/likewise)

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: properly)

• samprīṇayan: pleasing/satisfying
• samprīṇayan: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√prī (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• bhaktyā: with devotion
• bhaktyā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• poṣayet: should nourish/support
• poṣayet: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √puṣ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• āśritān: dependents/those who have taken refuge
• āśritān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ā-√śri (धातु) → āśrita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) प्रयुक्तः संज्ञावत् (used substantively)

• tathā: likewise/also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्त-समुच्चय (again: likewise)

Speakers

• Dharma-instruction narrative voice (contextual teacher-speaker within Markandeya Purana’s didactic discourse)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Pitṛs
• Devas

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Gṛhastha duties
• Pitṛ-yajña
• Atithi-satkāra
• Right livelihood

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The householder’s wealth is ethically conditioned: it must arise from rightful work and be redirected toward sustaining cosmic/social reciprocity—ancestors, gods, guests, and dependents.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Dharma-ācāra instruction; tangentially supports manvantara order (social stability), but not a direct manvantara account.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Pleasing’ pitṛs/devas/guests symbolizes harmonizing past (ancestors), higher powers (devas), and present society (atithi). The gṛhastha becomes a living ‘yajña-node’ linking these realms.