Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 39, Shloka 50

Adhyaya 39 — Yoga Discipline: Posture, Breath Control, Sense Withdrawal, and Signs of Attainment

Sanskrit

देशेष्वेतेषु तत्त्वज्ञो योगाभ्यासं विवर्जयेत् ।

सत्त्वस्यानुपपत्तौ च देशकालं विवर्जयेत् ॥

Transliteration

deśeṣv eteṣu tattva-jño yogābhyāsaṃ vivarjayet / sattvasyānupapattau ca deśa-kālaṃ vivarjayet

Translation

Sa mga gayong lugar, ang nakaaalam ng katotohanan (tattva-jña) ay dapat umiwas sa pagsasanay ng yoga; at tuwing hindi makakamtan ang sattva (linaw at balanse), dapat niyang iwasan ang lugar at panahong iyon.

Word by Word

• deśeṣu: in places
• deśeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• eteṣu: in these
• eteṣu: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्—देशेषु

• tattva-jñaḥ: knower of truth
• tattva-jñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक) + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः—तत्त्वं जानाति इति; पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• yoga-abhyāsam: practice of yoga
• yoga-abhyāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक) + abhyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः—योगस्य अभ्यासः; पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• vivarjayet: should avoid
• vivarjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√vṛj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; धातुः—वृज्/वर्ज् (वर्जने)

• sattvasya: of purity/being (sattva)
• sattvasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive), एकवचनम्

• anupapattau: when it is not possible/appropriate
• anupapattau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anupapatti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative), एकवचनम्; अर्थः—अनुपपत्तिः = असम्भव/अनौचित्य (non-occurrence, inapplicability)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम्

• deśa-kālam: place and time
• deśa-kālam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deśa (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समासः (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः)—देशः च कालः च; पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम् (समाहारार्थे)

• vivarjayet: should avoid
• vivarjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√vṛj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

Speakers

• Instructional voice within the chapter

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Yoga
• Sattva
• Discernment (viveka)
• Context-sensitive practice

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Spiritual practice must be guided by viveka: choose contexts that support sattva. The ‘right means’ includes right environment; otherwise effort becomes counterproductive.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

A yogic-dharma instruction embedded in the Purāṇa’s teaching layer, not pancalakṣaṇa narrative.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Sattva not attainable’ points to inner readiness: when the mind cannot settle, one should change conditions rather than force—indicating a skillful management of prāṇa, diet, and setting.