Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 43, Shloka 77

Adhyaya 43 — Portents of Death (Ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇas) and the Yogin’s Response; Alarka Renounces Kingship

Sanskrit

यथायं भौतिकः सङ्घस्तथान्तः करणं नृणाम् ।

गुणास्तु सकलास्तद्वदशेषेष्वेव जन्तुषु ॥

Transliteration

yathāyaṃ bhautikaḥ saṅghas tathā antaḥ-karaṇaṃ nṛṇām / guṇās tu sakalās tadvad aśeṣeṣv eva jantuṣu

Translation

“Kung paanong ang katawang ito ay isang pagtitipon ng materyal na sangkap, gayon din ang panloob na kasangkapan (kompleks ng isip) ng tao; at sa gayon ding paraan, ang lahat ng guṇa ay ganap na naroroon sa lahat ng nilalang, walang pagbubukod.”

Word by Word

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Connector (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as/just as)

• ayam: this
• ayam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• bhautikaḥ: material/physical
• bhautikaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhautika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• saṅghaḥ: aggregate; collection
• saṅghaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṅgha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tathā: so/likewise
• tathā: Connector (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तदनुरूपार्थक (so/likewise)

• antaḥ-karaṇam: the inner organ (mind)
• antaḥ-karaṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antaḥ (अव्यय) + karaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः—अन्तः करणम् (inner instrument: mind)

• nṛṇām: of men
• nṛṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• guṇāḥ: qualities
• guṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• tu: indeed
• tu: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेष/विरोधार्थक निपात (but/indeed)

• sakalāḥ: all
• sakalāḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sakala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• tadvat: likewise
• tadvat: Connector (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadvat (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तुल्यतावाचक (likewise/in the same way)

• aśeṣeṣu: in all (without exception)
• aśeṣeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), बहुवचन; ‘अशेष’ = without remainder, all

• eva: indeed
• eva: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphasis: indeed/only)

• jantuṣu: in living beings
• jantuṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jantu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speakers

• Alarka continuing his explanation (philosophical rationale for renunciation)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Sāṅkhya-like analysis
• Guṇa doctrine
• Mind-body as prakṛti aggregate
• Basis for detachment

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Seeing body and mind as guṇa-made aggregates undermines pride and possessiveness; if all beings are constituted by the same guṇas, superiority-complex and fixation on ‘my’ status weaken—supporting liberation-oriented conduct.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Not a pancalakṣaṇa cosmology unit per se; it is tattva-vicāra (philosophical analysis) embedded in narrative, supporting dharma/moksha instruction within vaṃśānucarita.

What is the esoteric significance?

The verse points to a discriminative insight (viveka): the ‘inner instrument’ too is part of prakṛti, not the Self. Recognizing universality of guṇas prepares the ground for witnessing-consciousness (sākṣitva) and non-attachment.