Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 51, Shloka 9

Adhyaya 51 — Yaksha Injunctions: Graha-Children and Female Spirits Causing Domestic and Ritual Disruptions

Sanskrit

तस्योपशमनं कार्यं सुप्तस्य सितसर्षपैः ।

शयनस्योपरि क्षिप्तैर्मानुषैर्दशनोपरि ॥

Transliteration

tasyopaśamanaṃ kāryaṃ suptasya sitasarṣapaiḥ / śayanasyopari kṣiptair mānuṣair daśanopari

Translation

Para sa batang natutulog, isagawa ang pagpapayapa sa pamamagitan ng puting buto ng mustasa—ihagis ng mga tao sa higaan at sa ibabaw ng mga ngipin.

Word by Word

• tasya: of that; of it
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• upaśamanam: pacification; remedy
• upaśamanam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; with kāryam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upa-śamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kāryam: to be done; should be performed
• kāryam: Vidhi (विधि/obligation predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārya (कृदन्त; √kṛ धातु)
• Form: Gerundive/obligative (तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययार्थ), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective: 'is to be done'

• suptasya: of the sleeping (person)
• suptasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: supta (कृदन्त; √svap धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त/PPP), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); (gender per qualified noun, here likely masculine/neuter)

• sita-sarṣapaiḥ: with white mustard seeds
• sita-sarṣapaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sita (प्रातिपदिक) + sarṣapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); Karmadhāraya: sitāḥ sarṣapāḥ

• śayanasya: of the bed; of the sleeping-place
• śayanasya: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative sense via upa-ri)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• upari: upon; on top of
• upari: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण/locative adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: upari (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/Preposition-like indeclinable (उपसर्गसदृश अव्यय): 'on/above'

• kṣiptaiḥ: thrown; cast
• kṣiptaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument; 'by means of being thrown')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣipta (कृदन्त; √kṣip धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त/PPP), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); agreeing with mānuṣaiḥ

• mānuṣaiḥ: by humans; by people
• mānuṣaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument/agent-instrument in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānuṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• daśana-upari: upon the teeth
• daśana-upari: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण/locative adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: daśana (प्रातिपदिक) + upari (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) with upari; adverbial phrase meaning 'upon the teeth'

Speakers

• Teacher-narrator prescribing śānti

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Śānti ritual
• Apotropaic substances (sarṣapa)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The tradition integrates material means (herbs/seeds) with intention and procedure, reflecting a holistic ethic of care.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ritual-therapeutic dharma content; not a pañcalakṣaṇa segment.

What is the esoteric significance?

Sarṣapa is widely used in Indian apotropaic rites; scattering signifies dispersal of negativity and ‘cutting’ of unseen bonds affecting the child.