Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 92, Shloka 10

Adhyaya 92 — Devi’s Assurance of Protection and the Fruits of Reciting the Devi Mahatmyam

Sanskrit

जानताजानता वापि बलिपूजां तथा कृताम् ।

प्रतीच्छिष्याम्यहं प्रीत्या वह्निहोमं तथा कृतम् ॥

Transliteration

jānatājānatā vāpi balipūjāṃ tathā kṛtām |

pratīcchiṣyāmy ahaṃ prītyā vahnihomaṃ tathā kṛtam ||

Translation

Maging sinasadya o hindi sinasadya, tinatanggap ko nang may kagalakan ang gayong pagsamba na may mga handog (bali at pūjā), at gayundin ang handog sa apoy (homa) na isinagawa sa paraang iyon.

Word by Word

• जानता: knowingly
• जानता: Karana (करण/Instrumental)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + शतृ (वर्तमान-कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (instrumental: ‘by one who knows’); (पाठे ‘जानता अजानता’ अपेक्षितम्)

• अजानता: unknowingly
• अजानता: Karana (करण/Instrumental)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + ज्ञा (धातु) + शतृ (वर्तमान-कृदन्त)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक शतृ-कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘by one who does not know’ = unknowingly

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (विकल्प particle: ‘or’)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चय/अपि = ‘also/even’)

• बलि-पूजाम्: bali-offering and worship
• बलि-पूजाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (इतरेतर: ‘bali and worship’ as a pair); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (रीति/समुच्चय: ‘thus/likewise’)

• कृताम्: performed
• कृताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् to ‘बलिपूजाम्’—‘done/performed’

• प्रतीच्छिष्यामि: I will accept
• प्रतीच्छिष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति+इष्/इच्छ्? (धातु: प्रति+इ (ग्रहणे) → प्रतीच्छ्)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपदम्, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘I will accept/receive’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन; उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम

• प्रीत्या: with delight
• प्रीत्या: Karana (करण/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण—‘with pleasure/affection’

• वह्नि-होमम्: fire-oblation
• वह्नि-होमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘वह्निहोम’ = oblation into fire); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (रीति/समुच्चय)

• कृतम्: performed
• कृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् to ‘वह्निहोमम्’—‘done/performed’

Speakers

• Devī

Primary Deities

• Devī

Shakti Aspects

• Devī’s grace (anugraha) overriding imperfect knowledge; compassionate acceptor of offerings

Key Themes

• Grace
• Accessibility of worship
• Ritual acceptance
• Bhakti over technicality

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse emphasizes divine compassion: sincere engagement is valued even when ritual knowledge is incomplete. It encourages participation while still allowing room for learning and refinement.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Dharma: it legitimizes worship practice and describes its efficacy, typical of Purāṇic dharma-bridging between elite ritual expertise and popular devotion.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Knowing/unknowing’ points to the Devī as the inner knower (antaryāmin) who receives intention (bhāva). The acceptance ‘with delight’ suggests that devotion aligns the practitioner with śakti regardless of conceptual sophistication.