Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 10, Shloka 11

Adhyaya 10 — Jaimini’s Questions on Birth, Death, Karma, and the Embodied Journey

Sanskrit

ततो गार्हस्थ्यमास्थाय चेष्ट्वा यज्ञाननुत्तमान् ।

इष्टमुत्पादयापत्यमाश्रयेथा वनं ततः ॥

Transliteration

tato gārhasthyam āsthāya ceṣṭvā yajñān anuttamān | iṣṭam utpādaya apatyam āśrayethā vanaṃ tataḥ ||

Translation

Rồi, sau khi bước vào giai đoạn gia chủ, cử hành các tế lễ vô thượng và sinh được con cái như ý, người ấy về sau nên nương tựa nơi rừng (tức nhận lấy hạnh sống rừng).

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then; thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), काल/क्रमवाचक अव्यय (temporal/sequential adverb)

• gārhasthyam: householder stage/duty
• gārhasthyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gārhasthya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• āsthāya: having undertaken
• āsthāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययकृदन्त; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action)

• ceṣṭvā: having performed/endeavoured
• ceṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ceṣṭ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययकृदन्त; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• yajñān: sacrifices
• yajñān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural)

• anuttamān: unsurpassed; excellent
• anuttamān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anuttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (qualifier) of yajñān

• iṣṭam: desired merit/fruit; the wished-for (result)
• iṣṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: iṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• utpādaya: produce; generate
• utpādaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut-√pad (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद; causative sense not intended here (simple causation: 'produce')

• apatyam: offspring; progeny
• apatyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: apatya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• āśrayethāḥ: take refuge in; resort to
• āśrayethāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√śri (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular), आत्मनेपद

• vanam: forest
• vanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• tataḥ: then; thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रमवाचक अव्यय (sequential adverb)

Speakers

• Birds (Dharmapakṣis) as instructors within the frame dialogue

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Āśrama-dharma
• Gṛhastha duties
• Vānaprastha
• Vedic ritual life-cycle

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma is presented as a staged life-path: fulfill social and ritual obligations as a householder—especially yajña and progeny—then gradually withdraw toward renunciation. It emphasizes orderly maturation rather than abrupt abandonment of duties.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Primarily falls under Ācāra/Dharma instruction (often treated as an adjunct purāṇic teaching rather than one of the five). It is not directly sarga/pratisarga/vaṃśa/manvantara/vaṃśānucarita content, though it supports vaṃśa continuity via progeny.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Forest’ symbolizes interiorization: after outward sacrificial action (karma), the seeker turns toward austerity and contemplation, preparing the mind for knowledge (jñāna) and final release.