Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 50, Shloka 36

Adhyaya 50 — Mind-Born Progeny, Svayambhuva Manu’s Lineage, and Brahmā’s Ordinance to Duḥsaha (Alakṣmī’s Retinue)

Sanskrit

अथेन्द्रियाणि चाक्रम्य रागक्रोधादिभिर्नरान् ।

योजयन्ति यथा हानिं यान्त्यधर्मादिभिर्द्विज ॥

Transliteration

athendriyāṇi cākramya rāgakrodhādibhir narān | yojayanti yathā hāniṃ yānty adharmādibhir dvija ||

Translation

Rồi, chế ngự các căn, chúng trói buộc con người bằng dục vọng (rāga), sân hận (krodha) và những thứ tương tự, khiến họ đi đến diệt vong—rơi vào adharma và các tai họa liên hệ, hỡi bậc nhị sinh (dvija).

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• indriyāṇi: the senses
• indriyāṇi: Karma (कर्म/Object of ākramya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचनम्

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः

• ākramya: having overpowered
• ākramya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-kram (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तः (gerund/absolutive); 'having attacked/overpowered'

• rāga-krodha-ādibhiḥ: by passion, anger, etc.
• rāga-krodha-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāga (प्रातिपदिक) + krodha (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचनम्; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतर-द्वन्द्व-प्रयोगः (rāgaś ca krodhaś ca ādayaś ca)

• narān: people
• narān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्

• yojayanti: they yoke/engage
• yojayanti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yuj (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम् (णिच्-अर्थे causative sense)

• yathā: so that/as
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Clause linker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; प्रकार/उपमानवाचक (as/so that)

• hānim: harm, loss
• hānim: Karma (कर्म/Result-object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hāni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्

• yānti: they go/lead (to)
• yānti: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yā (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, प्रथम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• adharma-ādibhiḥ: by unrighteousness etc.
• adharma-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adharma (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (adharmaḥ ādiḥ yeṣām/adharma-ādi)

• dvija: O twice-born
• dvija: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्

Speakers

• Frame dialogue tradition (sage-narration within Markandeya Purana); addressee indicated as 'dvija' (a Brahmin/sage)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Rāga–krodha dynamics
• Moral downfall
• Sense-overpowering afflictions
• Dharma vs Adharma

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Rāga and krodha are highlighted as primary engines of ethical collapse. When they seize the senses, a person rationalizes harmful acts, entering a self-reinforcing cycle of loss and adharma.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Didactic Sarga/Pratisarga: not merely naming entities but describing their function in the moral cosmos—how adharma practically manifests.

What is the esoteric significance?

Rāga and krodha correspond to rajas-driven agitation; the verse implies that mastery of prāṇa/mind (yoga) prevents these ‘agents’ from commandeering the indriyas.