Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 50, Shloka 59

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

Sanskrit

अब्रह्मचारिणाधीतमिज्या चाविदुषा कृता ।

तपोवने ग्राम्यभुजां तथैवानिर्वजितात्मनाम् ॥

Transliteration

abrahmacāriṇādhītam ijyā cāviduṣā kṛtā | tapovane grāmyabhujāṃ tathaivānirvajitātmanām ||

Translation

“Sự học do kẻ không giữ phạm hạnh/tiết chế mà đạt được, tế lễ do người vô tri cử hành, và đời sống ẩn tu nơi rừng của những kẻ vẫn ăn ‘kiểu làng xóm’ (đầy hưởng thụ)—cũng như của những người tâm chưa thanh tịnh—(đều là khiếm khuyết).”

Word by Word

• abrahmacāriṇā: by one who is not celibate
• abrahmacāriṇā: Karta (कर्ता/Agent-Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-brahmacārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक (negative)

• adhītam: studied, learned (text)
• adhītam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhīta (प्रातिपदिक; √dhī/√adhī धातु से क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• ijyā: worship, sacrifice
• ijyā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ijyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• aviduṣā: by an ignorant person
• aviduṣā: Karta (कर्ता/Agent-Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-vidvas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक (negative)

• kṛtā: done, performed
• kṛtā: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (प्रातिपदिक; √kṛ धातु से क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; (ijyā इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• tapo-vane: in the forest of austerities
• tapo-vane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + vana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (tapasya vanaṃ)

• grāmya-bhujām: of rustic sensualists (worldly enjoyers)
• grāmya-bhujām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grāmya (प्रातिपदिक) + bhuj (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (grāmyāḥ bhujāḥ = rustic eaters/indulgers)

• tathā: thus, likewise
• tathā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• anirvajita-ātmanām: of those whose selves are not purified/cleansed
• anirvajita-ātmanām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-nirvajita (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक; तत्पुरुष (anirvajitaḥ ātmā yeṣām)

Speakers

• Unspecified in input; continuing address to a ‘Yakṣa’ in this chapter’s counsel

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Ritual qualification (adhikāra)
• Austerity vs hypocrisy
• Purity of mind
• Brahmacarya

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Scriptural learning and ritual are not merely technical acts; they require inner discipline (brahmacarya, śuddhi). Ascetic settings (tapovana) do not sanctify a person who retains indulgent habits and an unpurified mind.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Ethical-ritual instruction ancillary to Purāṇic narrative; not a direct instance of the five hallmark topics, but supportive of ‘dharma’ exposition often embedded in vaṃśānucarita narratives.

What is the esoteric significance?

The verse encodes the principle that mantra/vidyā without containment of desire becomes ‘leaky’—power dissipates. ‘Tapovana + grāmya-bhoga’ is a symbol of mixed (saṅkīrṇa) intention that blocks spiritual fruition.