Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 51, Shloka 19

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

Sanskrit

सर्वारम्भान् कुमारो 'त्ति शस्ताताञ्चानसूयताम् ।

विप्रोक्त्या देवतास्तुत्या मूलोत्खातेन च द्विज ॥

Transliteration

sarvārambhān kumāro 'tti śastātāñ cānasūyatām | viproktyā devatā-stutyā mūlotkhātena ca dvija ||

Translation

“Kumāra” (tác nhân điềm) làm hư hoại mọi công việc; và chớ bới lỗi đối với lời nói đã được nói đúng đắn. Nhờ lời khuyên của một bà-la-môn, nhờ ca tụng các thần linh, và nhờ nhổ bỏ sự việc từ tận gốc, hỡi nhị sinh, (tai họa ấy được hóa giải).

Word by Word

• sarva-ārambhān: all undertakings
• sarva-ārambhān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + ārambha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारय: 'sarve ārambhāḥ'

• kumāraḥ: the boy
• kumāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• atti: eats/consumes (destroys)
• atti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ad (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• śastātān: approved/commended (acts)
• śastātān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śasta (प्रातिपदिक) + āta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); interpreted as 'śastān ātān' → 'commended/approved (acts)' (textual form uncertain)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• anasūyatām: non-envy / freedom from malice
• anasūyatām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anasūyatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); abstract noun

• vipra-uktyā: by a Brahmin’s utterance
• vipra-uktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + ukti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'viprasya uktiḥ'

• devatā-stutyā: by praise of the deities
• devatā-stutyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक) + stuti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'devatānāṃ stutiḥ'

• mūla-utkhātena: by uprooting (from the root)
• mūla-utkhātena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla (प्रातिपदिक) + utkhāta (उत्खात, कृदन्त from ud-√khan धातु)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'mūlena utkhātam' / 'mūlasya utkhātam' (uprooting)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• dvija: O Brahmin
• dvija: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

Speakers

• Not explicit; addressing a ‘dvija’; continuing omen-remedy counsel.

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Devatās (collective)

Key Themes

• Omens
• Remedial action
• Respectful speech
• Root-cause removal

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

When obstacles arise, dharma counsels three levels of response: wise guidance (vipra-ukti), devotional realignment (devatā-stuti), and practical correction (mūlotkhāta). Also, avoid corrosive fault-finding, which itself worsens social and mental disorder.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Dharma/ācāra and nimitta-prayoga; not the genealogical/cosmic core.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Uprooting the root’ indicates that omens are surface indicators of deeper imbalance—ethical, psychological, or ritual. The verse integrates outer rite with inner reform.