Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 78, Shloka 10

Adhyaya 78 — Hymn to Surya and the Distribution of Solar Splendour; Genealogy of Vaivasvata and Chaya’s Line

Sanskrit

क्रियते त्वत्करैः स्पर्शाज्जलादीनां पवित्रता । होमदानादिको धर्मो नोपकाराय जायते ॥

Transliteration

kriyate tvatkaraiḥ sparśājjalādīnāṃ pavitratā / homadānādiko dharmo nopakārāya jāyate

Translation

Nhờ sự chạm của bàn tay Ngài mà sự thanh khiết của nước và các đại khác được thành tựu. Bổn phận nghi lễ như dâng cúng (oblations) và bố thí, tự nó không trở nên hữu ích (nếu thiếu Ngài).

Word by Word

• क्रियते: is produced/is effected
• क्रियते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः/आत्मनेपदम् (is done/is produced)

• त्वत्-करैः: by your hands
• त्वत्-करैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वत् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (त्वत्-कराः)

• स्पर्शात्: from (your) touch
• स्पर्शात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sparśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• जल-आदीनाम्: of water and the like
• जल-आदीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (जलम् आदि यस्य समूहः)

• पवित्रता: purity
• पवित्रता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pavitrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• होम-दान-आदिकः: consisting of offerings, gifts, etc.
• होम-दान-आदिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: होम (प्रातिपदिक) + दान (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + क (तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘having homa, dāna etc.’; धर्मः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• धर्मः: religious duty/rite
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• उपकाराय: for benefit
• उपकाराय: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upakāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• जायते: arises/comes to be
• जायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

Speakers

• Devas (collective) offering stuti

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Supreme divinity as purifier (solar ‘hands’/rays)

Key Themes

• Purification
• Ritual efficacy
• Dependence of rites on divine grace/presence
• Tejas (radiant power)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Ritual acts (homa, dāna) are not merely mechanical; their true benefit depends on purity, intention, and alignment with the divine order. This discourages empty formalism and promotes sincere practice.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Dharma: it evaluates ritual action and its fruit (phala), emphasizing the inner and divine dimension behind outer acts.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Your hands’ as rays suggests that divine tejas is the real ‘consecrator’ (pavitṛ). Inner rites likewise become potent when ‘touched’ by awakened awareness rather than performed as habit.