Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 81, Shloka 14

Adhyaya 81 — Suratha and Samadhi Seek Sage Medhas; Introduction to Mahamaya and the Madhukaitabha Origin Account

Sanskrit

असम्यग्व्ययशीलैस्तैः कुर्वद्भिः सततं व्ययम् ।

संचितः सोऽतिदुःखेन क्षयं कोशो गमिष्यति ॥

Transliteration

asamyag-vyaya-śīlais taiḥ kurvadbhiḥ satataṃ vyayam /

saṃcitaḥ so 'ti-duḥkhena kṣayaṃ kośo gamiṣyati

Translation

“Bởi những kẻ ham tiêu xài sai trái, luôn luôn phung phí, kho tàng đã tích lũy ấy sẽ, trong nỗi sầu lớn, đi đến suy vong.”

Word by Word

• असम्यक्: improperly
• असम्यक्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: असम्यक् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• व्यय-शीलैः: by those of spending nature
• व्यय-शीलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यय (प्रातिपदिक) + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (व्यये शीलम् यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘तैः’)

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• कुर्वद्भिः: by (them) doing
• कुर्वद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृत् (present participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘तैः’)

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• व्ययम्: expenditure
• व्ययम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• संचितः: accumulated
• संचितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-चि (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘कोशः’)

• सः: that (he/it)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अति-दुःखेन: with great distress
• अति-दुःखेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (अति + दुःख); तृतीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; हेतौ/साधने

• क्षयम्: to destruction, depletion
• क्षयम्: Gati/Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कोशः: treasury
• कोशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गमिष्यति: will go, will come to
• गमिष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speakers

• Narrator describing King Suratha’s thoughts

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma of kingship
• Stewardship and governance
• Impermanence of wealth
• Anxiety born of attachment

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even legitimate accumulation is fragile if guided by poor judgment. The verse also shows how attachment persists: Suratha suffers over the misuse of what was ‘his,’ revealing bondage through identification.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ethical-narrative (upadeśa embedded in ākhyāna) rather than pañcalakṣaṇa proper.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘treasury’ can be read as accumulated merit, energy, or clarity; when dissipated through undisciplined tendencies, inner resources decline—prompting the seeker toward a higher refuge (the Goddess).