Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 14, Shloka 13

Adhyaya 14 — The Messenger of Yama Explains Karmic Retribution and the Causes of Naraka Torments

Sanskrit

अयश्चञ्चुनिपातेन सर्वाङ्गक्षतदुःखिताः ।

किमेतेऽनिष्टकर्तारस्तुद्यन्तेऽहर्निशं नराः ॥

Transliteration

ayaś cañcu-nipātena sarvāṅga-kṣata-duḥkhitāḥ / kim ete ’niṣṭa-kartāras tudyante ’har-niśaṃ narāḥ //

Translation

“被铁喙坠落所击，遍体创伤而受苦——这些作恶之人是谁？为何这等人竟昼夜受人称颂？”

Word by Word

• अयः: by/with iron
• अयः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ayas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular (3rd case)

• चञ्चु-निपातेन: by the pecking (strike) of the beak
• चञ्चु-निपातेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cañcu (प्रातिपदिक) + nipāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; Instrumental singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (चञ्चोः निपातः)

• सर्व-अङ्ग-क्षत-दुःखिताः: pained, wounded in all limbs
• सर्व-अङ्ग-क्षत-दुःखिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣata (कृदन्त, क्त) + duḥkhita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Nominative plural; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष/समाहारः (सर्वेषु अङ्गेषु क्षतैः दुःखिताः)

• किम्: why/what
• किम्: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; interrogative; here adverbial use ‘why/what’

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• अनिष्ट-कर्तारः: doers of harm/evil
• अनिष्ट-कर्तारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aniṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + kartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Nominative plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अनिष्टस्य कर्तारः)

• तुद्यन्ते: are struck/tormented
• तुद्यन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tud (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; Present indicative, 3rd person plural; आत्मनेपद

• अहर्निशम्: day and night
• अहर्निशम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ahar (प्रातिपदिक) + niśā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) = ‘day and night’

• नराः: men/people
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

Speakers

• King to Yama’s messenger

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Yama

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Social ethics
• False praise of the wicked
• Karma

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse critiques social inversion: the wicked may receive public acclaim, yet karmic law remains impartial. Ethical discernment should not be outsourced to popular praise.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Didactic dharma material; it supports Purāṇic moral instruction rather than genealogical/cosmic enumeration.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Praise day and night’ suggests the hypnotic power of fame (yaśas) that can mask adharma; the iron-beak wounds indicate the inevitable piercing of illusion by consequence.