Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 14, Shloka 47

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

Sanskrit

परोपतापकाः ये च ये चाऽऽह्लादनिषेधकाः ।

तालवृन्तानिलस्थान-चन्दनोशी्रहारीणः ॥

Transliteration

paropatāpakā ye ca ye cāhlādaniṣedhakāḥ /

tālavṛntānilasthāna-candanośīrahāriṇaḥ

Translation

凡折磨他人者，凡剥夺他人安适与享乐者——夺走扇子（以取清风）、通风的憩所、檀香膏与芬芳的乌施罗草(uśīra)者——皆列于罪人之中。

Word by Word

• परोपतापकाः: those who torment others
• परोपतापकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + उपतापक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (parasya upatāpaḥ = causing trouble to others), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• आह्लादनिषेधकाः: those who obstruct joy/pleasure
• आह्लादनिषेधकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आह्लाद + निषेधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (āhlādasya niṣedhaḥ = preventing delight), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तालवृन्तानिलस्थानचन्दनोशी्रहारीणः: those who take away fans, breezy places, sandal, and vetiver
• तालवृन्तानिलस्थानचन्दनोशी्रहारीणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तालवृन्त + अनिलस्थान + चन्दन + उशीरा + हारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समाहारः; अन्ते 'हारीणः' = हारिन्-शब्दः, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अर्थतः '...-हारी' = 'taking away/stealing ...'

Speakers

• Didactic narration (frame-speaker not explicit in excerpt)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Cruelty and oppression
• Theft/deprivation
• Compassion

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma includes allowing others basic relief and dignity. To oppress, harass, or deliberately deprive people of simple comforts—especially in hardship—is counted as serious wrongdoing.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ethical instruction (ācāra) via examples of cruelty and deprivation; not a direct pancalakṣaṇa element.

What is the esoteric significance?

Cooling items (breeze, sandal, uśīra) symbolize śānti (peace) and soothing of heat (tāpa). One who steals others’ śānti creates ‘heat’ in the world and inherits intensified inner/outer tāpa.