Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 14, Shloka 83

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

Sanskrit

पतितप्रतिग्रहादानाद्यजनान्नित्यसेवनात् ।

पाषाणमध्यकीटत्वं नरः सततमश्नुते ॥

Transliteration

patita-pratigrahādānād yajanān nitya-sevanāt | pāṣāṇa-madhya-kīṭatvaṃ naraḥ satatam aśnute ||

Translation

因受取堕落不净者之施与，因纳受此等供献，又因恒常食用不当与禁物，一人便不断招致在石中为虫之境。

Word by Word

• पतितप्रतिग्रहादानात्: from accepting/taking (gifts) from the fallen (sinful)
• पतितप्रतिग्रहादानात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतित + प्रतिग्रह + आदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative): 'from accepting and taking (gifts) from the fallen'

• यजनात्: from sacrificing (improperly)
• यजनात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन

• नित्यसेवनात्: from constant indulgence
• नित्यसेवनात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नित्य + सेवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष sense: 'from constant practice/indulgence'

• पाषाणमध्यकीटत्वम्: the state of being a worm inside a stone
• पाषाणमध्यकीटत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाषाण + मध्य + कीट + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सप्तमी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष sense: 'wormhood in the middle of a stone' + तद्धितान्त (त्व)

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सततम्: constantly
• सततम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: always/continually)

• अश्नुते: he attains / undergoes
• अश्नुते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speakers

• Dialogue frame not explicit in the provided excerpt; didactic naraka catalogue.

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Dana ethics (purity of gifts)
• Ritual integrity
• Karma and retribution

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The purity of exchange matters: accepting corrupt support and normalizing improper consumption hardens character. The ‘insect in stone’ image conveys being trapped in lifelessness due to moral petrification.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Dharma and karmaphala instruction; a normative passage supplementing Purāṇic teaching.

What is the esoteric significance?

Stone signifies tamas and rigidity; the insect within indicates a constricted, hidden life-force unable to express higher dharma—consciousness imprisoned by habitual compromise.