Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 28, Shloka 12

Adhyaya 28 — Alarka Inquires into Varna and Ashrama Dharma; Madalasa Defines the Fourfold Duties

Sanskrit

स्वाध्यायोऽथाग्रिशुश्रूषा स्नानं भिक्षाटनं तथा ।

गुरोर्निवेद्य तच्चान्नमनुज्ञातेन सर्वदा ॥

Transliteration

svādhyāyo 'thāgriśuśrūṣā snānaṃ bhikṣāṭanaṃ tathā | guror nivedya tac cānnam anujñātena sarvadā ||

Translation

当行自学（svādhyāya）、侍奉圣火、沐浴，并外出乞食；且先将所得之食供奉于师尊，然后恒常唯在师尊许可下方可食用。

Word by Word

• स्वाध्यायः: self-study/recitation
• स्वाध्यायः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svādhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: None (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनुक्रम/समुच्चय (then/and next)

• अग्नि-शुश्रूषा: attendance on the sacred fire
• अग्नि-शुश्रूषा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + śuśrūṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'अग्नेः शुश्रूषा' (service/attendance to the sacred fire)

• स्नानम्: bathing
• स्नानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• भिक्षाटनम्: going for alms
• भिक्षाटनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhikṣāṭana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• तथा: also
• तथा: None (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/प्रकार (also/likewise)

• गुरोः: of the teacher
• गुरोः: Sambandha (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• निवेद्य: having offered (to him)
• निवेद्य: Kriyā (पूर्वकर्म/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + √vid (विद् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund): 'having offered/informed'

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'that' qualifying 'अन्नम्'

• च: and
• च: None (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (and)

• अन्नम्: food
• अन्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अनुज्ञातेन: with what is permitted
• अनुज्ञातेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anujñāta (अनु + √jñā धातु; क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; 'with/by (food) permitted/allowed' (i.e., after permission)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक (temporal adverb: always)

Speakers

• Not specified in the provided excerpt (instructional voice)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Agni (implied via fire-service)

Key Themes

• Brahmacarya
• Vedic discipline
• Ritual purity
• Guru obedience

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The student’s life is structured to cultivate restraint and reverence: learning (svādhyāya) is inseparable from purity, service, and humility before the guru.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra/Dharma instruction; it reflects Purāṇic preservation of Vedic pedagogy.

What is the esoteric significance?

Fire-service points to tending the ‘inner agni’ of attention; offering food to the guru symbolizes offering the fruits of action to higher guidance before personal enjoyment.