Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 28, Shloka 15

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

Sanskrit

गार्हस्थ्याश्रमकामस्तु गृहस्थाश्रममावसेत् ।

वानप्रस्थाश्रमं वापि चतुर्थं चेच्छयात्मनः ॥

Transliteration

gārhasthyāśramakāmas tu gṛhasthāśramam āvaset /

vānaprasthāśramaṃ vāpi caturthaṃ cecchayātmanaḥ //

Translation

欲求居家阶段者，当住于居士（gṛhastha）之住期（āśrama）；若其自愿，亦可入林居者之阶段，乃至进入第四阶段——出离者（saṃnyāsin）之道。

Word by Word

• gārhasthya-āśrama-kāmaḥ: one who desires the householder-āśrama
• gārhasthya-āśrama-kāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gārhasthya (प्रातिपदिक) + āśrama (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (gārhasthyasya āśramaḥ) ततः तत्पुरुषः (āśrama-kāmaḥ = āśrame kāmaḥ)

• tu: indeed/and/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/particle (emphasis/contrast)

• gṛhastha-āśramam: the householder stage (āśrama)
• gṛhastha-āśramam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛhastha (प्रातिपदिक) + āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (gṛhasthasya āśramaḥ)

• āvaset: should dwell/should live
• āvaset: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vas (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• vānaprastha-āśramam: the forest-dweller stage (vānaprastha āśrama)
• vānaprastha-āśramam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vānaprastha (प्रातिपदिक) + āśrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (vānaprasthasya āśramaḥ)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक निपात (disjunctive particle)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (also/even)

• caturtham: the fourth (stage)
• caturtham: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक विशेषण (ordinal adjective)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• icchayā: by (his) wish
• icchayā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: icchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• ātmanaḥ: of oneself/of his own self
• ātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Speakers

• Dharma-instruction narrative voice (contextual teacher-speaker within Markandeya Purana’s didactic discourse)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Āśrama system
• Gṛhastha duties
• Renunciation

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse affirms āśrama-dharma as a structured yet choice-sensitive path: one may adopt household life if inclined, but the text also legitimizes earlier movement toward withdrawal (vānaprastha) or renunciation (caturtha) when the inner disposition calls for it.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Primarily falls under Vamśānucarita / Dharma-śikṣā (didactic instruction) rather than sarga/pratisarga/manvantara. It is normative dharma guidance embedded in Purāṇic narration.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘choice’ (icchā) indicates maturity of discernment (viveka): the outer āśrama is ideally aligned with inner readiness. The ‘fourth’ hints at transcendence of social identity toward the Self-oriented life.