Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 29, Shloka 18

Adhyaya 29 — Alarka’s Inquiry and Madalasa’s Teaching on Householder Dharma (Gārhasthya), Vaiśvadeva, and Atithi Hospitality

Sanskrit

प्राच्यां शक्राय याम्यायां यमाय बलिमाहरेत् ।

प्रतीच्यां वरुणायाथ सोमायोत्तरतो बलिम् ॥

Transliteration

prācyāṃ śakrāya yāmyāyāṃ yamāya balim āharet | pratīcyāṃ varuṇāyātha somāyottarato balim ||

Translation

于东方当置一份bali奉献释迦罗（Śakra，即因陀罗 Indra）；于南方奉献阎摩（Yama）。于西方奉献伐楼那（Varuṇa）；于北方则置一份bali奉献苏摩（Soma）。

Word by Word

• prācyām: in the east
• prācyām: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prācī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• śakrāya: to Śakra (Indra)
• śakrāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• yāmyāyām: in the south
• yāmyāyām: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yāmyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• yamāya: to Yama
• yamāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• balim: offering (bali)
• balim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• āharet: should offer / should bring
• āharet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/Optative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• pratīcyām: in the west
• pratīcyām: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratīcī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• varuṇāya: to Varuṇa
• varuṇāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• atha: then / and next
• atha: Krama (क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Sequential particle (अनन्तर/क्रमबोधक अव्यय)

• somāya: to Soma
• somāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: soma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• uttarataḥ: to the north
• uttarataḥ: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uttarataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Directional adverb (दिक्/देशबोधक अव्यय): ‘to the north / on the northern side’

• balim: offering (bali)
• balim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speakers

• Instructional dialogue (elder to disciple/‘son’)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Indra (Śakra)
• Yama
• Varuṇa
• Soma

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Directional deities (dikpāla-like mapping)
• Bali offerings
• Householder ritual order

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma is practiced as orderly recognition of powers governing the world—rain, law/death, waters, and nourishment—by giving each its due share.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Dharma-upadeśa (ritual conduct), not cosmology or genealogy proper.

What is the esoteric significance?

The directions become a mandala of governance: aligning offerings with dik and deity symbolizes aligning one’s life with cosmic regulation (ṛta/dharma).