Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 31, Shloka 34

Adhyaya 31 — Naimittika and Related Śrāddha Rites: Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa, Eligibility, Timing, and Procedure

Sanskrit

अप्राप्तौ तद्दिने चापि वर्ज्या योषित्प्रसङ्गिनः ।

भिक्षार्थमागतान् वापि काले संयमिनो यतीन् ॥

Transliteration

aprāptau taddine cāpi varjyā yoṣitprasaṅginaḥ | bhikṣārthamāgatān vāpi kāle saṃyamino yatīn ||

Translation

若被邀请的宾客未至，则即便在那一天，也应避开沉溺女色之人。但能自制的苦行者，按时前来乞食求施者，则可依礼接待。

Word by Word

• aprāptau: when (they are) not obtained/available
• aprāptau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-prāpti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन) — condition/time

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन) — qualifying dine

• dine: on the day
• dine: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) — ‘also/even’

• varjyāḥ: to be avoided
• varjyāḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: varjya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Gerundive (तव्यत्/यत्-भाव, here -ya), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन) — ‘to be avoided’

• yoṣit: of women
• yoṣit: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoṣit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन) — in compound relation

• prasaṅginaḥ: those who consort (with women)
• prasaṅginaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prasaṅgin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन) — ‘those attached/associated’

• bhikṣā-artham: for alms
• bhikṣā-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhikṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) — accusative used adverbially ‘for the sake of alms’

• āgatān: who have come
• āgatān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-gam (गम् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन) — qualifying yatīn

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक निपात)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) — ‘also/even’

• kāle: at the time
• kāle: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन) — ‘at the proper time’

• saṃyaminaḥ: self-controlled
• saṃyaminaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃyamin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन) — qualifying yatīn

• yatīn: ascetics
• yatīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speakers

• Didactic narrator within the Purāṇic discourse (Śrāddha injunctions; frame-speaker not explicit in the given excerpt)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Pitṛ Pūjā
• Guest ethics
• Ascetics
• Ritual contingency rules

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Even under logistical difficulty, the rite prioritizes character over convenience. At the same time, it honors genuine renunciants who arrive in a fitting manner, integrating śrāddha with broader atithi-dharma.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra/dharma guidance, specifically śrāddha and guest-handling norms.

What is the esoteric significance?

The ‘unexpected yati’ represents dharma’s living presence: a rite for ancestors must remain open to the immediate embodiment of restraint and sanctity.