Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 34, Shloka 108

Adhyaya 34 — Madālāsā’s Instruction on Sadācāra (Householder Conduct, Purity, and Daily Rites)

Sanskrit

ब्राह्मेणाचमनं शस्तं पित्र्यं पैत्र्येण सर्वदा ।

देवतीर्थेन देवानां प्राजापत्यं निजेन च ॥

Transliteration

brāhmeṇācamanaṃ śastaṃ pitryaṃ paitryeṇa sarvadā / devatīrthena devānāṃ prājāpatyaṃ nijena ca

Translation

行净口饮水之礼（ācamana）当以梵天圣渡（Brāhma-tīrtha）为正；奉献于祖灵诸父（Pitṛs）之仪，恒当用祖父圣渡（Paitrya-tīrtha）。供奉诸天则用天神圣渡（Deva-tīrtha）；而奉于生主（Prajāpati）则用生主圣渡（Prājāpatya-tīrtha）——各依其本法而行。

Word by Word

• brāhmeṇa: by the brāhma (means)
• brāhmeṇa: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brāhma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka? actually Masculine/Neuter stem; here Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective used substantively: 'by/with the brāhma (rite/means)'

• ācamanaṃ: sipping (ritual rinsing)
• ācamanaṃ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ācamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śastam: is prescribed/commended
• śastam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śasta (प्रातिपदिक; क्त participle used adjectivally)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; past passive participle (क्त) from √śās (शास्) 'to enjoin/praise' meaning 'commended/prescribed' qualifying ācamanaṃ

• pitryam: ancestral (pitṛ-related)
• pitryam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pitrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; adjective 'pertaining to Pitṛs' (ancestors) qualifying ācamanaṃ (understood)

• paitryeṇa: by the ancestral (method)
• paitryeṇa: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paitrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental Singular; 'by the paitrya (ancestral) [means/rite]'

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of time

• devatīrthena: by the gods’ tīrtha
• devatīrthena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva-tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental Singular; तत्पुरुष: deva + tīrtha ('tīrtha for the gods')

• devānām: of the gods
• devānām: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध/Possessive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• prājāpatyam: prajāpatya (of Prajāpati)
• prājāpatyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prājāpatya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative Singular; 'pertaining to Prajāpati' qualifying ācamanaṃ (understood)

• nijena: by one’s own
• nijena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental Singular; 'by one’s own (tīrtha/means)' (elliptic)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

Speakers

• Didactic narrator within Markandeya Purana’s dharma-teaching context (frame not explicit in these verses)

Verse Rasa

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

Primary Deities

• Pitṛs
• Devas
• Prajāpati

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Ritual purity
• Pitṛ-kriyā
• Ācāra

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma is not only intention but also correctness of method: different recipients (Devas, Pitṛs, Prajāpati) require distinct ritual protocols, reflecting order (ṛta) and discernment in conduct.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra-dharma material is ancillary to Pancalakṣaṇa; it aligns most closely with ‘vaṃśānucarita’/normative tradition and the Purāṇic function of prescribing right conduct, rather than sarga/pratisarga/manvantara.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Tīrtha’ here symbolizes calibrated channels of offering: the same act (water-sipping/offering) becomes spiritually ‘addressed’ through correct orientation—disciplining body and intention to match the cosmic recipient.