Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 34, Shloka 19

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

Sanskrit

असत्प्रलापमनृतं वाक्पारुष्यञ्च वर्जयेत् ।

असच्छास्त्रमसद्वादमसत्सेवाञ्च पुत्रक ॥

Transliteration

asatpralāpamanṛtaṃ vākpāruṣyañca varjayet |

asacchāstramasadvādamasatsevāñca putraka ||

Translation

孩子啊，当远离不善的闲谈、虚妄之言与粗厉之语；亦当远离伪教邪说、恶劣之宗旨，并勿与不义之人结交或事奉。

Word by Word

• asat-pralāpam: false talk; idle prattle
• asat-pralāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asat (प्रातिपदिक) + pralāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: 'bad/false prattle'

• anṛtam: untruth; lie
• anṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• vāk-pāruṣyam: harsh speech
• vāk-pāruṣyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक) + pāruṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: 'harshness of speech'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय) conjunction

• varjayet: should avoid
• varjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛj/varj (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (optative), Prathama puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• asat-śāstram: false doctrine/text
• asat-śāstram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asat (प्रातिपदिक) + śāstra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: 'bad/false treatise'

• asat-vādam: false talk/argument
• asat-vādam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asat (प्रातिपदिक) + vāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; 'bad/false argument/speech'

• asat-sevām: association with the wicked
• asat-sevām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asat (प्रातिपदिक) + sevā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; 'service/association with the wicked'

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

• putraka: O dear son
• putraka: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Sambodhana (8th/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana; vocative address

Speakers

• Unspecified in provided excerpt; didactic instruction voice

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Satya
• Ahimsa (through speech)
• Satsanga
• Ethics

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Dharma is protected first through speech: truthfulness, non-cruel communication, and discernment about teachings and company.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra-dharma guidance; not a core pancalakṣaṇa category.

What is the esoteric significance?

Speech (vāk) shapes inner reality; avoiding ‘asat’ in word, doctrine, and company is a purification of mind (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi).