Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 34, Shloka 64

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

Sanskrit

कुर्वोत सम्यगाचम्य तद्वदन्नभुजिक्रियाम् ।

अफेनाभिरगन्धाभिरद्भिरच्छाभिरादरात् ॥

Transliteration

kurvota samyag ācāmya tadvad annabhujikriyām | aphenābhir agandhābhir adbhir acchābhir ādarāt ||

Translation

既已如法行阿遮摩那（ācamana），亦当如仪进食；当用清澈之水，无泡沫、无秽臭，并以谨慎之心而行。

Word by Word

• kurvota: do (perform)
• kurvota: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्), Madhyama-puruṣa (मध्यमपुरुष), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन); parasmaipada; imperative ‘do (you all)’

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (रीतिवाचक)

• ācamya: having performed ācamana (sipping)
• ācamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-cam (आ + चम धातु)
• Form: Kṛdanta: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ‘having sipped (water)’

• tadvat: in the same manner
• tadvat: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadvat (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; manner adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• anna-bhuji-kriyām: the act/rite of eating food
• anna-bhuji-kriyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक) + bhuji (प्रातिपदिक) + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘eating of food’ + ‘act/rite’

• a-phenābhiḥ: with foamless (waters)
• a-phenābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + phena (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3 विभक्ति), Plural (बहुवचन); negative adjective ‘foamless’ qualifying adbhiḥ

• a-gandhābhiḥ: with odorless (waters)
• a-gandhābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3 विभक्ति), Plural (बहुवचन); negative adjective ‘odorless’ qualifying adbhiḥ

• adbhiḥ: with waters
• adbhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ap (आप्/अप् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3 विभक्ति), Plural (बहुवचन)

• acchābhiḥ: with clear (waters)
• acchābhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: accha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3 विभक्ति), Plural (बहुवचन); adjective ‘clear/pure’ qualifying adbhiḥ

• ādarāt: with reverence / respectfully
• ādarāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pumliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5 विभक्ति), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial ablative ‘out of respect’

Speakers

• Unspecified in input (instructional voice)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Śauca
• Ācamana
• Ritual hygiene
• Bhojana-vidhi

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Purity is practical and ritual: clean water and correct preparatory rites sanctify ordinary acts, making daily life continuous discipline rather than occasional ceremony.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ancillary dharma instruction; not pañcalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

Ācamana symbolizes internal cleansing through ‘mantric water’; insisting on clear, odorless water reflects the ideal of transparent mind and prāṇa before nourishment.