Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 35, Shloka 10

Adhyaya 35 — Madālasa’s Instruction on Purity, Impurity, and Corrective Rites (Śauca and Aśauca)

Sanskrit

सिद्धार्थकानां कल्केन तिलकल्केन वा पुनः ।

साम्बुना तात ! भवति उपघातवतां सदा ॥

Transliteration

siddhārthakānāṃ kalkena tilakalkena vā punaḥ /

sāmbunā tāta bhavati upaghātavatāṃ sadā //

Translation

亲爱的啊，对于白芥子等种子（siddhārthaka），以水并以糊状膏泥（kalkā）洗涤即可得净——或用其自身之糊，或用芝麻糊；凡受污染损害（upaghāta）之物，恒依此法为则。

Word by Word

• सिद्धार्थकानाम्: of mustard-seeds (siddhārthaka)
• सिद्धार्थकानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी / Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धार्थक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• कल्केन: with paste/pulp
• कल्केन: करण (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तिल-कल्केन: with sesame-paste
• तिल-कल्केन: करण (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक) + कल्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वा: or
• वा: समुच्चय/विकल्प (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: “or”)

• पुनः: again; further
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्ति-वाचक-अव्यय (adverb: again/further)

• स-अम्बुना: with water
• स-अम्बुना: करण (करणम् / Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (सह/स- = “with”), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तात: dear one; son
• तात: सम्बोधन (Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भवति: becomes; is
• भवति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• उपघातवताम्: of those having injury/defect; afflicted
• उपघातवताम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी / Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपघातवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सदा: always
• सदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: नित्यत्व-वाचक-अव्यय (adverb: always)

Speakers

• Instructional narrator within Dharma discourse (frame-speaker not explicit in provided excerpt)

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Śauca (purity)
• Householder duties
• Ritual hygiene

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Purity is treated as a practical, repeatable discipline: when an item is considered 'tainted,' cleansing is not merely symbolic but procedural—using appropriate agents (paste + water) matched to the material.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

This passage is primarily Dharma/Ācāra material rather than the pancalakṣaṇa core (sarga, pratisarga, vaṃśa, manvantara, vaṃśānucarita). It is best cataloged as ancillary instruction on conduct (ācāra) within the Purāṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

Paste (kalka) and water together signify 'abrasion + dissolution': impurities are removed by both frictional separation and fluid washing—an outward analogue for removing mental saṃskāras through disciplined practice.