Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 35, Shloka 18

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

Sanskrit

भस्माम्बुभिश्च कांस्यानां शुद्धिः प्लावाद् द्रवस्य च ।

अमेध्याक्तस्य मृत्तोयैर्गन्धापहरणेन च ॥

Transliteration

bhasmāmbubhiś ca kāṃsyānāṃ śuddhiḥ plāvād dravasya ca /

amedhyāktasya mṛt-toyair gandhāpaharaṇena ca //

Translation

青铜器皿以灰与水而得清净；诸液体则以倾注澄清、或令其溢流（plāva）而净。凡为不净所涂抹者，以泥与水净之，并当除去其臭气。

Word by Word

• bhasma-ambubhiḥ: with ash and water
• bhasma-ambubhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasman (प्रातिपदिक) + ambu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

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

• kāṃsyānām: of bronze vessels
• kāṃsyānām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāṃsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śuddhiḥ: purification
• śuddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• plāvāt: from rinsing/float-washing
• plāvāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: plāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Singular (एकवचन)

• dravasya: of a liquid
• dravasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: drava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• amedhya-āktasya: of one smeared with impurity
• amedhya-āktasya: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amedhya (प्रातिपदिक) + ākta (कृदन्त; √añj ‘to smear’)
• Form: Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); gender context-dependent; ‘smeared with impurity’

• mṛt-toyaiḥ: with earth and water
• mṛt-toyaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛt (प्रातिपदिक) + toya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• gandha-apaharaṇena: by removing the smell
• gandha-apaharaṇena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक) + apaharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

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

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)
• Practical sanitation
• Odor as a marker of defilement

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Purity is verified by sensible signs (like odor) and achieved by effective processes (overflow/decanting), emphasizing outcomes over mere declaration.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra/dharma; not pancalakṣaṇa.

What is the esoteric significance?

Odor stands for lingering subtle impressions; removing smell parallels removing residual craving/aversion that remains even after gross cleansing.