Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 41, Shloka 15

Adhyaya 41 — Yogic Conduct and the Discipline Leading to Siddhi

Sanskrit

प्राणायामैः पृथक् कृत्वा शेषं भुञ्जीत कामतः ।

अपः पुनः सकृत् प्राश्य आचम्य हृदयं स्पृशेत् ॥

Transliteration

prāṇāyāmaiḥ pṛthak kṛtvā śeṣaṃ bhuñjīta kāmataḥ | apaḥ punaḥ sakṛt prāśya ācamya hṛdayaṃ spṛśet ||

Translation

既已分别完成以调息（prāṇāyāma）为供的诸献，他可随意食用其余。随后再啜水一次，行阿遮摩那（ācamana）净礼，并以手触其心。

Word by Word

• प्राणायामैः: by/with breath-restraints (prāṇāyāmas)
• प्राणायामैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणायाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; (masculine, instrumental plural); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्राणानाम् आयामः)

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: “separately/distinctly”)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), “having done/made”

• शेषम्: the remainder
• शेषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; (neuter, accusative singular)

• भुञ्जीत: should eat
• भुञ्जीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), आत्मनेपद, तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन; (3rd person singular): “should eat/enjoy”

• कामतः: as desired
• कामतः: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कामतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवत्/इच्छानुसार-अव्यय (adverb: “as desired/at will”)

• अपः: water
• अपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; (accusative plural)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Desha-Kala (देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: “again”)

• सकृत्: once
• सकृत्: Desha-Kala (देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: आवृत्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: “once”)

• प्राश्य: having sipped/partaken
• प्राश्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), “having eaten/drunk”

• आचम्य: having performed ācamana (ritual sipping)
• आचम्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), “having sipped (water) / having performed ācamana”

• हृदयम्: heart
• हृदयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (neuter, accusative singular)

• स्पृशेत्: should touch
• स्पृशेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन; (3rd person singular): “should touch”

Speakers

• Didactic narrator

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Yoga
• Ācamana
• Ritualized daily conduct
• Embodied mindfulness

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Discipline frames enjoyment: after honoring the life-forces, one eats without guilt or compulsion; the closing ācamana and heart-touch re-center awareness.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra (conduct) material—practical dharma supporting yogic realization.

What is the esoteric significance?

Touching the heart signals withdrawal from sensory outwardness back to the inner seat of consciousness (hṛdaya), sealing the act of eating into meditative continuity.