Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 43, Shloka 52
Adhyaya 43 — Portents of Death (Ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇas) and the Yogin’s Response; Alarka Renounces Kingship
Sanskrit
मृद्वाहिकाल्पदेहापि मुखाग्रेणाप्यणीयसाः ।
करोति मृद्भारचयमुपदेशः स योगिनः ॥
Transliteration
mṛdvāhikālpadehāpi mukhāgreṇāpy aṇīyasā | karoti mṛdbhāracayam upadeśaḥ sa yoginaḥ ||
Translation
即使是搬运泥土的蚂蚁，虽其身微小、口端更细，亦能堆成沉重的土丘。此乃对瑜伽行者的教诲。
Word by Word
mṛt-vāhikā-alpa-dehāthe ant (small-bodied earth-carrier)
mṛt-vāhikā-alpa-dehā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootmṛt (प्रातिपदिक) + vāhikā (प्रातिपदिक) + alpa (प्रातिपदिक) + deha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः — 'she whose body is small (alpa-deha) and who carries earth (mṛt-vāhikā)' (i.e., an ant)
apieven
api:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (also/even)
mukha-agreṇawith the tip of its mouth
mukha-agreṇa:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootmukha (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः — 'by the tip/front of the mouth'
apieven
api:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (also/even)
aṇīyasāby a very tiny (means)
aṇīyasā:
Karana (करण)
TypeAdjective
Rootaṇīyas (प्रातिपदिक; तद्धित-तर/ईयसुन्)
FormNeuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; अतिशय-तुलनार्थक (comparative) — 'by something very minute' (agreeing with mukha-agreṇa as instrument)
karotimakes, forms
karoti:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootkṛ (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), परस्मैपद, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular
mṛt-bhāra-cayama heap of earth-loads
mṛt-bhāra-cayam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootmṛt (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāra (प्रातिपदिक) + caya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः — 'a heap/accumulation of loads of earth'
upadeśaḥinstruction, teaching
upadeśaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootupadeśa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
saḥthat
saḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; सर्वनाम
yoginaḥof the yogin
yoginaḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootyogin (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular
Speakers
Didactic narrator
Verse Rasa
{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "adbhuta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }
Key Themes
Abhyāsa (repeated practice)Incremental progressSubtle powerPerseveranceYoga discipline
FAQs
Small, consistent effort yields great results. Yogic attainment is accumulated through repeated practice, not sudden force.
Didactic yoga material; not pancalakṣaṇa narrative.
The ‘minute mouth-tip’ hints at subtle means: attention (dhāraṇā) is tiny yet can move enormous inner burdens when applied steadily.