Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 50, Shloka 80

Adhyaya 50 — Mind-Born Progeny, Svayambhuva Manu’s Lineage, and Brahmā’s Ordinance to Duḥsaha (Alakṣmī’s Retinue)

Sanskrit

सदानुलिप्तं सन्ध्यासु गृहमम्बुसमुक्षितम् ।

कृतपुष्पबलिं यक्ष ! न त्वं शक्नोषि वीक्षितुम् ॥

Transliteration

sadānuliptaṃ sandhyāsu gṛham ambu-samukṣitam | kṛta-puṣpa-baliṃ yakṣa! na tvaṃ śaknoṣi vīkṣitum ||

Translation

那座房屋常常新抹净洁，于暮时礼（sandhyā）洒水净化，并供献花与bali祭品——噢，夜叉啊，你甚至无法直视它。

Word by Word

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (adverb: 'always')

• anuliptam: smeared/anointed
• anuliptam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anu-lipta (कृदन्त; √lip (लिप्) धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; (गृहम् इति विशेषणम्)

• sandhyāsu: at the twilight times
• sandhyāsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sandhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative); बहुवचन

• gṛham: house
• gṛham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन

• ambu-samukṣitam: well-sprinkled with water
• ambu-samukṣitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ambu + sam-ukṣita (कृदन्त; √ukṣ (उक्ष्) धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषभावः—अम्बुना सम्यक् उक्षितम् (sprinkled with water); (गृहम् इति विशेषणम्)

• kṛta-puṣpa-balim: (a house) where a flower-offering has been made
• kṛta-puṣpa-balim: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ) + puṣpa + bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः—कृतः पुष्पबलिः यस्मिन् (having the flower-offering made); (गृहम् इति विशेषणम्)

• yakṣa: O Yakṣa
• yakṣa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन (Vocative); एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेधार्थक-निपात (negation particle)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• śaknoṣi: are able
• śaknoṣi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śak (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); परस्मैपद; मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person); एकवचन

• vīkṣitum: to look at, to behold
• vīkṣitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); अव्ययभाव (indeclinable infinitive)

Speakers

• Didactic voice addressing a Yakṣa; the Yakṣa functions as a marker for an inauspicious being repelled by purity

Primary Deities

• Devas (via sandhyā worship context)

Shakti Aspects

• Lakṣmī/Alakṣmī polarity implied (purity attracts Lakṣmī; repels inauspicious forces)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Śauca (purity)
• Sandhyā-vandana
• Domestic ritual
• Auspicious omens

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Regular discipline—cleanliness, daily twilight observances, and offerings—creates a protected moral-spiritual atmosphere. The text presents ritual order as a practical technology for sustaining auspiciousness.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Ancillary dharma material (not sarga/pratisarga etc.). Such household codes are common Purāṇic supplements to the main cosmological-genealogical narrative.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Sprinkling’ and ‘plastering’ signify continual renewal of the inner field (citta-śauca). Sandhyā marks liminal times; guarding liminality through practice prevents entry of disorder (yakṣa/inauspiciousness).