Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 50, Shloka 83

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

Sanskrit

यत्र कष्टकिनो वृक्षा यत्र निष्पाववल्लरी ।

भार्या पुनर्भूर्वल्मीकस्तद्यक्षा ! तव मन्दिरम् ॥

Transliteration

yatra kaṣṭakino vṛkṣā yatra niṣpāva-vallarī | bhāryā punarbhūr valmīkas tad yakṣa! tava mandiram ||

Translation

凡有荆棘之树、尼什帕瓦（niṣpāva）藤蔓滋生、妻为再嫁之妇、并有蚁丘之处——噢，夜叉啊，那便是你的居所。

Word by Word

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (relative adverb: 'where')

• kaṣṭakinaḥ: thorny
• kaṣṭakinaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaṣṭakin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन; (वृक्षाः इति विशेषणम्)

• vṛkṣāḥ: trees
• vṛkṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचन

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय

• niṣpāva-vallarī: a bean-creeper
• niṣpāva-vallarī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niṣpāva + vallarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—निष्पावस्य वल्लरी (creeper of niṣpāva/bean)

• bhāryā: wife
• bhāryā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• punarbhūḥ: a remarried woman
• punarbhūḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: punarbhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; (पुनर्भू = remarried woman)

• valmīkaḥ: anthill
• valmīkaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: valmīka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; (मन्दिरम् इति विशेषणम्)

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

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; षष्ठी; एकवचन

• mandiram: dwelling, abode
• mandiram: Pradhāna (विधेय/प्रधाना)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mandira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

Speakers

• Didactic voice addressing a Yakṣa/inauspicious presence

Shakti Aspects

• Alakṣmī (implied by the ‘your dwelling’ address to the inauspicious being)

Key Themes

• Auspicious/inauspicious omens
• Household neglect
• Social norms (contextual to text)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Neglect and disorder are portrayed as invitations to misfortune. Some markers reflect ancient social norms (e.g., punarbhū) used as ‘nimitta’ (omens) in the text’s cultural setting rather than as universal ethical judgments.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Not pañcalakṣaṇa; it is nimitta-śāstra-like dharma instruction embedded in Purāṇic teaching.

What is the esoteric significance?

Thorns and anthills symbolize obstruction and stagnation—tamas accumulating in the domestic sphere—becoming a ‘seat’ for inauspicious forces.