Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 51, Shloka 10

Adhyaya 51 — Yaksha Injunctions: Graha-Children and Female Spirits Causing Domestic and Ritual Disruptions

Sanskrit

सुवार्च्चलौषधीस्नानात्तथा सच्छास्त्रकीर्तनात् ।

उष्ट्रकण्टकखड्गास्थि-क्षौमवस्त्रविधारणात् ॥

Transliteration

suvārccalauṣadhīsnānāt tathā sacchāstrakīrtanāt / uṣṭrakaṇṭakakhaḍgāsthi-kṣaumavastravidhāraṇāt

Translation

以苏瓦尔恰拉（Suvārccalā）等药草沐浴，以诵读善正之《沙斯特拉》（śāstra），并佩戴骆驼刺、剑骨与亚麻布等护身之物——（则其苦患得以平息）。

Word by Word

• su-vārcala-auṣadhī-snānāt: from bathing with the suvārcala herb
• su-vārcala-auṣadhī-snānāt: Apādāna (अपादान/Ablative source-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-vārcala (प्रातिपदिक) + auṣadhī (प्रातिपदिक) + snāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); compound sense: 'bath with the herb called suvārcala' (instrumental relation internal to compound)

• tathā: likewise; also
• tathā: Prakāra (प्रकार/Adverbial manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• sat-śāstra-kīrtanāt: from recitation/praise of good scriptures
• sat-śāstra-kīrtanāt: Apādāna (अपादान/Ablative source-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + śāstra (प्रातिपदिक) + kīrtana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); Tatpuruṣa: sat-śāstra = 'good/true scripture'; kīrtana of that

• uṣṭra-kaṇṭaka-khaḍga-asthi-kṣauma-vastra-vidhāraṇāt: from wearing/holding camel-thorn, sword-bone, and linen cloth
• uṣṭra-kaṇṭaka-khaḍga-asthi-kṣauma-vastra-vidhāraṇāt: Apādāna (अपादान/Ablative source-cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uṣṭra (प्रातिपदिक) + kaṇṭaka (प्रातिपदिक) + khaḍga (प्रातिपदिक) + asthi (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣauma (प्रातिपदिक) + vastra (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); multi-member Tatpuruṣa: 'from wearing/holding (vidhāraṇa) [items such as] camel-thorn, sword-bone, linen cloth' (enumerative internal members)

Speakers

• Teacher-narrator listing ancillary upāyas

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Ritual medicine
• Scriptural recitation as protection
• Protective attire/amulets

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Protection is multi-layered: bodily care (snāna), mental-spiritual alignment (śāstra-kīrtana), and tangible safeguards (dhāraṇa) together model a comprehensive dharmic response.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Applied dharma/ritual praxis; not part of the canonical five-topic Purāṇic backbone.

What is the esoteric significance?

Recitation (vāc) and wearing (dhāraṇa) represent ‘sound’ and ‘form’ protections—mantric order plus material boundary—both intended to stabilize the subtle environment around the child.