Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 51, Shloka 71

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

Sanskrit

नरस् तं वर्जयेद् गेहं कपोताक्रान्तमस्तकम् ।

श्येनः कपोतो गृध्रश्च काकोलूकौ गृहे द्विज ॥

Transliteration

naras taṃ varjayed gehaṃ kapotākrānta-mastakam | śyenaḥ kapoto gṛdhraś ca kāka-olūkau gṛhe dvija ||

Translation

人应当避开那样的房舍：其家主（居者）被鸽子压临、停落于头上。又如鹰隼、鸽子、秃鹫、乌鸦与猫头鹰出现在屋内，亦为不祥之兆，婆罗门啊。

Word by Word

• नरः: a man
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• तम्: that
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; ‘गेहम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण-रूपेण (that house)

• वर्जयेत्: should avoid
• वर्जयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृज्/√वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• गेहम्: house
• गेहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• कपोताक्रान्तमस्तकम्: whose roof/top is overrun by pigeons
• कपोताक्रान्तमस्तकम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कपोत + आक्रान्त (√क्रम् धातु + क्त) + मस्तक (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमास: कपोतेन आक्रान्तं मस्तकं यस्य तत्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘गेहम्’ इति विशेष्यं विशेषयति

• श्येनः: hawk
• श्येनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्येन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कपोतः: pigeon
• कपोतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपोत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गृध्रः: vulture
• गृध्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृध्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• काकोलूकौ: crow and owl
• काकोलूकौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक + उलूक (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास: काकः च उलूकः च; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (dual)

• गृहे: in the house
• गृहे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन

• द्विज: O twice-born
• द्विज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

Speakers

• Narrative voice addressing a brāhmaṇa interlocutor

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Auspiciousness rules
• Household avoidance/contagion of impurity
• Omen catalog

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The purāṇic ethic treats environments as morally resonant: a home showing strong signs of decay/calamity is to be avoided to prevent participation in, or spread of, disorder—while implying the need for that household to undertake remedial measures.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Practical dharma guidance (ācāra) rather than pancalakṣaṇa narrative categories; it complements lineage/cosmic material by translating worldview into daily decision rules.

What is the esoteric significance?

Avoidance indicates boundary-setting: one should not let death/time/disease/ruin-symbols ‘perch’ upon one’s own consciousness through association and imitation.