Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 51, Shloka 9

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

Sanskrit

तस्योपशमनं कार्यं सुप्तस्य सितसर्षपैः ।

शयनस्योपरि क्षिप्तैर्मानुषैर्दशनोपरि ॥

Transliteration

tasyopaśamanaṃ kāryaṃ suptasya sitasarṣapaiḥ / śayanasyopari kṣiptair mānuṣair daśanopari

Translation

应为熟睡之童行其息灾之法：以白芥子，由人撒掷于床榻之上，并撒于/覆于牙齿之上。

Word by Word

• tasya: of that; of it
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• upaśamanam: pacification; remedy
• upaśamanam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; with kāryam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upa-śamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kāryam: to be done; should be performed
• kāryam: Vidhi (विधि/obligation predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārya (कृदन्त; √kṛ धातु)
• Form: Gerundive/obligative (तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययार्थ), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective: 'is to be done'

• suptasya: of the sleeping (person)
• suptasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: supta (कृदन्त; √svap धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त/PPP), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); (gender per qualified noun, here likely masculine/neuter)

• sita-sarṣapaiḥ: with white mustard seeds
• sita-sarṣapaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sita (प्रातिपदिक) + sarṣapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); Karmadhāraya: sitāḥ sarṣapāḥ

• śayanasya: of the bed; of the sleeping-place
• śayanasya: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative sense via upa-ri)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• upari: upon; on top of
• upari: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण/locative adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: upari (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/Preposition-like indeclinable (उपसर्गसदृश अव्यय): 'on/above'

• kṣiptaiḥ: thrown; cast
• kṣiptaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument; 'by means of being thrown')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣipta (कृदन्त; √kṣip धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त/PPP), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); agreeing with mānuṣaiḥ

• mānuṣaiḥ: by humans; by people
• mānuṣaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument/agent-instrument in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānuṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• daśana-upari: upon the teeth
• daśana-upari: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण/locative adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: daśana (प्रातिपदिक) + upari (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyayībhāva (अव्ययीभाव) with upari; adverbial phrase meaning 'upon the teeth'

Speakers

• Teacher-narrator prescribing śānti

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Śānti ritual
• Apotropaic substances (sarṣapa)

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The tradition integrates material means (herbs/seeds) with intention and procedure, reflecting a holistic ethic of care.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Ritual-therapeutic dharma content; not a pañcalakṣaṇa segment.

What is the esoteric significance?

Sarṣapa is widely used in Indian apotropaic rites; scattering signifies dispersal of negativity and ‘cutting’ of unseen bonds affecting the child.