Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 51, Shloka 97

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

Sanskrit

सर्वहार्यर्धहारी च वीर्यहारी तथैव च । अनाचान्तगृहेष्वेते मन्दाचारगृहेषु च ॥

Transliteration

sarva-hārī ardha-hārī ca vīrya-hārī tathaiva ca | anācānta-gṛheṣv ete mandācāra-gṛheṣu ca ||

Translation

亦有“尽盗者”“半盗者”与“盗夺精力者”等类。他们出没于人不自净之宅，亦游行于行止放逸之家。

Word by Word

• सर्व-हारी: the one who takes away everything
• सर्व-हारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + हारी (प्रातिपदिक; from हृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सर्वं हरति इति)

• अर्ध-हारी: the one who takes away half
• अर्ध-हारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + हारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अर्धं हरति इति)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• वीर्य-हारी: the one who steals vigor/strength
• वीर्य-हारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + हारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वितीया-तत्पुरुषः (वीर्यं हरति इति)

• तथा: thus/so
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb ‘thus/so’)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle ‘indeed/just’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

• अनाचान्त-गृहेषु: in unclean houses
• अनाचान्त-गृहेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनाचान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अनाचान्तानां गृहेषु = in houses of the unpurified/uncleansed)

• एते: these (ones)
• एते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• मन्दाचार-गृहेषु: in houses of bad conduct
• मन्दाचार-गृहेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दाचार (प्रातिपदिक) + गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मन्दाचाराणां गृहेषु = in houses of those of bad conduct)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक

Speakers

• Not specified in input

Verse Rasa

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

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Purity and cleanliness
• Householder discipline (ācāra)
• Karmic vulnerability

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Neglect of cleanliness and disciplined conduct is portrayed as inviting loss—material (total/partial) and subtle (vigor). The practical lesson is that śauca (cleanliness) and ācāra (right conduct) protect household prosperity.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Falls under dharma-ācāra teaching, not the five defining Purāṇic marks; it supports the Purana’s role as a guide for lived dharma.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Stealers’ can be read as inner leakages of prāṇa and tejas caused by disorder and tamas. When daily disciplines collapse, vitality is ‘stolen’ by scattered attention, indulgence, and impurity.