Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 53, Shloka 36

Adhyaya 53 — Rudrasarga and the Measure of the Manvantaras: Svayambhuva Manu, Priyavrata’s Line, and the Seven Dvipas

Sanskrit

यानि किपुरुषाद्यानि वर्जयित्वा हिमाह्वयम् ।

तेषां स्वबावतः सिद्धिः सुखप्राया ह्यत्नतः ॥

Transliteration

yāni kipuruṣādyāni varjayitvā himāhvayam /

teṣāṃ svabāvataḥ siddhiḥ sukhaprāyā hy atnataḥ

Translation

除去自金普鲁沙等起始之诸域，以及名为希摩之域，在其余诸域中，成就自然而生；生命多为安乐，诸事不劳而得。

Word by Word

• यानि: which (things/regions)
• यानि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun: which)

• किपुरुषाद्यानि: beginning with Kimpuruṣa (etc.)
• किपुरुषाद्यानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किंपुरुष + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘किंपुरुष-आदि’ इति तत्पुरुष (किंपुरुषादीनि)

• वर्जयित्वा: having excluded/excepting
• वर्जयित्वा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वर्ज् (धातु) + क्त्वा (अव्यय-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): having excluded/excepting

• हिमाह्वयम्: (the region) called Hima
• हिमाह्वयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिम + आह्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म; ‘हिम-आह्वय’ (हिम इति आह्वयः यस्य) नाम

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• स्वभावतः: by nature/naturally
• स्वभावतः: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (ablatival adverb): from/according to one’s nature

• सिद्धिः: attainment/perfection
• सिद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सुखप्राया: mostly easy/pleasant
• सुखप्राया: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख + प्राय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘सुख-प्राय’ = सुखेन प्रायः (mostly easy/pleasant)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• अत्नतः: with effort/by exertion
• अत्नतः: Adhikarana/Hetu (अधिकरण/हेतु as adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (ablatival adverb): from effort/with effort; ‘by exertion’

Speakers

• Narrative voice (frame-speaker not explicit in the excerpt)

Key Themes

• Cosmology
• Karma-bhūmi vs. bhoga-bhūmi motif
• Regional conditions of existence

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The text contrasts realms where life is ‘effortless’ with those where striving and discipline are necessary—implying that human life’s value lies in purposeful effort rather than mere comfort.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

‘Sthāna’ (description of regions and their qualities), contributing to Purāṇic cosmography.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Effortless siddhi’ can symbolize instinctive harmony (low inner friction), whereas excluded regions hint at domains where tapas (austerity/effort) is required for transformation.