Markandeya Purana — Adhyaya 78, Shloka 26

Adhyaya 78 — Hymn to Surya and the Distribution of Solar Splendour; Genealogy of Vaivasvata and Chaya’s Line

Sanskrit

स्वरूपधारिणीं चैमामानिनाय निजाश्रयम् ।

संज्ञां भार्यां प्रीतिमतीं भास्करो वारितस्करः ॥

Transliteration

svarūpadhāriṇīñ caimām ānināya nijāśrayam / saṃjñāṃ bhāryāṃ prītimatīṃ bhāskaro vāritaskaraḥ

Translation

而婆斯迦罗（太阳神），制止盗贼者（即驱散黑暗者），将这位三阇尼耶（Saṃjñā）——如今具足自身真实形相——带回其本宫，立为挚爱的妻子。

Word by Word

• स्वरूपधारिणीम्: bearing (her) true form
• स्वरूपधारिणीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वरूप + धारिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘own-form-bearing’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; qualifies ‘इमाम्/संज्ञाम्’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• इमाम्: this (woman)
• इमाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• आनिनाय: brought
• आनिनाय: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-नी (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• निजाश्रयम्: to his own abode
• निजाश्रयम्: Gati/Deshya-karma (गति/देश्यकर्म; destination as object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘own abode/refuge’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• संज्ञाम्: Saṃjñā
• संज्ञाम्: Karma (कर्म; apposition to ‘इमाम्’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; proper name ‘Saṃjñā’

• भार्याम्: wife
• भार्याम्: Karma (कर्म; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; in apposition

• प्रीतिमतीम्: affectionate; full of love
• प्रीतिमतीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीतिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective to ‘संज्ञाम्/भार्याम्’

• भास्करः: Bhāskara (the Sun)
• भास्करः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भास्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• वारितस्करः: one who has repelled the thief
• वारितस्करः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वारित + स्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: ‘whose thief has been prevented/repelled’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; epithet of Bhāskara

Speakers

• Narratorial Purāṇic narration

Primary Deities

• Sūrya (Bhāskara)
• Saṃjñā

Key Themes

• Restoration of order
• Household (gṛhastha) stability
• Light as moral guardian

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The household is portrayed as a moral institution: reconciliation and rightful placement (return to ‘nija-āśraya’) restore social-cosmic order.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Vaṃśānucarita: it closes the separation motif and re-establishes the legitimate marital context for ensuing genealogical outcomes.

What is the esoteric significance?

‘Vārita-taskara’ hints at consciousness as light: when inner ‘sun’ rises, the ‘theft’ of ignorance and moral lapse is checked.