Markandeya Purana — Chapter 29
MkP 29.1
यत् कार्यं पुरुषाणाञ्च गार्हस्थ्यमनुवर्तताम् । बन्धश्च स्यादकरणे क्रियाया यस्य चोच्छ्रितिः
yat kāryaṃ puruṣāṇāñca gārhasthyamanuvartatām / bandhaśca syādakaraṇe kriyāyā yasya cocchritiḥ
What is to be done by men who follow the householder's life, and what bondage there would be in not doing it, and whose action brings elevation,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 29.2
उपकाराय यन्नृणां यच्च वर्ज्यं गृहे सता । यथा च क्रियते तन्मे यथावत् पृच्छतो वद
upakārāya yannṛṇāṃ yacca varjyaṃ gṛhe satā / yathā ca kriyate tanme yathāvat pṛcchato vada
and what serves for the benefit of men, and what is to be avoided by one dwelling in a house, and how it is to be done—tell that to me duly, as I ask.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.3
वत्स ! गार्हस्थ्यमादाय नरः सर्वमिदं जगत् । पुष्णाति तेन लोकांश्च स जयत्यभिवाञ्छितान्
vatsa ! gārhasthyamādāya naraḥ sarvamidaṃ jagat / puṣṇāti tena lokāṃśca sa jayatyabhivāñchitān
Child! Taking up the householder's life, a man nourishes this whole world, and by that he wins the worlds he desires.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.4
पितरो मुनयो देवा भूतानि मनुजास्तथा । कृमिकीटपतङ्गाश्च वयांसि पशवो ऽसुराः
pitaro munayo devā bhūtāni manujāstathā / kṛmikīṭapataṅgāśca vayāṃsi paśavo 'surāḥ
The ancestors, the sages, the gods, the (elemental) beings and likewise men, worms, insects and moths, birds, cattle, the asuras—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.5
गृहस्थमुपजीवन्ति ततस्तृप्तिं प्रयान्ति च । मुखं चास्य निरीक्षन्ते अपि नो दास्यतीति वै
gṛhasthamupajīvanti tatastṛptiṃ prayānti ca / mukhaṃ cāsya nirīkṣante api no dāsyatīti vai
they live upon the householder and thereby attain satisfaction, and they gaze at his face, thinking, "Will he give to us too?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.6
सर्वस्याधारभूतेयं वत्स ! धेनुस्त्रयीमयी । यस्यां प्रतिष्ठितं विश्वं विश्वहेतुश्च या मता
sarvasyādhārabhūteyaṃ vatsa ! dhenustrayīmayī / yasyāṃ pratiṣṭhitaṃ viśvaṃ viśvahetuśca yā matā
Child, this cow, made of the threefold Veda, has become the support of all; in her the universe rests, and she is held to be the cause of the universe.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.7
ऋक्पृष्ठासौ यजुर्मध्या सामवक्त्रशिरोधरा । इष्टापूर्तविषाणा च साधुसूक्ततनूरुहा
ṛkpṛṣṭhāsau yajurmadhyā sāmavaktraśirodharā / iṣṭāpūrtaviṣāṇā ca sādhusūktatanūruhā
Her back is the Ṛg, her middle the Yajus, the Sāman is her mouth, head and neck; sacrifices and works of merit are her horns, and the good hymns her body-hairs.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.8
शान्तिपुष्टिशकृन्मूत्रा वर्णपादप्रतिष्ठिता । आजीव्यमाना जगतां साक्षया नापचीयते
śāntipuṣṭiśakṛnmūtrā varṇapādapratiṣṭhitā / ājīvyamānā jagatāṃ sākṣayā nāpacīyate
Peace and prosperity are her dung and urine; she stands upon the classes as her feet; though lived upon by the worlds, she is inexhaustible and is not diminished.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.9
स्वाहाकारस्वधाकारौ वषट्कारश्च पुत्रक ! । हन्तकारस्तथा चान्यस्तस्याःस्तनचतुष्टयम्
svāhākārasvadhākārau vaṣaṭkāraśca putraka ! / hantakārastathā cānyastasyāḥstanacatuṣṭayam
The utterance "svāhā," the utterance "svadhā," the utterance "vaṣaṭ," little son, and the other, the utterance "hanta"—these are her four udders.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.10
स्वाहाकारं स्तनं देवाः पितरश्च स्वधामयम् । मुनयश्च वषट्कारं देवभूतसुरेतराः
svāhākāraṃ stanaṃ devāḥ pitaraśca svadhāmayam / munayaśca vaṣaṭkāraṃ devabhūtasuretarāḥ
The gods (drink) the udder that is "svāhā," and the ancestors the one consisting of "svadhā," and the sages the "vaṣaṭ" one—(these being) gods, beings, and those other than the suras—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 29.11
हन्तकारं मनुष्याश्च पिबन्ति सततं स्तनम् । एवमाप्याययत्येषा वत्स ! धेनुस्त्रयीमयी
hantakāraṃ manuṣyāśca pibanti satataṃ stanam / evamāpyāyayatyeṣā vatsa ! dhenustrayīmayī
And men constantly drink at the breast that is the utterance 'hanta'. Thus, my child, this cow made of the three Vedas nourishes (them all).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.12
तेषामुच्छेदकर्ता च यो नरो ऽत्यन्तपापकृत् । स तमस्यान्धतामिस्त्रे तामिस्त्रे च निमज्जति
teṣāmucchedakartā ca yo naro 'tyantapāpakṛt / sa tamasyāndhatāmistre tāmistre ca nimajjati
And the man who is a doer of exceeding evil, who cuts these off, sinks into the darkness of Andhatāmisra and Tāmisra.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.13
यश्चेमां मानवो धेनुं स्वैर्वत्सैरमरादिभिः । पाययत्युचिते काले स स्वर्गायोपपद्यते
yaścemāṃ mānavo dhenuṃ svairvatsairamarādibhiḥ / pāyayatyucite kāle sa svargāyopapadyate
And the man who, at the proper time, gives this cow to be suckled by her own calves, the gods and the rest, attains to heaven.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.14
तस्मात् पुत्र ! मनुष्येण देवर्षिपितृमानवाः । भूतानि चानुदिवसं पोष्याणि स्वतनुर्यथा
tasmāt putra ! manuṣyeṇa devarṣipitṛmānavāḥ / bhūtāni cānudivasaṃ poṣyāṇi svatanuryathā
Therefore, son, a man must day by day nourish the gods, sages, fathers, men and (other) beings as (he nourishes) his own body.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.15
तस्मात् स्त्रातः शुचिर्भूत्वा देवर्षिपितृतर्पणम् । प्रजापतेस्तथैवादिभः काले कुर्यात् समाहितः
tasmāt strātaḥ śucirbhūtvā devarṣipitṛtarpaṇam / prajāpatestathaivādibhaḥ kāle kuryāt samāhitaḥ
Therefore, having bathed and become pure, he should at the (proper) time, with collected mind, perform the satisfying (with water) of the gods, the sages and the fathers, and likewise of Prajāpati and the others.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.16
सुमनोगन्धपुष्पैश्च देवानभ्यर्च्य मानवः । ततो ऽग्नेस्तर्पणं कुर्याद्देयाश्च बलयस्तथा
sumanogandhapuṣpaiśca devānabhyarcya mānavaḥ / tato 'gnestarpaṇaṃ kuryāddeyāśca balayastathā
And a man, having worshipped the gods with flowers, perfumes and blossoms, should then perform the satisfying of the fire, and likewise offerings of food should be given.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.17
ब्रह्मणे गृहमध्ये तु विश्वेदेवेभ्य एव च । धन्वन्तरिं समुद्दिश्य प्रागुदीच्यां बलिं क्षिपेत्
brahmaṇe gṛhamadhye tu viśvedevebhya eva ca / dhanvantariṃ samuddiśya prāgudīcyāṃ baliṃ kṣipet
But in the middle of the house (he should cast an offering) to Brahmā and also to the All-gods; designating Dhanvantari, he should cast an offering toward the north-east.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.18
प्राच्यां शक्राय याम्यायां यमाय बलिमाहरेत् । प्रतीच्यां वरुणायाथ सोमायोत्तरतो बलिम्
prācyāṃ śakrāya yāmyāyāṃ yamāya balimāharet / pratīcyāṃ varuṇāyātha somāyottarato balim
In the east he should present the offering to Śakra, in the south to Yama, in the west to Varuṇa, and to the north an offering to Soma.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.19
दद्याद्धात्रे विधात्रे बलिं द्वारे गृहस्य तु । अर्यम्णे ऽथ बहिर्दद्याद् गृहेभ्यश्च समन्ततः
dadyāddhātre vidhātre baliṃ dvāre gṛhasya tu / aryamṇe 'tha bahirdadyād gṛhebhyaśca samantataḥ
He should give an offering to Dhātṛ and Vidhātṛ at the door of the house; then to Aryaman he should give (it) outside, and all around to the houses.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.20
नक्तञ्चरेभ्यो भूतेभ्यो बलिमाकाशतो हरेत् । पितॄणां निर्वपेच्चैव दक्षिणाभिमुखस्थितः
naktañcarebhyo bhūtebhyo balimākāśato haret / pitṝṇāṃ nirvapeccaiva dakṣiṇābhimukhasthitaḥ
He should offer the food-offering into the open air for the beings that roam by night, and he should also make the offering for the fathers, standing facing the south.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.21
गृहस्थस्तत्परो भूत्वा सुसमाहितमानसः । ततस्तोयमुपादाय तेष्वेवाचमनाय वै
gṛhasthastatparo bhūtvā susamāhitamānasaḥ / tatastoyamupādāya teṣvevācamanāya vai
The householder, being intent on that, with mind well collected, should then take water, and (offer it) among those very (offerings) for the rinsing of the mouth—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.22
स्थानेषु निक्षिपेत् प्राज्ञस्तास्ता उद्दिश्य देवताः । एवं गृहबलिं कृत्वा गृहे हृहपतिः शुचिः
sthāneṣu nikṣipet prājñastāstā uddiśya devatāḥ / evaṃ gṛhabaliṃ kṛtvā gṛhe hṛhapatiḥ śuciḥ
—the wise man should set (it) down in the (proper) places, designating each of those deities. Having thus made the house-offering, the master of the house, pure, in the house,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.23
आप्यायनाय भूतानां कुर्यादुत्सर्गमादरात् । श्वभ्यश्च श्वपचेभ्यश्च वयोभ्यश्चावपेद् भुवि
āpyāyanāya bhūtānāṃ kuryādutsargamādarāt / śvabhyaśca śvapacebhyaśca vayobhyaścāvaped bhuvi
should reverently make a scattering for the nourishing of beings; and he should strew (food) on the ground for dogs, for outcaste dog-cookers, and for birds.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.25
वैश्वदेवं हि नामैतत् सायं प्रातरुदाहृतम् । आचम्य च ततः कुर्यात् प्राज्ञो द्वारावलोकनम् ॥ मर्क्प्_२९।२४ ॥ मुहूर्तस्याष्टमं भागमुदीक्ष्यो ऽप्यतिथिर्भवेत् । अतिथिं तत्र सम्प्राप्तमन्नाद्येनोदकेन च
vaiśvadevaṃ hi nāmaitat sāyaṃ prātarudāhṛtam / ācamya ca tataḥ kuryāt prājño dvārāvalokanam // markp_29.24 // muhūrtasyāṣṭamaṃ bhāgamudīkṣyo 'pyatithirbhavet / atithiṃ tatra samprāptamannādyenodakena ca
This indeed is called the Vaiśvadeva (rite), enjoined for evening and morning. Then, having rinsed his mouth, the wise man should look out at the door. (29.24) He should watch for an eighth part of a muhūrta, in case a guest should appear; a guest who has arrived there (should be honoured) with food and with water,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.26
सम्पूजयेद्यथाशक्ति गन्धपुष्पादिभिस्तथा । न मित्रमतिथिं कुर्यान्नैकग्रामनिवासिनम्
sampūjayedyathāśakti gandhapuṣpādibhistathā / na mitramatithiṃ kuryānnaikagrāmanivāsinam
and he should honour (him) according to his ability with perfumes, flowers and the rest. He should not treat a friend as a guest, nor one dwelling in the same village.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.27
अज्ञातकुलनामानं तत्कालसमुपस्थितम् । बुभुक्षुमागतं श्रान्तं याचमानमकिञ्चनम्
ajñātakulanāmānaṃ tatkālasamupasthitam / bubhukṣumāgataṃ śrāntaṃ yācamānamakiñcanam
(One) whose family and name are unknown, who has arrived at that hour, come hungry and weary, asking, possessing nothing—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.28
ब्राह्मणं प्राहुरतिथिं स पूज्यः शक्तितो बुधैः । न पृच्छेद् गोत्रचरणं स्वाध्यायञ्चापि पण्डितः
brāhmaṇaṃ prāhuratithiṃ sa pūjyaḥ śaktito budhaiḥ / na pṛcched gotracaraṇaṃ svādhyāyañcāpi paṇḍitaḥ
—such a brāhmaṇa they call a guest; he is to be honoured by the wise according to their ability. The learned man should not ask his lineage, his observance, or his Vedic study.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.29
शोभनाशोभनाकारं तं मन्येत प्रजापतिम् । अनित्यं हि स्थितो यस्मात् तस्मादतिथिरुच्यते
śobhanāśobhanākāraṃ taṃ manyeta prajāpatim / anityaṃ hi sthito yasmāt tasmādatithirucyate
Whether his appearance be comely or uncomely, one should regard him as Prajāpati. Since he does not stay permanently, he is therefore called 'atithi' (guest).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.30
तस्मिंस्तृप्ते नृयज्ञोत्थादृणान्मुच्येद् गृहाश्रमी । तस्माद् अदत्त्वा यो भुङ्क्ते स्वयं किल्विषभुङ्नरः
tasmiṃstṛpte nṛyajñotthādṛṇānmucyed gṛhāśramī / tasmād adattvā yo bhuṅkte svayaṃ kilviṣabhuṅnaraḥ
When he is satisfied, the householder is freed from the debt arising from the sacrifice to men. Therefore the man who eats himself without having given is an eater of sin.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.31
स पापं केवलं भुङ्क्ते पुरीषञ्चान्यजन्मनि । अतिथिर्यस्य भग्नाशो गृहात् प्रतिनिवर्तते
sa pāpaṃ kevalaṃ bhuṅkte purīṣañcānyajanmani / atithiryasya bhagnāśo gṛhāt pratinivartate
He eats only sin, and in another birth, filth. The guest whose hope is broken and who turns back from the house—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.32
स दत्त्वा दुष्कृतं तस्मै पुण्यमादाय गच्छति । अप्यम्बुशाकदानेन यद्वाप्यश्नाति स स्वयम्
sa dattvā duṣkṛtaṃ tasmai puṇyamādāya gacchati / apyambuśākadānena yadvāpyaśnāti sa svayam
He (the turned-away guest) goes off, having given (the householder) his own evil deed and taken away his merit. (Therefore honour a guest) even with a gift of water and greens, or with whatever one is oneself eating.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 29.33
पूजयेत् तु नरः शक्त्या तेनैवातिथिमादरात् । कुर्याच्चाहरहः श्राद्धमन्नाद्येनोदकेन च
pūjayet tu naraḥ śaktyā tenaivātithimādarāt / kuryāccāharahaḥ śrāddhamannādyenodakena ca
A man should honour a guest according to his means, respectfully, with that very (food); and day by day he should perform the śrāddha with food and the like and with water.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.34
पितॄनुद्दिश्य विप्रांश्च भोजयेद्विप्रमेव वा । अन्नस्याग्रं तदुद्धृत्य ब्राह्मणायोपपादयेत्
pitṝnuddiśya viprāṃśca bhojayedviprameva vā / annasyāgraṃ taduddhṛtya brāhmaṇāyopapādayet
Designating the fathers, he should feed brahmins, or even a single brahmin; and lifting off the first portion of the food, he should present it to a brahmin.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.35
भिक्षाञ्च याचतां दद्यात् परिव्राड्ब्रह्मचारिणाम् । ग्रासप्रमाणा भिक्षा स्यादग्रं ग्रासचतुष्टयम्
bhikṣāñca yācatāṃ dadyāt parivrāḍbrahmacāriṇām / grāsapramāṇā bhikṣā syādagraṃ grāsacatuṣṭayam
And he should give alms to wandering ascetics and students of the Veda who ask. The alms (bhikṣā) should be the measure of a mouthful; the first portion (agra) is four mouthfuls.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.36
अग्रं चतुर्गुणं प्राहुर्हन्तकारं द्विजोत्तमाः । भोजनं हन्तकारं वा अग्रं भिक्षामथापि वा
agraṃ caturguṇaṃ prāhurhantakāraṃ dvijottamāḥ / bhojanaṃ hantakāraṃ vā agraṃ bhikṣāmathāpi vā
The best of the twice-born declare the hantakāra to be four times the agra. (One should give) a meal, or a hantakāra, or an agra, or else alms.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.37
अदत्त्वा तु न भोक्तव्यं यथाविभवमात्मनः । पूजयित्वातिथीनिष्टान् ज्ञातीन् बन्धूंस्तथार्थिनः
adattvā tu na bhoktavyaṃ yathāvibhavamātmanaḥ / pūjayitvātithīniṣṭān jñātīn bandhūṃstathārthinaḥ
But one should not eat without having given, according to one's own wealth, having honoured guests, those dear to one, kinsmen, relatives, and likewise those who ask.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.38
विकलान् बालवृद्धांश्च भोजयेच्चातुरांस्तथा । वाञ्छते क्षुत्परीतात्मा यच्चान्यो ऽन्नमकिञ्चनः
vikalān bālavṛddhāṃśca bhojayeccāturāṃstathā / vāñchate kṣutparītātmā yaccānyo 'nnamakiñcanaḥ
And he should feed the maimed, children and the old, and likewise the sick; and whatever food another man, penniless and with his self beset by hunger, desires—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.39
कुटुम्बिना भोजनीयः समर्थे विभवे सति । श्रीमन्तं ज्ञातिमासाद्य यो ज्ञातिरवसीदति
kuṭumbinā bhojanīyaḥ samarthe vibhave sati / śrīmantaṃ jñātimāsādya yo jñātiravasīdati
—that is to be given to eat by the householder, when his means are adequate. When a kinsman, having come to a wealthy kinsman, sinks into ruin,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.40
सीदता यद् कृतं तेन तत् पापं स समश्नुते । सायं चैव विधिः कार्यः सूर्योढं तत्र चातिथिम्
sīdatā yad kṛtaṃ tena tat pāpaṃ sa samaśnute / sāyaṃ caiva vidhiḥ kāryaḥ sūryoḍhaṃ tatra cātithim
whatever (evil) is done by the one who is sinking, that sin he (the rich kinsman) fully partakes of. And the rite is to be performed in the evening too, and there a guest brought by the sun (arriving at sunset)
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.41
पूजयीत यथाशक्ति शयनासनभोजनैः । एवमुद्दवहतस्तात ! गार्हस्थ्यं भारमाहितम्
pūjayīta yathāśakti śayanāsanabhojanaiḥ / evamuddavahatastāta ! gārhasthyaṃ bhāramāhitam
he should honour according to his ability with a bed, a seat, and food. For him who thus bears, my son, the burden of householdership laid
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.42
स्कन्धे विधाता देवाश्च पितरश्च महर्षयः । श्रेयो ऽभिवर्षिणः सर्वे तथैवातिथिबान्धवाः
skandhe vidhātā devāśca pitaraśca maharṣayaḥ / śreyo 'bhivarṣiṇaḥ sarve tathaivātithibāndhavāḥ
upon his shoulder, the Ordainer and the gods and the fathers and the great seers are all showerers of good fortune, and so too are guests and kinsmen,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.43
पशुपक्षिगणास्तृप्ता ये चान्ये सूक्ष्मकीटकाः । गाथाश्चात्र महाभाग ! स्वयमत्रिरगायत
paśupakṣigaṇāstṛptā ye cānye sūkṣmakīṭakāḥ / gāthāścātra mahābhāga ! svayamatriragāyata
and the flocks of beasts and birds that have been satisfied, and the other small insects. And on this matter, greatly fortunate one, Atri himself sang verses.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.44
ता शृणुष्व महाभाग ! गृहस्थाश्रमसंस्थिताः । देवान् पितॄंश्चातिथींश्च तद्वत् सम्पूज्य बान्धवान्
tā śṛṇuṣva mahābhāga ! gṛhasthāśramasaṃsthitāḥ / devān pitṝṃścātithīṃśca tadvat sampūjya bāndhavān
Hear them, greatly fortunate one: they are established in the householder's stage of life. Having duly worshipped the gods, the fathers, guests, and likewise kinsmen,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.45
जामयश्च गुरुञ्चैव गृहस्थो विभवे सति । श्वभ्यश्च श्वपचेभ्यश्च वयोभ्यश्चावपेद् भुवि
jāmayaśca guruñcaiva gṛhastho vibhave sati / śvabhyaśca śvapacebhyaśca vayobhyaścāvaped bhuvi
and his sisters (female relatives) and his teacher, the householder, when he has the means, should also scatter (food) on the ground for dogs, for outcaste dog-cookers, and for birds.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 29.46
वैश्वदेवं हि नामैतत् कुर्यात् सायं तथा दिने । मांसमन्नं तथा शाकं गृहे यच्चोपसाधितम् । न च तत् स्वयमश्नीयाद्विधिवद्यन्न निर्वपेत्
vaiśvadevaṃ hi nāmaitat kuryāt sāyaṃ tathā dine / māṃsamannaṃ tathā śākaṃ gṛhe yaccopasādhitam / na ca tat svayamaśnīyādvidhivadyanna nirvapet
For this indeed is called the vaiśvadeva; he should perform it in the evening and likewise in the daytime. Meat, cooked food, and greens, and whatever is prepared in the house—that he should not eat himself if he has not duly set apart (a portion).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition