मार्कण्डेय-पुराणम्
mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇam
-
chapter-29, verse-36
अग्रं चतुर्गुणं प्राहुर्हन्तकारं द्विजोत्तमाः ।
भोजनं हन्तकारं वा अग्रं भिक्षामथापि वा ॥३६॥
भोजनं हन्तकारं वा अग्रं भिक्षामथापि वा ॥३६॥
36. agraṃ caturguṇaṃ prāhurhantakāraṃ dvijottamāḥ .
bhojanaṃ hantakāraṃ vā agraṃ bhikṣāmathāpi vā.
bhojanaṃ hantakāraṃ vā agraṃ bhikṣāmathāpi vā.
36.
agram caturguṇam prāhuḥ hantakāram dvijottamāḥ
bhojanam hantakāram vā agram bhikṣām atha api vā
bhojanam hantakāram vā agram bhikṣām atha api vā
36.
The best among the twice-born (dvijottamaḥ) declare the `hantakāra` (ritual offering) to be four times the `agram` (best offering). This `hantakāra` can be in the form of a meal (bhojana) or indeed the best alms (bhikṣā).
Words meanings summery:
(Scroll down for elaborated words morphology)
- अग्रम् (agram) - the best, chief, foremost part
- चतुर्गुणम् (caturguṇam) - fourfold, quadrupled
- प्राहुः (prāhuḥ) - they say, they declare
- हन्तकारम् (hantakāram) - a specific ritual offering of food, often for guests or ascetics (hantakāra) (an offering)
- द्विजोत्तमाः (dvijottamāḥ) - the best among the twice-born (brahmins)
- भोजनम् (bhojanam) - a meal, food, eating
- हन्तकारम् (hantakāram) - a specific ritual offering of food, often for guests or ascetics (hantakāra) (an offering)
- वा (vā) - or
- अग्रम् (agram) - the best (offering) (the best, chief, foremost part)
- भिक्षाम् (bhikṣām) - alms, mendicancy, begging
- अथ (atha) - then, moreover, now
- अपि (api) - also, even, too
- वा (vā) - or
Words meanings and morphology
अग्रम् (agram) - the best, chief, foremost part
(noun)
Accusative, neuter, singular of agra
agra - foremost, chief, best, top, front, tip
Note: Object of 'prāhuḥ' in the sense of 'they declare (something to be) agram'.
चतुर्गुणम् (caturguṇam) - fourfold, quadrupled
(adjective)
Accusative, neuter, singular of caturguṇa
caturguṇa - fourfold, four times, quadrupled
Compound type : dvigu (catur+guṇa)
- catur – four
numeral - guṇa – quality, attribute, multiply
noun (masculine)
Note: Agrees with 'agram'.
प्राहुः (prāhuḥ) - they say, they declare
(verb)
3rd person , plural, active, present (laṭ) of prabru
Prefix: pra
Root: brū (class 2)
Note: From root brū, prefix pra.
हन्तकारम् (hantakāram) - a specific ritual offering of food, often for guests or ascetics (hantakāra) (an offering)
(noun)
Accusative, masculine, singular of hantakāra
hantakāra - an offering, a ritual offering of food
Note: Object of declaration.
द्विजोत्तमाः (dvijottamāḥ) - the best among the twice-born (brahmins)
(noun)
Nominative, masculine, plural of dvijottama
dvijottama - best of the twice-born, chief brahmin
Compound type : tatpurusha (dvija+uttama)
- dvija – twice-born (Brahmin, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya), bird, tooth
noun (masculine)
Root: jan (class 4) - uttama – best, highest, excellent
adjective (masculine)
Note: Subject of 'prāhuḥ'.
भोजनम् (bhojanam) - a meal, food, eating
(noun)
Nominative, neuter, singular of bhojana
bhojana - food, meal, eating
Derived from root bhuj (to eat) + lyuṭ (nominal suffix)
Root: bhuj (class 7)
Note: Null verb 'is' implied.
हन्तकारम् (hantakāram) - a specific ritual offering of food, often for guests or ascetics (hantakāra) (an offering)
(noun)
Nominative, masculine, singular of hantakāra
hantakāra - an offering, a ritual offering of food
Note: Predicate nominative for 'bhojanam'.
वा (vā) - or
(indeclinable)
Note: Conjunction
अग्रम् (agram) - the best (offering) (the best, chief, foremost part)
(noun)
Nominative, neuter, singular of agra
agra - foremost, chief, best, top, front, tip
Note: Here used as an alternative form of offering, possibly modifying bhikṣām.
भिक्षाम् (bhikṣām) - alms, mendicancy, begging
(noun)
Accusative, feminine, singular of bhikṣā
bhikṣā - alms, mendicancy, begging
Root: bhikṣ (class 1)
Note: Accusative, implying 'the hantakāra may be (in the form of) alms'.
अथ (atha) - then, moreover, now
(indeclinable)
Note: Connects the alternative.
अपि (api) - also, even, too
(indeclinable)
Note: Emphasizes the possibility.
वा (vā) - or
(indeclinable)
Note: Conjunction.