मार्कण्डेय-पुराणम्
mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇam
-
chapter-41, verse-25
वेदाच्छ्रेष्ठाः सर्वयज्ञक्रियाश्च यज्ञाज्जप्यं ज्ञानमार्गश्च जप्यात् ।
ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं सङ्गरागव्यपेतं तस्मिन् प्राप्ते शाश्वतस्योपलब्धिः ॥२५॥
ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं सङ्गरागव्यपेतं तस्मिन् प्राप्ते शाश्वतस्योपलब्धिः ॥२५॥
25. vedācchreṣṭhāḥ sarvayajñakriyāśca yajñājjapyaṃ jñānamārgaśca japyāt .
jñānāddhyānaṃ saṅgarāgavyapetaṃ tasmin prāpte śāśvatasyopalabdhiḥ.
jñānāddhyānaṃ saṅgarāgavyapetaṃ tasmin prāpte śāśvatasyopalabdhiḥ.
25.
vedāt śreṣṭhāḥ sarvayajñakriyāḥ ca
yajñāt japyam jñānamārgaḥ ca japyāt
jñānāt dhyānam saṅgarāgavyapetam
tasmin prāpte śāśvatasya upalabdhiḥ
yajñāt japyam jñānamārgaḥ ca japyāt
jñānāt dhyānam saṅgarāgavyapetam
tasmin prāpte śāśvatasya upalabdhiḥ
25.
sarvayajñakriyāḥ vedāt śreṣṭhāḥ ca
japyam yajñāt jñānamārgaḥ ca japyāt
dhyānam saṅgarāgavyapetam jñānāt
tasmin prāpte śāśvatasya upalabdhiḥ
japyam yajñāt jñānamārgaḥ ca japyāt
dhyānam saṅgarāgavyapetam jñānāt
tasmin prāpte śāśvatasya upalabdhiḥ
25.
All practices related to Vedic rituals (yajña) are considered superior to merely studying the Vedas. Chanting is superior to these Vedic rituals (yajña), and the path of knowledge is superior to chanting. From knowledge, meditation (dhyāna) that is free from attachment and passion is superior. When that [meditation (dhyāna)] is attained, there is the realization of the eternal.
Words meanings summery:
(Scroll down for elaborated words morphology)
- वेदात् (vedāt) - from the Veda, than the Veda
- श्रेष्ठाः (śreṣṭhāḥ) - superior, best, most excellent
- सर्वयज्ञक्रियाः (sarvayajñakriyāḥ) - all Vedic ritual (yajña) actions/practices
- च (ca) - and, also
- यज्ञात् (yajñāt) - from the Vedic ritual (yajña), than the Vedic ritual (yajña)
- जप्यम् (japyam) - chanting, recitation
- ज्ञानमार्गः (jñānamārgaḥ) - path of knowledge
- च (ca) - and, also
- जप्यात् (japyāt) - from chanting, than chanting
- ज्ञानात् (jñānāt) - from knowledge, than knowledge
- ध्यानम् (dhyānam) - meditation (dhyāna), contemplation
- सङ्गरागव्यपेतम् (saṅgarāgavyapetam) - devoid of attachment and passion, free from attachment and desire
- तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that [meditation] (in that, when that)
- प्राप्ते (prāpte) - having been attained, when attained
- शाश्वतस्य (śāśvatasya) - of the eternal, of the perpetual
- उपलब्धिः (upalabdhiḥ) - attainment, realization, perception
Words meanings and morphology
वेदात् (vedāt) - from the Veda, than the Veda
(noun)
Ablative, masculine, singular of veda
veda - Veda (sacred knowledge), knowledge, sacred scripture
From root 'vid' (to know) + suffix '-a'.
Root: vid (class 2)
Note: Used in a comparative sense, indicating 'superior to'.
श्रेष्ठाः (śreṣṭhāḥ) - superior, best, most excellent
(adjective)
Nominative, feminine, plural of śreṣṭha
śreṣṭha - best, excellent, superior, most eminent, highest
Superlative form, generally derived from 'praśasya' (praiseworthy).
सर्वयज्ञक्रियाः (sarvayajñakriyāḥ) - all Vedic ritual (yajña) actions/practices
(noun)
Nominative, feminine, plural of sarvayajñakriyā
sarvayajñakriyā - all ritual actions; all practices related to Vedic ritual
Compound: 'sarva' (all) + 'yajña' (Vedic ritual) + 'kriyā' (action/practice). Often interpreted as a descriptive compound (Karma-dhāraya) or a Tatpuruṣa.
Compound type : karma-dhāraya-tatpuruṣa (sarva+yajña+kriyā)
- sarva – all, every, whole, complete
pronoun - yajña – Vedic ritual, sacrifice, worship
noun (masculine)
From root 'yaj' (to worship, sacrifice, offer) + suffix '-na'.
Root: yaj (class 1) - kriyā – action, performance, deed, rite, religious ceremony, practice
noun (feminine)
From root 'kṛ' (to do, make) + suffix '-yā'.
Root: kṛ (class 8)
Note: Subject of the implicit comparative statement.
च (ca) - and, also
(indeclinable)
Conjunction.
यज्ञात् (yajñāt) - from the Vedic ritual (yajña), than the Vedic ritual (yajña)
(noun)
Ablative, masculine, singular of yajña
yajña - Vedic ritual, sacrifice, worship, an act of devotion
From root 'yaj' (to worship, sacrifice, offer) + suffix '-na'.
Root: yaj (class 1)
Note: Used in a comparative sense, indicating 'superior to'.
जप्यम् (japyam) - chanting, recitation
(noun)
Nominative, neuter, singular of japya
japya - to be recited or chanted; recitation, chanting, murmuring of prayers
Gerundive (kṛtya)
From root 'jap' (to murmur, chant) + gerundive suffix '-ya'. Used as a neuter noun.
Root: jap (class 1)
Note: Subject of the implicit comparative statement.
ज्ञानमार्गः (jñānamārgaḥ) - path of knowledge
(noun)
Nominative, masculine, singular of jñānamārga
jñānamārga - the path or way of knowledge
Tatpuruṣa compound: 'jñāna' (knowledge) + 'mārga' (path).
Compound type : tatpuruṣa (jñāna+mārga)
- jñāna – knowledge, wisdom, understanding
noun (neuter)
From root 'jñā' (to know) + suffix '-ana'.
Root: jñā (class 9) - mārga – path, road, way, course
noun (masculine)
From root 'mṛj' (to wipe, clear) or 'mṛg' (to seek).
Root: mṛj (class 2)
Note: Subject of the implicit comparative statement.
च (ca) - and, also
(indeclinable)
Conjunction.
जप्यात् (japyāt) - from chanting, than chanting
(noun)
Ablative, neuter, singular of japya
japya - to be recited or chanted; recitation, chanting, murmuring of prayers
Gerundive (kṛtya)
From root 'jap' (to murmur, chant) + gerundive suffix '-ya'. Used as a neuter noun.
Root: jap (class 1)
Note: Used in a comparative sense, indicating 'superior to'.
ज्ञानात् (jñānāt) - from knowledge, than knowledge
(noun)
Ablative, neuter, singular of jñāna
jñāna - knowledge, wisdom, understanding
From root 'jñā' (to know) + suffix '-ana'.
Root: jñā (class 9)
Note: Used in a comparative sense, indicating 'superior to'.
ध्यानम् (dhyānam) - meditation (dhyāna), contemplation
(noun)
Nominative, neuter, singular of dhyāna
dhyāna - meditation, contemplation, thought, profound and abstract religious meditation
From root 'dhyāi' or 'dhyā' (to meditate, think) + suffix '-ana'.
Root: dhyāi (class 1)
Note: Subject of the implicit comparative statement.
सङ्गरागव्यपेतम् (saṅgarāgavyapetam) - devoid of attachment and passion, free from attachment and desire
(adjective)
Nominative, neuter, singular of saṅgarāgavyapeta
saṅgarāgavyapeta - free from attachment and passion/desire
Bahuvrīhi compound: 'saṅga' (attachment) + 'rāga' (passion/desire) + 'vyapeta' (devoid of, free from).
Compound type : bahuvrīhi (saṅga+rāga+vyapeta)
- saṅga – attachment, union, company, clinging
noun (masculine)
From 'sam' + root 'gam' (to go together, join).
Prefix: sam
Root: gam (class 1) - rāga – color, hue, passion, desire, attachment, love, affection
noun (masculine)
From root 'rañj' (to color, dye, be attached to).
Root: rañj (class 1) - vyapeta – gone away, departed, free from, devoid of, separated
adjective
Past Passive Participle
From root 'i' (to go) + prefixes 'vi' and 'apa'.
Prefixes: vi+apa
Root: i (class 2)
तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that [meditation] (in that, when that)
(pronoun)
Locative, neuter, singular of tad
tad - that, this, he, she, it (demonstrative pronoun)
Note: Part of a locative absolute construction 'tasmin prāpte'.
प्राप्ते (prāpte) - having been attained, when attained
(adjective)
Locative, neuter, singular of prāpta
prāpta - obtained, reached, attained, acquired
Past Passive Participle
From root 'āp' (to obtain, reach) + prefix 'pra'.
Prefix: pra
Root: āp (class 5)
Note: Functions adverbially within the locative absolute construction.
शाश्वतस्य (śāśvatasya) - of the eternal, of the perpetual
(adjective)
Genitive, neuter, singular of śāśvata
śāśvata - eternal, perpetual, everlasting, constant
From 'śaśvat' (constant, always) + suffix '-a'.
Note: Modifies an implied eternal entity (e.g., Brahman) that is realized.
उपलब्धिः (upalabdhiḥ) - attainment, realization, perception
(noun)
Nominative, feminine, singular of upalabdhi
upalabdhi - attainment, acquisition, realization, perception, comprehension
From root 'labh' (to obtain, perceive) + prefix 'upa' + suffix '-ti' (forming a feminine action noun).
Prefix: upa
Root: labh (class 1)
Note: Subject of the final clause, meaning 'there is realization'.