Krishna and Markandeya Come to Kamyaka

Verse 1 (3.185.1)

काम्यकं प्राप्य कौरव्य युधिष्ठिरपुरोगमाः । कृतातिथ्या मुनिगणैर्निषेदुः सह कृष्णया ॥

kāmyakaṃ prāpya kauravya yudhiṣṭhirapurogamāḥ | kṛtātithyā munigaṇairniṣeduḥ saha kṛṣṇayā

Having reached Kamyaka, O Kauravya, the Pandavas led by Yudhishthira were received with hospitality by the hosts of sages, and they sat down together with Krishna (Draupadi).

Verse 2 (3.185.2)

ततस्तान्परिविश्वस्तान्वसतः पाण्डुनन्दनान् । ब्राह्मणा बहवस्तत्र समन्तात्पर्यवारयन् ॥

tatastānpariviśvastānvasataḥ pāṇḍunandanān | brāhmaṇā bahavastatra samantātparyavārayan

Then, as the sons of Pandu lived there at ease and in full trust, many Brahmins gathered around them from every side.

Verse 3 (3.185.3)

अथाब्रवीद्द्विजः कश्चिदर्जुनस्य प्रियः सखा । स एष्यति महाबाहुर्वशी शौरिरुदारधीः ॥

athābravīddvijaḥ kaścidarjunasya priyaḥ sakhā | sa eṣyati mahābāhurvaśī śaurirudāradhīḥ

Then a certain Brahmin, a dear friend of Arjuna, said: "He will come, the mighty-armed Shauri (Krishna), self-controlled and noble-minded.

Verse 4 (3.185.4)

विदिता हि हरेर्यूयमिहायाताः कुरूद्वहाः । सदा हि दर्शनाकाङ्क्षी श्रेयोन्वेषी च वो हरिः ॥

viditā hi hareryūyamihāyātāḥ kurūdvahāḥ | sadā hi darśanākāṅkṣī śreyonveṣī ca vo hariḥ

For Hari knows that you have come here, best of the Kurus. Hari always longs to see you and seeks your good.

Verse 5 (3.185.5)

बहुवत्सरजीवी च मार्कण्डेयो महातपाः । स्वाध्यायतपसा युक्तः क्षिप्रं युष्मान्समेष्यति ॥

bahuvatsarajīvī ca mārkaṇḍeyo mahātapāḥ | svādhyāyatapasā yuktaḥ kṣipraṃ yuṣmānsameṣyati

And Markandeya too, the great ascetic who has lived for many years, devoted to sacred study and austerity, will soon join you."

Verse 6 (3.185.6)

तथैव ब्रुवतस्तस्य प्रत्यदृश्यत केशवः । शैब्यसुग्रीवयुक्तेन रथेन रथिनां वरः ॥

tathaiva bruvatastasya pratyadṛśyata keśavaḥ | śaibyasugrīvayuktena rathena rathināṃ varaḥ

Even as he was speaking, Keshava appeared, the best of chariot-warriors, on his chariot yoked with the horses Shaibya and Sugriva.

Note on the text: Corrected रथिनारः → रथिनां वरः (misprint in Wikisource; a syllable dropped, leaving the line one short; the critical edition reads rathināṃ varaḥ).

Verse 7 (3.185.7)

मघवानिव पौलोम्या सहितः सत्यभामया । उपायाद्देवकीपुत्रो दिदृक्षुः कुरुसत्तमान् ॥

maghavāniva paulomyā sahitaḥ satyabhāmayā | upāyāddevakīputro didṛkṣuḥ kurusattamān

Like Maghavan (Indra) with Paulomi, the son of Devaki came with Satyabhama, eager to see the best of the Kurus.

Verse 8 (3.185.8)

अवतीर्य रथात्कृष्णो धर्मराजं यथाविधि । ववन्दे मुदितो धीमान्भीमं च बलिनां वरम् ॥

avatīrya rathātkṛṣṇo dharmarājaṃ yathāvidhi | vavande mudito dhīmānbhīmaṃ ca balināṃ varam

Alighting from the chariot, the wise Krishna joyfully saluted the King of Dharma in due form, and Bhima, the best of the strong.

Verse 9 (3.185.9)

पूजयामास धौम्यं च यमाभ्यामभिवादितः । परिष्वज्यमहाभागां द्रौपदीं पर्यसान्त्वयत् ॥

pūjayāmāsa dhaumyaṃ ca yamābhyāmabhivāditaḥ | pariṣvajyamahābhāgāṃ draupadīṃ paryasāntvayat

He paid honour to Dhaumya, was saluted by the twins, and embracing the illustrious Draupadi he comforted her.

Verse 10 (3.185.10)

स दृष्ट्वा फल्गुनं वीरं चिरस्य प्रियमागतम् । पर्यष्वजत दाशार्हः पुनः पुनररिंदमः ॥

sa dṛṣṭvā phalgunaṃ vīraṃ cirasya priyamāgatam | paryaṣvajata dāśārhaḥ punaḥ punarariṃdamaḥ

Seeing the hero Phalguna, his dear friend, returned after a long time, the Dasharha, tamer of foes, embraced him again and again.

Verse 11 (3.185.11)

तथैव सत्यभामाऽपि द्रौपदीं परिषस्वजे । पाण्डवानां प्रियं भार्यां कृष्णस्य महिषी प्रिया ॥

tathaiva satyabhāmā'pi draupadīṃ pariṣasvaje | pāṇḍavānāṃ priyaṃ bhāryāṃ kṛṣṇasya mahiṣī priyā

In the same way Satyabhama, the beloved queen of Krishna, embraced Draupadi, the dear wife of the Pandavas.

Verse 12 (3.185.12)

ततस्ते पाण्डवाः सर्वेसभार्याः सपुरोहिताः । आनर्चुः पुण्डरीकाक्षं परिवव्रुश्च सर्वशः ॥

tataste pāṇḍavāḥ sarvesabhāryāḥ sapurohitāḥ | ānarcuḥ puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ parivavruśca sarvaśaḥ

Then all the Pandavas, with their wife and their priest, worshipped the lotus-eyed one and gathered around him on every side.

Verse 13 (3.185.13)

कृष्णस्तु पार्थेन समेत्य विद्वान् । धनंजयेनासुरमर्दनेन । बभौ यथा भूतपतिर्महात्मा । समेत्य साक्षाद्भगवान्गुहेन ॥

kṛṣṇastu pārthena sametya vidvān | dhanaṃjayenāsuramardanena | babhau yathā bhūtapatirmahātmā | sametya sākṣādbhagavānguhena

And the wise Krishna, joined with Partha Dhananjaya, crusher of asuras, shone like the great-souled Lord of beings (Rudra) when he meets the blessed Guha (Skanda) face to face.

Verse 14 (3.185.14)

ततः समस्तानि किरीटमाली । वनेषु वृत्तानि गदाग्रजाय । उक्त्वा यथावत्पुनरन्वपृच्छ- । त्तस्मिन्सुभद्रां च तथाऽभिमन्युम् ॥

tataḥ samastāni kirīṭamālī | vaneṣu vṛttāni gadāgrajāya | uktvā yathāvatpunaranvapṛccha- | ttasminsubhadrāṃ ca tathā'bhimanyum

Then the diadem-wearer (Arjuna) told the elder brother of Gada (Krishna) all that had happened in the forests, just as it was, and in turn asked him about Subhadra and Abhimanyu.

Verse 15 (3.185.15)

धौम्यं च कृष्णां च युधिष्ठिरं च । यमौ च भीमं च दशार्हसिंहः । उवाच दिष्ट्या भवतां शिवेन । प्राप्तः किरीटी मुदितः कृतास्त्रः ॥

dhaumyaṃ ca kṛṣṇāṃ ca yudhiṣṭhiraṃ ca | yamau ca bhīmaṃ ca daśārhasiṃhaḥ | uvāca diṣṭyā bhavatāṃ śivena | prāptaḥ kirīṭī muditaḥ kṛtāstraḥ

The lion of the Dasharhas said to Dhaumya, to Krishna (Draupadi), to Yudhishthira, to the twins and to Bhima: "By good fortune the diadem-wearer has come back to you safely, joyful and master of the divine weapons."

Verse 16 (3.185.16)

स पूजयित्वा मधुहा यथाव- । त्पार्थांश्च कृष्णां च पुरोहितं च । उवाच राजानमभिप्रशंसन् । युधिष्ठिरं तेन सहोपविश्य ॥

sa pūjayitvā madhuhā yathāva- | tpārthāṃśca kṛṣṇāṃ ca purohitaṃ ca | uvāca rājānamabhipraśaṃsan | yudhiṣṭhiraṃ tena sahopaviśya

Having duly honoured the Parthas, Krishna (Draupadi) and the priest, the slayer of Madhu sat down with King Yudhishthira and spoke to him in praise:

Verse 17 (3.185.17)

धर्मः परः पाण्डव राज्यलाभा- । त्तस्यादिमाहुस्तप एव राजन् । सत्यार्जवाभ्यां चरता स्वधर्मं । जितस्त्वयाऽयं च परश्च लोकः ॥

dharmaḥ paraḥ pāṇḍava rājyalābhā- | ttasyādimāhustapa eva rājan | satyārjavābhyāṃ caratā svadharmaṃ | jitastvayā'yaṃ ca paraśca lokaḥ

Dharma, son of Pandu, stands higher than gaining a kingdom, and austerity, they say, is its very beginning, O king. By living your own dharma with truth and uprightness you have won both this world and the next.

Note on the text: Corrected जितस्त्वयाऽचं → जितस्त्वयाऽयं च (misprint in Wikisource; अचं is not a word and the line was a syllable short; the critical edition reads jitas tavāyaṃ ca).

Verse 18 (3.185.18)

अधीतमग्रे चरता व्रतानि । सम्यग्धनुर्वेदमवाप्य कृत्स्नम् । क्षात्रेण धर्मेण वसूनि लब्ध्वा । सर्वे ह्यवाप्ताः क्रतवः पुराणाः ॥

adhītamagre caratā vratāni | samyagdhanurvedamavāpya kṛtsnam | kṣātreṇa dharmeṇa vasūni labdhvā | sarve hyavāptāḥ kratavaḥ purāṇāḥ

First you studied, keeping your vows; you mastered the whole science of archery; you gained wealth by the dharma of the warrior; and you have performed all the ancient sacrifices.

Verse 19 (3.185.19)

न ग्राम्यधर्मेषु रतिस्तवास्ति । कामान्न किंचित्कुरुषे नरेन्द्र । न चार्थलोभात्प्रजहासि धर्मं । तस्मात्प्रभावादसि धर्मराजः ॥

na grāmyadharmeṣu ratistavāsti | kāmānna kiṃcitkuruṣe narendra | na cārthalobhātprajahāsi dharmaṃ | tasmātprabhāvādasi dharmarājaḥ

You take no delight in low pleasures; you do nothing out of desire, lord of men; you never abandon dharma out of greed for wealth. By that power you are the King of Dharma.

Note on the text: Corrected चार्तलोभात् → चार्थलोभात् (misprint in Wikisource; त for थ — "greed for wealth"; the critical edition reads cārthalobhāt).

Verse 20 (3.185.20)

दानं च सत्यं च तपश्च राजन् । क्षमा च शान्तिश्च दमो धृतिश्च । अवाप्य राष्ट्राणि वसूनि भोगा- । नेषा परा पार्थ सदा रतिस्ते ॥

dānaṃ ca satyaṃ ca tapaśca rājan | kṣamā ca śāntiśca damo dhṛtiśca | avāpya rāṣṭrāṇi vasūni bhogā- | neṣā parā pārtha sadā ratiste

Charity, truth and austerity, O king, forbearance, calm, self-restraint and steadfastness: even after you had gained kingdoms, wealth and pleasures, these were always your highest delight, Partha.

Verse 21 (3.185.21)

हृतं च देशं कुरुजाङ्गलानां । कृष्णां सभायामवशां च पश्यन् । अपेतधर्मव्यवहारवृत्तं । सहेत तत्पाण्डव कस्त्वदन्यः ॥

hṛtaṃ ca deśaṃ kurujāṅgalānāṃ | kṛṣṇāṃ sabhāyāmavaśāṃ ca paśyan | apetadharmavyavahāravṛttaṃ | saheta tatpāṇḍava kastvadanyaḥ

Seeing the land of the Kurujangalas taken from you, and Krishna (Draupadi) helpless in the assembly hall, a deed that had cast off all dharma and decency, who but you, son of Pandu, could have borne it?

Note on the text: Corrected सभायामशां → सभायामवशां (misprint in Wikisource; व dropped, leaving the line a syllable short; the critical edition reads avaśām).

Verse 22 (3.185.22)

असंशयं सर्वसमृद्धकामः । क्षिप्रं प्रजाः पालयितासि सम्यक् । अद्यैव तन्निग्रहणं कुरूणां । यदि प्रतिज्ञा भवतः समाप्ता ॥

asaṃśayaṃ sarvasamṛddhakāmaḥ | kṣipraṃ prajāḥ pālayitāsi samyak | adyaiva tannigrahaṇaṃ kurūṇāṃ | yadi pratijñā bhavataḥ samāptā

Without doubt, with every wish fulfilled, you will soon rule your subjects rightly. The Kurus shall be brought to heel this very day, once your vow has been fulfilled.

Verse 23 (3.185.23)

प्रोवाच कृष्णामपि याज्ञसेनीं । दशार्हभर्ता सहितः सुहृद्भिः । दिष्ट्या समग्राऽसि धनंजयेन । समागतेत्येवमुवाच कृष्णः ॥

provāca kṛṣṇāmapi yājñasenīṃ | daśārhabhartā sahitaḥ suhṛdbhiḥ | diṣṭyā samagrā'si dhanaṃjayena | samāgatetyevamuvāca kṛṣṇaḥ

The lord of the Dasharhas, with his friends about him, spoke also to Krishna, the daughter of Yajnasena: "By good fortune you are whole again, reunited with Dhananjaya" — so Krishna said.

Note on the text: Corrected कदिष्ट्या → दिष्ट्या (misprint in Wikisource; stray क gives the line an extra syllable; the passage reads diṣṭyā). The first two lines are critical edition 3.180.23ab; the last two are not in its constituted text but appear in its apparatus as 3.180.23*0892 (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 24 (3.185.24)

कृष्णे धनुर्वेदरतिप्रधाना- । स्तवात्मजास्ते शिशवः सुशीलाः । सद्भिः सदैवाचरितं समाधिं । चरन्ति पुत्रास्तव याज्ञसेनि ॥

kṛṣṇe dhanurvedaratipradhānā- | stavātmajāste śiśavaḥ suśīlāḥ | sadbhiḥ sadaivācaritaṃ samādhiṃ | caranti putrāstava yājñaseni

Krishna, your sons are devoted above all to the science of archery; they are well-behaved boys. They always follow the discipline practised by the good, daughter of Yajnasena.

Note on the text: Corrected धनुर्वेदरतिप्रदाना- → धनुर्वेदरतिप्रधाना- and शुशीलाः → सुशीलाः (misprints in Wikisource; the same compound is printed correctly in verse 26, and the critical edition reads ratipradhānāḥ … suśīlāḥ). The verse corresponds to critical edition 3.180.23c–f, whose second line reads satyavratās te śiśavaḥ.

Verse 25 (3.185.25)

राज्ये नियुक्तैश्च निमन्त्र्यमाणाः । पित्रा च कृष्णे तव सोदरैश्च । न यज्ञसेनस्य न मातुलानां । गृहेषु बाला रतिमाप्नुवन्ति ॥

rājye niyuktaiśca nimantryamāṇāḥ | pitrā ca kṛṣṇe tava sodaraiśca | na yajñasenasya na mātulānāṃ | gṛheṣu bālā ratimāpnuvanti

Though invited by those appointed over the kingdom, by your father and by your brothers, Krishna, the boys find no pleasure in the house of Yajnasena or in the homes of their maternal uncles.

Verse 26 (3.185.26)

आनर्तमेवाभिमुखाः शिवेन । गत्वाधनुर्वेदरतिप्रधानाः । तवात्मजा वृष्णिपुरं प्रविश्य । न दैवतेभ्यः स्पृहयन्ति कृष्णे ॥

ānartamevābhimukhāḥ śivena | gatvādhanurvedaratipradhānāḥ | tavātmajā vṛṣṇipuraṃ praviśya | na daivatebhyaḥ spṛhayanti kṛṣṇe

Devoted above all to archery, your sons have gone safely to Anarta and entered the city of the Vrishnis, and there, Krishna, they do not envy even the gods.

Verse 27 (3.185.27)

यथा त्वमेवार्हसि तेषु वृत्तं । प्रयोक्तुमार्या च यथैव कुन्ती । तेष्वप्रमादेन तथा करोति । तथैव भूयश्च तथा सुभद्रा ॥

yathā tvamevārhasi teṣu vṛttaṃ | prayoktumāryā ca yathaiva kuntī | teṣvapramādena tathā karoti | tathaiva bhūyaśca tathā subhadrā

Just as you yourself would guide their conduct, and just as noble Kunti would, so Subhadra watches over them with unfailing care, and more besides.

Verse 28 (3.185.28)

यथाऽनिरुद्धस्य यथाऽभिमन्यो- । र्यथा सुनीथस्य यथैव भानोः । तथा विनेता च गतिश्च कृष्णे । तवात्मजानामपि रौक्मिणेयः ॥

yathā'niruddhasya yathā'bhimanyo- | ryathā sunīthasya yathaiva bhānoḥ | tathā vinetā ca gatiśca kṛṣṇe | tavātmajānāmapi raukmiṇeyaḥ

As the son of Rukmini (Pradyumna) is teacher and refuge to Aniruddha, to Abhimanyu, to Sunitha and to Bhanu, so is he teacher and refuge to your sons as well, Krishna.

Verse 29 (3.185.29)

गदासिचर्मग्रहणेषु शूरा- । नस्त्रेषु शिक्षासु रथाश्वयाने । सम्यग्विनेता विनयेदतन्द्री- । स्तांश्चाभिमन्युं च सदा कुमारान् ॥

gadāsicarmagrahaṇeṣu śūrā- | nastreṣu śikṣāsu rathāśvayāne | samyagvinetā vinayedatandrī- | stāṃścābhimanyuṃ ca sadā kumārān

A good teacher and tireless, he constantly trains those heroic boys, and Abhimanyu with them, in wielding mace, sword and shield, in missile weapons, in drill, and in driving chariots and riding horses.

Verse 30 (3.185.30)

स चापि सम्यक्प्रणिधाय शिक्षां । शस्त्राणि चैषां विधिवत्प्रदाय । तवात्मजानां च तथाऽभिमन्योः । पराक्रमैस्तुष्यति रौक्मिणेयः ॥

sa cāpi samyakpraṇidhāya śikṣāṃ | śastrāṇi caiṣāṃ vidhivatpradāya | tavātmajānāṃ ca tathā'bhimanyoḥ | parākramaistuṣyati raukmiṇeyaḥ

Having given them sound training and duly bestowed weapons on them, the son of Rukmini takes delight in the prowess of your sons and of Abhimanyu.

Note on the text: Corrected शस्त्राणइ → शस्त्राणि (misprint in Wikisource; independent इ for the vowel sign ि).

Verse 31 (3.185.31)

यथा विहारं प्रसमीक्षमाणाः । प्रयान्ति पुत्रास्तव याज्ञसेनि । एकैकमेषामनुयान्ति यत्र । रथाश्च यानानि च दन्तिनश्च ॥

yathā vihāraṃ prasamīkṣamāṇāḥ | prayānti putrāstava yājñaseni | ekaikameṣāmanuyānti yatra | rathāśca yānāni ca dantinaśca

Whenever your sons go out in search of sport, daughter of Yajnasena, chariots, carriages and elephants follow each one of them wherever he goes.

Verse 32 (3.185.32)

अथाब्रवीद्धर्मराजं तु कृष्णो । दशार्हयोधाः कुकुरान्धकाश्च । एते निदेशं तव पालयन्त- । स्तिष्ठन्तु यत्रेच्छसि तत्र राजन् ॥

athābravīddharmarājaṃ tu kṛṣṇo | daśārhayodhāḥ kukurāndhakāśca | ete nideśaṃ tava pālayanta- | stiṣṭhantu yatrecchasi tatra rājan

Then Krishna said to the King of Dharma: "The Dasharha warriors, the Kukuras and the Andhakas: let these, obeying your command, stand wherever you wish, O king.

Verse 33 (3.185.33)

आवर्ततां कार्मुकवेगवाता । हलायुधप्रग्रहणा मधूनाम् । सेना तवार्थेषु नरेन्द्र यत्ता । ससादिपत्त्यश्वरथा सनागा ॥

āvartatāṃ kārmukavegavātā | halāyudhapragrahaṇā madhūnām | senā tavārtheṣu narendra yattā | sasādipattyaśvarathā sanāgā

Let the army of the Madhus march out, swift as the wind with the force of its bows, with Halayudha (Balarama) holding its reins, ready for your cause, lord of men, with horsemen, foot-soldiers, horses, chariots and elephants.

Note on the text: Corrected हलायुधप्रग्रणा → हलायुधप्रग्रहणा (misprint in Wikisource; ह dropped, leaving the line a syllable short; the critical edition reads halāyudhapragrahaṇā).

Verse 34 (3.185.34)

प्रस्थाप्यतां पाण्डव धार्तराष्ट्रः । सुयोधनः पापकृतां वरिष्ठः । स सानुबन्धः ससुहद्गणश्च । भौमस्य सौभाधिपतेश्च मार्गम् ॥

prasthāpyatāṃ pāṇḍava dhārtarāṣṭraḥ | suyodhanaḥ pāpakṛtāṃ variṣṭhaḥ | sa sānubandhaḥ sasuhadgaṇaśca | bhaumasya saubhādhipateśca mārgam

Let Suyodhana, son of Dhritarashtra, chief among evildoers, be sent, son of Pandu, with his kin and his band of friends, down the road taken by Bhauma (Naraka) and the lord of Saubha.

Note on the text: Corrected सौबाधिपतेश्च → सौभाधिपतेश्च (misprint in Wikisource; ब for भ — the lord of Saubha, as the printed commentary and the critical edition read).

Verse 35 (3.185.35)

कामं तथा तिष्ठ नरेन्द्र तस्मि- । न्यथा कृतस्ते समयः सभायाम् । दाशार्हयोधैस्तु हतारियोधं । प्रतीक्षतां नागपुरं प्रभग्नम् ॥

kāmaṃ tathā tiṣṭha narendra tasmi- | nyathā kṛtaste samayaḥ sabhāyām | dāśārhayodhaistu hatāriyodhaṃ | pratīkṣatāṃ nāgapuraṃ prabhagnam

Or, if you wish, abide, lord of men, by the compact you made in the assembly hall; and let the City of the Elephant, broken, its warriors slain by the Dasharha fighters, await you.

Verse 36 (3.185.36)

व्यपेतमन्युर्व्यपनीतपाप्मा । विहृत्य यत्रेच्छसि तत्र कामम् । ततः समृद्धिप्रभवं विशोकः । प्रपत्स्यसे नागपुरं सराष्ट्रम् ॥

vyapetamanyurvyapanītapāpmā | vihṛtya yatrecchasi tatra kāmam | tataḥ samṛddhiprabhavaṃ viśokaḥ | prapatsyase nāgapuraṃ sarāṣṭram

Rid of anger and with your sin removed, roam wherever you please. Then, free from sorrow, you will gain Nagapura, the source of prosperity, together with its kingdom."

Note on the text: Corrected विहृत् → विहृत्य (misprint in Wikisource; the gerund lost its final य; the critical edition reads vihṛtya).

Verse 37 (3.185.37)

ततस्तदाज्ञाय मतं महात्मा । यथावदुक्तं पुरुषोत्तमेन । प्रशस्य विप्रेक्ष्य च धर्मराजः । कृताञ्जलिः केशवमित्युवाच ॥

tatastadājñāya mataṃ mahātmā | yathāvaduktaṃ puruṣottamena | praśasya viprekṣya ca dharmarājaḥ | kṛtāñjaliḥ keśavamityuvāca

Then the great-souled King of Dharma, understanding the view so fittingly put forward by the Supreme Person, praised it, looked at Keshava, and with joined palms spoke thus:

Verse 38 (3.185.38)

असंशयं केशव पाण्डवानां । भवान्गतिस्त्वच्छरणा हि पार्थाः । कालोदये तच्च ततश्च भूयः । कर्ता भवान्कर्म न संशयोस्ति ॥

asaṃśayaṃ keśava pāṇḍavānāṃ | bhavāngatistvaccharaṇā hi pārthāḥ | kālodaye tacca tataśca bhūyaḥ | kartā bhavānkarma na saṃśayosti

Without doubt, Keshava, you are the refuge of the Pandavas; the Parthas depend on you. When the time comes you will do this deed and more besides; of that there is no doubt.

Verse 39 (3.185.39)

यथाप्रतिज्ञं विहृतश्च कालः । सर्वाः समा द्वादश निर्जनेषु । अज्ञातचर्यां विधिवत्समाप्य । भवद्गताः केशव पाण्डवेयाः ॥

yathāpratijñaṃ vihṛtaśca kālaḥ | sarvāḥ samā dvādaśa nirjaneṣu | ajñātacaryāṃ vidhivatsamāpya | bhavadgatāḥ keśava pāṇḍaveyāḥ

As we vowed, we have spent the time, all twelve years in the wilderness. Once we have duly completed the year of living unknown, Keshava, the sons of Pandu will turn to you.

Verse 40 (3.185.40)

एषैव बुद्धिर्जुषतां सदा त्वां । सत्ये स्थिताः केशव पाण्डवेयाः । सदानधर्माः सजनाः सदाराः । सबान्धवास्त्वच्छरणा हि पार्थाः ॥

eṣaiva buddhirjuṣatāṃ sadā tvāṃ | satye sthitāḥ keśava pāṇḍaveyāḥ | sadānadharmāḥ sajanāḥ sadārāḥ | sabāndhavāstvaccharaṇā hi pārthāḥ

May this resolve always be devoted to you, Keshava. The sons of Pandu stand firm in truth; with their charity and dharma, with their people, their wife and their kinsmen, the Parthas have you as their refuge.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text; it appears in its apparatus as 3.180.38*0894 (found in the vulgate recension). Corrected सजलाः → सजनाः (misprint in Wikisource; "with water" makes no sense among wives and kinsmen; the apparatus reads sajanāḥ).

Verse 41 (3.185.41)

तथा वदतिवार्ष्णेये धर्मराजे च भारत । अथ पश्चात्तपोवृद्धो बहुवर्षसहस्रधृक् । प्रत्यदृश्यत धर्मात्मा मार्कण्डेयो महातपाः ॥

tathā vadativārṣṇeye dharmarāje ca bhārata | atha paścāttapovṛddho bahuvarṣasahasradhṛk | pratyadṛśyata dharmātmā mārkaṇḍeyo mahātapāḥ

While the Varshneya and the King of Dharma were speaking thus, O Bharata, there appeared, after them, the righteous Markandeya, the great ascetic, grown old in austerity and bearing many thousands of years.

Verse 42 (3.185.42)

अजरश्चामरश्चैव रूपौदार्यगुणान्वितः । व्यदृश्यत तथा युक्तो यथा स्यात्पञ्चविंशकः ॥

ajaraścāmaraścaiva rūpaudāryaguṇānvitaḥ | vyadṛśyata tathā yukto yathā syātpañcaviṃśakaḥ

Free from age and death, endowed with beauty, nobility and virtue, he looked as though he were twenty-five years old.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text; it appears in its apparatus as 3.180.39*0895 (found in the vulgate recension). Corrected अजरश्चामरंश्चैव → अजरश्चामरश्चैव (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvara; the apparatus reads ajaraś cāmaraś caiva).

Verse 43 (3.185.43)

तमागतमृषिं वृद्धं बहुवर्षसहस्रिणम् । उपातिष्ठन्त ते सर्वेपाण्डवाः सहयादवाः ॥

tamāgatamṛṣiṃ vṛddhaṃ bahuvarṣasahasriṇam | upātiṣṭhanta te sarvepāṇḍavāḥ sahayādavāḥ

All the Pandavas, together with the Yadavas, came to wait upon the aged sage who had arrived, many thousands of years old.

Note on the text: Only the first line matches critical edition 3.180.40; there the second line reads ānarcur brāhmaṇāḥ sarve kṛṣṇaś ca saha pāṇḍavaiḥ (a recension variant; the Wikisource line is kept).

Verse 44 (3.185.44)

तमर्चितं सुविश्वस्तमासीनमृषिसत्तमम् । ब्राह्मणानां मतेनाह पाण्डवानां च केशवः ॥

tamarcitaṃ suviśvastamāsīnamṛṣisattamam | brāhmaṇānāṃ matenāha pāṇḍavānāṃ ca keśavaḥ

When the best of sages had been honoured and was seated at his ease, Keshava, with the assent of the Brahmins and the Pandavas, said:

Verse 45 (3.185.45)

शुश्रूषवः पाण्डवास्ते ब्राह्मणाश्च समागताः । द्रौपदी सत्यभामा च तथाऽहंपरमं वचः ॥

śuśrūṣavaḥ pāṇḍavāste brāhmaṇāśca samāgatāḥ | draupadī satyabhāmā ca tathā'haṃparamaṃ vacaḥ

The Pandavas here and the Brahmins gathered together, Draupadi, Satyabhama and I myself are all eager to hear your supreme words.

Note on the text: Corrected शुश्रूपवः → शुश्रूषवः (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; the critical edition reads śuśrūṣavaḥ).

Verse 46 (3.185.46)

पुरावृत्ताः कथाः पुण्याः सदाचारान्सनातनान् । राज्ञांस्त्रीणामृषीणां च मार्कण्डेय प्रचक्ष्व नः ॥

purāvṛttāḥ kathāḥ puṇyāḥ sadācārānsanātanān | rājñāṃstrīṇāmṛṣīṇāṃ ca mārkaṇḍeya pracakṣva naḥ

Tell us, Markandeya, the holy tales of former times, and the eternal ways of right conduct of kings, of women and of seers.

Note on the text: Corrected मार्कणअडेय → मार्कण्डेय (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct).

Verse 47 (3.185.47)

तेषु तत्रोपविष्टेषु देवर्षिरपि नारदः । आजगाम विशुद्धात्मा पाण्डवानवलोककः ॥

teṣu tatropaviṣṭeṣu devarṣirapi nāradaḥ | ājagāma viśuddhātmā pāṇḍavānavalokakaḥ

As they were seated there, the divine seer Narada too arrived, pure of soul, wishing to see the Pandavas.

Verse 48 (3.185.48)

तमप्यथ महात्मानं सर्वे ते पुरुषर्षभाः । पाद्यार्ध्याभ्यां यथान्यायमुपतस्थुर्मनीषिणः ॥

tamapyatha mahātmānaṃ sarve te puruṣarṣabhāḥ | pādyārdhyābhyāṃ yathānyāyamupatasthurmanīṣiṇaḥ

All those bulls among men, wise as they were, received that great-souled one too with water for his feet and the guest-offering, as was fitting.

Verse 49 (3.185.49)

नारदस्त्वथ देवर्षिर्ज्ञात्वा तांस्तु कृतक्षणान् । मार्कण्डेयस्य वदतस्तां कथामन्वमोदत ॥

nāradastvatha devarṣirjñātvā tāṃstu kṛtakṣaṇān | mārkaṇḍeyasya vadatastāṃ kathāmanvamodata

Then the divine seer Narada, seeing that they were ready to listen, gave his approval to the tale Markandeya was about to tell.

Verse 50 (3.185.50)

उवाच चैनं कालज्ञं स्मयन्निव सनारदः । ब्रह्मर्षे कथ्यतां यत्ते पाण्डवेषु विवक्षितम् ॥

uvāca cainaṃ kālajñaṃ smayanniva sanāradaḥ | brahmarṣe kathyatāṃ yatte pāṇḍaveṣu vivakṣitam

And Narada, who knew the right moment, said to him with a hint of a smile: "Brahmin seer, tell what you wish to say to the Pandavas."

Verse 51 (3.185.51)

एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच मार्कण्डेयो महातपाः । क्षणं कुरुध्वंविपुलमाख्यातव्यं भविष्यति ॥

evamuktaḥ pratyuvāca mārkaṇḍeyo mahātapāḥ | kṣaṇaṃ kurudhvaṃvipulamākhyātavyaṃ bhaviṣyati

Thus addressed, the great ascetic Markandeya replied: "Settle yourselves at leisure; there will be much to tell."

Verse 52 (3.185.52)

एवमुक्ताः क्षणं चक्रुः पाण्डवाः सह तैर्द्विजैः । मध्यंदिने यथादित्यं प्रेक्षन्तस्ते महामुनिम् ॥

evamuktāḥ kṣaṇaṃ cakruḥ pāṇḍavāḥ saha tairdvijaiḥ | madhyaṃdine yathādityaṃ prekṣantaste mahāmunim

So addressed, the Pandavas, with those Brahmins, settled themselves, gazing at the great sage as one gazes at the sun at midday.