Markandeya Recalls Rama

Verse 1 (3.25.1)

तत्काननं प्राप्य नरेन्द्रपुत्राः । सुखोचिता वासमुपेत्य कृच्छ्रम् । विजह्रुरिन्द्रप्रतिमाः शिवेषु । सरस्वतीसालवनेषु तेषु ॥

tatkānanaṃ prāpya narendraputrāḥ | sukhocitā vāsamupetya kṛcchram | vijahrurindrapratimāḥ śiveṣu | sarasvatīsālavaneṣu teṣu

Having reached that forest, the king's sons, used to comfort but now come to a hard way of life, roamed like Indra in those auspicious sala forests on the Sarasvati.

Note on the text: Corrected इनद्र → इन्द्र (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct; the critical edition reads indra-).

Verse 2 (3.25.2)

यतींश्च राजा स मुनींश्च सर्वां- । स्तस्मिन्वने मूलफलैरुदग्रैः । द्विजातिमुख्यानृषभः कुरूणां । संतर्पयामास महानुभावः ॥

yatīṃśca rājā sa munīṃśca sarvāṃ- | stasminvane mūlaphalairudagraiḥ | dvijātimukhyānṛṣabhaḥ kurūṇāṃ | saṃtarpayāmāsa mahānubhāvaḥ

And the king, the noble bull of the Kurus, satisfied with choice roots and fruits in that forest all the ascetics and sages and the foremost of the twice-born.

Note on the text: Added the hyphen that marks a word running over the line break (सर्वां-स्तस्मिन्, i.e. सर्वांस्तस्मिन्), as elsewhere in these verses; no letters changed. The word order यतींश्च राजा स मुनींश्च सर्वान् is a recension variant of the critical edition's and is kept.

Verse 3 (3.25.3)

इष्टीश्च पित्र्याणि तथा क्रियाश्च । महावने वसतां पाण्डवानाम् । पुरोहितस्तत्र समृद्धतेजा- । श्चकार धौम्यः पितृवन्नृपाणाम् ॥

iṣṭīśca pitryāṇi tathā kriyāśca | mahāvane vasatāṃ pāṇḍavānām | purohitastatra samṛddhatejā- | ścakāra dhaumyaḥ pitṛvannṛpāṇām

While the Pandavas lived in the great forest, Dhaumya, their family priest, rich in spiritual power, performed for them, like a father for the princes, the sacrifices, the rites for the ancestors and the other ceremonies.

Verse 4 (3.25.4)

अपेत्य राष्ट्राद्वसतां तु तेषा- । मृषिः पुराणोऽतिथिराजगाम । तमाश्रमं तीव्रसमृद्धतेजा । मार्कण्डेयः श्रीमतां पाण्डवानाम् ॥

apetya rāṣṭrādvasatāṃ tu teṣā- | mṛṣiḥ purāṇo'tithirājagāma | tamāśramaṃ tīvrasamṛddhatejā | mārkaṇḍeyaḥ śrīmatāṃ pāṇḍavānām

While they lived there, having left the kingdom, an ancient seer came as a guest to the hermitage of the glorious Pandavas — Markandeya, of fierce and abundant energy.

Verse 5 (3.25.5)

तमागतं ज्वलितहुताशनप्रभं । महामनाः कुरुवृषभो युधिष्ठिरः । अपूजयत्सुरऋषिमानवार्चितं । महामुनिं ह्यनुपमसत्त्ववीर्यवान् ॥

tamāgataṃ jvalitahutāśanaprabhaṃ | mahāmanāḥ kuruvṛṣabho yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | apūjayatsuraṛṣimānavārcitaṃ | mahāmuniṃ hyanupamasattvavīryavān

When the great sage came, bright as a blazing fire, honoured by gods, seers and men, the high-minded Yudhishthira, bull of the Kurus, of matchless strength and valour, paid him homage.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension): it is the star passage 93* printed in the apparatus after 3.26.4d. Corrected -सत्व- → -सत्त्व- (dropped consonant in the conjunct; 93* reads -sattva-).

Verse 6 (3.25.6)

स सर्वविद्द्रौपदीं वीक्ष्य दीनां । युधिष्ठिरं भीमसेनार्जुनौ च । संस्मृत्य रामं मनसा महात्मा । तपस्विमध्येऽस्मयतामितौजाः ॥

sa sarvaviddraupadīṃ vīkṣya dīnāṃ | yudhiṣṭhiraṃ bhīmasenārjunau ca | saṃsmṛtya rāmaṃ manasā mahātmā | tapasvimadhye'smayatāmitaujāḥ

The all-knowing one, seeing Draupadi in her distress, and Yudhishthira, Bhimasena and Arjuna, remembered Rama in his mind, and the great-souled sage of boundless energy smiled in the midst of the ascetics.

Note on the text: Corrected युधिष्टिरं → युधिष्ठिरं (misprint in Wikisource; ट for ठ; the critical edition reads yudhiṣṭhiraṃ). Also restored a word space (संस्मृत्यरामं → संस्मृत्य रामं). वीक्ष्य दीनां for prekṣya kṛṣṇāṃ is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 7 (3.25.7)

तं धर्मराजो विमना इवाब्रवी- । त्सर्वे ह्रिया सन्ति तपस्विनोऽमी । भवानिदं किं स्मयतीव हृष्ट- । स्तपस्विनां पश्यतां मामुदीक्ष्य ॥

taṃ dharmarājo vimanā ivābravī- | tsarve hriyā santi tapasvino'mī | bhavānidaṃ kiṃ smayatīva hṛṣṭa- | stapasvināṃ paśyatāṃ māmudīkṣya

The King of Dharma, as if dismayed, said to him: "All these ascetics are abashed. Why do you smile, as though delighted, looking at me while the ascetics watch?"

Verse 8 (3.25.8)

न तात हृष्यामि न च स्मयामि । प्रहर्षजो मां भजते न दर्पः । तवापदं त्वद्य समीक्ष्य रामं । सत्यव्रतं दाशरथिं स्मरामि ॥

na tāta hṛṣyāmi na ca smayāmi | praharṣajo māṃ bhajate na darpaḥ | tavāpadaṃ tvadya samīkṣya rāmaṃ | satyavrataṃ dāśarathiṃ smarāmi

"I am not delighted, my son, nor am I smiling; no pride born of joy has taken hold of me. Seeing your misfortune today, I remember Rama, son of Dasharatha, true to his vow."

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (भजतेन → भजते न).

Verse 9 (3.25.9)

स चापि राजा सह लक्ष्मणेन । वने निवासं पितुरेव शासनात् । धन्वी चरन्पार्थ मयैव दृष्टो । गिरेः पुरा ऋष्यमूकस्य सानौ ॥

sa cāpi rājā saha lakṣmaṇena | vane nivāsaṃ pitureva śāsanāt | dhanvī caranpārtha mayaiva dṛṣṭo | gireḥ purā ṛṣyamūkasya sānau

"That king too lived in the forest with Lakshmana, at his father's command alone; long ago, Partha, I myself saw him roaming bow in hand on the slope of Mount Rishyamuka."

Note on the text: Corrected गिरे → गिरेः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped visarga; the genitive goes with ऋष्यमूकस्य; the critical edition reads girer). The order मयैव दृष्टो गिरेः पुरा (critical edition purā mayaiva dṛṣṭo gireḥ) is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 10 (3.25.10)

सहस्रनेत्रप्रतिमो महात्मा । यमस्य नेता नमुचेश्च हन्ता । पितुर्निदेशादनघः स्वधर्मं । चरन्वने दाशरथिश्चकार ॥

sahasranetrapratimo mahātmā | yamasya netā namuceśca hantā | piturnideśādanaghaḥ svadharmaṃ | caranvane dāśarathiścakāra

"Great-souled, like the thousand-eyed Indra, a master even of Yama and a slayer of Namuchi, the sinless son of Dasharatha, at his father's command, followed his own dharma while living in the forest."

Note on the text: यमस्य नेता and चरन्वने for the critical edition's mayasya jetā and vane vāsaṃ are recension variants and are kept.

Verse 11 (3.25.11)

स चापि शक्रस्य समप्रभावो । महानुभावः समरेष्वजेयः । विहाय भोगानचरद्वनेषु । नेशे बलस्येति चरेदधर्मम् ॥

sa cāpi śakrasya samaprabhāvo | mahānubhāvaḥ samareṣvajeyaḥ | vihāya bhogānacaradvaneṣu | neśe balasyeti caredadharmam

"He too, equal in power to Shakra, noble and unconquerable in battle, gave up his pleasures and lived in the forests. No one should do wrong thinking, 'I have the power.'"

Note on the text: Corrected शक्रस् → शक्रस्य (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara; the critical edition reads śakrasya).

Verse 12 (3.25.12)

नृपाश्च नाभागभगीरथादयो । महीमिमां सागरान्तां विजित्य । सत्येन तेऽप्यजयंस्तात लोका- । न्नेशे बलस्येति चरेदधर्मम् ॥

nṛpāśca nābhāgabhagīrathādayo | mahīmimāṃ sāgarāntāṃ vijitya | satyena te'pyajayaṃstāta lokā- | nneśe balasyeti caredadharmam

"Kings such as Nabhaga and Bhagiratha conquered this earth to the ocean's edge, and by truth, my son, they won the higher worlds as well. No one should do wrong thinking, 'I have the power.'"

Note on the text: Corrected भापाश्च → नृपाश्च (misprint in Wikisource; not a word; the critical edition reads nṛpāś ca). Also corrected अजयस्तात → अजयंस्तात (dropped anusvara; the critical edition reads ajayaṃs tāta).

Verse 13 (3.25.13)

अलर्कमाहुर्नरवर्य सन्तं । सत्यव्रतं काशिकरूषराजम् । विहाय राज्यानि वसूनि चैव । नेशे बलस्येति चरेदधर्मम् ॥

alarkamāhurnaravarya santaṃ | satyavrataṃ kāśikarūṣarājam | vihāya rājyāni vasūni caiva | neśe balasyeti caredadharmam

"Alarka, king of Kashi and Karusha, true to his vow, they call a good man, O best of men, for he gave up his kingdoms and his wealth. No one should do wrong thinking, 'I have the power.'"

Note on the text: Corrected नवर्य → नरवर्य (misprint in Wikisource; dropped akshara, the pada is a syllable short; the critical edition reads naravarya). Also corrected करूश → करूष (the people are the Karushas; the critical edition reads karūṣa-). राज्यानि for rāṣṭrāṇi is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 14 (3.25.14)

धात्रा विधिर्यो विहितः पुराणै- । स्तं पूजयन्तो नरवर्य सन्तः । सप्तर्षयः पार्थ दिवि प्रभान्ति । नेशे बलस्येति चरेदधर्मम् ॥

dhātrā vidhiryo vihitaḥ purāṇai- | staṃ pūjayanto naravarya santaḥ | saptarṣayaḥ pārtha divi prabhānti | neśe balasyeti caredadharmam

"Honouring the ordinance that the Creator laid down through the ancient scriptures, the Seven Seers, good men, O best of men, shine in heaven, Partha. No one should do wrong thinking, 'I have the power.'"

Verse 15 (3.25.15)

महाबलान्पर्वतकूटमात्रा- । न्विषाणिनः पश्य गजान्नरेन्द्र । स्थितान्निदेशे नरवर्य धातु- । र्नेशे बलस्येति चरेदधर्मम् ॥

mahābalānparvatakūṭamātrā- | nviṣāṇinaḥ paśya gajānnarendra | sthitānnideśe naravarya dhātu- | rneśe balasyeti caredadharmam

"Look, lord of men, at the tusked elephants, mighty and huge as mountain peaks; they keep to the Creator's command, best of men. No one should do wrong thinking, 'I have the power.'"

Verse 16 (3.25.16)

सर्वाणि भूतानि नरेन्द्र पश्य । तथा यथावद्विहितं विधात्रा । स्वयोनितः कर्म सदाचरन्ति । नेशे बलस्येति चरेदधर्मम् ॥

sarvāṇi bhūtāni narendra paśya | tathā yathāvadvihitaṃ vidhātrā | svayonitaḥ karma sadācaranti | neśe balasyeti caredadharmam

"See, lord of men, how all beings, just as the Ordainer has duly decreed, always act according to their own birth. No one should do wrong thinking, 'I have the power.'"

Note on the text: Corrected नेसे → नेशे (misprint in Wikisource; स for श in the refrain; the critical edition reads neśe). The rest of the verse (तथा …, स्वयोनितः कर्म सदाचरन्ति) is a recension variant of the critical edition's and is kept.

Verse 17 (3.25.17)

सत्येन धर्मेण यथार्हवृत्त्या । ह्रिया तथा सर्वभूतान्यतीत्य । यशश्च तेजश्च तवापि दीप्तं । विभावसोर्भास्करस्येव पार्थ ॥

satyena dharmeṇa yathārhavṛttyā | hriyā tathā sarvabhūtānyatītya | yaśaśca tejaśca tavāpi dīptaṃ | vibhāvasorbhāskarasyeva pārtha

"By truth, by dharma, by fitting conduct and by modesty you have surpassed all beings, Partha, and your fame and splendour blaze like those of fire and the sun."

Note on the text: Corrected सत्येनं → सत्येन (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvara; the critical edition reads satyena). Also corrected पार्त → पार्थ (त for थ; the critical edition reads pārtha).

Verse 18 (3.25.18)

यथाप्रतिज्ञं च महानुभाव । कृच्छ्रं वने वासमिमं निरुष्य । ततः श्रियं तेजसा तेन दीप्ता- । मादास्यसे पार्थिव कौरवेभ्यः ॥

yathāpratijñaṃ ca mahānubhāva | kṛcchraṃ vane vāsamimaṃ niruṣya | tataḥ śriyaṃ tejasā tena dīptā- | mādāsyase pārthiva kauravebhyaḥ

"When you have lived out this hard life in the forest as you vowed, noble one, you will take back from the Kauravas, O king, by that splendour of yours, your blazing fortune."

Note on the text: Corrected निरूष्य → निरुष्य (misprint in Wikisource; long vowel for short; the critical edition reads niruṣya). Also corrected आदास्वसे → आदास्यसे (व for य; the Wikisource commentary and the critical edition read ādāsyase) and कौरेवभ्यः → कौरवेभ्यः (vowel sign misplaced; the critical edition reads kauravebhyaḥ). तेन for svena is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 19 (3.25.19)

तमेवमुक्त्वा वचनं महर्षि- । स्तपस्विमध्ये सहितं सुहृद्भिः । आमन्त्र्य धौम्यं सहितांश्च पार्थां- । स्ततः प्रतस्थे दिशमुत्तरां सः ॥

tamevamuktvā vacanaṃ maharṣi- | stapasvimadhye sahitaṃ suhṛdbhiḥ | āmantrya dhaumyaṃ sahitāṃśca pārthāṃ- | stataḥ pratasthe diśamuttarāṃ saḥ

Having spoken these words to him in the midst of the ascetics, as he sat with his friends, the great seer took leave of Dhaumya and of all the Parthas and set out toward the north.

Note on the text: Corrected सुहृद्धिः → सुहृद्भिः (misprint in Wikisource; ध for भ; the critical edition reads suhṛdbhiḥ).