The Dialogue of Father and Son

Verse 1 (markandeya.10.1)

जैमिनिरुवाच । संशयं द्विजशार्दूलाः प्रब्रूत मम पृच्छतः । आविर्भाव-तिरोभावौ भूतानां यत्र संस्थितौ ॥ 10.1 ॥

jaiminiruvāca / saṃśayaṃ dvijaśārdūlāḥ prabrūta mama pṛcchataḥ / āvirbhāva-tirobhāvau bhūtānāṃ yatra saṃsthitau // 10.1 //

Jaimini said: O tigers among the twice-born, resolve this doubt of mine, as I ask about the point where the appearing and disappearing of beings comes to rest.

Verse 2 (markandeya.10.2)

कथं सञ्जायते जन्तुः कथं वा सविवर्धते । कथं वोदरमध्यस्थस्तिष्ठत्यङ्गनिपीडितः ॥ 10.2 ॥

kathaṃ sañjāyate jantuḥ kathaṃ vā savivardhate / kathaṃ vodaramadhyasthastiṣṭhatyaṅganipīḍitaḥ // 10.2 //

How does a being come into existence, and how does it grow? How does it remain, pressed by its own limbs, within the midst of the womb?

Verse 3 (markandeya.10.3)

निष्क्रान्तिमुदरात् प्राप्य कथं वा वृद्धिमृच्छति । उत्क्रान्तिकाले च कथञ्चिद्भावेन वियुज्यते ॥ 10.3 ॥

niṣkrāntimudarāt prāpya kathaṃ vā vṛddhimṛcchati / utkrāntikāle ca kathañcidbhāvena viyujyate // 10.3 //

Having emerged from the womb, how does it come to grow? And, at the time of departure, how is it separated from its bodily existence?

Verse 4 (markandeya.10.4)

कृत्स्नो मृतस्तथाश्नाति उभे सुकृत-दुष्कृते । कथं ते च तथा तस्य फलं सम्पादयन्त्युत ॥ 10.4 ॥

kṛtsno mṛtastathāśnāti ubhe sukṛta-duṣkṛte / kathaṃ te ca tathā tasya phalaṃ sampādayantyuta // 10.4 //

How, when dead, does a being fully partake of both his good and evil deeds, and how do those deeds bring their fruit to him?

Verse 5 (markandeya.10.5)

कथं न जीर्यते तत्र पिण्डीकृत इवाशये । स्त्रीकोष्ठे यत्र जीर्यन्ते भुक्तानि सुगुरूण्यपि । भक्ष्याणि यत्र नो जन्तुर्जोर्यते कथमल्पकः ॥ 10.5 ॥

kathaṃ na jīryate tatra piṇḍīkṛta ivāśaye / strīkoṣṭhe yatra jīryante bhuktāni sugurūṇyapi / bhakṣyāṇi yatra no janturjoryate kathamalpakaḥ // 10.5 //

Why does it not decay there, gathered as a mass in the womb — when even heavy food, once eaten, decays within a woman's belly? How does that tiny being, receiving no food there, not waste away?

Verse 6 (markandeya.10.6)

एतन्मे ब्रूत सकलं सन्देहोक्तिविवर्जितम् । तदेतत् परम गुह्यं यत्र मुह्यन्ति जन्तवः ॥ 10.6 ॥

etanme brūta sakalaṃ sandehoktivivarjitam / tadetat parama guhyaṃ yatra muhyanti jantavaḥ // 10.6 //

Tell me all this, leaving no room for doubt; this is the most profound mystery, one in which even great beings become bewildered.

Verse 7 (markandeya.10.7)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । प्रश्नभारोऽयमतुलस्त्वयास्मासु निवेशितः । दुर्भाव्यः सर्वभूतानां भावाभावसमाश्रितः ॥ 10.7 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / praśnabhāro 'yamatulastvayāsmāsu niveśitaḥ / durbhāvyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ bhāvābhāvasamāśritaḥ // 10.7 //

The birds said: You have laid upon us this incomparable burden of questions; this matter, bound up with the existence and non-existence of all beings, is exceedingly difficult to comprehend.

Verse 8 (markandeya.10.8)

तं शृणुष्व महाभाग यथा प्राह पितुः पुरा । पुत्रः परमधर्मात्मा सुमतिर्नाम नामतः ॥ 10.8 ॥

taṃ śṛṇuṣva mahābhāga yathā prāha pituḥ purā / putraḥ paramadharmātmā sumatirnāma nāmataḥ // 10.8 //

Listen to it, O illustrious one, just as it was once told by a son, supremely righteous of soul, named Sumati, to his own father.

Verse 9 (markandeya.10.9)

ब्राह्मणो भार्गवः कश्चित् सुतमाह महामतिः । कृतोपनयनं शान्तं सुमतिं जडरूपिणम् ॥ 10.9 ॥

brāhmaṇo bhārgavaḥ kaścit sutamāha mahāmatiḥ / kṛtopanayanaṃ śāntaṃ sumatiṃ jaḍarūpiṇam // 10.9 //

A certain highly intelligent brahmana of the Bhrigu lineage said to his son Sumati — a boy of tranquil nature who, though invested with the sacred thread, appeared dull-witted —

Verse 10 (markandeya.10.10)

वेदानधीष्व सुमते ! यथानुक्रममादितः । गुरुशुश्रूषणे व्यग्रो भैक्षान्नकृतभोजनः ॥ 10.10 ॥

vedānadhīṣva sumate ! yathānukramamāditaḥ / guruśuśrūṣaṇe vyagro bhaikṣānnakṛtabhojanaḥ // 10.10 //

'Study the Vedas, O Sumati, in due order, from the beginning; be diligent in serving your guru, and take your meals only from food received in alms.'

Verse 11 (markandeya.10.11)

ततो गार्हस्थ्यमास्थाय चेष्ट्वा यज्ञाननुत्तमान् । इष्टमुत्पादयापत्यमाश्रयेथा वनं ततः ॥ 10.11 ॥

tato gārhasthyamāsthāya ceṣṭvā yajñānanuttamān / iṣṭamutpādayāpatyamāśrayethā vanaṃ tataḥ // 10.11 //

'Then, having entered the householder's life, having performed the finest sacrifices, and having begotten the desired offspring, take refuge in the forest thereafter.'

Verse 12 (markandeya.10.12)

वनस्थश्च ततो वत्स परिव्राड् निष्परिग्रहः । एवमाप्स्यसि तद्ब्रह्म यत्र गत्वा न शोचसि ॥ 10.12 ॥

vanasthaśca tato vatsa parivrāḍ niṣparigrahaḥ / evamāpsyasi tadbrahma yatra gatvā na śocasi // 10.12 //

'And having dwelt in the forest, my child, become then a homeless wanderer, possessing nothing — thus shall you attain that Brahman, reaching which one grieves no more.'

Verse 13 (markandeya.10.13)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । इत्येवमुक्तो बहुशो जडत्वान्नाह किञ्चन । पितापि तं सुबहुशः प्राह प्रीत्या पुनः पुनः ॥ 10.13 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / ityevamukto bahuśo jaḍatvānnāha kiñcana / pitāpi taṃ subahuśaḥ prāha prītyā punaḥ punaḥ // 10.13 //

The birds said: Told this many times over, he, owing to his seeming dullness, said nothing at all; and the father too, out of love, urged him again and again, many times.

Verse 14 (markandeya.10.14)

इति पित्रा सुतस्नेहात् प्रलोभि मधुराक्षरम् । स चोद्यमानो बहुशः प्रहस्येदमथाब्रवीत् ॥ 10.14 ॥

iti pitrā sutasnehāt pralobhi madhurākṣaram / sa codyamāno bahuśaḥ prahasyedamathābravīt // 10.14 //

Being thus repeatedly tempted with sweet words by his father, out of paternal love, that son at last laughed and said this:

Verse 15 (markandeya.10.15)

तातैतद्बहुशोऽभ्यस्तं यत् त्वयाद्योपदिश्यते । तथैवान्यानि शास्त्राणि शिल्पानि विविधानि च ॥ 10.15 ॥

tātaitadbahuśo 'bhyastaṃ yat tvayādyopadiśyate / tathaivānyāni śāstrāṇi śilpāni vividhāni ca // 10.15 //

'Father, what you teach me today, I have already practiced many times before — and likewise other scriptures and various arts and crafts.'

Verse 16 (markandeya.10.16)

जन्मनामयुतं साग्रं मम स्मृतिपथं गतम् । निर्वेदाः परितोषाश्च क्षयवृद्ध्युदये गताः ॥ 10.16 ॥

janmanāmayutaṃ sāgraṃ mama smṛtipathaṃ gatam / nirvedāḥ paritoṣāśca kṣayavṛddhyudaye gatāḥ // 10.16 //

'More than ten thousand births have passed within the reach of my memory; states of dispassion and contentment have come to me, amid the rise of loss and gain.'

Verse 17 (markandeya.10.17)

शत्रुमित्रकलत्राणां वियोगाः सङ्गमास्तथा । मातरो विवधा दृष्टाः पितरो विवधास्तथा ॥ 10.17 ॥

śatrumitrakalatrāṇāṃ viyogāḥ saṅgamāstathā / mātaro vivadhā dṛṣṭāḥ pitaro vivadhāstathā // 10.17 //

'I have seen separations and reunions with enemies, friends, and wives; I have had mothers of many kinds, and fathers of many kinds as well.'

Verse 18 (markandeya.10.18)

अनुभूतानि सौख्यनि दुः खानि च सहस्रशः । बान्धवा बहवः प्राप्ताः पितरश्च पृथग्विधाः ॥ 10.18 ॥

anubhūtāni saukhyani duḥ khāni ca sahasraśaḥ / bāndhavā bahavaḥ prāptāḥ pitaraśca pṛthagvidhāḥ // 10.18 //

'I have experienced pleasures and pains by the thousands; I have gained many kinds of relatives, and fathers of every different sort.'

Verse 19 (markandeya.10.19)

विण्मूत्रपिच्छिले स्त्रीणां तथा कोष्ठे मयोषितम् । पीडाश्च सुभृशं प्राप्ता रोगाणाञ्च सहस्रशः ॥ 10.19 ॥

viṇmūtrapicchile strīṇāṃ tathā koṣṭhe mayoṣitam / pīḍāśca subhṛśaṃ prāptā rogāṇāñca sahasraśaḥ // 10.19 //

'I have dwelt for long spells in the womb of women, slippery with feces and urine; I have received the severest afflictions, and diseases by the thousand.'

Verse 20 (markandeya.10.20)

गर्भदुः खान्यनेकानि बालत्वे यौवने तथा । वृद्धतायां तथाप्तानि तानि सर्वाणि संस्मरे ॥ 10.20 ॥

garbhaduḥ khānyanekāni bālatve yauvane tathā / vṛddhatāyāṃ tathāptāni tāni sarvāṇi saṃsmare // 10.20 //

'The many sufferings of the womb, and likewise those met with in childhood, in youth, and in old age — all of these I remember well.'

Verse 21 (markandeya.10.21)

ब्राह्मण-क्षत्रिय-विशां शूद्राणाञ्चापि योनिषु । पुनश्च पुशुकीटानां मृगाणामथ पक्षिणाम् ॥ 10.21 ॥

brāhmaṇa-kṣatriya-viśāṃ śūdrāṇāñcāpi yoniṣu / punaśca puśukīṭānāṃ mṛgāṇāmatha pakṣiṇām // 10.21 //

'I have been born in the wombs of brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaishyas, and shudras; and again among beasts, insects, deer, and birds,'

Verse 22 (markandeya.10.22)

तथैव राजभृत्यानां राज्ञाञ्चाहवशालिनाम् । समुत्पन्नोऽस्मि गेहेषु तथैव तव वेश्मनि ॥ 10.22 ॥

tathaiva rājabhṛtyānāṃ rājñāñcāhavaśālinām / samutpanno 'smi geheṣu tathaiva tava veśmani // 10.22 //

'and likewise in the households of kings' servants and of kings skilled in battle — and just so, in your own house as well.'

Verse 23 (markandeya.10.23)

भृत्यतां दासताञ्चैव गतोऽस्मि बहुशो नृणाम् । स्वामित्वमीश्वरत्वं च दरिद्रत्वं तथा गतः ॥ 10.23 ॥

bhṛtyatāṃ dāsatāñcaiva gato 'smi bahuśo nṛṇām / svāmitvamīśvaratvaṃ ca daridratvaṃ tathā gataḥ // 10.23 //

'Among men, I have often come to the state of a servant and a slave, and likewise to mastery, to lordship, and to poverty.'

Verse 24 (markandeya.10.24)

हतं मया हतश्चान्यैर्हतं मे घातितं तथा । दत्तं ममान्यैरन्येभ्यो मया दत्तमनेकशाः ॥ 10.24 ॥

hataṃ mayā hataścānyairhataṃ me ghātitaṃ tathā / dattaṃ mamānyairanyebhyo mayā dattamanekaśāḥ // 10.24 //

'I have slain, and been slain by others, and have caused others to be slain; others have given to me, and I too have given to others many times over.'

Verse 25 (markandeya.10.25)

पितृ-मातृ-सुहृद्-भ्रातृ-कलत्रादिकृतेन च । तुष्टोऽसकृत् तथा दैन्यमश्रुधौताननो गतः ॥ 10.25 ॥

pitṛ-mātṛ-suhṛd-bhrātṛ-kalatrādikṛtena ca / tuṣṭo 'sakṛt tathā dainyamaśrudhautānano gataḥ // 10.25 //

'Through the actions of father, mother, friend, brother, wife, and the rest, I have often been made content, and just as often reduced to misery, my face washed with tears.'

Verse 26 (markandeya.10.26)

एवं संसारचक्रेऽस्मिन् भ्रमता तात सङ्कटे । ज्ञानमेतन्मया प्राप्तं मोक्षसम्प्राप्तिकारकम् ॥ 10.26 ॥

evaṃ saṃsāracakre 'smin bhramatā tāta saṅkaṭe / jñānametanmayā prāptaṃ mokṣasamprāptikārakam // 10.26 //

'Thus, father, wandering in the distress of this wheel of samsara, I have attained this knowledge that brings about the attainment of liberation.'

Verse 27 (markandeya.10.27)

विज्ञाते यत्र सर्वोऽयमृग्यजुः सामसंज्ञितः । क्रियाकलापो विगुणो न सम्यक् प्रतिभाति मे ॥ 10.27 ॥

vijñāte yatra sarvo 'yamṛgyajuḥ sāmasaṃjñitaḥ / kriyākalāpo viguṇo na samyak pratibhāti me // 10.27 //

'Once this is known, this entire body of rites called the Rig, Yajur, and Sama appears to me flawed and imperfect.'

Verse 28 (markandeya.10.28)

तस्मादुत्पन्नबोधस्य वेदैः किं मे प्रयोजनम् । गुरुविज्ञानतृप्तस्य निरीहस्य सदात्मनः ॥ 10.28 ॥

tasmādutpannabodhasya vedaiḥ kiṃ me prayojanam / guruvijñānatṛptasya nirīhasya sadātmanaḥ // 10.28 //

'Therefore, for one who has attained such understanding, what use are the Vedas — for me, who am satisfied by the true guru's knowledge, free of desire, and ever the unchanging Self?'

Verse 29 (markandeya.10.29)

षट् प्रकारक्रिया-दुःख-सुख-हर्ष-रसैश्च यत् । गुणैश्च वर्जितं ब्रह्म तत् प्राप्स्यामि परं पदम् ॥ 10.29 ॥

ṣaṭ prakārakriyā-duḥkha-sukha-harṣa-rasaiśca yat / guṇaiśca varjitaṃ brahma tat prāpsyāmi paraṃ padam // 10.29 //

'That Brahman which is free from the six kinds of change, and from pain, pleasure, joy, and taste, and free from the gunas as well — that supreme state I shall attain.'

Verse 30 (markandeya.10.30)

रस-हर्ष-भयोद्वेग-क्रोधामर्ष-जरातुराम् । विज्ञातां स्वमृगग्राहिसंघपाशशताकुलम् ॥ 10.30 ॥

rasa-harṣa-bhayodvega-krodhāmarṣa-jarāturām / vijñātāṃ svamṛgagrāhisaṃghapāśaśatākulam // 10.30 //

'This world, I have come to know, is one afflicted with taste, joy, fear, agitation, anger, and impatience, worn down by old age, and entangled in hundreds of snares laid by predators of its own kind.'

Verse 31 (markandeya.10.31)

तस्माद्यास्याम्यहं तात त्यक्त्वेमां दुः खसन्ततिम् । त्रयीधर्ममधर्माढ्यं किं पापफलसन्निभम् ॥ 10.31 ॥

tasmādyāsyāmyahaṃ tāta tyaktvemāṃ duḥ khasantatim / trayīdharmamadharmāḍhyaṃ kiṃ pāpaphalasannibham // 10.31 //

'Therefore, father, I shall depart, forsaking this unbroken chain of suffering — and the triple-Veda dharma of ritual too, laden with unrighteousness and resembling nothing but the fruit of sin.'

Verse 32 (markandeya.10.32)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा हर्षविस्मयगद्गदम् । पिता प्राह महाभागः स्वसुतं हृष्टमानसः ॥ 10.32 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā harṣavismayagadgadam / pitā prāha mahābhāgaḥ svasutaṃ hṛṣṭamānasaḥ // 10.32 //

The birds said: Hearing these words of his, choked with joy and astonishment, the illustrious father, his heart delighted, said to his own son —

Verse 33 (markandeya.10.33)

पितोवाच । किमेतद्वदसे वत्स कुतस्ते ज्ञानसम्भवः । केन ते जडता पूर्वमिदानीञ्च प्रबुद्धता ॥ 10.33 ॥

pitovāca / kimetadvadase vatsa kutaste jñānasambhavaḥ / kena te jaḍatā pūrvamidānīñca prabuddhatā // 10.33 //

The father said: 'What is this you say, my child? Whence has this knowledge come to you? What caused your dullness before, and what causes this awakening now?'

Verse 34 (markandeya.10.34)

किन्नु शापविकारोऽयं मुनिदेवकृतस्तव । यत्ते ज्ञानं तिरोभूतमाविर्भावमुपागतम् ॥ 10.34 ॥

kinnu śāpavikāro 'yaṃ munidevakṛtastava / yatte jñānaṃ tirobhūtamāvirbhāvamupāgatam // 10.34 //

'Is this perhaps some effect wrought by the curse of some sage or god — that your hidden knowledge has now come to manifest itself?'

Verse 35 (markandeya.10.35)

पुत्र उवाच । शृणु तात ! यथा वृत्तं ममेदं सुख-दुःखदम् । यश्चाहमासमन्यस्मिन् जन्मन्यस्मत्परन्तु यत् ॥ 10.35 ॥

putra uvāca / śṛṇu tāta ! yathā vṛttaṃ mamedaṃ sukha-duḥkhadam / yaścāhamāsamanyasmin janmanyasmatparantu yat // 10.35 //

The son said: 'Listen, father, to how this happened to me — a tale of both joy and sorrow — and who I was in a different birth from this one.'

Verse 36 (markandeya.10.36)

अहमासं पुरा विप्रो न्यस्तात्मा परमात्मनि । आत्मविद्याविचारेषु परां निष्ठामुपागतः ॥ 10.36 ॥

ahamāsaṃ purā vipro nyastātmā paramātmani / ātmavidyāvicāreṣu parāṃ niṣṭhāmupāgataḥ // 10.36 //

'I was, in a former time, a brahmana, my very self surrendered into the Supreme Self, having attained the highest devotion in inquiry into the science of the Self.'

Verse 37 (markandeya.10.37)

सततं योगयुक्तस्य सतताभ्याससङ्गमात् । सत्संयोगात् स्वस्वभावाद्विचारविधिशोधनात् ॥ 10.37 ॥

satataṃ yogayuktasya satatābhyāsasaṅgamāt / satsaṃyogāt svasvabhāvādvicāravidhiśodhanāt // 10.37 //

'Through being ever joined in yoga, through the union of ceaseless practice, through good company, through my own nature, and through the purification wrought by the discipline of inquiry —'

Verse 38 (markandeya.10.38)

तस्मिन्नवे परा प्रीतिर्ममासीद् युञ्जतः सदा । आचार्यताञ्च सम्प्राप्तः शिष्यसन्देहहृत्तमः ॥ 10.38 ॥

tasminnave parā prītirmamāsīd yuñjataḥ sadā / ācāryatāñca samprāptaḥ śiṣyasandehahṛttamaḥ // 10.38 //

'— being ever engaged thus, supreme joy was mine; and I attained the rank of a teacher, foremost in dispelling the doubts of my disciples.'

Verse 39 (markandeya.10.39)

ततः कालेन महता ऐकान्तिकमुपगतः । अज्ञानाकृष्टसद्भावो विपन्नश्च प्रमादतः ॥ 10.39 ॥

tataḥ kālena mahatā aikāntikamupagataḥ / ajñānākṛṣṭasadbhāvo vipannaśca pramādataḥ // 10.39 //

'Then, after a long span of time, I attained a state of solitary devotion; but ignorance drew away my true nature, and through carelessness I perished.'

Verse 40 (markandeya.10.40)

उत्क्रान्तिकालादारभ्य स्मृतिलोपो न मेऽभवत् । यावदब्दं गतं चैव जन्मनां स्मृतिमागतम् ॥ 10.40 ॥

utkrāntikālādārabhya smṛtilopo na me 'bhavat / yāvadabdaṃ gataṃ caiva janmanāṃ smṛtimāgatam // 10.40 //

'From the very moment of my departure onward, no loss of memory ever befell me; however many years have passed, the memory of all my births has stayed with me.'

Verse 41 (markandeya.10.41)

पूर्वाभ्यासेन तेनैव सोऽहं तात ! जितेन्द्रियः । यतिष्यामि तथा कर्तुं न भविष्ये यथा पुनः ॥ 10.41 ॥

pūrvābhyāsena tenaiva so 'haṃ tāta ! jitendriyaḥ / yatiṣyāmi tathā kartuṃ na bhaviṣye yathā punaḥ // 10.41 //

'By that very former practice, father, I am now one of conquered senses; I shall strive so that I may never again fall into such carelessness.'

Verse 42 (markandeya.10.42)

ज्ञानदानफलं ह्येतद्यज्जातिस्मरणं मम । न ह्येतत् प्राप्यते तात त्रयीधर्माश्रितैर्नरैः ॥ 10.42 ॥

jñānadānaphalaṃ hyetadyajjātismaraṇaṃ mama / na hyetat prāpyate tāta trayīdharmāśritairnaraiḥ // 10.42 //

'This memory of my past births is indeed the fruit of the gift of knowledge; men devoted merely to the triple-Veda's ritual dharma, father, do not attain this.'

Verse 43 (markandeya.10.43)

सोऽहं पूर्वाश्रमादेव निष्ठाधर्ममुपाश्रितः । एकान्तित्वमुपागम्य यतिष्याम्यात्ममोक्षणे ॥ 10.43 ॥

so 'haṃ pūrvāśramādeva niṣṭhādharmamupāśritaḥ / ekāntitvamupāgamya yatiṣyāmyātmamokṣaṇe // 10.43 //

'Therefore, from this very present stage of life, taking refuge in the discipline of steadfast devotion, attaining a state of single-minded solitude, I shall strive for the liberation of my own self.'

Verse 44 (markandeya.10.44)

तद्ब्रूहि त्वं महाभाग ! यत् ते संशयिकं हृदि । एतावतापि ते प्रीतिमुत्पाद्यानृण्यमाप्नुयाम् ॥ 10.44 ॥

tadbrūhi tvaṃ mahābhāga ! yat te saṃśayikaṃ hṛdi / etāvatāpi te prītimutpādyānṛṇyamāpnuyām // 10.44 //

'So tell me, illustrious one, whatever doubt lies in your heart; by this much, having brought you joy, may I discharge my debt to you.'

Verse 45 (markandeya.10.45)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । पिता प्राह ततः पुत्रं श्रद्दधत् तस्य तद्वचः । भवता यद्वयं पृष्टाः संसारग्रहणाश्रयम् ॥ 10.45 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / pitā prāha tataḥ putraṃ śraddadhat tasya tadvacaḥ / bhavatā yadvayaṃ pṛṣṭāḥ saṃsāragrahaṇāśrayam // 10.45 //

The birds said: The father, then, trusting his son's words, spoke — since you have invited my question, hear it: it is this — the basis on which a being becomes gripped by the wheel of samsara.

Verse 46 (markandeya.10.46)

पुत्र उवाच । शृणु तात ! यथा तत्त्वमनुभूतं मयासकृत् । संसारचक्रमजरं स्थितिर्यस्य न विद्यते ॥ 10.46 ॥

putra uvāca / śṛṇu tāta ! yathā tattvamanubhūtaṃ mayāsakṛt / saṃsāracakramajaraṃ sthitiryasya na vidyate // 10.46 //

The son said: 'Listen, father, to the truth as I myself have repeatedly experienced it — this wheel of samsara, unaging, for which no fixed resting-state exists.'

Verse 47 (markandeya.10.47)

सोऽहं वदामि ते सर्वं तवैवानुज्ञया पितः । उत्क्रान्तिकालादारभ्य यथा नान्यो वदिष्यति ॥ 10.47 ॥

so 'haṃ vadāmi te sarvaṃ tavaivānujñayā pitaḥ / utkrāntikālādārabhya yathā nānyo vadiṣyati // 10.47 //

'I shall tell you all of it, father, by your own leave, beginning from the moment of departure from the body — as no one else could tell it.'

Verse 48 (markandeya.10.48)

ऊष्मा प्रकुपितः काये तीव्रवायुसमीरितः । भिनत्ति मर्मस्थानानि दीप्यमानो निरिन्धनः ॥ 10.48 ॥

ūṣmā prakupitaḥ kāye tīvravāyusamīritaḥ / bhinatti marmasthānāni dīpyamāno nirindhanaḥ // 10.48 //

'A heat, aggravated within the body, driven by a fierce inner wind, blazing without fuel, tears open the vital points of the body.'

Verse 49 (markandeya.10.49)

उदानो नाम पवनस्ततश्चोर्ध्वं प्रवर्तते । भुक्तानामम्बुभक्ष्याणामधोगतिनिरोधकृत् ॥ 10.49 ॥

udāno nāma pavanastataścordhvaṃ pravartate / bhuktānāmambubhakṣyāṇāmadhogatinirodhakṛt // 10.49 //

'Then the vital breath named udana begins to move upward, and obstructs the downward passage of the food and water that had been consumed.'

Verse 50 (markandeya.10.50)

ततो येनाम्बुदानानि कृतान्यन्नरसास्तथा । दत्ताः स तस्य आह्लादमापदि प्रतिपद्यते ॥ 10.50 ॥

tato yenāmbudānāni kṛtānyannarasāstathā / dattāḥ sa tasya āhlādamāpadi pratipadyate // 10.50 //

'Then he who, in life, gave gifts of water and of the essence of food attains relief and comfort in that hour of crisis.'

Verse 51 (markandeya.10.51)

अन्नानि येन दत्तानि श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा । सोऽपि तृप्तिमवाप्नोति विनाप्यन्नेन वै तदा ॥ 10.51 ॥

annāni yena dattāni śraddhāpūtena cetasā / so 'pi tṛptimavāpnoti vināpyannena vai tadā // 10.51 //

'He who has given food with a heart purified by faith — he too attains fullness then, even without any food.'

Verse 52 (markandeya.10.52)

येनानृतानि नोक्तानि प्रीतिभेदः कृतो न च । आस्तिकः श्रद्दधानश्च स सुखं मृत्युमृच्छति ॥ 10.52 ॥

yenānṛtāni noktāni prītibhedaḥ kṛto na ca / āstikaḥ śraddadhānaśca sa sukhaṃ mṛtyumṛcchati // 10.52 //

'He who has never spoken falsehood, nor caused a rift in anyone's affection — that faithful, believing man meets death with ease.'

Verse 53 (markandeya.10.53)

देवब्राह्मणपूजायां ये रता नानसूयवः । शुक्ला वदान्या ह्रीमन्तस्ते नराः सुखमृत्यवः ॥ 10.53 ॥

devabrāhmaṇapūjāyāṃ ye ratā nānasūyavaḥ / śuklā vadānyā hrīmantaste narāḥ sukhamṛtyavaḥ // 10.53 //

'Men devoted to the worship of gods and brahmanas, free of envy, pure, generous, and modest — theirs is an easeful death.'

Verse 54 (markandeya.10.54)

यो न कामान्न संरम्भान्न द्वेषाद्धर्ममुत्सृजेत् । यथोक्तकारी सोम्यश्च स सुखं मृत्युमृच्छति ॥ 10.54 ॥

yo na kāmānna saṃrambhānna dveṣāddharmamutsṛjet / yathoktakārī somyaśca sa sukhaṃ mṛtyumṛcchati // 10.54 //

'He who abandons dharma neither for desire, nor anger, nor hatred, who acts as enjoined and is gentle by nature — he too meets death with ease.'

Verse 55 (markandeya.10.55)

अवारिदायिनो दाहं क्षुधाञ्चानन्नदायिनः । प्राप्नुवन्ति नराः काले तस्मिन् मृत्यावुपस्थिते ॥ 10.55 ॥

avāridāyino dāhaṃ kṣudhāñcānannadāyinaḥ / prāpnuvanti narāḥ kāle tasmin mṛtyāvupasthite // 10.55 //

'Those who have not given water experience a burning thirst, and those who have not given food experience hunger, when that hour of death arrives.'

Verse 56 (markandeya.10.56)

शीतं जयन्तीन्धनदास्तापं चन्दनदायिनः । प्राणघ्नीं वेदनां कष्टां ये चानुद्वेगकारिणः ॥ 10.56 ॥

śītaṃ jayantīndhanadāstāpaṃ candanadāyinaḥ / prāṇaghnīṃ vedanāṃ kaṣṭāṃ ye cānudvegakāriṇaḥ // 10.56 //

'Those who gave firewood overcome the cold; those who gave sandalwood overcome the heat; and those who caused no distress to others are spared that agonizing, life-destroying pain.'

Verse 57 (markandeya.10.57)

मोहाज्ञानप्रदातारः प्राप्नुवन्ति महद्भयम् । वेदनाभिरुदग्राभिः प्रपीड्यन्तेऽधमा नराः ॥ 10.57 ॥

mohājñānapradātāraḥ prāpnuvanti mahadbhayam / vedanābhirudagrābhiḥ prapīḍyante 'dhamā narāḥ // 10.57 //

'Those who gave others delusion and false knowledge attain great terror; such base men are tormented by violent pains.'

Verse 58 (markandeya.10.58)

कूटसाक्षी मृषावादी यश्चासदनुशास्ति वै । ते मोहमृत्यवः सर्वे तथा वेदविनिन्दकाः ॥ 10.58 ॥

kūṭasākṣī mṛṣāvādī yaścāsadanuśāsti vai / te mohamṛtyavaḥ sarve tathā vedavinindakāḥ // 10.58 //

'The false witness, the liar, and he who teaches what is untrue — all of these, and the reviler of the Vedas too, die in utter delusion.'

Verse 59 (markandeya.10.59)

विभीषणाः पूतिगन्धाः कूटमुद्गरपाणयः । आगच्छन्ति दुरात्मानो यमस्य पुरुषास्तदा ॥ 10.59 ॥

vibhīṣaṇāḥ pūtigandhāḥ kūṭamudgarapāṇayaḥ / āgacchanti durātmāno yamasya puruṣāstadā // 10.59 //

'Then Yama's messengers — terrifying, foul-smelling, iron clubs in hand — come to that evil-souled man.'

Verse 60 (markandeya.10.60)

प्राप्तेषु दृक्पथं तेषु जायते तस्य वेपथुः । क्रान्दत्यविरतं सोऽथ भ्रातृ-मातृसुतानथ ॥ 10.60 ॥

prāpteṣu dṛkpathaṃ teṣu jāyate tasya vepathuḥ / krāndatyavirataṃ so 'tha bhrātṛ-mātṛsutānatha // 10.60 //

'When they come within the range of his sight, a trembling seizes him; he cries out without ceasing for his brother, his mother, and his children.'

Verse 61 (markandeya.10.61)

सास्य वागस्फुटा तात एकवर्णा विभाव्यते । दृष्टिश्च भ्राम्यते त्रासाच्छ्वासाच्छुष्यत्यथाननम् ॥ 10.61 ॥

sāsya vāgasphuṭā tāta ekavarṇā vibhāvyate / dṛṣṭiśca bhrāmyate trāsācchvāsācchuṣyatyathānanam // 10.61 //

'His speech, father, becomes indistinct, reduced to a single inarticulate sound; his eyes wander in terror, and his mouth grows parched from labored breathing.'

Verse 62 (markandeya.10.62)

ऊर्ध्वश्वासान्वितः सोऽथ दृष्टिभङ्गसमन्वितः । ततः स वेदनाविष्टस्तच्छरीरं विमुञ्चति ॥ 10.62 ॥

ūrdhvaśvāsānvitaḥ so 'tha dṛṣṭibhaṅgasamanvitaḥ / tataḥ sa vedanāviṣṭastaccharīraṃ vimuñcati // 10.62 //

'Then, his breath rising upward, his eyesight failing, overcome by agony, he at last abandons that body.'

Verse 63 (markandeya.10.63)

वाय्वग्रसारी तद्रूपं देहमन्यत् प्रपद्यते । तत्कर्मजं यातनार्थं न मातृ-पितृसम्भवम् । तत्प्रमाणवयोऽवस्था-संस्थानैः प्राग्भवं यथा ॥ 10.63 ॥

vāyvagrasārī tadrūpaṃ dehamanyat prapadyate / tatkarmajaṃ yātanārthaṃ na mātṛ-pitṛsambhavam / tatpramāṇavayo 'vasthā-saṃsthānaiḥ prāgbhavaṃ yathā // 10.63 //

'Sustained chiefly by air, he takes on another body of that same form — a body born of his own deeds and meant for suffering, not born of mother and father — matching, in size, age, condition, and shape, the body of his former life.'

Verse 64 (markandeya.10.64)

ततो दूतो यमस्याशु पाशैर्बध्नाति दारुणैः । दण्डप्रहारसम्भ्रान्तं कर्षते दक्षिणां दिशम् ॥ 10.64 ॥

tato dūto yamasyāśu pāśairbadhnāti dāruṇaiḥ / daṇḍaprahārasambhrāntaṃ karṣate dakṣiṇāṃ diśam // 10.64 //

'Then Yama's messenger swiftly binds him with terrible nooses, and, terrified by blows of the rod, drags him toward the southern quarter.'

Verse 65 (markandeya.10.65)

कुश-कण्टक-वलमीक-शङ्कु-पाषाणकर्कशे । तथा प्रदीप्तज्वलने क्वचिच्छृभ्रशतोत्कटे ॥ 10.65 ॥

kuśa-kaṇṭaka-valamīka-śaṅku-pāṣāṇakarkaśe / tathā pradīptajvalane kvacicchṛbhraśatotkaṭe // 10.65 //

'Over ground harsh with kusha-grass, thorns, anthills, stakes, and stones, and elsewhere over blazing fire, or over ground bristling with hundreds of sharp spikes —'

Verse 66 (markandeya.10.66)

प्रदीप्तादित्यतप्ते च दह्यमाने तदंशुभिः । कृष्यते यमदूतैश्चाशिवसन्नादभीषणैः ॥ 10.66 ॥

pradīptādityatapte ca dahyamāne tadaṃśubhiḥ / kṛṣyate yamadūtaiścāśivasannādabhīṣaṇaiḥ // 10.66 //

'and over ground scorched by a blazing sun, burning under its rays — he is dragged along by Yama's messengers, terrible with their inauspicious roaring.'

Verse 67 (markandeya.10.67)

विकृष्यमाणस्तैर्घोरैर्भक्ष्यमाणः शिवाशतैः । प्रयाति दारुणे मार्गे पापकर्मा यमक्षयम् ॥ 10.67 ॥

vikṛṣyamāṇastairghorairbhakṣyamāṇaḥ śivāśataiḥ / prayāti dāruṇe mārge pāpakarmā yamakṣayam // 10.67 //

'Dragged along by those terrible beings, torn at by hundreds of jackals, that doer of evil travels by that dreadful road to Yama's city.'

Verse 68 (markandeya.10.68)

छत्रोपानत्प्रदातारो ये च वस्त्रप्रदा नराः । ये यान्ति मनुजा मार्गं तं सुखेन तथान्नदाः ॥ 10.68 ॥

chatropānatpradātāro ye ca vastrapradā narāḥ / ye yānti manujā mārgaṃ taṃ sukhena tathānnadāḥ // 10.68 //

'But those men who gave umbrellas and sandals, who gave clothing, and who gave food — they travel that road in comfort.'

Verse 69 (markandeya.10.69)

एवं क्लेशाननुभवन्नवशः पापपीडितः । नीयते द्वादशाहेन धर्मराजपुरं नरः ॥ 10.69 ॥

evaṃ kleśānanubhavannavaśaḥ pāpapīḍitaḥ / nīyate dvādaśāhena dharmarājapuraṃ naraḥ // 10.69 //

'Thus, undergoing such torments, helpless and afflicted by sin, the man is brought within twelve days to the city of the Lord of Dharma.'

Verse 70 (markandeya.10.70)

कलेवरे दह्यमाने महान्तं दाहमृच्छति । ताड्यमाने तथैवार्ति छिद्यमाने च दारुणाम् ॥ 10.70 ॥

kalevare dahyamāne mahāntaṃ dāhamṛcchati / tāḍyamāne tathaivārti chidyamāne ca dāruṇām // 10.70 //

'When his body is burned, he feels intense burning; likewise, when it is struck, that pain, and when it is cut, dreadful pain as well.'

Verse 71 (markandeya.10.71)

क्लिद्यमाने चिरतरं जन्तुर्दुःखमवाप्नुते । स्वेन कर्मविपाकेन देहान्तरगतोऽपि सन् ॥ 10.71 ॥

klidyamāne cirataraṃ janturduḥkhamavāpnute / svena karmavipākena dehāntaragato 'pi san // 10.71 //

'When it decomposes, the being suffers pain for a very long time — even though, through the ripening of his own deeds, he has already passed into another body.'

Verse 72 (markandeya.10.72)

तत्र यद्वान्धवास्तोयं प्रयच्छन्ति तिलैः सह । यच्च पिण्डं प्रयच्छन्ति नीयमानस्तदश्नुते ॥ 10.72 ॥

tatra yadvāndhavāstoyaṃ prayacchanti tilaiḥ saha / yacca piṇḍaṃ prayacchanti nīyamānastadaśnute // 10.72 //

'Whatever water, mixed with sesame, his relatives offer there, and whatever rice-balls they offer, he, being led away, partakes of that very offering.'

Verse 73 (markandeya.10.73)

तैलाभ्यङ्गो बान्धवानामङ्गसंवाहनञ्च यत् । तेन चाप्याय्यते जन्तुर्यच्चाश्नन्ति सबान्धवाः ॥ 10.73 ॥

tailābhyaṅgo bāndhavānāmaṅgasaṃvāhanañca yat / tena cāpyāyyate janturyaccāśnanti sabāndhavāḥ // 10.73 //

'By the oil-massage and limb-rubbing performed by his kinsfolk, and by whatever those kinsfolk themselves eat, that being too is nourished.'

Verse 74 (markandeya.10.74)

भूमौ स्वपद्भिर्नात्यन्तं क्लेशमाप्नोति बान्धवैः । दानं ददद्भिश्च तथा जन्तुराप्याय्यते मृतः ॥ 10.74 ॥

bhūmau svapadbhirnātyantaṃ kleśamāpnoti bāndhavaiḥ / dānaṃ dadadbhiśca tathā janturāpyāyyate mṛtaḥ // 10.74 //

'If his kinsfolk sleep upon the bare ground, he does not suffer excessive distress; and likewise, by their giving of gifts, the dead being is nourished.'

Verse 75 (markandeya.10.75)

नीयमानः स्वकं गेहं द्वादशाहं स पश्यति । उपभुङ्क्ते तथा दत्तं तोयपिण्डादिकं भुवि ॥ 10.75 ॥

nīyamānaḥ svakaṃ gehaṃ dvādaśāhaṃ sa paśyati / upabhuṅkte tathā dattaṃ toyapiṇḍādikaṃ bhuvi // 10.75 //

'Being led away, for twelve days he still beholds his own house, and partakes there of whatever water, rice-balls, and the like are offered on earth.'

Verse 76 (markandeya.10.76)

द्वादशाहात् परं घोरमायसं भीषणाकृतिम् । याम्यं पश्यत्यथो जन्तुः कृष्यमाणः पुरं ततः ॥ 10.76 ॥

dvādaśāhāt paraṃ ghoramāyasaṃ bhīṣaṇākṛtim / yāmyaṃ paśyatyatho jantuḥ kṛṣyamāṇaḥ puraṃ tataḥ // 10.76 //

'After the twelve days, the being, still being dragged, beholds the terrible city of Yama, wrought of iron, dreadful in appearance.'

Verse 77 (markandeya.10.77)

गतमात्रोऽतिरक्ताक्षं भिन्नाञ्जनचयप्रभम् । मृत्युकालान्तकादीनां मध्ये पश्यति वै यमम् ॥ 10.77 ॥

gatamātro 'tiraktākṣaṃ bhinnāñjanacayaprabham / mṛtyukālāntakādīnāṃ madhye paśyati vai yamam // 10.77 //

'As soon as he arrives, he beholds Yama, his eyes exceedingly red, his hue like that of shattered collyrium, encircled by Death, Time, the Ender, and their like.'

Verse 78 (markandeya.10.78)

दंष्ट्राकरालवदनं भ्रकुटीदारुणाकृतिम् । विरूपैर्भोषणैर्वक्त्रैर्वृतं व्याधिशतैः प्रभुम् ॥ 10.78 ॥

daṃṣṭrākarālavadanaṃ bhrakuṭīdāruṇākṛtim / virūpairbhoṣaṇairvaktrairvṛtaṃ vyādhiśataiḥ prabhum // 10.78 //

'That lord, with a face terrible with fangs, fearsome with frowning brows, surrounded by hundreds of Diseases with hideous, terrifying faces —'

Verse 79 (markandeya.10.79)

दण्डासक्तं महाबाहुं पाशहस्तं सुभैरवम् । तन्निर्दिष्टां ततो याति गतिं जन्तुः शुभाशुभाम् ॥ 10.79 ॥

daṇḍāsaktaṃ mahābāhuṃ pāśahastaṃ subhairavam / tannirdiṣṭāṃ tato yāti gatiṃ jantuḥ śubhāśubhām // 10.79 //

'— mighty-armed, grasping a rod, a noose in his hand, utterly terrifying [he beholds]. Then the being goes to whatever destiny, good or evil, is appointed for him by Yama.'

Verse 80 (markandeya.10.80)

रौरवे कूटसाक्षी तु याति यश्चानृतो नरः । तस्य स्वरूपं गदतो रौरवस्य निशामय ॥ 10.80 ॥

raurave kūṭasākṣī tu yāti yaścānṛto naraḥ / tasya svarūpaṃ gadato rauravasya niśāmaya // 10.80 //

'The false witness and the man who speaks untruth go to the hell called Raurava. Hear now, as I tell you, the true nature of that Raurava.'

Verse 81 (markandeya.10.81)

योजनानां सहस्रे द्वे रौरवो हि प्रमाणतः । जानुमात्रप्रमाणश्च ततः श्वभ्रः सुदुस्तरः ॥ 10.81 ॥

yojanānāṃ sahasre dve rauravo hi pramāṇataḥ / jānumātrapramāṇaśca tataḥ śvabhraḥ sudustaraḥ // 10.81 //

'Raurava measures two thousand yojanas in extent, and beyond it lies a pit, knee-deep, exceedingly hard to cross,'

Verse 82 (markandeya.10.82)

तत्राङ्गारचयोपेतं कृतञ्च धरणीसमम् । जाज्वल्यमानस्तीव्रेण तापिताङ्गारभूमिना ॥ 10.82 ॥

tatrāṅgāracayopetaṃ kṛtañca dharaṇīsamam / jājvalyamānastīvreṇa tāpitāṅgārabhūminā // 10.82 //

'filled there with heaps of glowing embers, made level as the ground, blazing with the fierce heat of that ember-covered floor.'

Verse 83 (markandeya.10.83)

तन्मध्ये पापकर्माणं विमुञ्चन्ति यमानुगाः । स दह्यमानस्तीव्रेण वह्निना तत्र धावति ॥ 10.83 ॥

tanmadhye pāpakarmāṇaṃ vimuñcanti yamānugāḥ / sa dahyamānastīvreṇa vahninā tatra dhāvati // 10.83 //

'Into the midst of it, Yama's attendants cast the doer of evil deeds; and he, burning fiercely in that fire, runs about there in torment.'

Verse 84 (markandeya.10.84)

पदे पदे च पादोऽस्य शीर्यते जीर्यते पुनः । अहोरात्रेणोद्धरणं पादन्यासं च गच्छति ॥ 10.84 ॥

pade pade ca pādo 'sya śīryate jīryate punaḥ / ahorātreṇoddharaṇaṃ pādanyāsaṃ ca gacchati // 10.84 //

'At every step his foot crumbles away and forms again; only in a single day and night does he manage to lift and set down that one foot again.'

Verse 85 (markandeya.10.85)

एवं सहस्रमुत्तीर्णो योजनानां विमुच्यते । ततोऽन्यं पापशुद्ध्यर्थं तादृङ्निरयमृच्छति ॥ 10.85 ॥

evaṃ sahasramuttīrṇo yojanānāṃ vimucyate / tato 'nyaṃ pāpaśuddhyarthaṃ tādṛṅnirayamṛcchati // 10.85 //

'Having thus crossed a thousand yojanas, he is released; then, to purge his remaining sin, he passes on to yet another hell of like kind.'

Verse 86 (markandeya.10.86)

ततः सर्वेषु निस्तीर्णः पापी तिर्यकत्वमश्नुते । कृमि-कीट-पतङ्गेषु श्वापदे मशकादिषु ॥ 10.86 ॥

tataḥ sarveṣu nistīrṇaḥ pāpī tiryakatvamaśnute / kṛmi-kīṭa-pataṅgeṣu śvāpade maśakādiṣu // 10.86 //

'Then, having passed through all these hells, the sinner attains the state of an animal — among worms, insects, moths, beasts of prey, mosquitoes, and the like.'

Verse 87 (markandeya.10.87)

गत्वा गजद्रुमाद्येषु गोष्वश्वेषु तथैव च । अन्यासु चैव पापासु दुः खदासु च योनिषु ॥ 10.87 ॥

gatvā gajadrumādyeṣu goṣvaśveṣu tathaiva ca / anyāsu caiva pāpāsu duḥ khadāsu ca yoniṣu // 10.87 //

'Then, passing among elephants, trees, and their kind, and among cattle and horses, and other sinful, suffering-laden wombs,'

Verse 88 (markandeya.10.88)

मानुषं प्राप्य कुब्जो वा कुत्सितो वामनोऽपि वा । चण्डालपुक्कसाद्यासु नरो योनिषु जायते ॥ 10.88 ॥

mānuṣaṃ prāpya kubjo vā kutsito vāmano 'pi vā / caṇḍālapukkasādyāsu naro yoniṣu jāyate // 10.88 //

'even on attaining a human birth, he becomes hunchbacked, deformed, or dwarfish, or is born a man among chandalas, pukkasas, and other such outcaste classes.'

Verse 89 (markandeya.10.89)

अवशिष्टेन पापेन पुण्येन च समन्वितः । ततश्चारोहणीं जातिं शूद्र-वैश्य-नृपादिकाम् ॥ 10.89 ॥

avaśiṣṭena pāpena puṇyena ca samanvitaḥ / tataścārohaṇīṃ jātiṃ śūdra-vaiśya-nṛpādikām // 10.89 //

'Endowed with whatever sin remains, together with accumulated merit, he then attains an ascending series of births — shudra, vaishya, king, and the like,'

Verse 90 (markandeya.10.90)

विप्रदेवेन्द्रतां चापि कदाचिदवरोहणीम् । एवन्तु पापकर्माणे नरकेषु पतन्त्यधः ॥ 10.90 ॥

vipradevendratāṃ cāpi kadācidavarohaṇīm / evantu pāpakarmāṇe narakeṣu patantyadhaḥ // 10.90 //

'and sometimes even to the rank of a brahmana or of Indra, lord of the gods — such is the descending and ascending scale [of rebirth]. Thus do the doers of evil fall down into the hells.'

Verse 91 (markandeya.10.91)

यथा पुण्यकृतो यान्ति तन्मे निगतदः शृणु । ते यमेन विनिर्दिष्टां यान्ति पुण्यां गतिं नराः ॥ 10.91 ॥

yathā puṇyakṛto yānti tanme nigatadaḥ śṛṇu / te yamena vinirdiṣṭāṃ yānti puṇyāṃ gatiṃ narāḥ // 10.91 //

'Now hear from me how those who perform meritorious deeds fare: such men attain, by Yama's own appointment, an auspicious destiny.'

Verse 92 (markandeya.10.92)

प्रगीतगन्धर्वगणाः प्रवृत्ताप्सरसाङ्गणाः । हारनूपुरमादुर्य-शोभितान्युत्तमानि च ॥ 10.92 ॥

pragītagandharvagaṇāḥ pravṛttāpsarasāṅgaṇāḥ / hāranūpuramādurya-śobhitānyuttamāni ca // 10.92 //

'With troops of Gandharvas singing, with bands of Apsaras moving about, with excellent celestial cars adorned with garlands and the sweet chime of anklets —'

Verse 93 (markandeya.10.93)

प्रयान्त्याशु विमानानि नानादिव्यस्त्रगुज्ज्वलाः । तस्माच्च प्रच्युता राज्ञामन्येषां च महात्मनाम् ॥ 10.93 ॥

prayāntyāśu vimānāni nānādivyastragujjvalāḥ / tasmācca pracyutā rājñāmanyeṣāṃ ca mahātmanām // 10.93 //

'— resplendent with various divine garlands, those celestial cars swiftly arrive there. And, having in time fallen from that heaven, they are born in the families of kings and other great souls,'

Verse 94 (markandeya.10.94)

जायन्ते च कुले तत्र सद्वृत्तपरिपालकाः । भोगान् सम्प्राप्नुवन्त्युग्रांस्ततो यान्त्यूर्ध्वमन्यथा ॥ 10.94 ॥

jāyante ca kule tatra sadvṛttaparipālakāḥ / bhogān samprāpnuvantyugrāṃstato yāntyūrdhvamanyathā // 10.94 //

'— born there as upholders of good conduct. They attain abundant enjoyments, and thereafter rise still higher — or, otherwise, decline.'

Verse 95 (markandeya.10.95)

अवरोहणीं च सम्प्राप्य पूर्ववद्यान्ति मानवाः । एतत् ते सर्वमाख्यातं यथा जन्तुर्विपद्यते । अतः शृणुष्व विप्रर्षे यथा गर्भं प्रपद्यते ॥ 10.95 ॥

avarohaṇīṃ ca samprāpya pūrvavadyānti mānavāḥ / etat te sarvamākhyātaṃ yathā janturvipadyate / ataḥ śṛṇuṣva viprarṣe yathā garbhaṃ prapadyate // 10.95 //

'— or, attaining the path of descent, men go down again as before. All this has now been told to you, how a being perishes; hear now, O sage among brahmanas, how it enters the womb.'