Trimming the Sun's Body

Verse 1 (markandeya.103.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच अथ तस्मै ददौ कन्यां संज्ञां नाम विवस्वते । प्रसाद्य प्रणतो भूत्वा विश्वकर्मा प्रजापतिः ॥ 103.1 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca atha tasmai dadau kanyāṁ saṁjñāṁ nāma vivasvate prasādya praṇato bhūtvā viśvakarmā prajāpatiḥ

Markandeya said: Then Vishvakarma the Prajapati, having propitiated him and bowing before him, gave to Vivasvat his daughter named Sanjna.

Verse 2 (markandeya.103.2)

वैवस्वतस्तु सम्भूतो मनुस्तस्यां विवस्वतः । पूर्वमेव तथाख्यातं तत्स्वरूपं विशेषतः ॥ 103.2 ॥

vaivasvatastu sambhūto manustasyāṁ vivasvataḥ pūrvameva tathākhyātaṁ tatsvarūpaṁ viśeṣataḥ

From her was born Vivasvat's son, Manu, called Vaivasvata; his particular nature has already been told before.

Verse 3 (markandeya.103.3)

क्रौष्टुकिरुवाच मार्कण्डेय उवाच त्रीण्यपत्यान्यसौ तस्यां जनयामास गोपतिः । द्वौ पुत्रौ सुमहाभागो कन्यां च यमुनां मुने ॥ 103.3 ॥

krauṣṭukiruvāca mārkaṇḍeya uvāca trīṇyapatyānyasau tasyāṁ janayāmāsa gopatiḥ dvau putrau sumahābhāgo kanyāṁ ca yamunāṁ mune

Kraushtuki said [invited Markandeya to continue]. Markandeya said: That lord of cattle begot three children upon her — O sage, two greatly fortunate sons and a daughter, Yamuna.

Verse 4 (markandeya.103.4)

मनुर्वैवस्वतो ज्येष्ठः श्राद्धदेवः प्रजापतिः । ततो यमो यमी चैव यमलौ सम्बभूवतुः ॥ 103.4 ॥

manurvaivasvato jyeṣṭhaḥ śrāddhadevaḥ prajāpatiḥ tato yamo yamī caiva yamalau sambabhūvatuḥ

The eldest was Manu Vaivasvata, [also] Shraddhadeva, the Prajapati; then Yama and Yami were born, a twin pair.

Verse 5 (markandeya.103.5)

यत्तेजोऽभ्यधिकं तस्य मार्तण्डस्य विवस्वतः । तेनातितापयामास त्रींल्लोकान्सचराचरान् ॥ 103.5 ॥

yattejo ’bhyadhikaṁ tasya mārtaṇḍasya vivasvataḥ tenātitāpayāmāsa trīṁllokānsacarācarān

That excessive radiance of Martanda Vivasvat scorched the three worlds, moving and unmoving alike, beyond measure.

Verse 6 (markandeya.103.6)

गोलाकारं तु तद्दृष्ट्वा संज्ञारूपं विवस्वतः । असहन्ती महत्तेजः स्वां छायां प्रेक्ष्य साऽब्रवीत् ॥ 103.6 ॥

golākāraṁ tu taddṛṣṭvā saṁjñārūpaṁ vivasvataḥ asahantī mahattejaḥ svāṁ chāyāṁ prekṣya sā ’bravīt

Seeing that round-shaped form of Vivasvat, and unable to bear his great radiance, Sanjna, gazing upon her own shadow-double, said:

Verse 7 (markandeya.103.7)

संज्ञोवाच अहं यास्यामि भद्रं ते स्वमेव भवनं पितुः । निर्विकारं त्वयाप्यत्र स्थेयं मच्छासनाच्छुभे ॥ 103.7 ॥

saṁjñovāca ahaṁ yāsyāmi bhadraṁ te svameva bhavanaṁ pituḥ nirvikāraṁ tvayāpyatra stheyaṁ macchāsanācchubhe

Sanjna said: 'I shall go — may all be well with you — to my own father's house; you, unchanged, must remain here in my place, O fair one.'

Verse 8 (markandeya.103.8)

इमौ च बालकौ मह्यं कन्या च वरवर्णिनी । सम्भाव्यौ नैव चाख्येयमिदं भगवते त्वया ॥ 103.8 ॥

imau ca bālakau mahyaṁ kanyā ca varavarṇinī sambhāvyau naiva cākhyeyamidaṁ bhagavate tvayā

'These two boys, and my lovely daughter, are to be cared for by you; and this must never be revealed to my lord.'

Verse 9 (markandeya.103.9)

छायोवाच आकेशग्रहणाद्देवि आशपन्नैव कर्हिचित् । आख्यास्यामि मतं तुभ्यं गम्यतां यत्र वाञ्छितम् ॥ 103.9 ॥

chāyovāca ākeśagrahaṇāddevi āśapannaiva karhicit ākhyāsyāmi mataṁ tubhyaṁ gamyatāṁ yatra vāñchitam

Chaya said: 'By the very taking hold of my hair, O goddess, I swear I shall never tell this to him; go wherever you wish.'

Verse 10 (markandeya.103.10)

इत्युक्ता छायया संज्ञा जगाम पितृमन्दिरम् । तत्रावसत्पितुर्गेहे कञ्चित्कालं शुभेक्षणा ॥ 103.10 ॥

ityuktā chāyayā saṁjñā jagāma pitṛmandiram tatrāvasatpiturgehe kañcitkālaṁ śubhekṣaṇā

Thus told by Chaya, Sanjna went to her father's house; there, of lovely eyes, she dwelt in her father's home for some time.

Verse 11 (markandeya.103.11)

भर्तुः समीपं याहीति पित्रोक्ता सा पुनः पुनः । अगच्छद्वडवा भूत्वा कुरून्विप्रोत्तरांस्ततः ॥ 103.11 ॥

bhartuḥ samīpaṁ yāhīti pitroktā sā punaḥ punaḥ agacchadvaḍavā bhūtvā kurūnviprottarāṁstataḥ

Told again and again by her father, 'Go to your husband's side,' she instead became a mare and went to the northern Kuru lands.

Verse 12 (markandeya.103.12)

तत्र तेपे तपः साध्वी निराहारा महामुने । पितुः समीपं यातायाः संज्ञाया वाक्यतत्परा ॥ 103.12 ॥

tatra tepe tapaḥ sādhvī nirāhārā mahāmune pituḥ samīpaṁ yātāyāḥ saṁjñāyā vākyatatparā

There, faithful, taking no food, O great sage, she performed austerity, intent on the words she had given regarding Sanjna's going to her father.

Verse 13 (markandeya.103.13)

तद्रूपधारिणी छाया भास्करं समुपस्थिता । तस्यां च भगवान्सूर्यः संज्ञेयमिति चिन्तयन् ॥ 103.13 ॥

tadrūpadhāriṇī chāyā bhāskaraṁ samupasthitā tasyāṁ ca bhagavānsūryaḥ saṁjñeyamiti cintayan

Chaya, bearing that form of Sanjna's, presented herself before Bhaskara; and the illustrious Sun, thinking, 'This is indeed Sanjna,'

Verse 14 (markandeya.103.14)

तथैव जनयामास द्वौ सुतौ कन्यकां तथा । पूर्वजस्य मनोस्तुल्यः सावर्णिस्तेन सोऽभवत् ॥ 103.14 ॥

tathaiva janayāmāsa dvau sutau kanyakāṁ tathā pūrvajasya manostulyaḥ sāvarṇistena so ’bhavat

in the same way begot upon her two sons and a daughter; of these, the one equal to the earlier Manu became, for that reason, [known as] Savarni.

Verse 15 (markandeya.103.15)

यस्तयोः प्रथमं जातः पुत्रयोर्द्विजसत्तम । द्वितीयो योऽभवच्चान्यः स ग्रहोऽभूच्छनैश्चरः ॥ 103.15 ॥

yastayoḥ prathamaṁ jātaḥ putrayordvijasattama dvitīyo yo ’bhavaccānyaḥ sa graho ’bhūcchanaiścaraḥ

O best of Brahmins, of those two sons, the one who was born first — and the other who was born second — that one became the planet Shanaishchara (Saturn).

Verse 16 (markandeya.103.16)

कन्याभूत्तपती या तां वव्रे संवरणो नृपः । संज्ञा तु पार्थिवी तेषामात्मजानां यथाऽकरोत् ॥ 103.16 ॥

kanyābhūttapatī yā tāṁ vavre saṁvaraṇo nṛpaḥ saṁjñā tu pārthivī teṣāmātmajānāṁ yathā ’karot

The daughter became Tapati, whom King Samvarana chose in marriage; but this [Chaya-]Sanjna showed her own children more favor than the earlier ones.

Verse 17 (markandeya.103.17)

स्नेहान्न पूर्वजातानां तथा कृतवती सती । मनुस्तत्क्षान्तवांस्तस्या यमश्चास्या न चक्षमे ॥ 103.17 ॥

snehānna pūrvajātānāṁ tathā kṛtavatī satī manustatkṣāntavāṁstasyā yamaścāsyā na cakṣame

Out of affection she showed lesser regard toward the first-born; Manu bore this patiently, but Yama could not forgive her for it.

Verse 18 (markandeya.103.18)

बहुशो याच्यमानस्तु पितुः पत्न्या सुदुःखितः । स वै कोपाच्च बाल्याच्च भाविनोऽर्थस्य वै बलात् ॥ 103.18 ॥

bahuśo yācyamānastu pituḥ patnyā suduḥkhitaḥ sa vai kopācca bālyācca bhāvino ’rthasya vai balāt

Repeatedly rebuked by his father's wife, greatly aggrieved — indeed out of anger, out of childishness, and by the force of what was destined to happen —

Verse 19 (markandeya.103.19)

पदा सन्तर्जयामास छायासंज्ञां यमो मुने । ततः शशाप च यमं संज्ञा सामर्षिणी भृशम् ॥ 103.19 ॥

padā santarjayāmāsa chāyāsaṁjñāṁ yamo mune tataḥ śaśāpa ca yamaṁ saṁjñā sāmarṣiṇī bhṛśam

Yama, O sage, threatened Chaya-Sanjna with his foot; then Sanjna, greatly indignant, cursed Yama.

Verse 20 (markandeya.103.20)

छायोवाच पदा तर्जयसे यस्मात्पितृभार्यां गरीयसीम् । तस्मात्तवैव चरणः पतिष्यति न संशय ॥ 103.20 ॥

chāyovāca padā tarjayase yasmātpitṛbhāryāṁ garīyasīm tasmāttavaiva caraṇaḥ patiṣyati na saṁśaya

Chaya said: 'Since you threaten with your foot one so venerable as your father's wife, therefore your very foot shall fall — have no doubt of it.'

Verse 21 (markandeya.103.21)

यमस्तु तेन शापेन भृशं पीडितमानसः । मनुना सह धर्मात्मा सर्वं पित्रे न्यवेदयत् ॥ 103.21 ॥

yamastu tena śāpena bhṛśaṁ pīḍitamānasaḥ manunā saha dharmātmā sarvaṁ pitre nyavedayat

Yama, his mind sorely afflicted by that curse, being righteous, reported everything, along with Manu, to his father.

Verse 22 (markandeya.103.22)

यम उवाच स्नेहेन तुल्यमस्मासु माता देव न वर्तते । विसृज्य ज्यायसोऽप्यस्मान्कनीयांसौ बुभूर्षति ॥ 103.22 ॥

yama uvāca snehena tulyamasmāsu mātā deva na vartate visṛjya jyāyaso ’pyasmānkanīyāṁsau bubhūrṣati

Yama said: 'Mother does not behave toward us with equal affection, O god; setting aside even us, her elder sons, she wishes to favor the two younger ones.'

Verse 23 (markandeya.103.23)

तस्यां मयोद्यतः पादो न तु देहे निपातितः । बाल्याद्वा यदि वा मोहात्तद्भवान्क्षन्तुमर्हति ॥ 103.23 ॥

tasyāṁ mayodyataḥ pādo na tu dehe nipātitaḥ bālyādvā yadi vā mohāttadbhavānkṣantumarhati

'My foot was raised against her, but was not actually brought down upon her body; whether from childishness or from delusion, may you be pleased to forgive me.'

Verse 24 (markandeya.103.24)

शप्तोऽहं तात कोपेन जनन्या तनयो यतः । ततो न मन्ये जननीमिमां वै तपतां वर ॥ 103.24 ॥

śapto ’haṁ tāta kopena jananyā tanayo yataḥ tato na manye jananīmimāṁ vai tapatāṁ vara

'I have been cursed, father, by my mother, out of anger, simply because I am her son — therefore, O best of ascetics, I do not consider her truly my mother.'

Verse 25 (markandeya.103.25)

विगुणेष्वपि पुत्रेषु न माता विगुणा पितः । पादस्ते पततां पुत्र कथमेतत्प्रवक्ष्यति ॥ 103.25 ॥

viguṇeṣvapi putreṣu na mātā viguṇā pitaḥ pādaste patatāṁ putra kathametatpravakṣyati

'Even toward faulty sons, a mother is not held at fault by their father; O son, how could it be that your foot should fall — how can such a thing even be spoken?'

Verse 26 (markandeya.103.26)

तव प्रसादाच्चरणो न पतेद्भगवन्यथा । मातृशापादयं मेऽद्य तथा चिन्तय गोपते ॥ 103.26 ॥

tava prasādāccaraṇo na patedbhagavanyathā mātṛśāpādayaṁ me ’dya tathā cintaya gopate

'By your grace, O lord, let not my foot fall as [threatened] by my mother's curse — consider this, O protector, on my behalf, today.'

Verse 27 (markandeya.103.27)

रविरुवाच असंशयमिदं पुत्र भविष्यत्यत्र कारणम् । येन त्वामाविशत्क्रोधो धर्मज्ञं सत्यवादिनम् ॥ 103.27 ॥

raviruvāca asaṁśayamidaṁ putra bhaviṣyatyatra kāraṇam yena tvāmāviśatkrodho dharmajñaṁ satyavādinam

Ravi said: 'Without doubt, son, there must be some cause in this, by which anger overcame you, though you know dharma and speak the truth.'

Verse 28 (markandeya.103.28)

सर्वेषामेव शापानां प्रतिघातो हि विद्यते । न तु मात्राभिशप्तानां क्वचिच्छापनिवर्तनम् ॥ 103.28 ॥

sarveṣāmeva śāpānāṁ pratighāto hi vidyate na tu mātrābhiśaptānāṁ kvacicchāpanivartanam

'For every curse there does indeed exist a counter-remedy; but for those cursed by a mother, there is never any reversal of the curse.'

Verse 29 (markandeya.103.29)

न शक्यमेतन्मिथ्या तु कर्तुं मातुर्वचस्तव । किञ्चित्तव विधास्यामि पुत्रस्नेहादनुग्रहम् ॥ 103.29 ॥

na śakyametanmithyā tu kartuṁ māturvacastava kiñcittava vidhāsyāmi putrasnehādanugraham

'It is not possible to make your mother's word false; yet I shall grant some measure of grace, out of love for my son.'

Verse 30 (markandeya.103.30)

कृमयो मांसमादाय प्रयास्यन्ति महीतलम् । कृतं तस्या वचः सत्यं त्वं च त्रातो भविष्यसि ॥ 103.30 ॥

kṛmayo māṁsamādāya prayāsyanti mahītalam kṛtaṁ tasyā vacaḥ satyaṁ tvaṁ ca trāto bhaviṣyasi

'Worms, taking flesh, will fall to the ground [in place of the foot] — thus her word will be made true, and you will be saved.'

Verse 31 (markandeya.103.31)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच आदित्यस्त्वब्रवीच्छायां किमर्थं तनयेषु वै । तुल्येष्वप्यधिकः स्नेह एकत्र क्रियते त्वया ॥ 103.31 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca ādityastvabravīcchāyāṁ kimarthaṁ tanayeṣu vai tulyeṣvapyadhikaḥ sneha ekatra kriyate tvayā

Markandeya said: But Aditya said to Chaya: 'Why is it that, among children who are equal to you, you show greater affection to one set only?'

Verse 32 (markandeya.103.32)

नूनं नैषां त्वं जननी संज्ञा कापि त्वमागता । विगुणेष्वप्यपत्येषु कथं माता शपेत्सुतम् ॥ 103.32 ॥

nūnaṁ naiṣāṁ tvaṁ jananī saṁjñā kāpi tvamāgatā viguṇeṣvapyapatyeṣu kathaṁ mātā śapetsutam

'Surely you are not their [true] mother — you are some other Sanjna who has come here; how could a [real] mother curse her own son, even if he were at fault?'

Verse 33 (markandeya.103.33)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच सा तत्परिहरन्ती च नाचचक्षे विवस्वतः । स चात्मानं समाधाय युक्तस्तत्त्वमपश्यत ॥ 103.33 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca sā tatpariharantī ca nācacakṣe vivasvataḥ sa cātmānaṁ samādhāya yuktastattvamapaśyata

Markandeya said: She, evading this, did not tell Vivasvat [the truth]; and he, composing himself in meditation, perceived the truth of the matter.

Verse 34 (markandeya.103.34)

तं शप्तुमुद्यतं दृष्ट्वा छायासंज्ञा दिवस्पतिम् । भयेन कंपिता ब्रह्मन्यथावृत्तं न्यवेदयत् ॥ 103.34 ॥

taṁ śaptumudyataṁ dṛṣṭvā chāyāsaṁjñā divaspatim bhayena kaṁpitā brahmanyathāvṛttaṁ nyavedayat

Seeing him about to curse her, Chaya-Sanjna, O Brahmin, trembling with fear, reported all that had truly happened.

Verse 35 (markandeya.103.35)

विवस्वांस्तु ततः क्रुद्धः श्रुत्वा श्वशुरमभ्यगात् । स चापि तं तथान्यामर्चयित्वा दिवाकरम् । निर्दग्धुकामं रोषेण सान्त्वयामास सुव्रतः ॥ 103.35 ॥

vivasvāṁstu tataḥ kruddhaḥ śrutvā śvaśuramabhyagāt sa cāpi taṁ tathānyāmarcayitvā divākaram nirdagdhukāmaṁ roṣeṇa sāntvayāmāsa suvrataḥ

Vivasvat, then enraged on hearing this, went to his father-in-law; and he too, the devout Vishvakarma, honouring the Sun-god in another way, pacified him, angry and bent on burning [Chaya].

Verse 36 (markandeya.103.36)

विश्वकर्मोवाच तवातितेजसा व्याप्तमिदं रूपं सुदुःसहम् । असहन्ती ततः संज्ञा वने चरति वै तपः ॥ 103.36 ॥

viśvakarmovāca tavātitejasā vyāptamidaṁ rūpaṁ suduḥsaham asahantī tataḥ saṁjñā vane carati vai tapaḥ

Vishvakarma said: 'This form of yours, pervaded by such excessive, unbearable radiance — unable to endure it, Sanjna wanders in the forest, performing austerity.'

Verse 37 (markandeya.103.37)

द्रक्ष्यते तां भवानद्य स्वभार्यां शुभचारिणीम् । रूपार्थं भवतोऽरण्ये चरन्तीं समुहत्तपः ॥ 103.37 ॥

drakṣyate tāṁ bhavānadya svabhāryāṁ śubhacāriṇīm rūpārthaṁ bhavato ’raṇye carantīṁ samuhattapaḥ

'You will see today your own devoted wife of good conduct, wandering in the forest, performing great austerity for the sake of [enduring] your form.'

Verse 38 (markandeya.103.38)

स्मृतं मे ब्रह्मणो वाक्यं यदि ते देव रोचते । रूपं निवर्तयाम्येतत्तव कान्तं दिवस्पते ॥ 103.38 ॥

smṛtaṁ me brahmaṇo vākyaṁ yadi te deva rocate rūpaṁ nivartayāmyetattava kāntaṁ divaspate

'I recall a saying of Brahma; if it pleases you, O god, I shall reduce this lovely form of yours, O lord of the sky.'

Verse 39 (markandeya.103.39)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच यतो हि भास्वतो रूपं प्रागासीत्परिमण्डलम् । ततस्तथेति तं प्राह त्वष्टारं भगवान्रविः ॥ 103.39 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca yato hi bhāsvato rūpaṁ prāgāsītparimaṇḍalam tatastatheti taṁ prāha tvaṣṭāraṁ bhagavānraviḥ

Markandeya said: Since the radiant one's form had earlier been perfectly round, the illustrious Ravi then said to Tvashtar (Vishvakarma), 'So be it.'

Verse 40 (markandeya.103.40)

विश्वकर्मा त्वनुज्ञातः शाकद्वीपे विवस्वतः । भ्रमिमारोप्य तत्तेजः शातनायोपचक्रमे ॥ 103.40 ॥

viśvakarmā tvanujñātaḥ śākadvīpe vivasvataḥ bhramimāropya tattejaḥ śātanāyopacakrame

Vishvakarma, thus given leave by Vivasvat, in Shakadvipa, mounting that radiance upon a lathe, began to pare it down.

Verse 41 (markandeya.103.41)

भ्रमताऽशेषजगतां नाभिभूतेन भास्वता । समुद्राद्रिवनोपेता सा रुरोह मही नभः ॥ 103.41 ॥

bhramatā ’śeṣajagatāṁ nābhibhūtena bhāsvatā samudrādrivanopetā sā ruroha mahī nabhaḥ

As that boundless radiance, unshaken, spun round and round, the earth, with its oceans, mountains, and forests, and the sky, trembled.

Verse 42 (markandeya.103.42)

गगनं चाखिलं ब्रह्मन्सचन्द्रग्रहतारकम् । अधोगतं महाभाग बभूवाक्षिक्षमाकुलम् ॥ 103.42 ॥

gaganaṁ cākhilaṁ brahmansacandragrahatārakam adhogataṁ mahābhāga babhūvākṣikṣamākulam

And the entire sky, O Brahmin, with the moon, the planets, and the stars, sank downward, O illustrious one, thrown into an unbearable confusion.

Verse 43 (markandeya.103.43)

विक्षिप्तसलिलाः सर्वे बभूवुश्च तथाब्धितः । व्यभिद्यन्त महाशैलाः शीर्णसानुनिबन्धनाः ॥ 103.43 ॥

vikṣiptasalilāḥ sarve babhūvuśca tathābdhitaḥ vyabhidyanta mahāśailāḥ śīrṇasānunibandhanāḥ

All the waters became agitated and overflowed even from the oceans; the great mountains split apart, their eroded ridges crumbling away.

Verse 44 (markandeya.103.44)

ध्रुवाधाराण्यशेषाणि धिष्ण्यानि मुनिसत्तम । त्रुट्यद्रश्मिनिबन्धानि ह्यधो जग्मुः सहस्रशः ॥ 103.44 ॥

dhruvādhārāṇyaśeṣāṇi dhiṣṇyāni munisattama truṭyadraśminibandhāni hyadho jagmuḥ sahasraśaḥ

O best of sages, all the fixed constellations resting on Dhruva, their bonds of light snapping, fell downward by the thousands.

Verse 45 (markandeya.103.45)

वेगभ्रमणसंजात वायुक्षिप्ताः समन्ततः । व्यशीर्यन्त महामेघा घोररावविराविणः ॥ 103.45 ॥

vegabhramaṇasaṁjāta vāyukṣiptāḥ samantataḥ vyaśīryanta mahāmeghā ghorarāvavirāviṇaḥ

The great clouds, hurled about on every side by the wind born of that violent whirling, were torn apart, roaring with a terrible sound.

Verse 46 (markandeya.103.46)

भास्वद्भ्रमणविभ्रान्तं भूम्याकाशरसातलम् । जगादाकुलमत्यर्थं तदासीन्मुनिसत्तम ॥ 103.46 ॥

bhāsvadbhramaṇavibhrāntaṁ bhūmyākāśarasātalam jagādākulamatyarthaṁ tadāsīnmunisattama

O best of sages, the earth, sky, and nether world, thrown into confusion by the whirling of the radiant one, became at that time exceedingly agitated and in an uproar.

Verse 47 (markandeya.103.47)

त्रैलोक्ये सकले विप्र भ्रममाणे सुरर्षयः । देवाश्च ब्रह्मणा सार्द्धं भास्वन्तमभितुष्टुवुः ॥ 103.47 ॥

trailokye sakale vipra bhramamāṇe surarṣayaḥ devāśca brahmaṇā sārddhaṁ bhāsvantamabhituṣṭuvuḥ

O Brahmin, while the whole triple world was thus whirling in confusion, the divine sages, and the gods together with Brahma, praised the radiant one.

Verse 48 (markandeya.103.48)

आदिदेवोऽसि देवानां ज्ञातमेतत्स्वरूपतः । स्वर्गस्थित्यन्तकालेषु त्रिधा भेदेन तिष्ठसि ॥ 103.48 ॥

ādidevo ’si devānāṁ jñātametatsvarūpataḥ svargasthityantakāleṣu tridhā bhedena tiṣṭhasi

'You are the primal god of the gods — this is known from your very nature; at the times of the heavens' creation, preservation, and dissolution, you abide, threefold, in your differentiation.'

Verse 49 (markandeya.103.49)

स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु जगन्नाथ धर्मवर्षाहिमाकर । जुषस्व शान्तिं लोकानां देवदेव दिवाकर ॥ 103.49 ॥

svasti te ’stu jagannātha dharmavarṣāhimākara juṣasva śāntiṁ lokānāṁ devadeva divākara

'May it be well with you, O Lord of the world, sender of righteous rain, maker of frost; be pleased to grant peace to the worlds, O god of gods, Divakara.'

Verse 50 (markandeya.103.50)

इन्द्रश्चागत्य तं देवं लिख्यमानं यथाऽस्तुवत् । जयदेव जगद्वयापिञ्जयाशेषजगत्पते ॥ 103.50 ॥

indraścāgatya taṁ devaṁ likhyamānaṁ yathā ’stuvat jayadeva jagadvayāpiñjayāśeṣajagatpate

And Indra, coming to that god as he was being pared, praised him thus: 'Victory to you, O god, pervading the universe; victory to you, lord of the entire world.'

Verse 51 (markandeya.103.51)

ऋषयश्च ततः सप्त वसिष्ठात्रिपुरोगमाः । तुष्टुवुर्विविधैः स्तोत्रैः स्वस्ति स्वस्तीति वादिनः ॥ 103.51 ॥

ṛṣayaśca tataḥ sapta vasiṣṭhātripurogamāḥ tuṣṭuvurvividhaiḥ stotraiḥ svasti svastīti vādinaḥ

Then the seven sages, headed by Vasishtha and Atri, praised him with various hymns, repeatedly proclaiming, 'Hail! Hail!'

Verse 52 (markandeya.103.52)

वेदोक्ताभिरथाग्र्याभिर्वालखिल्याश्च तुष्टुवुः । भास्वन्तमृग्भिराद्याभिर्लिख्यमानं मुदायुताः ॥ 103.52 ॥

vedoktābhirathāgryābhirvālakhilyāśca tuṣṭuvuḥ bhāsvantamṛgbhirādyābhirlikhyamānaṁ mudāyutāḥ

And the Valakhilyas, filled with joy, praised the radiant one as he was being pared, with the foremost hymns declared in the Vedas.

Verse 53 (markandeya.103.53)

त्वं नाथ मोक्षिणां मोक्षो ध्येयस्त्वं ध्यानिनां परः । त्वं गतिः सर्वभूतानां कर्मकाण्डेऽपि वर्तताम् ॥ 103.53 ॥

tvaṁ nātha mokṣiṇāṁ mokṣo dhyeyastvaṁ dhyānināṁ paraḥ tvaṁ gatiḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ karmakāṇḍe ’pi vartatām

'You, O Lord, are the very liberation of those seeking liberation, the supreme object of meditation for those who meditate; you are the goal of all beings, even within the performance of ritual works.'

Verse 54 (markandeya.103.54)

शं प्रजाभ्योऽस्तु देवेश शन्नोऽस्तु जगतांपते । शन्नोऽस्तु द्विपदे नित्यं शन्नश्चास्तु चतुष्पदे ॥ 103.54 ॥

śaṁ prajābhyo ’stu deveśa śanno ’stu jagatāṁpate śanno ’stu dvipade nityaṁ śannaścāstu catuṣpade

'May there be well-being for our offspring, O Lord of gods; may there be well-being for us, O Lord of the world; may there ever be well-being for the two-footed, and let there be well-being for the four-footed too.'

Verse 55 (markandeya.103.55)

ततो विद्याधरगणा यक्षराक्षसपन्नगाः । कृताञ्जलिपुटाः सर्वे शिरोभिः प्रणता रविम् ॥ 103.55 ॥

tato vidyādharagaṇā yakṣarākṣasapannagāḥ kṛtāñjalipuṭāḥ sarve śirobhiḥ praṇatā ravim

Then the hosts of Vidyadharas, Yakshas, Rakshasas, and serpents, all with joined palms, bowed their heads before Ravi,

Verse 56 (markandeya.103.56)

ऊचुरेवंविधा वाचो मनः श्रोत्रसुखावहः । सह्यं भवतु ते तेजो भूतानां भूतभावन ॥ 103.56 ॥

ūcurevaṁvidhā vāco manaḥ śrotrasukhāvahaḥ sahyaṁ bhavatu te tejo bhūtānāṁ bhūtabhāvana

and spoke words of this kind, pleasing to the mind and to the ear: 'May your radiance become bearable, O source of all beings!'

Verse 57 (markandeya.103.57)

ततो हाहा हुहूश्चैव नारदस्तुम्बुरुस्तथा । उपगायितुमारब्धा गान्धर्वं कुशला रविम् ॥ 103.57 ॥

tato hāhā huhūścaiva nāradastumburustathā upagāyitumārabdhā gāndharvaṁ kuśalā ravim

Then Haha and Huhu, and likewise Narada and Tumburu, skilled musicians, began to sing to Ravi in the Gandharva manner,

Verse 58 (markandeya.103.58)

षड्जमध्यमगान्धारग्रामत्रयविशारदाः । मूर्च्छनाभिश्च तानैश्च सम्प्रयोगैः सुखप्रदम् ॥ 103.58 ॥

ṣaḍjamadhyamagāndhāragrāmatrayaviśāradāḥ mūrcchanābhiśca tānaiśca samprayogaiḥ sukhapradam

well-versed in the three modal scales — shadja, madhyama, and gandhara — with melodic modulations and phrasings, delightful in their combination.

Verse 59 (markandeya.103.59)

विश्वाची च घृताची च उर्वश्यथ तिलोत्तमा । मेनका सहजन्या च रम्भा चाप्सरसां वरा ॥ 103.59 ॥

viśvācī ca ghṛtācī ca urvaśyatha tilottamā menakā sahajanyā ca rambhā cāpsarasāṁ varā

Vishvachi, Ghritachi, Urvashi, then Tilottama, Menaka, Sahajanya, and Rambha — the finest of the Apsarases —

Verse 60 (markandeya.103.60)

ननृतुर्जगतामीशे लिख्यमाने विभावसौ । ज्ञानभावविलासाढ्यात्कुर्वन्तोऽभिनयान्बहून् ॥ 103.60 ॥

nanṛturjagatāmīśe likhyamāne vibhāvasau jñānabhāvavilāsāḍhyātkurvanto ’bhinayānbahūn

danced before the Lord of the worlds, Vibhavasu, as he was being pared, performing many gestures rich with feeling, expression, and grace.

Verse 61 (markandeya.103.61)

प्रावाद्यन्त ततस्तत्र वेणुवीणादिझर्झराः । पणवाः पुष्कराश्चैव मृदङ्गा पटहानकाः ॥ 103.61 ॥

prāvādyanta tatastatra veṇuvīṇādijharjharāḥ paṇavāḥ puṣkarāścaiva mṛdaṅgā paṭahānakāḥ

Then there resounded flutes, vinas, and jharjhara-drums, panavas and pushkara-drums, mridangas and small battle-drums,

Verse 62 (markandeya.103.62)

देवदुन्दुभयः शङ्खाः शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः । गायद्भिश्चैव गान्धर्वं नृत्यद्भिश्चाप्सरोगणैः ॥ 103.62 ॥

devadundubhayaḥ śaṅkhāḥ śataśo ’tha sahasraśaḥ gāyadbhiścaiva gāndharvaṁ nṛtyadbhiścāpsarogaṇaiḥ

kettle-drums of the gods and conch-shells, by the hundreds and by the thousands, together with the singing of Gandharva music and the dancing hosts of Apsarases.

Verse 63 (markandeya.103.63)

तूर्यवादित्रघोषैश्च सर्वं कोलाहलीकृतम् । ततः कृताञ्जलिपुटा भक्तिनम्रात्ममूर्तयः ॥ 103.63 ॥

tūryavāditraghoṣaiśca sarvaṁ kolāhalīkṛtam tataḥ kṛtāñjalipuṭā bhaktinamrātmamūrtayaḥ

With the sound of trumpets and instruments everything became a great tumult; then, with joined palms, their forms bowed low in devotion,

Verse 64 (markandeya.103.64)

लिख्यमानं सहस्रांशुं प्रणेमुः सर्वदेवताः । ततः कोलाहले तस्मिन्सर्वदेवसमागमे । तेजसः शातनं चक्रे विश्वकर्मा शनैः शनैः ॥ 103.64 ॥

likhyamānaṁ sahasrāṁśuṁ praṇemuḥ sarvadevatāḥ tataḥ kolāhale tasminsarvadevasamāgame tejasaḥ śātanaṁ cakre viśvakarmā śanaiḥ śanaiḥ

all the gods bowed to the thousand-rayed one as he was being pared; and then, amid that uproar of the whole gathering of gods, Vishvakarma, gently, little by little, brought about the paring away of his radiance.

Verse 65 (markandeya.103.65)

इति हिमजलघर्मकालहेतोर्हरकमलासनविष्णुसंस्तुतस्य । तनुपरिलिखनं निशम्य भानोर्व्रजति दिवाकरलोकमायुषोऽन्ते ॥ 103.65 ॥

iti himajalagharmakālahetorharakamalāsanaviṣṇusaṁstutasya tanuparilikhanaṁ niśamya bhānorvrajati divākaralokamāyuṣo ’nte

Thus, one who hears of this paring of Bhanu's body — he who is praised by Hara, by the lotus-seated Brahma, and by Vishnu, and who is the cause of frost, water, and heat — goes, at the end of life, to the world of Divakara.