The Praise of Bhanu

Verse 1 (markandeya.106.1)

भगवन्कथितः सम्यग्भानोः सन्ततिसम्भवः । माहात्म्यमादिदेवस्य स्वरूपं चातिविस्तरात् ॥ 106.1 ॥

bhagavankathitaḥ samyagbhānoḥ santatisambhavaḥ māhātmyamādidevasya svarūpaṁ cātivistarāt

Lord, you have well told, in full detail, the birth of the Sun's progeny, and the greatness and true nature of the primordial god.

Verse 2 (markandeya.106.2)

भूयोऽपि भास्वतः सम्यङ्माहात्म्यं मुनिसत्तम । श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं तन्मे प्रसन्नो वक्तुमर्हसि ॥ 106.2 ॥

bhūyo’pi bhāsvataḥ samyaṅmāhātmyaṁ munisattama śrotumicchāmyahaṁ tanme prasanno vaktumarhasi

Once more I wish to hear well, O best of sages, the greatness of the radiant one; be gracious and tell it to me.

Verse 3 (markandeya.106.3)

श्रूयतामादिदेवस्य माहात्म्यं कथयामि ते । विवस्वतो यच्चकार पूर्वमाराधितो जनैः ॥ 106.3 ॥

śrūyatāmādidevasya māhātmyaṁ kathayāmi te vivasvato yaccakāra pūrvamārādhito janaiḥ

Listen, I shall tell you the greatness of the primordial god — what Vivasvat did in the past, when he was worshipped by devoted people.

Verse 4 (markandeya.106.4)

दमस्य पुत्रो विख्यातो राजाभूद्राज्यवर्धनः । स सम्यक्पालनं चक्रे पृथिव्या पृथिवीपतिः ॥ 106.4 ॥

damasya putro vikhyāto rājābhūdrājyavardhanaḥ sa samyakpālanaṁ cakre pṛthivyā pṛthivīpatiḥ

There was a renowned king, Rajyavardhana, son of Dama; that lord of the earth ruled the earth well and righteously.

Verse 5 (markandeya.106.5)

धर्मतः पाल्यमानं तु तेन राष्ट्रं महात्मना । ववृधेऽनुदिनं विप्र जनेन च धनेन च ॥ 106.5 ॥

dharmataḥ pālyamānaṁ tu tena rāṣṭraṁ mahātmanā vavṛdhe’nudinaṁ vipra janena ca dhanena ca

Protected righteously by that great-souled king, the realm grew day by day, O Brahmin, in both people and wealth.

Verse 6 (markandeya.106.6)

हृष्टपुष्टमतीवासीत्तस्मिन्राजन्यशेषतः । निर्भयः सकलश्चोर्व्यां पौरजानपदो जनः ॥ 106.6 ॥

hṛṣṭapuṣṭamatīvāsīttasminrājanyaśeṣataḥ nirbhayaḥ sakalaścorvyāṁ paurajānapado janaḥ

Under that king, every last person, of city and countryside alike, was utterly thriving and fearless.

Verse 7 (markandeya.106.7)

नोपसर्गो न च व्याधिर्न च व्यालोद्भवं भयम् । न चावृष्टिभयं तत्र दमपुत्रे महीपतौ ॥ 106.7 ॥

nopasargo na ca vyādhirna ca vyālodbhavaṁ bhayam na cāvṛṣṭibhayaṁ tatra damaputre mahīpatau

There was no calamity, no disease, no fear born of serpents or wild beasts, nor any fear of drought, under that lord of the earth, the son of Dama.

Verse 8 (markandeya.106.8)

स ईजे च महायज्ञैर्ददौ दानानि चार्थिनाम् । सुधर्मस्याविरोधेन बुभुजे विषयानपि ॥ 106.8 ॥

sa īje ca mahāyajñairdadau dānāni cārthinām sudharmasyāvirodhena bubhuje viṣayānapi

He offered great sacrifices, gave gifts to those who sought them, and enjoyed the objects of the senses without transgressing sacred duty.

Verse 9 (markandeya.106.9)

तस्यैवं कुर्वतो राज्यं सम्यक्पालयतः प्रजाः । सप्त वर्षसहस्राणि जग्मुरेकमहर्यथा ॥ 106.9 ॥

tasyaivaṁ kurvato rājyaṁ samyakpālayataḥ prajāḥ sapta varṣasahasrāṇi jagmurekamaharyathā

As he thus ruled the kingdom and well protected his subjects, seven thousand years passed for him as though a single day.

Verse 10 (markandeya.106.10)

विदूरथस्य तनया दाक्षिणात्यस्य भूभृतः । तस्य पत्नी बभूवाथ मानिनी नाम मानिनी ॥ 106.10 ॥

vidūrathasya tanayā dākṣiṇātyasya bhūbhṛtaḥ tasya patnī babhūvātha māninī nāma māninī

His wife was the daughter of Vidüratha, king of the southern land — Manini by name, and proud by nature.

Verse 11 (markandeya.106.11)

कदाचित्तस्य सा सुभ्रुः शिरसोऽभ्यञ्जनादृता । पश्यतो राजलोकस्य मुमोचाश्रूणि मानिनी ॥ 106.11 ॥

kadācittasya sā subhruḥ śiraso’bhyañjanādṛtā paśyato rājalokasya mumocāśrūṇi māninī

Once, that fair-browed queen, while attending to her hair, shed tears in the sight of the whole assembled court.

Verse 12 (markandeya.106.12)

तदश्रुबिन्दवो गात्रे यदा तस्य महीपतेः । तदा वीक्ष्याश्रुवदनां तामपृच्छत मानिनीम् ॥ 106.12 ॥

tadaśrubindavo gātre yadā tasya mahīpateḥ tadā vīkṣyāśruvadanāṁ tāmapṛcchata māninīm

When those teardrops fell upon the body of the king, seeing her tear-streaked face he questioned Manini.

Verse 13 (markandeya.106.13)

निःशब्दमश्रुमोक्षेण रुदन्तीं तां विलोक्य वै । किमेतदिति पप्रच्छ मानिनीं राज्यवर्धनः ॥ 106.13 ॥

niḥśabdamaśrumokṣeṇa rudantīṁ tāṁ vilokya vai kimetaditi papraccha māninīṁ rājyavardhanaḥ

Seeing her weeping silently, without a word, Rajyavardhana asked Manini: 'What is this?'

Verse 14 (markandeya.106.14)

पृष्टा सा तु ततस्तेन भर्त्रा प्राह मनस्विनी । न किञ्चिदिति तां भूयः पप्रच्छ स महीपतिः ॥ 106.14 ॥

pṛṣṭā sā tu tatastena bhartrā prāha manasvinī na kiñciditi tāṁ bhūyaḥ papraccha sa mahīpatiḥ

Thus questioned by her husband, the high-spirited queen said, 'It is nothing'; and the king asked her once more.

Verse 15 (markandeya.106.15)

बहुशः पृच्छतस्तस्य भूभृतः सा सुमध्यमा । (न किञ्चिदिति होवाच सा भूयो राज्यवर्धनम् । किमेतदिति पप्रच्छ मानिनीं पार्थिवः पुनः । बहुशः प्रेरिता तेन सा भर्त्रा तत्र भामिनी ।) दर्शयामास पलितं केशभारान्तरोद्भवम् ॥ 106.15 ॥

bahuśaḥ pṛcchatastasya bhūbhṛtaḥ sā sumadhyamā (na kiñciditi hovāca sā bhūyo rājyavardhanam kimetaditi papraccha māninīṁ pārthivaḥ punaḥ bahuśaḥ preritā tena sā bhartrā tatra bhāminī) darśayāmāsa palitaṁ keśabhārāntarodbhavam

Though the king questioned that slender-waisted one again and again — (she still said 'It is nothing' to Rajyavardhana; 'What is this?' the king asked Manini once more; pressed repeatedly by her husband, that radiant woman then) — she showed him a single white hair that had sprung up amid the mass of her tresses.

Verse 16 (markandeya.106.16)

एतत्पश्येति भूपाल किमन्यन्मन्युकारणम् । ममातिमन्दभाग्याया जहासाथ नृपस्ततः ॥ 106.16 ॥

etatpaśyeti bhūpāla kimanyanmanyukāraṇam mamātimandabhāgyāyā jahāsātha nṛpastataḥ

'Behold this, O king — what other cause of grief could there be for one as unfortunate as I?' — and the king thereupon laughed.

Verse 17 (markandeya.106.17)

स विहस्याह तां पत्नीं शृण्वतां सर्वभूभृताम् । पौराणां च महीपाला ये तत्रासन्समावृताः ॥ 106.17 ॥

sa vihasyāha tāṁ patnīṁ śṛṇvatāṁ sarvabhūbhṛtām paurāṇāṁ ca mahīpālā ye tatrāsansamāvṛtāḥ

Laughing, he spoke to his wife within the hearing of all the kings and citizens who had gathered there:

Verse 18 (markandeya.106.18)

शोकेनालं विशालाक्षि रोदितव्यं न ते शुभे । जन्मर्द्धिपरिणामाद्या विकाराः सर्वजन्तुषु ॥ 106.18 ॥

śokenālaṁ viśālākṣi roditavyaṁ na te śubhe janmarddhipariṇāmādyā vikārāḥ sarvajantuṣu

'Enough of grief, O wide-eyed one — you have no cause to weep, gentle one. Birth, growth, and decline are transformations common to every creature.'

Verse 19 (markandeya.106.19)

अधीताः सकला वेदा इष्टा यज्ञाः सहस्रशः । दत्तं द्विजानां पुत्राश्च समुत्पन्ना वरानने ॥ 106.19 ॥

adhītāḥ sakalā vedā iṣṭā yajñāḥ sahasraśaḥ dattaṁ dvijānāṁ putrāśca samutpannā varānane

'All the Vedas have been studied, a thousand sacrifices offered, gifts given to Brahmins, and sons born to us, O fair-faced one.'

Verse 20 (markandeya.106.20)

भुक्ता भोगस्त्वया सार्द्धं ये मर्त्यैरतिदुर्लभाः । सभ्यञ्च पालिता पृथ्वी शौर्यं युद्धेष्वनुष्ठितम् ॥ 106.20 ॥

bhuktā bhogastvayā sārddhaṁ ye martyairatidurlabhāḥ sabhyañca pālitā pṛthvī śauryaṁ yuddheṣvanuṣṭhitam

'With you I have enjoyed pleasures such as mortals find hard to obtain; the earth has been well governed, and valor shown in battles.'

Verse 21 (markandeya.106.21)

मित्रैः सहेष्टैर्हसितं विहृतं च वनान्तरे । किमन्यत्र कृतं भद्रे पलितेभ्यो बिभेषि यत् ॥ 106.21 ॥

mitraiḥ saheṣṭairhasitaṁ vihṛtaṁ ca vanāntare kimanyatra kṛtaṁ bhadre palitebhyo bibheṣi yat

'With dear friends we have laughed and made merry, and roamed in the forest groves — what else remains undone, gentle one, that you should fear grey hairs?'

Verse 22 (markandeya.106.22)

भवन्तु केशाः पलिता वलयः सन्तु मे शुभे । शैथिल्यमेतु मे कायः कृतकृत्योऽस्मि मानिनि ॥ 106.22 ॥

bhavantu keśāḥ palitā valayaḥ santu me śubhe śaithilyametu me kāyaḥ kṛtakṛtyo’smi mānini

'Let my hair turn white, gentle one, let my body grow slack with age, O Manini — I have accomplished all that needed to be accomplished.'

Verse 23 (markandeya.106.23)

मूर्ध्नि यद्दर्शितं भद्रे भवत्या पलितं मम । चिकित्सामेव तस्याहं करोमि वनसंश्रयात् ॥ 106.23 ॥

mūrdhni yaddarśitaṁ bhadre bhavatyā palitaṁ mama cikitsāmeva tasyāhaṁ karomi vanasaṁśrayāt

'For this grey hair you have shown me upon my head, gentle one, I shall indeed take its remedy — by resorting to the forest.'

Verse 24 (markandeya.106.24)

बाल्ये बालक्रियापूर्वं तद्वत्कौमारके च या । यौवने चापि या योग्या वार्द्धके वनसंश्रया ॥ 106.24 ॥

bālye bālakriyāpūrvaṁ tadvatkaumārake ca yā yauvane cāpi yā yogyā vārddhake vanasaṁśrayā

'As childhood has its own fitting conduct, and boyhood its own, and youth its own, so too does old age call, fittingly, for retreat to the forest.'

Verse 25 (markandeya.106.25)

एवं मत्पूर्वजैर्भद्रे कृतं त्वत्पूर्वजैश्च यत् । अतो न तेऽश्रुपातस्य किञ्चित्पश्यामि कारणम् ॥ 106.25 ॥

evaṁ matpūrvajairbhadre kṛtaṁ tvatpūrvajaiśca yat ato na te’śrupātasya kiñcitpaśyāmi kāraṇam

'Thus have my own forefathers done, gentle one, and yours as well; therefore I see no cause at all for your tears.'

Verse 26 (markandeya.106.26)

अलं ते मन्युना भद्रे नन्वभ्युदयकारि मे । दर्शनं पलितस्यास्य मा रोदीर्निष्प्रयोजनम् ॥ 106.26 ॥

alaṁ te manyunā bhadre nanvabhyudayakāri me darśanaṁ palitasyāsya mā rodīrniṣprayojanam

'Enough of sorrow, gentle one — this sighting of grey hair is in truth a boon for me; do not weep over it in vain.'

Verse 27 (markandeya.106.27)

ततः प्रणम्य तं भूपाः पौराश्चैव समीपगाः । साम्ना प्रोचुर्महीपाला महर्षे राज्यवर्धनम् ॥ 106.27 ॥

tataḥ praṇamya taṁ bhūpāḥ paurāścaiva samīpagāḥ sāmnā procurmahīpālā maharṣe rājyavardhanam

Then the assembled kings and the nearby citizens, bowing before him, spoke gently to Rajyavardhana, O great sage:

Verse 28 (markandeya.106.28)

न रोदितव्यमनया तव पत्न्या नराधिप । रोदितव्यमिहास्माभिरथवा सर्वजन्तुभिः ॥ 106.28 ॥

na roditavyamanayā tava patnyā narādhipa roditavyamihāsmābhirathavā sarvajantubhiḥ

'It is not for this your queen alone to weep, O lord of men — rather it is we, and indeed every living being, who should weep.'

Verse 29 (markandeya.106.29)

त्वं ब्रवीषि यथा नाथ वनवासाश्रितं वचः । पतन्ति तेन नः प्राणा लालितानां त्वया नृप ॥ 106.29 ॥

tvaṁ bravīṣi yathā nātha vanavāsāśritaṁ vacaḥ patanti tena naḥ prāṇā lālitānāṁ tvayā nṛpa

'As you speak, O lord, this word touching your retreat to the forest, our very life-breaths fail, we who have been so cherished by you, O king.'

Verse 30 (markandeya.106.30)

सर्वे यास्यामहे भूप यदि याति भवान्वनम् । ततोऽशेषक्रियाहानिः सर्वपृथ्वीनिवासिनाम् ॥ 106.30 ॥

sarve yāsyāmahe bhūpa yadi yāti bhavānvanam tato’śeṣakriyāhāniḥ sarvapṛthvīnivāsinām

'We shall all go too, O king, if you go to the forest; then every undertaking of all the earth's people will come to nothing.'

Verse 31 (markandeya.106.31)

भविष्यति न सन्देहस्त्वयि नाथ वनाश्रमे । सा च धर्मोपघाताय यदि तत्प्रविमुच्यताम् ॥ 106.31 ॥

bhaviṣyati na sandehastvayi nātha vanāśrame sā ca dharmopaghātāya yadi tatpravimucyatām

'This will happen, O lord, without doubt, once you take up the forest-life; and if it should thus injure Dharma, let that resolve be set aside.'

Verse 32 (markandeya.106.32)

सप्त वर्षसहस्राणि त्वयेयं पालिता मही । तत्समुत्थं महापुण्यमालोकय नराधिप ॥ 106.32 ॥

sapta varṣasahasrāṇi tvayeyaṁ pālitā mahī tatsamutthaṁ mahāpuṇyamālokaya narādhipa

'For seven thousand years you have protected this earth — consider, O lord of men, the great merit that has arisen from it.'

Verse 33 (markandeya.106.33)

वने वसन्महाराज त्वं करिष्यसि यत्तपः । तन्महीपालनस्यास्य कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम् ॥ 106.33 ॥

vane vasanmahārāja tvaṁ kariṣyasi yattapaḥ tanmahīpālanasyāsya kalāṁ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm

'The austerity you would perform while dwelling in the forest, O great king, is not worth even a sixteenth part of this, your protection of the earth.'

Verse 34 (markandeya.106.34)

सप्त वर्षसहस्राणि मयेयं पालिता मही । इदानीं वनवासस्य मम कालोऽयमागतः ॥ 106.34 ॥

sapta varṣasahasrāṇi mayeyaṁ pālitā mahī idānīṁ vanavāsasya mama kālo’yamāgataḥ

'For seven thousand years I have protected this earth; now the time has come for my retirement to the forest.'

Verse 35 (markandeya.106.35)

ममापत्यानि जातानि दृष्ट्वा मेऽपत्यसन्ततीः । स्वल्पैरेवमहोभिर्मे ह्यन्तको न सहिष्यति ॥ 106.35 ॥

mamāpatyāni jātāni dṛṣṭvā me’patyasantatīḥ svalpairevamahobhirme hyantako na sahiṣyati

'I have seen my children born, and seen the succession of my offspring; within a few more days now, death will not tolerate me.'

Verse 36 (markandeya.106.36)

यदेतत्पलितं मूर्ध्नि तद्विजानीत नागराः । दूतभूतमनार्यस्य मृत्योरत्युग्रकर्मणः ॥ 106.36 ॥

yadetatpalitaṁ mūrdhni tadvijānīta nāgarāḥ dūtabhūtamanāryasya mṛtyoratyugrakarmaṇaḥ

'Know this, O citizens: this grey hair upon my head is the very messenger of ignoble, terribly-acting Death.'

Verse 37 (markandeya.106.37)

सोऽहं राज्ये सुतं कृत्वा भोगांस्त्यक्त्वा वनाश्रयः । तपस्तप्स्ये समायान्ति न यावद्यमसैनिकाः ॥ 106.37 ॥

so’haṁ rājye sutaṁ kṛtvā bhogāṁstyaktvā vanāśrayaḥ tapastapsye samāyānti na yāvadyamasainikāḥ

'Therefore, having installed my son in the kingdom and forsaken worldly pleasure, I shall take refuge in the forest and practice austerity, before the soldiers of Yama arrive.'

Verse 38 (markandeya.106.38)

ततो यियासुः स वनं दैवज्ञानवनीपतिः । पुत्रराज्याऽभिषेकाय दिनलग्नान्यपृच्छत ॥ 106.38 ॥

tato yiyāsuḥ sa vanaṁ daivajñānavanīpatiḥ putrarājyā’bhiṣekāya dinalagnānyapṛcchata

Then that lord of the earth, wishing to depart to the forest, asked the astrologers for an auspicious day for his son's royal consecration.

Verse 39 (markandeya.106.39)

श्रुत्वा च ते तु नृपतेर्वचो व्याकुलचेतसः । दिनं लग्नं च होराश्च न विदुः शास्त्रदृष्टयः ॥ 106.39 ॥

śrutvā ca te tu nṛpatervaco vyākulacetasaḥ dinaṁ lagnaṁ ca horāśca na viduḥ śāstradṛṣṭayaḥ

But hearing the king's words, those men, their minds thrown into confusion, could determine, through their science, no day, moment, or hour at all.

Verse 40 (markandeya.106.40)

ऊचुश्च तं महीपालं दैवज्ञा बाष्पगद्गदम् । ज्ञानानि नः प्रणष्टानि श्रुत्वैतत्ते वचो नृप ॥ 106.40 ॥

ūcuśca taṁ mahīpālaṁ daivajñā bāṣpagadgadam jñānāni naḥ praṇaṣṭāni śrutvaitatte vaco nṛpa

The astrologers, their voices choked with tears, said to the king: 'Our very knowledge has failed us, O king, upon hearing these your words.'

Verse 41 (markandeya.106.41)

ततोऽन्यनगरेभ्यश्च भृत्यै राष्ट्रेभ्य एव च । ततस्तस्माच्च नगरात्प्राचुर्येणाभ्युपागमन् ॥ 106.41 ॥

tato’nyanagarebhyaśca bhṛtyai rāṣṭrebhya eva ca tatastasmācca nagarātprācuryeṇābhyupāgaman

Then from other cities, from among the servants, and from the provinces, and from that same city too, people gathered there in great numbers,

Verse 42 (markandeya.106.42)

समुत्पत्य महीपालं तं यियासुं मुने वनम् । प्रकम्पिशिरसो भूत्वा प्रोचुर्ब्राह्मणसत्तमाः ॥ 106.42 ॥

samutpatya mahīpālaṁ taṁ yiyāsuṁ mune vanam prakampiśiraso bhūtvā procurbrāhmaṇasattamāḥ

and, hastening to that lord of the earth who wished to go to the forest, O sage, the foremost Brahmins, their heads trembling, said:

Verse 43 (markandeya.106.43)

प्रसीद पाहि नो राजन्पालिताः स्म यथा पुरा । सीदिष्यत्यखिलो लोकस्त्वयि भूप वनाश्रये ॥ 106.43 ॥

prasīda pāhi no rājanpālitāḥ sma yathā purā sīdiṣyatyakhilo lokastvayi bhūpa vanāśraye

'Be gracious, O king, protect us as you have protected us before; the whole world will sink into ruin, O king, should you take up the forest-life.'

Verse 44 (markandeya.106.44)

त्वं कुरुष्व तथा राजन्यथा नो सीदते जगत् । नेच्छामश्च भवच्छून्यं द्रष्टुं सिंहासनं विभो ॥ 106.44 ॥

tvaṁ kuruṣva tathā rājanyathā no sīdate jagat necchāmaśca bhavacchūnyaṁ draṣṭuṁ siṁhāsanaṁ vibho

'Do, O king, as will keep our world from ruin; as long as we, your people, live out our brief span, O hero — we do not wish to see this throne left empty.'

Verse 45 (markandeya.106.45)

इत्येवं तैस्तथान्यैश्च द्विजैः पौरपुरःसरैः । भूपैर्भृत्यैरमात्यैश्च राजा प्रोक्तः पुनः पुनः ॥ 106.45 ॥

ityevaṁ taistathānyaiśca dvijaiḥ paurapuraḥsaraiḥ bhūpairbhṛtyairamātyaiśca rājā proktaḥ punaḥ punaḥ

Thus was the king addressed again and again by these and other Brahmins, led by the citizens, and by kings, servants, and ministers.

Verse 46 (markandeya.106.46)

वनवासविनिर्बन्धं नोपसंहरते यदा । क्षमिष्यत्यन्तको नेति ददौ स च तदोत्तरम् ॥ 106.46 ॥

vanavāsavinirbandhaṁ nopasaṁharate yadā kṣamiṣyatyantako neti dadau sa ca tadottaram

But when he would not abandon his resolve for the forest-life, he gave them then this answer: 'Death will grant no pardon.'

Verse 47 (markandeya.106.47)

ततोऽमात्याश्च भूपाश्च पौरवृद्धास्तथा द्विजाः । समेत्य मन्त्रयामासुः किमत्र क्रियतामिति ॥ 106.47 ॥

tato’mātyāśca bhūpāśca pauravṛddhāstathā dvijāḥ sametya mantrayāmāsuḥ kimatra kriyatāmiti

Then the ministers, the kings, the elders of the city, and the Brahmins gathered together to deliberate: 'What is to be done here?'

Verse 48 (markandeya.106.48)

तेषां मन्त्रयतां विप्र निश्चयोऽयमजायत । अनुरागवतां तत्र महीपालेऽतिधार्मिके ॥ 106.48 ॥

teṣāṁ mantrayatāṁ vipra niścayo’yamajāyata anurāgavatāṁ tatra mahīpāle’tidhārmike

As they deliberated, O Brahmin, this resolution arose among them, devoted as they were to that most righteous king:

Verse 49 (markandeya.106.49)

सम्यग्ध्यानपरा भूत्वा प्रार्थयामः समाहिताः । तपसाराध्य भास्वन्तमायुरस्य महीपतेः ॥ 106.49 ॥

samyagdhyānaparā bhūtvā prārthayāmaḥ samāhitāḥ tapasārādhya bhāsvantamāyurasya mahīpateḥ

'Let us, our minds well composed in meditation, propitiate the radiant Sun through austerity, and pray for the long life of this lord of the earth.'

Verse 50 (markandeya.106.50)

तत्रैकनिश्चयाः कार्ये केचिद्गेहे च भास्करम् । सम्यगर्घोपचाराद्यैरुपहारैरपूजयन् ॥ 106.50 ॥

tatraikaniścayāḥ kārye kecidgehe ca bhāskaram samyagarghopacārādyairupahārairapūjayan

Resolved as one upon this task, some there worshipped Bhaskara at home, with due arghya and other offerings and rites.

Verse 51 (markandeya.106.51)

अपरे मौनिनो भूत्वा ऋग्जापेन तथापरे । यजुषामथ साम्नां च तोषयाञ्चक्रिरे रविम् ॥ 106.51 ॥

apare maunino bhūtvā ṛgjāpena tathāpare yajuṣāmatha sāmnāṁ ca toṣayāñcakrire ravim

Others, taking a vow of silence, pleased Ravi by muttering the Rig verses, and still others by the verses of the Yajus and Sama.

Verse 52 (markandeya.106.52)

अपरे च निराहारा नदीपुलिनशायिनः । तपांसि चक्रुरिच्छंतो भास्कराराधनं द्विजाः ॥ 106.52 ॥

apare ca nirāhārā nadīpulinaśāyinaḥ tapāṁsi cakruricchaṁto bhāskarārādhanaṁ dvijāḥ

Others still, fasting and lying upon the sandbanks of rivers, performed austerities, those Brahmins desiring to propitiate Bhaskara.

Verse 53 (markandeya.106.53)

अग्निहोत्रपराश्चान्ये रविसूक्तान्यहर्निशम् । जेपुस्तत्रापरे तस्थुर्भास्करे न्यस्तदृष्टयः ॥ 106.53 ॥

agnihotraparāścānye ravisūktānyaharniśam jepustatrāpare tasthurbhāskare nyastadṛṣṭayaḥ

Others, devoted to the fire-oblation, muttered the Surya hymns day and night, while others still remained there with their gaze fixed unwaveringly upon Bhaskara.

Verse 54 (markandeya.106.54)

इत्येवमतिनिर्बन्धं भास्कराराधनं प्रति । बहुप्रकारं चक्रुस्ते तं तं विधिमुपाश्रिताः ॥ 106.54 ॥

ityevamatinirbandhaṁ bhāskarārādhanaṁ prati bahuprakāraṁ cakruste taṁ taṁ vidhimupāśritāḥ

Thus, with such insistent resolve toward the worship of Bhaskara, they performed rites of many kinds, each resorting to this or that particular observance.

Verse 55 (markandeya.106.55)

तथा तु यततां तेषां भास्कराराधनं प्रति । सुदामा नाम गन्धर्व उपगम्येदमब्रवीत् ॥ 106.55 ॥

tathā tu yatatāṁ teṣāṁ bhāskarārādhanaṁ prati sudāmā nāma gandharva upagamyedamabravīt

As they thus strove toward the worship of Bhaskara, a Gandharva named Sudama approached and said this:

Verse 56 (markandeya.106.56)

यद्याराधनमिष्टं वो भास्करस्य द्विजातयः । तदेतत्क्रियतां येन भानुः प्रीतिमुपैष्यति ॥ 106.56 ॥

yadyārādhanamiṣṭaṁ vo bhāskarasya dvijātayaḥ tadetatkriyatāṁ yena bhānuḥ prītimupaiṣyati

'If it is worship of Bhaskara that you desire, O Brahmins, then do this, by which Bhanu will attain satisfaction —'

Verse 57 (markandeya.106.57)

तस्माद्गुरुविशालाख्यं वनं सिद्धनिषेवितम् । कामरूपे महाशैले गम्यतां तत्र वै लघु ॥ 106.57 ॥

tasmādguruviśālākhyaṁ vanaṁ siddhaniṣevitam kāmarūpe mahāśaile gamyatāṁ tatra vai laghu

'— go quickly, then, to the forest called Guru-Vishala, frequented by the Siddhas, on the great mountain in Kamarupa.'

Verse 58 (markandeya.106.58)

तस्मिन्नाराधनं भानोः क्रियतां सुसमाहितैः । सिद्धक्षेत्रं हितं तत्र सर्वकामानवाप्स्यथ ॥ 106.58 ॥

tasminnārādhanaṁ bhānoḥ kriyatāṁ susamāhitaiḥ siddhakṣetraṁ hitaṁ tatra sarvakāmānavāpsyatha

'There, with well-composed minds, perform the worship of Bhanu; it is a blessed realm of the Siddhas — there you shall obtain all that you desire.'

Verse 59 (markandeya.106.59)

इति ते तद्वचः श्रुत्वा गत्वा तत्काननं द्विजाः । ददृशुर्भास्वतस्तत्र पुण्यमायतनं शुभम् ॥ 106.59 ॥

iti te tadvacaḥ śrutvā gatvā tatkānanaṁ dvijāḥ dadṛśurbhāsvatastatra puṇyamāyatanaṁ śubham

Hearing these words, the Brahmins went to that forest, and there beheld a sacred and auspicious shrine of the radiant Sun.

Verse 60 (markandeya.106.60)

तत्र ते नियताहारा वर्णा विप्रादयो द्विज । धूपपुष्पोपहाराढ्या पूजां चक्रुरतन्द्रिताः ॥ 106.60 ॥

tatra te niyatāhārā varṇā viprādayo dvija dhūpapuṣpopahārāḍhyā pūjāṁ cakruratandritāḥ

There, observing strict fasts, the Brahmins and the other classes, rich in offerings of incense and flowers, worshipped him without slackening.

Verse 61 (markandeya.106.61)

पुष्पानुलेपनाद्यैश्च धूपगन्धादिकैस्तथा । जपहोमान्नदानाद्यं पूजनं ते समाहिताः । कुर्वन्तस्तुष्टुवुर्ब्रह्मन्विवस्वन्तं द्विजातयः ॥ 106.61 ॥

puṣpānulepanādyaiśca dhūpagandhādikaistathā japahomānnadānādyaṁ pūjanaṁ te samāhitāḥ kurvantastuṣṭuvurbrahmanvivasvantaṁ dvijātayaḥ

With offerings of flowers and unguents, with incense and fragrances, and with muttered prayers, oblations, and gifts of food, those Brahmins, O Brahmin, performed this worship with composed minds, praising Vivasvat.

Verse 62 (markandeya.106.62)

देवदानवयक्षाणां ग्रहाणां ज्योतिषामपि । तेजसाभ्यधिकं देवं व्रजाम शरणं रविम् ॥ 106.62 ॥

devadānavayakṣāṇāṁ grahāṇāṁ jyotiṣāmapi tejasābhyadhikaṁ devaṁ vrajāma śaraṇaṁ ravim

'We take refuge in the god Ravi, whose splendor surpasses that of gods, danavas, yakshas, planets, and the very luminaries.'

Verse 63 (markandeya.106.63)

दिवि स्थितं च देवेशं द्योतयन्तं समन्ततः । वसुधामन्तरिक्षं च व्याप्नुवन्तं मरीचिभिः ॥ 106.63 ॥

divi sthitaṁ ca deveśaṁ dyotayantaṁ samantataḥ vasudhāmantarikṣaṁ ca vyāpnuvantaṁ marīcibhiḥ

'— the lord of the gods, stationed in the sky, illumining every direction, pervading the earth and the atmosphere with his rays,'

Verse 64 (markandeya.106.64)

आदित्यं भास्करं भानुं सवितारं दिवाकरम् । पूषाणमर्यमाणं च स्वर्भानुं दीप्तदीधितिम् ॥ 106.64 ॥

ādityaṁ bhāskaraṁ bhānuṁ savitāraṁ divākaram pūṣāṇamaryamāṇaṁ ca svarbhānuṁ dīptadīdhitim

'— Aditya, Bhaskara, Bhanu, Savitri, Divakara, Pushan, Aryaman, foe of Svarbhanu, of blazing splendor,'

Verse 65 (markandeya.106.65)

चतुर्युगान्तकालाग्निदुष्प्रेक्ष्यं प्रलयान्तगम् । योगीश्वरमनन्तं च रक्तं पीतं सितासितम् ॥ 106.65 ॥

caturyugāntakālāgniduṣprekṣyaṁ pralayāntagam yogīśvaramanantaṁ ca raktaṁ pītaṁ sitāsitam

'— the fire at the end of the four ages, unbearable to gaze upon, present at the very close of dissolution, the Lord of Yogis, the infinite one, red, yellow, both light and dark,'

Verse 66 (markandeya.106.66)

ऋषीणामग्निहोत्रेषु यज्ञदेवेष्ववस्थितम् । व्रजाम शरणं देवं तेजोराशिं तमच्युतम् । अक्षरं परमं गुह्यं मोक्षद्वारमनुत्तमम् ॥ 106.66 ॥

ṛṣīṇāmagnihotreṣu yajñadeveṣvavasthitam vrajāma śaraṇaṁ devaṁ tejorāśiṁ tamacyutam akṣaraṁ paramaṁ guhyaṁ mokṣadvāramanuttamam

'— present in the fire-oblations of the sages, abiding among the gods of sacrifice — we take refuge in that god, the very mass of splendor, the imperishable one, the changeless, the supreme, the secret, the unsurpassed gateway to liberation.'

Verse 67 (markandeya.106.67)

छन्दोभिरश्वरूपैश्च सकृद्युक्तैर्विहङ्गमम् । उदयास्तमने युक्तं सदा मेरोः प्रदक्षिणे ॥ 106.67 ॥

chandobhiraśvarūpaiśca sakṛdyuktairvihaṅgamam udayāstamane yuktaṁ sadā meroḥ pradakṣiṇe

'— yoked with the Vedic metres in the form of horses, moving with the flight of a bird, ever circling Mount Meru in rising and in setting,'

Verse 68 (markandeya.106.68)

अनृतं च ऋतं चैव पुण्यतीर्थं पृथग्विधम् । विश्वस्थितिचिन्त्यं च प्रपन्नाः स्म प्रभाकरम् ॥ 106.68 ॥

anṛtaṁ ca ṛtaṁ caiva puṇyatīrthaṁ pṛthagvidham viśvasthiticintyaṁ ca prapannāḥ sma prabhākaram

'— both order and its breach, and every manner of sacred crossing-place — we have taken refuge in Prabhakara, upon whom the sustaining of the universe depends.'

Verse 69 (markandeya.106.69)

यो ब्रह्मा यो महादेवो यो विष्णुर्यः प्रजापतिः । वायुराकाशमापश्च पृथिवीगिरिसागराः ॥ 106.69 ॥

yo brahmā yo mahādevo yo viṣṇuryaḥ prajāpatiḥ vāyurākāśamāpaśca pṛthivīgirisāgarāḥ

'— he who is Brahma, who is Mahadeva, who is Vishnu, who is Prajapati, who is the wind, the sky, the waters, the earth, the mountains, the oceans,'

Verse 70 (markandeya.106.70)

ग्रहनक्षत्रचन्द्राद्या वानस्पत्यं द्रुमौषधम् । व्यक्ताव्यक्तेषु भूतेषु धर्माधर्मप्रवर्त्तकः ॥ 106.70 ॥

grahanakṣatracandrādyā vānaspatyaṁ drumauṣadham vyaktāvyakteṣu bhūteṣu dharmādharmapravarttakaḥ

'— the planets, the constellations, the moon and the rest, the plant-kingdom, the trees and herbs — the setter-in-motion of Dharma and Adharma among manifest and unmanifest beings —'

Verse 71 (markandeya.106.71)

ब्राह्मी माहेश्वरी चैव वैष्णवी चैव ते तनुः । त्रिधा यस्य स्वरूपं तु भानोर्भास्वान्प्रसीदतु ॥ 106.71 ॥

brāhmī māheśvarī caiva vaiṣṇavī caiva te tanuḥ tridhā yasya svarūpaṁ tu bhānorbhāsvānprasīdatu

'— Brahmi, Maheshvari, and Vaishnavi are your three forms; may Bhanu, whose nature is thus threefold, radiant one, be pleased with us.'

Verse 72 (markandeya.106.72)

यस्य सर्वमयस्येदमङ्गभूतं जगत्प्रभोः । स नः प्रसीदतां भास्वाञ्जगतां यश्च जीवनम् ॥ 106.72 ॥

yasya sarvamayasyedamaṅgabhūtaṁ jagatprabhoḥ sa naḥ prasīdatāṁ bhāsvāñjagatāṁ yaśca jīvanam

'He who is all things, of whom this whole universe is but a part — may that radiant Lord be pleased with us, he who is the very life of the worlds.'

Verse 73 (markandeya.106.73)

यस्यैकमक्षरं रूपं प्रभामण्डलदुर्दृशम् । द्वितीयमैन्दवं सौम्यं स नो भास्वान्प्रसीदतु ॥ 106.73 ॥

yasyaikamakṣaraṁ rūpaṁ prabhāmaṇḍaladurdṛśam dvitīyamaindavaṁ saumyaṁ sa no bhāsvānprasīdatu

'Whose one imperishable form is a halo of light, hard to gaze upon, and whose second form is gentle, moon-like — may that radiant one be pleased with us.'

Verse 74 (markandeya.106.74)

ताभ्यां च तस्य रूपाभ्यामिदं विश्वं विनिर्मितम् । अग्नीषोममयं भास्वान्स नो देवः प्रसीदतु ॥ 106.74 ॥

tābhyāṁ ca tasya rūpābhyāmidaṁ viśvaṁ vinirmitam agnīṣomamayaṁ bhāsvānsa no devaḥ prasīdatu

'By these two forms of his this whole universe was fashioned; may that radiant god, composed of fire and moon, be pleased with us.'

Verse 75 (markandeya.106.75)

इत्थं स्तुत्या तदा भक्त्या सम्यक्पूजाविधानतः । तुतोष भगवान्भास्वांस्त्रिभिर्मासैर्द्विजोत्तम ॥ 106.75 ॥

itthaṁ stutyā tadā bhaktyā samyakpūjāvidhānataḥ tutoṣa bhagavānbhāsvāṁstribhirmāsairdvijottama

Thus, through such devoted praise and the due performance of worship, the Lord Bhaskara became satisfied, O best of the twice-born, within three months.

Verse 76 (markandeya.106.76)

ततः स मण्डलादुद्यन्निजबिम्बसमप्रभः । अवतीर्य ददौ तेभ्यो दुर्दृशो दर्शनं रविः ॥ 106.76 ॥

tataḥ sa maṇḍalādudyannijabimbasamaprabhaḥ avatīrya dadau tebhyo durdṛśo darśanaṁ raviḥ

Then he, Ravi, rising from his orb, of a splendor equal to his own disc, descended and granted them the sight of himself, though he was hard to behold.

Verse 77 (markandeya.106.77)

ततस्ते स्पष्टरूपं तं सवितारमजं जनाः । पुलकोत्कम्पिनो विप्रा भक्तिनम्राः प्रणेमिरे ॥ 106.77 ॥

tataste spaṣṭarūpaṁ taṁ savitāramajaṁ janāḥ pulakotkampino viprā bhaktinamrāḥ praṇemire

Then those people, those Brahmins, beholding him, the unborn Savitri, in that manifest form, their hair standing on end, bowed down, humbled by devotion.

Verse 78 (markandeya.106.78)

नमो नमस्तेऽस्तु सहस्ररश्मे सर्वस्य हेतुस्त्वमशेषकेतुः । पाता त्वमीड्योऽखिलयज्ञधामध्येयस्तथा योगविदां प्रसीद ॥ 106.78 ॥

namo namaste’stu sahasraraśme sarvasya hetustvamaśeṣaketuḥ pātā tvamīḍyo’khilayajñadhāmadhyeyastathā yogavidāṁ prasīda

'Salutation, salutation to you, O thousand-rayed one; you are the cause of all things, your glory without end; you are the protector, worthy of praise, the very abode of all sacrifices, the object of meditation for the masters of yoga — be gracious!'