The Greatness of Bhanu

Verse 1 (markandeya.107.1)

ततः प्रसन्नो भगवान्भानुराहाखिलाञ्जनान् । व्रियतां यदभिप्रेतं मत्तः प्राप्तुं द्विजादयः ॥ 107.1 ॥

tataḥ prasanno bhagavānbhānurāhākhilāñjanān vriyatāṁ yadabhipretaṁ mattaḥ prāptuṁ dvijādayaḥ

Then the gracious Lord Bhanu said to all those people: 'Choose whatever you wish to obtain from me, O Brahmins and the rest.'

Verse 2 (markandeya.107.2)

ततस्ते प्रणिपत्योचुर्विप्रक्षत्रादयो जनाः । ससाध्वसमशीतांशुमवलोक्य पुरः स्थितम् ॥ 107.2 ॥

tataste praṇipatyocurviprakṣatrādayo janāḥ sasādhvasamaśītāṁśumavalokya puraḥ sthitam

Then those people, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and the rest, bowing down, having gazed with awe upon the hot-rayed Sun standing before them, said:

Verse 3 (markandeya.107.3)

भगवन्यदि नो भक्त्या प्रसन्नस्तिमिरापह ॥ 107.3 ॥

bhagavanyadi no bhaktyā prasannastimirāpaha

'O Lord, dispeller of darkness, if you are pleased with our devotion—'

Verse 4 (markandeya.107.4)

दश वर्षसहस्राणि ततो नो जीवतां नृपः । निरामयो जितारातिः सुकोशः स्थिरयौवनः ॥ 107.4 ॥

daśa varṣasahasrāṇi tato no jīvatāṁ nṛpaḥ nirāmayo jitārātiḥ sukośaḥ sthirayauvanaḥ

'—then let our king live for ten thousand years, free from illness, victorious over his foes, rich in treasury, and ever youthful.'

Verse 5 (markandeya.107.5)

तथेत्युक्त्वा जनान्भास्वानदृश्योऽभून्महामुने । तेऽपि लब्धवरा हृष्टाः समाजग्मुर्जनेश्वरम् ॥ 107.5 ॥

tathetyuktvā janānbhāsvānadṛśyo’bhūnmahāmune te’pi labdhavarā hṛṣṭāḥ samājagmurjaneśvaram

Saying 'so be it' to the people, the radiant one vanished from sight, O great sage; and they too, their boon obtained, returned rejoicing to their lord of men.

Verse 6 (markandeya.107.6)

यथा वृत्तं च ते तस्मै नरेन्द्राय न्यवेदयन् । वरं लब्ध्वा सहस्रांशो सकाशादखिलं द्विज ॥ 107.6 ॥

yathā vṛttaṁ ca te tasmai narendrāya nyavedayan varaṁ labdhvā sahasrāṁśo sakāśādakhilaṁ dvija

Just as it had happened, they related it all to that king, O Brahmin — that they had obtained this whole boon from the thousand-rayed one.

Verse 7 (markandeya.107.7)

तच्छ्रुत्वा जहृषे तस्य सा पत्नी मानिनी द्विज । (प्रहर्षं परमं याता हर्षोद्गततनूरुहा) । स च राजा चिरं दध्यौ नाह किञ्चिच्च तं जनम् ॥ 107.7 ॥

tacchrutvā jahṛṣe tasya sā patnī māninī dvija (praharṣaṁ paramaṁ yātā harṣodgatatanūruhā) sa ca rājā ciraṁ dadhyau nāha kiñcicca taṁ janam

Hearing this, his wife Manini rejoiced, O Brahmin — (she was overcome with the greatest joy, her hair standing on end in delight) — but the king himself brooded long, and said nothing at all to those people.

Verse 8 (markandeya.107.8)

ततः सा मानिनी भूपं हर्षापूरितमानसा । दिष्ट्याऽऽयुषा महीपाल वर्द्धस्वेत्याह तं पतिम् ॥ 107.8 ॥

tataḥ sā māninī bhūpaṁ harṣāpūritamānasā diṣṭyā’’yuṣā mahīpāla varddhasvetyāha taṁ patim

Then Manini, her heart filled with joy, said to the king, her husband: 'By good fortune, O lord of the earth, may you prosper with long life.'

Verse 9 (markandeya.107.9)

तथा तया मुदा भर्ता मानिन्याथ सभाजितः । नाहं किञ्चिन्महीपालश्चिन्ताजडमनाद्विज ॥ 107.9 ॥

tathā tayā mudā bhartā māninyātha sabhājitaḥ nāhaṁ kiñcinmahīpālaścintājaḍamanādvija

Though honored thus with such joy by Manini, her husband said: 'I, the king, am not pleased at all, O Brahmin — my mind is numbed with anxiety.'

Verse 10 (markandeya.107.10)

सा पुनः प्राह भर्त्तारं चिन्तयानमधोमुखम् । कस्मान्न हर्षमभ्येषि परमाभ्युदये नृप ॥ 107.10 ॥

sā punaḥ prāha bharttāraṁ cintayānamadhomukham kasmānna harṣamabhyeṣi paramābhyudaye nṛpa

She spoke again to her husband, who sat lost in thought with downcast face: 'Why do you not feel joy, O king, at this supreme good fortune?'

Verse 11 (markandeya.107.11)

दशवर्षसहस्राणि नीरुजः स्थिरयौवनः । भावी त्वमद्यप्रभृति किं तथापि न हृष्यसे ॥ 107.11 ॥

daśavarṣasahasrāṇi nīrujaḥ sthirayauvanaḥ bhāvī tvamadyaprabhṛti kiṁ tathāpi na hṛṣyase

'From this day you shall be free of illness and ever youthful for ten thousand years — why then do you still not rejoice?'

Verse 12 (markandeya.107.12)

किन्तु तत्कारणं ब्रूहि यच्चिन्ताकृष्टमानसः । परमाभ्युदयेऽपि त्वं सम्प्राप्ते पृथिवीपते ॥ 107.12 ॥

kintu tatkāraṇaṁ brūhi yaccintākṛṣṭamānasaḥ paramābhyudaye’pi tvaṁ samprāpte pṛthivīpate

'But tell me, O lord of the earth, the reason your mind is thus drawn into anxiety, even though this supreme prosperity has come to you.'

Verse 13 (markandeya.107.13)

कथमभ्युदयो भद्रे किं सभाजयसे च माम् । प्राप्तो दुःखसहस्राणां किं सभाजनमिष्यते ॥ 107.13 ॥

kathamabhyudayo bhadre kiṁ sabhājayase ca mām prāpto duḥkhasahasrāṇāṁ kiṁ sabhājanamiṣyate

'What manner of prosperity is this, gentle one, and why do you congratulate me? Having come upon a thousand sorrows, what congratulation is fitting?'

Verse 14 (markandeya.107.14)

दशवर्षसहस्राणि जीविष्याम्यहमेककः । न त्वं तव विपत्तौ मे किन्न दुःखं भविष्यति ॥ 107.14 ॥

daśavarṣasahasrāṇi jīviṣyāmyahamekakaḥ na tvaṁ tava vipattau me kinna duḥkhaṁ bhaviṣyati

'For ten thousand years I alone shall live, while you shall not; shall it not be sorrow to me at your calamity?'

Verse 15 (markandeya.107.15)

पुत्रान्पौत्रान्प्रपौत्रांश्च तथान्यानिष्टबान्धवान् । पश्यतो मे मृतान्दुःखं किमल्पं हि भविष्यति ॥ 107.15 ॥

putrānpautrānprapautrāṁśca tathānyāniṣṭabāndhavān paśyato me mṛtānduḥkhaṁ kimalpaṁ hi bhaviṣyati

'Seeing my sons, grandsons, great-grandsons, and other beloved kinsmen die before my eyes — will that be a trifling sorrow?'

Verse 16 (markandeya.107.16)

भृत्येषु चातिभक्तेषु मित्रवर्गे तथा मृते । भद्रे दुःखमपारं मे भविष्यति तु सन्ततम् ॥ 107.16 ॥

bhṛtyeṣu cātibhakteṣu mitravarge tathā mṛte bhadre duḥkhamapāraṁ me bhaviṣyati tu santatam

'When my most devoted servants and my circle of friends have died, gentle one, my sorrow shall be boundless and unceasing.'

Verse 17 (markandeya.107.17)

यैर्मदर्थं तपस्तप्तं कृशैर्धमनिसन्ततैः । ते मरिष्यन्त्यहं भोगी जीविष्यामीति धिक्करम् ॥ 107.17 ॥

yairmadarthaṁ tapastaptaṁ kṛśairdhamanisantataiḥ te mariṣyantyahaṁ bhogī jīviṣyāmīti dhikkaram

'Those by whom austerity was performed for my sake, emaciated, their very veins standing taut — they shall die, while I, enjoying pleasure, shall go on living: shame upon such a life!'

Verse 18 (markandeya.107.18)

सेयमापद्वरारोहे प्राप्ता नाभ्युदयो मम । कथं वा मन्यसे न त्वं यत्सभाजयसेऽद्य माम् ॥ 107.18 ॥

seyamāpadvarārohe prāptā nābhyudayo mama kathaṁ vā manyase na tvaṁ yatsabhājayase’dya mām

'This, O fair one, is the calamity that has befallen me, not prosperity — how is it you do not see this, that you congratulate me today?'

Verse 19 (markandeya.107.19)

महाराज यथात्थ त्वं तथैतन्नात्र संशयः । मया पौरैश्च दोषोऽयं प्रीत्या नालोकितस्तव ॥ 107.19 ॥

mahārāja yathāttha tvaṁ tathaitannātra saṁśayaḥ mayā pauraiśca doṣo’yaṁ prītyā nālokitastava

'O great king, it is exactly as you say, without doubt; out of affection this flaw was seen neither by me nor by the citizens.'

Verse 20 (markandeya.107.20)

एवं गतेऽत्र किं कार्यं नरनाथ विचिन्त्यताम् । नान्यथा भावि यत्प्राह प्रसन्नौ भगवान्रविः ॥ 107.20 ॥

evaṁ gate’tra kiṁ kāryaṁ naranātha vicintyatām nānyathā bhāvi yatprāha prasannau bhagavānraviḥ

'This being so, O lord of men, consider what is now to be done; what the gracious Lord Ravi has declared will not turn out otherwise.'

Verse 21 (markandeya.107.21)

उपकारः कृतः पौरैः प्रीत्या भृत्यैश्च यो मम । कथं भोक्ष्याम्यहं भोगान्गत्वा तेषामनिष्कृतिम् ॥ 107.21 ॥

upakāraḥ kṛtaḥ pauraiḥ prītyā bhṛtyaiśca yo mama kathaṁ bhokṣyāmyahaṁ bhogāngatvā teṣāmaniṣkṛtim

'How shall I enjoy pleasures, having failed to repay this kindness shown me with such affection by my citizens and servants?'

Verse 22 (markandeya.107.22)

सोऽहमद्यप्रभृत्यद्रिं गत्वा नियतमानसः । ( पौरलोकहितार्थं च तोषयिष्यामि भास्करम् । यथा पौरा मम कृते बान्धवाश्च समन्ततः । आराधनाय देवेशं तथाहमपि साम्प्रतम्) । तपस्तप्स्ये निराहारो भानोराराधनोद्यतः ॥ 107.22 ॥

so’hamadyaprabhṛtyadriṁ gatvā niyatamānasaḥ ( pauralokahitārthaṁ ca toṣayiṣyāmi bhāskaram yathā paurā mama kṛte bāndhavāśca samantataḥ ārādhanāya deveśaṁ tathāhamapi sāmpratam) tapastapsye nirāhāro bhānorārādhanodyataḥ

'Therefore, from this day, going to the mountain with a resolved mind — (for the welfare of the citizens I too shall propitiate Bhaskara; just as the citizens and kinsmen have done on my behalf, so now shall I too, for the sake of propitiating the lord of gods) — I shall fast and practice austerity, devoted to the worship of Bhanu,'

Verse 23 (markandeya.107.23)

दशवर्षसहस्राणि यथाहं स्थिरयौवनः । तस्य प्रसादाद्देवस्य जीविष्यामि निरामयः ॥ 107.23 ॥

daśavarṣasahasrāṇi yathāhaṁ sthirayauvanaḥ tasya prasādāddevasya jīviṣyāmi nirāmayaḥ

'—so that, by the grace of that god, I too may live free from illness, ever youthful, for ten thousand years, even as I am now.'

Verse 24 (markandeya.107.24)

तथा यदि प्रजाः सर्वा भृत्यास्त्वं च सुताश्च मे । पुत्रा पौत्रा प्रपौत्राश्च सुहृदश्च वरानने ॥ 107.24 ॥

tathā yadi prajāḥ sarvā bhṛtyāstvaṁ ca sutāśca me putrā pautrā prapautrāśca suhṛdaśca varānane

'And if all my subjects, my servants, you, and my sons, O fair-faced one, and my sons, grandsons, great-grandsons, and friends besides—'

Verse 25 (markandeya.107.25)

जीवन्त्येतं प्रसादं च करोति भगवान्रविः । ततोऽहं भविता राज्ये भोक्ष्ये भोगांस्तथा मुदा ॥ 107.25 ॥

jīvantyetaṁ prasādaṁ ca karoti bhagavānraviḥ tato’haṁ bhavitā rājye bhokṣye bhogāṁstathā mudā

'—live on, this same grace being granted them by the Lord Ravi, then I shall remain upon the throne and joyfully enjoy pleasures.'

Verse 26 (markandeya.107.26)

न चेदेवं करोत्यर्कस्तदाद्रौ तत्र मानिनि । तपस्तप्स्ये निराहारो यावज्जीवितसंक्षयः ॥ 107.26 ॥

na cedevaṁ karotyarkastadādrau tatra mānini tapastapsye nirāhāro yāvajjīvitasaṁkṣayaḥ

'But if the Sun does not grant this, then, O Manini, upon that very mountain I shall fast and practice austerity until the very end of my life.'

Verse 27 (markandeya.107.27)

इत्युक्ता सा तदा तेन तथेत्याह नराधिपम् । जगाम तेन च समं साऽपि तं धरणीधरम् ॥ 107.27 ॥

ityuktā sā tadā tena tathetyāha narādhipam jagāma tena ca samaṁ sā’pi taṁ dharaṇīdharam

Thus addressed by him, she said 'so be it' to that lord of men, and she too, the upholder of the earth, went along together with him.

Verse 28 (markandeya.107.28)

स तदायतनं गत्वा भार्यया सह पार्थिवः । भानोराराधनं चक्रे शुश्रूषानिरतो द्विज ॥ 107.28 ॥

sa tadāyatanaṁ gatvā bhāryayā saha pārthivaḥ bhānorārādhanaṁ cakre śuśrūṣānirato dvija

That king, going to that shrine together with his wife, O Brahmin, engaged himself in service and performed the worship of Bhanu.

Verse 29 (markandeya.107.29)

निराहारा कृशा सा च यथासौ पृथिवीपतिः । तेपे तपस्तथैवोग्रं शीतवातातपक्षमा ॥ 107.29 ॥

nirāhārā kṛśā sā ca yathāsau pṛthivīpatiḥ tepe tapastathaivograṁ śītavātātapakṣamā

Fasting and emaciated, she too, enduring cold, wind, and heat just as that lord of the earth did, performed the same fierce austerity.

Verse 30 (markandeya.107.30)

तस्य पूजयतो भानुं तप्यतश्च तपो महत् । साग्रे सम्वत्सरे याते ततः प्रीतो दिवाकरः ॥ 107.30 ॥

tasya pūjayato bhānuṁ tapyataśca tapo mahat sāgre samvatsare yāte tataḥ prīto divākaraḥ

As he worshipped Bhanu and performed this great austerity, when a full year and more had passed, Divakara became pleased.

Verse 31 (markandeya.107.31)

समस्तभृत्यपौरादिपुत्राणां च कृते द्विज । ददौ यथाभिलषितं वरं द्विजवरोत्तम ॥ 107.31 ॥

samastabhṛtyapaurādiputrāṇāṁ ca kṛte dvija dadau yathābhilaṣitaṁ varaṁ dvijavarottama

For the sake of all his servants, citizens, and sons, O Brahmin, he granted, O best among the twice-born, the boon that was desired.

Verse 32 (markandeya.107.32)

लब्ध्वा वरं स नृपतिः समभ्येत्यात्मनः पुरम् । चकार मुदितो राज्यं प्रजा धर्मेण पालयन् ॥ 107.32 ॥

labdhvā varaṁ sa nṛpatiḥ samabhyetyātmanaḥ puram cakāra mudito rājyaṁ prajā dharmeṇa pālayan

Having obtained the boon, that king returned to his own city and, rejoicing, ruled the kingdom, protecting his subjects righteously.

Verse 33 (markandeya.107.33)

ईजे यज्ञान्स च बहून्ददौ दानान्यहर्निशम् । मानिन्या सहितो भोगान्बुभुजे च स धर्मवित् ॥ 107.33 ॥

īje yajñānsa ca bahūndadau dānānyaharniśam māninyā sahito bhogānbubhuje ca sa dharmavit

He offered many sacrifices, gave gifts day and night, and, knowing Dharma, enjoyed pleasures together with Manini.

Verse 34 (markandeya.107.34)

दश वर्षसहस्राणि पुत्रपौत्रादिभिः सह । भृत्यैः पौत्रैः प्रमुदितः सोऽभवत्स्थिरयौवनः ॥ 107.34 ॥

daśa varṣasahasrāṇi putrapautrādibhiḥ saha bhṛtyaiḥ pautraiḥ pramuditaḥ so’bhavatsthirayauvanaḥ

For ten thousand years, together with his sons, grandsons, and the rest, and with his rejoicing servants and grandsons, he remained ever youthful.

Verse 35 (markandeya.107.35)

तस्येति चरितं दृष्ट्वा प्रमतिर्नाम भार्गवः । विस्मयाकृष्टहृदयो गाथामेतामगायत ॥ 107.35 ॥

tasyeti caritaṁ dṛṣṭvā pramatirnāma bhārgavaḥ vismayākṛṣṭahṛdayo gāthāmetāmagāyata

Beholding this his story, the sage Pramati, of the line of Bhrigu, his heart seized with wonder, sang this verse:

Verse 36 (markandeya.107.36)

भानुभक्तेरहो शक्तिर्यद्राजा राज्यवर्द्धनः । आयुषो वर्द्धने जातः स्वजनस्य तथात्मनः ॥ 107.36 ॥

bhānubhakteraho śaktiryadrājā rājyavarddhanaḥ āyuṣo varddhane jātaḥ svajanasya tathātmanaḥ

'Ah, what is the power of devotion to Bhanu! — that King Rajyavardhana became able to prolong life, both his own and his people's.'

Verse 37 (markandeya.107.37)

इति ते कथितं विप्र यत्पृष्टोऽहं त्वयोदितः । आदिदेवस्य माहात्म्यमादित्यस्य विवस्वतः ॥ 107.37 ॥

iti te kathitaṁ vipra yatpṛṣṭo’haṁ tvayoditaḥ ādidevasya māhātmyamādityasya vivasvataḥ

Thus, O Brahmin, have I told you what you asked of me, spoken by you — the greatness of the primordial god, Aditya Vivasvat.

Verse 38 (markandeya.107.38)

विप्रैतदखिलं श्रुत्वा भानोर्माहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । पठंश्च मुच्यते पापैः सप्तरात्रकृतैर्नरः ॥ 107.38 ॥

vipraitadakhilaṁ śrutvā bhānormāhātmyamuttamam paṭhaṁśca mucyate pāpaiḥ saptarātrakṛtairnaraḥ

O Brahmin, one who hears and recites this entire, supreme greatness of Bhanu is freed from sins committed over seven nights.

Verse 39 (markandeya.107.39)

अरोगी धनवानाढ्यः कुले महति धीमताम् । जायते च महाप्राज्ञो यश्चैतद्धारयेद्बुधः ॥ 107.39 ॥

arogī dhanavānāḍhyaḥ kule mahati dhīmatām jāyate ca mahāprājño yaścaitaddhārayedbudhaḥ

Whoever, being wise, holds this in memory is born free of disease, wealthy, prosperous, into a great and wise lineage, and possessed of great learning,

Verse 40 (markandeya.107.40)

( यजते च महायज्ञैः समाप्तवरदक्षिणः । श्रुत्वा चरितमेतद्धि समानं लभते फलम् । मन्त्राश्च येऽत्राभिहिता भास्वतो मुनिसत्तम । जपः प्रत्येकमेतेषां त्रिसंध्यं पातकापहः ॥ 107.40 ॥

( yajate ca mahāyajñaiḥ samāptavaradakṣiṇaḥ śrutvā caritametaddhi samānaṁ labhate phalam mantrāśca ye’trābhihitā bhāsvato munisattama japaḥ pratyekameteṣāṁ trisaṁdhyaṁ pātakāpahaḥ

(and — like one who performs great sacrifices complete with their fees — attains the same fruit merely by hearing this story. And the mantras that have been declared here concerning Bhaskara, O best of sages—) the muttered recitation of each of these, at the three daily junctures, removes sin.

Verse 41 (markandeya.107.41)

समस्तमेतन्माहात्म्यं यत्र चायतने रवेः । पठ्यते तत्र भगवान्सान्निध्यं न विमुञ्चति ॥ 107.41 ॥

samastametanmāhātmyaṁ yatra cāyatane raveḥ paṭhyate tatra bhagavānsānnidhyaṁ na vimuñcati

Wherever this entire greatness is recited, in that very shrine of Ravi, the Lord does not withdraw his presence.

Verse 42 (markandeya.107.42)

तस्मादेतत्त्वया ब्रह्मन्भानोर्माहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । धार्यं मनसि जाप्यं च महत्पुण्यमभीप्सता ॥ 107.42 ॥

tasmādetattvayā brahmanbhānormāhātmyamuttamam dhāryaṁ manasi jāpyaṁ ca mahatpuṇyamabhīpsatā

Therefore, O Brahmin, this supreme greatness of Bhanu should be held in mind, and recited, by one who desires great merit.

Verse 43 (markandeya.107.43)

सुवर्णशृङ्गीमतिशोभनाङ्गीं पयस्विनीं गां प्रददाति यो हि । शृणोति चैतत्त्र्यहमात्मवान्नरः समं तयोः पुण्यफलं द्विजाग्र्य ॥ 107.43 ॥

suvarṇaśṛṅgīmatiśobhanāṅgīṁ payasvinīṁ gāṁ pradadāti yo hi śṛṇoti caitattryahamātmavānnaraḥ samaṁ tayoḥ puṇyaphalaṁ dvijāgrya

He who gives a golden-horned, most beautiful, milk-yielding cow, and he who, self-controlled, listens to this for three days — O foremost of the twice-born, both obtain an equal fruit of merit.