Nabhaga's Conduct

Verse 1 (markandeya.111.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच निवृत्तोऽसौ ततो भूपः संग्रामात्स्वसुतेन वै । उपयेमे च तां वैश्यतनयां सोऽपि तत्सुतः ॥ 111.1 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca nivṛtto'sau tato bhūpaḥ saṁgrāmātsvasutena vai upayeme ca tāṁ vaiśyatanayāṁ so'pi tatsutaḥ

Markandeya said: That lord then withdrew from the battle together with his own son; and he too — the son of that king, Nabhaga — married that vaishya's daughter.

Verse 2 (markandeya.111.2)

ततः स वैश्यतां प्राप्तः समुपेत्याह पार्थिवम् । भूपाल यन्मया कार्यं तत्ममादिश्यतां मम ॥ 111.2 ॥

tataḥ sa vaiśyatāṁ prāptaḥ samupetyāha pārthivam bhūpāla yanmayā kāryaṁ tatmamādiśyatāṁ mama

Then he, having attained vaishya-status, approached the king and said: "O king, whatever task is now mine to do, command it to me."

Verse 3 (markandeya.111.3)

राजोवाच धर्माधिकरणे युक्ता बाभ्रव्याद्यास्तपस्विनः । यदस्य कर्मधर्माय तद्वदन्तु तथाचर ॥ 111.3 ॥

rājovāca dharmādhikaraṇe yuktā bābhravyādyāstapasvinaḥ yadasya karmadharmāya tadvadantu tathācara

The king said: "The ascetics headed by Babhravya are appointed over matters of dharma; let them declare what is the proper conduct for him, and let him act accordingly."

Verse 4 (markandeya.111.4)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततस्ते मुनयस्तस्य पाशुपाल्यं तथा कृषिम् । वाणिज्यं च परं धर्ममाचचख्युः सभासदः ॥ 111.4 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tataste munayastasya pāśupālyaṁ tathā kṛṣim vāṇijyaṁ ca paraṁ dharmamācacakhyuḥ sabhāsadaḥ

Markandeya said: Then those sages, seated in assembly, declared to him cattle-herding, and likewise agriculture and trade, as his highest dharma.

Verse 5 (markandeya.111.5)

तथैव चक्रे स सुतस्तस्य राज्ञो यथोदितम् । तैर्धर्मवादिभिर्धर्मं च्युतस्य निजधर्मतः ॥ 111.5 ॥

tathaiva cakre sa sutastasya rājño yathoditam tairdharmavādibhirdharmaṁ cyutasya nijadharmataḥ

And that son of the king did exactly as those upholders of dharma had told him, since he had fallen from his own former dharma.

Verse 6 (markandeya.111.6)

तस्य पुत्रस्ततो जातो नाम्ना ख्यातो भलन्दनः । स मात्रा प्रहितो गच्छद्गोपालो भव पुत्रक ॥ 111.6 ॥

tasya putrastato jāto nāmnā khyāto bhalandanaḥ sa mātrā prahito gacchadgopālo bhava putraka

From him a son was then born, known by the name Bhalandana; his mother, sending him forth, said: "Go, my son, become a cowherd."

Verse 7 (markandeya.111.7)

मात्रा तथा नियुक्तोऽथ प्रणिपत्य स्वमातरम् । राजर्षिमगमन्नीपं हिमवत्पर्वताश्रयम् ॥ 111.7 ॥

mātrā tathā niyukto'tha praṇipatya svamātaram rājarṣimagamannīpaṁ himavatparvatāśrayam

Thus commanded by his mother, he bowed to her and went to the royal sage Nipa, whose abode lay upon the Himalaya mountain.

Verse 8 (markandeya.111.8)

तं समेत्य च जग्राह तस्य पादौ यथाविधि । प्रणिपत्याह चैवैनं राजर्षिं स भलन्दनः ॥ 111.8 ॥

taṁ sametya ca jagrāha tasya pādau yathāvidhi praṇipatyāha caivainaṁ rājarṣiṁ sa bhalandanaḥ

Having reached him and duly taken hold of his feet, Bhalandana, bowing down, said this to that royal sage:

Verse 9 (markandeya.111.9)

आदिष्टो भगवन्मात्रा गोपालस्त्वं भवेति वै । मया च पालनीया क्ष्मा तस्याः स्वीकरणं कथम् ॥ 111.9 ॥

ādiṣṭo bhagavanmātrā gopālastvaṁ bhaveti vai mayā ca pālanīyā kṣmā tasyāḥ svīkaraṇaṁ katham

"Revered one, my mother has commanded me that I should become a cowherd; and this earth too is to be cared for by me — how may I take that up?

Verse 10 (markandeya.111.10)

मया हि गौः पालनीया सा यदा स्वीकृता भवेत् । आक्रान्ता बलवद्भिः सा दायादैः पृथिवी मम ॥ 111.10 ॥

mayā hi gauḥ pālanīyā sā yadā svīkṛtā bhavet ākrāntā balavadbhiḥ sā dāyādaiḥ pṛthivī mama

For while I would be taking up that cow which I am to tend, this earth of mine has [meanwhile] been overrun by my powerful kinsmen.

Verse 11 (markandeya.111.11)

तां यथा प्राप्नुयां पृथ्वीं त्वत्प्रसादादहं विभो । तथादिश करिष्यामि तवाज्ञां प्रणतोऽस्मि ते ॥ 111.11 ॥

tāṁ yathā prāpnuyāṁ pṛthvīṁ tvatprasādādahaṁ vibho tathādiśa kariṣyāmi tavājñāṁ praṇato'smi te

"O lord, instruct me how, by your favor, I may obtain that earth; I shall do as your order commands — I am bowed before you."

Verse 12 (markandeya.111.12)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततः स नीपो राजर्षिस्तस्मै निरवशेषतः । भलन्दाय ददौ ब्रह्मन्नस्त्रग्रामं महात्मने ॥ 111.12 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tataḥ sa nīpo rājarṣistasmai niravaśeṣataḥ bhalandāya dadau brahmannastragrāmaṁ mahātmane

Markandeya said: Then that royal sage Nipa, O brahmin, gave to that great-souled Bhalandana the entire body of weapon-lore in full.

Verse 13 (markandeya.111.13)

प्राप्तास्त्रविद्यः स ययौ पितृव्यतनयान्द्विज । वसुरातादिकान्पुत्रानादिष्टः स महात्मना ॥ 111.13 ॥

prāptāstravidyaḥ sa yayau pitṛvyatanayāndvija vasurātādikānputrānādiṣṭaḥ sa mahātmanā

Having gained the knowledge of weapons, O brahmin, he went, commanded by that great soul, to his paternal cousins — the sons Vasurata and the rest.

Verse 14 (markandeya.111.14)

अयाचत स राज्यार्धं पितृपैतामहोचितम् । ते चोचुर्वैश्यपुत्रस्त्वं कथं भोक्ष्यसि मेदिनीम् ॥ 111.14 ॥

ayācata sa rājyārdhaṁ pitṛpaitāmahocitam te cocurvaiśyaputrastvaṁ kathaṁ bhokṣyasi medinīm

He asked for half the kingdom, fitting for his father and grandfather; and they said, "You, a vaishya's son — how will you enjoy this earth?"

Verse 15 (markandeya.111.15)

ततस्तैर्युद्धमभवद्भलन्दस्यात्मवंशजैः । वसुरातादिभिः क्रुद्धैः कृतास्त्रस्यास्त्रवर्षिभिः ॥ 111.15 ॥

tatastairyuddhamabhavadbhalandasyātmavaṁśajaiḥ vasurātādibhiḥ kruddhaiḥ kṛtāstrasyāstravarṣibhiḥ

Then a battle took place between him and those born of his own lineage, Vasurata and the others, enraged, skilled in weapons, raining down arrows.

Verse 16 (markandeya.111.16)

स जित्वा तानशेषांस्तु शस्त्रविक्षतसैनिकान् । जहार पृथिवी तेषां धर्मयुद्धेन धर्मवित् ॥ 111.16 ॥

sa jitvā tānaśeṣāṁstu śastravikṣatasainikān jahāra pṛthivī teṣāṁ dharmayuddhena dharmavit

Having conquered them all, their soldiers cut down by weapons, he, knowing dharma, seized their earth through righteous war.

Verse 17 (markandeya.111.17)

स निर्जितारिः सकलां पृथ्वीं राज्यं तथा पितुः । निवेदयामास ततस्तत्पिता जगृहे न च । । प्रत्युवाच स तं पुत्रं भार्यायाः पुरतस्तदा ॥ 111.17 ॥

sa nirjitāriḥ sakalāṁ pṛthvīṁ rājyaṁ tathā pituḥ nivedayāmāsa tatastatpitā jagṛhe na ca | pratyuvāca sa taṁ putraṁ bhāryāyāḥ puratastadā

Having conquered his foes, he then offered to his father the whole earth as well as his father's kingdom; but his father did not accept it, and then, before his wife, replied to that son.

Verse 18 (markandeya.111.18)

नाभाग उवाच भलन्द राज्यमेतत्ते क्रियतां पूर्वजैः कृतम् ॥ 111.18 ॥

nābhāga uvāca bhalanda rājyametatte kriyatāṁ pūrvajaiḥ kṛtam

Nabhaga said: "Bhalandana, let this kingdom, which was made by our forefathers, be held by you.

Verse 19 (markandeya.111.19)

अहं न कृतवान्राज्यं नासामर्थ्ययुतः पुरा । वैश्यतां तु पुरस्कृत्य तथैवाज्ञाकरः पितुः ॥ 111.19 ॥

ahaṁ na kṛtavānrājyaṁ nāsāmarthyayutaḥ purā vaiśyatāṁ tu puraskṛtya tathaivājñākaraḥ pituḥ

I did not take up the kingdom, since I was not then endowed with the capacity for it; placing my vaishya-status foremost, I remained, in just the same way, obedient to my father's command.

Verse 20 (markandeya.111.20)

कृत्वाऽप्रीतिं पितुरहं वैश्यकन्यापरिग्रहात् । न पुण्यलोकभाग्राजा यावदाभूतसम्प्लवम् ॥ 111.20 ॥

kṛtvā'prītiṁ piturahaṁ vaiśyakanyāparigrahāt na puṇyalokabhāgrājā yāvadābhūtasamplavam

Having displeased my father by taking a vaishya girl, I am not entitled, as a king, to a share of the meritorious worlds, until the dissolution of all things.

Verse 21 (markandeya.111.21)

उल्लंघ्याज्ञां पुनस्तस्य पालयामि महीं यदि । नास्ति मोक्षस्ततो नूनं मम कल्पशतैरपि ॥ 111.21 ॥

ullaṁghyājñāṁ punastasya pālayāmi mahīṁ yadi nāsti mokṣastato nūnaṁ mama kalpaśatairapi

If, transgressing his command yet again, I should now rule the earth, then surely there would be no liberation for me even across a hundred aeons.

Verse 22 (markandeya.111.22)

न चापि युक्तं त्वद्बाहुनिर्जितं मम मानिनः । राज्यं भोक्तुमनीहस्य दुर्बलस्येव कस्यचित् ॥ 111.22 ॥

na cāpi yuktaṁ tvadbāhunirjitaṁ mama māninaḥ rājyaṁ bhoktumanīhasya durbalasyeva kasyacit

Nor indeed is it fitting for me, in my pride, to enjoy—without effort of my own, like some weakling—a kingdom won by your arm.

Verse 23 (markandeya.111.23)

राज्यं कुरु स्वयं पुत्र दायादेभ्यो विमुञ्च वा । ममाज्ञापालनं शस्तं पितुर्न क्षितिपालनम् ॥ 111.23 ॥

rājyaṁ kuru svayaṁ putra dāyādebhyo vimuñca vā mamājñāpālanaṁ śastaṁ piturna kṣitipālanam

Rule the kingdom yourself, my son, or else distribute it among our kinsmen; for me, obedience to my father's command is praised — not the governing of the earth."

Verse 24 (markandeya.111.24)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततः प्रहस्य तद्भार्या सुप्रभा नाम भामिनी । प्रत्युवाच पतिं भूप गृह्यतां राज्यमूर्जितम् ॥ 111.24 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tataḥ prahasya tadbhāryā suprabhā nāma bhāminī pratyuvāca patiṁ bhūpa gṛhyatāṁ rājyamūrjitam

Markandeya said: Then his beautiful wife, named Suprabha, laughing, replied to her husband: "O king, let this mighty kingdom be accepted!

Verse 25 (markandeya.111.25)

न त्वं वैश्यो न चैवाहं जाता वैश्यकुले नृप । क्षत्रियस्त्वं तथैवाहं क्षत्रियाणां कुलोद्भवा ॥ 111.25 ॥

na tvaṁ vaiśyo na caivāhaṁ jātā vaiśyakule nṛpa kṣatriyastvaṁ tathaivāhaṁ kṣatriyāṇāṁ kulodbhavā

You are no vaishya, nor was I born in a vaishya family, O king; you are a kshatriya, and I too am sprung from a lineage of kshatriyas.

Verse 26 (markandeya.111.26)

पूर्वमासीन्महीपालः सुदेव इति विश्रुतः । तस्याभूच्च सखा राज्ञो धूम्राश्वस्य सुतो नलः ॥ 111.26 ॥

pūrvamāsīnmahīpālaḥ sudeva iti viśrutaḥ tasyābhūcca sakhā rājño dhūmrāśvasya suto nalaḥ

In former times there was a king renowned by the name Sudeva; and his friend was Nala, son of King Dhumrashva.

Verse 27 (markandeya.111.27)

स तेन सख्या सहितो जगामाम्रवनं वनम् । पत्नीभिः स समं रन्तुं माधवे मासि पार्थिव ॥ 111.27 ॥

sa tena sakhyā sahito jagāmāmravanaṁ vanam patnībhiḥ sa samaṁ rantuṁ mādhave māsi pārthiva

He, O king, together with that friend, went in the month of Madhava (spring) to a mango grove, there to sport with their wives.

Verse 28 (markandeya.111.28)

ततः पानान्यनेकानि भक्ष्याणि बुभुजे तदा । भार्याभिः सहितस्ताभिस्तेन सख्या समन्वितः ॥ 111.28 ॥

tataḥ pānānyanekāni bhakṣyāṇi bubhuje tadā bhāryābhiḥ sahitastābhistena sakhyā samanvitaḥ

Then, together with those wives and accompanied by that friend, he partook there of many kinds of drinks and foods.

Verse 29 (markandeya.111.29)

ततः पुष्करिणीतीरे ददर्शातिमनोरमाम् । पत्नीं च्यवनपुत्रस्य प्रमतेः पार्थिवात्मजाम् ॥ 111.29 ॥

tataḥ puṣkariṇītīre dadarśātimanoramām patnīṁ cyavanaputrasya pramateḥ pārthivātmajām

Then, on the bank of a lotus-pond, he saw an exceedingly lovely woman — the wife of Pramati, son of Chyavana, herself a king's daughter.

Verse 30 (markandeya.111.30)

सखा तस्य नलो मत्तो जगृहे तां च दुर्मतिः । पश्यतस्तस्य राज्ञश्च त्रातत्रातेति वादिनीम् ॥ 111.30 ॥

sakhā tasya nalo matto jagṛhe tāṁ ca durmatiḥ paśyatastasya rājñaśca trātatrāteti vādinīm

His friend Nala, intoxicated and evil-minded, seized her, even as King Sudeva looked on, while she cried out, "Save me, save me!"

Verse 31 (markandeya.111.31)

आक्रन्दितं निशम्यैव स तस्याः प्रमतिः पतिः । आजगाम त्वरायुक्तः किमेतदिति वै वदन् ॥ 111.31 ॥

ākranditaṁ niśamyaiva sa tasyāḥ pramatiḥ patiḥ ājagāma tvarāyuktaḥ kimetaditi vai vadan

Hearing her cry, her husband Pramati himself came hurrying up, saying, "What is this?"

Verse 32 (markandeya.111.32)

ततो ददर्श राजानं सुदेवं तत्र संस्थितम् । गृहीतां च तथा पत्नीं नलेन सुदुरात्मना ॥ 111.32 ॥

tato dadarśa rājānaṁ sudevaṁ tatra saṁsthitam gṛhītāṁ ca tathā patnīṁ nalena sudurātmanā

Then he saw King Sudeva standing there, and his own wife seized by the utterly evil-minded Nala.

Verse 33 (markandeya.111.33)

ततः सुदेवं प्रमतिः प्राहायं शास्यतामिति । त्वं च शास्ता भवद्राज्ये दुष्टश्चायं नलो नृप ॥ 111.33 ॥

tataḥ sudevaṁ pramatiḥ prāhāyaṁ śāsyatāmiti tvaṁ ca śāstā bhavadrājye duṣṭaścāyaṁ nalo nṛpa

Then Pramati said to Sudeva, "Let this man be punished! You are the ruler in your own realm, and this Nala is wicked, O king!"

Verse 34 (markandeya.111.34)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच तस्यार्तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सुदेवो नलगौरवात् । प्राह वैश्योऽस्मि गच्छान्यं क्षत्रियं त्राणकारणात् ॥ 111.34 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tasyārtasya vacaḥ śrutvā sudevo nalagauravāt prāha vaiśyo'smi gacchānyaṁ kṣatriyaṁ trāṇakāraṇāt

Markandeya said: Hearing the words of that grieving man, Sudeva, out of deference to Nala, said: "I am only a vaishya — go to some other kshatriya for protection."

Verse 35 (markandeya.111.35)

ततः स प्रमतिः क्रुद्धस्तेजसा निर्दहन्निव । प्रत्युवाचाथ राजानं वैश्योऽस्मीत्यभिभाषिणम् ॥ 111.35 ॥

tataḥ sa pramatiḥ kruddhastejasā nirdahanniva pratyuvācātha rājānaṁ vaiśyo'smītyabhibhāṣiṇam

Then Pramati, enraged, as though burning all with his fiery power, replied to the king who called himself a vaishya:

Verse 36 (markandeya.111.36)

प्रमतिरुवाच एवमस्तु भवान्वैश्यः क्षत्रियः क्षतरक्षणात् । क्षत्रियैर्धार्यते शस्त्रं नार्त्तशब्दो भवेदिति । । स त्वं न क्षत्रियो भावी वैश्य एव कुलाधमः ॥ 111.36 ॥

pramatiruvāca evamastu bhavānvaiśyaḥ kṣatriyaḥ kṣatarakṣaṇāt kṣatriyairdhāryate śastraṁ nārttaśabdo bhavediti | sa tvaṁ na kṣatriyo bhāvī vaiśya eva kulādhamaḥ

Pramati said: "So be it — you shall be a vaishya! A kshatriya is one who protects the injured; by kshatriyas is the weapon borne precisely so that no cry of distress may arise. You shall not be a kshatriya henceforth — a mere vaishya, lowest of your line!"