The Story of Avikshit (V): The Rescue in the Forest

Verse 1 (markandeya.123.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच कदाचिद्राजपुत्रोऽसौ मृगयामचरद्वने । मृगान्विध्यन्वराहांश्च शार्दूलादींश्च दंष्ट्रिणः ॥ 123.1 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca kadācidrājaputro ’sau mṛgayāmacaradvane mṛgānvidhyanvarāhāṁśca śārdūlādīṁśca daṁṣṭriṇaḥ

Markandeya said: One day that prince, roaming in the forest hunting, was piercing deer, boars, and fanged tigers and the like.

Verse 2 (markandeya.123.2)

शुश्राव सहसा शब्दं त्राहित्राहीति योषितः । विक्रोशन्त्याः सुबहुशो भयगद्गदमुच्चकैः ॥ 123.2 ॥

śuśrāva sahasā śabdaṁ trāhitrāhīti yoṣitaḥ vikrośantyāḥ subahuśo bhayagadgadamuccakaiḥ

He suddenly heard the sound of a woman crying "Save me! Save me!" — wailing loudly, again and again, her voice choked with fear.

Verse 3 (markandeya.123.3)

माभैर्माभैरिति वदन्राजपुत्रः स वेगितः । चोदयामास तुरगं यतः शब्दः समागतः ॥ 123.3 ॥

mābhairmābhairiti vadanrājaputraḥ sa vegitaḥ codayāmāsa turagaṁ yataḥ śabdaḥ samāgataḥ

Saying "Fear not, fear not," that swift prince urged his horse toward the place from which the sound had come.

Verse 4 (markandeya.123.4)

ततश्च सापि चुक्रोश कन्यका विजने वने । गृहीता दनुपुत्रेण दृढकेशेन मानिनी ॥ 123.4 ॥

tataśca sāpi cukrośa kanyakā vijane vane gṛhītā danuputreṇa dṛḍhakeśena māninī

And then that proud maiden too cried out in the lonely forest, seized by Dridhakesha, the son of Danu.

Verse 5 (markandeya.123.5)

करन्धमसुतस्याहं भार्या चाहमविक्षितः । हरत्यनार्यो विपिने पृथिवीशस्य धीमतः ॥ 123.5 ॥

karandhamasutasyāhaṁ bhāryā cāhamavikṣitaḥ haratyanāryo vipine pṛthivīśasya dhīmataḥ

"I am the wife of Avikshit, son of Karandhama; this ignoble one is carrying me off into the wilderness — I, wife of that wise lord of the earth."

Verse 6 (markandeya.123.6)

यस्य सर्वे महीपालास्तथा गन्धर्वगुह्यकाः । न समर्थाः पुरः स्थातुं तस्य भार्या हतास्म्यहम् ॥ 123.6 ॥

yasya sarve mahīpālāstathā gandharvaguhyakāḥ na samarthāḥ puraḥ sthātuṁ tasya bhāryā hatāsmyaham

"I, whose husband all the kings of the earth, and the gandharvas and guhyakas too, are unable to stand before — I, his wife, am carried off."

Verse 7 (markandeya.123.7)

यस्य मृत्योरिव क्रोधः शक्रस्येव पराक्रमः । करन्धमसुतस्यैषा तस्य भार्या हृतास्म्यहम् ॥ 123.7 ॥

yasya mṛtyoriva krodhaḥ śakrasyeva parākramaḥ karandhamasutasyaiṣā tasya bhāryā hṛtāsmyaham

"This wife of him whose wrath is like Death's, whose valor is like Indra's — this wife of Karandhama's son am I, being carried off!"

Verse 8 (markandeya.123.8)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच इत्याकर्ण्य महीपालतनयः सशरासनी । चिन्तयामास किमिदं मम भार्यात्र कानने ॥ 123.8 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca ityākarṇya mahīpālatanayaḥ saśarāsanī cintayāmāsa kimidaṁ mama bhāryātra kānane

Markandeya said: Hearing this, the son of the king, bow in hand, thought: "What is this? My wife, here in this forest?"

Verse 9 (markandeya.123.9)

मायेयं रक्षसां नूनं दुष्टानां काननौकसाम् । अथवा गत एवाहं सर्वं वेत्स्यामि कारणम् ॥ 123.9 ॥

māyeyaṁ rakṣasāṁ nūnaṁ duṣṭānāṁ kānanaukasām athavā gata evāhaṁ sarvaṁ vetsyāmi kāraṇam

"This is surely some illusion of the wicked forest-dwelling rakshasas; or rather, let me go myself — I shall learn the whole cause of it."

Verse 10 (markandeya.123.10)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच त्वरितः स ततो गत्वा ददर्शातिमनोरमाम् । कानने कन्यकामेकां सर्वालङ्कारभूषिताम् ॥ 123.10 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tvaritaḥ sa tato gatvā dadarśātimanoramām kānane kanyakāmekāṁ sarvālaṅkārabhūṣitām

Markandeya said: Then, hastening, he went and beheld, in the forest, an exceedingly lovely maiden, adorned with every ornament.

Verse 11 (markandeya.123.11)

गृहीतां दनुपुत्रेण दृढकेशेन दण्डिना । त्राहित्राहीति करुणं विक्रोशन्ती पुनः पुनः ॥ 123.11 ॥

gṛhītāṁ danuputreṇa dṛḍhakeśena daṇḍinā trāhitrāhīti karuṇaṁ vikrośantī punaḥ punaḥ

Seized by the club-bearing Dridhakesha, son of Danu, she was crying out piteously, again and again, "Save me! Save me!"

Verse 12 (markandeya.123.12)

मा भैरिति स तामाह हतोऽसीति च तं वदन् । शासतीमां महीं दुष्टः को दूयेत करन्धमे ॥ 123.12 ॥

mā bhairiti sa tāmāha hato ’sīti ca taṁ vadan śāsatīmāṁ mahīṁ duṣṭaḥ ko dūyeta karandhame

"Fear not," he said to her; and to him he said, "You are slain! Who could dare distress anyone while Karandhama rules this earth?"

Verse 13 (markandeya.123.13)

यस्य प्रतापावनता भुवि सर्वे महीक्षितः । ततस्तमागतं दृष्ट्वा गृहीतवरकार्मुकम् ॥ 123.13 ॥

yasya pratāpāvanatā bhuvi sarve mahīkṣitaḥ tatastamāgataṁ dṛṣṭvā gṛhītavarakārmukam

"— he by whose majesty all the kings of the earth are bowed down." Then, seeing him approach with his excellent bow drawn —

Verse 14 (markandeya.123.14)

मां त्राहीत्याह तन्वङ्गी हृतास्म्येषेति चासकृत् । राज्ञः करन्धमस्याहं स्नुषा भार्याप्यविक्षितः । हृतास्म्येतेन दुष्टेन सनाथाऽनाथवद्वने ॥ 123.14 ॥

māṁ trāhītyāha tanvaṅgī hṛtāsmyeṣeti cāsakṛt rājñaḥ karandhamasyāhaṁ snuṣā bhāryāpyavikṣitaḥ hṛtāsmyetena duṣṭena sanāthā ’nāthavadvane

— the slender-limbed one said to him, "Save me! I am being carried off! I am the daughter-in-law of King Karandhama and the wife of Avikshit — I, though sheltered, am being carried off by this wicked one into the forest as though I had no protector."

Verse 15 (markandeya.123.15)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततो विममृशे वाक्यमविक्षित्स तथोदितम् । कथमेषा हि मे भार्या स्नुषा तातस्य वा कथम् ॥ 123.15 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tato vimamṛśe vākyamavikṣitsa tathoditam kathameṣā hi me bhāryā snuṣā tātasya vā katham

Markandeya said: Then Avikshit pondered upon these words thus spoken: "How can she be my wife, or my father's daughter-in-law?"

Verse 16 (markandeya.123.16)

अथवा मोचयाम्येतां तन्वीं वेत्स्यामि तत्पुनः । क्षत्रियैर्धार्यते शस्त्रमार्तानां त्राणकारणात् ॥ 123.16 ॥

athavā mocayāmyetāṁ tanvīṁ vetsyāmi tatpunaḥ kṣatriyairdhāryate śastramārtānāṁ trāṇakāraṇāt

"Or rather, let me free this slender one — I shall learn the truth of it again afterward; weapons are borne by Kshatriyas for the sake of protecting the afflicted."

Verse 17 (markandeya.123.17)

ततः कुद्धोऽब्रवीद्वीरो दानवं तं सुदुर्मतिम् । जीवन्गच्छ विमुच्यैनामन्यथा न भविष्यसि ॥ 123.17 ॥

tataḥ kuddho ’bravīdvīro dānavaṁ taṁ sudurmatim jīvangaccha vimucyaināmanyathā na bhaviṣyasi

Then that hero, enraged, said to the evil-minded demon: "Depart while you live, releasing her — otherwise you shall not survive."

Verse 18 (markandeya.123.18)

ततः स तां विहायोच्चैर्दण्डमुत्क्षिप्य दानवः । तमप्यधावत्सोऽप्येनं शरवर्षैरवाकिरत् ॥ 123.18 ॥

tataḥ sa tāṁ vihāyoccairdaṇḍamutkṣipya dānavaḥ tamapyadhāvatso ’pyenaṁ śaravarṣairavākirat

Then the demon, abandoning her, raised his club high and charged at him too; and he in turn overwhelmed him with a shower of arrows.

Verse 19 (markandeya.123.19)

स वार्यमाणो बाणौघैर्दानवोऽतिमदान्वितः । राजपुत्राय चिक्षेप दण्डं शंकुशतावृतम् ॥ 123.19 ॥

sa vāryamāṇo bāṇaughairdānavo ’timadānvitaḥ rājaputrāya cikṣepa daṇḍaṁ śaṁkuśatāvṛtam

That demon, warded off by the flood of arrows, exceedingly intoxicated with pride, hurled at the prince his club, studded with a hundred spikes.

Verse 20 (markandeya.123.20)

तमापतन्तं चिच्छेद शरैर्भूपसुतस्ततः । सोऽप्यासन्नं गृहीत्वोच्चैर्द्रुममाजौ व्यवस्थितः ॥ 123.20 ॥

tamāpatantaṁ ciccheda śarairbhūpasutastataḥ so ’pyāsannaṁ gṛhītvoccairdrumamājau vyavasthitaḥ

The king's son then severed that incoming club with his arrows; and that demon too, seizing a tall tree nearby, stood ready in the battle.

Verse 21 (markandeya.123.21)

सृजतः शरवर्षाणि तं चिक्षेप ततो द्रुमम् । स च तं तिलशश्चैके भल्लैः कार्मुकमोचितैः ॥ 123.21 ॥

sṛjataḥ śaravarṣāṇi taṁ cikṣepa tato drumam sa ca taṁ tilaśaścaike bhallaiḥ kārmukamocitaiḥ

As he was showering arrows, the demon then hurled that tree at him; and he shattered it into fragments with broad-headed arrows shot from his bow.

Verse 22 (markandeya.123.22)

ततश्चिक्षेप च शिलां राजपुत्राय दानवः । सापि मोघा पपातोर्व्यामुज्झिता तेन लाघवात् ॥ 123.22 ॥

tataścikṣepa ca śilāṁ rājaputrāya dānavaḥ sāpi moghā papātorvyāmujjhitā tena lāghavāt

Then the demon hurled a boulder at the prince; that too fell to the ground in vain, cast aside by him with skillful ease.

Verse 23 (markandeya.123.23)

राजपुत्राय कुपितो यद्यच्चिक्षेप दानवः । तत्तच्चिच्छेद बाणौघैर्भूभृत्सूनुः सलीलया ॥ 123.23 ॥

rājaputrāya kupito yadyaccikṣepa dānavaḥ tattacciccheda bāṇaughairbhūbhṛtsūnuḥ salīlayā

Whatever the enraged demon hurled at the prince, that son of the earth's lord severed, each in turn, with showers of arrows, effortlessly.

Verse 24 (markandeya.123.24)

ततो विच्छिन्नदण्डोऽसौ विच्छिन्नसकलायुधः । मुष्टिमुद्यम्य सक्रोधो राजपुत्रमधावत ॥ 123.24 ॥

tato vicchinnadaṇḍo ’sau vicchinnasakalāyudhaḥ muṣṭimudyamya sakrodho rājaputramadhāvata

Then, his club shattered and all his weapons destroyed, he, enraged, raising his fist, charged at the prince.

Verse 25 (markandeya.123.25)

तस्यापतत एवासौ करन्धमसुतः शिरः । छित्त्वा वेतसपत्रेण पातयामास वै भुवि ॥ 123.25 ॥

tasyāpatata evāsau karandhamasutaḥ śiraḥ chittvā vetasapatreṇa pātayāmāsa vai bhuvi

As he was charging, that son of Karandhama, severing his head with a crescent-headed arrow, cast it down to the ground.

Verse 26 (markandeya.123.26)

तस्मिन्विनिहते देवैर्दानवे दुष्टचेष्टिते । करन्धमसुतः सर्वैः साधुसाध्विति भाषितः ॥ 123.26 ॥

tasminvinihate devairdānave duṣṭaceṣṭite karandhamasutaḥ sarvaiḥ sādhusādhviti bhāṣitaḥ

When that wicked-acting demon had been slain, the son of Karandhama was acclaimed by all the gods with "Well done! Well done!"

Verse 27 (markandeya.123.27)

वरं वृणीष्वेति तदा देवैरुक्तो नृपात्मजः । वव्रे पुत्रं महावीर्यं पितुः प्रियचिकीर्षया ॥ 123.27 ॥

varaṁ vṛṇīṣveti tadā devairukto nṛpātmajaḥ vavre putraṁ mahāvīryaṁ pituḥ priyacikīrṣayā

"Choose a boon," said the gods to him then; and the son of the king, wishing to please his father, chose a son of great valor.

Verse 28 (markandeya.123.28)

देवा ऊचुः भविष्यति हि ते पुत्रश्चक्रवर्त्ती महाबलः । अस्यामेव हि कन्यायां मोक्षितायां त्वयानघ ॥ 123.28 ॥

devā ūcuḥ bhaviṣyati hi te putraścakravarttī mahābalaḥ asyāmeva hi kanyāyāṁ mokṣitāyāṁ tvayānagha

The gods said: "A son shall indeed be born to you, a universal emperor of great might — from this very maiden, now freed by you, O sinless one."

Verse 29 (markandeya.123.29)

राजपुत्र उवाच पित्राहं सत्यपाशेन बद्ध इच्छाम्यहं सुतम् । राजभिनिर्जितेनाजौ त्यक्तो मे दारसंग्रहः ॥ 123.29 ॥

rājaputra uvāca pitrāhaṁ satyapāśena baddha icchāmyahaṁ sutam rājabhinirjitenājau tyakto me dārasaṁgrahaḥ

The prince said: "Bound by my father through the noose of truthfulness, I do desire a son; but my acceptance of a wife was abandoned by me once I was defeated in battle by the assembled kings."

Verse 30 (markandeya.123.30)

सा च मे यावता त्यक्ता विशालनृपतेः सुता । तया च मत्कृते त्यक्तो मामृते नरसङ्गमः ॥ 123.30 ॥

sā ca me yāvatā tyaktā viśālanṛpateḥ sutā tayā ca matkṛte tyakto māmṛte narasaṅgamaḥ

"And that daughter of King Vishala, whom I abandoned then — for my sake she too has renounced union with any man other than me."

Verse 31 (markandeya.123.31)

तत्कथं तामपास्याद्य विशालतनयामहम् । नृशंसात्मा करिष्यामि अन्यनारीपरिग्रहम् ॥ 123.31 ॥

tatkathaṁ tāmapāsyādya viśālatanayāmaham nṛśaṁsātmā kariṣyāmi anyanārīparigraham

"How then, casting that daughter of Vishala aside today, cruel-hearted as it would make me, should I now accept another woman?"

Verse 32 (markandeya.123.32)

देवा ऊचुः इयमेव हि ते भार्या श्लाघ्यते या त्वया सदा । विशालस्य सुता सुभ्रूस्त्वत्कृते याऽऽश्रिता तपः ॥ 123.32 ॥

devā ūcuḥ iyameva hi te bhāryā ślāghyate yā tvayā sadā viśālasya sutā subhrūstvatkṛte yā ’ ’śritā tapaḥ

The gods said: "This very one is your wife, whom you always praise — the fair-browed daughter of Vishala, who for your sake has taken up austerity."

Verse 33 (markandeya.123.33)

अस्यामुत्पत्स्यते वीरः सप्तद्वीपप्रसाधकः । यष्टा यज्ञसहस्राणां चक्रवर्त्ती सुतस्तव ॥ 123.33 ॥

asyāmutpatsyate vīraḥ saptadvīpaprasādhakaḥ yaṣṭā yajñasahasrāṇāṁ cakravarttī sutastava

"Upon her shall be born a hero, adorner of the seven continents, offerer of a thousand sacrifices, a universal emperor — your son."

Verse 34 (markandeya.123.34)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच इत्युच्चार्य ययुर्देवाः करन्धमसुतं द्विज । सोऽप्याह तां तदा पत्नी कथ्यतां भीरु किन्त्विदम् ॥ 123.34 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca ityuccārya yayurdevāḥ karandhamasutaṁ dvija so ’pyāha tāṁ tadā patnī kathyatāṁ bhīru kintvidam

Markandeya said: Having spoken thus, the gods departed, O brahmin, from Karandhama's son; and he too then said to his wife, "Tell me, timid one, what is this?"

Verse 35 (markandeya.123.35)

सा चास्मै कथयामास त्यक्ताहं भवता यदा । त्यक्तबन्धुजनाऽरण्यं निर्वेदात्समुपागता ॥ 123.35 ॥

sā cāsmai kathayāmāsa tyaktāhaṁ bhavatā yadā tyaktabandhujanā ’raṇyaṁ nirvedātsamupāgatā

And she told him: "When I was abandoned by you, cast off by my own kin as well, I came to the forest out of despair."

Verse 36 (markandeya.123.36)

अत्राहं तपसा वीर क्षीणप्रायं कलेवरम् । त्यक्तुकामा समभ्येत्य देवदूतेन वारिता ॥ 123.36 ॥

atrāhaṁ tapasā vīra kṣīṇaprāyaṁ kalevaram tyaktukāmā samabhyetya devadūtena vāritā

"Here, O hero, through austerity, my body having become nearly wasted, I wished to abandon it — but was stopped by the approach of a divine messenger."

Verse 37 (markandeya.123.37)

भविष्यति च पुत्रस्ते चक्रवर्त्ती महाबलः । प्रीणयिष्यति यो देवानसुरांश्च हनिष्यति ॥ 123.37 ॥

bhaviṣyati ca putraste cakravarttī mahābalaḥ prīṇayiṣyati yo devānasurāṁśca haniṣyati

"'A son shall be born to you, a mighty universal emperor, who shall delight the gods and slay the demons.'"

Verse 38 (markandeya.123.38)

इति देवाज्ञया तेन देवदूतेन वारिता । न सन्न्यक्तवती देहं त्वत्सङ्गममनोरथा ॥ 123.38 ॥

iti devājñayā tena devadūtena vāritā na sannyaktavatī dehaṁ tvatsaṅgamamanorathā

"Thus, by the command of the gods, stopped by that divine messenger, I did not abandon my body, my desire set upon union with you."

Verse 39 (markandeya.123.39)

परश्वश्च महाभाग स्नातुं गङ्गाह्रदं गता । अवतीर्णा विकृष्टास्मि वृद्धनागेन केनचित् ॥ 123.39 ॥

paraśvaśca mahābhāga snātuṁ gaṅgāhradaṁ gatā avatīrṇā vikṛṣṭāsmi vṛddhanāgena kenacit

"And the day before yesterday, O most fortunate one, I went to bathe in a pool of the Ganga; having descended into it, I was dragged down by some ancient serpent."

Verse 40 (markandeya.123.40)

ततो रसातलं नीता तेन तत्र च मे पुरः । नागाः सहस्रशस्तस्थुर्नागपत्न्यः कुमारकाः ॥ 123.40 ॥

tato rasātalaṁ nītā tena tatra ca me puraḥ nāgāḥ sahasraśastasthurnāgapatnyaḥ kumārakāḥ

"Then I was taken to the netherworld, and there, before me, stood thousands of serpents, serpent-wives, and their young."

Verse 41 (markandeya.123.41)

तुष्टुवुर्मां समभ्येत्य मामन्येऽपूजयंस्तथा । ययाचिरे सविनयं नागा मामङ्गनास्तथा ॥ 123.41 ॥

tuṣṭuvurmāṁ samabhyetya māmanye ’pūjayaṁstathā yayācire savinayaṁ nāgā māmaṅganāstathā

"Approaching, they praised me, and others too honored me; and the serpents, and the serpent-women as well, respectfully entreated me."

Verse 42 (markandeya.123.42)

प्रसादं कुरु सर्वेषां त्वमस्माकं सुतस्त्वया । अपराधमुपेतानां संनिवार्यो वधोन्मुखः ॥ 123.42 ॥

prasādaṁ kuru sarveṣāṁ tvamasmākaṁ sutastvayā aparādhamupetānāṁ saṁnivāryo vadhonmukhaḥ

"'Show favor to us all — you shall be the mother of our son [i.e. our lord]; hold back him who stands ready to slay one of ours who has offended.'"

Verse 43 (markandeya.123.43)

अपराधं करिष्यन्ति त्वत्पुत्रस्यानिलाशनाः । तन्निमित्तं निवार्योऽसौ प्रसादः क्रियतामिति ॥ 123.43 ॥

aparādhaṁ kariṣyanti tvatputrasyānilāśanāḥ tannimittaṁ nivāryo ’sau prasādaḥ kriyatāmiti

"'Air-eating serpents will one day give offense to your son; on their account may he be restrained — grant us this favor,' they said."

Verse 44 (markandeya.123.44)

तथेति च मया प्रोक्ते दिव्यैः पातालभूषणैः । भूषिताहं तथा पुष्पैर्गन्धवासोभिरुत्तमैः ॥ 123.44 ॥

tatheti ca mayā prokte divyaiḥ pātālabhūṣaṇaiḥ bhūṣitāhaṁ tathā puṣpairgandhavāsobhiruttamaiḥ

"When I said, 'So be it,' I was adorned with the divine ornaments of the netherworld, and with flowers and excellent fragrant garments."

Verse 45 (markandeya.123.45)

समानीता तथा लोकमिमं तेनानिलाशिना । पुरा यथा कान्तिमती पूर्ववद्रूपशालिनी ॥ 123.45 ॥

samānītā tathā lokamimaṁ tenānilāśinā purā yathā kāntimatī pūrvavadrūpaśālinī

"And I was brought back to this world by that air-eating serpent, lovely and full of beauty as before, just as I had been formerly."

Verse 46 (markandeya.123.46)

इति रूपवतीं दृष्ट्वा सर्वालङ्कारभूषिताम् । जग्राह दृढकेशोऽयं हर्तुकामः सुदुर्मतिः ॥ 123.46 ॥

iti rūpavatīṁ dṛṣṭvā sarvālaṅkārabhūṣitām jagrāha dṛḍhakeśo ’yaṁ hartukāmaḥ sudurmatiḥ

"Seeing me thus beautiful, adorned with every ornament, this evil-minded Dridhakesha seized me, desiring to carry me off."

Verse 47 (markandeya.123.47)

युष्मद्बाहुबलेनाहं राजपुत्र विमोक्षिता । तत्प्रसीद महाबाहो मा प्रतीच्छ त्वया समः । भूलोके राजपुत्रोऽन्यो नास्ति सत्यं ब्रवीम्यहम् ॥ 123.47 ॥

yuṣmadbāhubalenāhaṁ rājaputra vimokṣitā tatprasīda mahābāho mā pratīccha tvayā samaḥ bhūloke rājaputro ’nyo nāsti satyaṁ bravīmyaham

"By the strength of your arms, O prince, I have been set free; be gracious then, mighty-armed one — do not doubt me; I tell you truly, there is no other prince like you upon this earth."