The Story of Marutta (I): The Great Sacrifice

Verse 1 (markandeya.126.1)

क्रौष्टुकिरुवाच भगवन्विस्तरात्सर्वं ममैतत्कथितं त्वया । करन्धमस्य चरितमविक्षिच्चरितं च यत् ॥ 126.1 ॥

krauṣṭukiruvāca bhagavanvistarātsarvaṁ mamaitatkathitaṁ tvayā karandhamasya caritamavikṣiccaritaṁ ca yat

Kraushtuki said: "Blessed one, you have told me all this in detail — the story of Karandhama and the story of Avikshit."

Verse 2 (markandeya.126.2)

अविक्षितस्य नृपतेर्मरुत्तस्य महात्मनः । श्रोतुमिच्छामि चरितं श्रूयते सोऽतिचेष्टितः ॥ 126.2 ॥

avikṣitasya nṛpatermaruttasya mahātmanaḥ śrotumicchāmi caritaṁ śrūyate so’ticeṣṭitaḥ

Now I wish to hear the story of Marutta, the great-souled son of King Avikshit; it is said that he was a man of exceptional deeds.

Verse 3 (markandeya.126.3)

चक्रवर्त्ती महाभागः शूरः कान्तो महामतिः । धर्मविद्धर्मकृच्चैव सम्यक्पालयिता भुवः ॥ 126.3 ॥

cakravarttī mahābhāgaḥ śūraḥ kānto mahāmatiḥ dharmaviddharmakṛccaiva samyakpālayitā bhuvaḥ

He was a universal emperor, illustrious, valiant, handsome, of great intellect, a knower and doer of dharma, and one who protected the earth well.

Verse 4 (markandeya.126.4)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच स पित्रा समनुज्ञातं राज्यं प्राप्य पितामहात् । धर्मतः पालयामास पिता पुत्रानिवौरसान् ॥ 126.4 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca sa pitrā samanujñātaṁ rājyaṁ prāpya pitāmahāt dharmataḥ pālayāmāsa pitā putrānivaurasān

Markandeya said: "Having obtained the kingdom that had come down from his grandfather, with his father's sanction, he governed it righteously, as a father protects his own true-born sons."

Verse 5 (markandeya.126.5)

इयाज सुबहून्यज्ञान्यथावत्स्वाप्तदक्षिणान् । ऋत्विक्पुरोहितादेशादनिर्विण्णो महीपतिः ॥ 126.5 ॥

iyāja subahūnyajñānyathāvatsvāptadakṣiṇān ṛtvikpurohitādeśādanirviṇṇo mahīpatiḥ

That untiring king performed very many sacrifices in the proper manner, with abundant sacrificial gifts, following the direction of his officiating priest and family priest.

Verse 6 (markandeya.126.6)

तस्याप्रतिहतं चक्रमासीद्द्वीपेषु सप्तसु । गतिश्चाप्यनवच्छिन्ना स्वःपातालजलादिषु ॥ 126.6 ॥

tasyāpratihataṁ cakramāsīddvīpeṣu saptasu gatiścāpyanavacchinnā svaḥpātālajalādiṣu

His dominion was unopposed across all seven continents, and his movement was unimpeded through heaven, the netherworld, the waters, and beyond.

Verse 7 (markandeya.126.7)

ततः प्राप्य धनं विप्र यथावत्स्वक्रियापरः । अयजत्स महायज्ञैर्देवानिन्द्रपुरोगमान् ॥ 126.7 ॥

tataḥ prāpya dhanaṁ vipra yathāvatsvakriyāparaḥ ayajatsa mahāyajñairdevānindrapurogamān

O brahmin, having thus acquired wealth, that king, devoted to his proper duty, worshipped the gods headed by Indra through great sacrifices.

Verse 8 (markandeya.126.8)

इतरे च यथावर्णाः स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यतन्द्रिताः । तदुपात्तधनाश्चक्रुरिष्टापूर्त्तादिकाः क्रियाः ॥ 126.8 ॥

itare ca yathāvarṇāḥ sve sve karmaṇyatandritāḥ tadupāttadhanāścakruriṣṭāpūrttādikāḥ kriyāḥ

And the rest of the people too, each according to their own varna and diligent in their own duties, used the wealth he gave them to perform rites of sacrifice and public benefaction.

Verse 9 (markandeya.126.9)

पाल्यमाना मही तेन मरुत्तेन महात्मना । योऽस्पर्द्धात्त्रिदशावासवासिभिर्द्विजसत्तम ॥ 126.9 ॥

pālyamānā mahī tena maruttena mahātmanā yo’sparddhāttridaśāvāsavāsibhirdvijasattama

O best of brahmins, the earth, protected by that great-souled Marutta, prospered such that he rivalled even the dwellers of heaven itself.

Verse 10 (markandeya.126.10)

तेनातिशयिताः सर्वे केवलं न महीक्षितः । यज्विना देवराजोऽपि शतयज्ञाभिसन्धिना ॥ 126.10 ॥

tenātiśayitāḥ sarve kevalaṁ na mahīkṣitaḥ yajvinā devarājo’pi śatayajñābhisandhinā

That sacrificer surpassed not only the kings of the earth but even Indra, the king of the gods, resolved upon a hundred sacrifices.

Verse 11 (markandeya.126.11)

ऋत्विक्तस्य तु संवर्त्तो बभूवाङ्गिरसः सुतः । भ्राता बृहस्पतेर्विप्र महात्मा तपसां निधिः ॥ 126.11 ॥

ṛtviktasya tu saṁvartto babhūvāṅgirasaḥ sutaḥ bhrātā bṛhaspatervipra mahātmā tapasāṁ nidhiḥ

O brahmin, his officiant was Samvarta, son of Angiras and brother of Brihaspati — a great soul, a very treasury of austerities.

Verse 12 (markandeya.126.12)

सौवर्णो मुञ्जवान्नाम पर्वतः सुरसेवितः । पातितं तेन तच्छृङ्गं कृते तस्य महीपतेः ॥ 126.12 ॥

sauvarṇo muñjavānnāma parvataḥ surasevitaḥ pātitaṁ tena tacchṛṅgaṁ kṛte tasya mahīpateḥ

There is a golden mountain named Munjavan, honored by the gods; for that king's sake, Samvarta brought down its very peak.

Verse 13 (markandeya.126.13)

तेन यस्याखिलं यज्ञे भूमिभागादिकं द्विज । प्रासादाश्च कृताः शुभ्रास्तपसा सर्वकाञ्चनाः ॥ 126.13 ॥

tena yasyākhilaṁ yajñe bhūmibhāgādikaṁ dvija prāsādāśca kṛtāḥ śubhrāstapasā sarvakāñcanāḥ

O brahmin, through his asceticism, Samvarta made the entire sacrificial ground and its appurtenances, and the shining palaces, entirely of gold.

Verse 14 (markandeya.126.14)

गाथाश्चाप्यत्र गायन्ति मरुत्तचरिताश्रयाः । सातत्येनर्षयः सर्वे कुर्वन्तोऽध्ययनं यथा ॥ 126.14 ॥

gāthāścāpyatra gāyanti maruttacaritāśrayāḥ sātatyenarṣayaḥ sarve kurvanto’dhyayanaṁ yathā

Songs about Marutta's story are still sung here, just as the sages continually carry on their Vedic recitation.

Verse 15 (markandeya.126.15)

मरुत्तेन समो नाभूद्यजमानो महीतले । सदः समस्तं यद्यज्ञे प्रासादाश्चैव काञ्चनाः ॥ 126.15 ॥

maruttena samo nābhūdyajamāno mahītale sadaḥ samastaṁ yadyajñe prāsādāścaiva kāñcanāḥ

No sacrificer equal to Marutta has ever lived on earth, for in his sacrifice the entire assembly hall and its palaces were made of gold.

Verse 16 (markandeya.126.16)

अमाद्यदिन्द्रः सोमेन दक्षिणाभिर्द्विजातयः । विप्राणां परिवेष्टारः शक्राद्यास्त्रिदशोत्तमाः ॥ 126.16 ॥

amādyadindraḥ somena dakṣiṇābhirdvijātayaḥ viprāṇāṁ pariveṣṭāraḥ śakrādyāstridaśottamāḥ

Indra grew exhilarated on the soma, and the brahmins on the sacrificial fees; the foremost gods, Shakra among them, themselves served and waited upon the brahmins.

Verse 17 (markandeya.126.17)

यथा यज्ञे मरुत्तस्य तृप्ताः सर्वे महीपतेः । सुवर्णमखिलं त्यक्तं रत्नपूर्णगृहे द्विजैः ॥ 126.17 ॥

yathā yajñe maruttasya tṛptāḥ sarve mahīpateḥ suvarṇamakhilaṁ tyaktaṁ ratnapūrṇagṛhe dvijaiḥ

Thus all were fully satisfied at King Marutta's sacrifice; the brahmins left behind heaps of gold even in houses already full of jewels.

Verse 18 (markandeya.126.18)

प्रासादादिसमस्तं च सौवर्णं तस्य यत्क्रतौ । त्रयो वर्णाह्यलभ्यन्त तस्मात्केचित्तथा ददुः । ( तेन त्यक्तेन शिष्टा ये जनाः पूर्णमनोरथाः । तेऽपि यज्ञान्यजन्ते स्म देशे देशे पृथक्पृथक् ।) ॥ 126.18 ॥

prāsādādisamastaṁ ca sauvarṇaṁ tasya yatkratau trayo varṇāhyalabhyanta tasmātkecittathā daduḥ (tena tyaktena śiṣṭā ye janāḥ pūrṇamanorathāḥ te’pi yajñānyajante sma deśe deśe pṛthakpṛthak)

And all that was golden at his sacrifice — the palaces and the rest — the other three varnas received their share of it; some of them in turn gave it away just as he had. (With what they left behind, the remaining people too, their wishes satisfied, went on to perform their own sacrifices, each in their own separate lands.)

Verse 19 (markandeya.126.19)

तस्यैवं कुर्वतो राज्यं सम्यक्पालयतः प्रजाः । तपस्वी कश्चिदभ्येत्य तमाह मुनिसत्तम ॥ 126.19 ॥

tasyaivaṁ kurvato rājyaṁ samyakpālayataḥ prajāḥ tapasvī kaścidabhyetya tamāha munisattama

O best of sages, while he was thus ruling the kingdom and well protecting his subjects, a certain ascetic woman approached and said to him:

Verse 20 (markandeya.126.20)

पितुर्माता तवाहेदं दृष्ट्वा तापसमण्डलम् । विषाभिभूतमुरगैर्मदोन्मत्तैर्नरेश्वर ॥ 126.20 ॥

piturmātā tavāhedaṁ dṛṣṭvā tāpasamaṇḍalam viṣābhibhūtamuragairmadonmattairnareśvara

'O lord of men, I am your father's mother. Having seen this community of ascetics overcome by the venom of maddened serpents...'

Verse 21 (markandeya.126.21)

पितामहस्ते स्वर्यातः सम्यक्संपाल्य मेदिनीम् । पिता तव तथा शक्तो हित्वा ग्रामं वनं गतः । ( तपश्चरणशक्ताऽहमिह चौर्वाश्रमे स्थिता) ॥ 126.21 ॥

pitāmahaste svaryātaḥ samyaksaṁpālya medinīm pitā tava tathā śakto hitvā grāmaṁ vanaṁ gataḥ (tapaścaraṇaśaktā’hamiha caurvāśrame sthitā)

'...your grandfather, having ruled the earth well, has gone to heaven; your father too, though capable, left his estate and went to the forest — (and I, being fit for ascetic practice, dwell here in Aurva's hermitage.)'

Verse 22 (markandeya.126.22)

साऽहं पश्यामि वैकल्यं तव राज्यं प्रशासतः । पितामहस्य तेनाभूद्यत्पूर्वेषां च ते नृप ॥ 126.22 ॥

sā’haṁ paśyāmi vaikalyaṁ tava rājyaṁ praśāsataḥ pitāmahasya tenābhūdyatpūrveṣāṁ ca te nṛpa

'Being such, O king, I perceive a shortcoming in the way you govern your kingdom — one that was absent in the time of your grandfather and your other forefathers.'

Verse 23 (markandeya.126.23)

नूनं प्रमत्तो भोगेषु सक्तो वाऽविजितेन्द्रियः । चारान्धता यतोऽस्तीयं दुष्टादुष्टं न वेत्सि यत् ॥ 126.23 ॥

nūnaṁ pramatto bhogeṣu sakto vā’vijitendriyaḥ cārāndhatā yato’stīyaṁ duṣṭāduṣṭaṁ na vetsi yat

'Surely you are either negligent, or attached to pleasures, or have not mastered your senses — since this blindness toward your own intelligence-gatherers persists, that you cannot tell the wicked from the blameless.'

Verse 24 (markandeya.126.24)

पातालादभ्युपेतैस्तु भुजगैर्दशशालिभिः । दष्टा मुनिसुताः सप्त दूषिताश्च जलाशयः ॥ 126.24 ॥

pātālādabhyupetaistu bhujagairdaśaśālibhiḥ daṣṭā munisutāḥ sapta dūṣitāśca jalāśayaḥ

'Venomous serpents, come up from the netherworld, have bitten seven sons of sages and have polluted the water-reservoirs as well.'

Verse 25 (markandeya.126.25)

स्वेदमूत्रपुरीषेण दूषितं सुशृतं हविः । अपराधं समुद्दिश्य दत्तो नागबलिश्चिरात् ॥ 126.25 ॥

svedamūtrapurīṣeṇa dūṣitaṁ suśṛtaṁ haviḥ aparādhaṁ samuddiśya datto nāgabaliścirāt

'The carefully prepared oblation has been fouled with sweat, urine, and excrement; and because of this offense, the offering long given to the serpents has now been withheld.'

Verse 26 (markandeya.126.26)

एते समर्था मुनयो भस्मीकर्तुं भुजङ्गमान् । किन्त्वेषां नाधिकारोऽत्र त्वमेवाधिकारवान् ॥ 126.26 ॥

ete samarthā munayo bhasmīkartuṁ bhujaṅgamān kintveṣāṁ nādhikāro’tra tvamevādhikāravān

'These sages are capable of burning the serpents to ashes, but they have no authority here — in this matter, you alone hold the authority.'

Verse 27 (markandeya.126.27)

तावत्सुखं भूपतिजैर्भोगजं प्राप्यते नृप । अभिषेकजलं यावन्न मूर्ध्नि विनिपात्यते ॥ 126.27 ॥

tāvatsukhaṁ bhūpatijairbhogajaṁ prāpyate nṛpa abhiṣekajalaṁ yāvanna mūrdhni vinipātyate

'O king, the ease that comes from mere enjoyment belongs to a king's son only until the water of consecration is poured upon his head — after that, ease is no longer his.'

Verse 28 (markandeya.126.28)

कानि मित्राणि कः शत्रुर्मम शत्रोर्बलं कियत् । कोऽहं के मन्त्रिणः पक्षे के वा भूपतयो मम ॥ 126.28 ॥

kāni mitrāṇi kaḥ śatrurmama śatrorbalaṁ kiyat ko’haṁ ke mantriṇaḥ pakṣe ke vā bhūpatayo mama

'[A king must always ask:] Who are my friends, who is my enemy, how great is that enemy's strength? Who am I, which ministers stand with me, and which kings are my allies?'

Verse 29 (markandeya.126.29)

( कियान्कोशो बलं किंवा कोऽनुरक्तो जनो मम) । विरक्तो वा परैर्भिन्नः परेषामपि कीदृशः । कः सम्यगत्र नगरे विषये वा जनो मम ॥ 126.29 ॥

(kiyānkośo balaṁ kiṁvā ko’nurakto jano mama) virakto vā parairbhinnaḥ pareṣāmapi kīdṛśaḥ kaḥ samyagatra nagare viṣaye vā jano mama

'(How great is my treasury, my army, and which of my people are devoted to me?) Who has grown estranged or been turned against me by enemies, and what is the state of the enemy's own people? Who, in this city or realm, is truly loyal to me?'

Verse 30 (markandeya.126.30)

धर्मकर्माश्रयो मूढः कः सम्यगपि वर्त्तते । को दण्ड्यः परिपाल्यः कः के चोपेक्ष्या नरा मया ॥ 126.30 ॥

dharmakarmāśrayo mūḍhaḥ kaḥ samyagapi varttate ko daṇḍyaḥ paripālyaḥ kaḥ ke copekṣyā narā mayā

'Which foolish person nonetheless behaves rightly by holding to righteous conduct? Who deserves punishment, who deserves protection, and which people should I simply disregard?'

Verse 31 (markandeya.126.31)

सामभेदतया दम्या देशकालमवेक्षता । चारांश्च चारयेदन्यैरज्ञातान्भूपतिश्चरैः ॥ 126.31 ॥

sāmabhedatayā damyā deśakālamavekṣatā cārāṁśca cārayedanyairajñātānbhūpatiścaraiḥ

'Watching place and time, a king should subdue his foes through conciliation and division as needed, and should set spies to watch other spies, each unknown to the other.'

Verse 32 (markandeya.126.32)

सचिवादिषु सर्वेषु चरान्दद्यान्महीपतिः । इत्यादौ भूपतिर्नित्यं कर्मण्यासक्तमानसः ॥ 126.32 ॥

sacivādiṣu sarveṣu carāndadyānmahīpatiḥ ityādau bhūpatirnityaṁ karmaṇyāsaktamānasaḥ

'A king should place spies even upon his own ministers and the rest. In all such matters, a king should keep his mind constantly fixed upon his proper duty...'

Verse 33 (markandeya.126.33)

नयेद्दिनं तथा रात्रिं न तु भोगपरायणः । राज्ञां शरीरग्रहणं न भोगाय महीपते ॥ 126.33 ॥

nayeddinaṁ tathā rātriṁ na tu bhogaparāyaṇaḥ rājñāṁ śarīragrahaṇaṁ na bhogāya mahīpate

'...and should spend his days and nights so, never given over to pleasure. O king, a king takes birth not for the sake of enjoyment.'

Verse 34 (markandeya.126.34)

क्लेशाय महते पृथ्वी स्वधर्मपरिपालने । सम्यक्पालयतः पृथ्वीं स्वधर्मं च महीपते ॥ 126.34 ॥

kleśāya mahate pṛthvī svadharmaparipālane samyakpālayataḥ pṛthvīṁ svadharmaṁ ca mahīpate

'The earth is entrusted to him for great toil, in the keeping of his own duty. O king, for one who rightly protects both the earth and his own dharma...'

Verse 35 (markandeya.126.35)

इह क्लेशो महान्स्वर्गे परमं सुखमक्षयम् । तदेतदवबुध्यस्व हित्वा भोगान्नरेश्वर ॥ 126.35 ॥

iha kleśo mahānsvarge paramaṁ sukhamakṣayam tadetadavabudhyasva hitvā bhogānnareśvara

'...there is great hardship here, but supreme and imperishable happiness in heaven. Understand this, O lord of men, and set aside mere enjoyments.'

Verse 36 (markandeya.126.36)

पालनाय क्षितेः क्लेशमङ्गीकर्तुमिहार्हसि । इति वृत्तमृषीणां यद्व्यसनं त्वयि शासति ॥ 126.36 ॥

pālanāya kṣiteḥ kleśamaṅgīkartumihārhasi iti vṛttamṛṣīṇāṁ yadvyasanaṁ tvayi śāsati

'You ought to accept the toil of protecting the earth. This, then, is what has happened — this calamity has befallen the sages under your very rule...'

Verse 37 (markandeya.126.37)

भुजङ्गहेतुकं भूप चारान्धो नापि वेत्सि तत् । बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन दुष्टे दण्डो निपात्यताम् ॥ 126.37 ॥

bhujaṅgahetukaṁ bhūpa cārāndho nāpi vetsi tat bahunātra kimuktena duṣṭe daṇḍo nipātyatām

'...caused by serpents, O king — and, blind where your own intelligence is concerned, you do not even know of it. What use is saying more? Let punishment fall upon the wicked.'

Verse 38 (markandeya.126.38)

शिष्टान्पालय राजंस्त्वं धर्मषड्भागमाप्स्यसि । अरक्षन्पापमखिलं दुष्टैरविनयात्कृतम् ॥ 126.38 ॥

śiṣṭānpālaya rājaṁstvaṁ dharmaṣaḍbhāgamāpsyasi arakṣanpāpamakhilaṁ duṣṭairavinayātkṛtam

'O king, protect the virtuous — you will gain a sixth part of their merit. But if you fail to protect them, you will incur the whole of the sin committed by the wicked in their misconduct.'

Verse 39 (markandeya.126.39)

समवाप्स्यस्यसन्दिग्धं यदिच्छसि कुरुष्व तत् । एतन्मयोक्तं सकलं यत्तवाहं पितामहः । कुरुष्वैवं स्थिते यत्ते रोचते वसुधाधिप ॥ 126.39 ॥

samavāpsyasyasandigdhaṁ yadicchasi kuruṣva tat etanmayoktaṁ sakalaṁ yattavāhaṁ pitāmahaḥ kuruṣvaivaṁ sthite yatte rocate vasudhādhipa

'You will undoubtedly reap that result — do as you wish. I have told you all this because I am your grandmother. Now that matters stand thus, O lord of the earth, do as you think best.'