The Story of Marutta (III): Father and Son at Odds

Verse 1 (markandeya.128.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच स तु तत्र सुतं दृष्ट्वा गृहीतवरकार्मुकम् । धनुः शस्त्रं च तस्योग्रं ज्वालाव्याप्तदिगन्तरम् ॥ 128.1 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca sa tu tatra sutaṁ dṛṣṭvā gṛhītavarakārmukam dhanuḥ śastraṁ ca tasyograṁ jvālāvyāptadigantaram

Markandeya said: There, he saw his son, bow in hand, and his fierce weapon whose flames had spread across every quarter of the sky.

Verse 2 (markandeya.128.2)

उद्गिरन्तं महावह्निं दीपिताखिलभूतलम् । पातालान्तर्गतं प्राप्तमसह्यं घोरभीषणम् ॥ 128.2 ॥

udgirantaṁ mahāvahniṁ dīpitākhilabhūtalam pātālāntargataṁ prāptamasahyaṁ ghorabhīṣaṇam

It vomited forth a great fire, illuminating the whole earth, and had reached down into the netherworld — unbearable and utterly terrible.

Verse 3 (markandeya.128.3)

स तं दृष्ट्वा महीपालं भृकुटीकुटिलाननम् । मा क्रुधस्त्वं मरुत्तास्त्रमुपसंह्रियतामिति ॥ 128.3 ॥

sa taṁ dṛṣṭvā mahīpālaṁ bhṛkuṭīkuṭilānanam mā krudhastvaṁ maruttāstramupasaṁhriyatāmiti

Seeing that king, his face contorted with frowning brows, he said: 'Do not be angry, Marutta! Let the weapon be withdrawn!'

Verse 4 (markandeya.128.4)

प्राहासकृच्चानुलुप्तवर्णक्रममुदारधीः । स निशम्य गुरोर्वाक्यं दृष्ट्वा तं च पुनः पुनः ॥ 128.4 ॥

prāhāsakṛccānuluptavarṇakramamudāradhīḥ sa niśamya gurorvākyaṁ dṛṣṭvā taṁ ca punaḥ punaḥ

The noble-minded father said this repeatedly, his very words tumbling out of order in his urgency. Hearing his father's words and looking at him again and again...

Verse 5 (markandeya.128.5)

गृहीतकार्मुकः पित्रोः प्रणिपत्य सगौरवम् । प्रत्युवाचापराद्धा मे सुभृशं पन्नगाः पितः ॥ 128.5 ॥

gṛhītakārmukaḥ pitroḥ praṇipatya sagauravam pratyuvācāparāddhā me subhṛśaṁ pannagāḥ pitaḥ

...Marutta, bow still in hand, bowed reverently to his parents and replied: 'Father, these serpents have offended against me most severely.'

Verse 6 (markandeya.128.6)

शासतीमां मयि महीं परिभूय बलं मम । सप्ताश्रममुपागम्य दष्टा मुनिकुमारकाः ॥ 128.6 ॥

śāsatīmāṁ mayi mahīṁ paribhūya balaṁ mama saptāśramamupāgamya daṣṭā munikumārakāḥ

'While I ruled this earth, scorning my power, they went to the hermitage of the Seven Sages and bit the sons of the sages.'

Verse 7 (markandeya.128.7)

ऋषीणामाश्रमस्थानाममीषामवनीपते । मयि शासति दुर्वृत्तैर्दूषितानि हवींषि च ॥ 128.7 ॥

ṛṣīṇāmāśramasthānāmamīṣāmavanīpate mayi śāsati durvṛttairdūṣitāni havīṁṣi ca

'O lord of the earth, while I ruled, the wicked serpents polluted the very oblations of these sages' hermitages...'

Verse 8 (markandeya.128.8)

जलाशयास्तथाप्येतैः सर्व एव हि दूषिताः । तदेत्कारणं किञ्चिन्न वक्तव्यं त्वया पितः । न निवारयितव्योऽहं ब्रह्मघ्नान्प्रतिपन्नगान् ॥ 128.8 ॥

jalāśayāstathāpyetaiḥ sarva eva hi dūṣitāḥ tadetkāraṇaṁ kiñcinna vaktavyaṁ tvayā pitaḥ na nivārayitavyo’haṁ brahmaghnānpratipannagān

'...and likewise polluted all their water-reservoirs. For this reason, father, you should say nothing further to me — I am not to be restrained from punishing these brahmin-slaying serpents.'

Verse 9 (markandeya.128.9)

अविक्षिदुवाच यद्येभिर्निहता विप्रा यास्यन्ति नरकं मृताः । ममैतत्कियतां वाक्यं विरमास्त्रप्रयोगतः ॥ 128.9 ॥

avikṣiduvāca yadyebhirnihatā viprā yāsyanti narakaṁ mṛtāḥ mamaitatkiyatāṁ vākyaṁ viramāstraprayogataḥ

Avikshit said: 'Even if the brahmins slain by them go to hell when dead, let this be my word to you — desist from using the weapon.'

Verse 10 (markandeya.128.10)

मरुत्त उवाच नाहमेषां क्षमिष्यामि दुष्टानामपराधिनाम् । अहमेव गमिष्यामि नरकं यदि पापिनाम् । न निग्रहे यताम्येषां मां निवारय मा पितः ॥ 128.10 ॥

marutta uvāca nāhameṣāṁ kṣamiṣyāmi duṣṭānāmaparādhinām ahameva gamiṣyāmi narakaṁ yadi pāpinām na nigrahe yatāmyeṣāṁ māṁ nivāraya mā pitaḥ

Marutta said: 'I will not forgive these wicked offenders. I myself will go to hell, if that is the price for punishing these sinners — I will not slacken in restraining them. Father, do not stop me.'

Verse 11 (markandeya.128.11)

अविक्षिदुवाच मामेते शरणं प्राप्ताः पन्नगा मम गौरवात् । उपसंह्रियतामस्त्रमलं कोपेन ते नृप ॥ 128.11 ॥

avikṣiduvāca māmete śaraṇaṁ prāptāḥ pannagā mama gauravāt upasaṁhriyatāmastramalaṁ kopena te nṛpa

Avikshit said: 'These serpents have come to me for refuge, out of respect for me. O king, withdraw your weapon — enough of this anger!'

Verse 12 (markandeya.128.12)

मरुत्त उवाच नाहमेषां क्षमिष्यामि दुष्टानामपराधिनाम् । स्वधर्ममुल्लंघ्य कथं करिष्यामि वचस्तव ॥ 128.12 ॥

marutta uvāca nāhameṣāṁ kṣamiṣyāmi duṣṭānāmaparādhinām svadharmamullaṁghya kathaṁ kariṣyāmi vacastava

Marutta said: 'I will not forgive these wicked offenders. How could I violate my own dharma merely to do as you say?'

Verse 13 (markandeya.128.13)

दण्ड्ये निपातयन्दण्डं भूपः शिष्टांश्च पालयन् । पुण्यलोकानवाप्नोति नरकांश्चाप्युपेक्षणात् ॥ 128.13 ॥

daṇḍye nipātayandaṇḍaṁ bhūpaḥ śiṣṭāṁśca pālayan puṇyalokānavāpnoti narakāṁścāpyupekṣaṇāt

'A king who inflicts punishment on the guilty and protects the virtuous obtains the meritorious worlds; through neglect of this duty, he obtains the hells.'

Verse 14 (markandeya.128.14)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच एवं स बहुशः पित्रा वार्यमाणोऽम्बया सह । नोपसंहरते सोऽस्त्रं ततोऽसौ पुनरब्रवीत् ॥ 128.14 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca evaṁ sa bahuśaḥ pitrā vāryamāṇo’mbayā saha nopasaṁharate so’straṁ tato’sau punarabravīt

Markandeya said: Thus, though restrained repeatedly by his father together with his mother, he did not withdraw the weapon. Then he spoke again:

Verse 15 (markandeya.128.15)

हिंससे पन्नगान्भीतान्ममैताञ्छरणं गतान् । वार्यमाणोऽपि तस्मात्ते करिष्यामि प्रतिक्रियाम् ॥ 128.15 ॥

hiṁsase pannagānbhītānmamaitāñcharaṇaṁ gatān vāryamāṇo’pi tasmātte kariṣyāmi pratikriyām

'You are slaying these terrified serpents that have come to me for refuge. Since you persist despite my restraining you, I shall take action against you in return.'

Verse 16 (markandeya.128.16)

मयाप्यस्त्राण्यवाप्तानि न त्वमेकोऽस्त्रविद्भुवि । ममाग्रतः सुदुर्वृत्तपौरुषं च कियत्तव ॥ 128.16 ॥

mayāpyastrāṇyavāptāni na tvameko’stravidbhuvi mamāgrataḥ sudurvṛttapauruṣaṁ ca kiyattava

'I too have obtained weapons; you are not the only one on earth who knows the use of weapons. O ill-behaved one, how much is your manhood before me?'

Verse 17 (markandeya.128.17)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततः कार्मुकमारोप्य कोपताम्रविलोचनः । अविक्षिदस्त्रं जग्राह कालस्य मुनिपुङ्गव ॥ 128.17 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tataḥ kārmukamāropya kopatāmravilocanaḥ avikṣidastraṁ jagrāha kālasya munipuṅgava

Markandeya said: O foremost of sages, then Avikshit, his eyes reddened with fury, strung his bow and took up the weapon of Kala.

Verse 18 (markandeya.128.18)

ततो ज्वालापरीवारमरिसंघघ्नमुत्तमम् । कालास्त्रं तु महावीर्यं योजयामास कार्मुके ॥ 128.18 ॥

tato jvālāparīvāramarisaṁghaghnamuttamam kālāstraṁ tu mahāvīryaṁ yojayāmāsa kārmuke

Then he fitted to his bowstring that supreme, mighty Kala-weapon — girded with flames, destroyer of hosts of enemies.

Verse 19 (markandeya.128.19)

ततश्चुक्षोभ जगती संवर्त्तास्त्रप्रतापिता । साब्धिशैलाऽखिला विप्र कालस्यास्त्रे समुद्यते ॥ 128.19 ॥

tataścukṣobha jagatī saṁvarttāstrapratāpitā sābdhiśailā’khilā vipra kālasyāstre samudyate

O brahmin, when the weapon of Kala was raised, the whole earth trembled — already scorched by the power of the Samvartaka missile — together with all its oceans and mountains.

Verse 20 (markandeya.128.20)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच कालास्त्रमुद्यतं पित्रा मरुत्तः सोऽपि वीक्ष्य तत् । प्राहोच्चैरस्त्रमेतन्मे दुष्टशास्तिसमुद्यतम् ॥ 128.20 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca kālāstramudyataṁ pitrā maruttaḥ so’pi vīkṣya tat prāhoccairastrametanme duṣṭaśāstisamudyatam

Markandeya said: Seeing the Kala-weapon raised by his father, Marutta too cried out loudly: 'This weapon of mine has been raised for the chastisement of the wicked —'

Verse 21 (markandeya.128.21)

न त्वद्वधाय कालास्त्रं मयि मुञ्चति किं भवान् । स्वधर्मचारिणि सुते सदैवाज्ञाकरे तव ॥ 128.21 ॥

na tvadvadhāya kālāstraṁ mayi muñcati kiṁ bhavān svadharmacāriṇi sute sadaivājñākare tava

'—not for your destruction. Why, then, would you release the Kala-weapon upon me, your son, ever obedient to you and following his own dharma?'

Verse 22 (markandeya.128.22)

मया कार्यं महाभाग प्रजानां परिपालनम् । त्वयैवं क्रियते कस्मान्मद्वधायास्त्रमुद्यतम् ॥ 128.22 ॥

mayā kāryaṁ mahābhāga prajānāṁ paripālanam tvayaivaṁ kriyate kasmānmadvadhāyāstramudyatam

'O illustrious one, my duty is the protection of the subjects; why then do you act thus, raising a weapon for my destruction?'

Verse 23 (markandeya.128.23)

अविक्षिदुवाच शरणागतसंत्राणं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् । तस्य व्याघातकर्त्ता त्वं न मे जीवन्विमोक्ष्यसे ॥ 128.23 ॥

avikṣiduvāca śaraṇāgatasaṁtrāṇaṁ kartuṁ vyavasitā vayam tasya vyāghātakarttā tvaṁ na me jīvanvimokṣyase

Avikshit said: 'I am resolved to protect those who have taken refuge with me. You are the one obstructing that; you shall not escape me alive.'

Verse 24 (markandeya.128.24)

मां वा हत्वास्त्रवीर्येण जहि दुष्टानिहोरगान् । त्वां वा हत्वाऽहमस्त्रेण रक्षिष्यामि महोरगान् ॥ 128.24 ॥

māṁ vā hatvāstravīryeṇa jahi duṣṭānihoragān tvāṁ vā hatvā’hamastreṇa rakṣiṣyāmi mahoragān

'Either kill me with the power of your weapon and slay these wicked serpents, or I shall kill you with my weapon and protect these great serpents.'

Verse 25 (markandeya.128.25)

धिक्तस्य जीवितं पुंसः शरणार्थिनमागतम् । योनार्तमनुगृह्णाति वैरिपक्षमपि ध्रुवम् ॥ 128.25 ॥

dhiktasya jīvitaṁ puṁsaḥ śaraṇārthinamāgatam yonārtamanugṛhṇāti vairipakṣamapi dhruvam

'Shame on the life of that man who does not surely show grace even to an afflicted one who has come seeking refuge — even one from the enemy's own camp.'

Verse 26 (markandeya.128.26)

क्षत्रियोऽहमिमे भीताः शरणं मामुपागताः । अपकर्त्ता त्वमेवैषां कथं वध्यो न मे भवान् ॥ 128.26 ॥

kṣatriyo’hamime bhītāḥ śaraṇaṁ māmupāgatāḥ apakarttā tvamevaiṣāṁ kathaṁ vadhyo na me bhavān

'I am a kshatriya; these frightened ones have come to me for refuge. You alone are the one doing them harm — how are you not deserving of my blow?'

Verse 27 (markandeya.128.27)

मरुत्त उवाच मित्रं वा बान्धवो वाऽपि पिता वा यदि वा गुरुः । प्रजापालनविघ्नाय यो हन्तव्यः स भूभृता ॥ 128.27 ॥

marutta uvāca mitraṁ vā bāndhavo vā’pi pitā vā yadi vā guruḥ prajāpālanavighnāya yo hantavyaḥ sa bhūbhṛtā

Marutta said: 'Whether friend, kinsman, father, or even one's own teacher — whoever becomes an obstacle to the protection of the subjects must be struck down by a king.'

Verse 28 (markandeya.128.28)

सोऽहं ते प्रहरिष्यामि न क्रोद्धव्यं त्वया पितः । स्वधर्मः परिपाल्यो मे न मे क्रोधस्तवोपरि ॥ 128.28 ॥

so’haṁ te prahariṣyāmi na kroddhavyaṁ tvayā pitaḥ svadharmaḥ paripālyo me na me krodhastavopari

'Being such, I shall strike even at you — but you must not be angry, father. I only uphold my own dharma; I bear no anger toward you.'

Verse 29 (markandeya.128.29)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततस्तौ निश्चितौ दृष्ट्वा परस्परवधं प्रति । समुत्पत्यान्तरे तस्थुर्मुनयो भार्गवादयः ॥ 128.29 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tatastau niścitau dṛṣṭvā parasparavadhaṁ prati samutpatyāntare tasthurmunayo bhārgavādayaḥ

Markandeya said: Then, seeing the two of them resolved on slaying one another, the sages, Bhargava and the rest, sprang up and stood between them.

Verse 30 (markandeya.128.30)

ऊचुश्चैनं न मोक्तव्यं त्वयास्त्रं पितरं प्रति । त्वया च नायं हन्तव्यः पुत्रः प्रख्यातचेष्टितः ॥ 128.30 ॥

ūcuścainaṁ na moktavyaṁ tvayāstraṁ pitaraṁ prati tvayā ca nāyaṁ hantavyaḥ putraḥ prakhyātaceṣṭitaḥ

And they said to him: 'The weapon must not be released by you against your father'; and to the other: 'nor should this son of famed deeds be slain by you.'

Verse 31 (markandeya.128.31)

मरुत्त उवाच मया दुष्टा निहन्तव्याः सन्तो रक्ष्या महीक्षिता । इमे च दुष्टा भुजगाः कोऽपराधोऽत्र मे द्विजाः ॥ 128.31 ॥

marutta uvāca mayā duṣṭā nihantavyāḥ santo rakṣyā mahīkṣitā ime ca duṣṭā bhujagāḥ ko’parādho’tra me dvijāḥ

Marutta said: 'It is for a king to slay the wicked and protect the virtuous. These serpents are wicked — what fault is there in me, O brahmins?'

Verse 32 (markandeya.128.32)

अविक्षिदुवाच शरणागतसन्त्राणं मया कार्यमयं च मे । अपराध्यः सुतो विप्रा यो हन्ति शरणागतान् ॥ 128.32 ॥

avikṣiduvāca śaraṇāgatasantrāṇaṁ mayā kāryamayaṁ ca me aparādhyaḥ suto viprā yo hanti śaraṇāgatān

Avikshit said: 'The protection of those who have sought refuge is my duty as well. O brahmins, my son offends when he slays those who have come for refuge.'

Verse 33 (markandeya.128.33)

ऋषयः ऊचुः इमे वदन्ति भुजगास्त्रासलोलविलोचनाः । संजीवयामस्तान्विप्रान्ये दष्टा दुष्टपन्नगैः ॥ 128.33 ॥

ṛṣayaḥ ūcuḥ ime vadanti bhujagāstrāsalolavilocanāḥ saṁjīvayāmastānviprānye daṣṭā duṣṭapannagaiḥ

The sages said: 'These serpents, their eyes trembling with terror, declare: "We shall restore to life those brahmins who were bitten by the wicked serpents."'

Verse 34 (markandeya.128.34)

तदलं विग्रहेणोभौ राजवर्यौ प्रसीदताम् । उभावपि विनिर्व्यूढप्रतिज्ञे धर्मकोविदौ ॥ 128.34 ॥

tadalaṁ vigraheṇobhau rājavaryau prasīdatām ubhāvapi vinirvyūḍhapratijñe dharmakovidau

'So let there be an end to this conflict — may both of you, foremost of kings, be at peace. Both of you, well-versed in dharma, have now fully upheld your vows.'

Verse 35 (markandeya.128.35)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच सा तु वीरा समभ्येत्य पुत्रमेतदभाषत । मद्वाक्यादेष ते पुत्रो हन्तुं नागान्कृतोद्यमः ॥ 128.35 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca sā tu vīrā samabhyetya putrametadabhāṣata madvākyādeṣa te putro hantuṁ nāgānkṛtodyamaḥ

Markandeya said: Then Vira came forward and said this to her son: 'It was at my word that this son of yours undertook to slay the serpents.'

Verse 36 (markandeya.128.36)

तन्निष्पन्नं यदा विप्रास्ते जीवन्ति तथा मृताः । सञ्जीवन्तश्च मुच्यन्ते यद्युष्मच्छरणं गताः ॥ 128.36 ॥

tanniṣpannaṁ yadā viprāste jīvanti tathā mṛtāḥ sañjīvantaśca mucyante yadyuṣmaccharaṇaṁ gatāḥ

'Let this now be settled: since those brahmins are dead, let them live again; and since the serpents have come to you for refuge, let them be released once they have restored those brahmins to life.'

Verse 37 (markandeya.128.37)

भामिन्युवाच अहमभ्यर्थिता पूर्वमेभिः पातालसंश्रयैः । तन्निमित्तमयं भर्त्ता मयात्र विनियोजितः ॥ 128.37 ॥

bhāminyuvāca ahamabhyarthitā pūrvamebhiḥ pātālasaṁśrayaiḥ tannimittamayaṁ bharttā mayātra viniyojitaḥ

The lady said: 'I was entreated earlier by these dwellers of the netherworld; for that reason, I set my husband to this task.'

Verse 38 (markandeya.128.38)

तदेतदार्ये निर्वृत्तमुभयोरपि शोभनम् । मम भर्तुश्च पुत्रस्य त्वत्पौत्रस्यात्मजस्य च ॥ 128.38 ॥

tadetadārye nirvṛttamubhayorapi śobhanam mama bhartuśca putrasya tvatpautrasyātmajasya ca

'So, noble one, this has ended well for us both — for my husband, and for our son, your own grandson's child.'

Verse 39 (markandeya.128.39)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततः सञ्जीवयामासुस्तान्विप्रांस्ते भुजङ्गमाः । दिव्यैरोषधिजातैश्च विषसंहरणेन च ॥ 128.39 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tataḥ sañjīvayāmāsustānviprāṁste bhujaṅgamāḥ divyairoṣadhijātaiśca viṣasaṁharaṇena ca

Markandeya said: Then those serpents restored the brahmins to life, by means of divine herbs and by the withdrawal of their venom.

Verse 40 (markandeya.128.40)

पित्रोर्ननाम चरणौ स ततो जगतीपतिः । मरुत्तश्च स तं प्रीत्या परिष्वज्येदमब्रवीत् ॥ 128.40 ॥

pitrornanāma caraṇau sa tato jagatīpatiḥ maruttaśca sa taṁ prītyā pariṣvajyedamabravīt

Then that lord of the earth bowed at the feet of his parents; and Avikshit, embracing Marutta with affection, said this:

Verse 41 (markandeya.128.41)

मानहा भव शत्रूणां चिरं पालय मेदिनीम् । पुत्रपौत्रैश्च मोदस्व मा च ते सन्तु विद्विषः ॥ 128.41 ॥

mānahā bhava śatrūṇāṁ ciraṁ pālaya medinīm putrapautraiśca modasva mā ca te santu vidviṣaḥ

'Be the destroyer of your enemies' pride; protect the earth for long; rejoice with sons and grandsons; and may you have no enemies at all.'

Verse 42 (markandeya.128.42)

ततो द्विजैरनुज्ञातौ वीरया च नरेश्वरौ । समारूढौ रथं सा च भामिनी स्वपुरं गता ॥ 128.42 ॥

tato dvijairanujñātau vīrayā ca nareśvarau samārūḍhau rathaṁ sā ca bhāminī svapuraṁ gatā

Then, taking leave of the brahmins and of Vira, the two kings mounted their chariot; and that lady went to her own city.

Verse 43 (markandeya.128.43)

वीराऽपि कृत्वा सुमहत्तपो धर्मभृतां वरा । भर्तुः सलोकतां प्राप्ता महाभागा पतिव्रता ॥ 128.43 ॥

vīrā’pi kṛtvā sumahattapo dharmabhṛtāṁ varā bhartuḥ salokatāṁ prāptā mahābhāgā pativratā

And Vira too, that illustrious and devoted wife, foremost among the upholders of dharma, having performed very great austerity, attained union with her husband's world.

Verse 44 (markandeya.128.44)

मरुत्तोऽपि चकारोर्व्यां धर्मतः परिपालनम् । विनिर्जितारिषड्वर्गो भोगांश्च बुभुजे नृपः ॥ 128.44 ॥

marutto’pi cakārorvyāṁ dharmataḥ paripālanam vinirjitāriṣaḍvargo bhogāṁśca bubhuje nṛpaḥ

Marutta too governed the earth righteously; having conquered the six enemies of the mind, the king enjoyed his rightful pleasures.

Verse 45 (markandeya.128.45)

तस्य पत्नी महाभागा विदर्भतनया तथा । प्रभावती सुवीरस्य सौवीरी चाभवत्सुता ॥ 128.45 ॥

tasya patnī mahābhāgā vidarbhatanayā tathā prabhāvatī suvīrasya sauvīrī cābhavatsutā

His illustrious wife was the daughter of Vidarbha; and there was also Prabhavati, the daughter of Suvira, king of the Sauviras.

Verse 46 (markandeya.128.46)

सुकेशी केतुवीर्यस्य मागधस्यात्मजाऽभवत् । सुता च सिन्धुवीर्यस्य मद्रराजस्य केकयी ॥ 128.46 ॥

sukeśī ketuvīryasya māgadhasyātmajā’bhavat sutā ca sindhuvīryasya madrarājasya kekayī

Sukeshi was the daughter of Ketuvirya, king of Magadha; another wife was the daughter of Sindhuvirya, the king of the Madras; and there was also a princess of Kekaya.

Verse 47 (markandeya.128.47)

केकयस्य च सैरन्ध्री सिन्धुभर्तुर्वपुष्मती । चेदिराजसुता चाभूद्भार्या तस्य सुशोभना ॥ 128.47 ॥

kekayasya ca sairandhrī sindhubharturvapuṣmatī cedirājasutā cābhūdbhāryā tasya suśobhanā

Sairandhri was the daughter of the king of Kekaya; Vapushmati was the daughter of the lord of Sindhu; and the beautiful daughter of the king of Chedi also became his wife.

Verse 48 (markandeya.128.48)

तासां पुत्रास्तस्य चासन्भूभृतोऽष्टादश द्विज । तेषां प्रधानो ज्येष्ठश्च नरिष्यन्तः सुतोऽभवत् ॥ 128.48 ॥

tāsāṁ putrāstasya cāsanbhūbhṛto’ṣṭādaśa dvija teṣāṁ pradhāno jyeṣṭhaśca nariṣyantaḥ suto’bhavat

O brahmin, from these wives he had eighteen sons, all kings; among them, the foremost and eldest son was Narishyanta.

Verse 49 (markandeya.128.49)

एवं वीर्यो मरुत्तोभून्महाराजो महाबलः । तस्याप्रतिहतं चक्रमासीद्द्वीपेषु सप्तसु ॥ 128.49 ॥

evaṁ vīryo maruttobhūnmahārājo mahābalaḥ tasyāpratihataṁ cakramāsīddvīpeṣu saptasu

Thus Marutta, of such valor, became a great and mighty king; his dominion was unopposed across all seven continents.

Verse 50 (markandeya.128.50)

यस्य तुल्योऽपरो राजा न भूतो न भविष्यति । सत्त्वविक्रमयुक्तस्य राजर्षेरमितौजसः ॥ 128.50 ॥

yasya tulyo’paro rājā na bhūto na bhaviṣyati sattvavikramayuktasya rājarṣeramitaujasaḥ

No other king equal to him, endowed with fortitude and valor, that royal sage of boundless splendor, has ever been or will ever be.

Verse 51 (markandeya.128.51)

तस्यैतच्चरितं श्रुत्वा मरुत्तस्य महात्मनः । जन्म चाग्र्यं द्विजश्रेष्ठ मुच्यते सर्वकिल्बिषैः ॥ 128.51 ॥

tasyaitaccaritaṁ śrutvā maruttasya mahātmanaḥ janma cāgryaṁ dvijaśreṣṭha mucyate sarvakilbiṣaiḥ

O best of brahmins, one who hears this excellent story of the birth of the great-souled Marutta is freed from all sins.