Vipashchit's Compassion and His Ascent to Heaven

Verse 1 (markandeya.15.1)

यमकिङ्कर उवाच पतितात् प्रतिगृह्यार्थं खरयोनिं व्रजेद् द्विजः । नरकात् प्रतिमुक्तस्तु कृमिः पतितयाजकः॥ 15.1 ॥

yamakiṅkara uvāca patitāt pratigṛhyārthaṁ kharayoniṁ vrajed dvijaḥ narakāt pratimuktastu kṛmiḥ patitayājakaḥ

A brahmana who accepts wealth from a fallen man goes to the womb of a donkey; and one who performs sacrifices on behalf of a fallen man, once released from hell, becomes a worm.

Verse 2 (markandeya.15.2)

उपाध्यायव्यलीकन्तु कृत्वा श्वा भवति द्विजः । तज्जायां मनसावाञ्छन् तद्द्रव्यञ्चाप्यसंशयम्॥ 15.2 ॥

upādhyāyavyalīkantu kṛtvā śvā bhavati dvijaḥ tajjāyāṁ manasāvāñchan taddravyañcāpyasaṁśayam

A brahmana who deceives his teacher becomes a dog; and one who lusts in mind after the teacher's wife or covets his wealth becomes so as well, without doubt.

Verse 3 (markandeya.15.3)

गर्दभो जायते जन्तुः पित्रोश्चाप्यवमानकः । मातापितरावाक्रुश्य शारिका सम्प्रजायते॥ 15.3 ॥

gardabho jāyate jantuḥ pitroścāpyavamānakaḥ mātāpitarāvākruśya śārikā samprajāyate

One who disrespects his parents is born a donkey; one who curses his mother and father is born a shārikā, a myna.

Verse 4 (markandeya.15.4)

भ्रातुः पत्न्यवमन्ता च कपोतत्वं प्रपद्यते । तामेव पीडयित्वा तु कच्छपत्वं प्रपद्यते॥ 15.4 ॥

bhrātuḥ patnyavamantā ca kapotatvaṁ prapadyate tāmeva pīḍayitvā tu kacchapatvaṁ prapadyate

One who dishonors his brother's wife becomes a pigeon; and one who actually molests her becomes a tortoise.

Verse 5 (markandeya.15.5)

भर्तृपिण्डमुपाश्नन् यस्तदिष्टं न निषेवते । सोऽपि मोहसमापन्नो जायते वानरो मृतः॥ 15.5 ॥

bhartṛpiṇḍamupāśnan yastadiṣṭaṁ na niṣevate so’pi mohasamāpanno jāyate vānaro mṛtaḥ

One who eats the food given by his master yet does not serve him as desired — he too, overcome by delusion, is born after death as a monkey.

Verse 6 (markandeya.15.6)

न्यासापहर्ता नरकाद्विमुक्तो जायते कृमिः । असूयकश्च नरकान्मुक्तो भवति राक्षसः॥ 15.6 ॥

nyāsāpahartā narakādvimukto jāyate kṛmiḥ asūyakaśca narakānmukto bhavati rākṣasaḥ

An embezzler of a trust, released from hell, is born a worm; and an envious man, released from hell, becomes a rakshasa.

Verse 7 (markandeya.15.7)

विश्वासहन्ता च नरो मीनयोनौ प्रजायते । धान्यं यवांस्तिलान् माषान् कुलत्थान् सर्षपांश्चणान्॥ 15.7 ॥

viśvāsahantā ca naro mīnayonau prajāyate dhānyaṁ yavāṁstilān māṣān kulatthān sarṣapāṁścaṇān

A man who betrays trust is born in the womb of a fish. As for rice, barley, sesame, black gram, horse gram, mustard, and chickpea...

Verse 8 (markandeya.15.8)

कलायान कलमान् मुद्गान् गोधूमानतसीस्तथा । शस्यान्यन्यानि वा हृत्वा मोहाज्जन्तुरचेतनः॥ 15.8 ॥

kalāyāna kalamān mudgān godhūmānatasīstathā śasyānyanyāni vā hṛtvā mohājjanturacetanaḥ

...peas, kalama rice, green gram, wheat, flax, or other grains — having stolen these out of delusion, that senseless creature...

Verse 9 (markandeya.15.9)

सञ्जायते महावक्त्रो मूषिको बभ्रुसन्निभः । परदाराभिमर्षात्तु वृको घोरोऽभिजायते॥ 15.9 ॥

sañjāyate mahāvaktro mūṣiko babhrusannibhaḥ paradārābhimarṣāttu vṛko ghoro’bhijāyate

...is born a large-mouthed, tawny-colored rat. And from violating another's wife, a man is born a terrible wolf.

Verse 10 (markandeya.15.10)

श्वा शृगालो वको गृध्रो व्याडः कङ्कस्तथा क्रमात् । भ्रातृभार्याञ्च दुर्बुद्धिर्यो धर्षयति पापकृत्॥ 15.10 ॥

śvā śṛgālo vako gṛdhro vyāḍaḥ kaṅkastathā kramāt bhrātṛbhāryāñca durbuddhiryo dharṣayati pāpakṛt

A dog, a jackal, a crane, a vulture, a serpent, and then a kank-bird, in that order — this is what the evil-minded, sinful man who violates his brother's wife becomes.

Verse 11 (markandeya.15.11)

पुंस्कोकिलत्वमाप्नोति स चापि नरकाच्च्युतः । सखिभार्यां गुरोर्भार्यां राजभार्याञ्च पापकृत्॥ 15.11 ॥

puṁskokilatvamāpnoti sa cāpi narakāccyutaḥ sakhibhāryāṁ gurorbhāryāṁ rājabhāryāñca pāpakṛt

Fallen from hell, he then attains the birth of a male cuckoo. The sinful man who ravishes a friend's wife, a guru's wife, or a king's wife...

Verse 12 (markandeya.15.12)

प्रधर्षयित्वा कामात्मा शूकरो जायते नरः । यज्ञ-दान-विवाहानां विघ्रकर्ता भवेत् कृमिः॥ 15.12 ॥

pradharṣayitvā kāmātmā śūkaro jāyate naraḥ yajña-dāna-vivāhānāṁ vighrakartā bhavet kṛmiḥ

...ravished, driven by lust, is born a pig. One who obstructs a sacrifice, an act of charity, or a marriage becomes a worm.

Verse 13 (markandeya.15.13)

पुनर्दात् च कन्यायाः कृमिरेवोपजायते । देवता-पितृ-विप्राणामदत्वा योऽन्नमश्नुते॥ 15.13 ॥

punardāt ca kanyāyāḥ kṛmirevopajāyate devatā-pitṛ-viprāṇāmadatvā yo’nnamaśnute

And one who gives away, a second time, a daughter already given in marriage likewise becomes a worm. One who eats food without first offering it to the gods, ancestors, and brahmanas...

Verse 14 (markandeya.15.14)

प्रमुक्तो नरकात् सोऽपि वायसः सम्प्रजायते । ज्येष्ठं पितृसमं वापि भ्रातरं योऽवमन्यते॥ 15.14 ॥

pramukto narakāt so’pi vāyasaḥ samprajāyate jyeṣṭhaṁ pitṛsamaṁ vāpi bhrātaraṁ yo’vamanyate

...he too, released from hell, is born a crow. One who disrespects his elder brother, who deserves honor equal to a father...

Verse 15 (markandeya.15.15)

नरकात् सोऽपि विभ्रष्टः क्रौञ्चयोनौ प्रजायते । शूद्रश्च ब्राह्मणरिं गत्वा कृमियोनौ प्रजायते॥ 15.15 ॥

narakāt so’pi vibhraṣṭaḥ krauñcayonau prajāyate śūdraśca brāhmaṇariṁ gatvā kṛmiyonau prajāyate

...he too, cast down from hell, is born in the womb of a krauncha bird. And a shudra who approaches a brahmana woman is born in the womb of a worm.

Verse 16 (markandeya.15.16)

तस्यामपत्यमुत्पाद्य काष्ठान्तः कीटको भवेत् । शूकरः कृमिको मद्गुश्चण्डालश्च प्रजायते॥ 15.16 ॥

tasyāmapatyamutpādya kāṣṭhāntaḥ kīṭako bhavet śūkaraḥ kṛmiko madguścaṇḍālaśca prajāyate

Having begotten offspring on her, he becomes a wood-boring insect living inside timber; then a pig, then a worm, then a diving-bird, and finally he is born a chandala.

Verse 17 (markandeya.15.17)

अकृतज्ञोऽधमः पुंसां विमुक्तो नरकान्नरः । कृतघ्रः कृमिकः कीटः पतङ्गो वृश्चिकस्तथा॥ 15.17 ॥

akṛtajño’dhamaḥ puṁsāṁ vimukto narakānnaraḥ kṛtaghraḥ kṛmikaḥ kīṭaḥ pataṅgo vṛścikastathā

The basest of men, the ungrateful one, once released from hell — that ingrate becomes, in turn, a tiny worm, an insect, a moth, and then a scorpion.

Verse 18 (markandeya.15.18)

मत्स्यस्तु वायसः कूर्मः पुक्कसो जायते ततः । अशस्त्रं पुरुषं हत्वा नरः सञ्जायते खरः॥ 15.18 ॥

matsyastu vāyasaḥ kūrmaḥ pukkaso jāyate tataḥ aśastraṁ puruṣaṁ hatvā naraḥ sañjāyate kharaḥ

Then a fish, a crow, a tortoise, and then he is born a pukkasa, an outcaste. A man who kills another man without a weapon is born a donkey.

Verse 19 (markandeya.15.19)

कृमिः स्त्रीवधकर्ता च बालहन्ता च जायते । भोजनं चोरयित्वा तु मक्षिका जायते नरः॥ 15.19 ॥

kṛmiḥ strīvadhakartā ca bālahantā ca jāyate bhojanaṁ corayitvā tu makṣikā jāyate naraḥ

One who kills a woman, and one who kills a child, likewise becomes a worm. A man who steals food is born a fly.

Verse 20 (markandeya.15.20)

तत्राप्यस्ति विशेषो वै भोजनस्य शृणुष्व तत् । हृत्वान्नन्तु स मार्जारो जायते नरकाच्च्युतः॥ 15.20 ॥

tatrāpyasti viśeṣo vai bhojanasya śṛṇuṣva tat hṛtvānnantu sa mārjāro jāyate narakāccyutaḥ

Even here there is a distinction according to the kind of food — hear it. One who steals cooked food, fallen from hell, is born a cat.

Verse 21 (markandeya.15.21)

तिलपिण्याकसंमिश्रमन्नं हृत्वा तु मूषिकः । घृतं हृत्वा च नकुलः काको मद्गुरजामिषम्॥ 15.21 ॥

tilapiṇyākasaṁmiśramannaṁ hṛtvā tu mūṣikaḥ ghṛtaṁ hṛtvā ca nakulaḥ kāko madgurajāmiṣam

One who steals food mixed with sesame-cake is born a mouse; one who steals ghee, a mongoose; the thief of meat becomes a crow or a diving-bird.

Verse 22 (markandeya.15.22)

मत्स्यमांसापहृत् काकः श्येनो मार्गामिषापहृत् । वीचीकाकस्त्वपहृते लवणे दधनि कृमिः॥ 15.22 ॥

matsyamāṁsāpahṛt kākaḥ śyeno mārgāmiṣāpahṛt vīcīkākastvapahṛte lavaṇe dadhani kṛmiḥ

One who steals fish-flesh becomes a crow; one who steals meat found on the road becomes a hawk; one who steals salt becomes a sea-gull, and one who steals curd becomes a worm.

Verse 23 (markandeya.15.23)

चोरयित्वा पयश्चापि बलाका सम्प्रजायते । यस्तु चोरयते तैलं तैलपायी स जायते॥ 15.23 ॥

corayitvā payaścāpi balākā samprajāyate yastu corayate tailaṁ tailapāyī sa jāyate

One who steals milk is born a crane; and one who steals oil is born an oil-drinking creature.

Verse 24 (markandeya.15.24)

मधु हृत्वा नरो दंशः पूपं हृत्वा पिपीलिकः । चोरयित्वा तु निष्पावान् जायते गृहगोलकः॥ 15.24 ॥

madhu hṛtvā naro daṁśaḥ pūpaṁ hṛtvā pipīlikaḥ corayitvā tu niṣpāvān jāyate gṛhagolakaḥ

A man who steals honey becomes a gadfly; one who steals a sweet cake becomes an ant; one who steals beans is born a house-lizard.

Verse 25 (markandeya.15.25)

आसवं चोरयित्वा तु तित्तिरित्वमवाप्नुयात् । अयो हृत्वा तु पापात्मा वायसः सम्प्रजायते॥ 15.25 ॥

āsavaṁ corayitvā tu tittiritvamavāpnuyāt ayo hṛtvā tu pāpātmā vāyasaḥ samprajāyate

One who steals liquor attains the state of a partridge; and the sinful man who steals iron is born a crow.

Verse 26 (markandeya.15.26)

हृते कांस्ये च हारीतः कपोतो रुप्यभाजने । हृत्वा तु काञ्चनं भाण्डं कृमियोनौ प्रजायते॥ 15.26 ॥

hṛte kāṁsye ca hārītaḥ kapoto rupyabhājane hṛtvā tu kāñcanaṁ bhāṇḍaṁ kṛmiyonau prajāyate

For stealing bell-metal, he becomes a green pigeon; for a silver vessel, a common pigeon; and having stolen a golden vessel, he is born in the womb of a worm.

Verse 27 (markandeya.15.27)

पत्रोर्णं चोरयित्वा तु क्रकरत्वञ्च गच्छति । कोषकारश्च कौषेये हृते वस्त्रेऽभिजायते॥ 15.27 ॥

patrorṇaṁ corayitvā tu krakaratvañca gacchati koṣakāraśca kauṣeye hṛte vastre’bhijāyate

Having stolen woolen cloth, he attains the state of a partridge; and for stolen silk cloth, he is born a silkworm.

Verse 28 (markandeya.15.28)

दुकूले शार्ङ्गकः पापो हृते चैवांशुके शुकः । तथैवाजाविकं हृत्वा वस्त्रं क्षौमं च जायते॥ 15.28 ॥

dukūle śārṅgakaḥ pāpo hṛte caivāṁśuke śukaḥ tathaivājāvikaṁ hṛtvā vastraṁ kṣaumaṁ ca jāyate

The sinful man becomes a heron for stealing fine linen, and a parrot for stolen fine cotton cloth; and likewise, for stealing the woolen cloth of goat or sheep, or fine linen...

Verse 29 (markandeya.15.29)

कार्पासिके हृते क्रौञ्चो वाल्कहर्ता बकस्तथा । मयूरो वर्णकान् हृत्वा शाकपत्रं च जायते॥ 15.29 ॥

kārpāsike hṛte krauñco vālkahartā bakastathā mayūro varṇakān hṛtvā śākapatraṁ ca jāyate

...for stolen cotton cloth, a krauncha bird, and for stolen bark-cloth, a crane. Having stolen dyes, he becomes a peacock; and for stealing vegetable-greens...

Verse 30 (markandeya.15.30)

जीवज्जीवकतां याति रक्तवस्त्रापहृन्नरः । छुच्छुन्दरिः शुभान् गन्धान् वासो हृत्वा शशो भवेत्॥ 15.30 ॥

jīvajjīvakatāṁ yāti raktavastrāpahṛnnaraḥ chucchundariḥ śubhān gandhān vāso hṛtvā śaśo bhavet

...a man who steals colored cloth becomes a jivanjivaka bird. One who steals fragrant substances becomes a musk-shrew, and one who steals clothing becomes a hare.

Verse 31 (markandeya.15.31)

षण्ढः फलापहरणात् काष्ठस्य घुणकीटकः । पुष्पापहृद् दरिद्रश्च पङ्गुर्यानापहृन्नरः॥ 15.31 ॥

ṣaṇḍhaḥ phalāpaharaṇāt kāṣṭhasya ghuṇakīṭakaḥ puṣpāpahṛd daridraśca paṅguryānāpahṛnnaraḥ

From stealing fruit, one becomes a eunuch; from stealing wood, a wood-boring worm; the thief of flowers becomes poor, and one who steals a vehicle becomes lame.

Verse 32 (markandeya.15.32)

शाकहर्ता च हारीतस्तोयहर्ता च चातकः । भूहर्ता नरकान् गत्वा रौरवादीन् सुदारुणान्॥ 15.32 ॥

śākahartā ca hārītastoyahartā ca cātakaḥ bhūhartā narakān gatvā rauravādīn sudāruṇān

And a stealer of vegetables becomes a green pigeon; a stealer of water becomes a chataka bird. A stealer of land, having gone to the most terrible hells beginning with Raurava...

Verse 33 (markandeya.15.33)

तृण-गुल्म-लता-वल्लि-त्वक्सारतरुतां क्रमात् । प्राप्य क्षीणाल्पपापस्तु नरो भवति वै ततः॥ 15.33 ॥

tṛṇa-gulma-latā-valli-tvaksāratarutāṁ kramāt prāpya kṣīṇālpapāpastu naro bhavati vai tataḥ

...successively attains the state of grass, shrub, creeper, and hard-barked tree; and then, his sin worn down to little, he becomes a man once again.

Verse 34 (markandeya.15.34)

कृमिः कीटः पतङ्गोऽथ पक्षी तोय चरो मृगः । गोत्वं प्राप्य च चण्डाल-पुक्कसादि जुगुप्सितम्॥ 15.34 ॥

kṛmiḥ kīṭaḥ pataṅgo’tha pakṣī toya caro mṛgaḥ gotvaṁ prāpya ca caṇḍāla-pukkasādi jugupsitam

Passing through worm, insect, moth, then bird, then a water-dwelling creature, and even having attained the state of a cow, he is born a chandala, pukkasa, or other despised outcaste.

Verse 35 (markandeya.15.35)

पङ्ग्वन्धो वधिरः कुष्ठी यक्ष्मणा च प्रपीडितः । मुखरोगाक्षिरोगैश्च गुदरोगैश्च बाध्यते॥ 15.35 ॥

paṅgvandho vadhiraḥ kuṣṭhī yakṣmaṇā ca prapīḍitaḥ mukharogākṣirogaiśca gudarogaiśca bādhyate

Lame, blind, deaf, a leper, and afflicted with consumption, he is tormented also by diseases of the mouth, the eyes, and the anus.

Verse 36 (markandeya.15.36)

अपस्मारी च भवति शूद्रत्वं च स गच्छति । एष एव क्रमो दृष्टो गोसुवर्णापहारिणाम्॥ 15.36 ॥

apasmārī ca bhavati śūdratvaṁ ca sa gacchati eṣa eva kramo dṛṣṭo gosuvarṇāpahāriṇām

And he becomes an epileptic, and comes to the state of a shudra. This same sequence is seen also for those who steal cows or gold.

Verse 37 (markandeya.15.37)

विद्यापहारिणश्चोग्रा निष्क्रयभ्रंशिनो गुरोः । जायामन्यस्य पुरुषः पारख्यां प्रतिपादयन्॥ 15.37 ॥

vidyāpahāriṇaścogrā niṣkrayabhraṁśino guroḥ jāyāmanyasya puruṣaḥ pārakhyāṁ pratipādayan

The same harsh sequence applies too for those who steal learning, and for one who defaults on the guru's due fee. A man who hands over another's wife to yet another...

Verse 38 (markandeya.15.38)

प्राप्नोति षण्ढतां मूढो यातनाभ्यः परिच्युतः । यः करोति नरो होममसमिद्धे विभावसौ॥ 15.38 ॥

prāpnoti ṣaṇḍhatāṁ mūḍho yātanābhyaḥ paricyutaḥ yaḥ karoti naro homamasamiddhe vibhāvasau

...that fool, once released from his torments, attains the state of a eunuch. The man who performs a fire-offering into a fire not properly kindled...

Verse 39 (markandeya.15.39)

सोऽजिर्णव्याधिदुःखार्तो मन्दाग्निः संप्रजायते । परनिन्दा कृतघ्रत्वं परमर्मावघट्टनम्॥ 15.39 ॥

so’jirṇavyādhiduḥkhārto mandāgniḥ saṁprajāyate paranindā kṛtaghratvaṁ paramarmāvaghaṭṭanam

...he is born afflicted with the disease of indigestion, his digestive fire weak. Slandering others, ingratitude, wounding others' tender feelings...

Verse 40 (markandeya.15.40)

नैष्ठुर्यं निर्घृणत्वञ्च परदारोपसेवनम् । परस्वहरणाशौचं देवतानाञ्च कुत्सनम्॥ 15.40 ॥

naiṣṭhuryaṁ nirghṛṇatvañca paradāropasevanam parasvaharaṇāśaucaṁ devatānāñca kutsanam

...harshness, mercilessness, resorting to another's wife, seizing another's wealth, impurity, and reviling the gods —

Verse 41 (markandeya.15.41)

निकृत्या कञ्चनं नृणां कार्पण्यं च नृणां वधः । यानि च प्रतिषिद्धानि तत्प्रवृत्तिश्च सन्तता॥ 15.41 ॥

nikṛtyā kañcanaṁ nṛṇāṁ kārpaṇyaṁ ca nṛṇāṁ vadhaḥ yāni ca pratiṣiddhāni tatpravṛttiśca santatā

cheating men by deceit, miserliness, the killing of men, and constant engagement in whatever deeds are forbidden —

Verse 42 (markandeya.15.42)

उपलक्ष्याणि जानीयान्मुक्तानां नरकादनु । दया भूतेषु संवादः परलोकप्रतिक्रिया॥ 15.42 ॥

upalakṣyāṇi jānīyānmuktānāṁ narakādanu dayā bhūteṣu saṁvādaḥ paralokapratikriyā

These should be understood as the marks of those still troubled even after release from hell. By contrast: compassion toward all beings, gentle and harmonious speech, effort toward the good of the world beyond,

Verse 43 (markandeya.15.43)

सत्यं भूतहितार्थोक्तिर्वेदप्रामाण्यदर्शनम् । गुरु-देवर्षि-सिद्धर्षिपूजनं साधुसङ्गमः॥ 15.43 ॥

satyaṁ bhūtahitārthoktirvedaprāmāṇyadarśanam guru-devarṣi-siddharṣipūjanaṁ sādhusaṅgamaḥ

truthfulness, speaking for the welfare of beings, holding the Veda as authoritative, worship of guru, gods, sages, and perfected seers, and the company of the virtuous —

Verse 44 (markandeya.15.44)

सत्क्रियाभायसनं मैत्रीमिति बुध्यते पण्डितः । अन्यानि चैव सद्धर्मङ्क्रियाभूतानि यानि च॥ 15.44 ॥

satkriyābhāyasanaṁ maitrīmiti budhyate paṇḍitaḥ anyāni caiva saddharmaṅkriyābhūtāni yāni ca

and the constant practice of good deeds, and friendliness — the wise man recognizes these; and likewise whatever other acts of true dharma there may be.

Verse 45 (markandeya.15.45)

स्वर्गच्युतानां लिङ्गानि पुरुषाणामपापिनाम् । एतदुद्देशतो राजन् भवतः कथितं मया॥ 15.45 ॥

svargacyutānāṁ liṅgāni puruṣāṇāmapāpinām etaduddeśato rājan bhavataḥ kathitaṁ mayā

O king, these are the marks of sinless men fallen from heaven — this I have told you now, in brief summary.

Verse 46 (markandeya.15.46)

स्वकर्मफलभोक्तॄणां पुण्यानां पापिनां तथा । तदेह्यन्यत्र गच्छामो दृष्टं सर्वं त्वयाधुना । त्वया दृष्टो हि नरकस्तदेह्यन्यत्र गम्यताम्॥ 15.46 ॥

svakarmaphalabhoktṝṇāṁ puṇyānāṁ pāpināṁ tathā tadehyanyatra gacchāmo dṛṣṭaṁ sarvaṁ tvayādhunā tvayā dṛṣṭo hi narakastadehyanyatra gamyatām

I have told you the marks both of the virtuous and of the sinful, who reap the fruit of their own deeds. Now come, let us go elsewhere; you have seen everything now — you have seen hell, so come, let us go elsewhere.

Verse 47 (markandeya.15.47)

पुत्र उवाच ततस्तमग्रतः कृत्वा स राजा गन्तुमुद्यतः । ततश्च सर्वैरुत्क्रुष्टं यातनास्थायिभिर्नृभिः॥ 15.47 ॥

putra uvāca tatastamagrataḥ kṛtvā sa rājā gantumudyataḥ tataśca sarvairutkruṣṭaṁ yātanāsthāyibhirnṛbhiḥ

Then the king, placing that man of Yama ahead of him, made ready to go; and at that moment a great cry rose up together from all the people standing there in torment.

Verse 48 (markandeya.15.48)

प्रसादं कुरु भूपेति तिष्ठ तावन्मुहूर्तकम् । त्वदङ्गसङ्गी पवनो मनो ह्लादयते हि नः॥ 15.48 ॥

prasādaṁ kuru bhūpeti tiṣṭha tāvanmuhūrtakam tvadaṅgasaṅgī pavano mano hlādayate hi naḥ

'Show us grace, O king,' they cried, 'stay just a moment longer! This breeze that has touched your body truly brings peace to our minds.'

Verse 49 (markandeya.15.49)

परितापञ्च गात्रेभ्यः पीडाबाधाश्च कृत्स्नशः । अपहन्ति नरव्याघ्र यदां कुर महीपते॥ 15.49 ॥

paritāpañca gātrebhyaḥ pīḍābādhāśca kṛtsnaśaḥ apahanti naravyāghra yadāṁ kura mahīpate

'O tiger among men, it drives away the burning and every pain and affliction from our bodies — O lord of the earth, do just this, stay here.'

Verse 50 (markandeya.15.50)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तेषां तं याम्यपुरुषं नृपः । पप्रच्छ कथमेतेषामाह्लादो मयि तिष्ठति॥ 15.50 ॥

etacchrutvā vacasteṣāṁ taṁ yāmyapuruṣaṁ nṛpaḥ papraccha kathameteṣāmāhlādo mayi tiṣṭhati

Hearing these words of theirs, the king asked that man of Yama how this relief for them was sustained by his presence.

Verse 51 (markandeya.15.51)

किं मया कर्म तत् पुण्यं मर्त्यलोके महत् कृतम् । आह्लाददायिनी व्युष्टिर्येनेयं तदुदीरय॥ 15.51 ॥

kiṁ mayā karma tat puṇyaṁ martyaloke mahat kṛtam āhlādadāyinī vyuṣṭiryeneyaṁ tadudīraya

'What great meritorious deed did I do in the mortal world, by which this relief-bestowing power has come to me — tell me that.'

Verse 52 (markandeya.15.52)

यमपुरुष उवाच पितृदेवातिथिप्रैष्य-शिष्टेनान्नेन ते तनुः । पुष्टिमभ्यागता यस्मात् तद्गतं च मनो यतः॥ 15.52 ॥

yamapuruṣa uvāca pitṛdevātithipraiṣya-śiṣṭenānnena te tanuḥ puṣṭimabhyāgatā yasmāt tadgataṁ ca mano yataḥ

'Because your body was nourished by the food left over after feeding the ancestors, gods, guests, and servants, and because your mind was always fixed on that duty...'

Verse 53 (markandeya.15.53)

ततस्त्वद्गात्रसंसर्गो पवनो ह्लाददायकः । पापकर्मकृतो राजन् यातना न प्रबाधते॥ 15.53 ॥

tatastvadgātrasaṁsargo pavano hlādadāyakaḥ pāpakarmakṛto rājan yātanā na prabādhate

'...therefore the wind touched by your body brings delight, O king; and it even keeps the torment of these sinners at bay for a time.'

Verse 54 (markandeya.15.54)

अश्वमेधादयो यज्ञास्त्वयेष्टा विधिवद्यतः । ततस्त्वद्दर्शनाद्याम्या यन्त्रशस्त्राग्निवायसाः॥ 15.54 ॥

aśvamedhādayo yajñāstvayeṣṭā vidhivadyataḥ tatastvaddarśanādyāmyā yantraśastrāgnivāyasāḥ

'Since you performed sacrifices beginning with the Ashvamedha duly, according to rule, therefore at the mere sight of you, Yama's machines, weapons, fires, and crows —'

Verse 55 (markandeya.15.55)

पीडन-च्छेद-दाहादि-महादुःखस्य हेतवः । मृदुत्वमागता राजन् तेजसापहतास्तव॥ 15.55 ॥

pīḍana-ccheda-dāhādi-mahāduḥkhasya hetavaḥ mṛdutvamāgatā rājan tejasāpahatāstava

'— these very causes of the great suffering of crushing, cutting and burning — have, O king, been softened, driven back by your own spiritual radiance.'

Verse 56 (markandeya.15.56)

राजोवाच न स्वर्गे ब्रह्मलोके वा तत् सुखं प्राप्यते नरैः । यदार्तजन्तुनिर्वाण-दानोत्थमिति मे मतिः॥ 15.56 ॥

rājovāca na svarge brahmaloke vā tat sukhaṁ prāpyate naraiḥ yadārtajantunirvāṇa-dānotthamiti me matiḥ

'Neither in heaven nor in the world of Brahma do men obtain that happiness which arises from giving peace to a suffering creature — this is my conviction.'

Verse 57 (markandeya.15.57)

यदि मत्सन्निधावेतान् यातना न प्रबाधते । ततो भद्रमुखात्राहं स्थास्ये स्थाणुरिवाचलः॥ 15.57 ॥

yadi matsannidhāvetān yātanā na prabādhate tato bhadramukhātrāhaṁ sthāsye sthāṇurivācalaḥ

'If, merely by my presence, torment does not afflict these beings, then, O gracious one, I shall remain right here, unmoving as a pillar.'

Verse 58 (markandeya.15.58)

यमपुरुष उवाच एहि राजन् प्रगच्छामो निजपुण्यसमर्जितान् । भुङ्क्ष्व भोगानपास्येह यातनाः पापकर्मणाम्॥ 15.58 ॥

yamapuruṣa uvāca ehi rājan pragacchāmo nijapuṇyasamarjitān bhuṅkṣva bhogānapāsyeha yātanāḥ pāpakarmaṇām

'Come, O king, let us go onward; leaving behind here the torments of sinners, enjoy the pleasures earned by your own merit.'

Verse 59 (markandeya.15.59)

राजोवाच तस्मान्न तावद्यास्यामि यावदेते सुदुःखिताः । मत्सन्निधानात् सुखिनो भवन्ति नरकौकसः॥ 15.59 ॥

rājovāca tasmānna tāvadyāsyāmi yāvadete suduḥkhitāḥ matsannidhānāt sukhino bhavanti narakaukasaḥ

'Therefore I shall not go so long as these deeply suffering denizens of hell find happiness through my presence.'

Verse 60 (markandeya.15.60)

धिक् तस्य जीवनं पुंसः शरणार्थिनमातुरम् । यो नार्तमनुगृह्णाति वैरिपक्षमपि ध्रुवम्॥ 15.60 ॥

dhik tasya jīvanaṁ puṁsaḥ śaraṇārthinamāturam yo nārtamanugṛhṇāti vairipakṣamapi dhruvam

'Shame on the life of that man who does not show grace to a suffering being seeking refuge, even if that being belongs to an enemy's side.'

Verse 61 (markandeya.15.61)

यज्ञ-दान-तपांसीह परत्र च न भूतये । भवन्ति तस्य यस्यार्त-परित्राणे न मानसम्॥ 15.61 ॥

yajña-dāna-tapāṁsīha paratra ca na bhūtaye bhavanti tasya yasyārta-paritrāṇe na mānasam

'Sacrifice, charity, and austerity bring no benefit, here or in the world beyond, to one whose mind is not set on protecting the suffering.'

Verse 62 (markandeya.15.62)

नरस्य यस्य कठिनं मनो बालातुरादिषु । वृद्धेषु च न तं मन्ये मानुषं राक्षसो हि सः॥ 15.62 ॥

narasya yasya kaṭhinaṁ mano bālāturādiṣu vṛddheṣu ca na taṁ manye mānuṣaṁ rākṣaso hi saḥ

'That man whose heart is hard toward children, the sick, and the aged — him I do not consider human at all; he is truly a rakshasa.'

Verse 63 (markandeya.15.63)

एतेषां सन्निकर्षात् तु यद्यग्निपरितापजम् । तथोग्रगन्धजं वापि दुःखं नरकसम्भवम्॥ 15.63 ॥

eteṣāṁ sannikarṣāt tu yadyagniparitāpajam tathogragandhajaṁ vāpi duḥkhaṁ narakasambhavam

'If, through my nearness to them, this suffering born of hell's burning fire, and that born of its dreadful stench...'

Verse 64 (markandeya.15.64)

क्षुत्पिपासाभवं दुःखं यच्च मूर्च्छाप्रदं महत् । एतेषां त्राणदानन्तु मन्ये स्वर्गसुखात् परम्॥ 15.64 ॥

kṣutpipāsābhavaṁ duḥkhaṁ yacca mūrcchāpradaṁ mahat eteṣāṁ trāṇadānantu manye svargasukhāt param

'...and from the great suffering of hunger and thirst that brings on fainting, [if relief comes to them] — then I consider the granting of their protection greater even than the joy of heaven.'

Verse 65 (markandeya.15.65)

प्राप्स्यन्त्यार्ता यदि सुखं बहवो दुःखिते मयि । किन्नु प्राप्तं मया न स्यात् तस्मात् त्वं व्रज माचिरम्॥ 15.65 ॥

prāpsyantyārtā yadi sukhaṁ bahavo duḥkhite mayi kinnu prāptaṁ mayā na syāt tasmāt tvaṁ vraja māciram

'If these many suffering souls attain happiness even while I remain in suffering, then indeed what would I not have gained! Therefore go on ahead yourself, without delay.'

Verse 66 (markandeya.15.66)

यमपुरुष उवाच एष धर्मश्च शक्रश्च त्वां नेतुं समुपागतौ । अवश्यमस्माद् गन्तव्यं तस्मात् पार्थिव ! गम्यताम्॥ 15.66 ॥

yamapuruṣa uvāca eṣa dharmaśca śakraśca tvāṁ netuṁ samupāgatau avaśyamasmād gantavyaṁ tasmāt pārthiva ! gamyatām

'Here indeed are Dharma and Shakra themselves, come to lead you onward. Departure from this place is now unavoidable; therefore, O king, let us go.'

Verse 67 (markandeya.15.67)

धर्म उवाच नयामि त्वामहं स्वर्गं त्वया सम्यगुपासितः । विमानमेतदारुह्य मा विलम्बस्व गम्यताम्॥ 15.67 ॥

dharma uvāca nayāmi tvāmahaṁ svargaṁ tvayā samyagupāsitaḥ vimānametadāruhya mā vilambasva gamyatām

'I shall lead you, who have rightly worshipped me, to heaven. Board this celestial chariot; do not delay — let us go.'

Verse 68 (markandeya.15.68)

राजोवाच नरके मानवा धर्म पीड्यन्तेऽत्र सहस्रशः । त्राहीति चार्ताः क्रन्दन्ति मामतो न व्रजाम्यहम्॥ 15.68 ॥

rājovāca narake mānavā dharma pīḍyante’tra sahasraśaḥ trāhīti cārtāḥ krandanti māmato na vrajāmyaham

'O Dharma, here in hell thousands of men are being tormented, and, suffering, they cry out to me, "Save us, save us!" — therefore I shall not go.'

Verse 69 (markandeya.15.69)

इन्द्र उवाच कर्मणा नरकप्राप्तिरेतेषां पापकर्मिणाम् । स्वर्गस्त्वयापि गन्तव्यो नृप ! पुण्येन कर्मणा॥ 15.69 ॥

indra uvāca karmaṇā narakaprāptireteṣāṁ pāpakarmiṇām svargastvayāpi gantavyo nṛpa ! puṇyena karmaṇā

'These sinners have obtained hell through their own deeds; and you too, O king, must go to heaven through your own meritorious deeds.'

Verse 70 (markandeya.15.70)

राजोवाच यदि जानासि धर्म ! त्वं त्वं वा शक्र ! शचीपते । मम यावत् प्रमाणन्तु शुभं तद्वक्तुमर्हथः॥ 15.70 ॥

rājovāca yadi jānāsi dharma ! tvaṁ tvaṁ vā śakra ! śacīpate mama yāvat pramāṇantu śubhaṁ tadvaktumarhathaḥ

'If you, Dharma, or you, Shakra, lord of Shachi, know it, you should tell me the full measure of whatever merit is mine.'

Verse 71 (markandeya.15.71)

धर्म उवाच अब्बिन्दवो यथाम्भोधौ यथा वा दिवि तारकाः । यथा वा वर्षता धारा गड्गायां सिकता यथा॥ 15.71 ॥

dharma uvāca abbindavo yathāmbhodhau yathā vā divi tārakāḥ yathā vā varṣatā dhārā gaḍgāyāṁ sikatā yathā

'As the drops of water in the ocean, or as the stars in the sky, or as the streams of falling rain, or as the grains of sand in the Ganga...'

Verse 72 (markandeya.15.72)

असंख्येया महाराज यथा बिन्द्वादयो ह्यपाम् । तथा तवापि पुण्यस्य संख्या नैवोपपद्यते॥ 15.72 ॥

asaṁkhyeyā mahārāja yathā bindvādayo hyapām tathā tavāpi puṇyasya saṁkhyā naivopapadyate

'...are innumerable, O great king, just as those drops of water and the rest — so too your merit admits of no reckoning at all.'

Verse 73 (markandeya.15.73)

अनुकम्पामिमामद्य नारकेष्विह कुर्वतः । तदेव शतसाहस्त्रं संख्यामुपगतं तव॥ 15.73 ॥

anukampāmimāmadya nārakeṣviha kurvataḥ tadeva śatasāhastraṁ saṁkhyāmupagataṁ tava

'And this very compassion that you have shown today toward the denizens of hell has, by itself, multiplied your merit a hundred thousandfold.'

Verse 74 (markandeya.15.74)

तद् गच्छ त्वं नृपश्रेष्ठ तद्भाक्तुममरालयम् । एतेऽपि पापं नरके क्षपयन्तु स्वकर्मजम्॥ 15.74 ॥

tad gaccha tvaṁ nṛpaśreṣṭha tadbhāktumamarālayam ete’pi pāpaṁ narake kṣapayantu svakarmajam

'Therefore, O best of kings, go and enjoy that merit in the abode of the immortals. Let these too work off, in hell, the sin born of their own deeds.'

Verse 75 (markandeya.15.75)

राजोवाच कथं स्पृहां करिष्यन्ति मत्सम्पर्केषु मानवाः । यदि सत्सन्निधावेषामुकत्कर्षो नोपजायते॥ 15.75 ॥

rājovāca kathaṁ spṛhāṁ kariṣyanti matsamparkeṣu mānavāḥ yadi satsannidhāveṣāmukatkarṣo nopajāyate

'How will men ever come to desire nearness to the good, if even in the presence of the virtuous no improvement comes to those in distress?'

Verse 76 (markandeya.15.76)

तस्माद्यत् सुकृतं किञ्चिन्ममास्ति त्रिदशाधिप । तेन मुच्यन्तु नरकात् पापिनो यातनां गताः॥ 15.76 ॥

tasmādyat sukṛtaṁ kiñcinmamāsti tridaśādhipa tena mucyantu narakāt pāpino yātanāṁ gatāḥ

'Therefore, O lord of the thirty gods, whatever small merit is mine — by that let these sinners caught in torment be released from hell.'

Verse 77 (markandeya.15.77)

इन्द्र उवाच एवमूर्ध्वतरं स्थानं त्वयावाप्तं महीपते । एतांश्च नरकात् पश्य विमुक्तान् पापकारिणः॥ 15.77 ॥

indra uvāca evamūrdhvataraṁ sthānaṁ tvayāvāptaṁ mahīpate etāṁśca narakāt paśya vimuktān pāpakāriṇaḥ

'Thus, O lord of the earth, you have attained a station even higher than before. And behold — these evildoers are now released from hell.'

Verse 78 (markandeya.15.78)

पुत्र उवाच ततोऽपतत् पुष्पवृष्टिस्तस्योपरि महीपतेः । विमानञ्चाधिरोप्यैनं स्वर्लोकमनयद्धरिः॥ 15.78 ॥

putra uvāca tato’patat puṣpavṛṣṭistasyopari mahīpateḥ vimānañcādhiropyainaṁ svarlokamanayaddhariḥ

Then a shower of flowers fell upon that king; and Hari, having seated him upon the celestial chariot, led him to the world of heaven.

Verse 79 (markandeya.15.79)

अहञ्चान्ये च ये तत्र यातनाभ्यः परिच्युताः । स्वकर्मफलनिर्दिष्टं ततो जात्यन्तरं गताः॥ 15.79 ॥

ahañcānye ca ye tatra yātanābhyaḥ paricyutāḥ svakarmaphalanirdiṣṭaṁ tato jātyantaraṁ gatāḥ

I, and the others who were there and were released from those torments, then went on, each according to the fruit of his own deeds, to another birth.

Verse 80 (markandeya.15.80)

एवमेते समाख्याता नरका द्विजसत्तम । येन येन च पापेन यां यां योनिमुपैति वै॥ 15.80 ॥

evamete samākhyātā narakā dvijasattama yena yena ca pāpena yāṁ yāṁ yonimupaiti vai

Thus, O best of the twice-born, these hells have been described to you, along with the sin by which one comes to each particular womb.

Verse 81 (markandeya.15.81)

तत् तत् सर्वं समाख्यातं यथा दृष्टं मया पुरा । पुरानुभवजं ज्ञानमवाप्यावितथं तव । अतः परं महाभाग किमन्यत् कथयामि ते॥ 15.81 ॥

tat tat sarvaṁ samākhyātaṁ yathā dṛṣṭaṁ mayā purā purānubhavajaṁ jñānamavāpyāvitathaṁ tava ataḥ paraṁ mahābhāga kimanyat kathayāmi te

All of this I have told exactly as I once saw it myself; you have now truly received this knowledge born of my former experience. What more, O most fortunate one, shall I tell you beyond this?