The Boon Won by Anasuya

Verse 1 (markandeya.16.1)

पितोवाच कथितं मे त्वया वत्स संसारस्य व्यवस्थितम् । स्वरूपमतिहेयस्य घटीयन्त्रवदव्ययम्॥ 16.1 ॥

pitovāca kathitaṁ me tvayā vatsa saṁsārasya vyavasthitam svarūpamatiheyasya ghaṭīyantravadavyayam

The father said: Dear son, you have described to me the fixed order of worldly existence — a nature wholly to be shunned, turning on ceaselessly like a water-wheel.

Verse 2 (markandeya.16.2)

तदेवमेतदखिलं मयावगतमीदृशम् । किं मया वद कर्तव्यमेवस्मिन् व्यवस्थिते॥ 16.2 ॥

tadevametadakhilaṁ mayāvagatamīdṛśam kiṁ mayā vada kartavyamevasmin vyavasthite

Thus I have now understood all of this exactly as it is. Tell me, now that I have grasped it, what should I do?

Verse 3 (markandeya.16.3)

पुत्र उवाच यदि मद्वचनं तात श्रद्दधास्यविशङ्कितः । तत् परित्यज्य गार्हस्थ्यं वानप्रस्थपरो भव॥ 16.3 ॥

putra uvāca yadi madvacanaṁ tāta śraddadhāsyaviśaṅkitaḥ tat parityajya gārhasthyaṁ vānaprasthaparo bhava

The son said: Father, if you will trust my words without any doubt, then give up the householder's life and devote yourself to the forest-dwelling stage.

Verse 4 (markandeya.16.4)

तमनुष्ठाय विधिवद् विहायाग्निपरिग्रहम् । आत्मन्यात्मानमाधया निर्द्वन्द्वो निष्परिग्रहः॥ 16.4 ॥

tamanuṣṭhāya vidhivad vihāyāgniparigraham ātmanyātmānamādhayā nirdvandvo niṣparigrahaḥ

Having duly practiced that stage, relinquishing the tending of the sacred fires, placing the self within the self, become free from the dualities and free from all possessions.

Verse 5 (markandeya.16.5)

एकान्तराशी वश्यात्मा भव भिक्षुरतन्द्रितः । तत्र योगापरो भूत्वा बाह्यस्पर्शविवर्जितः॥ 16.5 ॥

ekāntarāśī vaśyātmā bhava bhikṣuratandritaḥ tatra yogāparo bhūtvā bāhyasparśavivarjitaḥ

Take food only on alternate days, be master of your senses, become an untiring mendicant; there, devoted wholly to yoga, remain free from all contact with external things.

Verse 6 (markandeya.16.6)

ततः प्राप्स्यति तं योगं दुः शसंयोगभेषजम् । मुक्तिहेतुमनौपम्यमनाख्येयमसङ्गिनम् । यत्संयोगान्न ते योगो भूयो भूतैर्भविष्यति॥ 16.6 ॥

tataḥ prāpsyati taṁ yogaṁ duḥ śasaṁyogabheṣajam muktihetumanaupamyamanākhyeyamasaṅginam yatsaṁyogānna te yogo bhūyo bhūtairbhaviṣyati

Then you will attain that yoga, the remedy for the affliction of worldly union, the cause of liberation, beyond compare, indescribable, and utterly unattached — by whose attainment you will never again come into union with created beings.

Verse 7 (markandeya.16.7)

पितोवाच वत्स योगं ममाचक्ष्व मुक्तिहेतुमतः परम् । येन भूतैः पुनर्भूतो नेदृगः खमवाप्नुयाम्॥ 16.7 ॥

pitovāca vatsa yogaṁ mamācakṣva muktihetumataḥ param yena bhūtaiḥ punarbhūto nedṛgaḥ khamavāpnuyām

The father said: Dear son, tell me of that yoga, the supreme cause of liberation, by which, having once more become united with living beings, I need not again attain such a state.

Verse 8 (markandeya.16.8)

यत्रासक्तिपरस्यात्मा मम संसारबन्धनैः । नैति योगमयोगोऽपि तं योगमधुना वद॥ 16.8 ॥

yatrāsaktiparasyātmā mama saṁsārabandhanaiḥ naiti yogamayogo’pi taṁ yogamadhunā vada

Tell me now that yoga by which my mind, attached and bound by the fetters of worldly existence, may finally be joined to it.

Verse 9 (markandeya.16.9)

संसारादित्यतापार्ति-विप्लुष्यद्देहमानसम् । ब्रह्मज्ञानाम्बुशीतेन सिञ्च मां वाक्यवारिणा॥ 16.9 ॥

saṁsārādityatāpārti-vipluṣyaddehamānasam brahmajñānāmbuśītena siñca māṁ vākyavāriṇā

My body and mind are scorched by the heat of the sun of worldly existence; sprinkle me with the cool water of the knowledge of Brahman, through the flow of your words.

Verse 10 (markandeya.16.10)

अविद्याकृष्णसर्पेण दष्टं तद्विषपीडितम् । स्ववाक्यामृतपानेन मां जीवय पुनर्मृतम्॥ 16.10 ॥

avidyākṛṣṇasarpeṇa daṣṭaṁ tadviṣapīḍitam svavākyāmṛtapānena māṁ jīvaya punarmṛtam

I have been bitten by the black serpent of ignorance and am tormented by its poison; make me drink the nectar of your own words, and thereby revive me, though I am as one already dead.

Verse 11 (markandeya.16.11)

पुत्र-दार-गृह-क्षेत्र-ममत्वनिगजडार्दितम् । मां मोचयेष्टसद्भाव-विज्ञानोद्घाटनैस्त्वरन्॥ 16.11 ॥

putra-dāra-gṛha-kṣetra-mamatvanigajaḍārditam māṁ mocayeṣṭasadbhāva-vijñānodghāṭanaistvaran

I have been made dull and stupefied, like an elephant, by attachment to son, wife, home, and field; free me swiftly by revealing the true realization of that which is truly desirable.

Verse 12 (markandeya.16.12)

पुत्र उवाच शृणु तात ! यथा योगो दत्तात्रेयेण धीमता । अलर्काय पुरा प्रोक्तः सम्यक् पृष्टेन विस्तरात्॥ 16.12 ॥

putra uvāca śṛṇu tāta ! yathā yogo dattātreyeṇa dhīmatā alarkāya purā proktaḥ samyak pṛṣṭena vistarāt

The son said: Listen, father! I shall relate how, long ago, the wise Dattatreya, being duly questioned, taught yoga in full detail to Alarka.

Verse 13 (markandeya.16.13)

पितोवाच दत्तात्रेयः सुतः कस्य कथं वा योगमुक्तवान् । कश्चालर्को महाभागो यो यौगं परिपृष्टवान्॥ 16.13 ॥

pitovāca dattātreyaḥ sutaḥ kasya kathaṁ vā yogamuktavān kaścālarko mahābhāgo yo yaugaṁ paripṛṣṭavān

The father said: Whose son was Dattatreya, and how did he teach yoga? And who was that illustrious Alarka who questioned him about it?

Verse 14 (markandeya.16.14)

पुत्र उवाच कौशिको ब्राह्मणः कश्चित् प्रतिष्ठानेऽभवत् पुरे । सोऽन्यजन्मकृतैः पापैः कुष्ठरोगातुरोऽभवत्॥ 16.14 ॥

putra uvāca kauśiko brāhmaṇaḥ kaścit pratiṣṭhāne’bhavat pure so’nyajanmakṛtaiḥ pāpaiḥ kuṣṭharogāturo’bhavat

The son said: In the city of Pratishthana there lived a brahmin named Kaushika. Because of sins committed in a former birth, he became afflicted with leprosy.

Verse 15 (markandeya.16.15)

तं तथा व्याधितं भार्या पतिं देवमिवार्च्चयत् । पादाभ्यङ्गाङ्गसंवाह-स्त्रानाच्छादनभोजनैः॥ 16.15 ॥

taṁ tathā vyādhitaṁ bhāryā patiṁ devamivārccayat pādābhyaṅgāṅgasaṁvāha-strānācchādanabhojanaiḥ

His wife served that diseased husband as though he were a god — massaging his feet and limbs, bathing him, clothing him, and feeding him.

Verse 16 (markandeya.16.16)

श्लेष्म-मूत्र-पुरीषासृक्-प्रवाहक्षालनेन च । रहश्चैवोपचारेण प्रियसम्भाषणेन च॥ 16.16 ॥

śleṣma-mūtra-purīṣāsṛk-pravāhakṣālanena ca rahaścaivopacāreṇa priyasambhāṣaṇena ca

And by washing away his phlegm, urine, excrement, and blood, by tending to him in private, and by speaking gentle, loving words to him.

Verse 17 (markandeya.16.17)

स तया पूज्यमानोऽपि सदातीव विनीतया । अतीव तीव्रकोपत्वान्निर्भर्त्सयति निष्ठुरः॥ 16.17 ॥

sa tayā pūjyamāno’pi sadātīva vinītayā atīva tīvrakopatvānnirbhartsayati niṣṭhuraḥ

Even though he was constantly honored by his ever-humble wife in this way, he, being of an extremely irascible nature, would rebuke her harshly and without mercy.

Verse 18 (markandeya.16.18)

तथापि प्रणता भार्या तममन्यत दैवतम् । तं तथाप्यतिबीभत्सं सर्वश्रेष्ठममन्यत॥ 16.18 ॥

tathāpi praṇatā bhāryā tamamanyata daivatam taṁ tathāpyatibībhatsaṁ sarvaśreṣṭhamamanyata

Even so, his submissive wife regarded him as a deity; utterly repulsive though he was, she still considered him the finest of all.

Verse 19 (markandeya.16.19)

अचङ्क्रमणशोलोऽपि स कदाचिद् द्विजोत्तमः । प्राह भार्यां नयस्वेति त्वं मां तस्या निवेशनम्॥ 16.19 ॥

acaṅkramaṇaśolo’pi sa kadācid dvijottamaḥ prāha bhāryāṁ nayasveti tvaṁ māṁ tasyā niveśanam

That excellent brahmin, unable even to walk, one day said to his wife: 'Carry me to that courtesan's house.'

Verse 20 (markandeya.16.20)

या सा वेश्या मया दृष्टा राजमार्गे गृहोषिता । तां मां प्रापय धर्मज्ञे ! सैव मे हृदि वर्तते॥ 16.20 ॥

yā sā veśyā mayā dṛṣṭā rājamārge gṛhoṣitā tāṁ māṁ prāpaya dharmajñe ! saiva me hṛdi vartate

'Take me, O knower of dharma, to that house on the royal road where I saw that courtesan — she alone now dwells in my heart.'

Verse 21 (markandeya.16.21)

दृष्टा सूर्योदये बाला रात्रिश्चेयमुपागता । दर्शनानन्तरं सा मे हृदयान्नापसर्पति॥ 16.21 ॥

dṛṣṭā sūryodaye bālā rātriśceyamupāgatā darśanānantaraṁ sā me hṛdayānnāpasarpati

'I saw that young woman at sunrise, and now night has come; since that glimpse, she has not left my heart for a moment.'

Verse 22 (markandeya.16.22)

यदि सा चारुसर्वाङ्गी पीनश्रोणिपयोधरा । नोपगूहति तन्वङ्गी तन्मां द्रक्ष्यसि वै मृतम्॥ 16.22 ॥

yadi sā cārusarvāṅgī pīnaśroṇipayodharā nopagūhati tanvaṅgī tanmāṁ drakṣyasi vai mṛtam

'If that slender woman, lovely in every limb, with full hips and breasts, does not embrace me, you will surely see me dead.'

Verse 23 (markandeya.16.23)

वामः कामो मनुष्याणां बहुभिः प्रार्थ्यते च सा । ममाशक्तिश्च गमने सङ्कुलं प्रतिभाति मे॥ 16.23 ॥

vāmaḥ kāmo manuṣyāṇāṁ bahubhiḥ prārthyate ca sā mamāśaktiśca gamane saṅkulaṁ pratibhāti me

'The desire of men runs contrary — many seek after her, while my own inability to go there seems to me a great difficulty.'

Verse 24 (markandeya.16.24)

तत् तदा वचनं श्रुत्वा भर्तुः कामातुरस्य सा । तत्पत्नी सत्कुलोत्पन्ना महाभागा पतिव्रता॥ 16.24 ॥

tat tadā vacanaṁ śrutvā bhartuḥ kāmāturasya sā tatpatnī satkulotpannā mahābhāgā pativratā

Having heard these words of her husband, tormented as he was by desire, that illustrious, chaste wife, born of a noble family —

Verse 25 (markandeya.16.25)

गाग्ं परिकरं बद्ध्वा शुल्कमादाय चाधिकम् । स्कन्धे भर्तारमादाय जगाम मृदुगामिनी॥ 16.25 ॥

gāgṁ parikaraṁ baddhvā śulkamādāya cādhikam skandhe bhartāramādāya jagāma mṛdugāminī

— bound her body with a girdle, took extra money for the fare, and, lifting her husband onto her shoulder, set off, walking gently.

Verse 26 (markandeya.16.26)

निशि मेघास्तृते व्योम्नि चलद्विद्युत्प्रदर्शिते । राजमार्गे प्रियं भर्तुश्चिकीर्षन्ती द्विजाङ्गना॥ 16.26 ॥

niśi meghāstṛte vyomni caladvidyutpradarśite rājamārge priyaṁ bhartuścikīrṣantī dvijāṅganā

Under a night sky covered with clouds and lit by flashing lightning, that brahmin woman went along the royal road, wishing to please her beloved husband.

Verse 27 (markandeya.16.27)

पथि शूले तथा प्रोतमचौरं यौरशङ्कया । माण्डव्यमतिदुः खार्तमन्धकारेऽथ स द्विजः॥ 16.27 ॥

pathi śūle tathā protamacauraṁ yauraśaṅkayā māṇḍavyamatiduḥ khārtamandhakāre’tha sa dvijaḥ

On the road, in the darkness, that brahmin brushed against Mandavya, who, though no thief, had been impaled on a stake on mere suspicion of theft, and who lay in extreme agony.

Verse 28 (markandeya.16.28)

पत्नीस्कन्धे समारूढश्चालयामास कौशिकः । पादावमर्षणात् क्रुद्धो माण्डव्यस्तमुवाच ह॥ 16.28 ॥

patnīskandhe samārūḍhaścālayāmāsa kauśikaḥ pādāvamarṣaṇāt kruddho māṇḍavyastamuvāca ha

Kaushika, seated upon his wife's shoulder, jostled him. Enraged by the touch of that foot, Mandavya said to him —

Verse 29 (markandeya.16.29)

येनाहमेवमत्यर्थं दुः खितश्चालितः पदा । दशां कष्टामनुप्राप्तः स पापात्मा नराधमः॥ 16.29 ॥

yenāhamevamatyarthaṁ duḥ khitaścālitaḥ padā daśāṁ kaṣṭāmanuprāptaḥ sa pāpātmā narādhamaḥ

'That sinful, most despicable of men, who has jostled me with his foot even as I lay already suffering in this pitiable state —'

Verse 30 (markandeya.16.30)

सूर्योदयेऽवशः प्राणैर्विमोक्ष्यति न संशयः । भास्करालोकनादेव स विनाशमवाप्स्यति॥ 16.30 ॥

sūryodaye’vaśaḥ prāṇairvimokṣyati na saṁśayaḥ bhāskarālokanādeva sa vināśamavāpsyati

'— he shall, without doubt, helplessly give up his life at sunrise; the mere sight of the sun shall bring about his death.'

Verse 31 (markandeya.16.31)

तस्य भार्याततः श्रुत्वा तं शापमतिदारुणम् । प्रोवाच व्यथिता सूर्यो नैवोदयमुपैष्यति॥ 16.31 ॥

tasya bhāryātataḥ śrutvā taṁ śāpamatidāruṇam provāca vyathitā sūryo naivodayamupaiṣyati

Hearing that terrible curse, his wife, deeply distressed, declared: 'The sun shall never rise again!'

Verse 32 (markandeya.16.32)

ततः सूर्योदयाभावादभवत् सन्तता निशा । बहून्यहः प्रमाणानि ततो देवा भयं ययुः॥ 16.32 ॥

tataḥ sūryodayābhāvādabhavat santatā niśā bahūnyahaḥ pramāṇāni tato devā bhayaṁ yayuḥ

Then, because the sun did not rise, the night became unending, stretching on for the span of many days; and the gods grew afraid.

Verse 33 (markandeya.16.33)

निः स्वाध्यायवषट्कार-स्वधास्वाहाविवर्जितम् । कथं नु खल्विदं सर्वं न गच्छेत् संक्षयं जगत्॥ 16.33 ॥

niḥ svādhyāyavaṣaṭkāra-svadhāsvāhāvivarjitam kathaṁ nu khalvidaṁ sarvaṁ na gacchet saṁkṣayaṁ jagat

'This whole world, now deprived of the recitation of the Veda, of the sacred exclamation Vashat, and of the offerings of Svadha and Svaha — how shall it not go to utter ruin?'

Verse 34 (markandeya.16.34)

अहोरात्रव्यवस्थाया विना मासर्तुसंक्षयः । तत्संक्षयान्न त्वयने ज्ञायेते दक्षिणोत्तरे॥ 16.34 ॥

ahorātravyavasthāyā vinā māsartusaṁkṣayaḥ tatsaṁkṣayānna tvayane jñāyete dakṣiṇottare

'Without the fixed order of day and night, the months and seasons will be destroyed; and from their destruction the two solstices, southern and northern, can no longer be known.'

Verse 35 (markandeya.16.35)

विना चायनविज्ञानात् कालः संवत्सरः कुतः । संवत्सरं विना नान्यत् कालज्ञानं प्रवर्तते॥ 16.35 ॥

vinā cāyanavijñānāt kālaḥ saṁvatsaraḥ kutaḥ saṁvatsaraṁ vinā nānyat kālajñānaṁ pravartate

'And without knowledge of the solstices, how can there be a year? Without the year, no other reckoning of time can proceed at all.'

Verse 36 (markandeya.16.36)

पतिव्रताया वचसा नोद्गच्छति दिवाकरः । सूर्योदयं विना नैव स्त्रानदानादिकाः क्रियाः॥ 16.36 ॥

pativratāyā vacasā nodgacchati divākaraḥ sūryodayaṁ vinā naiva strānadānādikāḥ kriyāḥ

'Because of the word of a single chaste wife, the sun does not rise; and without sunrise, none of the rites of bathing, almsgiving and the like can be performed.'

Verse 37 (markandeya.16.37)

नाग्नेर्विहरणञ्चैव क्रात्वभावश्च लक्ष्यते । नैवाप्ययनमस्माकं विना होमेन जायते॥ 16.37 ॥

nāgnerviharaṇañcaiva krātvabhāvaśca lakṣyate naivāpyayanamasmākaṁ vinā homena jāyate

'Neither the tending of the sacred fire nor any sacrifice appears possible any longer; without the fire-oblation, even our own sustenance cannot come about.'

Verse 38 (markandeya.16.38)

वयमाप्यायिता मर्त्यैर्यज्ञभागैर्यथोचितैः । वृष्ट्या ताननुगृह्णीमो मर्त्यान् शस्यादिसिद्धये॥ 16.38 ॥

vayamāpyāyitā martyairyajñabhāgairyathocitaiḥ vṛṣṭyā tānanugṛhṇīmo martyān śasyādisiddhaye

'We gods are nourished by mortals through the proper shares of sacrifice; and we, in turn, favor those mortals with rain for the ripening of their crops.'

Verse 39 (markandeya.16.39)

निष्पादितास्वोषधीषु मर्त्या यज्ञैर्यजन्ति नः । तेषां वयं प्रयच्छामः कामान् यज्ञादिपूजिताः॥ 16.39 ॥

niṣpāditāsvoṣadhīṣu martyā yajñairyajanti naḥ teṣāṁ vayaṁ prayacchāmaḥ kāmān yajñādipūjitāḥ

'When the crops have ripened, mortals worship us with sacrifices; honored by such sacrifices, we in turn grant them the fulfillment of their desires.'

Verse 40 (markandeya.16.40)

अधो हि वर्षाम वयं मर्त्याश्चोर्ध्वप्रवर्षिणः । तोयवर्षेण हि वयं हविर्वर्षेण मानवाः॥ 16.40 ॥

adho hi varṣāma vayaṁ martyāścordhvapravarṣiṇaḥ toyavarṣeṇa hi vayaṁ havirvarṣeṇa mānavāḥ

'We rain down from above, while mortals offer upward toward us; we nourish through the rain of water, they nourish us through the rain of oblations.'

Verse 41 (markandeya.16.41)

ये नास्माकं प्रयच्छन्ति नित्यनैमित्तकीः क्रियाः । क्रतुभागं दुरात्मानः स्वयञ्चाश्नन्ति लोलुपाः॥ 16.41 ॥

ye nāsmākaṁ prayacchanti nityanaimittakīḥ kriyāḥ kratubhāgaṁ durātmānaḥ svayañcāśnanti lolupāḥ

'Those wicked, greedy men who do not offer us the regular and occasional rites, and who instead selfishly devour the sacrificial share themselves —'

Verse 42 (markandeya.16.42)

विनाशाय वयं तेषां तोयसूर्याग्निमारुतान् । क्षितिञ्च सन्दूषयामः पापानामपकारिणाम्॥ 16.42 ॥

vināśāya vayaṁ teṣāṁ toyasūryāgnimārutān kṣitiñca sandūṣayāmaḥ pāpānāmapakāriṇām

'— for the destruction of those sinners and wrongdoers, we corrupt the water, the sun, the fire, the wind, and the earth.'

Verse 43 (markandeya.16.43)

दुष्टतोयादिभोगेन तेषां दुष्कृतकर्मिणाम् । उपसर्गाः प्रवर्तन्ते मरणाय सुदारुणाः॥ 16.43 ॥

duṣṭatoyādibhogena teṣāṁ duṣkṛtakarmiṇām upasargāḥ pravartante maraṇāya sudāruṇāḥ

'By partaking of that corrupted water and the rest, terrible afflictions arise for those evildoers, leading them to death.'

Verse 44 (markandeya.16.44)

ये त्वस्मान् प्रीणयित्वा तु भुञ्जते शेषमात्मना । तेषां पुण्यान् वयं योकान् विदधाम महात्मनाम्॥ 16.44 ॥

ye tvasmān prīṇayitvā tu bhuñjate śeṣamātmanā teṣāṁ puṇyān vayaṁ yokān vidadhāma mahātmanām

'But those who first please us and only then partake of what remains — for those noble souls, we grant meritorious enjoyments.'

Verse 45 (markandeya.16.45)

तन्नास्ति सर्वमेवैतद्विनैषां व्युष्टिसंस्थैतम् । कथं नु दिनसर्गः स्यादन्योऽन्यमवदन् सुराः॥ 16.45 ॥

tannāsti sarvamevaitadvinaiṣāṁ vyuṣṭisaṁsthaitam kathaṁ nu dinasargaḥ syādanyo’nyamavadan surāḥ

'None of this order can stand without the establishment of dawn for these mortals. How then shall day come into being?' — thus the gods said to one another.

Verse 46 (markandeya.16.46)

तेषामेव समेतानां यज्ञव्युच्छित्तिशङ्किनाम् । देवानां वचनं श्रुत्वा प्राह देवः प्रजापतिः॥ 16.46 ॥

teṣāmeva sametānāṁ yajñavyucchittiśaṅkinām devānāṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā prāha devaḥ prajāpatiḥ

Having heard the words of those assembled gods, who feared the utter cessation of sacrifice, the divine Prajapati spoke —

Verse 47 (markandeya.16.47)

तेजः परं तेजसैव तपसा च तपस्तथा । प्रशाम्यतेऽमरास्तस्माच्छृणुध्वं वचनं मम॥ 16.47 ॥

tejaḥ paraṁ tejasaiva tapasā ca tapastathā praśāmyate’marāstasmācchṛṇudhvaṁ vacanaṁ mama

'O immortals, one splendor is quelled only by a greater splendor, and one austerity only by a greater austerity; therefore listen now to my words.'

Verse 48 (markandeya.16.48)

पतिव्रताया माहात्म्यान्नोद्गच्छति दिवाकरः । तस्य चानुदयाद्धानिर्मर्त्यानां भवतां तथा॥ 16.48 ॥

pativratāyā māhātmyānnodgacchati divākaraḥ tasya cānudayāddhānirmartyānāṁ bhavatāṁ tathā

'It is because of the greatness of a single chaste wife that the sun does not rise; and from its non-rising there is ruin both for mortals and for you gods.'

Verse 49 (markandeya.16.49)

तस्मात् पतिव्रतामत्रेरनुभूयां तपस्विनीम् । प्रसादयत वै पत्नीं भानोरुदयकाम्यया॥ 16.49 ॥

tasmāt pativratāmatreranubhūyāṁ tapasvinīm prasādayata vai patnīṁ bhānorudayakāmyayā

'Therefore, go to the devoted, ascetic wife of the sage Atri, Anasuya, and propitiate her, desiring the rising of the sun.'

Verse 50 (markandeya.16.50)

पुत्र उवाच तैः सा प्रसादिता गत्वा प्रोहेष्टं व्रियतामिति । अयाचन्त दिनं देवा भवत्विति यथा पुरा॥ 16.50 ॥

putra uvāca taiḥ sā prasāditā gatvā proheṣṭaṁ vriyatāmiti ayācanta dinaṁ devā bhavatviti yathā purā

The son said: Having gone and propitiated her, the gods said to Anasuya, 'Ask for whatever boon you wish' — and they begged that day return as it was before.

Verse 51 (markandeya.16.51)

अनसूयोवाच पतिव्रताया माहात्म्यं न हीयेत कथन्त्विति । संमान्य तस्मात् तां साध्वीमहः स्त्रक्ष्याम्यहं सुराः॥ 16.51 ॥

anasūyovāca pativratāyā māhātmyaṁ na hīyeta kathantviti saṁmānya tasmāt tāṁ sādhvīmahaḥ strakṣyāmyahaṁ surāḥ

Anasuya said: 'So that the greatness of a chaste wife should in no way be diminished — honoring that virtuous woman for this reason — O gods, I myself shall bring the day into being.'

Verse 52 (markandeya.16.52)

यथा पुनरहोरात्र-संस्थानमुपजायते । यथा च तस्याः स्वपतिर्न साध्व्या नाशमेष्यति॥ 16.52 ॥

yathā punarahorātra-saṁsthānamupajāyate yathā ca tasyāḥ svapatirna sādhvyā nāśameṣyati

'In this way the order of day and night will be restored once more, and that virtuous woman's own husband too shall not perish.'

Verse 53 (markandeya.16.53)

पुत्र उवाच एवमुक्त्वा सुरांस्तस्या गत्वा सा मन्दिरं शुभा । उवाच कुशलं पृष्टा धर्मं भर्तुस्तथात्मनः॥ 16.53 ॥

putra uvāca evamuktvā surāṁstasyā gatvā sā mandiraṁ śubhā uvāca kuśalaṁ pṛṣṭā dharmaṁ bhartustathātmanaḥ

The son said: Having spoken thus to the gods, the auspicious Anasuya went to that woman's house, and asked after her welfare and the conduct of dharma, both hers and her husband's.

Verse 54 (markandeya.16.54)

अनसूयोवाच कच्चिन्नन्दसि कल्याणि स्वभर्तुर्मुखदर्शनात् । कच्चिच्चाखिलदेवेभ्यो मन्यसेऽभ्यधिकं पतिम्॥ 16.54 ॥

anasūyovāca kaccinnandasi kalyāṇi svabharturmukhadarśanāt kacciccākhiladevebhyo manyase’bhyadhikaṁ patim

Anasuya said: 'O auspicious one, do you rejoice at the very sight of your husband's face? Do you regard your husband as greater than all the gods?'

Verse 55 (markandeya.16.55)

भर्तृशुश्रूषणादेव मया प्राप्तं महत् फलम् । सर्वकामफलावाप्त्या प्रत्यूहाः परिवर्तिताः॥ 16.55 ॥

bhartṛśuśrūṣaṇādeva mayā prāptaṁ mahat phalam sarvakāmaphalāvāptyā pratyūhāḥ parivartitāḥ

'By service to my own husband alone I have obtained great reward; through gaining the fruit of every desire, every obstacle of mine has been overturned.'

Verse 56 (markandeya.16.56)

पञ्चर्णानि मनुष्येण साध्वि ! देयानि सर्वदा । तथात्मवर्णधर्मेण कर्तव्यो धनसंचयः॥ 16.56 ॥

pañcarṇāni manuṣyeṇa sādhvi ! deyāni sarvadā tathātmavarṇadharmeṇa kartavyo dhanasaṁcayaḥ

'O virtuous one, a person must always discharge the five debts, and must accumulate wealth in accordance with the duty of one's own class.'

Verse 57 (markandeya.16.57)

प्राप्तश्चार्थस्ततः पात्रे विनियोज्यो विधानतः । सत्यार्जव-तपो-दानैर्दयायुक्तो भवेत् सदा॥ 16.57 ॥

prāptaścārthastataḥ pātre viniyojyo vidhānataḥ satyārjava-tapo-dānairdayāyukto bhavet sadā

'Wealth once obtained should duly be bestowed upon the deserving; endowed with truth, uprightness, austerity, and charity, one should ever remain compassionate.'

Verse 58 (markandeya.16.58)

क्रियाश्च शास्त्रनिर्दिष्टा रागद्वेषविवर्जिताः । कर्तव्या अन्वहं श्रद्धा-पुरस्कारेण शक्तितः॥ 16.58 ॥

kriyāśca śāstranirdiṣṭā rāgadveṣavivarjitāḥ kartavyā anvahaṁ śraddhā-puraskāreṇa śaktitaḥ

'The rites enjoined by scripture should be performed daily, free from attachment and aversion, with faith, and according to one's own capacity.'

Verse 59 (markandeya.16.59)

स्वजातिविहितानेव लोकानाप्नोति मानवः । क्लेशेन महता साध्वि ! प्राजापत्यादिकान् क्रमात्॥ 16.59 ॥

svajātivihitāneva lokānāpnoti mānavaḥ kleśena mahatā sādhvi ! prājāpatyādikān kramāt

'O virtuous one, with great toil a person attains, step by step, the worlds prescribed for one's own class — the Prajapatya worlds and the rest.'

Verse 60 (markandeya.16.60)

स्त्रियस्त्वेवं समस्तस्य नरैर्दुः खार्जितस्य वै । पुण्यस्यार्धापहारिण्यः पतिशुश्रूषयैव हि॥ 16.60 ॥

striyastvevaṁ samastasya narairduḥ khārjitasya vai puṇyasyārdhāpahāriṇyaḥ patiśuśrūṣayaiva hi

'Women, however, obtain half of all that merit which men earn with such difficulty, simply through service to their husband alone.'

Verse 61 (markandeya.16.61)

नास्ति स्त्रीणां पृथग्यज्ञो न श्राद्धं नाप्युपोषितम् । भर्तृशुश्रूषयैवैतान् लोकानिष्टान् व्रजन्ति हि॥ 16.61 ॥

nāsti strīṇāṁ pṛthagyajño na śrāddhaṁ nāpyupoṣitam bhartṛśuśrūṣayaivaitān lokāniṣṭān vrajanti hi

'For women there is no separate sacrifice, no ancestral rite, nor even fasting; through service to the husband alone they attain these desired worlds.'

Verse 62 (markandeya.16.62)

तस्मात् साध्वि ! महाभागे ! पतिशुश्रूषणं प्रति । त्वया मतिः सदा कार्या यतो भर्ता परा गतिः॥ 16.62 ॥

tasmāt sādhvi ! mahābhāge ! patiśuśrūṣaṇaṁ prati tvayā matiḥ sadā kāryā yato bhartā parā gatiḥ

'Therefore, O virtuous, illustrious one, your mind should always be devoted to the service of your husband, for the husband alone is the supreme goal.'

Verse 63 (markandeya.16.63)

यद्देवेभ्यो यच्च पित्रागतेभ्यः कुर्याद्भर्ताभ्यर्च्चनं सत्क्रियातः । तस्याप्यर्धं केवलानन्यचित्ता नारी भुङ्क्ते भर्तृशुश्रूषयैव॥ 16.63 ॥

yaddevebhyo yacca pitrāgatebhyaḥ kuryādbhartābhyarccanaṁ satkriyātaḥ tasyāpyardhaṁ kevalānanyacittā nārī bhuṅkte bhartṛśuśrūṣayaiva

'Whatever offering, made to the gods and to the ancestors, a husband performs through righteous rites — of that too, a woman devoted with an undivided mind partakes of half, through service to her husband alone.'

Verse 64 (markandeya.16.64)

पुत्र उवाच तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रतिपूज्य तथादरात् । प्रत्युवाचात्रिपत्नीं तामनसूयामिदं वचः॥ 16.64 ॥

putra uvāca tasyāstadvacanaṁ śrutvā pratipūjya tathādarāt pratyuvācātripatnīṁ tāmanasūyāmidaṁ vacaḥ

The son said: Having heard her words, and having honored her respectfully, she then spoke this reply to Anasuya, the wife of Atri —

Verse 65 (markandeya.16.65)

धन्यास्म्यनुगृहीतास्मि देवैश्चाप्यवलोकिता । यन्मे प्रकृतिकल्याणि ! श्रद्धां वर्धयसे पुनः॥ 16.65 ॥

dhanyāsmyanugṛhītāsmi devaiścāpyavalokitā yanme prakṛtikalyāṇi ! śraddhāṁ vardhayase punaḥ

'I am blessed, I am favored, and even beheld by the gods, in that you, O one auspicious by very nature, further increase my faith.'

Verse 66 (markandeya.16.66)

जानाम्येतन्न नारीणां काचित् पतिसमा गतिः । तत्प्रीतिश्चोपकाराय इह लोके परत्र च॥ 16.66 ॥

jānāmyetanna nārīṇāṁ kācit patisamā gatiḥ tatprītiścopakārāya iha loke paratra ca

'I know that for women there is no refuge equal to the husband; love for him proves beneficial both in this world and in the next.'

Verse 67 (markandeya.16.67)

पतिप्रसादादिह च प्रेत्य चैव यशस्विनि । नारी सुखमवाप्नोति नार्या भर्ता हि देवता॥ 16.67 ॥

patiprasādādiha ca pretya caiva yaśasvini nārī sukhamavāpnoti nāryā bhartā hi devatā

'By the husband's grace alone, O glorious one, a woman attains happiness both here and after death; for a woman, the husband indeed is her deity.'

Verse 68 (markandeya.16.68)

सा त्वं ब्रूहि महाभागे ! प्राप्ताया मम मन्दिरम् । आर्याया यन्मया कार्यं तथार्येणापि वा शुभे॥ 16.68 ॥

sā tvaṁ brūhi mahābhāge ! prāptāyā mama mandiram āryāyā yanmayā kāryaṁ tathāryeṇāpi vā śubhe

'Now tell me, illustrious lady — since you, O noble one, have graced my house — what I might do for you, or for your revered husband, O auspicious one.'

Verse 69 (markandeya.16.69)

अनसूयोवाच एते देवाः सहेन्द्रेण मामुपागम्य दुः खिताः । त्वद्वाख्यापास्तसत्कर्मदिननक्तनिरूपणाः॥ 16.69 ॥

anasūyovāca ete devāḥ sahendreṇa māmupāgamya duḥ khitāḥ tvadvākhyāpāstasatkarmadinanaktanirūpaṇāḥ

Anasuya said: 'These gods, together with Indra, came to me in distress, saying that the proper order of sacred rites and of day and night has been destroyed by your word.'

Verse 70 (markandeya.16.70)

याचन्तेऽहर्निशासंस्थां यथावदविखण्डिताम् । अहं तदर्थमायाता शृणु चैतद्वचो मम॥ 16.70 ॥

yācante’harniśāsaṁsthāṁ yathāvadavikhaṇḍitām ahaṁ tadarthamāyātā śṛṇu caitadvaco mama

'They beg for the proper, unbroken order of day and night to be restored; I have come here for that very purpose — hear now these words of mine.'

Verse 71 (markandeya.16.71)

दिनाभावात् समस्तानामभावो यागकर्मणाम् । तदभावात् सुराः पुष्टिं नोपयान्ति तपस्विनि॥ 16.71 ॥

dinābhāvāt samastānāmabhāvo yāgakarmaṇām tadabhāvāt surāḥ puṣṭiṁ nopayānti tapasvini

'Because of the absence of day, all sacrificial rites cease altogether; and because of their cessation, O ascetic woman, the gods no longer receive nourishment.'

Verse 72 (markandeya.16.72)

अह्नश्चैव समुच्छेदादुच्छेदः सर्वकर्मणाम् । तदुच्छेदादनावृष्ट्या जगदुच्छेदमेष्यति॥ 16.72 ॥

ahnaścaiva samucchedāducchedaḥ sarvakarmaṇām taducchedādanāvṛṣṭyā jagaducchedameṣyati

'From the utter cessation of day comes the cessation of all rites; and from that, through the failure of rain, the world itself will come to ruin.'

Verse 73 (markandeya.16.73)

तत् त्वमिच्छसि चेदेतत् जगदुद्धर्तुमापदः । प्रसीद साध्वि ! लोकानां पूर्ववद्धर्ततां रविः॥ 16.73 ॥

tat tvamicchasi cedetat jagaduddhartumāpadaḥ prasīda sādhvi ! lokānāṁ pūrvavaddhartatāṁ raviḥ

'Therefore, if you wish to save the world from this calamity, be gracious, O virtuous one — let the sun rise once more, as before, for the good of all the worlds.'

Verse 74 (markandeya.16.74)

ब्राह्मण्युवाच माण्डव्येन महाभागे ! शप्तो भर्ता ममेश्वरः । सूर्योदये विनाशं त्वं प्राप्स्यसीत्यतिमन्युना॥ 16.74 ॥

brāhmaṇyuvāca māṇḍavyena mahābhāge ! śapto bhartā mameśvaraḥ sūryodaye vināśaṁ tvaṁ prāpsyasītyatimanyunā

The brahmani said: 'O illustrious one, my husband and lord has been cursed by Mandavya, in the height of his fury: at sunrise you shall meet your destruction.'

Verse 75 (markandeya.16.75)

अनसूयोवाच यदि वा रोचते भद्रे ! ततस्त्वद्वचनादहम् । करोमि पूर्ववद्देहं भर्तारञ्च नवं तव॥ 16.75 ॥

anasūyovāca yadi vā rocate bhadre ! tatastvadvacanādaham karomi pūrvavaddehaṁ bhartārañca navaṁ tava

Anasuya said: 'If it pleases you, O gentle one, then at your word alone I shall restore your husband's body just as before, made young once again.'

Verse 76 (markandeya.16.76)

मया हि सर्वथा स्त्रीणां माहात्म्यं वरवर्णिनि । पतिव्रतानामाराध्यमिति संमानयामि ते॥ 16.76 ॥

mayā hi sarvathā strīṇāṁ māhātmyaṁ varavarṇini pativratānāmārādhyamiti saṁmānayāmi te

'O fair one, I honor in every way the greatness of women — that the power of chaste wives is worthy of reverence: this I acknowledge for your sake.'

Verse 77 (markandeya.16.77)

पुत्र उवाच तथेत्युक्ते तया सूर्यमाजुहाव तपस्विनी । अनसूयार्घ्यमुद्यम्य दशरात्रे तदा निशि॥ 16.77 ॥

putra uvāca tathetyukte tayā sūryamājuhāva tapasvinī anasūyārghyamudyamya daśarātre tadā niśi

The son said: Saying 'So be it,' Anasuya, the ascetic woman, then, on that tenth night of the unending darkness, raised her offering and invoked the sun.

Verse 78 (markandeya.16.78)

ततो विवस्वान् भगवान् फुल्लपद्मारुणाकृतिः । शैलराजानमुदयमारुरोहोरुमण्डलः॥ 16.78 ॥

tato vivasvān bhagavān phullapadmāruṇākṛtiḥ śailarājānamudayamārurohorumaṇḍalaḥ

Then the Lord Sun, ruddy in form like a full-blown lotus, ascended with his vast orb upon the peak of the mountain of sunrise.

Verse 79 (markandeya.16.79)

समनन्तरमेवास्या भर्ता प्राणैर्व्ययुज्यत । पपात च महीपृष्ठे पतन्तं जगृहे च सा॥ 16.79 ॥

samanantaramevāsyā bhartā prāṇairvyayujyata papāta ca mahīpṛṣṭhe patantaṁ jagṛhe ca sā

In that very moment her husband was severed from his breath of life and fell to the ground; but as he fell, his wife caught him.

Verse 80 (markandeya.16.80)

अनसूयोवाच न विषादस्त्वया भद्रे ! कर्तव्यः पश्य मे बलम् । पतिशुश्रूषयावाप्तं तपसः किं चिरेण ते॥ 16.80 ॥

anasūyovāca na viṣādastvayā bhadre ! kartavyaḥ paśya me balam patiśuśrūṣayāvāptaṁ tapasaḥ kiṁ cireṇa te

Anasuya said: 'You must not grieve, O gentle one; behold my power — should not the fruit of austerity gained through service to the husband come about so swiftly?'

Verse 81 (markandeya.16.81)

यथा भर्तृसमं नान्यमपश्यं पुरुषं क्वचित् । रूपतः शीलतो बुद्ध्या वाङ्माधुर्ंय्यादिभूषणैः॥ 16.81 ॥

yathā bhartṛsamaṁ nānyamapaśyaṁ puruṣaṁ kvacit rūpataḥ śīlato buddhyā vāṅmādhurṁyyādibhūṣaṇaiḥ

'By the truth that I have never anywhere seen another man equal to my own husband in form, in character, in intellect, and in sweetness of speech and other virtues —'

Verse 82 (markandeya.16.82)

तेन सत्येन विप्रोऽयं व्याधिमुक्तः पुनर्युवा । प्राप्नोतु जीवितं भार्यासहायः शरदां शतम्॥ 16.82 ॥

tena satyena vipro’yaṁ vyādhimuktaḥ punaryuvā prāpnotu jīvitaṁ bhāryāsahāyaḥ śaradāṁ śatam

'— by that truth, may this brahmin be freed from his disease and become young once more, and obtain life for a hundred years together with his wife.'

Verse 83 (markandeya.16.83)

यथा भर्तृसमं नान्यमहं पश्यामि दैवतम् । तेन सत्येन विप्रोऽयं पुनर्जोवत्वनामयः॥ 16.83 ॥

yathā bhartṛsamaṁ nānyamahaṁ paśyāmi daivatam tena satyena vipro’yaṁ punarjovatvanāmayaḥ

'By the truth that I see no other deity equal to my own husband, by that truth may this brahmin live again, freed from all disease.'

Verse 84 (markandeya.16.84)

कर्मणा मनसा वाचा भर्तुराराधनं प्रति । यथा ममोद्यमो नित्यं तथायं जीवतां द्विजः॥ 16.84 ॥

karmaṇā manasā vācā bharturārādhanaṁ prati yathā mamodyamo nityaṁ tathāyaṁ jīvatāṁ dvijaḥ

'By the truth that my effort in worship of my husband, in deed, in mind, and in speech, is ever constant — by that truth let this brahmin live.'

Verse 85 (markandeya.16.85)

पुत्र उवाच ततो विप्रः समुत्तस्थौ व्याधिमुक्तः पुनर्युवा । स्वभाभिर्भासयन् वेश्म वृन्दारक इवाजरः॥ 16.85 ॥

putra uvāca tato vipraḥ samuttasthau vyādhimuktaḥ punaryuvā svabhābhirbhāsayan veśma vṛndāraka ivājaraḥ

The son said: Then the brahmin rose up, freed from disease and young again, illuminating the house with his own radiance, appearing like some undecaying god.

Verse 86 (markandeya.16.86)

ततोऽपतत् पुष्पवृष्टिर्देववाद्यादिनिस्वनः । लेभिरे च मुदं देवा अनसूयामथाब्रुवन्॥ 16.86 ॥

tato’patat puṣpavṛṣṭirdevavādyādinisvanaḥ lebhire ca mudaṁ devā anasūyāmathābruvan

Then, amid the sound of divine instruments, a shower of flowers fell, and the gods, filled with great joy, then spoke to Anasuya —

Verse 87 (markandeya.16.87)

देवा ऊचुः वरं वृणीष्व कल्याणि देवकार्यं महत् कृतम् । त्वया यस्मात् ततो देवा वरदास्ते तपस्विनि॥ 16.87 ॥

devā ūcuḥ varaṁ vṛṇīṣva kalyāṇi devakāryaṁ mahat kṛtam tvayā yasmāt tato devā varadāste tapasvini

The gods said: 'O auspicious one, ask for a boon, for you have accomplished this great work for the gods; therefore, O ascetic woman, we the gods stand ready to grant you a boon.'

Verse 88 (markandeya.16.88)

अनसूयोवाच यदि देवाः प्रसन्ना मे पितामहपुरोगमाः । वरदा वरयोग्या च यद्यहं भवतां मता॥ 16.88 ॥

anasūyovāca yadi devāḥ prasannā me pitāmahapurogamāḥ varadā varayogyā ca yadyahaṁ bhavatāṁ matā

Anasuya said: 'If you gods, headed by the grandfather Brahma, are pleased with me, are able to grant a boon, and if I am deemed by you worthy of one —'

Verse 89 (markandeya.16.89)

तद्यान्तु मम पुत्रत्वं ब्रह्म-विष्णु-महेश्वराः । योगञ्च प्राप्नुयां भर्तृसहिता क्लेशमुक्तये॥ 16.89 ॥

tadyāntu mama putratvaṁ brahma-viṣṇu-maheśvarāḥ yogañca prāpnuyāṁ bhartṛsahitā kleśamuktaye

'— then let Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara themselves come to be my sons, and let me, together with my husband, attain yoga for release from every affliction.'

Verse 90 (markandeya.16.90)

एवमस्त्विति तां देवा ब्रह्म-विष्णु-शिवादयः । प्रोक्त्वा जग्मुर्यथान्यायमनुमान्य तपस्विनीम्॥ 16.90 ॥

evamastviti tāṁ devā brahma-viṣṇu-śivādayaḥ proktvā jagmuryathānyāyamanumānya tapasvinīm

The son said: 'So be it,' said the gods — Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and the rest — and having spoken thus, and duly honored the ascetic woman, they took their leave.