Garga's Counsel

Verse 1 (markandeya.18.1)

पुत्र उवाच कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य कृतवीर्यात्मजोर्ऽजुनः । कृतवीर्ये दिवं याते मन्त्रिभिः सपुरोहितैः॥ 18.1 ॥

putra uvāca kasyacittvatha kālasya kṛtavīryātmajor’junaḥ kṛtavīrye divaṁ yāte mantribhiḥ sapurohitaiḥ

The son said: After some time had passed, when Kritavirya had gone to heaven, his son Arjuna was, by the ministers together with the priests,

Verse 2 (markandeya.18.2)

पौरैश्चात्माभिषेकार्थं समाहूतोऽब्रवीदिदम् । नाहं राज्यं करिष्यामि मन्त्रिणो नरकोत्तरम्॥ 18.2 ॥

pauraiścātmābhiṣekārthaṁ samāhūto’bravīdidam nāhaṁ rājyaṁ kariṣyāmi mantriṇo narakottaram

and by the citizens of the city, summoned for his own coronation. He replied: 'Ministers, I will not undertake a kingship that leads to hell.'

Verse 3 (markandeya.18.3)

यदर्थं गृह्यते शुल्कं तदनिष्पादयन् वृथा । पण्यानां द्वादशं भागं भूपालाय वणिग्जनः॥ 18.3 ॥

yadarthaṁ gṛhyate śulkaṁ tadaniṣpādayan vṛthā paṇyānāṁ dvādaśaṁ bhāgaṁ bhūpālāya vaṇigjanaḥ

'That toll which is taken for a certain purpose, if the purpose is left unfulfilled, is taken in vain. The merchant gives a twelfth part of his wares to the king,'

Verse 4 (markandeya.18.4)

दत्त्वार्थरक्षिभिर्मार्गे रक्षितो याति दस्युतः । गोपाश्च घृततक्रादेः षड्भागञ्च कृषीबलाः॥ 18.4 ॥

dattvārtharakṣibhirmārge rakṣito yāti dasyutaḥ gopāśca ghṛtatakrādeḥ ṣaḍbhāgañca kṛṣībalāḥ

'and having paid it, travels the road protected from thieves by the guards maintained with that wealth. Cowherds likewise give a sixth part of their ghee and buttermilk, and farmers give their due share,'

Verse 5 (markandeya.18.5)

दत्त्वान्यद्भूभुजे दद्युर्यदि भागं ततोऽधिकम् । पण्यादीनामशेषाणां वणिजो गृह्णतस्ततः॥ 18.5 ॥

dattvānyadbhūbhuje dadyuryadi bhāgaṁ tato’dhikam paṇyādīnāmaśeṣāṇāṁ vaṇijo gṛhṇatastataḥ

'— giving this to the lord of the earth; and if anything beyond that rightful share is taken from the merchants and the rest of their goods,'

Verse 6 (markandeya.18.6)

इष्टापूर्तविनाशाय तद्राज्ञश्चौरधर्मिणः । यद्यन्यैः पाल्यते लोकस्तद्वृत्तयन्तरसंश्रितैः॥ 18.6 ॥

iṣṭāpūrtavināśāya tadrājñaścauradharmiṇaḥ yadyanyaiḥ pālyate lokastadvṛttayantarasaṁśritaiḥ

'— then it destroys the merit of that king's own sacred rites and charitable works, behaving as he does like a thief, if his subjects end up protected by others who live by different means instead of by him.'

Verse 7 (markandeya.18.7)

गृह्णतो बलिषड्भागं नृपतेर्नरको ध्रुवम् । निरूपितमिदं राज्ञः पूर्वै रक्षणवेतनम्॥ 18.7 ॥

gṛhṇato baliṣaḍbhāgaṁ nṛpaternarako dhruvam nirūpitamidaṁ rājñaḥ pūrvai rakṣaṇavetanam

'For a king who takes the sixth part as his due yet fails to protect, hell is certain; this share was ordained by the ancients solely as wages for protection.'

Verse 8 (markandeya.18.8)

अरक्षंश्चौरतश्चौर्यं तदेनो नृपतेर्भवेत् । तस्माद्यदि तपस्तप्त्वा प्राप्तो योगित्वमीप्सितम्॥ 18.8 ॥

arakṣaṁścaurataścauryaṁ tadeno nṛpaterbhavet tasmādyadi tapastaptvā prāpto yogitvamīpsitam

'If he does not protect from thieves, that very theft becomes the king's own sin. Therefore, since through austerity I have already attained the desired accomplishment of yoga,'

Verse 9 (markandeya.18.9)

भुवः पालनसामर्थ्य-युक्त एको महीपतिः । पृथिव्यां शस्त्रधृङ्मान्यस्त्वहमेवर्धिसंयुतः । ततो भविष्ये नात्मानं करिष्ये पापभागिनम्॥ 18.9 ॥

bhuvaḥ pālanasāmarthya-yukta eko mahīpatiḥ pṛthivyāṁ śastradhṛṅmānyastvahamevardhisaṁyutaḥ tato bhaviṣye nātmānaṁ kariṣye pāpabhāginam

'— unless I truly become that one earthly lord endowed with the capacity to protect the world, weapon-bearing, honored, and blessed with prosperity, I shall not make myself a sinner by taking up the throne without it.'

Verse 10 (markandeya.18.10)

पुत्र उवाच तस्य तन्निश्चयं ज्ञात्वा मन्त्रिमध्यस्थितोऽब्रवीत् । गर्गो नाम महाबुद्धिर्मुनिश्रेष्ठो वयोऽतिगः॥ 18.10 ॥

putra uvāca tasya tanniścayaṁ jñātvā mantrimadhyasthito’bravīt gargo nāma mahābuddhirmuniśreṣṭho vayo’tigaḥ

The son said: Knowing his resolve, the aged and wise Garga, foremost among sages, seated among the ministers, spoke —

Verse 11 (markandeya.18.11)

यद्येवं कर्तुकामस्त्वं राज्यं सम्यक् प्रशासितुम् । ततो शृणुष्व मे वाक्यं कुरुष्व च नृपात्मज॥ 18.11 ॥

yadyevaṁ kartukāmastvaṁ rājyaṁ samyak praśāsitum tato śṛṇuṣva me vākyaṁ kuruṣva ca nṛpātmaja

'O prince, if you truly wish to rule the kingdom rightly, then hear my words and act accordingly.'

Verse 12 (markandeya.18.12)

दत्तात्रेयं महाभागं सह्यद्रोणीकृताश्रयम् । तमाराधय भूपाल ! पाति यो भुवनत्रयम्॥ 18.12 ॥

dattātreyaṁ mahābhāgaṁ sahyadroṇīkṛtāśrayam tamārādhaya bhūpāla ! pāti yo bhuvanatrayam

'Worship the illustrious Dattatreya, O king, who dwells in a valley of the Sahya mountain and protects the three worlds —'

Verse 13 (markandeya.18.13)

योगयुक्तं महाभागं सर्वत्र समदर्शिनम् । विष्णोरंशं जगद्धातुरवतीर्णं महीतले॥ 18.13 ॥

yogayuktaṁ mahābhāgaṁ sarvatra samadarśinam viṣṇoraṁśaṁ jagaddhāturavatīrṇaṁ mahītale

'— ever established in yoga, seeing all things equally, illustrious, a portion of Vishnu the sustainer of the universe, descended upon the earth.'

Verse 14 (markandeya.18.14)

यमाराध्य सहस्राक्षः प्राप्तवान् पदमात्मनः । हृतं दुरात्मभिर्दैत्यैर्जघान च दितेः सुतान्॥ 18.14 ॥

yamārādhya sahasrākṣaḥ prāptavān padamātmanaḥ hṛtaṁ durātmabhirdaityairjaghāna ca diteḥ sutān

'By worshipping him, thousand-eyed Indra regained his own position, taken from him by the wicked demons, and slew the sons of Diti.'

Verse 15 (markandeya.18.15)

अर्जुन उवाच कथमाराधितो देवैर्दत्तात्रेयः प्रतापवान् । कथञ्चापहृतं दैत्यैरिन्द्रत्वं प्राप वासवः॥ 18.15 ॥

arjuna uvāca kathamārādhito devairdattātreyaḥ pratāpavān kathañcāpahṛtaṁ daityairindratvaṁ prāpa vāsavaḥ

Arjuna said: 'How did the gods worship the mighty Dattatreya, and how did Vasava [Indra] regain the kingship that the demons had taken from him?'

Verse 16 (markandeya.18.16)

गर्ग उवाच देवानां दानवानाञ्च युद्धमासीत् सुदारुणम् । दैत्यानामीश्वरो जम्भो देवानाञ्च शचीपतिः॥ 18.16 ॥

garga uvāca devānāṁ dānavānāñca yuddhamāsīt sudāruṇam daityānāmīśvaro jambho devānāñca śacīpatiḥ

Garga said: 'A most terrible war took place between the gods and the demons; Jambha was lord of the demons, and the husband of Shachi [Indra] was lord of the gods.'

Verse 17 (markandeya.18.17)

तेषाञ्च युध्यमानानां दिव्यः संवत्सरो गतः । ततो देवाः पराभूता दैत्या विजयिनोऽभवन्॥ 18.17 ॥

teṣāñca yudhyamānānāṁ divyaḥ saṁvatsaro gataḥ tato devāḥ parābhūtā daityā vijayino’bhavan

'As the two armies fought, a full divine year passed; then the gods were overcome, and the demons became victorious.'

Verse 18 (markandeya.18.18)

विप्रचित्तिमुखैर्देवा दानवैस्ते पराजिताः । पलायनकृतोत्साहा निरुत्साहा द्विषज्जये॥ 18.18 ॥

vipracittimukhairdevā dānavaiste parājitāḥ palāyanakṛtotsāhā nirutsāhā dviṣajjaye

'Defeated by the demons headed by Vipracitti, the gods grew eager to flee, but had lost all heart for victory over their foe.'

Verse 19 (markandeya.18.19)

बृहस्पतिमुपागम्य दैत्यसैन्यवधेप्सवः । अमन्त्रयन्त सहिता बालखिल्यैस्तथर्षिभिः॥ 18.19 ॥

bṛhaspatimupāgamya daityasainyavadhepsavaḥ amantrayanta sahitā bālakhilyaistatharṣibhiḥ

'Desiring the destruction of the demon army, they went together, along with the Balakhilya sages and other seers, to Brihaspati, and took counsel with him.'

Verse 20 (markandeya.18.20)

बृहस्पतिरुवाच दत्तात्रेयं महात्मानमत्रेः पुत्रं तपोधनम् । विकृताचरणं भक्त्या सन्तोषयितुमर्हथ॥ 18.20 ॥

bṛhaspatiruvāca dattātreyaṁ mahātmānamatreḥ putraṁ tapodhanam vikṛtācaraṇaṁ bhaktyā santoṣayitumarhatha

Brihaspati said: 'You should devotedly satisfy the great, austere soul Dattatreya, son of Atri, whose conduct appears strange to the eye.'

Verse 21 (markandeya.18.21)

स वो दैत्यविनाशाय वरदो दास्यते वरम् । ततो हनिष्यथ सुरा सहिता दैत्यदानवान्॥ 18.21 ॥

sa vo daityavināśāya varado dāsyate varam tato haniṣyatha surā sahitā daityadānavān

'He, granting a boon, will grant it for the destruction of the demons; then you gods, united, will be able to slay the demons and danavas.'

Verse 22 (markandeya.18.22)

गर्ग उवाच इत्युक्तास्ते तदा जग्मुर्दत्तात्रेयाश्रमं सुराः । ददृशुश्च महात्मानं तं ते लक्ष्म्या समन्वितम्॥ 18.22 ॥

garga uvāca ityuktāste tadā jagmurdattātreyāśramaṁ surāḥ dadṛśuśca mahātmānaṁ taṁ te lakṣmyā samanvitam

Garga said: 'Hearing this, the gods then went to Dattatreya's hermitage, and beheld that great soul, accompanied by Lakshmi,'

Verse 23 (markandeya.18.23)

उद्गीयमानं गन्धर्वैः सुरापानरतं मुनिम् । ते तस्य गत्वा प्रणतिमवदन् साध्यसाधनम्॥ 18.23 ॥

udgīyamānaṁ gandharvaiḥ surāpānarataṁ munim te tasya gatvā praṇatimavadan sādhyasādhanam

'sung to by the Gandharvas, that sage given over to drinking wine. Approaching him, they bowed and spoke of the means to accomplish their purpose.'

Verse 24 (markandeya.18.24)

चक्रुः स्तवञ्चोपजह्रुर्भक्ष्यभोज्यस्त्रगादिकम् । तिष्ठन्तमनुतिष्ठन्ति यान्तं यान्ति दिवौकसः॥ 18.24 ॥

cakruḥ stavañcopajahrurbhakṣyabhojyastragādikam tiṣṭhantamanutiṣṭhanti yāntaṁ yānti divaukasaḥ

'They offered praise and brought food, delicacies, garlands, and the like; when he sat, they too remained seated with him; when he moved, the gods moved along with him.'

Verse 25 (markandeya.18.25)

आराधयामासुरधः स्थितास्तिष्ठन्तमासने । स प्राह प्रणतान् देवान् दत्तात्रेयः किमिष्यते । मत्तो भवद्भिर्येनेयं शुश्रूषा क्रियते मम॥ 18.25 ॥

ārādhayāmāsuradhaḥ sthitāstiṣṭhantamāsane sa prāha praṇatān devān dattātreyaḥ kimiṣyate matto bhavadbhiryeneyaṁ śuśrūṣā kriyate mama

'Standing below him as he sat upon his seat, they worshipped him. Dattatreya said to the bowing gods: What is it you desire of me, that you render such service to me?'

Verse 26 (markandeya.18.26)

देवा ऊचुः दानवैर्मुनिशार्दूल ! जम्भाद्यैर्भूर्भुवादिकम् । हृतं तैलोक्यमाक्रम्य क्रतुभागाश्च कृत्स्नशः॥ 18.26 ॥

devā ūcuḥ dānavairmuniśārdūla ! jambhādyairbhūrbhuvādikam hṛtaṁ tailokyamākramya kratubhāgāśca kṛtsnaśaḥ

The gods said: 'O tiger among sages, the demons headed by Jambha have invaded and seized the earth, the sky, and all three worlds, along with our entire share of sacrifice.'

Verse 27 (markandeya.18.27)

तद्वधे कुरु बुद्धिं त्वं परित्राणाय नोऽनघ । त्वत्प्रसादादभीप्सामः पुनः प्राप्तं त्रिविष्टपम्॥ 18.27 ॥

tadvadhe kuru buddhiṁ tvaṁ paritrāṇāya no’nagha tvatprasādādabhīpsāmaḥ punaḥ prāptaṁ triviṣṭapam

'Resolve, O sinless one, upon their destruction for our protection; by your grace we long to regain heaven once more.'

Verse 28 (markandeya.18.28)

दत्तात्रेय उवाच मद्यासक्तोऽहमुच्छिष्टो न चैवाहं जितेन्द्रियः । कथमिच्छथ मत्तोऽपि देवाः शत्रुपराभवम्॥ 18.28 ॥

dattātreya uvāca madyāsakto’hamucchiṣṭo na caivāhaṁ jitendriyaḥ kathamicchatha matto’pi devāḥ śatruparābhavam

Dattatreya said: 'I am addicted to wine, I am unclean, and I have not even conquered my senses — how then, O gods, can you hope, even from me, for the defeat of your foes?'

Verse 29 (markandeya.18.29)

देवा ऊचुः अनघस्त्वं जगन्नाथ न लेपस्तव विद्यते । विद्याक्षालनशुद्धान्तर्निविष्टज्ञानदीधिते !॥ 18.29 ॥

devā ūcuḥ anaghastvaṁ jagannātha na lepastava vidyate vidyākṣālanaśuddhāntarniviṣṭajñānadīdhite !

The gods said: 'O lord of the world, you are sinless; no taint exists in you — O one whose inner being, cleansed by knowledge, gleams with the light of pure wisdom!'

Verse 30 (markandeya.18.30)

दत्तात्रेय उवाच सत्यमेतत् सुरा विद्या ममास्ति समदर्शिनः । अस्यास्तु योषितः सङ्गादहमुच्छिष्टतां गतः॥ 18.30 ॥

dattātreya uvāca satyametat surā vidyā mamāsti samadarśinaḥ asyāstu yoṣitaḥ saṅgādahamucchiṣṭatāṁ gataḥ

Dattatreya said: 'This is true, O gods — I do possess the knowledge of one who sees all things equally; yet through the company of this woman, I have fallen into a state of impurity.'

Verse 31 (markandeya.18.31)

स्त्रीसम्भोगो हि दोषाय सातत्येनोपसेवितः । एवमुक्तास्ततो देवाः पुनर्वचनमब्रुवन्॥ 18.31 ॥

strīsambhogo hi doṣāya sātatyenopasevitaḥ evamuktāstato devāḥ punarvacanamabruvan

'Enjoyment of a woman, indulged in continually, does indeed become a cause of fault.' Thus addressed, the gods spoke once more —

Verse 32 (markandeya.18.32)

देवा ऊचुः अनघेयं द्विजश्रेष्ठ जगन्माता न दुष्यते । यथांशुमाला सूर्यस्य द्विज-चाण्डालसङ्गिनी॥ 18.32 ॥

devā ūcuḥ anagheyaṁ dvijaśreṣṭha jaganmātā na duṣyate yathāṁśumālā sūryasya dvija-cāṇḍālasaṅginī

The gods said: 'O best of brahmins, this mother of the world is without fault, never tainted — just as the rays of the sun, though touching brahmin and outcaste alike, remain ever pure.'

Verse 33 (markandeya.18.33)

गर्ग उवाच एवमुक्तस्ततो देवैर्दत्तात्रेयोऽब्रवीदिदम् । प्रहस्य त्रिदशान् सर्वान् यद्येतद्भवतां मतम्॥ 18.33 ॥

garga uvāca evamuktastato devairdattātreyo’bravīdidam prahasya tridaśān sarvān yadyetadbhavatāṁ matam

Garga said: Thus addressed by the gods, Dattatreya, laughing at all of them, then said: 'If this is your firm resolve,'

Verse 34 (markandeya.18.34)

तदाहूयासुरान् सर्वान् युद्धाय सुरसत्तमाः । इहानयत मद्दृष्टिगोचरं मा विलम्बतः॥ 18.34 ॥

tadāhūyāsurān sarvān yuddhāya surasattamāḥ ihānayata maddṛṣṭigocaraṁ mā vilambataḥ

'— then, O best of gods, summon all the demons to battle and bring them here, without delay, into the range of my sight.'

Verse 35 (markandeya.18.35)

मद्दृष्टिपातहुतभुक्-प्रक्षीणबलतेजसः । येन नाशमशेषास्ते प्रयान्ति मम दर्शनात्॥ 18.35 ॥

maddṛṣṭipātahutabhuk-prakṣīṇabalatejasaḥ yena nāśamaśeṣāste prayānti mama darśanāt

'The moment my glance falls upon them, their strength and splendor, consumed as if offered into fire, shall be utterly spent, so that all of them, without exception, shall perish by the mere sight of me.'

Verse 36 (markandeya.18.36)

गर्ग उवाच तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा देवैर्दैत्या महाबलाः । आहवाय समाहूता जग्मुर्देवगणान् रुषा॥ 18.36 ॥

garga uvāca tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā devairdaityā mahābalāḥ āhavāya samāhūtā jagmurdevagaṇān ruṣā

Garga said: Having heard his words, the mighty demons, summoned to battle by the gods, advanced in fury against the assembled hosts of the gods.

Verse 37 (markandeya.18.37)

ते हन्यमाना दैतेयैर्देवा शीघ्रं भयातुराः । दत्तात्रेयाश्रमं जग्मुः समेताः शरणार्थिनः॥ 18.37 ॥

te hanyamānā daiteyairdevā śīghraṁ bhayāturāḥ dattātreyāśramaṁ jagmuḥ sametāḥ śaraṇārthinaḥ

Being struck down by the demons, the gods, quickly overcome with fear, gathered together and went to Dattatreya's hermitage, seeking refuge.

Verse 38 (markandeya.18.38)

तमेव विविशुर्दैत्याः कालयन्तो दिवौकसः । ददृशुश्च महात्मानं दत्तात्रेयं महाबलम्॥ 18.38 ॥

tameva viviśurdaityāḥ kālayanto divaukasaḥ dadṛśuśca mahātmānaṁ dattātreyaṁ mahābalam

Pursuing the gods, the demons too entered that very hermitage, and there they beheld the mighty, great soul Dattatreya —

Verse 39 (markandeya.18.39)

वामपार्श्वस्थितामिष्टामशेषजगतां शुभाम् । भार्याञ्चास्य सुचार्वङ्गीं लक्ष्मीमिन्दुनिभाननाम्॥ 18.39 ॥

vāmapārśvasthitāmiṣṭāmaśeṣajagatāṁ śubhām bhāryāñcāsya sucārvaṅgīṁ lakṣmīmindunibhānanām

and, seated at his left side, his wife Lakshmi — dear and auspicious to the whole world, of lovely limbs, her face like the moon,

Verse 40 (markandeya.18.40)

नीलोत्पलाभनयनां पीनश्रोणिपयोधराम् । गदन्तीं मधुरां भाषां सर्वैर्योषिद्गुणैर्युताम्॥ 18.40 ॥

nīlotpalābhanayanāṁ pīnaśroṇipayodharām gadantīṁ madhurāṁ bhāṣāṁ sarvairyoṣidguṇairyutām

her eyes like blue lotuses, with full hips and breasts, speaking in sweet tones, endowed with every womanly virtue.

Verse 41 (markandeya.18.41)

ते तां दृष्ट्वाग्रतो दैत्याः साभिलाषा मनोभवम् । न शेसुरुद्धतं धैर्यान्मनसा वोढुमातुराः॥ 18.41 ॥

te tāṁ dṛṣṭvāgrato daityāḥ sābhilāṣā manobhavam na śesuruddhataṁ dhairyānmanasā voḍhumāturāḥ

Beholding her before them, the demons were seized with desire; overwhelmed by passion, they could no longer, for all their pride, keep their minds composed.

Verse 42 (markandeya.18.42)

त्यक्त्वा देवान् स्त्रियं तां तु हर्तुकामा हतौजसः । तेन पापेन मुह्यन्तः संशक्तास्ते ततोऽब्रुवन्॥ 18.42 ॥

tyaktvā devān striyaṁ tāṁ tu hartukāmā hataujasaḥ tena pāpena muhyantaḥ saṁśaktāste tato’bruvan

Abandoning the gods, their strength now spent, and desiring instead to seize that woman, bewildered and bound together by that sinful longing, they said to one another —

Verse 43 (markandeya.18.43)

स्त्रोरत्नमेतत् त्रैलोक्ये सारं नो यदि वै भवेत् । कृतकृत्यास्ततः सर्व इति नो भावितं मनः॥ 18.43 ॥

stroratnametat trailokye sāraṁ no yadi vai bhavet kṛtakṛtyāstataḥ sarva iti no bhāvitaṁ manaḥ

'If this jewel among women — the very essence of the three worlds — becomes ours, then all of us shall have accomplished our purpose' — thus their minds resolved.

Verse 44 (markandeya.18.44)

तस्मात् सर्वे समुत्क्षिप्य शिविकायां सुरार्दनाः । आरोप्य स्वमधिष्ठानं नयाम इति निश्चिताः॥ 18.44 ॥

tasmāt sarve samutkṣipya śivikāyāṁ surārdanāḥ āropya svamadhiṣṭhānaṁ nayāma iti niścitāḥ

Therefore those tormentors of the gods resolved: 'Let us all together lift her up, place her upon a palanquin, and carry her off to our own abode.'

Verse 45 (markandeya.18.45)

गर्ग उवाच सानुरागास्ततस्ते तु प्रोक्ताश्चेत्त्थं परस्परम् । तस्य तां योषितं साध्वीं समुत्क्षिप्य स्मरार्दिताः॥ 18.45 ॥

garga uvāca sānurāgāstataste tu proktāścettthaṁ parasparam tasya tāṁ yoṣitaṁ sādhvīṁ samutkṣipya smarārditāḥ

Garga said: Thus filled with passion and speaking so among themselves, those demons and danavas, tormented by desire, lifted up that virtuous woman —

Verse 46 (markandeya.18.46)

शिविकायां समारोप्य सहिता दैत्यदानवाः । शिरः सु शिविकां कृत्वा स्वस्थानाभिमुखं ययुः॥ 18.46 ॥

śivikāyāṁ samāropya sahitā daityadānavāḥ śiraḥ su śivikāṁ kṛtvā svasthānābhimukhaṁ yayuḥ

and, having together set her upon a palanquin, bearing it aloft upon their own heads, they set off toward their own abode.

Verse 47 (markandeya.18.47)

दत्तात्रेयस्ततो देवान् विहस्येदमथाब्रवीत् । दिष्ट्या वर्धथ दैत्यानामेषा लक्ष्मीः शिरोगता । सप्त सथानान्यतिक्रान्ता नवमन्यमुपैष्यति॥ 18.47 ॥

dattātreyastato devān vihasyedamathābravīt diṣṭyā vardhatha daityānāmeṣā lakṣmīḥ śirogatā sapta sathānānyatikrāntā navamanyamupaiṣyati

Then Dattatreya, laughing, said to the gods: 'Rejoice — for this Lakshmi has now come to rest upon the heads of the demons! Having passed through seven stations, she now moves on to yet another, a new one.'

Verse 48 (markandeya.18.48)

देवा ऊचुः कथयस्व जगन्नाथ ! केषु स्थानेष्वस्थिता । पुरुषस्य फलं किं वा प्रयच्छत्यथ नश्यति॥ 18.48 ॥

devā ūcuḥ kathayasva jagannātha ! keṣu sthāneṣvasthitā puruṣasya phalaṁ kiṁ vā prayacchatyatha naśyati

The gods said: 'Tell us, O lord of the world, in what stations she abides, what fruit she bestows upon a man, and in what state she departs.'

Verse 49 (markandeya.18.49)

दत्तात्रेय उवाच नृणां पदे स्थिता लक्ष्मीर्निलयं सम्प्रयच्छति । सक्थ्न्योश्च संस्थिता वस्त्रं तथा नानाविधं वसु॥ 18.49 ॥

dattātreya uvāca nṛṇāṁ pade sthitā lakṣmīrnilayaṁ samprayacchati sakthnyośca saṁsthitā vastraṁ tathā nānāvidhaṁ vasu

Dattatreya said: 'Lakshmi, abiding in a man's feet, bestows a dwelling; abiding in his thighs, she bestows clothing and manifold wealth.'

Verse 50 (markandeya.18.50)

कलात्रञ्च गुह्यसंस्था क्रोडस्थापत्यदायिनी । मनोरथान् पूरयति पुरुषाणां हृदि स्थिता॥ 18.50 ॥

kalātrañca guhyasaṁsthā kroḍasthāpatyadāyinī manorathān pūrayati puruṣāṇāṁ hṛdi sthitā

'Abiding in the private parts, she bestows a wife; abiding in the lap, she bestows offspring; and abiding in the heart, she fulfills the desires of men.'

Verse 51 (markandeya.18.51)

लक्ष्मीर्लक्ष्मीवतां श्रेष्ठा कण्ठस्था कण्ठभूषणम् । अभीष्टबन्धुदारैश्च तथाश्लेषं प्रवासिभिः॥ 18.51 ॥

lakṣmīrlakṣmīvatāṁ śreṣṭhā kaṇṭhasthā kaṇṭhabhūṣaṇam abhīṣṭabandhudāraiśca tathāśleṣaṁ pravāsibhiḥ

'Lakshmi, foremost among those who bring prosperity, abiding in the throat, bestows ornaments for the throat, and grants to one long away from home the embrace of beloved kin and wife.'

Verse 52 (markandeya.18.52)

सृष्टानुवाक्यलावण्यमाज्ञामवितथां तथा । मुखसंस्था कवित्वञ्च यच्छत्युदधिसम्भवा॥ 18.52 ॥

sṛṣṭānuvākyalāvaṇyamājñāmavitathāṁ tathā mukhasaṁsthā kavitvañca yacchatyudadhisambhavā

'She, born of the ocean, abiding in the face, bestows loveliness of speech, unfailing authority, and the gift of poetry.'

Verse 53 (markandeya.18.53)

शिरोगता सन्त्यजति ततोऽन्यं याति चाश्रयम् । सेयं शिरोगता चैतान् परित्यक्ष्यति साम्प्रतम्॥ 18.53 ॥

śirogatā santyajati tato’nyaṁ yāti cāśrayam seyaṁ śirogatā caitān parityakṣyati sāmpratam

'But abiding upon the head, she abandons that person and moves on to another refuge; and this same Lakshmi, now resting upon the heads of these demons, will presently abandon them too.'

Verse 54 (markandeya.18.54)

प्रगृह्यास्त्राणि बध्यन्तां तस्मादेते सुरारयः । न भेतव्यं भृशञ्चैते मया निस्तेजसः कृताः । परदारावमर्षाच्च दग्धपुण्या हतौजसः॥ 18.54 ॥

pragṛhyāstrāṇi badhyantāṁ tasmādete surārayaḥ na bhetavyaṁ bhṛśañcaite mayā nistejasaḥ kṛtāḥ paradārāvamarṣācca dagdhapuṇyā hataujasaḥ

'Therefore take up your weapons and bind these enemies of the gods — there is nothing at all to fear, for I have already stripped them of their splendor; through their outrage against another's wife, their merit is now burnt away and their strength destroyed.'

Verse 55 (markandeya.18.55)

ततस्ते विविधैरस्त्रैर्वध्यमानाः सुरारयः । मूध्नि लक्ष्म्या समाक्रान्ता विनेशुरिति नः श्रुतम्॥ 18.55 ॥

tataste vividhairastrairvadhyamānāḥ surārayaḥ mūdhni lakṣmyā samākrāntā vineśuriti naḥ śrutam

Then those enemies of the gods, struck down by various weapons, overcome by Lakshmi resting upon their very heads, perished — so we have heard.

Verse 56 (markandeya.18.56)

लक्ष्मीश्चीत्पत्य सम्प्राप्ता दत्तात्रेयं महामुनिम् । स्तूयमाना सुरैः सर्वैर्दैत्यनाशान्मुदान्वितैः॥ 18.56 ॥

lakṣmīścītpatya samprāptā dattātreyaṁ mahāmunim stūyamānā suraiḥ sarvairdaityanāśānmudānvitaiḥ

Lakshmi, flying up, returned once more to the great sage Dattatreya, and was praised by all the gods, who rejoiced at the destruction of the demons.

Verse 57 (markandeya.18.57)

प्रणिपत्य ततो देवा दत्तात्रेयं मनीषिणम् । नाकपृष्ठमनुप्राप्ता यथापूर्वं गतज्वराः॥ 18.57 ॥

praṇipatya tato devā dattātreyaṁ manīṣiṇam nākapṛṣṭhamanuprāptā yathāpūrvaṁ gatajvarāḥ

Then the gods, having bowed down to the wise Dattatreya, freed from their affliction, regained the summit of heaven once more, as before.

Verse 58 (markandeya.18.58)

तथा त्वमपि रोजेन्द्र ! यदीच्छसि यथेप्सितम् । प्राप्तुमैश्वर्यमतुलं तूर्णमाराधयस्व ताम्॥ 18.58 ॥

tathā tvamapi rojendra ! yadīcchasi yathepsitam prāptumaiśvaryamatulaṁ tūrṇamārādhayasva tām

Garga concluded: 'So you too, O king, if you wish to attain the unequalled sovereignty you desire, swiftly worship her — that same Lakshmi.'