The Origin of the Sparrows

Verse 1 (markandeya.2.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच अरिष्टनेमिपुत्रोऽभूद् गरुडो नाम पक्षिराट् । गरुडस्याभवत् पुत्रः सम्पातिरिति विश्रुतः ॥ 2.1 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca ariṣṭanemiputro ’bhūd garuḍo nāma pakṣirāṭ garuḍasyābhavat putraḥ sampātiriti viśrutaḥ

There was a king of birds named Garuda, son of Arishtanemi. Garuda's son was renowned by the name Sampati.

Verse 2 (markandeya.2.2)

तस्याप्यासीत् सुतः शूरः सुपार्श्वो वायुविक्रमः । सुपार्श्वतनयः कुन्तिः कुन्तिपुत्रः प्रलोलुपः ॥ 2.2 ॥

tasyāpyāsīt sutaḥ śūraḥ supārśvo vāyuvikramaḥ supārśvatanayaḥ kuntiḥ kuntiputraḥ pralolupaḥ

His son too was the heroic Suparshva, swift as the wind; Suparshva's son was Kunti; Kunti's son was Pralolupa.

Verse 3 (markandeya.2.3)

तस्यापि तनयावास्तां कङ्कः कन्धर एव च ॥ 2.3 ॥

tasyāpi tanayāvāstāṁ kaṅkaḥ kandhara eva ca

He too had two sons, Kanka and Kandhara.

Verse 4 (markandeya.2.4)

कङ्कः कैलासशिखरे विद्युद्रूपेति विश्रुतम् । ददर्शाम्बुजपत्राक्षं राक्षसं धनदानुगम् ॥ 2.4 ॥

kaṅkaḥ kailāsaśikhare vidyudrūpeti viśrutam dadarśāmbujapatrākṣaṁ rākṣasaṁ dhanadānugam

Kanka, on the peak of Kailasa, saw a rakshasa known as Vidyudrupa, lotus-petal-eyed, an attendant of Kubera,

Verse 5 (markandeya.2.5)

आपानासक्तममलस्त्रग्दामाम्बरधारिणम् । भार्यासहायमासीनं शिलापट्टेऽमले शुभे ॥ 2.5 ॥

āpānāsaktamamalastragdāmāmbaradhāriṇam bhāryāsahāyamāsīnaṁ śilāpaṭṭe ’male śubhe

wearing spotless garlands and garments, engaged in drinking, seated with his wife upon a pure and auspicious slab of rock.

Verse 6 (markandeya.2.6)

तद्दृष्टमात्रं कङ्केन रक्षः क्रोधसमन्वितम् । प्रोवाच कस्मादायातस्त्वमितो ह्यण्डजाधम ॥ 2.6 ॥

taddṛṣṭamātraṁ kaṅkena rakṣaḥ krodhasamanvitam provāca kasmādāyātastvamito hyaṇḍajādhama

As soon as that rakshasa was seen by Kanka, he said angrily: "Why have you come here, you lowest of egg-born creatures?

Verse 7 (markandeya.2.7)

स्त्रीसन्निकर्षे तिष्ठन्तं कस्मान्मामुपसर्पसि । नैष धर्मः सुबुद्धीनां मिथोनिष्पाद्यवस्तुषु ॥ 2.7 ॥

strīsannikarṣe tiṣṭhantaṁ kasmānmāmupasarpasi naiṣa dharmaḥ subuddhīnāṁ mithoniṣpādyavastuṣu

Why do you approach me while I sit close with my wife? This is not proper conduct for the wise, in matters meant to be private between a couple."

Verse 8 (markandeya.2.8)

कङ्क उवाच साधारणोऽयं शैलेन्द्रो यथा तव तथा मम । अन्येषां चैव जन्तूनां ममता भवतोऽत्र का ॥ 2.8 ॥

kaṅka uvāca sādhāraṇo ’yaṁ śailendro yathā tava tathā mama anyeṣāṁ caiva jantūnāṁ mamatā bhavato ’tra kā

Kanka said: "This king of mountains is common ground — as much yours as mine, and of all other creatures too. What claim of ownership do you have here?"

Verse 9 (markandeya.2.9)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ब्रुवाणमित्थं खड्गेन कङ्कं चिन्छेद राक्षसः । क्षरत्क्षतजबीभत्सं विस्फुरन्तमचेतनम् ॥ 2.9 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca bruvāṇamitthaṁ khaḍgena kaṅkaṁ cincheda rākṣasaḥ kṣaratkṣatajabībhatsaṁ visphurantamacetanam

While he was speaking thus, the rakshasa cut Kanka down with his sword, leaving him ghastly with flowing blood, quivering, unconscious.

Verse 10 (markandeya.2.10)

कङ्कं विनिहतं श्रुत्वा कन्धरः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः । विद्युद्रूपवधायाशु मनश्चक्रेऽण्डजेश्वरः ॥ 2.10 ॥

kaṅkaṁ vinihataṁ śrutvā kandharaḥ krodhamūrcchitaḥ vidyudrūpavadhāyāśu manaścakre ’ṇḍajeśvaraḥ

Hearing that Kanka had been slain, Kandhara, lord of the egg-born, overcome with rage, resolved at once upon killing Vidyudrupa.

Verse 11 (markandeya.2.11)

स गत्वा शैलशिखरं कङ्को यत्र हतः स्थितः । तस्य संकलनं चक्रे भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य खेचरः । कोपामर्षविवृताक्षो नागेन्द्र इव निः श्वसन् ॥ 2.11 ॥

sa gatvā śailaśikharaṁ kaṅko yatra hataḥ sthitaḥ tasya saṁkalanaṁ cakre bhrāturjyeṣṭhasya khecaraḥ kopāmarṣavivṛtākṣo nāgendra iva niḥ śvasan

Going to the mountain peak where Kanka lay slain, that bird performed the funeral rites for his elder brother, his eyes wide with fury and indignation, hissing like a great serpent.

Verse 12 (markandeya.2.12)

जगामाथ स यत्रास्ते भ्रातृहा तस्य राक्षसः । पक्षवातेन महता चालयन् भूधरान् वरान् ॥ 2.12 ॥

jagāmātha sa yatrāste bhrātṛhā tasya rākṣasaḥ pakṣavātena mahatā cālayan bhūdharān varān

Then he went to where that rakshasa, his brother's slayer, was, shaking great mountains with the mighty gust of his wings.

Verse 13 (markandeya.2.13)

वेगात् पयोदजालानि विक्षिपन् क्षतजेक्षणः । क्षणात् क्षयितशत्रुः स पक्षाभ्यां क्रान्तभूधरः ॥ 2.13 ॥

vegāt payodajālāni vikṣipan kṣatajekṣaṇaḥ kṣaṇāt kṣayitaśatruḥ sa pakṣābhyāṁ krāntabhūdharaḥ

His eyes red with fury, scattering masses of clouds with his speed, covering the mountains with his wings, he sped on to destroy his enemy in an instant.

Verse 14 (markandeya.2.14)

पानासक्तमतिं तत्र तं ददर्श निशाचरम् । आताम्रवक्त्रनयनं हेमपर्यङ्कमाश्रितम् ॥ 2.14 ॥

pānāsaktamatiṁ tatra taṁ dadarśa niśācaram ātāmravaktranayanaṁ hemaparyaṅkamāśritam

There he saw that night-wanderer, his mind intent on drink, his face and eyes reddened, reclining upon a golden couch.

Verse 15 (markandeya.2.15)

स्त्रग्दामापूरितशिखं हरिचन्दनभूषितम् । केतकीगर्भपत्राभैर्दन्तैर्घोरतराननम् ॥ 2.15 ॥

stragdāmāpūritaśikhaṁ haricandanabhūṣitam ketakīgarbhapatrābhairdantairghoratarānanam

his crown filled with garlands, adorned with yellow sandal-paste, his face made terrible by teeth like the pale inner petals of the ketaki flower.

Verse 16 (markandeya.2.16)

वामोरुमाश्रितां चास्य ददर्शायतलोचनाम् । पत्नीं मदनिकां नाम पुंस्कोकिलकलस्वनाम् ॥ 2.16 ॥

vāmorumāśritāṁ cāsya dadarśāyatalocanām patnīṁ madanikāṁ nāma puṁskokilakalasvanām

And he saw, resting upon his left thigh, his wide-eyed wife named Madanika, whose voice was as sweet as the male cuckoo's.

Verse 17 (markandeya.2.17)

ततो रोषपरीतात्मा कन्धरः कन्दरस्थितम् । तमुवाच सुदुष्टात्मन्नेहि युध्यस्व वै मया ॥ 2.17 ॥

tato roṣaparītātmā kandharaḥ kandarasthitam tamuvāca suduṣṭātmannehi yudhyasva vai mayā

Then Kandhara, his mind seized by fury, said to him seated in that mountain cleft: "Come, O evil-souled one, fight with me!

Verse 18 (markandeya.2.18)

यस्माज्जेष्ठो मम भ्राता विश्रब्धो घाततस्त्वया । तस्मात्त्वां मदसंसक्तं नयिष्ये यमसादनम् ॥ 2.18 ॥

yasmājjeṣṭho mama bhrātā viśrabdho ghātatastvayā tasmāttvāṁ madasaṁsaktaṁ nayiṣye yamasādanam

Since my elder brother, unguarded, was slain by you, I shall send you, sunk in your own intoxication, to the abode of Yama.

Verse 19 (markandeya.2.19)

विश्वस्तघातिनां लोका ये च स्त्रीबालघातिनाम् । यास्यसे निरयान् सर्वांस्तांस्त्वमद्य मया हतः ॥ 2.19 ॥

viśvastaghātināṁ lokā ye ca strībālaghātinām yāsyase nirayān sarvāṁstāṁstvamadya mayā hataḥ

Slain by me today, you shall go to all those hells reserved for slayers of the trusting and for slayers of women and children.

Verse 20 (markandeya.2.20)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच इत्येवं पतगेन्द्रेण प्रोक्तं स्त्रीसन्निधौ तदा । रक्षः क्रोधसमाविष्टं प्रत्यभाषत पक्षिणम् ॥ 2.20 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca ityevaṁ patagendreṇa proktaṁ strīsannidhau tadā rakṣaḥ krodhasamāviṣṭaṁ pratyabhāṣata pakṣiṇam

Thus addressed by that lord of birds in his wife's presence, the rakshasa, seized with fury, replied to the bird.

Verse 21 (markandeya.2.21)

यदि ते निहतो भ्राता पौरुषं तद्धि दर्शितम् । त्वामप्यद्य हनिष्येऽहं खड्गेनानेन खेचर ॥ 2.21 ॥

yadi te nihato bhrātā pauruṣaṁ taddhi darśitam tvāmapyadya haniṣye ’haṁ khaḍgenānena khecara

"If your brother was slain, that indeed showed my valor. You too, O sky-goer, I shall now kill with this very sword.

Verse 22 (markandeya.2.22)

तिष्ठ क्षणं नात्र जीवन् पतगाधम यास्यसि । इत्युक्त्वाञ्जनपुञ्जाभं विमलं खड्गमाददे ॥ 2.22 ॥

tiṣṭha kṣaṇaṁ nātra jīvan patagādhama yāsyasi ityuktvāñjanapuñjābhaṁ vimalaṁ khaḍgamādade

Stand but a moment — you shall not leave here alive, lowest of birds." So saying, he took up his stainless sword, dark as a mass of collyrium.

Verse 23 (markandeya.2.23)

ततः पतगराजस्य यक्षाधिपभटस्य च । बभूव युद्धमतुलं यथा गरुड-शक्रयोः ॥ 2.23 ॥

tataḥ patagarājasya yakṣādhipabhaṭasya ca babhūva yuddhamatulaṁ yathā garuḍa-śakrayoḥ

Then between the king of birds and that warrior of the Yaksha-lord there arose a battle beyond compare, like that between Garuda and Indra.

Verse 24 (markandeya.2.24)

ततः स राक्षसः क्रोधात् खड्गमाविध्य वेगवत् । चिक्षेप पतगेन्द्राय निर्वाणाङ्गारवर्चसम् ॥ 2.24 ॥

tataḥ sa rākṣasaḥ krodhāt khaḍgamāvidhya vegavat cikṣepa patagendrāya nirvāṇāṅgāravarcasam

Then that rakshasa, in fury, whirling his sword swiftly, hurled it at the king of birds, its brilliance like that of a dying ember.

Verse 25 (markandeya.2.25)

पतगेन्द्रश्च तं खड्गङ्किञ्चिदुत्प्लुत्य भूतलात् । वक्त्रेण जग्राह तदा गरुडः पन्नगं यथा ॥ 2.25 ॥

patagendraśca taṁ khaḍgaṅkiñcidutplutya bhūtalāt vaktreṇa jagrāha tadā garuḍaḥ pannagaṁ yathā

And the king of birds, leaping a little from the ground, seized that sword in his beak, as Garuda seizes a serpent.

Verse 26 (markandeya.2.26)

वक्त्रपादतलैर्भङ्क्त्वा चक्रे क्षोभमथातुलम् । तस्मिन् भग्ने ततः खड्गे बाहुयुद्धमवर्तत ॥ 2.26 ॥

vaktrapādatalairbhaṅktvā cakre kṣobhamathātulam tasmin bhagne tataḥ khaḍge bāhuyuddhamavartata

Breaking it with beak and the soles of his feet, he wrought unequalled havoc; when that sword was broken, then a hand-to-hand combat ensued.

Verse 27 (markandeya.2.27)

ततः पतगराजेन वक्षस्याक्रम्य राक्षसः । हस्त-पाद-करैराशु शिरसा च वियोजितः ॥ 2.27 ॥

tataḥ patagarājena vakṣasyākramya rākṣasaḥ hasta-pāda-karairāśu śirasā ca viyojitaḥ

Then, the king of birds having trampled upon his chest, the rakshasa was swiftly severed from his head, by hands, feet and claws.

Verse 28 (markandeya.2.28)

तस्मिन् विनिहते सा स्त्री खगं शरणमभ्यगात् । किञ्चित् संजातसंत्रासा प्राह भार्या भवामि ते ॥ 2.28 ॥

tasmin vinihate sā strī khagaṁ śaraṇamabhyagāt kiñcit saṁjātasaṁtrāsā prāha bhāryā bhavāmi te

When he was slain, that woman came for refuge to the bird; somewhat terrified, she said: "I shall become your wife."

Verse 29 (markandeya.2.29)

तामादाय खगश्रेष्ठः स्वकं गृहमगात् पुनः । गत्वा स निष्कृतिं भ्रातुर्विद्युद्रुपनिपातनात् ॥ 2.29 ॥

tāmādāya khagaśreṣṭhaḥ svakaṁ gṛhamagāt punaḥ gatvā sa niṣkṛtiṁ bhrāturvidyudrupanipātanāt

Taking her, that best of birds returned again to his own home, having thus atoned for his brother's death by the slaying of Vidyudrupa.

Verse 30 (markandeya.2.30)

कन्धरस्य च सा वेश्म प्राप्येच्छारूपधारिणी । मेनकातनया सुभ्रूः सौपर्णं रूपमाददे ॥ 2.30 ॥

kandharasya ca sā veśma prāpyecchārūpadhāriṇī menakātanayā subhrūḥ sauparṇaṁ rūpamādade

Having reached Kandhara's dwelling, that fair-browed daughter of Menaka, capable of assuming any form at will, took on the form of a Suparna.

Verse 31 (markandeya.2.31)

तस्यां स जनयामास तार्क्षों नाम सुतां तदा । मुनिशापाग्निविप्लुष्टां वपुमप्सरसां वराम् । तस्या नाम तदा चक्रे तार्क्षोमिति विहङ्गमः ॥ 2.31 ॥

tasyāṁ sa janayāmāsa tārkṣoṁ nāma sutāṁ tadā muniśāpāgnivipluṣṭāṁ vapumapsarasāṁ varām tasyā nāma tadā cakre tārkṣomiti vihaṅgamaḥ

On her he then begot a daughter named Tarkshi — that same Vapu, foremost among Apsarases, scorched by the fire of the sage's curse; the bird then gave her the name Tarkshi.

Verse 32 (markandeya.2.32)

मन्दपालसुताश्चासंश्चत्वारोऽमितबुद्धयः । जरितारिप्रभृतयो द्रोणान्ता द्विजसत्तमाः ॥ 2.32 ॥

mandapālasutāścāsaṁścatvāro ’mitabuddhayaḥ jaritāriprabhṛtayo droṇāntā dvijasattamāḥ

And the sons of Mandapala were four, of boundless intellect, beginning with Jaritari and ending with Drona — best of the twice-born.

Verse 33 (markandeya.2.33)

तेषां जघन्यो धर्मात्मा वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः । उपयेमे स तां तार्क्षों कन्धरानुमते शुभाम् ॥ 2.33 ॥

teṣāṁ jaghanyo dharmātmā vedavedāṅgapāragaḥ upayeme sa tāṁ tārkṣoṁ kandharānumate śubhām

The youngest of them, righteous of soul, master of the Vedas and Vedangas, married that auspicious Tarkshi, with Kandhara's consent.

Verse 34 (markandeya.2.34)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य तार्क्षो गर्भमवाप ह । सप्तपक्षाहिते गर्भे कुरुक्षेत्रं जगाम सा ॥ 2.34 ॥

kasyacittvatha kālasya tārkṣo garbhamavāpa ha saptapakṣāhite garbhe kurukṣetraṁ jagāma sā

After some time Tarkshi conceived; and when her pregnancy had lasted seven fortnights, she went to Kurukshetra.

Verse 35 (markandeya.2.35)

कुरु-पाण्डवयोर्युद्धे वर्तमाने सुदारुणे । भावित्वाच्चैव कार्यस्य रणमध्ये विवेश सा ॥ 2.35 ॥

kuru-pāṇḍavayoryuddhe vartamāne sudāruṇe bhāvitvāccaiva kāryasya raṇamadhye viveśa sā

While the terrible war between the Kurus and Pandavas was raging, and because what was fated had to occur, she entered into the midst of the battlefield.

Verse 36 (markandeya.2.36)

तत्रापश्यत् तदा युद्धं भगदत्तकिरीटिनोः । निरन्तरं शरैरासीदाकाशं शलभैरिव ॥ 2.36 ॥

tatrāpaśyat tadā yuddhaṁ bhagadattakirīṭinoḥ nirantaraṁ śarairāsīdākāśaṁ śalabhairiva

There she witnessed the battle of Bhagadatta and Kiritin, where the sky, unbroken with arrows, seemed filled with locusts.

Verse 37 (markandeya.2.37)

पार्थकोदण्डनिर्मुक्तमासन्नमतिवेगवत् । तस्या भल्लमहिश्यामं त्वचं चिच्छेद जाठरीम् ॥ 2.37 ॥

pārthakodaṇḍanirmuktamāsannamativegavat tasyā bhallamahiśyāmaṁ tvacaṁ ciccheda jāṭharīm

An arrow released from Partha's bow, dark like a great elephant, exceedingly swift and close, cleft open the skin of her belly.

Verse 38 (markandeya.2.38)

भिन्ने कोष्ठे शसाङ्काभं भूमावण्डचतुष्टयम् । आयुषः सावशेषत्वात् तूलराशाविवापतत् ॥ 2.38 ॥

bhinne koṣṭhe śasāṅkābhaṁ bhūmāvaṇḍacatuṣṭayam āyuṣaḥ sāvaśeṣatvāt tūlarāśāvivāpatat

When her womb was pierced, four eggs, pale as the moon, fell to the ground — since their lifespan still remained, they fell as though onto a heap of cotton.

Verse 39 (markandeya.2.39)

तत्पातसमकालं च सुप्रतीकाद्गजोत्तमात् । पपात महती घण्टा बाणसंछिन्नबन्धना ॥ 2.39 ॥

tatpātasamakālaṁ ca supratīkādgajottamāt papāta mahatī ghaṇṭā bāṇasaṁchinnabandhanā

At that very moment, from the elephant Supratika, a great bell, its fastening cut by an arrow, also fell.

Verse 40 (markandeya.2.40)

समं समन्तात् प्राप्ता तु निर्भिन्नधरणीतला । छादयन्ती खगाण्डानि स्थितानि पिशितोपरि ॥ 2.40 ॥

samaṁ samantāt prāptā tu nirbhinnadharaṇītalā chādayantī khagāṇḍāni sthitāni piśitopari

It landed evenly all around, its rim driven into the earth, covering over the birds' eggs resting upon the flesh of the battlefield.

Verse 41 (markandeya.2.41)

हते च तस्मिन् नृपतौ भगदत्ते नरेश्वरे । बहून्यहान्यभूद्युद्धं कुरुपाण्डवसैन्ययोः ॥ 2.41 ॥

hate ca tasmin nṛpatau bhagadatte nareśvare bahūnyahānyabhūdyuddhaṁ kurupāṇḍavasainyayoḥ

When that king Bhagadatta, lord of men, was slain, the battle between the armies of the Kurus and Pandavas continued for many days more.

Verse 42 (markandeya.2.42)

वृत्ते युद्धे धर्मपुत्रे गते शान्तनवान्तिकम् । भीष्मस्य गदतोऽशेषान् श्रोतुं धर्मान् महात्मनः ॥ 2.42 ॥

vṛtte yuddhe dharmaputre gate śāntanavāntikam bhīṣmasya gadato ’śeṣān śrotuṁ dharmān mahātmanaḥ

When the war was over, and Yudhishthira, son of Dharma, had gone to the presence of Shantanu's son Bhishma, to hear all the teachings on dharma spoken by that great-souled one,

Verse 43 (markandeya.2.43)

घण्टागतानि तिष्ठन्ति यत्राण्डानि द्विजोत्तम । आजगाम तमुद्देशं शमीको नाम संयमी ॥ 2.43 ॥

ghaṇṭāgatāni tiṣṭhanti yatrāṇḍāni dvijottama ājagāma tamuddeśaṁ śamīko nāma saṁyamī

at that spot, O best of the twice-born, where the eggs lay under the fallen bell, there came a self-controlled sage named Shamika.

Verse 44 (markandeya.2.44)

स तत्र शब्दमशृणोच्चिचीकुचीति वाशताम् । बाल्यादस्फुटवाक्यानां विज्ञानेऽपि परे सति ॥ 2.44 ॥

sa tatra śabdamaśṛṇoccicīkucīti vāśatām bālyādasphuṭavākyānāṁ vijñāne ’pi pare sati

There he heard a sound, "chichi-kuchi," cried out — the indistinct speech of infancy, though supreme understanding lay within them.

Verse 45 (markandeya.2.45)

अथर्षिः शिष्यसहितो घण्टामुत्पाट्य विस्मितः । अमातृपितृपक्षाणि शिशुकानि ददर्श ह ॥ 2.45 ॥

atharṣiḥ śiṣyasahito ghaṇṭāmutpāṭya vismitaḥ amātṛpitṛpakṣāṇi śiśukāni dadarśa ha

Then the sage, together with his disciples, astonished, lifted up the bell and beheld the infant birds, helpless, without mother or father at hand.

Verse 46 (markandeya.2.46)

तानि तत्र तथा भूमौ शमीको भगवान् मुनिः । दृष्ट्वा स विस्मयाविष्टः प्रोवाचानुगतान् द्विजान् ॥ 2.46 ॥

tāni tatra tathā bhūmau śamīko bhagavān muniḥ dṛṣṭvā sa vismayāviṣṭaḥ provācānugatān dvijān

Seeing them there thus upon the ground, the blessed sage Shamika, filled with wonder, spoke to the brahmins who followed him.

Verse 47 (markandeya.2.47)

सम्यगुक्तं द्विजाग्य्रेण शुक्रेणोशनसा स्वयम् । पलायनपरं दृष्ट्वा दैत्यसैन्यं सुरार्दितम् ॥ 2.47 ॥

samyaguktaṁ dvijāgyreṇa śukreṇośanasā svayam palāyanaparaṁ dṛṣṭvā daityasainyaṁ surārditam

"Rightly indeed did that foremost of brahmins, Shukra Ushanas himself, speak, when he saw the Daitya army, harried by the gods, intent on flight:

Verse 48 (markandeya.2.48)

न गन्तव्यं निवर्तध्वं कस्माद् व्रजथ कातराः । उत्सृज्य शौर्ययशसी क्व गता न मरिष्यथ ॥ 2.48 ॥

na gantavyaṁ nivartadhvaṁ kasmād vrajatha kātarāḥ utsṛjya śauryayaśasī kva gatā na mariṣyatha

'You must not flee — turn back! Why do you go, faint-hearted? Having cast aside valor and fame, where will you go that you will not die?

Verse 49 (markandeya.2.49)

नश्यतो युध्यतो वापि तावद्भवति जीवितम् । यावद्धातासृजत् पूर्वं न यावन्मनसेप्सितम् ॥ 2.49 ॥

naśyato yudhyato vāpi tāvadbhavati jīvitam yāvaddhātāsṛjat pūrvaṁ na yāvanmanasepsitam

Whether one flees or fights, one's life lasts only so long as the Creator ordained beforehand — never so long as one's own mind desires.

Verse 50 (markandeya.2.50)

एके म्रियन्ते स्वगृहे पलायन्तोऽपरे जनाः । भुञ्जन्तोऽन्नं तथैवापः पिबन्तो निधनं गताः ॥ 2.50 ॥

eke mriyante svagṛhe palāyanto ’pare janāḥ bhuñjanto ’nnaṁ tathaivāpaḥ pibanto nidhanaṁ gatāḥ

Some die in their own homes; others, while fleeing; some meet death while eating food, others while merely drinking water.

Verse 51 (markandeya.2.51)

विलासिनस्तथैवान्ये कामयाना निरामयाः । अविक्षताङ्गाः शस्त्रैश्च प्रेतराजवशङ्गताः ॥ 2.51 ॥

vilāsinastathaivānye kāmayānā nirāmayāḥ avikṣatāṅgāḥ śastraiśca pretarājavaśaṅgatāḥ

Others still, at ease, engaged in pleasure, free of illness, their limbs unwounded by any weapon, nonetheless fall under the sway of the King of the Dead.

Verse 52 (markandeya.2.52)

अन्ये तपस्यभिरता नीताः प्रेतनृपानुगैः । योगाभ्यासे रताश्चान्ये नैव प्रापुरमृत्युताम् ॥ 2.52 ॥

anye tapasyabhiratā nītāḥ pretanṛpānugaiḥ yogābhyāse ratāścānye naiva prāpuramṛtyutām

Others, devoted to austerity, are carried off by the attendants of the King of the Dead; while others still, devoted to the practice of yoga, never attain deathlessness.

Verse 53 (markandeya.2.53)

शम्बराय पुरा क्षिप्तं वज्रं कुलिशपाणिना । हृदयेऽभिहतस्तेन तथापि न मृतोऽसुरः ॥ 2.53 ॥

śambarāya purā kṣiptaṁ vajraṁ kuliśapāṇinā hṛdaye ’bhihatastena tathāpi na mṛto ’suraḥ

Long ago the thunderbolt was hurled at Shambara by the wielder of the thunderbolt; struck in the heart by it, yet that asura did not die.

Verse 54 (markandeya.2.54)

तेनैव खलु वज्रेण तेनैनेन्द्रेण दानवाः । प्राप्ते काले हता दैत्यास्तत्क्षणान्निधनं गताः ॥ 2.54 ॥

tenaiva khalu vajreṇa tenainendreṇa dānavāḥ prāpte kāle hatā daityāstatkṣaṇānnidhanaṁ gatāḥ

Yet by that very same thunderbolt, wielded by that very same Indra, when their time had come, other Danavas and Daityas were struck down and met death in that very instant.

Verse 55 (markandeya.2.55)

विदित्वैवं न सन्त्रासः कर्तव्यो विनिवर्तते । ततो निवृत्तास्ते दैत्यास्त्यक्त्वा मरणजं भयम् ॥ 2.55 ॥

viditvaivaṁ na santrāsaḥ kartavyo vinivartate tato nivṛttāste daityāstyaktvā maraṇajaṁ bhayam

Knowing this, no terror need be felt, and one should turn back.' Thereupon those Daityas turned back, casting off their fear of death.

Verse 56 (markandeya.2.56)

इति शुक्रवचः सत्यं कृतमेभिः खगोत्तमैः । ये युद्धेऽपि न सम्प्राप्ताः पञ्चत्वमतिमानुषे ॥ 2.56 ॥

iti śukravacaḥ satyaṁ kṛtamebhiḥ khagottamaiḥ ye yuddhe ’pi na samprāptāḥ pañcatvamatimānuṣe

Thus was Shukra's saying proven true by these excellent birds, who did not meet their end even amid this superhuman battle."

Verse 57 (markandeya.2.57)

क्वाणाडानां पतनं विप्राः क्व घण्टापतनं समम् । क्व च मांस-वसा-रक्तैर्भूमेरास्तरणक्रियाः ॥ 2.57 ॥

kvāṇāḍānāṁ patanaṁ viprāḥ kva ghaṇṭāpatanaṁ samam kva ca māṁsa-vasā-raktairbhūmerāstaraṇakriyāḥ

"How improbable, O brahmins, was the falling of these eggs, and the simultaneous falling of the bell; and how improbable that the earth here should be strewn with flesh, fat, and blood without harming them!

Verse 58 (markandeya.2.58)

केऽप्येते सर्वथा विप्रा नैते सामान्यपक्षिणः । दैवानुकूलता लोके महाभाग्यप्रदर्शिनी ॥ 2.58 ॥

ke ’pyete sarvathā viprā naite sāmānyapakṣiṇaḥ daivānukūlatā loke mahābhāgyapradarśinī

These are surely no ordinary birds; the favor of destiny in this world is itself the mark of the highest good fortune."

Verse 59 (markandeya.2.59)

एवमुक्त्वा स तान् वीक्ष्य पुनर्वचनमब्रवीत् । निवर्तताश्रमं यात गृहीत्वा पक्षिबालकान् ॥ 2.59 ॥

evamuktvā sa tān vīkṣya punarvacanamabravīt nivartatāśramaṁ yāta gṛhītvā pakṣibālakān

Having said this and looked upon them, he spoke again: "Return, take up these fledglings, and go to the hermitage.

Verse 60 (markandeya.2.60)

मार्जाराखुभयं यत्र नैषामण्डजजन्मनाम् । श्येनतो नकुलाद्वापि स्थाप्यन्तां तत्र पक्षिणः ॥ 2.60 ॥

mārjārākhubhayaṁ yatra naiṣāmaṇḍajajanmanām śyenato nakulādvāpi sthāpyantāṁ tatra pakṣiṇaḥ

Let these bird-children be placed where there is no danger to these egg-born ones from cats or mice, nor from hawks or mongooses."

Verse 61 (markandeya.2.61)

द्विजाः किं वातियत्नेन मार्यन्ते कर्मभिः स्वकैः । रक्ष्यन्ते चाखिला जीवा यथैते पक्षिबालकाः ॥ 2.61 ॥

dvijāḥ kiṁ vātiyatnena māryante karmabhiḥ svakaiḥ rakṣyante cākhilā jīvā yathaite pakṣibālakāḥ

"O brahmins, what indeed is the use of great effort? Creatures die by their own karma, and all creatures are protected — even as these fledglings are."

Verse 62 (markandeya.2.62)

तथापि यत्नः कर्तव्यो नरैः सर्वेषु कर्मसु । कुर्वन् पुरुषकारन्तु वाच्यतां याति नो सताम् ॥ 2.62 ॥

tathāpi yatnaḥ kartavyo naraiḥ sarveṣu karmasu kurvan puruṣakārantu vācyatāṁ yāti no satām

"Nevertheless, effort must be made by men in all their undertakings; one who exerts human effort does not incur blame among the virtuous."

Verse 63 (markandeya.2.63)

इति मुनिवरचोदितास्ततस्ते मुनितनयाः परिगृह्य पक्षिणस्तान् । तरुविटपसमाश्रितालिसङ्घं ययुरथ तापसरम्यमाश्रमं स्वम् ॥ 2.63 ॥

iti munivaracoditāstataste munitanayāḥ parigṛhya pakṣiṇastān taruviṭapasamāśritālisaṅghaṁ yayuratha tāpasaramyamāśramaṁ svam

Thus urged by the best of sages, the sage's disciples took up those young birds and went to their own delightful hermitage of ascetics, where swarms of bees clung to the tree branches.

Verse 64 (markandeya.2.64)

स चापि वन्यं मनसाभिकामितं प्रगृह्य मूलं कुसुमं फलं कुशान् । चकार चक्रायुध-रुद्र-वेधसां सुरेन्द्र-वैवस्वतः जातवेदसाम् ॥ 2.64 ॥

sa cāpi vanyaṁ manasābhikāmitaṁ pragṛhya mūlaṁ kusumaṁ phalaṁ kuśān cakāra cakrāyudha-rudra-vedhasāṁ surendra-vaivasvataḥ jātavedasām

And he too, gathering forest produce as he desired — roots, flowers, fruit and kusha grass — made offerings to the wielder of the discus, to Rudra, to Brahma, to Indra, to Vaivasvata, and to the Fire-god.

Verse 65 (markandeya.2.65)

अपाम्पतेर्गोष्पतिवित्तरक्षिणोः समीरणस्यापि तथा द्विजोत्तमाः । धातुर्विधातुस्त्वथ वैश्वदेविकाः श्रुतिप्रयुक्ता विवधास्तु सत्क्रियाः ॥ 2.65 ॥

apāmpatergoṣpativittarakṣiṇoḥ samīraṇasyāpi tathā dvijottamāḥ dhāturvidhātustvatha vaiśvadevikāḥ śrutiprayuktā vivadhāstu satkriyāḥ

and, O best of the twice-born, to the lord of waters, to the guardian of cattle and of wealth, and likewise to Vayu, to Dhatri and Vidhatri, and various rites enjoined by the scriptures for all the gods.