The Story of Kuvalayashva

Verse 1 (markandeya.20.1)

जड उवाच प्राग्बभूव महावीर्यः शत्रुजिन्नाम पार्थिवः । तुतोष यस्य यज्ञेषु सोमावाप्त्या पुरन्दरः॥ 20.1 ॥

jaḍa uvāca prāgbabhūva mahāvīryaḥ śatrujinnāma pārthivaḥ tutoṣa yasya yajñeṣu somāvāptyā purandaraḥ

Jada said: Long ago there lived a king of great valor named Shatrujit, in whose sacrifices Purandara (Indra) was pleased upon receiving the Soma.

Verse 2 (markandeya.20.2)

तस्यात्मजो महावीर्यो बभूवारिविदारणः । बुद्धि-विक्रम-लावण्यैर्गुरुशक्राश्विभिः समः॥ 20.2 ॥

tasyātmajo mahāvīryo babhūvārividāraṇaḥ buddhi-vikrama-lāvaṇyairguruśakrāśvibhiḥ samaḥ

His son, of great valor and a render of foes, was equal to Guru (Brihaspati), Shakra (Indra), and the Ashvins in intellect, prowess, and beauty.

Verse 3 (markandeya.20.3)

स समानवयो-बुद्धि-सत्त्व-विक्रम-चेष्टितैः । नृपपुत्रो नृपसुतैर्नित्यमास्ते समावृतः॥ 20.3 ॥

sa samānavayo-buddhi-sattva-vikrama-ceṣṭitaiḥ nṛpaputro nṛpasutairnityamāste samāvṛtaḥ

That prince was ever surrounded by other princes of the same age, intellect, character, prowess, and conduct as himself.

Verse 4 (markandeya.20.4)

कदाचिच्छास्त्रसम्भार-विवेककृतनिश्चयः । कदाचित् काव्यसंलाप-गीत-नाटकसम्भवैः॥ 20.4 ॥

kadācicchāstrasambhāra-vivekakṛtaniścayaḥ kadācit kāvyasaṁlāpa-gīta-nāṭakasambhavaiḥ

At times he would be absorbed in mastering and discerning scripture, at other times occupied with poetic conversation, song, and drama,

Verse 5 (markandeya.20.5)

तथैवाक्षविनोदैश्च शस्त्रास्त्रविनयेषु च । योग्यानि युद्धनागाश्व-स्यन्दनाभ्यासतत्परः॥ 20.5 ॥

tathaivākṣavinodaiśca śastrāstravinayeṣu ca yogyāni yuddhanāgāśva-syandanābhyāsatatparaḥ

and would also delight in games of dice, remaining ever devoted besides to training in weapons and to the practice of what befits war — elephants, horses, and chariots.

Verse 6 (markandeya.20.6)

रेमे नरेन्द्रपुत्रोऽसौ नरेन्द्रतनयैः सह । यथैव हि दिवा तद्वद्रात्रवपि मुदा युतः॥ 20.6 ॥

reme narendraputro’sau narendratanayaiḥ saha yathaiva hi divā tadvadrātravapi mudā yutaḥ

That prince took delight, together with the sons of other kings, joyfully by day just as by night.

Verse 7 (markandeya.20.7)

तेषां तु क्रीडतां तत्र द्विज-भूप-विशां सुताः । समानवयसः प्रीत्या रन्तुमायान्त्यनेकशः॥ 20.7 ॥

teṣāṁ tu krīḍatāṁ tatra dvija-bhūpa-viśāṁ sutāḥ samānavayasaḥ prītyā rantumāyāntyanekaśaḥ

And while they played there, sons of brahmins, kings, and vaishyas of similar age would come, many at a time, out of affection, to join their play.

Verse 8 (markandeya.20.8)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य नागलोकान्महीतलम् । कुमारावागतौ नागौ पुत्रावश्वतरस्य तु॥ 20.8 ॥

kasyacittvatha kālasya nāgalokānmahītalam kumārāvāgatau nāgau putrāvaśvatarasya tu

After some time had passed, two young naga princes, sons of Ashvatara, came up from the world of the nagas to the surface of the earth.

Verse 9 (markandeya.20.9)

ब्रह्मरूपप्रतिच्छन्नौ तरुणौ प्रियदर्शनौ । तौ तैर्नृपसुतैः सार्धं तथैवान्यैर्द्विजन्मभिः॥ 20.9 ॥

brahmarūpapraticchannau taruṇau priyadarśanau tau tairnṛpasutaiḥ sārdhaṁ tathaivānyairdvijanmabhiḥ

Disguised in the form of brahmins, youthful and pleasing to behold, those two, together with the princes and other twice-born,

Verse 10 (markandeya.20.10)

विनोदैर्विविधैस्तत्र तस्थतुः प्रीतिसंयुतौ । सर्व च ते नृपसुतास्ते च ब्रह्मविशां सुताः॥ 20.10 ॥

vinodairvividhaistatra tasthatuḥ prītisaṁyutau sarva ca te nṛpasutāste ca brahmaviśāṁ sutāḥ

remained there, joined by affection, amid various amusements; and all those princes and the sons of brahmins and vaishyas took part with them.

Verse 11 (markandeya.20.11)

नागराजात्मजौ तौ च स्त्रानसंवाहनादिकम् । वस्त्रगन्धानुसयुक्तां चक्रुर्भागभुजिक्रियाम्॥ 20.11 ॥

nāgarājātmajau tau ca strānasaṁvāhanādikam vastragandhānusayuktāṁ cakrurbhāgabhujikriyām

Those two sons of the naga king performed for the prince such services as bathing and massage, and took full part in tending to him with garments and fragrances.

Verse 12 (markandeya.20.12)

अहन्यहन्यनुप्राप्ते तौ च नागकुमारकौ । आजग्मतुर्मुदा युक्तौ प्रीत्या सूनोर्महीपतेः॥ 20.12 ॥

ahanyahanyanuprāpte tau ca nāgakumārakau ājagmaturmudā yuktau prītyā sūnormahīpateḥ

Those two naga youths would come there day after day, filled with joy, out of love for the king's son.

Verse 13 (markandeya.20.13)

स च ताभ्यां नृपसुतः परं निर्वाणमाप्तवान् । विनोदैर्विविधैर्हास्य-संलापादिभिरेव च॥ 20.13 ॥

sa ca tābhyāṁ nṛpasutaḥ paraṁ nirvāṇamāptavān vinodairvividhairhāsya-saṁlāpādibhireva ca

That prince attained the highest contentment through them — through their various amusements, laughter, and conversation.

Verse 14 (markandeya.20.14)

विना ताभ्यां न बुभुजे न सस्त्रौ न पपौ मधु । न रराम न जग्राह शास्त्राण्यात्मगुणर्धये॥ 20.14 ॥

vinā tābhyāṁ na bubhuje na sastrau na papau madhu na rarāma na jagrāha śāstrāṇyātmaguṇardhaye

Without those two, he would neither eat, nor sleep, nor drink wine, nor take any pleasure, nor even study the scriptures to increase his own virtues.

Verse 15 (markandeya.20.15)

रसातले च तौ रात्रिं विना तेन महात्मना । निश्वासपरमौ नीत्वा जग्मतुस्तं दिने दिने॥ 20.15 ॥

rasātale ca tau rātriṁ vinā tena mahātmanā niśvāsaparamau nītvā jagmatustaṁ dine dine

Spending each night apart from that great-souled prince down in Rasatala, sighing, they would come to him each day.

Verse 16 (markandeya.20.16)

मर्त्यलोके परा प्रीतिर्भवतोः केन पुत्रकौ । सहेति पप्रच्छ पिता तावुभौ नागदारकौ॥ 20.16 ॥

martyaloke parā prītirbhavatoḥ kena putrakau saheti papraccha pitā tāvubhau nāgadārakau

'With whom, my sons, do you share such supreme affection in the world of mortals?' — thus their father asked those two naga boys.

Verse 17 (markandeya.20.17)

दृष्टयोरत्र पाताले बहूनि दिवसानि मे । दिवा रजन्यामेवोभौ पश्यामि प्रियदर्शनौ॥ 20.17 ॥

dṛṣṭayoratra pātāle bahūni divasāni me divā rajanyāmevobhau paśyāmi priyadarśanau

'For many days now, here in this Patala, I have hardly truly seen you both; now I see you two, so pleasing to behold, only by day.'

Verse 18 (markandeya.20.18)

जड उवाच इति पित्रा स्वयं पृष्टौ प्रणिपत्य कृताञ्जली । प्रत्यूचतुर्महाभागावुरगाधिपतेः सुतौ॥ 20.18 ॥

jaḍa uvāca iti pitrā svayaṁ pṛṣṭau praṇipatya kṛtāñjalī pratyūcaturmahābhāgāvuragādhipateḥ sutau

Jada said: Thus questioned by their father himself, those two illustrious sons of the serpent king bowed down with folded hands and replied —

Verse 19 (markandeya.20.19)

पुत्रावूचतुः पुत्रः शत्रुजितस्तात नाम्ना ख्यात ऋतध्वजः । रूपवानार्जवोपेतः शूरो मानी प्रियंवदः॥ 20.19 ॥

putrāvūcatuḥ putraḥ śatrujitastāta nāmnā khyāta ṛtadhvajaḥ rūpavānārjavopetaḥ śūro mānī priyaṁvadaḥ

The sons said: 'Father, there is a son of Shatrujit known by the name Ritadhvaja — handsome, endowed with uprightness, valiant, self-respecting, and gentle in speech.'

Verse 20 (markandeya.20.20)

अनापृष्टकथो वाग्ग्मी विद्वान् मैत्रो गुणाकरः । मान्यमानयिता धीमान् ह्रीमान् विनयभूषणः॥ 20.20 ॥

anāpṛṣṭakatho vāggmī vidvān maitro guṇākaraḥ mānyamānayitā dhīmān hrīmān vinayabhūṣaṇaḥ

'He does not speak unasked, is eloquent, learned, devoted to friends, a mine of virtues, honoring those worthy of honor, wise, modest, and adorned with humility.'

Verse 21 (markandeya.20.21)

तस्योपचारसम्प्रीति-सम्बोगापहृतं मनः । नागलोके भुवर्लोके न रतिं विन्दते पितः॥ 20.21 ॥

tasyopacārasamprīti-sambogāpahṛtaṁ manaḥ nāgaloke bhuvarloke na ratiṁ vindate pitaḥ

'Our minds, so captivated by the joy of tending him and being in his company, find no delight, father, either in the world of the nagas or in the middle world.'

Verse 22 (markandeya.20.22)

तद्वियोगेन नस्तात ! न पातालञ्च शीतलम् । परितापाय तत्सङ्गादाह्लादाय रविर्दिवा॥ 20.22 ॥

tadviyogena nastāta ! na pātālañca śītalam paritāpāya tatsaṅgādāhlādāya ravirdivā

'Separated from him, father, even cool Patala brings us only torment; but in his company, even the sun by day brings us delight.'

Verse 23 (markandeya.20.23)

पितोवाच पुत्रः पुण्यवतो धन्यः स यस्यैवं भविद्विधैः । परोक्षस्यापि गुणिभैः क्रियते गुणकीर्तनम्॥ 20.23 ॥

pitovāca putraḥ puṇyavato dhanyaḥ sa yasyaivaṁ bhavidvidhaiḥ parokṣasyāpi guṇibhaiḥ kriyate guṇakīrtanam

The father said: 'Blessed indeed is that son of a meritorious man, of whom, even in his absence, virtuous ones such as yourselves speak such praise.'

Verse 24 (markandeya.20.24)

सन्ति शास्त्रविदोऽशीलाः सन्ति मूर्खाः सुशीलिनः । शास्त्रशीले समं मन्ये पुत्रौ धन्यतरन्तु तम्॥ 20.24 ॥

santi śāstravido’śīlāḥ santi mūrkhāḥ suśīlinaḥ śāstraśīle samaṁ manye putrau dhanyatarantu tam

'There are the learned who lack good character, and there are fools of excellent character; I hold the union of learning and good character to be rare — that prince is most fortunate, my sons.'

Verse 25 (markandeya.20.25)

तस्य मित्रगुणान् मित्राण्यमित्राश्च पराक्रमम् । कथयन्ति सदा सत्सु पुत्रवांस्तेन वै पिता॥ 20.25 ॥

tasya mitraguṇān mitrāṇyamitrāśca parākramam kathayanti sadā satsu putravāṁstena vai pitā

'He whose friends ever praise his virtues as a friend, and whose very enemies extol his valor, before the righteous — that alone is the father truly blessed with a worthy son.'

Verse 26 (markandeya.20.26)

तस्योपकारिणः कच्चिद् भवद्भ्यामभिवाञ्छितम् । किञ्चिन्निष्पादितं वत्सौ परितोषाय चेतसः॥ 20.26 ॥

tasyopakāriṇaḥ kaccid bhavadbhyāmabhivāñchitam kiñcinniṣpāditaṁ vatsau paritoṣāya cetasaḥ

'Have you two, my sons, out of the wish to help him, accomplished anything at all for the contentment of his heart?'

Verse 27 (markandeya.20.27)

स धन्यो जीवितं तस्य तस्य जन्म सुजन्मनः । यस्यार्थिनो न विमुखा मित्रार्थो न च दुर्बलः॥ 20.27 ॥

sa dhanyo jīvitaṁ tasya tasya janma sujanmanaḥ yasyārthino na vimukhā mitrārtho na ca durbalaḥ

'Blessed is that life, blessed is the very birth of one well-born, from whom no petitioner ever turns away disappointed, and for whom a friend's need is never left too weak to be met.'

Verse 28 (markandeya.20.28)

मद्गृहे यद् सुवर्णादि रत्नं वाहनमासनम् । यच्चान्यत् प्रीतये तस्य तद्देयमविशङ्कया॥ 20.28 ॥

madgṛhe yad suvarṇādi ratnaṁ vāhanamāsanam yaccānyat prītaye tasya taddeyamaviśaṅkayā

'Whatever gold, jewels, vehicles, seats, or anything else there is in my house, for his pleasure it should be given to him without any hesitation.'

Verse 29 (markandeya.20.29)

धिक् तस्य जीवितं पुंसो मित्राणामुपकारिणाम् । प्रतिरूपमकुर्वन् यो जीवामीत्यवगच्छति॥ 20.29 ॥

dhik tasya jīvitaṁ puṁso mitrāṇāmupakāriṇām pratirūpamakurvan yo jīvāmītyavagacchati

'Shame on the life of that man who, failing to return like for like to friends who have helped him, still imagines that he truly lives.'

Verse 30 (markandeya.20.30)

उपकारं सुहृद्वर्गे योऽपकारञ्च शत्रुषु । नृमेघो वर्षति प्राज्ञास्तस्येच्छन्ति सदोन्नतिम्॥ 20.30 ॥

upakāraṁ suhṛdvarge yo’pakārañca śatruṣu nṛmegho varṣati prājñāstasyecchanti sadonnatim

'He who rains help, like a cloud, upon his circle of friends, and harm upon his enemies — the wise ever wish for the continual rise of such a man.'

Verse 31 (markandeya.20.31)

पुत्रावूचतुः किं तस्य कृतकृत्यस्य कर्तुं शक्येत केनचित् । यस्य सर्वार्थिनो गेहे सर्वकामैः सदार्च्चिताः॥ 20.31 ॥

putrāvūcatuḥ kiṁ tasya kṛtakṛtyasya kartuṁ śakyeta kenacit yasya sarvārthino gehe sarvakāmaiḥ sadārccitāḥ

The sons said: 'What could anyone do for a man who has already accomplished all his purposes — whose house is ever honored by fulfilling every petitioner's every desire?'

Verse 32 (markandeya.20.32)

यानि रत्नानि तद्गेहे पाताले तानि नः कुतः । वाहनासनयानानि भूषणान्यम्बराणि च॥ 20.32 ॥

yāni ratnāni tadgehe pātāle tāni naḥ kutaḥ vāhanāsanayānāni bhūṣaṇānyambarāṇi ca

'The jewels that are in his house — where could we, in Patala, ever obtain their like? Or such vehicles, seats, conveyances, ornaments, and garments?'

Verse 33 (markandeya.20.33)

विज्ञानं तत्र यच्चास्ति तदन्यत्र न विद्यते । प्राज्ञानामप्यसौ तात सर्वसन्देहहृत्तमः॥ 20.33 ॥

vijñānaṁ tatra yaccāsti tadanyatra na vidyate prājñānāmapyasau tāta sarvasandehahṛttamaḥ

'The wisdom that exists there is found nowhere else; father, he is the very destroyer of every doubt, even for the wise.'

Verse 34 (markandeya.20.34)

एकं तस्यास्ति कर्तव्यमसाध्यं तच्च नौ मतम् । हिरण्यगर्भ-गोविन्द-शर्वादीनीश्वरादृते॥ 20.34 ॥

ekaṁ tasyāsti kartavyamasādhyaṁ tacca nau matam hiraṇyagarbha-govinda-śarvādīnīśvarādṛte

'There is one task yet remaining for him, and in our view it is impossible — impossible, that is, without the aid of the lords Hiranyagarbha, Govinda, and Sharva.'

Verse 35 (markandeya.20.35)

पितोवाच पथापि श्रोतुमिच्छामि तस्य यद् कार्यमुत्तमम् । असाध्यमथवा साध्यं किं वासाध्यं विपश्चिताम्॥ 20.35 ॥

pitovāca pathāpi śrotumicchāmi tasya yad kāryamuttamam asādhyamathavā sādhyaṁ kiṁ vāsādhyaṁ vipaścitām

The father said: 'Still I wish to hear what that supreme task for him may be — whether it is truly impossible or possible; for what, indeed, is impossible for the wise?'

Verse 36 (markandeya.20.36)

देवत्वममरेशत्वं तत्पूज्यत्वञ्च मानवाः । प्रयान्ति वाञ्छितं वान्यद् दृढं ये व्यवसायिनः॥ 20.36 ॥

devatvamamareśatvaṁ tatpūjyatvañca mānavāḥ prayānti vāñchitaṁ vānyad dṛḍhaṁ ye vyavasāyinaḥ

'Men of firm resolve attain divinity, lordship over the immortals, and worthiness of worship — or whatever else they desire.'

Verse 37 (markandeya.20.37)

नाविज्ञातं न चागम्यं नाप्राप्यं दिवि चेह वा । उद्यतानां मनुष्याणां यतचित्तेन्द्रियात्मनाम्॥ 20.37 ॥

nāvijñātaṁ na cāgamyaṁ nāprāpyaṁ divi ceha vā udyatānāṁ manuṣyāṇāṁ yatacittendriyātmanām

'For men who strive with disciplined mind, senses, and self, there is nothing unknowable, nothing unreachable, nothing unattainable, whether in heaven or here on earth.'

Verse 38 (markandeya.20.38)

योजनानां सहस्राणि व्रजन् याति पितीलिकः । अगच्छन् वैनतेयोऽपि पादमेकं न गच्छति॥ 20.38 ॥

yojanānāṁ sahasrāṇi vrajan yāti pitīlikaḥ agacchan vainateyo’pi pādamekaṁ na gacchati

'An ant, by ceaselessly moving on, travels thousands of yojanas; while even Vainateya (Garuda), if he does not stir, cannot go even a single step.'

Verse 39 (markandeya.20.39)

क्व भूतलं क्व च ध्रौव्यं स्थानं यत् प्राप्तवान् ध्रुवः । उत्तानपादनृपतेः पुत्रः सन् भूमिगोचरः॥ 20.39 ॥

kva bhūtalaṁ kva ca dhrauvyaṁ sthānaṁ yat prāptavān dhruvaḥ uttānapādanṛpateḥ putraḥ san bhūmigocaraḥ

'How lowly is the earth, and how exalted that unmoving station — which Dhruva, the son of King Uttanapada, though a mere earth-bound being, came to attain!'

Verse 40 (markandeya.20.40)

तत् कथ्यतां महाभाग कार्यवान् येन पुत्रकौ । स भूपालसुतः साधुर्येनानृण्यं भवेत वाम्॥ 20.40 ॥

tat kathyatāṁ mahābhāga kāryavān yena putrakau sa bhūpālasutaḥ sādhuryenānṛṇyaṁ bhaveta vām

'Therefore, illustrious ones, tell me what that task is, by accomplishing which for that virtuous prince you two might become free from your debt to him.'

Verse 41 (markandeya.20.41)

पुत्रावूचतुः तेनाख्यातमिदं तात पूर्ववृतं महात्मना । कौमारके यथा तस्य वृतं सद्वृत्तशालिनः॥ 20.41 ॥

putrāvūcatuḥ tenākhyātamidaṁ tāta pūrvavṛtaṁ mahātmanā kaumārake yathā tasya vṛtaṁ sadvṛttaśālinaḥ

The sons said: 'Father, this account of a former event was told to us by that great soul himself — what happened in the childhood of that prince of excellent conduct.'

Verse 42 (markandeya.20.42)

तन्तु शत्रुजितं तात पूर्वं कश्चिदिद्वजोत्तमः । गालवोऽभ्यागमद्धीमान् गृहीत्वा तुरगोत्तमम्॥ 20.42 ॥

tantu śatrujitaṁ tāta pūrvaṁ kaścididvajottamaḥ gālavo’bhyāgamaddhīmān gṛhītvā turagottamam

'Once, father, an excellent brahmin, the wise Galava, came to Shatrujit, bringing with him a most excellent horse.'

Verse 43 (markandeya.20.43)

प्रत्युवाच च राजानं समुपेत्याश्रमं मम । कोऽपि दैत्याधमो राजन् विध्वंसयति पापकृत्॥ 20.43 ॥

pratyuvāca ca rājānaṁ samupetyāśramaṁ mama ko’pi daityādhamo rājan vidhvaṁsayati pāpakṛt

'Approaching the king, he said: O king, some vile, sinful demon keeps continually creating havoc at my hermitage,'

Verse 44 (markandeya.20.44)

तत्तद्रूपं समास्थाय सिंहेभ-वनचारिणाम् । अन्येषाञ्चाल्पकायानामहर्निशमकारणात्॥ 20.44 ॥

tattadrūpaṁ samāsthāya siṁhebha-vanacāriṇām anyeṣāñcālpakāyānāmaharniśamakāraṇāt

'— assuming, without cause, day and night, the various forms of lions, elephants, forest-dwelling creatures, and other small beings,'

Verse 45 (markandeya.20.45)

समाधिध्यानयुक्तस्य मौनव्रतरतस्य च । तथा करोति विघ्रानि यथा चलति मे मनः॥ 20.45 ॥

samādhidhyānayuktasya maunavrataratasya ca tathā karoti vighrāni yathā calati me manaḥ

'— he disturbs me in this way, absorbed as I am in meditation and devoted to the vow of silence, so that even my mind is shaken.'

Verse 46 (markandeya.20.46)

दग्धं कोपाग्निना सद्यः समर्थस्त्वं वयं न तु । दुः खार्जितस्य तपसो व्ययमिच्छामि पार्थिव॥ 20.46 ॥

dagdhaṁ kopāgninā sadyaḥ samarthastvaṁ vayaṁ na tu duḥ khārjitasya tapaso vyayamicchāmi pārthiva

'Though capable of instantly burning him to ashes with the fire of my anger, I do not wish to do so; O king, I do not wish to spend the austerity I have earned with such difficulty.'

Verse 47 (markandeya.20.47)

एकदा तु मया राजन्नतिनिर्विण्णचेतसा । तत् क्लेशितेन निश्वासो निरीक्ष्यासुरमुज्झितः॥ 20.47 ॥

ekadā tu mayā rājannatinirviṇṇacetasā tat kleśitena niśvāso nirīkṣyāsuramujjhitaḥ

'But once, O king, my mind utterly weary, tormented by him, I let out a long sigh upon beholding that demon.'

Verse 48 (markandeya.20.48)

ततोऽम्बरतलात् सद्यः पतितोऽयं तुरङ्गमः । वाक् चाशरीरिणी प्राह नरनाथ शृणुष्व ताम्॥ 20.48 ॥

tato’mbaratalāt sadyaḥ patito’yaṁ turaṅgamaḥ vāk cāśarīriṇī prāha naranātha śṛṇuṣva tām

'Then, at once, this very horse fell from the sky, and a bodiless voice spoke; O lord of men, listen to what it said —'

Verse 49 (markandeya.20.49)

अश्रान्तः सकलं भूमेर्वलयं तुरगोत्तमः । समर्थः क्रान्तुमर्केण तवायं प्रतिपादितः॥ 20.49 ॥

aśrāntaḥ sakalaṁ bhūmervalayaṁ turagottamaḥ samarthaḥ krāntumarkeṇa tavāyaṁ pratipāditaḥ

'This most excellent horse, untiring, capable of traversing the whole circle of the earth with the speed of the sun, has been bestowed upon you.'

Verse 50 (markandeya.20.50)

पातालाम्बरतोयेषु न चास्य विहता गतिः । समस्तदिक्षु व्रजतो न भङ्गः पर्वतेष्वपि॥ 20.50 ॥

pātālāmbaratoyeṣu na cāsya vihatā gatiḥ samastadikṣu vrajato na bhaṅgaḥ parvateṣvapi

'Its movement is never hindered in the netherworlds, in the sky, or in water; going in every direction, it meets no obstruction even among the mountains.'

Verse 51 (markandeya.20.51)

यतो भूवलयं सर्वमश्रान्तोऽयं चरिष्यति । अतः कुवलयो नाम्ना ख्यातिं लोके प्रयास्यति॥ 20.51 ॥

yato bhūvalayaṁ sarvamaśrānto’yaṁ cariṣyati ataḥ kuvalayo nāmnā khyātiṁ loke prayāsyati

'Since it shall roam untiringly over the whole circle of the earth, it shall become famed in the world by the name Kuvalaya.'

Verse 52 (markandeya.20.52)

क्लिश्यत्यहर्निशं पापो यश्च त्वां दानवाधमः । तमप्येनं समारुह्य द्विजश्रेष्ठ हनिष्यति॥ 20.52 ॥

kliśyatyaharniśaṁ pāpo yaśca tvāṁ dānavādhamaḥ tamapyenaṁ samāruhya dvijaśreṣṭha haniṣyati

'And that vile, sinful demon who torments you day and night, O best of brahmins — mounted upon this very horse, he shall slay him too.'

Verse 53 (markandeya.20.53)

शत्रुजिन्नाम भूपालस्तस्य पुत्र ऋतध्वजः । प्राप्यैतदश्वरत्नञ्च ख्यातिमेतेन यास्यति॥ 20.53 ॥

śatrujinnāma bhūpālastasya putra ṛtadhvajaḥ prāpyaitadaśvaratnañca khyātimetena yāsyati

'There is a king named Shatrujit, whose son is Ritadhvaja; obtaining this jewel of a horse, he shall win great fame through it.'

Verse 54 (markandeya.20.54)

सोऽहं त्वां समनुप्राप्तस्तपसो विघ्रकारिणम् । तं निवारय भूपाल भागभाङ्नृपतिर्यतः॥ 20.54 ॥

so’haṁ tvāṁ samanuprāptastapaso vighrakāriṇam taṁ nivāraya bhūpāla bhāgabhāṅnṛpatiryataḥ

'It is I, tormented by that demon who obstructs my austerity, who have thus come to you; restrain him, O king — for it is the king, as sharer of the tax, who owes protection in return.'

Verse 55 (markandeya.20.55)

तदेतश्वरत्नं ते मया भूप निवेदितम् । पुत्रमाज्ञापय तथा यथा धर्मो न लुप्यते॥ 20.55 ॥

tadetaśvaratnaṁ te mayā bhūpa niveditam putramājñāpaya tathā yathā dharmo na lupyate

'Therefore, O king, I have presented this jewel of a horse to you; command your son accordingly, so that righteousness may not be violated.'

Verse 56 (markandeya.20.56)

स तस्य वचनाद्राजा तं वै पुत्रमृतध्वजम् । तमश्वरत्नमारोप्य कृतकौतुकमङ्गलम्॥ 20.56 ॥

sa tasya vacanādrājā taṁ vai putramṛtadhvajam tamaśvaratnamāropya kṛtakautukamaṅgalam

At his word, the king mounted his son Ritadhvaja upon that jewel of a horse, and, having duly performed the auspicious rites,

Verse 57 (markandeya.20.57)

अप्रेषयत धर्मात्मा गालवेन समं तदा । स्वमाश्रमपदं सोऽपि तमादाय ययौ मुनिः॥ 20.57 ॥

apreṣayata dharmātmā gālavena samaṁ tadā svamāśramapadaṁ so’pi tamādāya yayau muniḥ

that righteous king then sent him forth together with Galava; and that sage, taking him along, departed for his own hermitage.