The Separation from Madalasa

Verse 1 (markandeya.22.1)

पुत्रावूचतुः ततः काले वहुतिथे गते राजा पुनः सुतम् । प्राह गच्छाशु विप्राणां त्राणाय चर मेदिनीम्॥ 22.1 ॥

putrāvūcatuḥ tataḥ kāle vahutithe gate rājā punaḥ sutam prāha gacchāśu viprāṇāṁ trāṇāya cara medinīm

After much time had passed, the king again said to his son, 'Go quickly and roam the earth for the protection of the brahmanas.'

Verse 2 (markandeya.22.2)

अश्वमेनं समारुह्य प्रातः प्रातर्दिने दिने । अबाधा द्विजमुख्यानामन्वेष्टव्या सदैव हि॥ 22.2 ॥

aśvamenaṁ samāruhya prātaḥ prātardine dine abādhā dvijamukhyānāmanveṣṭavyā sadaiva hi

'Mounting this horse each morning, day after day, you must always seek out whether any harm threatens the foremost brahmanas.'

Verse 3 (markandeya.22.3)

दुर्वृत्ताः सन्ति शतशो दानवाः पापयोनयः । तेभ्यो न स्याद्यथा बाधा मुनीनां त्वं तथा कुरु॥ 22.3 ॥

durvṛttāḥ santi śataśo dānavāḥ pāpayonayaḥ tebhyo na syādyathā bādhā munīnāṁ tvaṁ tathā kuru

'There are hundreds of demons, ill-natured and born of sinful wombs; act so that the sages suffer no harm from them.'

Verse 4 (markandeya.22.4)

स यथोक्तस्ततः पित्रा तथा चक्रे नृपात्मजः । परिक्रम्य महीं सर्वां ववन्दे चरणौ पितुः॥ 22.4 ॥

sa yathoktastataḥ pitrā tathā cakre nṛpātmajaḥ parikramya mahīṁ sarvāṁ vavande caraṇau pituḥ

The prince then did just as his father had told him: roaming over the whole earth, he would bow at his father's feet each time he returned.

Verse 5 (markandeya.22.5)

अहन्यहन्यनुप्राप्ते पूर्वाह्ने नृपनन्दनः । ततश्च शेषं दिवसं तया रेमे सुमध्यया॥ 22.5 ॥

ahanyahanyanuprāpte pūrvāhne nṛpanandanaḥ tataśca śeṣaṁ divasaṁ tayā reme sumadhyayā

Each day, having completed this task by the forenoon, the prince would then spend the rest of the day in joy with his slender-waisted wife.

Verse 6 (markandeya.22.6)

एकदा तु चारन् सोऽथ ददर्श यमुनातटे । पातालकेतोरनुजं तालकेतुं कृताश्रमम्॥ 22.6 ॥

ekadā tu cāran so ’tha dadarśa yamunātaṭe pātālaketoranujaṁ tālaketuṁ kṛtāśramam

One day, as he roamed about, he saw on the bank of the Yamuna river Talaketu, the younger brother of Patalaketu, who had set up a hermitage there.

Verse 7 (markandeya.22.7)

मायावी दानवः सोऽथ मुनिरूपं समास्थितः । स प्राह राजपुत्रं तं पूर्ववैरमनुस्मरन्॥ 22.7 ॥

māyāvī dānavaḥ so ’tha munirūpaṁ samāsthitaḥ sa prāha rājaputraṁ taṁ pūrvavairamanusmaran

That deceitful demon had taken on the form of a sage; remembering their old enmity, he spoke to the prince —

Verse 8 (markandeya.22.8)

राजपुत्र ब्रीवीमि त्वां तत् कुरुष्व यदीच्छसि । न च ते प्रार्थनाभङ्गः कार्यः सत्यप्रतिश्रव॥ 22.8 ॥

rājaputra brīvīmi tvāṁ tat kuruṣva yadīcchasi na ca te prārthanābhaṅgaḥ kāryaḥ satyapratiśrava

'O prince, I have a request; grant it if you will. O keeper of your word, you should not refuse my request.'

Verse 9 (markandeya.22.9)

यक्ष्ये यज्ञेन धर्माय कर्तव्याश्च तथेष्टयः । चितयस्तत्र कर्तव्या नास्ति मे दक्षैणा यतः॥ 22.9 ॥

yakṣye yajñena dharmāya kartavyāśca tatheṣṭayaḥ citayastatra kartavyā nāsti me dakṣaiṇā yataḥ

'I must perform a sacrifice for the sake of dharma, along with other rites, for which sacrificial altars must be built; but I have nothing to offer as the priest's fee.'

Verse 10 (markandeya.22.10)

अतः प्रयच्छ मे वीर हिरण्यार्थं स्वभूषणम् । यदेतत् कण्ठलग्नं ते रक्ष चेमं माश्रमम्॥ 22.10 ॥

ataḥ prayaccha me vīra hiraṇyārthaṁ svabhūṣaṇam yadetat kaṇṭhalagnaṁ te rakṣa cemaṁ māśramam

'So, hero, give me this ornament of yours that hangs at your neck, in place of gold — and guard this hermitage of mine meanwhile.'

Verse 11 (markandeya.22.11)

यावदन्तर्जले देवं वरुणं यादसां पतिम् । वैदिकैर्वारुणैर्मन्त्रैः प्रजानां पुष्टिहेतुकैः॥ 22.11 ॥

yāvadantarjale devaṁ varuṇaṁ yādasāṁ patim vaidikairvāruṇairmantraiḥ prajānāṁ puṣṭihetukaiḥ

'—until I go beneath the waters to Varuna, the god who is lord of the waters, praising him with the Vedic mantras of Varuna that bring prosperity to the people —'

Verse 12 (markandeya.22.12)

अभिष्टूय त्वरायुक्तः समभ्येमीति वादिनम् । तं प्रणम्य ततः प्रादात् स तस्मै कण्ठभूषणम्॥ 22.12 ॥

abhiṣṭūya tvarāyuktaḥ samabhyemīti vādinam taṁ praṇamya tataḥ prādāt sa tasmai kaṇṭhabhūṣaṇam

'—and hasten back again' — so he said. Bowing to him, the prince then gave him his neck-ornament.

Verse 13 (markandeya.22.13)

प्राह यैनं भवान् यातु निर्व्यलीकेन चेतसा । स्थास्यामि तावदत्रैव तवाश्रमसमीपतः॥ 22.13 ॥

prāha yainaṁ bhavān yātu nirvyalīkena cetasā sthāsyāmi tāvadatraiva tavāśramasamīpataḥ

He said, 'Go, then, with an untroubled heart; I shall remain right here, near your hermitage, until you return.'

Verse 14 (markandeya.22.14)

तवादेशान्महाभाग यावदागमनं तव । न तेऽत्र कश्चिदाबाधां करिष्यति मयि स्थिते । विश्रब्धश्चात्वरन् ब्रह्मन् कुरुष्व त्वं मनोगतम्॥ 22.14 ॥

tavādeśānmahābhāga yāvadāgamanaṁ tava na te ’tra kaścidābādhāṁ kariṣyati mayi sthite viśrabdhaścātvaran brahman kuruṣva tvaṁ manogatam

'O worthy one, by your leave, until you return, no one shall trouble this place while I remain here. So, O brahmana, go in confidence, and quickly do what your heart intends.'

Verse 15 (markandeya.22.15)

पुत्रावूचतुः एकमुक्तस्ततस्तेन स ममज्ज नदीजले । ररक्ष सोऽपि तस्यैव मायाविहितमाश्रमम्॥ 22.15 ॥

putrāvūcatuḥ ekamuktastatastena sa mamajja nadījale rarakṣa so ’pi tasyaiva māyāvihitamāśramam

Having said this, he plunged into the river's waters; and the prince, for his part, stood guard over that hermitage which the demon's illusion had fashioned.

Verse 16 (markandeya.22.16)

गत्वा जलाशयात् तस्मात् तालकेतुश्च तत्परम् । मदालसायाः प्रत्यक्षमन्येषाञ्चैतदुक्तवान्॥ 22.16 ॥

gatvā jalāśayāt tasmāt tālaketuśca tatparam madālasāyāḥ pratyakṣamanyeṣāñcaitaduktavān

Coming up out of that pool, Talaketu at once said this, in the very presence of Madalasa and others —

Verse 17 (markandeya.22.17)

तालकेतुरुवाच वीरः कुवलयाश्वोऽसौ ममाश्रमसमीपतः । केनापि दुष्टदैत्येन कुर्वन् रक्षां तपस्विनाम्॥ 22.17 ॥

tālaketuruvāca vīraḥ kuvalayāśvo ’sau mamāśramasamīpataḥ kenāpi duṣṭadaityena kurvan rakṣāṁ tapasvinām

'This hero Kuvalayashva, while guarding the ascetics near my hermitage, was set upon by some wicked demon —'

Verse 18 (markandeya.22.18)

युध्यमानो यथाशक्ति निघ्नन् ब्रह्मद्विषो युधि । मायामाश्रित्य पापेन भिन्नः शूलेन वक्षसी॥ 22.18 ॥

yudhyamāno yathāśakti nighnan brahmadviṣo yudhi māyāmāśritya pāpena bhinnaḥ śūlena vakṣasī

'—and though he fought with all his strength, slaying the enemies of the brahmanas in that battle, the sinful demon resorted to illusion and pierced his chest with a spear.'

Verse 19 (markandeya.22.19)

म्रियमाणेन तेनेदं दत्तं मे कण्ठभूषणम् । प्रापितश्चाग्निसंयोगं स वने शूद्रतापसैः॥ 22.19 ॥

mriyamāṇena tenedaṁ dattaṁ me kaṇṭhabhūṣaṇam prāpitaścāgnisaṁyogaṁ sa vane śūdratāpasaiḥ

'As he lay dying, he gave me this neck-ornament; and there in the forest, shudra ascetics performed his funeral rites over the fire.'

Verse 20 (markandeya.22.20)

कृतार्तह्रेषाशब्दो वै त्रस्तः साश्रुविलोचनः । नीतः सोऽश्वश्च तेनैव दानवेन दुरात्मना॥ 22.20 ॥

kṛtārtahreṣāśabdo vai trastaḥ sāśruvilocanaḥ nītaḥ so ’śvaśca tenaiva dānavena durātmanā

'His horse too, terrified, whinnying piteously, its eyes streaming with tears, was carried off by that same evil-souled demon.'

Verse 21 (markandeya.22.21)

एतन्मया नृशंसेन दृष्टं दुष्कृतकारिणा । यदत्रानन्तरं कृत्यं क्रियतां तदकालिकम्॥ 22.21 ॥

etanmayā nṛśaṁsena dṛṣṭaṁ duṣkṛtakāriṇā yadatrānantaraṁ kṛtyaṁ kriyatāṁ tadakālikam

'All this I myself witnessed, cruel doer of evil deeds that I am. Now let whatever remains to be done here be done at once, untimely though it is.'

Verse 22 (markandeya.22.22)

हृदयाश्वासनञ्चैतद् गृह्यतां कण्ठभूषणम् । नास्माकं हि सुवर्णेन कृत्यमस्ति तपस्विनाम्॥ 22.22 ॥

hṛdayāśvāsanañcaitad gṛhyatāṁ kaṇṭhabhūṣaṇam nāsmākaṁ hi suvarṇena kṛtyamasti tapasvinām

'Take this neck-ornament back, as some comfort to your heart; we ascetics have no use at all for gold.'

Verse 23 (markandeya.22.23)

पुत्रावूचतुः इत्युक्त्वोत्सृज्य दत्भूमौ स जगाम यथागतम् । निपपात जनः सोऽथ शोकार्तो मूर्च्छयाऽतुरः॥ 22.23 ॥

putrāvūcatuḥ ityuktvotsṛjya datbhūmau sa jagāma yathāgatam nipapāta janaḥ so ’tha śokārto mūrcchayā ’turaḥ

So saying, he cast the ornament upon the ground and departed as he had come. Then the grieving people fell down, overcome with anguish and swooning.

Verse 24 (markandeya.22.24)

तत्क्षणात् चेतनां प्राप्य सर्वास्ता नृपयोषितः । राजपत्न्यश्च राजा च विलेपुरतिदुः खिताः॥ 22.24 ॥

tatkṣaṇāt cetanāṁ prāpya sarvāstā nṛpayoṣitaḥ rājapatnyaśca rājā ca vilepuratiduḥ khitāḥ

The very next moment, regaining their senses, all those royal women, the queens, and the king himself, gave way to bitter lament, overwhelmed with grief.

Verse 25 (markandeya.22.25)

मदालसा तु द् दृष्ट्वा तदीयं कण्ठभूषणम् । तत्याजाशु प्रियान् प्राणान् श्रुत्वा च निहन्त पतिम्॥ 22.25 ॥

madālasā tu d dṛṣṭvā tadīyaṁ kaṇṭhabhūṣaṇam tatyājāśu priyān prāṇān śrutvā ca nihanta patim

But Madalasa, the moment she saw that neck-ornament and heard that her husband had been slain, at once gave up her own dear life.

Verse 26 (markandeya.22.26)

ततस्तथा महाक्रन्दः पौराणां भवनेष्वभूत् । यथैव तस्य नृपतेः स्वगेहे समवर्तत॥ 22.26 ॥

tatastathā mahākrandaḥ paurāṇāṁ bhavaneṣvabhūt yathaiva tasya nṛpateḥ svagehe samavartata

Then a great wailing arose in the homes of the townsfolk as well, no less than what was taking place within the king's own palace.

Verse 27 (markandeya.22.27)

राजा च तां मृतां दृष्ट्वा विना भर्त्रा मदालसाम् । प्रत्युवाच जनं सर्वं विमृश्य सुस्थमानसः॥ 22.27 ॥

rājā ca tāṁ mṛtāṁ dṛṣṭvā vinā bhartrā madālasām pratyuvāca janaṁ sarvaṁ vimṛśya susthamānasaḥ

Seeing Madalasa lying dead, bereft of her husband, the king reflected deeply, composed his mind, and spoke in reply to all his people —

Verse 28 (markandeya.22.28)

न रोदितव्यं पश्यामि भवतामात्मनस्तथा । सर्वेषामेव संचिन्त्य सम्बन्धानामनित्यताम्॥ 22.28 ॥

na roditavyaṁ paśyāmi bhavatāmātmanastathā sarveṣāmeva saṁcintya sambandhānāmanityatām

'Considering that all worldly bonds are impermanent, I see no reason for either you or myself to weep.'

Verse 29 (markandeya.22.29)

किन्नु शोचामि तनयं किन्नु शोचाम्यहं स्नुषाम् । विमृश्य कृतकृत्यत्वाम्नम्येऽशोच्यावुभावपि॥ 22.29 ॥

kinnu śocāmi tanayaṁ kinnu śocāmyahaṁ snuṣām vimṛśya kṛtakṛtyatvāmnamye ’śocyāvubhāvapi

'Should I mourn my son, or should I mourn my daughter-in-law? Reflecting that both have achieved their purpose, I hold neither of them to be objects of grief.'

Verse 30 (markandeya.22.30)

मच्छ्रु श्रुपुर्मद्वचनाद्द्विजरक्षणतत्परः । प्राप्तो मे यः सुतो मृत्युं कथं शोच्यः स धीमताम्॥ 22.30 ॥

macchru śrupurmadvacanāddvijarakṣaṇatatparaḥ prāpto me yaḥ suto mṛtyuṁ kathaṁ śocyaḥ sa dhīmatām

'That son of mine, who, heeding my own word, intent on the protection of brahmanas, met his death — how could the wise regard him as an object of grief?'

Verse 31 (markandeya.22.31)

अवश्यं याति यद्देहं तद्द्विजानां कृते यदि । मम पुत्रेण संत्यक्तं नन्वभ्युदयकारि तत्॥ 22.31 ॥

avaśyaṁ yāti yaddehaṁ taddvijānāṁ kṛte yadi mama putreṇa saṁtyaktaṁ nanvabhyudayakāri tat

This body was bound to perish in any case; if my son gave it up for the sake of the brahmanas, that is surely a cause for rejoicing, not sorrow.

Verse 32 (markandeya.22.32)

इयञ्च सत्कुलोत्पन्ना भर्तर्येवमनुव्रतां । कथन्नु शोच्या नारीणां भर्तुरन्यन्न दैवतम्॥ 22.32 ॥

iyañca satkulotpannā bhartaryevamanuvratāṁ kathannu śocyā nārīṇāṁ bharturanyanna daivatam

And this woman, born of a noble family, so devoted to her husband — how could she be an object of grief? For women, there is no deity but the husband.

Verse 33 (markandeya.22.33)

अस्माकं बान्धवानाञ्च तथान्येषां दयावताम् । शोच्या ह्येषा भवेदेवं यदि भर्त्रा वियोगिनी॥ 22.33 ॥

asmākaṁ bāndhavānāñca tathānyeṣāṁ dayāvatām śocyā hyeṣā bhavedevaṁ yadi bhartrā viyoginī

She would indeed be an object of grief for us, for our kinsfolk, and for all compassionate people, only if she had gone on living, separated from her husband.

Verse 34 (markandeya.22.34)

या तु भर्तुर्वधं श्रुत्वा तत्क्षणादेव भामिनी । भर्तारमनुयातेयं न शोच्यातो विपश्चिताम्॥ 22.34 ॥

yā tu bharturvadhaṁ śrutvā tatkṣaṇādeva bhāminī bhartāramanuyāteyaṁ na śocyāto vipaścitām

But this fair lady, who at the very instant she heard of her husband's death followed after him — she is no object of grief to the wise.

Verse 35 (markandeya.22.35)

ताः शोच्या या वियोगिन्यो न शोच्या या मृताः सह । भर्त्रा वियोगस्त्वनया नानुभूतः कृतज्ञया॥ 22.35 ॥

tāḥ śocyā yā viyoginyo na śocyā yā mṛtāḥ saha bhartrā viyogastvanayā nānubhūtaḥ kṛtajñayā

It is those women left in separation who deserve grief, not those who die together with their husbands. This grateful woman never even experienced the sorrow of separation.

Verse 36 (markandeya.22.36)

दातारं सर्वसौख्यानामिह चामुत्र चोभयोः । लोकयोः का हि भर्तारं नारी मन्येत मानुषम्॥ 22.36 ॥

dātāraṁ sarvasaukhyānāmiha cāmutra cobhayoḥ lokayoḥ kā hi bhartāraṁ nārī manyeta mānuṣam

What woman could ever regard her husband — the giver of all happiness, in this world and the next alike — as a mere mortal?

Verse 37 (markandeya.22.37)

नासौ शोच्यो न चैवेयं नाहं तज्जननी न च । त्यजता ब्राह्मणार्थाय प्राणान् सर्वे स्म तारिताः॥ 22.37 ॥

nāsau śocyo na caiveyaṁ nāhaṁ tajjananī na ca tyajatā brāhmaṇārthāya prāṇān sarve sma tāritāḥ

Neither he is an object of grief, nor she, nor I, nor his mother; by giving up his life for the sake of the brahmanas, he has redeemed us all.

Verse 38 (markandeya.22.38)

विप्राणं मम धर्मस्य गतः स हि महामतिः । आनृण्यमर्धभुक्तस्य त्यागाद् देहस्य मे सुतः॥ 22.38 ॥

viprāṇaṁ mama dharmasya gataḥ sa hi mahāmatiḥ ānṛṇyamardhabhuktasya tyāgād dehasya me sutaḥ

That son of mine, of great wisdom, by giving up this body — enjoyed but half its span — has discharged his debt both to the brahmanas and to my own dharma.

Verse 39 (markandeya.22.39)

मातुः सतीत्वं मद्वंशवैमल्यं शौर्यमात्मनः । संग्रामे संत्यजन् प्राणान् नात्यजद् द्विजरक्षणम्॥ 22.39 ॥

mātuḥ satītvaṁ madvaṁśavaimalyaṁ śauryamātmanaḥ saṁgrāme saṁtyajan prāṇān nātyajad dvijarakṣaṇam

Even in giving up his life in battle, he abandoned neither his mother's chastity, nor the purity of my lineage, nor his own valor — nor did he forsake the protection of the brahmanas.

Verse 40 (markandeya.22.40)

पुत्रावूचतुः ततः कुवलयाश्वस्य माता भर्तुरनन्तरम् । श्रुत्वा पुत्रवधं तादृक् प्राह दृष्ट्वा तु तं पतिम्॥ 22.40 ॥

putrāvūcatuḥ tataḥ kuvalayāśvasya mātā bharturanantaram śrutvā putravadhaṁ tādṛk prāha dṛṣṭvā tu taṁ patim

Then Kuvalayashva's mother, having heard how her son had been slain, and having seen and heard her husband speak thus, said —

Verse 41 (markandeya.22.41)

मातोवाच न मे मात्रा न मे स्वस्त्रा प्राप्ता प्रीतिर्नृपेदृशी । श्रुत्वा मुनिपरित्राणे हतं पुत्रं यथा मया॥ 22.41 ॥

mātovāca na me mātrā na me svastrā prāptā prītirnṛpedṛśī śrutvā muniparitrāṇe hataṁ putraṁ yathā mayā

'O king, never from my own mother, nor from a sister, have I known such joy as I feel now, hearing that my son died protecting the sages.'

Verse 42 (markandeya.22.42)

शोचतां बान्धवानां ये निः श्वसन्तोऽतिदुः खिताः । म्रियन्ते व्याधिना क्लिष्टास्तेषां माता वृथाप्रजा॥ 22.42 ॥

śocatāṁ bāndhavānāṁ ye niḥ śvasanto ’tiduḥ khitāḥ mriyante vyādhinā kliṣṭāsteṣāṁ mātā vṛthāprajā

The mother whose son dies wasted by disease, sighing in deep distress, leaving his kinsmen to grieve, has borne a son in vain.

Verse 43 (markandeya.22.43)

संग्रामे युध्यमाना येऽभीता गोद्विजरक्षणे । क्षुण्णाः शस्त्रैर्विपद्यन्ते त एव भुवि मानवाः॥ 22.43 ॥

saṁgrāme yudhyamānā ye ’bhītā godvijarakṣaṇe kṣuṇṇāḥ śastrairvipadyante ta eva bhuvi mānavāḥ

Those alone are truly men upon this earth who, fighting fearlessly for the protection of cows and brahmanas, fall wounded by weapons in battle.

Verse 44 (markandeya.22.44)

अर्थिनां मित्रवर्गस्य विद्विषाञ्च पराङ्मुखः । यो न याति पिता तेन पुत्री माता च वीरसूः॥ 22.44 ॥

arthināṁ mitravargasya vidviṣāñca parāṅmukhaḥ yo na yāti pitā tena putrī mātā ca vīrasūḥ

By such a son — one who never turns his back on those who seek help, on his circle of friends, or on his enemies — a father is truly blessed with a son, and a mother earns the title of 'mother of a hero.'

Verse 45 (markandeya.22.45)

गर्भक्लेशः स्त्रियो मन्ये साफल्यं भजते तदा । यदारिविजयी वा स्यात् संग्रामे वा हतः सुतः॥ 22.45 ॥

garbhakleśaḥ striyo manye sāphalyaṁ bhajate tadā yadārivijayī vā syāt saṁgrāme vā hataḥ sutaḥ

I hold that a woman's labor in childbirth bears fruit only when her son either triumphs over his enemies, or falls in battle as a hero.

Verse 46 (markandeya.22.46)

पुत्रावूचतुः ततः स राजा संस्कारं पुत्रपत्नीमलम्भयत् । निर्गम्य च बहिः स्नातो ददौ पुत्राय चोदकम्॥ 22.46 ॥

putrāvūcatuḥ tataḥ sa rājā saṁskāraṁ putrapatnīmalambhayat nirgamya ca bahiḥ snāto dadau putrāya codakam

Then the king had the last rites performed for his daughter-in-law; and going out himself, he bathed and offered the water-libation to his son.

Verse 47 (markandeya.22.47)

तालकेतुश्च निर्गम्य तथैव यमुनाजलात् । राजपुत्रमुवाचेदं प्रणयान्मधुरं वचः॥ 22.47 ॥

tālaketuśca nirgamya tathaiva yamunājalāt rājaputramuvācedaṁ praṇayānmadhuraṁ vacaḥ

Talaketu, too, came up out of the waters of the Yamuna in just the same way, and spoke these sweet, affectionate words to the prince —

Verse 48 (markandeya.22.48)

गच्छ भूपालपुत्र ! त्वं कृतार्थोऽहं कृतस्त्वया । कार्यं चिराभिलषितं त्वय्यत्राविचले स्थिते॥ 22.48 ॥

gaccha bhūpālaputra ! tvaṁ kṛtārtho ’haṁ kṛtastvayā kāryaṁ cirābhilaṣitaṁ tvayyatrāvicale sthite

'Go now, O prince! You have made my purpose complete. Because you stayed here, steadfast and unmoved, my long-cherished task has been accomplished.'

Verse 49 (markandeya.22.49)

वारुणं यज्ञकार्यञ्च जलेशस्य महात्मनः । तन्मया साधितं सर्वं यन्ममासीदभीप्सितम्॥ 22.49 ॥

vāruṇaṁ yajñakāryañca jaleśasya mahātmanaḥ tanmayā sādhitaṁ sarvaṁ yanmamāsīdabhīpsitam

'The sacrificial rite for the great lord of the waters, Varuna — all that I desired to accomplish, I have now accomplished.'

Verse 50 (markandeya.22.50)

प्रणिपत्य स तं प्रायाद्राजपुत्रः पुरं पितुः । समारुह्य तमेवाश्वं सुपर्णानिलविक्रमम्॥ 22.50 ॥

praṇipatya sa taṁ prāyādrājaputraḥ puraṁ pituḥ samāruhya tamevāśvaṁ suparṇānilavikramam

Bowing to him, the prince mounted that same horse, swift as Garuda or the wind, and set out for his father's city.