The Story of Jada

Verse 1 (markandeya.44.1)

सुबाहुरुवाच यदर्थं नृपशार्दूल ! त्वामहं शरणं गतः । तन्मया सकलं प्राप्तं यास्यामि त्वं सुखी भव ॥ 44.1 ॥

subāhuruvāca yadarthaṁ nṛpaśārdūla ! tvāmahaṁ śaraṇaṁ gataḥ tanmayā sakalaṁ prāptaṁ yāsyāmi tvaṁ sukhī bhava

Subahu said: O tiger among kings, whatever purpose brought me to seek refuge with you, all of it has now been fulfilled; I shall take my leave — may you live happily.

Verse 2 (markandeya.44.2)

काखिराज उवाच किं निमित्तं भवान् प्राप्तो निष्पन्नोर्ऽथश्च कस्तव । सुबाहो ! तन्ममाचक्ष्व परं कौतूहलं हि मे ॥ 44.2 ॥

kākhirāja uvāca kiṁ nimittaṁ bhavān prāpto niṣpannor'thaśca kastava subāho ! tanmamācakṣva paraṁ kautūhalaṁ hi me

The King of Kashi said: For what reason did you come, and what purpose of yours has been achieved? Subahu, tell me — I am truly curious to know.

Verse 3 (markandeya.44.3)

समाक्रान्तमलर्केण पितृपैतामहं महत् । राज्यं देहीति निर्जित्य त्वयाहमभिचोदितः ॥ 44.3 ॥

samākrāntamalarkeṇa pitṛpaitāmahaṁ mahat rājyaṁ dehīti nirjitya tvayāhamabhicoditaḥ

Overrun by Alarka, our great ancestral kingdom was demanded of us — "surrender it" — and, thus humbled, I was roused by you into action.

Verse 4 (markandeya.44.4)

ततो मया समाक्रम्य राज्यमस्यानुजस्य ते । एतत्ते बलमानीतं तद्भुङ्क्ष्वस्वकुलोचितम् ॥ 44.4 ॥

tato mayā samākramya rājyamasyānujasya te etatte balamānītaṁ tadbhuṅkṣvasvakulocitam

Then, having overrun the kingdom of your younger brother, I brought this army here for you — enjoy it, as is fitting for your lineage.

Verse 5 (markandeya.44.5)

सुबाहुरुवाच काशिराज ! निबोध त्वं यदर्थमयमुद्यमः । कृतो मया भवांश्चैव कारितोऽत्यन्तमुद्यमम् ॥ 44.5 ॥

subāhuruvāca kāśirāja ! nibodha tvaṁ yadarthamayamudyamaḥ kṛto mayā bhavāṁścaiva kārito'tyantamudyamam

Subahu said: O King of Kashi, understand the true purpose behind this effort; it was I who made you act, and I who roused you to this great undertaking.

Verse 6 (markandeya.44.6)

भ्राता ममायं ग्राम्येषु सक्तो भोगेषु तत्त्ववित् । विमूढौ बोधवन्तौ च भ्रातरावग्रजौ मम ॥ 44.6 ॥

bhrātā mamāyaṁ grāmyeṣu sakto bhogeṣu tattvavit vimūḍhau bodhavantau ca bhrātarāvagrajau mama

This brother of mine, though truly versed in the ultimate truth, remains attached to worldly pleasures; we two brothers — the elder and I — are, each in our own way, both deluded and awakened.

Verse 7 (markandeya.44.7)

तयोर्मम च यन्मात्रा बाल्ये स्तन्यं यथा मुखे । तथावबोधो विन्यस्तः कर्णयोरवनीपते ॥ 44.7 ॥

tayormama ca yanmātrā bālye stanyaṁ yathā mukhe tathāvabodho vinyastaḥ karṇayoravanīpate

O lord of the earth, in our infancy, just as milk was placed in our mouths, so too was understanding poured into the ears of both of us alike, by our mother.

Verse 8 (markandeya.44.8)

तयोर्मम च विज्ञेयाः पदार्था ये मता नृभिः । प्राकाश्यं मनसो नीतास्ते मात्रा नास्य पार्थिव ॥ 44.8 ॥

tayormama ca vijñeyāḥ padārthā ye matā nṛbhiḥ prākāśyaṁ manaso nītāste mātrā nāsya pārthiva

Whatever truths are held by men to be worth knowing — those same teachings, O king, came to full clarity in his mind, though not, until now, in mine.

Verse 9 (markandeya.44.9)

यथैकमर्थे यातानामेकस्मिन्नवसीदति । दुः खं भवति साधूनां ततास्माकं महीपते ॥ 44.9 ॥

yathaikamarthe yātānāmekasminnavasīdati duḥ khaṁ bhavati sādhūnāṁ tatāsmākaṁ mahīpate

Just as, among those traveling toward one common goal, if one among them falters it becomes a grief to the rest of the good — so, O lord of the earth, it was for us.

Verse 10 (markandeya.44.10)

गार्हस्थ्यमोहमापन्ने सीदत्यस्मिन्नरेश्वर । सम्बन्धिन्यस्य देहस्य बिभ्रति भ्रातृकल्पनाम् ॥ 44.10 ॥

gārhasthyamohamāpanne sīdatyasminnareśvara sambandhinyasya dehasya bibhrati bhrātṛkalpanām

O lord of men, when this brother, overcome by the delusion of household life, was faltering, those of us who bear the very name of "brother" in relation to this body could not help but share in that distress.

Verse 11 (markandeya.44.11)

ततो मया विनिश्चित्य दुः खाद्वैराग्यभावना । भविष्यतीत्यस्य भवानित्युद्योगाय संश्रितः ॥ 44.11 ॥

tato mayā viniścitya duḥ khādvairāgyabhāvanā bhaviṣyatītyasya bhavānityudyogāya saṁśritaḥ

Then, having determined that dispassion would arise in him out of that very suffering, I took up this endeavor on his behalf, O lord of the earth.

Verse 12 (markandeya.44.12)

तदस्य दुः खाद्वैराग्यं संबोधादवनीपते । समुद्भूतं कृतं कार्यं भद्रं तेऽस्तु व्रजाम्यहम् ॥ 44.12 ॥

tadasya duḥ khādvairāgyaṁ saṁbodhādavanīpate samudbhūtaṁ kṛtaṁ kāryaṁ bhadraṁ te'stu vrajāmyaham

Thus, O lord of the earth, this dispassion, born of suffering and understanding, has now arisen in him; the task is accomplished — may all be well with you; I now take my leave.

Verse 13 (markandeya.44.13)

उष्ट्वा मदालसागर्भे पीत्वा सत्सास्तथा स्तनम् । नान्यनारीसुतैर्यातं वर्त्म यात्विति पार्थिव ॥ 44.13 ॥

uṣṭvā madālasāgarbhe pītvā satsāstathā stanam nānyanārīsutairyātaṁ vartma yātviti pārthiva

Having been born from Madalasa's womb, and having drunk the milk of that same mother — O king, may he not follow the path that the sons of ordinary women walk.

Verse 14 (markandeya.44.14)

विचार्य तन्मया सर्वं युष्मत्संश्रयपूर्वकम् । कृतं तच्चापि निष्पन्नं प्रयास्ये सिद्धये पुनः ॥ 44.14 ॥

vicārya tanmayā sarvaṁ yuṣmatsaṁśrayapūrvakam kṛtaṁ taccāpi niṣpannaṁ prayāsye siddhaye punaḥ

Having reflected on all this, and having first relied upon your aid, I have done what needed doing, and that too has now been accomplished; I shall now go once more in pursuit of my own perfection.

Verse 15 (markandeya.44.15)

उपेक्ष्यते सीदमानः स्वजनो बान्धवः सुहृत् । यैर्नरेन्द्र ! न तान् मन्ये सेन्द्रिया विकला हि ते ॥ 44.15 ॥

upekṣyate sīdamānaḥ svajano bāndhavaḥ suhṛt yairnarendra ! na tān manye sendriyā vikalā hi te

Those who simply neglect their own kinsmen, relatives, and friends when such people are faltering — O lord of men, I do not consider them whole at all; they are deficient even in their very faculties.

Verse 16 (markandeya.44.16)

सुहृदि स्वजने बन्धौ समर्थे योऽवसीदति । धर्मार्थकाममोक्षेभ्यो वाच्यास्ते तत्र न त्वसौ ॥ 44.16 ॥

suhṛdi svajane bandhau samarthe yo'vasīdati dharmārthakāmamokṣebhyo vācyāste tatra na tvasau

One who, though capable of helping, allows a friend, kinsman, or relative to falter, should not even be spoken of in connection with dharma, artha, kama, or moksha; he has no claim to any of them.

Verse 17 (markandeya.44.17)

एतत् त्वत्सङ्गमाद् भूप ! मया कार्यं महत् कृतम् । स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु गमिष्यामि ज्ञानभाग्भव सत्तम ॥ 44.17 ॥

etat tvatsaṅgamād bhūpa ! mayā kāryaṁ mahat kṛtam svasti te'stu gamiṣyāmi jñānabhāgbhava sattama

O king, through my connection with you, this great task has been accomplished; may you prosper — I now take my leave; and may you too, O best of men, become a possessor of true knowledge.

Verse 18 (markandeya.44.18)

काशिराज उवाच उपकारस्त्वया साधोरलर्कस्य कृतो महान् । ममोपकाराय कथं न करोषि स्वमानसम् ॥ 44.18 ॥

kāśirāja uvāca upakārastvayā sādhoralarkasya kṛto mahān mamopakārāya kathaṁ na karoṣi svamānasam

The King of Kashi said: Good sir, you have rendered Alarka this great service; why, then, will you not extend that same generosity of yours for my benefit as well?

Verse 19 (markandeya.44.19)

फलदायी सतां सदिभः सङ्गमो नाफलो यतः । तस्मात्तवत्संश्रयाद्युक्ता मया प्राप्ता समुन्नतिः ॥ 44.19 ॥

phaladāyī satāṁ sadibhaḥ saṅgamo nāphalo yataḥ tasmāttavatsaṁśrayādyuktā mayā prāptā samunnatiḥ

Since association with the good is always fruitful and never in vain — through reliance on you, I too have rightly gained this elevation.

Verse 20 (markandeya.44.20)

सुबाहुरुवाच धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाख्यं पुरुषार्थचतुष्टयम् । तत्र धर्मार्थकामास्ते सकला हीयतेऽपरः ॥ 44.20 ॥

subāhuruvāca dharmārthakāmamokṣākhyaṁ puruṣārthacatuṣṭayam tatra dharmārthakāmāste sakalā hīyate'paraḥ

Subahu said: Dharma, artha, kama, and moksha — these are called the four aims of human life; of these, dharma, artha, and kama are all inferior to that other one, moksha.

Verse 21 (markandeya.44.21)

तत्ते संक्षेपतो वक्ष्ये तदिहैकमनाः शृणु । श्रुत्वा च सम्यगालोच्य यतेथाः श्रेयसे नृप ॥ 44.21 ॥

tatte saṁkṣepato vakṣye tadihaikamanāḥ śṛṇu śrutvā ca samyagālocya yatethāḥ śreyase nṛpa

That I shall tell you in brief; listen to it with a focused mind; and having heard it and reflected upon it well, strive, O king, for your own true good.

Verse 22 (markandeya.44.22)

ममेतिप्रत्ययो भूप ! न कार्योऽहमिति त्वया । सम्यगालोच्य धर्मो हि धर्माभावे निराश्रयः ॥ 44.22 ॥

mametipratyayo bhūpa ! na kāryo'hamiti tvayā samyagālocya dharmo hi dharmābhāve nirāśrayaḥ

O king, the notion "this is mine" should not be held by you, nor should the notion "I"; upon proper reflection, dharma itself, lacking a true foundation, is without real support.

Verse 23 (markandeya.44.23)

कस्याहमिति संज्ञेयमित्यालोच्य त्वयात्मना । बाह्यन्तर्गतमालोच्यमालोच्यापररात्रिषु ॥ 44.23 ॥

kasyāhamiti saṁjñeyamityālocya tvayātmanā bāhyantargatamālocyamālocyāpararātriṣu

Having reflected, by yourself, upon the question "to whom do I belong," and having repeatedly examined, in the later watches of the night, what lies within and what lies without...

Verse 24 (markandeya.44.24)

अव्यक्तादिविशेषन्तमविकारमचेतनम् । व्यक्ताव्यक्तं त्वया ज्ञेयं ज्ञाता कश्चाहमित्युत ॥ 44.24 ॥

avyaktādiviśeṣantamavikāramacetanam vyaktāvyaktaṁ tvayā jñeyaṁ jñātā kaścāhamityuta

...you should come to know that which lies beyond the unmanifest and all its distinctions — unchanging and unconscious — as well as the manifest and the unmanifest; and ask, too, who indeed is the knower — who is this "I"?

Verse 25 (markandeya.44.25)

एतस्मिन्नेव विज्ञाने विज्ञातमखिलं त्वया । अनात्मन्यात्मविज्ञानमखे खमिति मूढता ॥ 44.25 ॥

etasminneva vijñāne vijñātamakhilaṁ tvayā anātmanyātmavijñānamakhe khamiti mūḍhatā

In this very understanding, everything is already known by you; seeking knowledge of the Self within the not-Self is like seeking sky within sky — that is sheer delusion.

Verse 26 (markandeya.44.26)

सोऽहं सर्वगतो भूप ! लोकसंव्यवहारतः । मयेदमुच्यते सर्वं त्वया पृष्टो व्रजाम्यहम् ॥ 44.26 ॥

so'haṁ sarvagato bhūpa ! lokasaṁvyavahārataḥ mayedamucyate sarvaṁ tvayā pṛṣṭo vrajāmyaham

"I am that" — all-pervading — O king, I say this only in terms of worldly convention; all this has now been spoken by me; having answered your question, I now take my leave.

Verse 27 (markandeya.44.27)

एवमुक्त्वा ययौ धीमान् ! सुबाहुः काशिभूमिपम् । काशिराजोऽपि संपूज्य सोऽलर्कं स्वपुरं ययौ ॥ 44.27 ॥

evamuktvā yayau dhīmān ! subāhuḥ kāśibhūmipam kāśirājo'pi saṁpūjya so'larkaṁ svapuraṁ yayau

Having said this, the wise Subahu set out for the land of the King of Kashi; the King of Kashi too, having honored Alarka, departed for his own city.

Verse 28 (markandeya.44.28)

अलर्कोऽपि सुतं ज्येष्ठमभिषिच्य नराधिपम् । वनं जगाम सन्त्यक्तसर्वसङ्गः स्वसिद्धये ॥ 44.28 ॥

alarko'pi sutaṁ jyeṣṭhamabhiṣicya narādhipam vanaṁ jagāma santyaktasarvasaṅgaḥ svasiddhaye

Alarka too, having installed his eldest son as king, and having renounced all attachment entirely, went to the forest to seek his own accomplishment.

Verse 29 (markandeya.44.29)

ततः कालेन महाता निर्द्वन्द्वो निष्परिग्रहः । प्राप्य योगर्धिमतुलां परं निर्वाणमाप्तवान् ॥ 44.29 ॥

tataḥ kālena mahātā nirdvandvo niṣparigrahaḥ prāpya yogardhimatulāṁ paraṁ nirvāṇamāptavān

Then, after a great span of time, free from the dualities of life and possessing nothing, having attained an unequaled abundance of yogic power, he attained supreme Nirvana.

Verse 30 (markandeya.44.30)

पश्यन् जगदिदं सर्वं सदेवासुरमानुषम् । पाशैर्गुणमयैर्बद्धं बध्यमानञ्च नित्यशः ॥ 44.30 ॥

paśyan jagadidaṁ sarvaṁ sadevāsuramānuṣam pāśairguṇamayairbaddhaṁ badhyamānañca nityaśaḥ

Seeing this entire world — with its gods, demons, and men — bound by fetters woven of the gunas, and being bound over and over again...

Verse 31 (markandeya.44.31)

पुत्रादिभ्रातृपुत्रादि-स्वपारक्यादिभावितैः । आकृष्यमाणं करणैर्दुःखार्तं भिन्नदर्शनम् ॥ 44.31 ॥

putrādibhrātṛputrādi-svapārakyādibhāvitaiḥ ākṛṣyamāṇaṁ karaṇairduḥkhārtaṁ bhinnadarśanam

...dragged about by the senses through notions such as "son," "brother," "grandson," "mine," and "another's"; afflicted with suffering, and perceiving everything as fragmented and divided...

Verse 32 (markandeya.44.32)

अज्ञानपङ्कगर्भस्थमनुद्धारं महामतिः । आत्मानञ्च समुत्तीर्णं गाथामेतामगायत ॥ 44.32 ॥

ajñānapaṅkagarbhasthamanuddhāraṁ mahāmatiḥ ātmānañca samuttīrṇaṁ gāthāmetāmagāyata

...lying helpless as though sunk in the womb of the mire of ignorance, with no one to rescue it — while he himself, the great-minded one, having crossed beyond it all, sang this song of the Self that had crossed over.

Verse 33 (markandeya.44.33)

अहो कष्टं यदस्माभैः पूर्वं राज्यमनुष्ठितम् । इति पश्चान्मया ज्ञातं योगान्नास्ति परं सुखम् ॥ 44.33 ॥

aho kaṣṭaṁ yadasmābhaiḥ pūrvaṁ rājyamanuṣṭhitam iti paścānmayā jñātaṁ yogānnāsti paraṁ sukham

"Ah, what suffering it was, that we once governed a kingdom!" — thus, afterward, I came to understand: there is no happiness higher than yoga.

Verse 34 (markandeya.44.34)

जड उवाच तातैनं त्वं समातिष्ठ मुक्तये योगमुत्तमम् । प्राप्स्यसे येन तद् ब्रह्म यत्र गत्वा न शोचसि ॥ 44.34 ॥

jaḍa uvāca tātainaṁ tvaṁ samātiṣṭha muktaye yogamuttamam prāpsyase yena tad brahma yatra gatvā na śocasi

Jada said: Father, you too should now take up this supreme yoga for the sake of liberation; through it you shall attain that Brahman, reaching which you will grieve no more.

Verse 35 (markandeya.44.35)

ततोऽहमपि यास्यामि किं यज्ञैः किं जपेन मे । कृतकृत्यस्य करणं ब्रह्मभावाय कल्पते ॥ 44.35 ॥

tato'hamapi yāsyāmi kiṁ yajñaiḥ kiṁ japena me kṛtakṛtyasya karaṇaṁ brahmabhāvāya kalpate

Then I too shall go; what need have I of sacrifices, what need of japa? For one who has already accomplished all that needed doing, action itself becomes fit only for the realization of the nature of Brahman.

Verse 36 (markandeya.44.36)

त्वत्तोऽनुज्ञामवाप्याहं निर्द्वन्द्वो निष्परिग्रहः । प्रयतिष्ये तथा मुक्तौ यथा यास्यामि निर्वृतिम् ॥ 44.36 ॥

tvatto'nujñāmavāpyāhaṁ nirdvandvo niṣparigrahaḥ prayatiṣye tathā muktau yathā yāsyāmi nirvṛtim

Having received your permission, free of dualities and possessing nothing, I shall strive in such a way that I attain that final bliss of liberation.

Verse 37 (markandeya.44.37)

पक्षिण ऊचुः एवमुक्त्वा स पितरं प्राप्यानुज्ञां ततश्च सः । ब्रह्मन् ! जगाम मेधावी परित्यक्तपरिग्रहः ॥ 44.37 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ evamuktvā sa pitaraṁ prāpyānujñāṁ tataśca saḥ brahman ! jagāma medhāvī parityaktaparigrahaḥ

The birds said: Having said this to his father, and having obtained his leave, that wise one, having renounced every possession, departed, O brahmin.

Verse 38 (markandeya.44.38)

सोऽपि तस्य पिता तद्वत् क्रमेण सुमहामतिः । वानप्रस्थं समास्थाय चतुर्थाश्रममभ्यगात् ॥ 44.38 ॥

so'pi tasya pitā tadvat krameṇa sumahāmatiḥ vānaprasthaṁ samāsthāya caturthāśramamabhyagāt

He too — his father, a man of very great wisdom — following that same course in due order, took up the forest-dwelling stage of life, and thereafter passed on to the fourth stage, renunciation.

Verse 39 (markandeya.44.39)

तत्रात्मजं समासाद्य हित्वा बन्धं गुणादिकम् । प्राप सिद्धिं परां प्राज्ञस्तत्कालोपात्तसंमतिः ॥ 44.39 ॥

tatrātmajaṁ samāsādya hitvā bandhaṁ guṇādikam prāpa siddhiṁ parāṁ prājñastatkālopāttasaṁmatiḥ

There, having found his own son again, and having cast off the bondage of the gunas and all the rest, that wise man, his understanding gathered in that very moment, attained the supreme accomplishment.

Verse 40 (markandeya.44.40)

एतत्ते कथितं ब्रह्मन् ! यत्पृष्टा भवता वयम् । सुविस्तरं यथावच्च किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि ॥ 44.40 ॥

etatte kathitaṁ brahman ! yatpṛṣṭā bhavatā vayam suvistaraṁ yathāvacca kimanyacchrotumicchasi

All this, O brahmin, has now been told to you, just as you asked of us — in full detail and exactly as it happened; what else do you wish to hear?