The Creation of Mankind

Verse 1 (markandeya.49.1)

क्रौष्टुकिरुवाच अर्वाक्स्त्रोतस्तु कथितो भवता यस्तु मानुषः । ब्रह्मन् ! विस्तरतो ब्रूहि ब्रह्मा समसृजद्यथा ॥ 49.1 ॥

krauṣṭukiruvāca arvākstrotastu kathito bhavatā yastu mānuṣaḥ brahman ! vistarato brūhi brahmā samasṛjadyathā

Kraushtuki said: You have told me of the 'arvak-srotas', the human creation; now, O brahmin, tell me in detail how Brahma brought it into being.

Verse 2 (markandeya.49.2)

यथा च वर्णानसृजद्यद् गुणाश्च महामते । यच्च येषां स्मृतं कर्म विप्रादीनां वदस्व तत् ॥ 49.2 ॥

yathā ca varṇānasṛjadyad guṇāśca mahāmate yacca yeṣāṁ smṛtaṁ karma viprādīnāṁ vadasva tat

And how he created the varnas, and what qualities belong to each, O wise one; and tell me also the duties remembered for each — of the brahmins and the rest.

Verse 3 (markandeya.49.3)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ब्रह्मणः सृजतः पूर्वं सत्याभिध्यायिनस्तथा । मिथुनानां सहस्रन्तु मुखात् सोऽथासृजन्मुने ॥ 49.3 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca brahmaṇaḥ sṛjataḥ pūrvaṁ satyābhidhyāyinastathā mithunānāṁ sahasrantu mukhāt so'thāsṛjanmune

Markandeya said: As Brahma, whose contemplation is ever true, first set about creating, O sage, he brought forth a thousand pairs from his mouth.

Verse 4 (markandeya.49.4)

जातास्ते ह्यु पपद्यन्ते सत्त्वोद्रिक्ताः स्वतेजसः । सहस्रमन्यद्वक्षस्तो मिथुनानां ससर्ज ह ॥ 49.4 ॥

jātāste hyu papadyante sattvodriktāḥ svatejasaḥ sahasramanyadvakṣasto mithunānāṁ sasarja ha

As soon as they were born they shone with an excess of sattva, radiant with their own inner light; then he created another thousand pairs from his chest.

Verse 5 (markandeya.49.5)

ते सर्वे रजसोद्रिक्ताः शुष्मिणश्चाप्यमर्षिणः । ससर्जान्यते सहस्रन्तु द्वन्द्वानामूरुतः पुनः ॥ 49.5 ॥

te sarve rajasodriktāḥ śuṣmiṇaścāpyamarṣiṇaḥ sasarjānyate sahasrantu dvandvānāmūrutaḥ punaḥ

All these were full of rajas, vigorous and impatient in temperament; then again he created yet another thousand pairs from his thighs.

Verse 6 (markandeya.49.6)

रजस्तमोभ्यामुद्रिक्ता ईहाशीलास्तु ते स्मृताः । पद्भ्यां सहस्रमन्यच्च मिथुनानां ससर्ज ह ॥ 49.6 ॥

rajastamobhyāmudriktā īhāśīlāstu te smṛtāḥ padbhyāṁ sahasramanyacca mithunānāṁ sasarja ha

These, full of both rajas and tamas, are remembered as being of a restless, striving temperament; then he created yet another thousand pairs from his feet.

Verse 7 (markandeya.49.7)

उद्रिक्तास्तमसा सर्वे निः श्रीका ह्यल्पचेतसः । ततः संहर्षमाणास्ते द्वन्द्वोत्पन्नास्तु प्राणिनः ॥ 49.7 ॥

udriktāstamasā sarve niḥ śrīkā hyalpacetasaḥ tataḥ saṁharṣamāṇāste dvandvotpannāstu prāṇinaḥ

These were all full of tamas, without splendour, and of little understanding. Then these beings, born in pairs, began to feel delight in one another —

Verse 8 (markandeya.49.8)

अन्योन्यहृर्च्छ्याविष्टा मैथुनायोपचक्रमुः । ततः प्रभृति कल्पेऽस्मिन् मिथुनानां हि सम्भवः ॥ 49.8 ॥

anyonyahṛrcchyāviṣṭā maithunāyopacakramuḥ tataḥ prabhṛti kalpe'smin mithunānāṁ hi sambhavaḥ

— overcome with longing for each other, they set about mating. From that time onward in this kalpa, the arising of beings through pairing began.

Verse 9 (markandeya.49.9)

मासि मास्यार्तवं यत् तु न तदासीत्तु योषिताम् । तस्मात्तदा न सुषुवुः सेवितैरपि मैथुनैः ॥ 49.9 ॥

māsi māsyārtavaṁ yat tu na tadāsīttu yoṣitām tasmāttadā na suṣuvuḥ sevitairapi maithunaiḥ

But at that time women did not yet have the monthly flow; and so, even though they came together, they did not conceive.

Verse 10 (markandeya.49.10)

आयुषोऽन्ते प्रसूयन्ते मिथुनान्येव ताः सकृत् । ततः प्रभृति कल्पेऽस्मिन् मिथुनानां हि सम्भवः ॥ 49.10 ॥

āyuṣo'nte prasūyante mithunānyeva tāḥ sakṛt tataḥ prabhṛti kalpe'smin mithunānāṁ hi sambhavaḥ

They gave birth only once, to a pair, at the very end of their lifespan; from that time onward in this kalpa, offspring came about through such pairs.

Verse 11 (markandeya.49.11)

ध्यानेन मनसा तासां प्रजानां जायते सकृत् । शब्दादिर्विषयः शुद्धः प्रत्येकं पञ्चलक्षणः ॥ 49.11 ॥

dhyānena manasā tāsāṁ prajānāṁ jāyate sakṛt śabdādirviṣayaḥ śuddhaḥ pratyekaṁ pañcalakṣaṇaḥ

Their offspring were born just once, by mere mental contemplation; sound and the other sense-objects were pure, each marked by its own fivefold nature.

Verse 12 (markandeya.49.12)

इत्येषा मानुषी सृष्टिर्या पूर्वं वै प्रजापतेः । तस्यान्ववायसम्भूता यैरिदं पूरितं जगत् ॥ 49.12 ॥

ityeṣā mānuṣī sṛṣṭiryā pūrvaṁ vai prajāpateḥ tasyānvavāyasambhūtā yairidaṁ pūritaṁ jagat

Such, then, was that first human creation of Prajapati, from whose lineage arose those who have since filled this entire world.

Verse 13 (markandeya.49.13)

सरित्सरः समुद्रांश्च सेवन्ते पर्वतानपि । तास्तदा ह्यल्पशीतोष्णा युगे तस्मिंश्चरन्ति वै ॥ 49.13 ॥

saritsaraḥ samudrāṁśca sevante parvatānapi tāstadā hyalpaśītoṣṇā yuge tasmiṁścaranti vai

They frequented rivers, lakes, oceans, and mountains; in that age, with little heat or cold, they wandered about freely.

Verse 14 (markandeya.49.14)

तृप्तिं स्वाभाविकीं प्राप्ता विषयेषु महामते । न तासां प्रतिघातोऽस्ति न द्वेषो नापि मत्सरः ॥ 49.14 ॥

tṛptiṁ svābhāvikīṁ prāptā viṣayeṣu mahāmate na tāsāṁ pratighāto'sti na dveṣo nāpi matsaraḥ

O wise one, they had attained a natural contentment in sense-objects; they knew neither hostility, nor hatred, nor envy.

Verse 15 (markandeya.49.15)

पर्वतोदधिसेविन्यो ह्यनिकेतास्तु सर्वशः । ता वै निष्कामचारिण्यो नित्यं मुदितमानसाः ॥ 49.15 ॥

parvatodadhisevinyo hyaniketāstu sarvaśaḥ tā vai niṣkāmacāriṇyo nityaṁ muditamānasāḥ

Dwelling by mountains and oceans, entirely without fixed homes, they wandered free of desire, their minds ever joyful.

Verse 16 (markandeya.49.16)

पिशाचोरगरक्षांसि तथा मत्सरिणो जनाः । पशवः पक्षिणश्चैव नक्रा मत्स्याः सरीसृपाः ॥ 49.16 ॥

piśācoragarakṣāṁsi tathā matsariṇo janāḥ paśavaḥ pakṣiṇaścaiva nakrā matsyāḥ sarīsṛpāḥ

By contrast, Pishachas, serpents, Rakshasas, as well as envious humans, cattle, birds, crocodiles, fish and reptiles —

Verse 17 (markandeya.49.17)

अवारका ह्यण्डजा वा ते ह्यधर्मप्रसूतयः । न मूलफलपुष्पाणि नार्तवा वत्सराणि च ॥ 49.17 ॥

avārakā hyaṇḍajā vā te hyadharmaprasūtayaḥ na mūlaphalapuṣpāṇi nārtavā vatsarāṇi ca

— whether born from the womb or from eggs, all these arise from unrighteousness. There were as yet no roots, fruits, or flowers, nor were there seasons or years.

Verse 18 (markandeya.49.18)

सर्वकालसुखः कालो नात्यर्थं घर्मशीतता । कालेन गच्छता तेषां चित्रा सिद्धिरजायत ॥ 49.18 ॥

sarvakālasukhaḥ kālo nātyarthaṁ gharmaśītatā kālena gacchatā teṣāṁ citrā siddhirajāyata

The time was pleasant at every season, without excessive heat or cold; and as time passed, a wondrous power of accomplishment arose for them.

Verse 19 (markandeya.49.19)

ततश्च तेषां पूर्वाह्ने मध्याह्ने च वितृप्तता । पुनस्तथेच्छतां तृप्तिरनायासेन साभवत् ॥ 49.19 ॥

tataśca teṣāṁ pūrvāhne madhyāhne ca vitṛptatā punastathecchatāṁ tṛptiranāyāsena sābhavat

By this, in the forenoon and at midday, they became satisfied; and again, whenever they wished it, satisfaction came to them without any effort.

Verse 20 (markandeya.49.20)

इच्छताञ्च तथायासो मनसः समजायत । अपां सौक्ष्म्यं ततस्तासां सिद्धिर्नानारसोल्लसा ॥ 49.20 ॥

icchatāñca tathāyāso manasaḥ samajāyata apāṁ saukṣmyaṁ tatastāsāṁ siddhirnānārasollasā

For those who desired, a mere wish of the mind was enough; then, from the subtlety of the waters, another power arose for them, radiant with many flavours.

Verse 21 (markandeya.49.21)

समजायत चैवान्या सर्वकामप्रदायिनी । असंस्कार्यैः शरीरैश्च प्रजास्ताः स्थिरयौवनाः ॥ 49.21 ॥

samajāyata caivānyā sarvakāmapradāyinī asaṁskāryaiḥ śarīraiśca prajāstāḥ sthirayauvanāḥ

And yet another power arose, granting every desire; and those offspring's bodies, needing no adornment, remained ever youthful.

Verse 22 (markandeya.49.22)

तासां विना तु संकल्पं जायन्ते मिथुनाः प्रजाः । समं जन्म च रूपञ्च म्रियन्ते चैव ताः समम् ॥ 49.22 ॥

tāsāṁ vinā tu saṁkalpaṁ jāyante mithunāḥ prajāḥ samaṁ janma ca rūpañca mriyante caiva tāḥ samam

Without even a conscious resolve, paired offspring were born to them; equal in birth and form, they died together as well.

Verse 23 (markandeya.49.23)

अनिच्छाद्वेषसंयुक्ता वर्तन्ते तु परस्परम् । तुल्यरूपायुषः सर्वा अधमोत्तमतां विना ॥ 49.23 ॥

anicchādveṣasaṁyuktā vartante tu parasparam tulyarūpāyuṣaḥ sarvā adhamottamatāṁ vinā

Free from desire and hatred, they lived together with one another; all equal in form and lifespan, with no distinction of higher or lower.

Verse 24 (markandeya.49.24)

तत्वारि तु सहस्राणि वर्षाणां मानुषाणि तु । आयुः प्रमाणं जीवन्ति न च क्लेशाद्विपत्तयः ॥ 49.24 ॥

tatvāri tu sahasrāṇi varṣāṇāṁ mānuṣāṇi tu āyuḥ pramāṇaṁ jīvanti na ca kleśādvipattayaḥ

Four thousand human years was the measure of their lifespan, and they lived free of any calamity born of affliction.

Verse 25 (markandeya.49.25)

क्वचित् क्वचित् पुनः साभूत् क्षितिर्भाग्येन सर्वशः । कालेन गच्छता नाशमुपयान्ति यथा प्रजाः ॥ 49.25 ॥

kvacit kvacit punaḥ sābhūt kṣitirbhāgyena sarvaśaḥ kālena gacchatā nāśamupayānti yathā prajāḥ

Just as beings, in time, come to pass away, so too would the earth's bounty, here and there, gradually come to an end everywhere as time passed.

Verse 26 (markandeya.49.26)

तथा ताः क्रमशो नाशं जग्मुः सर्वत्र सिद्धयः । तासु सर्वासु नष्टासु नभसः प्रच्युता नराः ॥ 49.26 ॥

tathā tāḥ kramaśo nāśaṁ jagmuḥ sarvatra siddhayaḥ tāsu sarvāsu naṣṭāsu nabhasaḥ pracyutā narāḥ

In this way those powers of accomplishment gradually vanished everywhere; and when all of them had perished, men fell from that effortless heavenly state.

Verse 27 (markandeya.49.27)

प्रायशः कल्पवृक्षास्ते संभूता गृहसंज्ञिताः । सर्वे प्रत्युपभोगाश्च तासं तेभ्यः प्रजायते ॥ 49.27 ॥

prāyaśaḥ kalpavṛkṣāste saṁbhūtā gṛhasaṁjñitāḥ sarve pratyupabhogāśca tāsaṁ tebhyaḥ prajāyate

Then, for the most part, there arose wish-fulfilling trees called 'household trees', from which every kind of enjoyment now arose for these people.

Verse 28 (markandeya.49.28)

वर्तयन्ति स्म तेभ्यस्तास्त्रेतायुगमुखे तदा । ततः कालेन वै रागस्तासामाकस्मिकोऽभवत् ॥ 49.28 ॥

vartayanti sma tebhyastāstretāyugamukhe tadā tataḥ kālena vai rāgastāsāmākasmiko'bhavat

At the beginning of the Treta age they sustained themselves by these trees; but in time, passion arose in them quite suddenly.

Verse 29 (markandeya.49.29)

मासि मास्यार्तवोत्पत्त्या गर्भोत्पत्तिः पुनः पुनः । रागोत्पत्त्या ततस्तासां वृक्षास्ते गृहसंज्ञिताः ॥ 49.29 ॥

māsi māsyārtavotpattyā garbhotpattiḥ punaḥ punaḥ rāgotpattyā tatastāsāṁ vṛkṣāste gṛhasaṁjñitāḥ

With the monthly onset of the menstrual flow, conception occurred again and again; and even after passion arose, those 'household trees' continued to sustain them.

Verse 30 (markandeya.49.30)

ब्रह्मन्नन्वपरेषान्तु पेतुः शाखा महीरुहाम् । वस्त्राणि च प्रसूयन्ते फलेष्वाभरणानि च ॥ 49.30 ॥

brahmannanvapareṣāntu petuḥ śākhā mahīruhām vastrāṇi ca prasūyante phaleṣvābharaṇāni ca

And O brahmin, further, from the branches of those great trees fell garments, and their fruits yielded ornaments as well.

Verse 31 (markandeya.49.31)

तेष्वेव जायते तेषां गन्धवर्णरसान्वितम् । अमाक्षिकं माहवीर्यं पुटके पुटके मधु ॥ 49.31 ॥

teṣveva jāyate teṣāṁ gandhavarṇarasānvitam amākṣikaṁ māhavīryaṁ puṭake puṭake madhu

In those very trees, in cell after cell, arose honey of great potency, endowed with fragrance, colour and taste, untouched by bees.

Verse 32 (markandeya.49.32)

तेन वा वर्तयन्ति स्म मुखे त्रेयायुगस्य वै । ततः कालान्तरेणैव पुनर्लोभान्वितास्तु ताः ॥ 49.32 ॥

tena vā vartayanti sma mukhe treyāyugasya vai tataḥ kālāntareṇaiva punarlobhānvitāstu tāḥ

By that they sustained themselves at the start of the Treta age; but after some further time had passed, they again became overcome with greed.

Verse 33 (markandeya.49.33)

वृक्षांस्ताः पर्यगृह्णन्त ममत्वाविष्टचेतसः । नेशुस्तेनापचारेण तेऽपि तासां महीरुहाः ॥ 49.33 ॥

vṛkṣāṁstāḥ paryagṛhṇanta mamatvāviṣṭacetasaḥ neśustenāpacāreṇa te'pi tāsāṁ mahīruhāḥ

With minds possessed by a sense of 'mine', they seized those trees for their own; and because of that misconduct, those great trees too perished for them.

Verse 34 (markandeya.49.34)

ततो द्वन्द्वान्यजायन्ते शीतोष्णक्षुन्मुखानि वै । तास्तद्द्वन्द्वोपघातार्थं चक्रुः पूर्वं पुराणि तु ॥ 49.34 ॥

tato dvandvānyajāyante śītoṣṇakṣunmukhāni vai tāstaddvandvopaghātārthaṁ cakruḥ pūrvaṁ purāṇi tu

Then arose the pairs of opposites — cold and heat, hunger and the rest; and to guard against the affliction of these opposites, they first built cities.

Verse 35 (markandeya.49.35)

मरुधन्वषु दुर्गेषु पर्वतेषु दरीषु च । संश्रयन्ति च दुर्गाणि वार्क्षं पार्वतमौदकम् ॥ 49.35 ॥

marudhanvaṣu durgeṣu parvateṣu darīṣu ca saṁśrayanti ca durgāṇi vārkṣaṁ pārvatamaudakam

In deserts, in fortified places, on mountains, and in caves they took refuge, and made use of forts of wood, of mountain, and of water.

Verse 36 (markandeya.49.36)

कृत्रिमञ्च तथा दुर्गं मित्वा मित्वात्मनोऽङ्गुलैः । मानार्थानि प्रमाणानि तास्तु पूर्वं प्रचक्रिरे ॥ 49.36 ॥

kṛtrimañca tathā durgaṁ mitvā mitvātmano'ṅgulaiḥ mānārthāni pramāṇāni tāstu pūrvaṁ pracakrire

And they made an artificial fort as well; measuring themselves again and again by their own fingers, they first devised the units of measurement.

Verse 37 (markandeya.49.37)

परमाणुः परं सूक्ष्मं त्रषरेणुर्महीरजः । बालाग्रञ्चैव लिक्षां च यूकां चाथ यवोदरम् ॥ 49.37 ॥

paramāṇuḥ paraṁ sūkṣmaṁ traṣareṇurmahīrajaḥ bālāgrañcaiva likṣāṁ ca yūkāṁ cātha yavodaram

The paramanu is the finest, subtlest unit; then the trasarenu, then a mote of earth-dust, then the tip of a hair, a nit, a louse, and a barleycorn's width.

Verse 38 (markandeya.49.38)

क्रमादष्टगुणान्याहुर्यवानष्टौ तथाङ्गुलम् । षडङ्गुलं पदं तच्च वितस्तिर्द्विगुणं स्मृतम् ॥ 49.38 ॥

kramādaṣṭaguṇānyāhuryavānaṣṭau tathāṅgulam ṣaḍaṅgulaṁ padaṁ tacca vitastirdviguṇaṁ smṛtam

Each, in order, is said to be eightfold the one before; eight barleycorns make one angula, six angulas make one pada, and twice that is remembered as one vitasti.

Verse 39 (markandeya.49.39)

द्वे वितस्ती तथा हस्तो ब्राह्म्यतीर्थादिवेष्टनः । चतुर्हस्तं धनुर्दण्डो नाडिकार्युगमेव च ॥ 49.39 ॥

dve vitastī tathā hasto brāhmyatīrthādiveṣṭanaḥ caturhastaṁ dhanurdaṇḍo nāḍikāryugameva ca

Two vitastis make one hasta, measured in the Brahma manner at the wrist and elbow; four hastas make one dhanurdanda, also called a nadika-yuga.

Verse 40 (markandeya.49.40)

धनुषां द्वे सहस्रे तु गव्यूतिस्तच्चतुर्गुणम् । प्रोक्तञ्च योजवनं प्राज्ञैः संख्यानार्थमिदं परम् ॥ 49.40 ॥

dhanuṣāṁ dve sahasre tu gavyūtistaccaturguṇam proktañca yojavanaṁ prājñaiḥ saṁkhyānārthamidaṁ param

Two thousand dhanus make one gavyuti, and four times that is declared by the wise to be one yojana — this is the ultimate measure for such reckoning.

Verse 41 (markandeya.49.41)

चतुर्णामथ दुर्गाणां स्वसमुत्थानि त्रीणि तु । चतुर्थं कृत्रिमं दुर्गं ते चक्रुर्यत्नतस्तु वै ॥ 49.41 ॥

caturṇāmatha durgāṇāṁ svasamutthāni trīṇi tu caturthaṁ kṛtrimaṁ durgaṁ te cakruryatnatastu vai

Of the four kinds of forts, three arise naturally by themselves; the fourth, the artificial fort, they made through deliberate effort.

Verse 42 (markandeya.49.42)

पुरञ्च खेटकञ्चैव तद्वद् द्रोणीमुखं द्विज । शाखानगरकञ्चापि तथा कर्वटकं द्रमी ॥ 49.42 ॥

purañca kheṭakañcaiva tadvad droṇīmukhaṁ dvija śākhānagarakañcāpi tathā karvaṭakaṁ dramī

O brahmin: a city (pura), a market-town (khetaka), likewise a river-port (dronimukha), a hamlet (shakhanagaraka), a hill-town (karvataka), a drami —

Verse 43 (markandeya.49.43)

ग्रामं सघोषविन्यासं तेषु चावसथान् पृथक् । सोत्सेधवप्रकारञ्च सर्वतः परिखावृतम् ॥ 49.43 ॥

grāmaṁ saghoṣavinyāsaṁ teṣu cāvasathān pṛthak sotsedhavaprakārañca sarvataḥ parikhāvṛtam

— and a village with its cowherd-settlements: in each of these they made separate dwellings, with raised ramparts, surrounded on all sides by a moat.

Verse 44 (markandeya.49.44)

योजनार्धार्धविष्कम्भमष्टभागायतं पुरम् । प्रागुदक्प्रवणं शस्तं शुद्धवंशबहिर्गमम् ॥ 49.44 ॥

yojanārdhārdhaviṣkambhamaṣṭabhāgāyataṁ puram prāgudakpravaṇaṁ śastaṁ śuddhavaṁśabahirgamam

A city has a breadth of half a yojana and a length an eighth greater; it is praised when sloping toward the east and north, with a clean outflow beyond its bamboo boundary.

Verse 45 (markandeya.49.45)

तदर्धेन तथा खेटं तत्पादेन च कर्वटम् । न्यूनं द्रोणीमुखं तस्मादन्तभागेन चोच्यते ॥ 49.45 ॥

tadardhena tathā kheṭaṁ tatpādena ca karvaṭam nyūnaṁ droṇīmukhaṁ tasmādantabhāgena cocyate

A kheta is half that size, and a karvata a quarter of it; the dronimukha is said to be smaller still, by its own fractional measure.

Verse 46 (markandeya.49.46)

प्राकारपरिखाहीनां पुरं खर्वटमुच्यते । शाखानगरकञ्चान्यन्मन्त्रिसामन्तभुक्तिमत् ॥ 49.46 ॥

prākāraparikhāhīnāṁ puraṁ kharvaṭamucyate śākhānagarakañcānyanmantrisāmantabhuktimat

A city lacking rampart and moat is called a 'kharvata'; the 'shakhanagaraka' is another kind, held by ministers and feudatory lords.

Verse 47 (markandeya.49.47)

तथा शूद्रजनप्रायाः स्वसमृद्धिकृषीबलाः । क्षेत्रोपभोग्यभूमध्ये वसतिर्ग्रामसंज्ञिता ॥ 49.47 ॥

tathā śūdrajanaprāyāḥ svasamṛddhikṛṣībalāḥ kṣetropabhogyabhūmadhye vasatirgrāmasaṁjñitā

And a settlement, mostly of shudra folk, self-sufficient and strong in agriculture, situated amid land fit for cultivation, is called a 'grama'.

Verse 48 (markandeya.49.48)

अन्यस्मान्नगरादेर्या कार्यमुद्दिश्य मानवैः । क्रियते वसतिः सा वै विज्ञेया वसतिर्नरैः ॥ 49.48 ॥

anyasmānnagarāderyā kāryamuddiśya mānavaiḥ kriyate vasatiḥ sā vai vijñeyā vasatirnaraiḥ

A dwelling made by people apart from a city or the like, for some particular purpose, should simply be known as a 'settlement' (vasati).

Verse 49 (markandeya.49.49)

दुष्टप्रायो विना क्षेत्रैः परभूमिचरो बली । ग्राम एव द्रमीसंज्ञो राजवल्लभसंश्रयः ॥ 49.49 ॥

duṣṭaprāyo vinā kṣetraiḥ parabhūmicaro balī grāma eva dramīsaṁjño rājavallabhasaṁśrayaḥ

A village mostly of unruly folk, without fields, its strong inhabitants roaming others' lands, is called a 'drami', dependent upon the king's favour.

Verse 50 (markandeya.49.50)

शकटारूढभाण्डैश्च गोपालैर्विपणं विना । गोसमूहैस्तथा घोषो यत्रेच्छाभूमिकेतनः ॥ 49.50 ॥

śakaṭārūḍhabhāṇḍaiśca gopālairvipaṇaṁ vinā gosamūhaistathā ghoṣo yatrecchābhūmiketanaḥ

A place where cowherds camp with their goods loaded on carts, without any marketplace, together with herds of cattle, settling wherever they please — this is a 'ghosha'.

Verse 51 (markandeya.49.51)

त एवं नगरादींस्तु कृत्वा वासार्थमात्मनः । निकेतनानि द्वन्द्वानां चक्रुरावसथाय वै ॥ 49.51 ॥

ta evaṁ nagarādīṁstu kṛtvā vāsārthamātmanaḥ niketanāni dvandvānāṁ cakrurāvasathāya vai

Having thus made cities and the rest for their own dwelling, they built houses as well, for the shelter of their paired kind.

Verse 52 (markandeya.49.52)

गृहाकारा यथा पूर्वं तेषामासन्नहीरुहाः । तथा संस्मृत्य तत्सर्वं चक्रुर्वेश्मानि ताः प्रजाः ॥ 49.52 ॥

gṛhākārā yathā pūrvaṁ teṣāmāsannahīruhāḥ tathā saṁsmṛtya tatsarvaṁ cakrurveśmāni tāḥ prajāḥ

Recalling how, in earlier times, their nearby household trees had had a house-like form, remembering all of that, those people built their dwellings accordingly.

Verse 53 (markandeya.49.53)

वृक्षस्यैवङ्गताः शाखास्तथैवञ्चापरी गताः । नताश्चैवोन्नताश्चैव तद्वच्छाखाः प्रचक्रिरे ॥ 49.53 ॥

vṛkṣasyaivaṅgatāḥ śākhāstathaivañcāparī gatāḥ natāścaivonnatāścaiva tadvacchākhāḥ pracakrire

Just as a tree's branches spread this way and that, some drooping and some rising, so too did they fashion their houses' beams in that same manner.

Verse 54 (markandeya.49.54)

याः शाखाः कल्पवृक्षाणां पूर्वमासन् द्विजोत्तम । ता एव शाखा गेहानां शालात्वं तेन तासु तत् ॥ 49.54 ॥

yāḥ śākhāḥ kalpavṛkṣāṇāṁ pūrvamāsan dvijottama tā eva śākhā gehānāṁ śālātvaṁ tena tāsu tat

O best of the twice-born, the very branches that once belonged to the wish-fulfilling trees became the beams of their houses; and thus arose the meaning of the word 'shala' (hall) among them.

Verse 55 (markandeya.49.55)

कृत्वा द्वन्द्वोपघातन्ते वार्तोपायमचिन्तयन् । नष्टेषु मधुना सार्धं कल्पवृक्षेष्वशेषतः ॥ 49.55 ॥

kṛtvā dvandvopaghātante vārtopāyamacintayan naṣṭeṣu madhunā sārdhaṁ kalpavṛkṣeṣvaśeṣataḥ

Having thus made shelter against the pairs of opposites, they still had no means of livelihood, once the wish-fulfilling trees, together with their honey, had entirely perished.

Verse 56 (markandeya.49.56)

विषादव्याकुलास्ता वै प्रजास्तृष्णाक्षुधार्दिताः । ततः प्रादुर्बभौ तासां सिद्धिस्त्रेतामुखे तदा ॥ 49.56 ॥

viṣādavyākulāstā vai prajāstṛṣṇākṣudhārditāḥ tataḥ prādurbabhau tāsāṁ siddhistretāmukhe tadā

Those people, distressed with despair, afflicted by thirst and hunger — then, at the very start of the Treta age, a new power of accomplishment arose for them.

Verse 57 (markandeya.49.57)

वार्तास्वसाधिता ह्यन्या वृष्टिस्तासां निकामतः । तासां वृष्ट्युदकानीह यानि निम्नगतानि वै ॥ 49.57 ॥

vārtāsvasādhitā hyanyā vṛṣṭistāsāṁ nikāmataḥ tāsāṁ vṛṣṭyudakānīha yāni nimnagatāni vai

Since livelihood had not yet been secured, another boon came to them at their very wish — rainfall; and whatever waters of that rain flowed down to low places here —

Verse 58 (markandeya.49.58)

वृष्ट्यावरुद्धैरभवत् स्त्रोतः खातानि निम्नगाः । ये पुरस्तादपां स्तोका आपन्नाः पृथिवीतले ॥ 49.58 ॥

vṛṣṭyāvaruddhairabhavat strotaḥ khātāni nimnagāḥ ye purastādapāṁ stokā āpannāḥ pṛthivītale

— dammed by that rainfall, it became streams, channels, and rivers; and wherever, before this, small amounts of water had settled upon the earth's surface —

Verse 59 (markandeya.49.59)

ततो भूमेश्च संयोगादोषध्यस्तास्तदा भवन् । अफालकृष्टाश्चानुप्ता ग्राम्यारण्याश्चतुर्दश ॥ 49.59 ॥

tato bhūmeśca saṁyogādoṣadhyastāstadā bhavan aphālakṛṣṭāścānuptā grāmyāraṇyāścaturdaśa

— there, through their union with the earth, plants arose at that time — fourteen kinds, both cultivated and wild — though neither ploughed by share nor sown by seed.

Verse 60 (markandeya.49.60)

ऋतुपुष्पफलाश्चैव वृक्षा गुल्माश्च जज्ञिरे । प्रादुर्भावस्तु त्रेतायामाद्योऽयमौषधस्य तु ॥ 49.60 ॥

ṛtupuṣpaphalāścaiva vṛkṣā gulmāśca jajñire prādurbhāvastu tretāyāmādyo'yamauṣadhasya tu

Trees and shrubs bearing seasonal flowers and fruits were also born; this was the very first appearance of plant-life in the Treta age.

Verse 61 (markandeya.49.61)

तेनौषधेन वर्तन्ते प्रजास्त्रेतायुगे मुने । रागलोभौ समासाद्य प्रजाश्चाकस्मिकौ तदा ॥ 49.61 ॥

tenauṣadhena vartante prajāstretāyuge mune rāgalobhau samāsādya prajāścākasmikau tadā

By that vegetation, O sage, people sustained themselves in the Treta age; but then, quite suddenly, passion and greed took hold of them.

Verse 62 (markandeya.49.62)

ततस्ताः पर्यग्वह्णन्त नदीक्षेत्राणि पर्वतान् । वृक्षगुल्मौषधीश्चैवमात्मन्यायाद्यथाबलम् ॥ 49.62 ॥

tatastāḥ paryagvahṇanta nadīkṣetrāṇi parvatān vṛkṣagulmauṣadhīścaivamātmanyāyādyathābalam

Then, each according to his own strength, they began to seize the rivers, fields, mountains, and the trees, shrubs, and plants for themselves.

Verse 63 (markandeya.49.63)

तेन दोषेण ता नेशुरौषध्यो मिषतां द्विज । अग्रसद् भूर्युगपत्तास्तदौषध्यो महामते ॥ 49.63 ॥

tena doṣeṇa tā neśurauṣadhyo miṣatāṁ dvija agrasad bhūryugapattāstadauṣadhyo mahāmate

O brahmin, because of that fault, those plants perished even as everyone looked on; O wise one, the earth swallowed up all those plants at once.

Verse 64 (markandeya.49.64)

पुनस्तासु प्रणष्टासु विभ्रान्तास्ताः पुनः प्रजाः । ब्रह्माणं शरणं जग्मुः क्षुधार्ताः परमेष्ठिनम् ॥ 49.64 ॥

punastāsu praṇaṣṭāsu vibhrāntāstāḥ punaḥ prajāḥ brahmāṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ jagmuḥ kṣudhārtāḥ parameṣṭhinam

When those plants had once more perished, the bewildered people, afflicted by hunger, again went for refuge to Brahma, the Supreme Lord.

Verse 65 (markandeya.49.65)

स चापि तत्त्वतो ज्ञात्वा तदा ग्रस्तां वसुन्धराम् । वत्सं कृत्वा सुमेरुन्तु दुदोह भगवान् विभुः ॥ 49.65 ॥

sa cāpi tattvato jñātvā tadā grastāṁ vasundharām vatsaṁ kṛtvā sumeruntu dudoha bhagavān vibhuḥ

And that mighty Bhagavan, having truly understood that the earth had swallowed them, then made Mount Sumeru the calf and milked the earth as a cow.

Verse 66 (markandeya.49.66)

दुग्धेयं गौस्तदा तेन शस्यानि पृथिवीतले । जज्ञिरे तानि बीजानि ग्राम्यारण्यास्तु ताः पुनः ॥ 49.66 ॥

dugdheyaṁ gaustadā tena śasyāni pṛthivītale jajñire tāni bījāni grāmyāraṇyāstu tāḥ punaḥ

When this earth-cow was thus milked, cultivated grains appeared as seeds upon the earth, and the cultivated and wild plants arose once more.

Verse 67 (markandeya.49.67)

ओषध्यः फलपाकान्ता गणाः सप्तदशा स्मृताः । व्रीहयश्च यवाश्चैव गोधूमा अणवस्तिलाः ॥ 49.67 ॥

oṣadhyaḥ phalapākāntā gaṇāḥ saptadaśā smṛtāḥ vrīhayaśca yavāścaiva godhūmā aṇavastilāḥ

The cultivated grains, ripening into their fruit, are remembered as seventeen groups: rice, barley, wheat, small millet, and sesame,

Verse 68 (markandeya.49.68)

प्रियङ्गवो ह्युदाराश्च कोरदूषाः सचीनकाः । माषा मुद्गा मसूराश्च निष्पावाः सकुलत्थकाः ॥ 49.68 ॥

priyaṅgavo hyudārāśca koradūṣāḥ sacīnakāḥ māṣā mudgā masūrāśca niṣpāvāḥ sakulatthakāḥ

priyangu, udara, kodrava, cinaka, black gram, green gram, lentil, flat beans, horse gram,

Verse 69 (markandeya.49.69)

आढकाश्चणकाश्चैव गणाः सप्तदश स्मृताः । इत्येता ओषधीनान्तु ग्राम्याणां जातयः पुरा ॥ 49.69 ॥

āḍhakāścaṇakāścaiva gaṇāḥ saptadaśa smṛtāḥ ityetā oṣadhīnāntu grāmyāṇāṁ jātayaḥ purā

pigeon pea, and chickpea — these are remembered as the seventeen groups; such, in ancient times, were the kinds of cultivated plants.

Verse 70 (markandeya.49.70)

ओषध्यो जज्ञियाश्चैव ग्राम्यारण्याश्चतुर्दश । व्रीहयश्च यवाश्चैव गोधूमा अणवस्तिलाः ॥ 49.70 ॥

oṣadhyo jajñiyāścaiva grāmyāraṇyāścaturdaśa vrīhayaśca yavāścaiva godhūmā aṇavastilāḥ

And the fourteen wild-and-cultivated plants that had arisen earlier were: rice, barley, wheat, small millet, and sesame,

Verse 71 (markandeya.49.71)

प्रियङ्गुसप्तमा ह्येते अष्टमास्तु कुलत्थकाः । श्यामाकास्त्वथ नीवारा यत्तिला सगवेधुकाः ॥ 49.71 ॥

priyaṅgusaptamā hyete aṣṭamāstu kulatthakāḥ śyāmākāstvatha nīvārā yattilā sagavedhukāḥ

priyangu as the seventh, and horse gram as the eighth; then shyamaka, nivara, wild sesame, together with gavedhuka,

Verse 72 (markandeya.49.72)

कुरुविन्दा मर्कटकास्तथा वेणुयवाश्च ये । ग्राम्यारण्याः स्मृता ह्येता ओषध्यश्च चतुर्दश ॥ 49.72 ॥

kuruvindā markaṭakāstathā veṇuyavāśca ye grāmyāraṇyāḥ smṛtā hyetā oṣadhyaśca caturdaśa

kuruvinda, markataka, and bamboo-seeds — these fourteen are remembered as the wild-and-cultivated plants of that earlier age.

Verse 73 (markandeya.49.73)

यदा प्रसृष्टा ओषध्यो न प्ररोहन्ति ताः पुनः । ततः स तासां वृद्ध्यर्थं वार्तोपायञ्चकार ह ॥ 49.73 ॥

yadā prasṛṣṭā oṣadhyo na prarohanti tāḥ punaḥ tataḥ sa tāsāṁ vṛddhyarthaṁ vārtopāyañcakāra ha

When the scattered plants did not sprout again by themselves, he then devised the means of livelihood for their increase.

Verse 74 (markandeya.49.74)

ब्रह्मा स्वयम्भूर्भगवान् हस्तसिद्धिञ्च कर्मजाम् । ततः प्रभृत्यथौषध्यः कृष्टपच्यास्तु जज्ञिरे ॥ 49.74 ॥

brahmā svayambhūrbhagavān hastasiddhiñca karmajām tataḥ prabhṛtyathauṣadhyaḥ kṛṣṭapacyāstu jajñire

The Self-born Bhagavan Brahma established the accomplishment born of hand-labour and effort; and from then on, plants came to ripen only through cultivation.

Verse 75 (markandeya.49.75)

संसिद्धायान्तु वार्तायां ततस्तासां स्वयं प्रभुः । मर्यादां स्थापयामास यथान्यायं यथागुणम् ॥ 49.75 ॥

saṁsiddhāyāntu vārtāyāṁ tatastāsāṁ svayaṁ prabhuḥ maryādāṁ sthāpayāmāsa yathānyāyaṁ yathāguṇam

When this livelihood had been established, that Lord himself then set the proper bounds of conduct for those people, according to what was right and according to their qualities.

Verse 76 (markandeya.49.76)

वर्णानामाश्रमाणाञ्च धर्मान् धर्मभृतांवर । लोकानां सर्ववर्णानां सम्यग्धर्मार्थपालिनाम् ॥ 49.76 ॥

varṇānāmāśramāṇāñca dharmān dharmabhṛtāṁvara lokānāṁ sarvavarṇānāṁ samyagdharmārthapālinām

O best of the upholders of dharma, he established the duties of the varnas and ashramas for all people of every varna, who rightly guard both dharma and worldly welfare.

Verse 77 (markandeya.49.77)

प्राजापत्यं ब्राह्मणानां स्मृतं स्थानं क्रियावताम् । स्थानमैन्द्रं क्षत्रियाणां संग्रामेष्वपलायिनाम् ॥ 49.77 ॥

prājāpatyaṁ brāhmaṇānāṁ smṛtaṁ sthānaṁ kriyāvatām sthānamaindraṁ kṣatriyāṇāṁ saṁgrāmeṣvapalāyinām

The world of Prajapati is remembered as the destination of brahmins devoted to ritual acts; the world of Indra is the destination of kshatriyas who do not flee in battle.

Verse 78 (markandeya.49.78)

वैश्यानां मारुतं स्थानं स्वधर्ममनुवर्तताम् । गान्धर्वं शूद्रजातीनां परिचर्यानुवर्तताम् ॥ 49.78 ॥

vaiśyānāṁ mārutaṁ sthānaṁ svadharmamanuvartatām gāndharvaṁ śūdrajātīnāṁ paricaryānuvartatām

The world of the Maruts is for vaishyas who follow their own proper duty; the world of the Gandharvas is for shudras who follow the duty of service.

Verse 79 (markandeya.49.79)

अष्टाशीतिसहस्राणामृषीणामूर्ध्वरेतसाम् । स्मृतं तेषान्तु यत् स्थानं तदेव गुरुवासिनाम् ॥ 49.79 ॥

aṣṭāśītisahasrāṇāmṛṣīṇāmūrdhvaretasām smṛtaṁ teṣāntu yat sthānaṁ tadeva guruvāsinām

The destination remembered for the eighty-eight thousand celibate sages is the very same for those who dwell as students with their teacher.

Verse 80 (markandeya.49.80)

सप्तर्षोणान्तु यत् स्थानं स्मृतं तद्वै वनौकसाम् । प्राजापत्यं गृहस्थानां न्यासिनां ब्रह्मणः क्षयम् । योगिनाममृतं स्थानमिति वै स्थानकल्पना ॥ 49.80 ॥

saptarṣoṇāntu yat sthānaṁ smṛtaṁ tadvai vanaukasām prājāpatyaṁ gṛhasthānāṁ nyāsināṁ brahmaṇaḥ kṣayam yogināmamṛtaṁ sthānamiti vai sthānakalpanā

The destination remembered for the Seven Sages is that of forest-dwellers; the world of Prajapati is for householders, the abode of Brahma for renunciates, and the immortal state for yogis — such indeed is this allotment of destinations.