The Creation of Rudra

Verse 1 (markandeya.52.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच इत्येष तामसः सर्गो ब्रह्मणोऽव्यक्तजन्मनः । रुद्रसर्गं प्रवक्ष्यामि तन्मे निगदतः शृणु ॥ 52.1 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca ityeṣa tāmasaḥ sargo brahmaṇo'vyaktajanmanaḥ rudrasargaṁ pravakṣyāmi tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu

Markandeya said: This is the tamasic creation of Brahma, who himself was born of the unmanifest. Now I shall relate the creation of Rudra; hear it as I tell it.

Verse 2 (markandeya.52.2)

तनयाश्च तथैवाष्टौ पत्न्यः पुत्राश्च ते तथा । कल्पादावात्मनस्तुल्यं सुतं प्रध्यायतः प्रभोः ॥ 52.2 ॥

tanayāśca tathaivāṣṭau patnyaḥ putrāśca te tathā kalpādāvātmanastulyaṁ sutaṁ pradhyāyataḥ prabhoḥ

Likewise Brahma had eight sons, and their wives and sons as well. At the beginning of the kalpa, the Lord was meditating upon a son equal to himself,

Verse 3 (markandeya.52.3)

प्रादुरासीदथाङ्केऽस्य कुमारो नीललोहितः । रुरोद सुस्वरं सोऽथ द्रवंश्च द्विजसत्तम ॥ 52.3 ॥

prādurāsīdathāṅke'sya kumāro nīlalohitaḥ ruroda susvaraṁ so'tha dravaṁśca dvijasattama

when upon his lap there appeared a boy, blue-and-red in hue [Nilalohita]; he began to weep loudly and to run about, O best of the twice-born.

Verse 4 (markandeya.52.4)

किं रोदिषीति तं ब्रह्मा रुदन्तं प्रत्युवाच ह । नाम देहीति तं सोऽथ प्रत्युवाच जगत्पतिम् ॥ 52.4 ॥

kiṁ rodiṣīti taṁ brahmā rudantaṁ pratyuvāca ha nāma dehīti taṁ so'tha pratyuvāca jagatpatim

'Why do you weep?' Brahma asked him as he wept. He replied to the Lord of the world: 'Give me a name.'

Verse 5 (markandeya.52.5)

रुद्रस्त्वं देव ! नाम्नासि मा रोदीर्धैर्यमावह । एवमुक्तस्ततः सोऽथ सप्तकृत्वो रुरोद ह ॥ 52.5 ॥

rudrastvaṁ deva ! nāmnāsi mā rodīrdhairyamāvaha evamuktastataḥ so'tha saptakṛtvo ruroda ha

'You, O god, are named Rudra; weep not, take courage.' Thus addressed, he nevertheless wept seven times more.

Verse 6 (markandeya.52.6)

ततोऽन्यानि ददौ तस्मै सप्त नामानि वै प्रभुः । स्थानानि चैषामष्टानां पत्नीः पुत्रांश्च वै द्विज ॥ 52.6 ॥

tato'nyāni dadau tasmai sapta nāmāni vai prabhuḥ sthānāni caiṣāmaṣṭānāṁ patnīḥ putrāṁśca vai dvija

Then the Lord gave him seven further names, and for these eight forms gave also their abodes, their wives, and their sons, O twice-born.

Verse 7 (markandeya.52.7)

भवं शर्वं तथेशानं तथा पशुपतिं प्रभुः । भीममुग्रं महादेवमुवाच स पितामहः ॥ 52.7 ॥

bhavaṁ śarvaṁ tatheśānaṁ tathā paśupatiṁ prabhuḥ bhīmamugraṁ mahādevamuvāca sa pitāmahaḥ

That grandsire Brahma named him Bhava, Sharva, Ishana, and Pashupati; the Lord called him also Bhima, Ugra, and Mahadeva.

Verse 8 (markandeya.52.8)

चक्रे नामान्यथैतानि स्थानान्येषाञ्चकार ह । सूर्यो जलं मही वह्निर्वायुराकाशमेव च ॥ 52.8 ॥

cakre nāmānyathaitāni sthānānyeṣāñcakāra ha sūryo jalaṁ mahī vahnirvāyurākāśameva ca

Thus he formed these names, and he also made their stations — the Sun, Water, Earth, Fire, Wind, and Ether,

Verse 9 (markandeya.52.9)

दीक्षितो ब्राह्मणः सोम इत्येतास्तनवः क्रमात् । सुवर्चला तथैवोमा विकेशी चापरा स्वधा ॥ 52.9 ॥

dīkṣito brāhmaṇaḥ soma ityetāstanavaḥ kramāt suvarcalā tathaivomā vikeśī cāparā svadhā

the initiated brahmin, and Soma [the Moon] — these, in order, are his bodily forms. His wives are Suvarchala, and Uma, Vikeshi, and Svadha,

Verse 10 (markandeya.52.10)

स्वाहा दिशस्तथा दीक्षा रोहिणी च यथाक्रमम् । सूर्यादीनां द्विजश्रेष्ठ ! रुद्राद्यैर्नामभिः सह ॥ 52.10 ॥

svāhā diśastathā dīkṣā rohiṇī ca yathākramam sūryādīnāṁ dvijaśreṣṭha ! rudrādyairnāmabhiḥ saha

Svaha, the Directions, Diksha, and Rohini — belonging in order to the Sun and the rest, O best of the twice-born, together with the names Rudra and his other forms.

Verse 11 (markandeya.52.11)

शनैश्चरस्तथा शुक्रो लोहिताङ्गो मनोजवः । स्कन्दः सर्गोऽथ सन्तानो बुधश्चानुक्रमात् सुतः ॥ 52.11 ॥

śanaiścarastathā śukro lohitāṅgo manojavaḥ skandaḥ sargo'tha santāno budhaścānukramāt sutaḥ

Their sons, in order, are Shanaishchara [Saturn], Shukra [Venus], Lohitanga [Mars], Manojava, Skanda, Sarga, Santana, and Budha [Mercury].

Verse 12 (markandeya.52.12)

एवम्प्रकारो रुद्रोऽसौ सतीं भार्यामविन्दत । दक्षकोपाच्च तत्याज सा सती स्वं कलेवरम् ॥ 52.12 ॥

evamprakāro rudro'sau satīṁ bhāryāmavindata dakṣakopācca tatyāja sā satī svaṁ kalevaram

Rudra, in this manner, took Sati as his wife; but through anger at Daksha, that Sati abandoned her own body.

Verse 13 (markandeya.52.13)

हिमवद्दुहिता साभून्मेनायां द्विजसत्तम । तस्या भ्राता तु मैनाकः सखाम्भोधेरनुत्तमः ॥ 52.13 ॥

himavadduhitā sābhūnmenāyāṁ dvijasattama tasyā bhrātā tu mainākaḥ sakhāmbhodheranuttamaḥ

She was reborn as the daughter of Himavat, born to Mena, O best of the twice-born; her brother was Mainaka, the ocean's unrivalled friend.

Verse 14 (markandeya.52.14)

उपयेमे पुनश्चैनामनन्यां भगवान् भवः । देवौ धाताविधातारौ भृगोः ख्यातिरसूयत ॥ 52.14 ॥

upayeme punaścaināmananyāṁ bhagavān bhavaḥ devau dhātāvidhātārau bhṛgoḥ khyātirasūyata

Bhagavan Bhava took her again, the very same one, as his wife. Now hear this: Khyati, wife of Bhrigu, bore the two gods Dhata and Vidhata,

Verse 15 (markandeya.52.15)

श्रियञ्च देवदेवस्य पत्नी नारायणास्य या । आयातिर्नियतिश्चैव मेरोः कन्ये महात्मनः ॥ 52.15 ॥

śriyañca devadevasya patnī nārāyaṇāsya yā āyātirniyatiścaiva meroḥ kanye mahātmanaḥ

and also Shri, the wife of the god of gods, Narayana. Ayati and Niyati were the two daughters of the great-souled Meru.

Verse 16 (markandeya.52.16)

धाताविधात्रोस्ते भार्ये तयोर्जातौ सुतावुभौ । प्राणश्चैव मृकण्डुश्च पिता मम महायशाः ॥ 52.16 ॥

dhātāvidhātroste bhārye tayorjātau sutāvubhau prāṇaścaiva mṛkaṇḍuśca pitā mama mahāyaśāḥ

These two became the wives of Dhata and Vidhata; to them were born two sons, Prana and Mrikandu. Mrikandu, of great renown, is my own father.

Verse 17 (markandeya.52.17)

मनस्विन्यामहं तस्मात् पुत्रो वेदशिरा मम । धूम्रवत्यां समभवत् प्राणस्यापि निबोध मे ॥ 52.17 ॥

manasvinyāmahaṁ tasmāt putro vedaśirā mama dhūmravatyāṁ samabhavat prāṇasyāpi nibodha me

From Manasvini I was born as his son — I who am also called Vedashira. Now hear from me of Prana's line as well, born through Dhumravati.

Verse 18 (markandeya.52.18)

प्राणस्य द्युतिमान् पुत्र उत्पन्नस्तस्य चात्मजः । अजराश्च तयोः पुत्राः पौत्राश्च बहवोऽभवन् ॥ 52.18 ॥

prāṇasya dyutimān putra utpannastasya cātmajaḥ ajarāśca tayoḥ putrāḥ pautrāśca bahavo'bhavan

To Prana was born a son named Dyutiman, and from him too a son was born; the many sons and grandsons of these two were called the Ajaras, the Undecaying Ones.

Verse 19 (markandeya.52.19)

पत्नी मरीचेः सम्भूतिः पौर्णमासमसूयत । विरजाः पर्वतश्चैव तस्य पुत्रौ महात्मनः ॥ 52.19 ॥

patnī marīceḥ sambhūtiḥ paurṇamāsamasūyata virajāḥ parvataścaiva tasya putrau mahātmanaḥ

Sambhuti, wife of Marichi, gave birth to Paurnamasa; Viraja and Parvata were the two great-souled sons of that Paurnamasa.

Verse 20 (markandeya.52.20)

तयोः पुत्रांस्तु वक्ष्येऽहं वंशसंकीर्तने द्विज । स्मृतिश्चाङ्गिरसः पत्नी प्रसूता कन्यकास्तथा ॥ 52.20 ॥

tayoḥ putrāṁstu vakṣye'haṁ vaṁśasaṁkīrtane dvija smṛtiścāṅgirasaḥ patnī prasūtā kanyakāstathā

I shall tell of their sons further on, in the recitation of the lineage, O twice-born. Smriti, wife of Angiras, bore daughters as well —

Verse 21 (markandeya.52.21)

सिनीवाली कुहूश्चैव राका भानुमती तथा । अनसूया तथैवात्रेर्जज्ञे पुत्रानकल्पषान् ॥ 52.21 ॥

sinīvālī kuhūścaiva rākā bhānumatī tathā anasūyā tathaivātrerjajñe putrānakalpaṣān

Sinivali, Kuhu, Raka, and Bhanumati. And Anasuya, wife of Atri, gave birth to sinless sons —

Verse 22 (markandeya.52.22)

सोमं दुर्वाससञ्चैव दत्तात्रेयञ्च योगिनम् । प्रीत्यां पुलस्त्यभार्यायां दत्तोऽन्यस्तत्सुतोऽभवत् ॥ 52.22 ॥

somaṁ durvāsasañcaiva dattātreyañca yoginam prītyāṁ pulastyabhāryāyāṁ datto'nyastatsuto'bhavat

Soma, Durvasas, and Dattatreya the yogi. In Priti, wife of Pulastya, another son was born, named Datta.

Verse 23 (markandeya.52.23)

पूर्वजन्मनि सोऽगस्त्यः स्मृतः स्वायम्भुवेऽन्तरे । कर्दमश्चार्ववीरश्च सहिष्णुश्च सुतत्रयम् ॥ 52.23 ॥

pūrvajanmani so'gastyaḥ smṛtaḥ svāyambhuve'ntare kardamaścārvavīraśca sahiṣṇuśca sutatrayam

In a former birth, he was remembered, in the Svayambhuva Manvantara, as Agastya. Kardama, Arvavira, and Sahishnu were three sons —

Verse 24 (markandeya.52.24)

क्षमा तु सुषुवे भार्या पुलहस्य प्रजापतेः । क्रतोस्तु सन्नतिर्भार्या बालखिल्यानसूयत ॥ 52.24 ॥

kṣamā tu suṣuve bhāryā pulahasya prajāpateḥ kratostu sannatirbhāryā bālakhilyānasūyata

born to Kshama, wife of the Prajapati Pulaha. Sannati, wife of Kratu, gave birth to the Balakhilyas —

Verse 25 (markandeya.52.25)

षष्टिर्यानि सहस्राणि ऋषीणामूर्ध्वरेतसाम् । ऊर्जायान्तु वसिष्ठस्य सप्ताजायन्त वै सुताः ॥ 52.25 ॥

ṣaṣṭiryāni sahasrāṇi ṛṣīṇāmūrdhvaretasām ūrjāyāntu vasiṣṭhasya saptājāyanta vai sutāḥ

sixty thousand celibate sages of upward-flowing seed. To Urja, wife of Vasishtha, were born seven sons —

Verse 26 (markandeya.52.26)

रजोगात्रोर्ध्वबाहुश्च सबलश्चानघस्तथा । सुतपाः शुक्ल इत्येते सर्वे सप्तर्षयः स्मृताः ॥ 52.26 ॥

rajogātrordhvabāhuśca sabalaścānaghastathā sutapāḥ śukla ityete sarve saptarṣayaḥ smṛtāḥ

Rajogatra, Urdhvabahu, Sabala, Anagha, Sutapas, and Shukla — these together are remembered as the Seven Sages.

Verse 27 (markandeya.52.27)

योऽसावग्निरभीमानी ब्रह्मणस्तनयोऽग्रजः । तस्मात् स्वाहा सुतान् लेभे त्रीनुदारौजसो द्विज ॥ 52.27 ॥

yo'sāvagnirabhīmānī brahmaṇastanayo'grajaḥ tasmāt svāhā sutān lebhe trīnudāraujaso dvija

He who is Agni, the self-exalting, the eldest son of Brahma — from him Svaha bore three sons of great splendor, O twice-born —

Verse 28 (markandeya.52.28)

पावकं पवमानञ्च शुचिञ्चापि जलाशिनम् । तेषान्तु सन्तातावन्ये चत्वारिंशच्च पञ्च च ॥ 52.28 ॥

pāvakaṁ pavamānañca śuciñcāpi jalāśinam teṣāntu santātāvanye catvāriṁśacca pañca ca

Pavaka, Pavamana, and Shuchi, the water-dweller. Their further descendants number forty-five besides,

Verse 29 (markandeya.52.29)

कथ्यन्ते बहुशश्चैते पिता पुत्रत्रयञ्च यत् । एवमेकोनपञ्चाशद् दुर्जयाः परिकीर्तिताः ॥ 52.29 ॥

kathyante bahuśaścaite pitā putratrayañca yat evamekonapañcāśad durjayāḥ parikīrtitāḥ

these are spoken of in many ways; and counting the father together with the three sons, forty-nine in all are declared as these unconquerable fire-forms.

Verse 30 (markandeya.52.30)

पितरो ब्रह्मणा सृष्टा ये व्याख्याता मया तव । अग्निष्वात्ता बर्हिषदोऽनग्नयः साग्नयश्च ये ॥ 52.30 ॥

pitaro brahmaṇā sṛṣṭā ye vyākhyātā mayā tava agniṣvāttā barhiṣado'nagnayaḥ sāgnayaśca ye

Of the Pitris [ancestral fathers] created by Brahma, whom I have already explained to you — the Agnishvattas, the Barhishads, and those without fire and those with fire —

Verse 31 (markandeya.52.31)

तेभ्यः स्वधा सुते जज्ञे मेनां वै धारिणीं तथा । ते उभे ब्रह्मवादिन्यौ योगिन्यौ चाप्युभे द्विज ॥ 52.31 ॥

tebhyaḥ svadhā sute jajñe menāṁ vai dhāriṇīṁ tathā te ubhe brahmavādinyau yoginyau cāpyubhe dvija

from them Svadha gave birth to a daughter, Mena, and likewise to Dharini. Both of these were speakers of sacred wisdom, and both were also yoginis, O twice-born,

Verse 32 (markandeya.52.32)

उत्तमज्ञानसंपन्ने सर्वैः समुदिते गुणैः । इत्येषा दक्षकन्यानां कथितापत्यसंततिः । श्रद्धावान् संस्मरन्नित्यं प्रजावानभिजायते ॥ 52.32 ॥

uttamajñānasaṁpanne sarvaiḥ samudite guṇaiḥ ityeṣā dakṣakanyānāṁ kathitāpatyasaṁtatiḥ śraddhāvān saṁsmarannityaṁ prajāvānabhijāyate

endowed with supreme knowledge, and possessed of every excellent quality. Thus has been told this account of the offspring of Daksha's daughters; whoever, full of faith, ever recalls it, is born blessed with progeny.