The Svayambhuva Manvantara

Verse 1 (markandeya.53.1)

क्रौष्टुकिरुवाच स्वायम्भुवं त्वयाख्यातमेतन्मन्वन्तरञ्च यत् । तदहं भगवन् ! सम्यक् श्रोतुमिच्छामि कथ्यताम् ॥ 53.1 ॥

krauṣṭukiruvāca svāyambhuvaṁ tvayākhyātametanmanvantarañca yat tadahaṁ bhagavan ! samyak śrotumicchāmi kathyatām

Kraushtuki said: O Lord, you have described this Svayambhuva manvantara; I wish to hear it in full detail — please tell it.

Verse 2 (markandeya.53.2)

मन्वन्तरप्रमाणञ्च देवा देवर्षयस्तथा । ये च क्षितीशा भगवन् ! देवेन्द्रश्चैव यस्तथा ॥ 53.2 ॥

manvantarapramāṇañca devā devarṣayastathā ye ca kṣitīśā bhagavan ! devendraścaiva yastathā

The measure of a manvantara, and the gods, the divine seers, those who were lords of the earth, and who, O Lord, was Indra in that period —

Verse 3 (markandeya.53.3)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच मन्वन्तराणां संख्याता साधिका ह्येकसप्ततिः । मानुषेण प्रमाणेन शृणु मन्वन्तरञ्च मे ॥ 53.3 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca manvantarāṇāṁ saṁkhyātā sādhikā hyekasaptatiḥ mānuṣeṇa pramāṇena śṛṇu manvantarañca me

Markandeya said: The manvantaras are reckoned as seventy-one, plus a little more; hear from me, by human measure, the duration of a manvantara.

Verse 4 (markandeya.53.4)

त्रिंशत्कोट्यस्तु संख्याताः सहस्राणि च विंशतिः । सप्तषष्टिस्तथान्यानि नियुतानि च संख्यया ॥ 53.4 ॥

triṁśatkoṭyastu saṁkhyātāḥ sahasrāṇi ca viṁśatiḥ saptaṣaṣṭistathānyāni niyutāni ca saṁkhyayā

Thirty crores are counted, and twenty thousand, and sixty-seven, and likewise other niyutas [hundred-thousands] besides, in number —

Verse 5 (markandeya.53.5)

मन्वन्तरप्रमाणञ्च इत्येतत् साधिकं विना । अष्टौ शतसहस्राणि दिव्यया संख्यया स्मृतम् ॥ 53.5 ॥

manvantarapramāṇañca ityetat sādhikaṁ vinā aṣṭau śatasahasrāṇi divyayā saṁkhyayā smṛtam

this is the measure of a manvantara — this, without that 'little more'; by divine reckoning, eight hundred thousand is remembered,

Verse 6 (markandeya.53.6)

द्विपञ्चाशत्तथान्यानि सहस्राण्यधिकानि च । स्वायम्भुवो मनुः पूर्वं मनुः स्वारोचिषस्तथा ॥ 53.6 ॥

dvipañcāśattathānyāni sahasrāṇyadhikāni ca svāyambhuvo manuḥ pūrvaṁ manuḥ svārociṣastathā

and fifty-two thousand more besides that. Svayambhuva was the first Manu, then came Manu Svarochisha,

Verse 7 (markandeya.53.7)

औत्तमस्तामसश्चैव रैवतश्चाक्षुषस्तथा । षडेते मनवोऽतीतास्तथा वैवस्वतोऽधुना ॥ 53.7 ॥

auttamastāmasaścaiva raivataścākṣuṣastathā ṣaḍete manavo'tītāstathā vaivasvato'dhunā

Auttama, and Tamasa, Raivata, and Chakshusha — these six manus have already passed, and now Vaivasvata reigns,

Verse 8 (markandeya.53.8)

सावर्णिः पञ्च रौच्याश्च भौत्याश्चागामिनस्त्वमी । एतेषां विस्तरं भूयो मन्वन्तरपरिग्रहे ॥ 53.8 ॥

sāvarṇiḥ pañca raucyāśca bhautyāścāgāminastvamī eteṣāṁ vistaraṁ bhūyo manvantaraparigrahe

while Savarni, the five Raucyas, and the Bhautyas are yet to come. Of these I shall speak in fuller detail later, in the section on the manvantaras,

Verse 9 (markandeya.53.9)

वक्ष्ये देवानृषींश्चैव यक्षेन्द्राः पितरश्च ये । उत्पत्तिं संग्रहं ब्रह्मन् ! श्रूयतामस्य सन्ततिः ॥ 53.9 ॥

vakṣye devānṛṣīṁścaiva yakṣendrāḥ pitaraśca ye utpattiṁ saṁgrahaṁ brahman ! śrūyatāmasya santatiḥ

and I shall tell of the gods, the seers, the lords of the Yakshas, and the Pitris as well. Hear, O brahmin, this brief account of their origin and their line,

Verse 10 (markandeya.53.10)

यच्च तेषामभूत् क्षेत्रं तत्पुत्राणां महात्मनाम् । मनोः स्वायम्भुवस्यासन् दश पुत्रास्तु तत्समाः ॥ 53.10 ॥

yacca teṣāmabhūt kṣetraṁ tatputrāṇāṁ mahātmanām manoḥ svāyambhuvasyāsan daśa putrāstu tatsamāḥ

and of what territory belonged to those great-souled sons. Manu Svayambhuva had ten sons, equal to him in glory,

Verse 11 (markandeya.53.11)

यैरियं पृथिवी सर्वा सप्तद्वीपा सपर्वता । ससमुद्राकरवती प्रतिवर्षं निवेशिता ॥ 53.11 ॥

yairiyaṁ pṛthivī sarvā saptadvīpā saparvatā sasamudrākaravatī prativarṣaṁ niveśitā

by whom this whole earth, with its seven continents and mountains, together with its oceans and mines, was established in each varsha (region),

Verse 12 (markandeya.53.12)

ससमुद्राकरवती प्रतिवर्षं त्रेतायुगे तथा । प्रियव्रतस्य पुत्रैस्तैः पौत्रैः स्वायम्भुवस्य च ॥ 53.12 ॥

sasamudrākaravatī prativarṣaṁ tretāyuge tathā priyavratasya putraistaiḥ pautraiḥ svāyambhuvasya ca

together with its oceans and mines, in each region, in the Treta age — by these sons of Priyavrata and by the grandsons of Svayambhuva.

Verse 13 (markandeya.53.13)

प्रियव्रतात् प्रजावत्यां वीरात् कन्या व्यजायत । कन्या सा तु महाभागा कर्दमस्य प्रजापते ॥ 53.13 ॥

priyavratāt prajāvatyāṁ vīrāt kanyā vyajāyata kanyā sā tu mahābhāgā kardamasya prajāpate

From Priyavrata, through Prajavati, a heroic daughter was born; that most fortunate daughter became the wife of Kardama the Prajapati.

Verse 14 (markandeya.53.14)

कन्ये द्वे दश पुत्रांश्च सम्राट्कुक्षी च ते उभे । तयोर्वै भ्रातरः शूराः प्रजापतिसमा दश ॥ 53.14 ॥

kanye dve daśa putrāṁśca samrāṭkukṣī ca te ubhe tayorvai bhrātaraḥ śūrāḥ prajāpatisamā daśa

From her were born two daughters and ten sons; Samrat and Kukshi were those two daughters; their brothers were ten heroic sons, equal to Prajapatis.

Verse 15 (markandeya.53.15)

आग्नीध्रो मेधातिथिश्च वपुष्मांश्च तथापरः । ज्योतिष्मान्द्युतिमान् भव्यः सवनः सप्त एव ते ॥ 53.15 ॥

āgnīdhro medhātithiśca vapuṣmāṁśca tathāparaḥ jyotiṣmāndyutimān bhavyaḥ savanaḥ sapta eva te

Agnidhra, Medhatithi, Vapushman, and another, Jyotishman, Dyutiman, Bhavya, and Savana — these were seven.

Verse 16 (markandeya.53.16)

प्रियव्रतोऽभ्यषिञ्चत्तान् सप्त सप्तसु पार्थिवान् । द्वीपेषु तेन धर्मेण द्वीपांश्चैव निबोध मे ॥ 53.16 ॥

priyavrato'bhyaṣiñcattān sapta saptasu pārthivān dvīpeṣu tena dharmeṇa dvīpāṁścaiva nibodha me

Priyavrata anointed these seven as kings, each over one of the seven continents (dvipas); by that righteous act — now learn from me of the continents themselves.

Verse 17 (markandeya.53.17)

जम्बुद्वीपे तथाग्नीध्रं राजानं कृतवान् पिता । प्लक्षद्वीपेश्वरश्चापि तेन मेधातिथिः कृतः ॥ 53.17 ॥

jambudvīpe tathāgnīdhraṁ rājānaṁ kṛtavān pitā plakṣadvīpeśvaraścāpi tena medhātithiḥ kṛtaḥ

In Jambudvipa the father made Agnidhra king; and lord of Plakshadvipa he likewise made Medhatithi.

Verse 18 (markandeya.53.18)

शाल्मलेस्तु वपुष्मन्तं ज्योतिष्मन्तं कुशाह्वये । क्रौञ्चद्वीपे द्युतिमन्तं भव्यं शाकाह्वयेश्वरम् ॥ 53.18 ॥

śālmalestu vapuṣmantaṁ jyotiṣmantaṁ kuśāhvaye krauñcadvīpe dyutimantaṁ bhavyaṁ śākāhvayeśvaram

Of Shalmali-dvipa he made Vapushman lord, of the one called Kusha, Jyotishman; of Krauncha-dvipa, Dyutiman; and Bhavya as lord of the one called Shaka,

Verse 19 (markandeya.53.19)

पुष्कराधिपतिञ्चापि सवनं कृतवान् सुतम् । महावीतो धातकिश्च पुष्कराधिपतेः सुतौ ॥ 53.19 ॥

puṣkarādhipatiñcāpi savanaṁ kṛtavān sutam mahāvīto dhātakiśca puṣkarādhipateḥ sutau

and he also made his own son Savana lord of Pushkara-dvipa. Mahavita and Dhataki were the two sons of the lord of Pushkara.

Verse 20 (markandeya.53.20)

द्विधा कृत्वा तयोर्वर्षं पुष्करे संन्यवेशयत् । भव्यस्य पुत्राः सप्तासन्नामतस्तान्निबोध मे ॥ 53.20 ॥

dvidhā kṛtvā tayorvarṣaṁ puṣkare saṁnyaveśayat bhavyasya putrāḥ saptāsannāmatastānnibodha me

Dividing their region into two, he established them in Pushkara. Bhavya had seven sons; learn their names from me —

Verse 21 (markandeya.53.21)

जलदश्च कुमारश्च सुकुमारो मनीवकः । कुशोत्तरोऽथ मेधावी सप्तमस्तु महाद्रुमः ॥ 53.21 ॥

jaladaśca kumāraśca sukumāro manīvakaḥ kuśottaro'tha medhāvī saptamastu mahādrumaḥ

Jalada, and Kumara, Sukumara, Manivaka, Kushottara, and Medhavi — the seventh is Mahadruma.

Verse 22 (markandeya.53.22)

तन्नामकानि वर्षाणि शाकद्वीपे चकार सः । तथा द्युतिमतः सप्त पुत्रास्तांश्च निबोध मे ॥ 53.22 ॥

tannāmakāni varṣāṇi śākadvīpe cakāra saḥ tathā dyutimataḥ sapta putrāstāṁśca nibodha me

After their names he made the regions of Shakadvipa. Likewise Dyutiman too had seven sons; learn these also from me —

Verse 23 (markandeya.53.23)

कुशलो मनुगश्चोष्णः प्राकरश्चार्थकारकः । मुनिश्च दुन्दुभिश्चैव सप्तमः परिकीर्तितः ॥ 53.23 ॥

kuśalo manugaścoṣṇaḥ prākaraścārthakārakaḥ muniśca dundubhiścaiva saptamaḥ parikīrtitaḥ

Kushala, Manuga, Ushna, Prakara, Arthakaraka, Muni, and the seventh is declared to be Dundubhi.

Verse 24 (markandeya.53.24)

तेषां स्वनामधेयानि क्रौञ्चद्वीपे तथाभवन् । ज्योतिष्मतः कुशद्वीपे पुत्रनामाङ्कितानि वै ॥ 53.24 ॥

teṣāṁ svanāmadheyāni krauñcadvīpe tathābhavan jyotiṣmataḥ kuśadvīpe putranāmāṅkitāni vai

Their own names became the region-names in Krauncha-dvipa. Jyotishman's sons' names likewise marked the regions in Kusha-dvipa,

Verse 25 (markandeya.53.25)

तत्रापि सप्त वर्षापि तेषां नामानि मे शृणु । उद्भिदं वैष्णवञ्चैव सुरथं लम्बनं तथा ॥ 53.25 ॥

tatrāpi sapta varṣāpi teṣāṁ nāmāni me śṛṇu udbhidaṁ vaiṣṇavañcaiva surathaṁ lambanaṁ tathā

there too there are seven regions; hear their names from me — Udbhida, and Vaishnava, Suratha, Lambana,

Verse 26 (markandeya.53.26)

धृतिमत् प्राकरञ्चैव कापिलं चापि सप्तमम् । वपुष्मतः सुताः सप्त शाल्मलेशस्य चाभवन् ॥ 53.26 ॥

dhṛtimat prākarañcaiva kāpilaṁ cāpi saptamam vapuṣmataḥ sutāḥ sapta śālmaleśasya cābhavan

Dhritimat, and Prakara, and the seventh, Kapila as well. Vapushman, lord of Shalmali, likewise had seven sons —

Verse 27 (markandeya.53.27)

श्वेतश्च हरितश्चैव जीमूतो रोहितस्तथा । वैद्युतो मानसश्चैव केतुमान् सप्तमस्तथा ॥ 53.27 ॥

śvetaśca haritaścaiva jīmūto rohitastathā vaidyuto mānasaścaiva ketumān saptamastathā

Shveta, and Harita, Jimuta, Rohita, Vaidyuta, Manasa, and the seventh, Ketuman.

Verse 28 (markandeya.53.28)

तथैव शाल्मलेस्तेषां समनामानि सप्त वै । सप्त मेधातिथेः पुत्राः प्लक्षद्वीपेश्वरस्य वै ॥ 53.28 ॥

tathaiva śālmalesteṣāṁ samanāmāni sapta vai sapta medhātitheḥ putrāḥ plakṣadvīpeśvarasya vai

Likewise in Shalmali-dvipa the seven regions bore these same names. Medhatithi, lord of Plakshadvipa, also had seven sons,

Verse 29 (markandeya.53.29)

येषां नामाङ्गितैर्वर्षैः प्लक्षद्वीपस्तु सप्तधा । पूर्वं शाकभवं वर्षं शिशिरन्तु सुखोदयम् ॥ 53.29 ॥

yeṣāṁ nāmāṅgitairvarṣaiḥ plakṣadvīpastu saptadhā pūrvaṁ śākabhavaṁ varṣaṁ śiśirantu sukhodayam

by whose names Plakshadvipa is divided into seven regions. The first region, formed after the pattern of Shakadvipa, is Shishira, of happy origin.

Verse 30 (markandeya.53.30)

आनन्दञ्च शिवञ्चैव क्षेमकञ्च ध्रुवन्तथा । प्लक्षद्वीपादिभूतेषु शाकद्वीपान्तिमेषु वै ॥ 53.30 ॥

ānandañca śivañcaiva kṣemakañca dhruvantathā plakṣadvīpādibhūteṣu śākadvīpāntimeṣu vai

The others are Ananda, and Shiva, Kshemaka, and Dhruva. In all these — from Plakshadvipa's regions to the last regions of Shakadvipa —

Verse 31 (markandeya.53.31)

ज्ञेयः पञ्चसु धर्मश्च वर्णाश्रमविभागजः । नित्यः स्वाभाविकश्चैव अहिंसाविधिवर्धितः ॥ 53.31 ॥

jñeyaḥ pañcasu dharmaśca varṇāśramavibhāgajaḥ nityaḥ svābhāvikaścaiva ahiṁsāvidhivardhitaḥ

one should know the dharma arising from the division of varna and ashrama, natural and eternal, ever nurtured by the observance of non-violence.

Verse 32 (markandeya.53.32)

पञ्चस्वेतेषु वर्षेषु सर्वसाधारणः स्मृतः । अग्नीध्राय पिता पूर्वं जम्बुद्वीपं ददौ द्विज ॥ 53.32 ॥

pañcasveteṣu varṣeṣu sarvasādhāraṇaḥ smṛtaḥ agnīdhrāya pitā pūrvaṁ jambudvīpaṁ dadau dvija

In these five regions this dharma is remembered as common to all alike. The father first gave Jambudvipa to Agnidhra, O twice-born.

Verse 33 (markandeya.53.33)

तस्य पुत्रा बभूवुर्हि प्रजापतिसमा नव । ज्येष्ठो नाबिरिति ख्यातस्तस्य किंपुरुषोऽनुजः ॥ 53.33 ॥

tasya putrā babhūvurhi prajāpatisamā nava jyeṣṭho nābiriti khyātastasya kiṁpuruṣo'nujaḥ

He had nine sons, equal to Prajapatis; the eldest, renowned by the name Nabhi, and after him came Kimpurusha as the younger,

Verse 34 (markandeya.53.34)

हरिवर्षस्तृतीयस्तु चतुर्थोऽभूदिलावृतः । वश्यश्च पञ्चमः पुत्रो हिरण्यः षष्ठ उच्यते ॥ 53.34 ॥

harivarṣastṛtīyastu caturtho'bhūdilāvṛtaḥ vaśyaśca pañcamaḥ putro hiraṇyaḥ ṣaṣṭha ucyate

Harivarsha the third, and the fourth was Ilavrita; Vashya was the fifth son, and Hiranya is called the sixth.

Verse 35 (markandeya.53.35)

कुरुस्तु सप्तमस्तेषां भद्राश्वश्चाष्टमः स्मृतः । नवमः केतुमालश्च तन्नाम्ना वर्षसंस्थितिः ॥ 53.35 ॥

kurustu saptamasteṣāṁ bhadrāśvaścāṣṭamaḥ smṛtaḥ navamaḥ ketumālaśca tannāmnā varṣasaṁsthitiḥ

Kuru was their seventh, and Bhadrashva is remembered as the eighth; the ninth is Ketumala — by their names the regions came to be established.

Verse 36 (markandeya.53.36)

यानि किपुरुषाद्यानि वर्जयित्वा हिमाह्वयम् । तेषां स्वबावतः सिद्धिः सुखप्राया ह्यत्नतः ॥ 53.36 ॥

yāni kipuruṣādyāni varjayitvā himāhvayam teṣāṁ svabāvataḥ siddhiḥ sukhaprāyā hyatnataḥ

In these regions beginning with Kimpurusha — excepting the one called Hima [Bharata-varsha] — attainment comes, by their very nature, mostly with ease and happiness, without exertion.

Verse 37 (markandeya.53.37)

विपर्ययो न तेष्वस्ति जरामृत्युभयं न च । धर्माधर्मौ न तेष्वास्तां नोत्तमाधममध्यमाः ॥ 53.37 ॥

viparyayo na teṣvasti jarāmṛtyubhayaṁ na ca dharmādharmau na teṣvāstāṁ nottamādhamamadhyamāḥ

In them there is no reversal of fortune, nor any fear of old age or death; in them there is neither dharma nor adharma, nor best, worst, or middling classes,

Verse 38 (markandeya.53.38)

न वै चतुर्युगावस्था नार्तवा ऋतवो न च । आग्नीध्रसूनोर्नाभेस्तु ऋषभोऽभूत् सुतो द्विज ॥ 53.38 ॥

na vai caturyugāvasthā nārtavā ṛtavo na ca āgnīdhrasūnornābhestu ṛṣabho'bhūt suto dvija

nor is there the succession of the four yugas, nor the changing of the seasons. To Nabhi, son of Agnidhra, was born a son named Rishabha, O twice-born.

Verse 39 (markandeya.53.39)

ऋषभाद्भरतो जज्ञे वीरः पुत्रशताद्वरः । सोऽभिषिच्यर्षभः पुत्रं महाप्रव्राज्यमास्थितः ॥ 53.39 ॥

ṛṣabhādbharato jajñe vīraḥ putraśatādvaraḥ so'bhiṣicyarṣabhaḥ putraṁ mahāpravrājyamāsthitaḥ

From Rishabha was born Bharata, a hero, the best among his hundred sons; Rishabha, having consecrated that son as king, took to the great renunciation of an ascetic.

Verse 40 (markandeya.53.40)

तपस्तेपे महाभागः पुलहाश्रमसंश्रयः । हिमाह्विं दक्षिणं वर्षं भरताय पिता ददौ ॥ 53.40 ॥

tapastepe mahābhāgaḥ pulahāśramasaṁśrayaḥ himāhviṁ dakṣiṇaṁ varṣaṁ bharatāya pitā dadau

That most fortunate one took shelter in Pulaha's hermitage and performed austerities there. The father gave to Bharata the southern region called Hima.

Verse 41 (markandeya.53.41)

तस्मात् तु भारतं वर्षं तस्य नान्मा महात्मनः । भतस्याप्यभूत् पुत्रः सुमतिर्नाम धार्मिकः ॥ 53.41 ॥

tasmāt tu bhārataṁ varṣaṁ tasya nānmā mahātmanaḥ bhatasyāpyabhūt putraḥ sumatirnāma dhārmikaḥ

From that, the region took the name Bharata-varsha, after that great-souled one. Bharata too had a son, named Sumati, a righteous man.

Verse 42 (markandeya.53.42)

तस्मिन् राज्यं समावेश्य भरतोऽपि वनं ययौ । एतेषां पुत्रपौत्रैस्तु सप्तद्वीपा वसुन्धरा ॥ 53.42 ॥

tasmin rājyaṁ samāveśya bharato'pi vanaṁ yayau eteṣāṁ putrapautraistu saptadvīpā vasundharā

Having established him in the kingdom, Bharata too departed for the forest. By the sons and grandsons of these — the seven-continented earth,

Verse 43 (markandeya.53.43)

प्रियव्रतस्य पुत्रैस्तु भुक्त्वा स्वायम्भुवेऽन्तरे । एष स्वायम्भुवः सर्गः कथितस्ते द्विजोत्तम ॥ 53.43 ॥

priyavratasya putraistu bhuktvā svāyambhuve'ntare eṣa svāyambhuvaḥ sargaḥ kathitaste dvijottama

enjoyed by the sons of Priyavrata, in the Svayambhuva Manvantara. This is the Svayambhuva creation, told to you, O best of the twice-born.

Verse 44 (markandeya.53.44)

पूर्वमन्वन्तरे सम्यक् किमन्यत् कथयामि ते ॥ 53.44 ॥

pūrvamanvantare samyak kimanyat kathayāmi te

Of the former manvantara, this has now been duly told; what else, then, shall I tell you?