The Brahmin and the Apsara Varuthini

Verse 1 (markandeya.61.1)

क्रौष्टुकिरुवाच कथितं भवता सम्यग् यत् पृष्टोऽसि महामुने । भूसमुद्रादिसंस्थानं प्रमाणानि तथा ग्रहाः ॥ 61.1 ॥

kathitaṁ bhavatā samyag yat pṛṣṭo 'si mahāmune / bhūsamudrādisaṁsthānaṁ pramāṇāni tathā grahāḥ

Krauṣṭuki said: O great sage, you have well told what you were asked — the arrangement of the earth, oceans and so on, their measurements, and also the planets.

Verse 2 (markandeya.61.2)

तेषाञ्चैव प्रमाणञ्च नक्षत्राणाञ्च संस्थितिः । भूरादयस्तथा लोकाः पातालान्यखिलान्यपि ॥ 61.2 ॥

teṣāñcaiva pramāṇañca nakṣatrāṇāñca saṁsthitiḥ / bhūrādayastathā lokāḥ pātālānyakhilānyapi

and their measurements, and the position of the constellations, and the worlds beginning with Bhūrloka, and all the nether regions (pātālas) as well.

Verse 3 (markandeya.61.3)

स्वायम्भुवं तथा ख्यातं मुने ! मन्वन्तरं मम । तदन्तराण्यहं श्रोतुमिच्छे मन्वन्तराणि वै । मन्वन्तराधिपान् देवानृषींस्तत्तनयान्नृपान् ॥ 61.3 ॥

svāyambhuvaṁ tathā khyātaṁ mune ! manvantaraṁ mama / tadantarāṇyahaṁ śrotumicche manvantarāṇi vai / manvantarādhipān devānṛṣīṁstattanayānnṛpān

You have also declared to me, O sage, the Svāyambhuva manvantara. Now I wish to hear of the other manvantaras — the lords of each manvantara, the gods, the sages, their sons, and the kings.

Verse 4 (markandeya.61.4)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच मन्वन्तरं मयाख्यातं तव स्वायम्भुवं च यत् । स्वारोचिषाख्यमन्यत् तु शृणु तस्मादनन्तरम् ॥ 61.4 ॥

manvantaraṁ mayākhyātaṁ tava svāyambhuvaṁ ca yat / svārociṣākhyamanyat tu śṛṇu tasmādanantaram

Markandeya said: I have told you of the Svāyambhuva manvantara. Now hear of the next one, called Svārociṣa, which follows it.

Verse 5 (markandeya.61.5)

कश्चिद् द्विजातिप्रवरः पुरेऽभूदरुणास्पदे । वरुणायास्तटे विप्रो रूपेणात्यश्विनावपि ॥ 61.5 ॥

kaścid dvijātipravaraḥ pure 'bhūdaruṇāspade / varuṇāyāstaṭe vipro rūpeṇātyaśvināvapi

There once lived a foremost brahmin in a city called Aruṇāspada, on the bank of the river Varuṇā — a priest who in beauty surpassed even the two Aśvins.

Verse 6 (markandeya.61.6)

मृदुस्वभावः सद्वृत्तो वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः । सदातिथिप्रियो रात्रावागतानां समाश्रयः ॥ 61.6 ॥

mṛdusvabhāvaḥ sadvṛtto vedavedāṅgapāragaḥ / sadātithipriyo rātrāvāgatānāṁ samāśrayaḥ

Gentle by nature, of good conduct, master of the Vedas and their auxiliary sciences, he was always fond of guests and a refuge for those who arrived at night.

Verse 7 (markandeya.61.7)

तस्य बुद्धिरियं त्वासीदहं पश्ये वसुन्धराम् । अतिरम्यवनोद्यानां नानानगरशोभिताम् ॥ 61.7 ॥

tasya buddhiriyaṁ tvāsīdahaṁ paśye vasundharām / atiramyavanodyānāṁ nānānagaraśobhitām

This thought arose in him: 'Let me behold the earth, with her most delightful forests and gardens, adorned with many cities.'

Verse 8 (markandeya.61.8)

अथागतो।ञतिथिः कश्चित् कदाचित्तस्य वेश्मनि । नानौषधिप्रभावज्ञो मन्त्रविद्याविशारदः ॥ 61.8 ॥

athāgato / ñatithiḥ kaścit kadācittasya veśmani / nānauṣadhiprabhāvajño mantravidyāviśāradaḥ

One day a certain guest came to his house, one who knew the powers of various herbs and was skilled in the science of mantras.

Verse 9 (markandeya.61.9)

अभ्यर्थितस्तु तेनासौ श्रद्धापूतेन चेतसा । तस्याचख्यौ स देशांश्च रम्याणि नगराणि च ॥ 61.9 ॥

abhyarthitastu tenāsau śraddhāpūtena cetasā / tasyācakhyau sa deśāṁśca ramyāṇi nagarāṇi ca

Being requested by him with a mind purified by faith, that guest described to him various lands and beautiful cities,

Verse 10 (markandeya.61.10)

वनानि नद्यः शैलांश्च पुण्यान्यायतनानि च । स ततो विस्मयाविष्टः प्राह तं द्विजसत्तमम् ॥ 61.10 ॥

vanāni nadyaḥ śailāṁśca puṇyānyāyatanāni ca / sa tato vismayāviṣṭaḥ prāha taṁ dvijasattamam

forests, rivers, mountains, and sacred shrines. Filled with wonder at this, the guest then said to that best of brahmins:

Verse 11 (markandeya.61.11)

अनेकदेशदर्शित्वेनातिश्रमसमन्वितः । त्वं नातिवृद्धो वयसा नातिवृत्तश्च यौवनात् । कथमल्पेन कालेन पृथिवीमटसि द्विज ॥ 61.11 ॥

anekadeśadarśitvenātiśramasamanvitaḥ / tvaṁ nātivṛddho vayasā nātivṛttaśca yauvanāt / kathamalpena kālena pṛthivīmaṭasi dvija

'You must be exhausted from wandering through so many lands! You are not very old in years, nor yet past your youth — how then, O brahmin, do you traverse the whole earth in so little time?'

Verse 12 (markandeya.61.12)

ब्राह्मण उवाच मन्त्रौषधिप्रभावेण विप्राप्रतिहता गतिः । योजनानां सहस्रं हि दिनार्धेन व्रजाम्यम् ॥ 61.12 ॥

mantrauṣadhiprabhāveṇa viprāpratihatā gatiḥ / yojanānāṁ sahasraṁ hi dinārdhena vrajāmyam

The brahmin said: 'By the power of mantra and herb my going is unobstructed. I travel a thousand yojanas in half a day.'

Verse 13 (markandeya.61.13)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततः स विप्रस्तं भूयः प्रत्युवाचेदमादरात् । श्रद्धधानो वचस्तस्य ब्राह्मणस्य विपश्चितः ॥ 61.13 ॥

tataḥ sa viprastaṁ bhūyaḥ pratyuvācedamādarāt / śraddhadhāno vacastasya brāhmaṇasya vipaścitaḥ

Markandeya said: Then that brahmin, trusting the words of the wise brahmin guest, respectfully spoke to him again:

Verse 14 (markandeya.61.14)

मम प्रसादं भगवन् ! कुरु मन्त्रप्रभावजम् । द्रष्टुमेतां मम महीमतीवेच्छा प्रवर्तते ॥ 61.14 ॥

mama prasādaṁ bhagavan ! kuru mantraprabhāvajam / draṣṭumetāṁ mama mahīmatīvecchā pravartate

'Show me the favour born of your mantra's power, O venerable one! A great desire has arisen in me to see this earth.'

Verse 15 (markandeya.61.15)

प्रादात् स ब्राह्मणश्चास्मै पादलेपमुदारधीः । अभिमन्त्रयामास दिशं तेनाख्याताञ्च यत्नतः ॥ 61.15 ॥

prādāt sa brāhmaṇaścāsmai pādalepamudāradhīḥ / abhimantrayāmāsa diśaṁ tenākhyātāñca yatnataḥ

That noble-minded brahmin gave him an ointment for the feet, consecrated it with mantras, and carefully explained to him the region reached by it.

Verse 16 (markandeya.61.16)

तेनानुलिप्तपादोऽथ स द्विजो द्विजसत्तम । हिमवन्तमगाद् द्रष्टुं नानाप्रस्त्रवणान्वितम् ॥ 61.16 ॥

tenānuliptapādo 'tha sa dvijo dvijasattama / himavantamagād draṣṭuṁ nānāprastravaṇānvitam

With his feet anointed with it, O best of brahmins, that brahmin went to see the Himalaya, rich with many mountain streams.

Verse 17 (markandeya.61.17)

सहस्रं योजनानां हि दिनार्धेन व्रजामि यत् । आयास्यामीति सञ्चिन्त्य तदर्धेनापरेण हि ॥ 61.17 ॥

sahasraṁ yojanānāṁ hi dinārdhena vrajāmi yat / āyāsyāmīti sañcintya tadardhenāpareṇa hi

Thinking, 'Since I travel a thousand yojanas in half a day, I shall return within the other half,'

Verse 18 (markandeya.61.18)

सम्प्राप्तो हिमवत्पृष्ठं नातिश्रान्ततनुर्द्विज । विचचार ततस्तत्र तुहिनाचलभूतले ॥ 61.18 ॥

samprāpto himavatpṛṣṭhaṁ nātiśrāntatanurdvija / vicacāra tatastatra tuhinācalabhūtale

he reached the heights of the Himalaya, his body scarcely wearied, and there began to wander about on that snow-mountain's ground.

Verse 19 (markandeya.61.19)

पादाक्रान्तेन तस्याथ तुहिनेन विलीयता । प्रक्षालितः पादलेपः परमौषधिसम्भः ॥ 61.19 ॥

pādākrāntena tasyātha tuhinena vilīyatā / prakṣālitaḥ pādalepaḥ paramauṣadhisambhaḥ

But as the snow trodden by his feet melted away, the foot-ointment, made from the finest herbs, was washed off.

Verse 20 (markandeya.61.20)

ततो जडगतिः सोऽथ इतश्चेतश्च पर्यटन् । ददर्शातिमनोज्ञानि सानूनि हिमभूभृतः ॥ 61.20 ॥

tato jaḍagatiḥ so 'tha itaścetaśca paryaṭan / dadarśātimanojñāni sānūni himabhūbhṛtaḥ

Then, his swift gait now dulled, he wandered here and there, beholding the most enchanting ridges of the snow-mountain.

Verse 21 (markandeya.61.21)

सिद्धगन्धर्वजुष्टानि किन्नराभिरतानि च । क्रीडाविहाररम्याणि देवादीनामितस्ततः ॥ 61.21 ॥

siddhagandharvajuṣṭāni kinnarābhiratāni ca / krīḍāvihāraramyāṇi devādīnāmitastataḥ

delighted in by Siddhas and Gandharvas, filled with sporting Kinnaras, everywhere beautiful with the play-grounds of gods and others,

Verse 22 (markandeya.61.22)

दिव्याप्सरोगणशतैराकीर्णान्यवलोकयन् । नातृप्यत द्विजश्रेष्ठः प्रोद्भूतपुलको मुने ॥ 61.22 ॥

divyāpsarogaṇaśatairākīrṇānyavalokayan / nātṛpyata dvijaśreṣṭhaḥ prodbhūtapulako mune

thronged with hundreds of celestial nymphs — beholding all this, that best of brahmins, his hair standing on end with delight, O sage, could not have his fill of it.

Verse 23 (markandeya.61.23)

क्वचित् प्रस्त्रवणाद् भ्रष्टजलपातमनोरमम् । प्रनृत्यच्छिखिकेकाभिरन्यतश्च निनादितम् ॥ 61.23 ॥

kvacit prastravaṇād bhraṣṭajalapātamanoramam / pranṛtyacchikhikekābhiranyataśca nināditam

In one place it was charming with water falling from a spring; elsewhere it resounded with the cries of dancing peacocks;

Verse 24 (markandeya.61.24)

दात्यूहकोयष्टिकाद्यैः क्वचिच्चातिमनोहरैः । पुंस्कोकिलकलालापैः श्रुतिहारिभिरन्वितम् ॥ 61.24 ॥

dātyūhakoyaṣṭikādyaiḥ kvaciccātimanoharaiḥ / puṁskokilakalālāpaiḥ śrutihāribhiranvitam

in another most delightful spot it was filled with the calls of water-birds and cuckoos of the male koel, sweet sounds that ravished the ear.

Verse 25 (markandeya.61.25)

प्रफुल्लतरुगन्धेन वासितानिलवीजितम् । मुदा युक्तः स ददृशे हिमवन्तं महागिरिम् ॥ 61.25 ॥

praphullatarugandhena vāsitānilavījitam / mudā yuktaḥ sa dadṛśe himavantaṁ mahāgirim

Fanned by breezes perfumed with the scent of blossoming trees, he gazed with delight upon the great mountain Himalaya.

Verse 26 (markandeya.61.26)

दृष्ट्वा चैतं द्विजसुतो हिमवन्तं महाचलम् । श्वो द्रक्ष्यामीति संचिन्त्य मतिञ्चक्रे गृहं प्रति ॥ 61.26 ॥

dṛṣṭvā caitaṁ dvijasuto himavantaṁ mahācalam / śvo drakṣyāmīti saṁcintya matiñcakre gṛhaṁ prati

Having seen this great mountain Himalaya, the brahmin's son thought, 'I shall see more of it tomorrow,' and resolved to turn his mind homeward.

Verse 27 (markandeya.61.27)

विभ्रष्टपादलेपोऽथ चिरेण जडितक्रमः । चिन्तयामास किमिदं मयाज्ञानादनुष्ठितम् ॥ 61.27 ॥

vibhraṣṭapādalepo 'tha cireṇa jaḍitakramaḥ / cintayāmāsa kimidaṁ mayājñānādanuṣṭhitam

But then, his foot-ointment gone and his gait long since dulled, he thought, 'What is this that I have done in ignorance!'

Verse 28 (markandeya.61.28)

यदि प्रलेपो नष्टो मे विलीनो हिमवारिणा । शैलोऽतिदुर्गमश्चायं दूरञ्चाहमिहागतः ॥ 61.28 ॥

yadi pralepo naṣṭo me vilīno himavāriṇā / śailo 'tidurgamaścāyaṁ dūrañcāhamihāgataḥ

'If my ointment is lost, dissolved by the water of the snow, and this mountain is so hard to cross, and I have come so far —'

Verse 29 (markandeya.61.29)

प्रयास्यामि क्रियाहानिमग्निशुश्रूषणादिकम् । कथमत्र करिष्यामि सङ्कटं महदागतम् ॥ 61.29 ॥

prayāsyāmi kriyāhānimagniśuśrūṣaṇādikam / kathamatra kariṣyāmi saṅkaṭaṁ mahadāgatam

'— I shall incur failure in my duties, in the tending of the sacred fire and the rest. How shall I act now? A great calamity has come upon me.'

Verse 30 (markandeya.61.30)

इदं रम्यमिदं रम्यमित्यस्मिन् वरपर्वते । शक्तदृष्टिरहं तृप्तिं न यास्येऽब्दशतैरपि ॥ 61.30 ॥

idaṁ ramyamidaṁ ramyamityasmin varaparvate / śaktadṛṣṭirahaṁ tṛptiṁ na yāsye 'bdaśatairapi

'This is beautiful, this is beautiful — so on this excellent mountain my captivated gaze would not find its fill even in a hundred years.'

Verse 31 (markandeya.61.31)

किन्नराणां कलालापाः समन्ताच्छ्रोत्रहारिणः । प्रफुल्लतरुगन्धांश्च घ्राणमत्यन्तमृच्छति ॥ 61.31 ॥

kinnarāṇāṁ kalālāpāḥ samantācchrotrahāriṇaḥ / praphullatarugandhāṁśca ghrāṇamatyantamṛcchati

'The sweet murmurs of the Kinnaras ravish the ear on every side, and the fragrance of blossoming trees overwhelms the sense of smell.'

Verse 32 (markandeya.61.32)

सुखस्पर्शस्तथा वायुः फलानि रसवन्ति च । हरन्ति प्रसभं चेतो मनोज्ञानि सरांसि च ॥ 61.32 ॥

sukhasparśastathā vāyuḥ phalāni rasavanti ca / haranti prasabhaṁ ceto manojñāni sarāṁsi ca

'The pleasant-touching breeze, the flavourful fruits, and the enchanting lakes — all seize the mind by force.'

Verse 33 (markandeya.61.33)

एवं गते तु पश्येयं यदि कञ्चित् तपोनिधिम् । स ममोपदिशेन्मार्गं गमनाय गृहं प्रति ॥ 61.33 ॥

evaṁ gate tu paśyeyaṁ yadi kañcit taponidhim / sa mamopadiśenmārgaṁ gamanāya gṛhaṁ prati

'Since matters stand thus, if only I could see some ascetic rich in austerity, who might show me the way to return home.'

Verse 34 (markandeya.61.34)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच स एवं चिन्तयन् विप्रो बभ्राम च हिमाचले । भ्रष्टपादौषधिबलो वैक्लवं परमं गतः ॥ 61.34 ॥

sa evaṁ cintayan vipro babhrāma ca himācale / bhraṣṭapādauṣadhibalo vaiklavaṁ paramaṁ gataḥ

Markandeya said: Thinking thus, the brahmin wandered about on the Himalaya, and, his feet stripped of their herbal power, fell into the deepest distress.

Verse 35 (markandeya.61.35)

तं ददर्श भ्रमन्तञ्च मुनिश्रेष्ठं वरूथिनी । वराप्सरा महाभागा मौलेया रूपशालिनी ॥ 61.35 ॥

taṁ dadarśa bhramantañca muniśreṣṭhaṁ varūthinī / varāpsarā mahābhāgā mauleyā rūpaśālinī

As he wandered, the illustrious apsara Varūthinī, of the Maulī lineage and of surpassing beauty, saw him — that best of sages.

Verse 36 (markandeya.61.36)

तस्मिन् दृष्टे ततः साभूद् द्विजवर्ये वरूथिनी । मदनाकृष्टहृदया सानुरागा हि तत्क्षणात् ॥ 61.36 ॥

tasmin dṛṣṭe tataḥ sābhūd dvijavarye varūthinī / madanākṛṣṭahṛdayā sānurāgā hi tatkṣaṇāt

The moment she saw him, that finest of brahmins, Varūthinī's heart was seized by desire, and she instantly became filled with passion.

Verse 37 (markandeya.61.37)

चिन्तयामास को न्वेष रमणीयतमाकृतिः । सफलं मे भवेज्जन्म यदि मां नावमन्यते ॥ 61.37 ॥

cintayāmāsa ko nveṣa ramaṇīyatamākṛtiḥ / saphalaṁ me bhavejjanma yadi māṁ nāvamanyate

She thought: 'Who is this being of such supremely lovely form? My birth would bear fruit if he does not scorn me.'

Verse 38 (markandeya.61.38)

अहोऽस्य रूपमाधुर्यमहोऽस्य ललिता गतिः । अहो गम्भीरता दृष्टेः कुतोऽस्य सदृशो भुवि ॥ 61.38 ॥

aho 'sya rūpamādhuryamaho 'sya lalitā gatiḥ / aho gambhīratā dṛṣṭeḥ kuto 'sya sadṛśo bhuvi

'Ah, the sweetness of his form! Ah, the grace of his gait! Ah, the depth of his gaze! Where on earth is his equal to be found?'

Verse 39 (markandeya.61.39)

दृष्टा देवास्तथा दैत्याः सिद्धगन्धर्वपन्नगाः । कथमेकोऽपि नास्त्यस्य तुल्यरूपो महात्मनः ॥ 61.39 ॥

dṛṣṭā devāstathā daityāḥ siddhagandharvapannagāḥ / kathameko 'pi nāstyasya tulyarūpo mahātmanaḥ

'I have seen gods and demons, Siddhas, Gandharvas, and serpent-lords — how is it that not one among them equals this great soul in beauty?'

Verse 40 (markandeya.61.40)

यथाहमस्मिन्मय्येष सानुरागस्तथा यदि । भवेदत्र मया कार्यस्तत्कृतः पुण्यसञ्चयः ॥ 61.40 ॥

yathāhamasminmayyeṣa sānurāgastathā yadi / bhavedatra mayā kāryastatkṛtaḥ puṇyasañcayaḥ

'If he too should become as attached to me as I am to him, then whatever merit I must gain for that, let it be gained.'

Verse 41 (markandeya.61.41)

यद्येष मयि सुस्त्रिग्धां दृष्टिमद्य निपातयेत् । कृतपुण्या न मत्तोऽन्या त्रैलोक्ये वनिता ततः ॥ 61.41 ॥

yadyeṣa mayi sustrigdhāṁ dṛṣṭimadya nipātayet / kṛtapuṇyā na matto 'nyā trailokye vanitā tataḥ

'If today he should cast upon me a glance full of tender love, then no woman in the three worlds would be more blessed with merit than I.'

Verse 42 (markandeya.61.42)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच एवं सञ्चिन्तयन्ती सा दिव्ययोषित् स्मरातुरा । आत्मानं दर्शयामास कमनीयतराकृतिम् ॥ 61.42 ॥

evaṁ sañcintayantī sā divyayoṣit smarāturā / ātmānaṁ darśayāmāsa kamanīyatarākṛtim

Markandeya said: Thinking thus, that celestial woman, tormented by love, displayed herself to him in a form of the utmost loveliness.

Verse 43 (markandeya.61.43)

तान्तु दृष्ट्वा द्विजसुतश्चारुरूपां वरूथिनीम् । सोपचारं समागम्य वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ॥ 61.43 ॥

tāntu dṛṣṭvā dvijasutaścārurūpāṁ varūthinīm / sopacāraṁ samāgamya vākyametaduvāca ha

Seeing that lovely Varūthinī, the brahmin's son approached her courteously and spoke these words:

Verse 44 (markandeya.61.44)

का त्वं कमलगर्भाभे कस्य किं वानुतिष्ठसि । ब्राह्मणोऽहमिहायातो नगरादरुणास्पदात् ॥ 61.44 ॥

kā tvaṁ kamalagarbhābhe kasya kiṁ vānutiṣṭhasi / brāhmaṇo 'hamihāyāto nagarādaruṇāspadāt

'Who are you, O lady radiant as a lotus's heart? Whose are you, and to what task are you devoted? I am a brahmin, come here from the city of Aruṇāspada.'

Verse 45 (markandeya.61.45)

पादलेपोऽत्र मे ध्वस्तो विलीनो हिमवारिणा । यस्यानुभावादत्राहमागतो मदिरेक्षणे ॥ 61.45 ॥

pādalepo 'tra me dhvasto vilīno himavāriṇā / yasyānubhāvādatrāhamāgato madirekṣaṇe

'My foot-ointment, by whose power I came here, is now destroyed, dissolved by the water of the snow, O lady of intoxicating eyes.'

Verse 46 (markandeya.61.46)

वरूथिन्युवाच मौलेयाहं महाभागा नाम्ना ख्याता वरूथिनी । विचरामि सदैवात्र रमणीये महाचले ॥ 61.46 ॥

mauleyāhaṁ mahābhāgā nāmnā khyātā varūthinī / vicarāmi sadaivātra ramaṇīye mahācale

Varūthinī said: 'I am of the Maulī lineage, an exalted being known by the name Varūthinī. I dwell always here, upon this delightful great mountain.'

Verse 47 (markandeya.61.47)

साहं त्वद्दर्शनाद्विप्र ! कामवक्तव्यताङ्गता । प्रशाधि यन्मया कार्यं त्वदधीनास्मि साम्प्रतम् ॥ 61.47 ॥

sāhaṁ tvaddarśanādvipra ! kāmavaktavyatāṅgatā / praśādhi yanmayā kāryaṁ tvadadhīnāsmi sāmpratam

'At the sight of you, O brahmin, I have become one who must speak of love. Command what I am to do — I am now wholly yours.'

Verse 48 (markandeya.61.48)

ब्राह्मण उवाच येनोपायेन गच्छेयं निजगेहं शुचिस्मिते । तन्ममाचक्ष्व कल्याणि हानिर्नोऽखिलकर्मणाम् ॥ 61.48 ॥

yenopāyena gaccheyaṁ nijagehaṁ śucismite / tanmamācakṣva kalyāṇi hānirno 'khilakarmaṇām

The brahmin said: 'Tell me, O fair-smiling, auspicious one, by what means I may return to my own home — for all my sacred duties are being lost.'

Verse 49 (markandeya.61.49)

नित्यनैमित्तिकानान्तु महाहानिर्द्विजन्मनः । भवत्यतस्त्वं हे भद्रे ! मामुद्धर हिमालयात् ॥ 61.49 ॥

nityanaimittikānāntu mahāhānirdvijanmanaḥ / bhavatyatastvaṁ he bhadre ! māmuddhara himālayāt

'Great loss befalls a brahmin whose regular and occasional rites are neglected. Therefore, gracious lady, rescue me from the Himalaya.'

Verse 50 (markandeya.61.50)

प्रशस्यते न प्रवासो ब्राह्मणानां कदाचम । अपराद्धं न मे भीरु देशदर्शनकौतुकम् ॥ 61.50 ॥

praśasyate na pravāso brāhmaṇānāṁ kadācama / aparāddhaṁ na me bhīru deśadarśanakautukam

'Travel abroad is never praised for brahmins. Yet, timid one, my curiosity to see other lands was no offence.'

Verse 51 (markandeya.61.51)

सतो गृहे द्विजाग्र्यस्य निष्पत्तिः सर्वकर्मणाम् । नित्यनैमित्तिकानाञ्च हानिरेवं प्रवासिनः ॥ 61.51 ॥

sato gṛhe dvijāgryasya niṣpattiḥ sarvakarmaṇām / nityanaimittikānāñca hānirevaṁ pravāsinaḥ

'It is in his own home that all of a foremost brahmin's rites are accomplished; for one who is away, his regular and occasional duties are thus lost.'

Verse 52 (markandeya.61.52)

सा त्वं किं बहुनोक्तेन तथा कुरु यशस्विनि । यथा नास्तं गेत सूर्ये पश्यामि निजमालयम् ॥ 61.52 ॥

sā tvaṁ kiṁ bahunoktena tathā kuru yaśasvini / yathā nāstaṁ geta sūrye paśyāmi nijamālayam

'What need is there of many words? Do this, O glorious lady, so that before the sun sets I may see my own dwelling.'

Verse 53 (markandeya.61.53)

वरूथिन्युवाच मैवं ब्रूहि महाभाग ! मा भूत्स दिवसो मम । मां परित्यज्य यत्र त्वं निजगेहमुपैष्यसि ॥ 61.53 ॥

maivaṁ brūhi mahābhāga ! mā bhūtsa divaso mama / māṁ parityajya yatra tvaṁ nijagehamupaiṣyasi

Varūthinī said: 'Do not speak so, illustrious one! Let that day never come for me on which, forsaking me, you go to your own home.'

Verse 54 (markandeya.61.54)

अहो रम्यतरः स्वर्गो न यतो द्विजनन्दन । अतो वयं परित्यज्य तिष्ठामोऽत्र सुरालयम् ॥ 61.54 ॥

aho ramyataraḥ svargo na yato dvijanandana / ato vayaṁ parityajya tiṣṭhāmo 'tra surālayam

'Ah, delightful son of a brahmin — heaven itself is not more lovely than this place; that is why we, forsaking it, dwell here in this abode of gods.'

Verse 55 (markandeya.61.55)

स त्वं सह मया कान्त ! कान्तेऽत्र तुहिनाचले । रममाणो न मर्त्यानां बान्धवानां स्मरिष्यसि ॥ 61.55 ॥

sa tvaṁ saha mayā kānta ! kānte 'tra tuhinācale / ramamāṇo na martyānāṁ bāndhavānāṁ smariṣyasi

'So you, beloved, sporting here with me on this beautiful snow-mountain, will no longer remember your mortal kinsfolk.'

Verse 56 (markandeya.61.56)

स्त्रजो वस्त्राण्यलङ्कारान् भोगभोज्यानुलेपनम् । दास्याम्यत्र तथाहन्ते स्मरेण वशगा हृता ॥ 61.56 ॥

strajo vastrāṇyalaṅkārān bhogabhojyānulepanam / dāsyāmyatra tathāhante smareṇa vaśagā hṛtā

'I shall give you garlands, garments, ornaments, enjoyments, food, and unguents — for I have been carried away, made subject to you by the god of love.'

Verse 57 (markandeya.61.57)

वीणावेणुस्वनं गीतं किन्नराणां मनोरमम् । अङ्गाह्लादकरो वायुरुष्णान्नमुदकं शुचि ॥ 61.57 ॥

vīṇāveṇusvanaṁ gītaṁ kinnarāṇāṁ manoramam / aṅgāhlādakaro vāyuruṣṇānnamudakaṁ śuci

'The delightful song of the Kinnaras with the sound of vina and flute, a breeze that gladdens the limbs, warm food and pure water —'

Verse 58 (markandeya.61.58)

मनोभिलषिता शय्या सुगन्धमनुलेपनम् । इहासतो महाभाग गृहे किन्ते निजेऽधिकम् ॥ 61.58 ॥

manobhilaṣitā śayyā sugandhamanulepanam / ihāsato mahābhāga gṛhe kinte nije 'dhikam

'— a bed after your heart's desire, and fragrant unguents: dwelling here, illustrious one, what more would you have in your own home?'

Verse 59 (markandeya.61.59)

इहासतो नैव जरा कदाचित्ते भविष्यति । त्रिदशानामियं भूमिर्यौवनोपचयप्रदा ॥ 61.59 ॥

ihāsato naiva jarā kadācitte bhaviṣyati / tridaśānāmiyaṁ bhūmiryauvanopacayapradā

'Living here, old age will never come upon you; for this is the land of the gods, which bestows only the increase of youth.'

Verse 60 (markandeya.61.60)

इत्युक्त्वा सानुरागा सा सहसा कमलेक्षणा । आलिलिङ्ग प्रसीदेति वदन्ती कलमुन्मनाः ॥ 61.60 ॥

ityuktvā sānurāgā sā sahasā kamalekṣaṇā / āliliṅga prasīdeti vadantī kalamunmanāḥ

So saying, that lotus-eyed one, full of passion and agitated with love, suddenly embraced him, murmuring softly, 'Be gracious to me.'

Verse 61 (markandeya.61.61)

ब्राह्मण उवाच मा मां स्प्राक्षीर्व्रजान्यत्र दुष्टे यः सदृशस्तव । मयान्यथा याचिता त्वमन्यथैवाप्युपैषि माम् ॥ 61.61 ॥

mā māṁ sprākṣīrvrajānyatra duṣṭe yaḥ sadṛśastava / mayānyathā yācitā tvamanyathaivāpyupaiṣi mām

The brahmin said: 'Do not touch me, wicked one! Go where one like you belongs. I asked you one thing, and you approach me with quite another.'

Verse 62 (markandeya.61.62)

सायं प्रातर्हुतं हव्यं लोकान् यच्छति शाश्वतान् । त्रैलोक्यमेतदखिलं मूढे इव्ये प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥ 61.62 ॥

sāyaṁ prātarhutaṁ havyaṁ lokān yacchati śāśvatān / trailokyametadakhilaṁ mūḍhe ivye pratiṣṭhitam

'The oblation offered morning and evening bestows eternal worlds; this entire threefold universe, O deluded one, rests upon such sacrifice.'

Verse 63 (markandeya.61.63)

वरूथिन्युवाच किं ते नाहं प्रिया विप्र ! रमणीयो न किं गिरिः । गन्धर्वान् किन्नरादींश्च त्यक्त्वाभीष्टो हि कस्तव ॥ 61.63 ॥

kiṁ te nāhaṁ priyā vipra ! ramaṇīyo na kiṁ giriḥ / gandharvān kinnarādīṁśca tyaktvābhīṣṭo hi kastava

Varūthinī said: 'Am I not dear to you, O brahmin? Is this mountain not delightful? Whom, forsaking the Gandharvas, Kinnaras and the rest, do you truly desire?'

Verse 64 (markandeya.61.64)

निजमालयमप्यस्माद्भवान् यास्यत्यसंशयम् । स्वल्पकालं मया सार्धं भुङ्क्षव भोगान् सुदुर्लभान् ॥ 61.64 ॥

nijamālayamapyasmādbhavān yāsyatyasaṁśayam / svalpakālaṁ mayā sārdhaṁ bhuṅkṣava bhogān sudurlabhān

'You shall without doubt go to your own home from here in time. For just a little while, enjoy with me these pleasures so hard to attain.'

Verse 66 (markandeya.61.66)

ब्राह्मण उवाच अष्टावात्मगुणा ये हि तेषामादौ दया द्विज । तां करोषि कथं न त्वं मयि सद्धर्मपालक ॥ 61.66 ॥

aṣṭāvātmaguṇā ye hi teṣāmādau dayā dvija / tāṁ karoṣi kathaṁ na tvaṁ mayi saddharmapālaka

'Of the eight virtues of the soul, compassion stands first, O twice-born; why then do you not show it to me, guardian of true dharma?'

Verse 67 (markandeya.61.67)

त्वद्विमुक्ता न जीवामि तथा प्रीतिमती त्वयि । नैतद्वदाम्यहं मिथ्या प्रसीद कुलनन्दन ॥ 61.67 ॥

tvadvimuktā na jīvāmi tathā prītimatī tvayi / naitadvadāmyahaṁ mithyā prasīda kulanandana

'Parted from you I cannot live, so deeply am I filled with love for you. I do not speak this falsely — be gracious, O joy of your lineage.'

Verse 68 (markandeya.61.68)

ब्राह्मण उवाच यदि प्रीतिमती सत्यं नोपचाराद्ब्रवीषि माम् । तदुपायं समाचक्ष्व येन यामि स्वमालयम् ॥ 61.68 ॥

yadi prītimatī satyaṁ nopacārādbravīṣi mām / tadupāyaṁ samācakṣva yena yāmi svamālayam

The brahmin said: 'If you truly love me, and do not speak to me merely out of courtesy, then tell me the means by which I may go to my own home.'

Verse 69 (markandeya.61.69)

वरूथिन्युवाच निजमालयमप्यस्माद्भवान् यास्यत्यसंशयम् । स्वल्पकालं मया सार्धं भुङ्क्ष्व भोगान् सुदुर्लभान् ॥ 61.69 ॥

nijamālayamapyasmādbhavān yāsyatyasaṁśayam / svalpakālaṁ mayā sārdhaṁ bhuṅkṣva bhogān sudurlabhān

Varūthinī said: 'You shall without doubt go from here to your own home. For just a little while, enjoy with me these pleasures so hard to attain.'

Verse 70 (markandeya.61.70)

ब्राह्मण उवाच न भोगार्थाय विप्राणां शस्यते हि वरूथिनी । इह क्लेशाय विप्राणां चेष्टा प्रेत्याफलप्रदा ॥ 61.70 ॥

na bhogārthāya viprāṇāṁ śasyate hi varūthinī / iha kleśāya viprāṇāṁ ceṣṭā pretyāphalapradā

The brahmin said: 'For brahmins, union with a Varūthinī is never praised for the sake of enjoyment; here it brings only affliction for brahmins, and in the hereafter, evil fruit for such conduct.'

Verse 71 (markandeya.61.71)

वरूथिन्युवाच सन्त्राणं म्रियमाणाया मम कृत्वा परत्र ते । पुण्यस्यैव फलं भावि भोगाश्चान्यत्र जन्मनि ॥ 61.71 ॥

santrāṇaṁ mriyamāṇāyā mama kṛtvā paratra te / puṇyasyaiva phalaṁ bhāvi bhogāścānyatra janmani

Varūthinī said: 'By saving me, who am dying, the fruit that awaits you hereafter will be nothing but merit, and in another birth, enjoyments too.'

Verse 72 (markandeya.61.72)

एवं च द्वयमप्यत्र तवोपचयकारणम् । प्रत्याख्यानादहं मृत्युं त्वञ्च पापमवाप्स्यसि ॥ 61.72 ॥

evaṁ ca dvayamapyatra tavopacayakāraṇam / pratyākhyānādahaṁ mṛtyuṁ tvañca pāpamavāpsyasi

'Thus both these things here work to your increase; but if you refuse me, I shall meet death, and you shall incur sin.'

Verse 73 (markandeya.61.73)

ब्राह्मण उवाच परस्त्रियं नाभिलषेदित्युचुर्गुरवो मम । तेन त्वां नाभिवाञ्छामि कामं विलप शुष्य वा ॥ 61.73 ॥

parastriyaṁ nābhilaṣedityucurguravo mama / tena tvāṁ nābhivāñchāmi kāmaṁ vilapa śuṣya vā

The brahmin said: 'My teachers have taught that one should not desire another's wife. Therefore I do not desire you — weep if you wish, or wither away.'

Verse 74 (markandeya.61.74)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच इत्युक्त्वा स महाभागः स्पृष्ट्वापः प्रयतः शुचिः । प्राहेदं प्रणिपत्याग्निं गार्हपत्यमुपांशुना ॥ 61.74 ॥

ityuktvā sa mahābhāgaḥ spṛṣṭvāpaḥ prayataḥ śuciḥ / prāhedaṁ praṇipatyāgniṁ gārhapatyamupāṁśunā

Markandeya said: Having said this, that illustrious one, pure and self-controlled, touched water, and bowing to the Gārhapatya fire, softly spoke these words:

Verse 75 (markandeya.61.75)

भगवन् ! गार्हपत्याग्ने योनिस्त्वं सर्वकर्मणाम् । त्वत्त आहवनीयोऽग्निर्दक्षिणाग्निश्च नान्यतः ॥ 61.75 ॥

bhagavan ! gārhapatyāgne yonistvaṁ sarvakarmaṇām / tvatta āhavanīyo 'gnirdakṣiṇāgniśca nānyataḥ

'O venerable Gārhapatya fire! You are the source of all sacred rites; from you alone, and from no other, come the Āhavanīya and Dakṣiṇa fires.'

Verse 76 (markandeya.61.76)

युष्मदाप्यायनाद् देवा वृष्टिशस्यादिहेतवः । भवन्ति शस्यादखिलं जगद्भवति नान्यतः ॥ 61.76 ॥

yuṣmadāpyāyanād devā vṛṣṭiśasyādihetavaḥ / bhavanti śasyādakhilaṁ jagadbhavati nānyataḥ

'By your being nourished, the gods become the causes of rain and crops and the rest; from crops the whole world subsists, and from nothing else.'

Verse 77 (markandeya.61.77)

एवं त्वत्तो भवत्येतद्येन सत्येन वै जगत् । तथाहमद्य स्वं गेहं पश्येयं सति भास्करे ॥ 61.77 ॥

evaṁ tvatto bhavatyetadyena satyena vai jagat / tathāhamadya svaṁ gehaṁ paśyeyaṁ sati bhāskare

'By that same truth through which all this comes into being from you, and by which the world exists, may I today, while the sun is still up, behold my own home.'

Verse 78 (markandeya.61.78)

यथा वै वैदिकं कर्म स्वकाले नोज्झितं मया । तेन सत्येन पश्येयं गृहस्थोऽद्य दिवाकरम् ॥ 61.78 ॥

yathā vai vaidikaṁ karma svakāle nojjhitaṁ mayā / tena satyena paśyeyaṁ gṛhastho 'dya divākaram

'As I have never at the proper time abandoned my Vedic rites, by that truth may I, a householder, see the sun today at home.'

Verse 79 (markandeya.61.79)

यथा च न परद्रव्ये परदारे च मे मतिः । कदाचित् साभिलाषाभूत्तथैतत् सिद्धिमेतु मे ॥ 61.79 ॥

yathā ca na paradravye paradāre ca me matiḥ / kadācit sābhilāṣābhūttathaitat siddhimetu me

'And as my mind has never at any time inclined with desire toward another's wealth or another's wife, so may this wish of mine be fulfilled.'