The Eight Treasures

Verse 1 (markandeya.68.1)

क्रौष्टुकिरुवाच भगवन्कथितं सर्वं विस्तरेण त्वया मम । स्वरोचिषस्तु चरितं जन्म स्वारोचिषस्य तु ॥ 68.1 ॥

krauṣṭukiruvāca bhagavankathitaṁ sarvaṁ vistareṇa tvayā mama svarociṣastu caritaṁ janma svārociṣasya tu

Kraushtuki said: O Lord, you have told me in full detail the story of Svarochi and the birth of Svarochisha.

Verse 2 (markandeya.68.2)

या तु सा पद्मिनी नाम विद्या भोगोपपादिका । तत्संश्रया ये निधयस्तान्मे विस्तरतो वद ॥ 68.2 ॥

yā tu sā padminī nāma vidyā bhogopapādikā tatsaṁśrayā ye nidhayastānme vistarato vada

That wisdom named Padmini which bestows every enjoyment — tell me now in detail of the treasures that depend upon it.

Verse 3 (markandeya.68.3)

अष्टौ ये निधयस्तेषां स्वरूपं द्रव्यसंस्थितिः । भवताभिहितं सम्यक्छ्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं गुरो ॥ 68.3 ॥

aṣṭau ye nidhayasteṣāṁ svarūpaṁ dravyasaṁsthitiḥ bhavatābhihitaṁ samyakchrotumicchāmyahaṁ guro

O teacher, I wish to hear properly of the nature and the disposition of wealth of those eight treasures you have mentioned.

Verse 4 (markandeya.68.4)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच पद्मिनी नाम या विद्या लक्ष्मीस्तस्याश्च देवता । तदाधाराश्च निधयस्तन्मे निगदतः शृणु ॥ 68.4 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca padminī nāma yā vidyā lakṣmīstasyāśca devatā tadādhārāśca nidhayastanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu

Markandeya said: The wisdom named Padmini has Lakshmi as its presiding deity; hear from me now of the treasures that rest upon it.

Verse 5 (markandeya.68.5)

यत्र पद्ममहापद्मौ तथा मकरकच्छपौ । मुकुन्दो नंदकश्चैव नीलः शङ्खोऽष्टमो निधिः ॥ 68.5 ॥

yatra padmamahāpadmau tathā makarakacchapau mukundo naṁdakaścaiva nīlaḥ śaṅkho’ṣṭamo nidhiḥ

Padma and Mahapadma, Makara and Kachchapa, Mukunda and Nandaka, Nila, and the eighth, Shankha — these are the treasures.

Verse 6 (markandeya.68.6)

सत्यामृद्धौ भवन्त्येते सिद्धिस्तेषां हि जायते । एते ह्यष्टौ समाख्याता निधयस्तव क्रौष्टुके ॥ 68.6 ॥

satyāmṛddhau bhavantyete siddhisteṣāṁ hi jāyate ete hyaṣṭau samākhyātā nidhayastava krauṣṭuke

These arise when prosperity is present, and from them accomplishment is born. O Kraushtuki, these eight treasures have thus been declared to you.

Verse 7 (markandeya.68.7)

देवतानां प्रसादेन साधुसंसेवनेन च । एभिरालोकितं वित्तं मानुषस्य सदा मुने ॥ 68.7 ॥

devatānāṁ prasādena sādhusaṁsevanena ca ebhirālokitaṁ vittaṁ mānuṣasya sadā mune

O sage, by the grace of the gods and through service to the virtuous, the wealth these treasures look upon ever remains with a man.

Verse 8 (markandeya.68.8)

यादृक्स्वरूपं भवति तन्मे निगदतः शृणु । पद्मो नाम निधिः पूर्वं स यस्य भवति द्विज ॥ 68.8 ॥

yādṛksvarūpaṁ bhavati tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu padmo nāma nidhiḥ pūrvaṁ sa yasya bhavati dvija

Hear from me now what each one’s nature is. O brahmana, the first is the treasure named Padma; consider the man to whom it belongs.

Verse 9 (markandeya.68.9)

स तस्य तत्सुतानां च तत्पौत्राणां च नित्यशः । दाक्षिण्यसारः पुरुषस्तेन चाधिष्ठितो भवेत् ॥ 68.9 ॥

sa tasya tatsutānāṁ ca tatpautrāṇāṁ ca nityaśaḥ dākṣiṇyasāraḥ puruṣastena cādhiṣṭhito bhavet

That man, and ever his sons and grandsons after him, being governed by this treasure, becomes a man whose essence is generosity.

Verse 10 (markandeya.68.10)

सत्त्वाधारो महाभागो यतोऽसौ सात्त्विको निधिः । सुवर्णरूप्यताम्रादिधातूनां च परिग्रहम् ॥ 68.10 ॥

sattvādhāro mahābhāgo yato’sau sāttviko nidhiḥ suvarṇarūpyatāmrādidhātūnāṁ ca parigraham

He is greatly fortunate and grounded in goodness, since this treasure is itself sattvic; he acquires gold, silver, copper, and other metals.

Verse 11 (markandeya.68.11)

करोत्यतितरां सोऽथ तेषां च क्रयविक्रयम् । करोति च तथा यज्ञान्दक्षिणां च प्रयच्छति । संपादयति कामांश्च सर्वानेव यथाक्रमम् । सभां देवनिकेतांश्च स कारयति तन्मनाः ॥ 68.11 ॥

karotyatitarāṁ so’tha teṣāṁ ca krayavikrayam karoti ca tathā yajñāndakṣiṇāṁ ca prayacchati saṁpādayati kāmāṁśca sarvāneva yathākramam sabhāṁ devaniketāṁśca sa kārayati tanmanāḥ

He trades extensively in them, buying and selling; he performs sacrifices and gives sacrificial gifts; he accomplishes all his desires in due order, and single-mindedly causes assembly-halls and temples of the gods to be built.

Verse 12 (markandeya.68.12)

सत्त्वाधारो निधिश्चान्यो महापद्म इति श्रुतः ॥ 68.12 ॥

sattvādhāro nidhiścānyo mahāpadma iti śrutaḥ

The other treasure, grounded in the quality of goodness, is known by the name Mahapadma.

Verse 13 (markandeya.68.13)

सत्त्वप्रधानो भवति तेन चाधिष्ठितो नरः । करोति पद्मरागादिरत्नानां च परिग्रहम् ॥ 68.13 ॥

sattvapradhāno bhavati tena cādhiṣṭhito naraḥ karoti padmarāgādiratnānāṁ ca parigraham

The man governed by it becomes one in whom goodness predominates, and he acquires rubies and other precious gems.

Verse 14 (markandeya.68.14)

मौक्तिकानां प्रवालानां तेषां च क्रयविक्रयान् । ददाति योगशीलेभ्यस्तेषामावसथांस्तथा ॥ 68.14 ॥

mauktikānāṁ pravālānāṁ teṣāṁ ca krayavikrayān dadāti yogaśīlebhyasteṣāmāvasathāṁstathā

He trades in pearls and coral, and he provides dwelling-places to men devoted to yoga.

Verse 15 (markandeya.68.15)

स कारयति तच्छीलः स्वयमेव च जायते । तत्प्रसूतास्तथाशीलाः पुत्रपौत्रक्रमेण च ॥ 68.15 ॥

sa kārayati tacchīlaḥ svayameva ca jāyate tatprasūtāstathāśīlāḥ putrapautrakrameṇa ca

He himself comes to have that very character, and his offspring too, in succession of sons and grandsons, are born of that same nature.

Verse 16 (markandeya.68.16)

पूर्वर्द्धिमात्रः सप्तासौ पुरुषांश्च न मुञ्चति । तामसो मकरो नाम निधिस्तेनावलोकितः ॥ 68.16 ॥

pūrvarddhimātraḥ saptāsau puruṣāṁśca na muñcati tāmaso makaro nāma nidhistenāvalokitaḥ

Like the previous prosperity, this remains for seven generations of men without departing. As for the tamasic treasure named Makara, the man beheld by it...

Verse 17 (markandeya.68.17)

पुरुषोऽथ तमःप्रायः सुशीलोऽपि हि जायते । बाणखड्गर्ष्टि धनुषां चर्मणां च परिग्रहम् ॥ 68.17 ॥

puruṣo’tha tamaḥprāyaḥ suśīlo’pi hi jāyate bāṇakhaḍgarṣṭi dhanuṣāṁ carmaṇāṁ ca parigraham

...becomes dominated by tamas, even if he was formerly of good character; he acquires arrows, swords, spears, bows, and hides.

Verse 18 (markandeya.68.18)

दंशनानां च कुरुते योऽतिमैत्री च राजभिः । ददाति शौर्यवृत्तीनां भूभुजां ये च तत्प्रियाः ॥ 68.18 ॥

daṁśanānāṁ ca kurute yo’timaitrī ca rājabhiḥ dadāti śauryavṛttīnāṁ bhūbhujāṁ ye ca tatpriyāḥ

He acquires coats of mail as well, and forms great friendships with kings; he gives to men who live by valor, and to those rulers who are dear to him.

Verse 19 (markandeya.68.19)

क्रयविक्रये च शस्त्राणां नान्यत्र प्रीतिमेति च । एकस्यैव भवत्येष नरस्य न सुतानुगः ॥ 68.19 ॥

krayavikraye ca śastrāṇāṁ nānyatra prītimeti ca ekasyaiva bhavatyeṣa narasya na sutānugaḥ

He delights only in the buying and selling of weapons, in nothing else; this treasure belongs to a single man alone, and does not pass on to his sons.

Verse 20 (markandeya.68.20)

द्रव्यार्थं दस्युतो नाशं संग्रामे वापि स व्रजेत् । कच्छपश्च निधिर्योऽसौ नरस्तेनाभिवीक्षितः ॥ 68.20 ॥

dravyārthaṁ dasyuto nāśaṁ saṁgrāme vāpi sa vrajet kacchapaśca nidhiryo’sau narastenābhivīkṣitaḥ

For the sake of wealth he may meet destruction at the hands of robbers, or even in battle. As for the treasure called Kachchapa, the man upon whom it looks...

Verse 21 (markandeya.68.21)

तमःप्रधानो भवति यतोऽसौ तामसो निधिः । व्यवहारानशेषांस्तु पुण्यजातैः करोति च ॥ 68.21 ॥

tamaḥpradhāno bhavati yato’sau tāmaso nidhiḥ vyavahārānaśeṣāṁstu puṇyajātaiḥ karoti ca

...becomes dominated by tamas, since this treasure is itself tamasic; he conducts all his dealings only with people of merit.

Verse 22 (markandeya.68.22)

कर्मस्थानखिलांश्चैव न विश्वसिति कस्यचित् । समस्तानि यथाङ्गानि संहरत्येव कच्छपः ॥ 68.22 ॥

karmasthānakhilāṁścaiva na viśvasiti kasyacit samastāni yathāṅgāni saṁharatyeva kacchapaḥ

In all his places of business he trusts no one at all, just as a tortoise draws in all its limbs.

Verse 23 (markandeya.68.23)

तथाविष्टभ्य रत्नानि तिष्ठत्याकुलमानसः । न ददाति न वा भुङ्क्ते तद्विनाशभयाकुलः ॥ 68.23 ॥

tathāviṣṭabhya ratnāni tiṣṭhatyākulamānasaḥ na dadāti na vā bhuṅkte tadvināśabhayākulaḥ

Just so he sits clutching his gems, his mind troubled; fearing their loss, he neither gives nor enjoys them.

Verse 24 (markandeya.68.24)

निधानमुर्व्यां कुरुते निधिः सोऽप्येकपूरुषः । रजोगुणमयश्चान्यो मुकुन्दो नाम यो निधिः ॥ 68.24 ॥

nidhānamurvyāṁ kurute nidhiḥ so’pyekapūruṣaḥ rajoguṇamayaścānyo mukundo nāma yo nidhiḥ

This treasure too buries its hoard in the earth, and it too belongs to but a single man. The other, composed of rajas, is the treasure named Mukunda.

Verse 25 (markandeya.68.25)

नरोऽवलोकितस्तेन तद्गुणो भवति द्विज । वीणावेणुमृदङ्गानामातोद्यस्य परिग्रहम् ॥ 68.25 ॥

naro’valokitastena tadguṇo bhavati dvija vīṇāveṇumṛdaṅgānāmātodyasya parigraham

O brahmana, the man beheld by it takes on that very quality; he acquires vinas, flutes, mridangas, and other instruments of music.

Verse 26 (markandeya.68.26)

करोति गायतां वित्तं नृत्यतां च प्रयच्छति । बन्दिमागधसूतानां विटानां लास्यपाठिनाम् ॥ 68.26 ॥

karoti gāyatāṁ vittaṁ nṛtyatāṁ ca prayacchati bandimāgadhasūtānāṁ viṭānāṁ lāsyapāṭhinām

He gives wealth to singers and to dancers as well, and likewise to bards, panegyrists, chariot-minstrels, libertines, and teachers of dance.

Verse 27 (markandeya.68.27)

ददात्यहर्निशं भोगान्भुङ्क्ते तैश्च समं द्विज । कुलटासु रतिश्चास्य भवत्यन्यैश्च तद्विधैः । प्रयाति सङ्गमेकं च यं निधिर्भजते नरम् ॥ 68.27 ॥

dadātyaharniśaṁ bhogānbhuṅkte taiśca samaṁ dvija kulaṭāsu ratiścāsya bhavatyanyaiśca tadvidhaiḥ prayāti saṅgamekaṁ ca yaṁ nidhirbhajate naram

O brahmana, he gives enjoyments day and night, and enjoys them together with those very people; his delight lies with unchaste women and others of that kind. This treasure attaches itself to one man alone, the one whom it favors.

Verse 28 (markandeya.68.28)

रजस्तमोमयश्चान्यो नन्दो नाम महानिधिः । उपैति स्तम्भमधिकं नरस्तेनावलोकितः ॥ 68.28 ॥

rajastamomayaścānyo nando nāma mahānidhiḥ upaiti stambhamadhikaṁ narastenāvalokitaḥ

The other great treasure, composed of rajas and tamas, is named Nanda; the man beheld by it attains great pride.

Verse 29 (markandeya.68.29)

समस्तधातुरत्नानां पुण्यधान्यादिकस्य च । परिग्रहं करोत्येष तथैव क्रयविक्रयम् ॥ 68.29 ॥

samastadhāturatnānāṁ puṇyadhānyādikasya ca parigrahaṁ karotyeṣa tathaiva krayavikrayam

He acquires all manner of metals, gems, and sacred grains and the like, and likewise he trades in them.

Verse 30 (markandeya.68.30)

आधारः स्वजनानां च आगताभ्यागतस्य च ॥ 68.30 ॥

ādhāraḥ svajanānāṁ ca āgatābhyāgatasya ca

He becomes a support for his own kinsmen, and for guests who arrive as well.

Verse 31 (markandeya.68.31)

सहते नापमानोक्तिं स्वल्पमपि महामुने । स्तूयमानश्च महतीं प्रीतिं बध्नाति यच्छति ॥ 68.31 ॥

sahate nāpamānoktiṁ svalpamapi mahāmune stūyamānaśca mahatīṁ prītiṁ badhnāti yacchati

O great sage, he cannot bear even the slightest word of insult; and when praised, he conceives great affection and gives freely.

Verse 32 (markandeya.68.32)

यं यमिच्छति वै कामं मृदुत्वमुपयाति च । बह्व्यो भार्या भवन्त्यस्य सूतिमत्योऽतिशोभनाः ॥ 68.32 ॥

yaṁ yamicchati vai kāmaṁ mṛdutvamupayāti ca bahvyo bhāryā bhavantyasya sūtimatyo’tiśobhanāḥ

Whatever desire he wishes for comes to him, and he grows gentle in nature; he has many wives, exceedingly beautiful and blessed with children.

Verse 33 (markandeya.68.33)

भजते सप्त च नरान्निधिर्नन्दोऽनुवर्तते । प्रवर्द्धमानोऽथ नरमष्टभागेन सत्तम ॥ 68.33 ॥

bhajate sapta ca narānnidhirnando’nuvartate pravarddhamāno’tha naramaṣṭabhāgena sattama

O worthy one, this treasure Nanda favors and follows seven generations of men, and, ever increasing, departs from a man only in an eighth part.

Verse 34 (markandeya.68.34)

दीर्घायुष्ट्वं च सर्वेषां पुरुषाणां प्रयच्छति । बन्धूनामेव भरणं ये च दूरादुपागताः ॥ 68.34 ॥

dīrghāyuṣṭvaṁ ca sarveṣāṁ puruṣāṇāṁ prayacchati bandhūnāmeva bharaṇaṁ ye ca dūrādupāgatāḥ

It bestows long life upon all these men, and provides for kinsmen too, even those who have come from afar.

Verse 35 (markandeya.68.35)

तेषां करोति वै नन्दः परलोके न चादृतः । भवत्यस्य न च स्नेहः सहवासिषु जायते ॥ 68.35 ॥

teṣāṁ karoti vai nandaḥ paraloke na cādṛtaḥ bhavatyasya na ca snehaḥ sahavāsiṣu jāyate

Nanda does this for them, yet he is not honored in the world beyond; nor does affection arise in him for those who dwell with him.

Verse 36 (markandeya.68.36)

पूर्वमित्रेषु शैथिल्यं प्रीतिमन्यैः करोति च । तथैव सत्त्वरजसी यो बिभर्ति महानिधिः ॥ 68.36 ॥

pūrvamitreṣu śaithilyaṁ prītimanyaiḥ karoti ca tathaiva sattvarajasī yo bibharti mahānidhiḥ

Toward old friends his affection grows slack, and he forms attachments with others instead; and likewise there is a great treasure that carries both sattva and rajas...

Verse 37 (markandeya.68.37)

स नीलसंज्ञस्तत्सङ्गी नरस्तच्छीलवान्भवेत् । वस्त्रकार्पासधान्यादिफलपुष्पपरिग्रहम् ॥ 68.37 ॥

sa nīlasaṁjñastatsaṅgī narastacchīlavānbhavet vastrakārpāsadhānyādiphalapuṣpaparigraham

...it is known by the name Nila; the man in its company takes on its very character, and acquires cloth, cotton, grain, fruit, and flowers.

Verse 38 (markandeya.68.38)

मुक्ताविद्रुमशङ्खानां शुक्त्यादीनां तथा मुने । काष्ठादीनां करोत्येष यच्चान्यज्जलसम्भवम् ॥ 68.38 ॥

muktāvidrumaśaṅkhānāṁ śuktyādīnāṁ tathā mune kāṣṭhādīnāṁ karotyeṣa yaccānyajjalasambhavam

O sage, he gathers pearls, coral, conches, oyster-shells and the like, and timber, and other things born of the waters.

Verse 39 (markandeya.68.39)

क्रयविक्रयमन्येषां नान्यत्र रमते मनः । तडागान्पुष्करिण्योऽथ तथारामान्करोति च ॥ 68.39 ॥

krayavikrayamanyeṣāṁ nānyatra ramate manaḥ taḍāgānpuṣkariṇyo’tha tathārāmānkaroti ca

He trades in these alone; his mind delights in nothing else. He also constructs lakes, lotus-pools, and gardens.

Verse 40 (markandeya.68.40)

बन्धं च सरितां वृक्षांस्तथारोपयते नरः । अनुलेपनपुष्पादिभोगभुग्वाभिजायते ॥ 68.40 ॥

bandhaṁ ca saritāṁ vṛkṣāṁstathāropayate naraḥ anulepanapuṣpādibhogabhugvābhijāyate

He builds dams across rivers and plants trees; he becomes one who enjoys unguents, flowers, and such pleasures.

Verse 41 (markandeya.68.41)

त्रिपौरुषश्चापि निधिर्नीलो नामैष जायते । रजस्तमोमयश्चान्यः शङ्खसंज्ञो हि यो निधिः ॥ 68.41 ॥

tripauruṣaścāpi nidhirnīlo nāmaiṣa jāyate rajastamomayaścānyaḥ śaṅkhasaṁjño hi yo nidhiḥ

This treasure named Nila remains for three generations of men. The other, composed of rajas and tamas, is the treasure known as Shankha.

Verse 42 (markandeya.68.42)

तेनापि नीयते विप्र तद्गुणित्वं निधीश्वरः । एकस्यैव भवत्येष नरं नान्यमुपैति च ॥ 68.42 ॥

tenāpi nīyate vipra tadguṇitvaṁ nidhīśvaraḥ ekasyaiva bhavatyeṣa naraṁ nānyamupaiti ca

O brahmana, by it too the lord of that treasure takes on its very quality; this too belongs to a single man alone, and passes to no other.

Verse 43 (markandeya.68.43)

यस्य शङ्खो निधिस्तस्य स्वरूपं क्रौष्टुके शृणु । एक एवात्मना सृष्टमन्नं भुङ्क्ते तथाम्बरम् ॥ 68.43 ॥

yasya śaṅkho nidhistasya svarūpaṁ krauṣṭuke śṛṇu eka evātmanā sṛṣṭamannaṁ bhuṅkte tathāmbaram

O Kraushtuki, hear the nature of the man who possesses the treasure Shankha: he alone eats the food made for himself, and likewise wears his own clothing.

Verse 44 (markandeya.68.44)

कदन्नभुक्परिजनो न च शोभनवस्त्रधृक् । न ददाति सुहृद्भार्याभ्रातृपुत्रस्नुषादिषु ॥ 68.44 ॥

kadannabhukparijano na ca śobhanavastradhṛk na dadāti suhṛdbhāryābhrātṛputrasnuṣādiṣu

His household eats poor food, and he himself does not wear fine clothing; he gives nothing to his friends, wife, brothers, sons, daughters-in-law, and the rest.

Verse 45 (markandeya.68.45)

स्वपोषणपरः शङ्खी नरो भवति सर्वदा । इत्येते निधयः ख्याता नराणामर्थदेवताः ॥ 68.45 ॥

svapoṣaṇaparaḥ śaṅkhī naro bhavati sarvadā ityete nidhayaḥ khyātā narāṇāmarthadevatāḥ

The man possessed of Shankha is ever intent only upon nourishing himself. Thus these treasures are renowned as the presiding deities of wealth for men.

Verse 46 (markandeya.68.46)

मिश्रावलोकनान्मिश्राः स्वभावफलदायिनः । यथाख्यातस्वभावस्तु भवत्येव विलोकनात् । सर्वेषामाधिपत्ये च श्रीरेषां द्विजपद्मिनी ॥ 68.46 ॥

miśrāvalokanānmiśrāḥ svabhāvaphaladāyinaḥ yathākhyātasvabhāvastu bhavatyeva vilokanāt sarveṣāmādhipatye ca śrīreṣāṁ dvijapadminī

When beheld in mixture, they yield mixed results, each bestowing fruit according to its own nature; the nature so described manifests by the mere fact of their beholding a man. O brahmana, over all of them Shri, in the form of the wisdom Padmini, holds sovereignty.