King Uttama, Queen Bahula, and the Brahmana's Lost Wife

Verse 1 (markandeya.69.1)

क्रौष्टुकिरुवाच विस्तरात्कथितं ब्रह्मन्मम स्वारोचिषं त्वया । मन्वन्तरं तथैवाष्टौ ये पृष्टा निधयो मया ॥ 69.1 ॥

krauṣṭukiruvāca vistarātkathitaṁ brahmanmama svārociṣaṁ tvayā manvantaraṁ tathaivāṣṭau ye pṛṣṭā nidhayo mayā

Kraushtuki said: O brahmin, you have told me in full of the Svarochisha Manvantara, and likewise of the eight treasures I asked about.

Verse 2 (markandeya.69.2)

स्वायम्भुवं पूर्वमेव मन्वन्तरमुदाहृतम् । मन्वन्तरं तृतीयं मे कथयौत्तमसंज्ञितम् ॥ 69.2 ॥

svāyambhuvaṁ pūrvameva manvantaramudāhṛtam manvantaraṁ tṛtīyaṁ me kathayauttamasaṁjñitam

The Svayambhuva Manvantara has already been related earlier; now tell me of the third Manvantara, known by the name Auttama.

Verse 3 (markandeya.69.3)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच उत्तानपादपुत्रोऽभूदुत्तमो नाम नामतः । सुरुच्यास्तनयः ख्यातो महाबलपराक्रमः ॥ 69.3 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca uttānapādaputro’bhūduttamo nāma nāmataḥ surucyāstanayaḥ khyāto mahābalaparākramaḥ

Markandeya said: A son was born to Uttanapada named Uttama — famed as the son of Suruchi, and endowed with great strength and valor.

Verse 4 (markandeya.69.4)

धर्मात्मा च महात्मा च पराक्रमधनो नृपः । अतीत्य सर्वभूतानि बभौ भानुपराक्रमः ॥ 69.4 ॥

dharmātmā ca mahātmā ca parākramadhano nṛpaḥ atītya sarvabhūtāni babhau bhānuparākramaḥ

That king was righteous of soul and great of spirit, whose wealth was valor itself; surpassing all beings, he shone with a splendor like the sun's own power.

Verse 5 (markandeya.69.5)

समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च परे पुत्रे च धर्मवित् । दुष्टे च यमवत्साधौ सोमवच्च महामुने ॥ 69.5 ॥

samaḥ śatrau ca mitre ca pare putre ca dharmavit duṣṭe ca yamavatsādhau somavacca mahāmune

O great sage, that knower of dharma was even-minded toward foe and friend, toward the stranger and toward his own son alike; toward the wicked he was like Yama, and toward the virtuous like the moon.

Verse 6 (markandeya.69.6)

बाभ्रव्यां बहुलां नाम उपयेमे स धर्मवित् । उत्तानपादतनयः शचीमिन्द्र इवोत्तमः ॥ 69.6 ॥

bābhravyāṁ bahulāṁ nāma upayeme sa dharmavit uttānapādatanayaḥ śacīmindra ivottamaḥ

That righteous son of Uttanapada, Uttama, took to wife Bahula of the Babhravya line, as Indra took Shachi.

Verse 7 (markandeya.69.7)

तस्यामतीव तस्यासीद्द्विजवर्य मनः सदा । स्नेहवच्छशिनो यद्वद्रोहिण्यां निहितास्पदम् ॥ 69.7 ॥

tasyāmatīva tasyāsīddvijavarya manaḥ sadā snehavacchaśino yadvadrohiṇyāṁ nihitāspadam

O best of brahmanas, his mind was ever deeply devoted to her alone, just as the moon's affectionate heart finds its abode only in Rohini.

Verse 8 (markandeya.69.8)

अन्यप्रयोजनासक्तिमुपैति न हि तन्मनः । स्वप्ने चैव तदालम्बि मनोऽभूत्तस्य भूभृतः ॥ 69.8 ॥

anyaprayojanāsaktimupaiti na hi tanmanaḥ svapne caiva tadālambi mano’bhūttasya bhūbhṛtaḥ

His mind never inclined toward attachment to any other purpose; even in his dreams, that king's mind rested upon her alone.

Verse 9 (markandeya.69.9)

स च तस्याः सुचार्वङ्ग्या दर्शनादेव पार्थिवः । ददाह लोचनैर्गात्रे गात्रस्पर्शश्च तन्मयः ॥ 69.9 ॥

sa ca tasyāḥ sucārvaṅgyā darśanādeva pārthivaḥ dadāha locanairgātre gātrasparśaśca tanmayaḥ

And that king, at the mere sight of her lovely form, seemed to scorch her limbs with his glances, and in the touch of her body he was wholly absorbed.

Verse 10 (markandeya.69.10)

श्रोत्रोद्वेगकरं वाक्यं प्रियमप्यवनीपतेः । तस्यापि भूरि सन्मानं मेने परिभवं ततः ॥ 69.10 ॥

śrotrodvegakaraṁ vākyaṁ priyamapyavanīpateḥ tasyāpi bhūri sanmānaṁ mene paribhavaṁ tataḥ

Even the king's kindest word, if it grated upon her ear, she took not as an honor but as an affront, however great the regard behind it.

Verse 11 (markandeya.69.11)

अवमेने स्रजं दत्तां शुभान्याभरणानि च । उत्तस्थावर्धपीतेव पिबतोऽस्य वरासवम् ॥ 69.11 ॥

avamene srajaṁ dattāṁ śubhānyābharaṇāni ca uttasthāvardhapīteva pibato’sya varāsavam

She scorned even the garland he gave her, and the auspicious ornaments as well; and as he drank the choicest wine, she rose up as though half-drunk herself, in disdain.

Verse 12 (markandeya.69.12)

भुञ्जता च नरेन्द्रेण क्षणमात्रं करे धृता । बुभुजे स्वल्पकं भक्ष्यं द्विज नातिमुदावती ॥ 69.12 ॥

bhuñjatā ca narendreṇa kṣaṇamātraṁ kare dhṛtā bubhuje svalpakaṁ bhakṣyaṁ dvija nātimudāvatī

O brahmana, when the king was eating and placed some food in her hand for but a moment, she ate only a little of it, and that without any real gladness.

Verse 13 (markandeya.69.13)

एवं तस्यानुकूलस्य नानुकूला महात्मनः । प्रभूततरमत्यर्थं चक्रे रागं महीपतिः ॥ 69.13 ॥

evaṁ tasyānukūlasya nānukūlā mahātmanaḥ prabhūtataramatyarthaṁ cakre rāgaṁ mahīpatiḥ

Thus, though that great-souled king was ever devoted to her, she remained unresponsive to him; yet all the more did the king's passion for her increase.

Verse 14 (markandeya.69.14)

अथ पानगतो भूपः कदाचित्तां मनस्विनीम् । सुराभृतं पानपात्रं ग्राहयामास सादरः ॥ 69.14 ॥

atha pānagato bhūpaḥ kadācittāṁ manasvinīm surābhṛtaṁ pānapātraṁ grāhayāmāsa sādaraḥ

Then once, while at his wine, the king respectfully had that proud lady offered a cup filled with wine.

Verse 15 (markandeya.69.15)

पश्यतां भूमिपालानां वारमुख्या समन्वितः । प्रगीयमानो मधुरैर्गेयगायनतत्परैः ॥ 69.15 ॥

paśyatāṁ bhūmipālānāṁ vāramukhyā samanvitaḥ pragīyamāno madhurairgeyagāyanatatparaiḥ

This he did in the sight of the assembled kings, surrounded by the foremost courtesans, while sweet singers skilled in song sang all around him.

Verse 16 (markandeya.69.16)

सा तु नेच्छति तत्पात्रमादातुं तत्पराङ्मुखी । समक्षमवनीशानां ततः क्रुद्धः स पार्थिवः ॥ 69.16 ॥

sā tu necchati tatpātramādātuṁ tatparāṅmukhī samakṣamavanīśānāṁ tataḥ kruddhaḥ sa pārthivaḥ

But she was unwilling to take that cup, and turned her face away; then, right before all the assembled kings, the king grew enraged.

Verse 17 (markandeya.69.17)

उवाच द्वाःस्थमाहूय निश्वसन्नुरगो यथा । निराकृतस्तया देव्या प्रियया पतिरप्रियः ॥ 69.17 ॥

uvāca dvāḥsthamāhūya niśvasannurago yathā nirākṛtastayā devyā priyayā patirapriyaḥ

Hissing like a serpent, he summoned the doorkeeper and said: 'That lady has spurned her own beloved husband and made him unloved.'

Verse 18 (markandeya.69.18)

द्वास्थैनां दुष्टहृदयामादाय विजने वने । परित्यज्याशु नैतत्ते विचार्यं वचनं मम ॥ 69.18 ॥

dvāsthaināṁ duṣṭahṛdayāmādāya vijane vane parityajyāśu naitatte vicāryaṁ vacanaṁ mama

'O doorkeeper, take this evil-hearted woman to a lonely forest and abandon her there at once; there is no need for you to deliberate over this command of mine.'

Verse 19 (markandeya.69.19)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततो नृपस्य वचनमविचार्यमवेक्ष्य सः । द्वाःस्थस्तत्याज तां सुभ्रूमारोप्य स्यन्दने वने ॥ 69.19 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tato nṛpasya vacanamavicāryamavekṣya saḥ dvāḥsthastatyāja tāṁ subhrūmāropya syandane vane

Markandeya said: Then, beholding the king's word as beyond question, the doorkeeper set that fair-browed woman upon a chariot and abandoned her in the forest.

Verse 20 (markandeya.69.20)

सा च तं विपिने त्यागं नीता तेन महीभृता । अपश्यमाना तं मेने परं कृतमनुग्रहम् ॥ 69.20 ॥

sā ca taṁ vipine tyāgaṁ nītā tena mahībhṛtā apaśyamānā taṁ mene paraṁ kṛtamanugraham

And she, though brought by that king to be abandoned in the forest, even without seeing him, considered this itself to be a supreme act of grace on his part.

Verse 21 (markandeya.69.21)

सोऽपि तत्रानुरागार्तिदह्यमानात्ममानसः । औत्तानपादिर्भूपालो नान्यां भार्यामविन्दत ॥ 69.21 ॥

so’pi tatrānurāgārtidahyamānātmamānasaḥ auttānapādirbhūpālo nānyāṁ bhāryāmavindata

That king, son of Uttanapada, his own mind burning with the pain of love, took no other wife thereafter.

Verse 22 (markandeya.69.22)

सस्मार तां सुचार्वङ्गीमहर्निशमनिर्वृतः । चकार च निजं राज्यं प्रजाधर्मेण पालयन् ॥ 69.22 ॥

sasmāra tāṁ sucārvaṅgīmaharniśamanirvṛtaḥ cakāra ca nijaṁ rājyaṁ prajādharmeṇa pālayan

Unhappy, he remembered that lovely woman day and night, and continued to govern his own kingdom according to the duty owed to his subjects.

Verse 23 (markandeya.69.23)

प्रजाः पालयतस्तस्य पितुः पुत्रानिवौरसान् । आगत्य ब्राह्मणः कश्चिदिदमाहार्त्तमानसः ॥ 69.23 ॥

prajāḥ pālayatastasya pituḥ putrānivaurasān āgatya brāhmaṇaḥ kaścididamāhārttamānasaḥ

While he thus protected his subjects as a father protects his own true-born sons, a certain brahmana came to him, his mind distressed, and spoke thus.

Verse 24 (markandeya.69.24)

ब्राह्मण उवाच महाराज भृशार्त्तोऽस्मि श्रूयतां गदतो मम । नृणामार्तिपरित्राणमन्यतो न नराधिपात् ॥ 69.24 ॥

brāhmaṇa uvāca mahārāja bhṛśārtto’smi śrūyatāṁ gadato mama nṛṇāmārtiparitrāṇamanyato na narādhipāt

The brahmana said: O great king, I am sorely afflicted — hear what I have to say. The deliverance of men from distress comes from none but the king.

Verse 25 (markandeya.69.25)

मम भार्या प्रसुप्तस्य केनाप्यपहृता निशि । गृहद्वारमनुद्धाट्य तां समानेतुमर्हसि ॥ 69.25 ॥

mama bhāryā prasuptasya kenāpyapahṛtā niśi gṛhadvāramanuddhāṭya tāṁ samānetumarhasi

As I slept, in the night, someone carried off my wife — without so much as opening the door of my house. You should bring her back to me.

Verse 26 (markandeya.69.26)

राजोवाच न वेत्सि केनापहृता क्व वा नीता तु सा द्विज । यतामि विग्रहे कस्य कुतो वाप्यानयामि ताम् ॥ 69.26 ॥

rājovāca na vetsi kenāpahṛtā kva vā nītā tu sā dvija yatāmi vigrahe kasya kuto vāpyānayāmi tām

The king said: O brahmana, you do not even know who abducted her, or where she was taken — against whom shall I contend, or from where shall I recover her?

Verse 27 (markandeya.69.27)

ब्राह्मण उवाच तथैव स्थगिते द्वारि प्रसुप्तस्य गृहे मम । हृता हि भार्या किं केनेत्येतद्विज्ञायते भवान् ॥ 69.27 ॥

brāhmaṇa uvāca tathaiva sthagite dvāri prasuptasya gṛhe mama hṛtā hi bhāryā kiṁ kenetyetadvijñāyate bhavān

The brahmana said: My door was shut fast and I lay asleep, and yet my wife was carried off — who did it, and how, that is for you alone to discover.

Verse 28 (markandeya.69.28)

त्वं रक्षिता नो नृपते षड्भागादानवेतनः । धर्मस्य तेऽतो निश्चिन्ताः स्वपन्ति मनुजा निशि ॥ 69.28 ॥

tvaṁ rakṣitā no nṛpate ṣaḍbhāgādānavetanaḥ dharmasya te’to niścintāḥ svapanti manujā niśi

O king, you are our protector, receiving the sixth part of our produce as your wage; it is because of that very duty that men sleep at night without fear.

Verse 29 (markandeya.69.29)

राजोवाच न ते दृष्टा मया भार्या यादृग्रूपा च देहतः । वयश्चैव समाख्याहि किंशीला ब्राह्मणी च ते ॥ 69.29 ॥

rājovāca na te dṛṣṭā mayā bhāryā yādṛgrūpā ca dehataḥ vayaścaiva samākhyāhi kiṁśīlā brāhmaṇī ca te

The king said: I have never seen your wife — tell me what her bodily form is like, her age, and, O brahmana, what the character of your wife is.

Verse 30 (markandeya.69.30)

ब्राह्मण उवाच कठोरनेत्रा सात्युच्चा ह्रस्वबाहुः कृशानना । लम्बोदरीं हस्वस्फिजं तथा ह्रस्वस्तनीं नृप । विरूपरूपा भूपाल न निन्दामि तथैव ताम् ॥ 69.30 ॥

brāhmaṇa uvāca kaṭhoranetrā sātyuccā hrasvabāhuḥ kṛśānanā lambodarīṁ hasvasphijaṁ tathā hrasvastanīṁ nṛpa virūparūpā bhūpāla na nindāmi tathaiva tām

The brahmana said: She has hard eyes, is very tall, has short arms and a thin face — O king, her belly hangs low, her hips are small, and her breasts small as well. O king, she is ill-formed, yet even so I do not disparage her.

Verse 31 (markandeya.69.31)

वाचि भूपातिपरुषा न सौम्या सा च शीलतः । इत्याख्याता मया भार्या सा करालनिरीक्षणा ॥ 69.31 ॥

vāci bhūpātiparuṣā na saumyā sā ca śīlataḥ ityākhyātā mayā bhāryā sā karālanirīkṣaṇā

O king, she is likewise very harsh in speech, and by nature not gentle at all — thus have I described my wife, whose very gaze is fearsome.

Verse 32 (markandeya.69.32)

मनागतीतं भूपाल तस्याश्च प्रथमं वयः । तादृग्रूपा हि मे भार्या सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम् ॥ 69.32 ॥

manāgatītaṁ bhūpāla tasyāśca prathamaṁ vayaḥ tādṛgrūpā hi me bhāryā satyametanmayoditam

O king, her first youth has only just now passed. Such indeed is the form of my wife — what I have told you is the plain truth.

Verse 33 (markandeya.69.33)

राजोवाच अलं ते ब्राह्मण तया भार्यामन्यां ददामि ते । सुखाय भार्या कल्याणी दुःखहेतुर्हि तादृशी ॥ 69.33 ॥

rājovāca alaṁ te brāhmaṇa tayā bhāryāmanyāṁ dadāmi te sukhāya bhāryā kalyāṇī duḥkhaheturhi tādṛśī

The king said: Enough of her, O brahmana — I shall give you another wife instead. A wife brings happiness only when she is comely; one such as this is but a cause of misery.

Verse 34 (markandeya.69.34)

अल्पा कुरूपता विप्र कारणं शीलमुत्तमम् । रूपशीलविहीना या त्याज्या तेऽन्येन सा हृता ॥ 69.34 ॥

alpā kurūpatā vipra kāraṇaṁ śīlamuttamam rūpaśīlavihīnā yā tyājyā te’nyena sā hṛtā

O brahmana, ill-looks are a small matter — good character is what truly counts; one lacking both beauty and character deserves to be given up in any case — that another has taken her away is no great loss.

Verse 35 (markandeya.69.35)

ब्राह्मण उवाच रक्ष्या भार्या महीपाल इति च श्रुतिरुत्तमा । भार्यायां रक्ष्यमाणायां प्रजा भवति रक्षिता ॥ 69.35 ॥

brāhmaṇa uvāca rakṣyā bhāryā mahīpāla iti ca śrutiruttamā bhāryāyāṁ rakṣyamāṇāyāṁ prajā bhavati rakṣitā

The brahmana said: 'A wife must be protected' — O king, this is the very word of the excellent scripture. When the wife is protected, offspring too are protected.

Verse 36 (markandeya.69.36)

आत्मा हि जायते तस्य सा रक्ष्यातो नरेश्वर । प्रजायां रक्ष्यमाणायामात्मा भवति रक्षितः ॥ 69.36 ॥

ātmā hi jāyate tasya sā rakṣyāto nareśvara prajāyāṁ rakṣyamāṇāyāmātmā bhavati rakṣitaḥ

O lord of men, it is from her that his own self is born again as offspring, and therefore she must be protected; and when that offspring is protected, one's own self is thereby protected.

Verse 37 (markandeya.69.37)

तस्यामरक्ष्यमाणायां भविता वर्णसङ्करः । स पातयेन्महीपाल पूर्वान्स्वर्गादधः पितॄन् ॥ 69.37 ॥

tasyāmarakṣyamāṇāyāṁ bhavitā varṇasaṅkaraḥ sa pātayenmahīpāla pūrvānsvargādadhaḥ pitṝn

If she is left unprotected, the mixing of castes will result; and, O king, this would cast down even one’s forefathers from heaven.

Verse 38 (markandeya.69.38)

अनुज्ञाय गुरुं राजन्दत्त्वान्यां जातवेदसे ॥ 69.38 ॥

anujñāya guruṁ rājandattvānyāṁ jātavedase

O king, even were another wife given to me before the sacred fire, with the sanction of my teacher —

Verse 39 (markandeya.69.39)

समिधं तु मया भार्या वृतेयं कर्कशा यतः । कथमेतां विहायान्यभार्यया सह सञ्चरे ॥ 69.39 ॥

samidhaṁ tu mayā bhāryā vṛteyaṁ karkaśā yataḥ kathametāṁ vihāyānyabhāryayā saha sañcare

...still, since I chose this harsh-natured wife as one chooses the sacrificial kindling itself, how could I abandon her and go about with another?

Verse 40 (markandeya.69.40)

गृह्यधर्मो यतो ब्रह्म प्राप्यते शाश्वतं नरैः । पूर्वोढया तु धर्मेण गृही कुर्वन्न सीदति ॥ 69.40 ॥

gṛhyadharmo yato brahma prāpyate śāśvataṁ naraiḥ pūrvoḍhayā tu dharmeṇa gṛhī kurvanna sīdati

For it is through the duty of the householder that men attain the eternal Brahman; and the householder who acts with dharma alongside the wife first wedded never comes to grief.

Verse 41 (markandeya.69.41)

त्यक्त्वा तां च क्रियां कुर्वन्नैव कर्मफलं लभेत् । अग्निना सह या नूनं सा जगाम गृहं शुभा ॥ 69.41 ॥

tyaktvā tāṁ ca kriyāṁ kurvannaiva karmaphalaṁ labhet agninā saha yā nūnaṁ sā jagāma gṛhaṁ śubhā

One who performs the rites having abandoned her never obtains their fruit at all; she who came into my house together with the sacred fire is indeed the auspicious one.

Verse 42 (markandeya.69.42)

धर्मस्य ग्रहणे सा तु पूर्वोढैव प्रशस्यते । शठायाचारणात्तस्या जायते वर्णसङ्करः ॥ 69.42 ॥

dharmasya grahaṇe sā tu pūrvoḍhaiva praśasyate śaṭhāyācāraṇāttasyā jāyate varṇasaṅkaraḥ

In the observance of dharma, it is the first-wedded wife alone who is praised; through wrongful conduct toward her, the mixing of castes arises.

Verse 43 (markandeya.69.43)

धर्महानिश्चानुदिनमभार्यस्य भवेन्मम । नित्यक्रियाणां विभ्रंशात्स चापि पतनाय मे ॥ 69.43 ॥

dharmahāniścānudinamabhāryasya bhavenmama nityakriyāṇāṁ vibhraṁśātsa cāpi patanāya me

Being without a wife, I would suffer a daily loss of dharma; and through the failure of my daily rites, that too would lead to my own downfall.

Verse 44 (markandeya.69.44)

तस्यां च पृथिवीपाल भवित्री मम सन्ततिः । तव षड्भागदात्री सा भवित्री धर्महेतुकी ॥ 69.44 ॥

tasyāṁ ca pṛthivīpāla bhavitrī mama santatiḥ tava ṣaḍbhāgadātrī sā bhavitrī dharmahetukī

O protector of the earth, it is through her that my offspring is to come, and she too shall become, for the sake of dharma, the one who renders your sixth share.

Verse 45 (markandeya.69.45)

तदेतत्ते मया ख्याता पत्नी या मे हृता प्रभो । तां समानय रक्षायां भवानधिकृतो यतः ॥ 69.45 ॥

tadetatte mayā khyātā patnī yā me hṛtā prabho tāṁ samānaya rakṣāyāṁ bhavānadhikṛto yataḥ

O lord, thus have I described to you my wife who was taken from me; bring her back, for it is you who are charged with the duty of protection.

Verse 46 (markandeya.69.46)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच स तस्यैवं वचः श्रुत्वा विमृश्य च नरेश्वरः । सर्वोपकरणैर्युक्तमारुरोह महारथम् ॥ 69.46 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca sa tasyaivaṁ vacaḥ śrutvā vimṛśya ca nareśvaraḥ sarvopakaraṇairyuktamāruroha mahāratham

Markandeya said: Having heard these words of his and reflected upon them, that lord of men mounted a great chariot equipped with every requisite.

Verse 47 (markandeya.69.47)

इतश्चेतश्च तेनासौ परिबभ्राम मेदिनीम् । ददर्श च महारण्ये तापसाश्रममुत्तमम् ॥ 69.47 ॥

itaścetaśca tenāsau paribabhrāma medinīm dadarśa ca mahāraṇye tāpasāśramamuttamam

Upon it he wandered the earth here and there, and in a vast forest he beheld an excellent hermitage of ascetics.

Verse 48 (markandeya.69.48)

अवतीर्य च तत्रासौ प्रविश्य ददृशे मुनिम् । कौश्यां बृष्यां समासीनं ज्वलन्तमिव तेजसा ॥ 69.48 ॥

avatīrya ca tatrāsau praviśya dadṛśe munim kauśyāṁ bṛṣyāṁ samāsīnaṁ jvalantamiva tejasā

Alighting there and entering, he beheld a sage seated upon a mat of kusha grass, blazing as if with his own radiance.

Verse 49 (markandeya.69.49)

स दृष्ट्वा नृपतिं प्राप्य समुत्थाय त्वरान्वितः । सम्मान्य स्वागतेनैव शिष्यमाहार्घ्यमानय ॥ 69.49 ॥

sa dṛṣṭvā nṛpatiṁ prāpya samutthāya tvarānvitaḥ sammānya svāgatenaiva śiṣyamāhārghyamānaya

Seeing the king had arrived, the sage rose up hastily, honored him with words of welcome, and said to his disciple, 'Bring the guest-offering.'

Verse 50 (markandeya.69.50)

तमाह शिष्यः शनकैर्दातव्योऽर्घ्योऽस्य किं मुने । तदाज्ञापय सञ्चिन्त्य तवाज्ञां हि करोम्यहम् ॥ 69.50 ॥

tamāha śiṣyaḥ śanakairdātavyo’rghyo’sya kiṁ mune tadājñāpaya sañcintya tavājñāṁ hi karomyaham

The disciple said to him quietly: 'O sage, should the guest-offering indeed be given to him? Consider and instruct me — I shall do only as you command.'

Verse 51 (markandeya.69.51)

ततोऽवगतवृत्तान्तो भूपतेस्तस्य स द्विजः । सम्भाषासनदानेन चक्रे सम्मानमात्मवान् ॥ 69.51 ॥

tato’vagatavṛttānto bhūpatestasya sa dvijaḥ sambhāṣāsanadānena cakre sammānamātmavān

Then, having learned the account of that king, the self-possessed brahmana honored him only with conversation and the offer of a seat.

Verse 52 (markandeya.69.52)

ऋषिरुवाच किं निमित्तमिहायातो भवान्किं ते चिकिर्षितम् । उत्तानपादतनयं वेद्मि त्वामुत्तमं नृप ॥ 69.52 ॥

ṛṣiruvāca kiṁ nimittamihāyāto bhavānkiṁ te cikirṣitam uttānapādatanayaṁ vedmi tvāmuttamaṁ nṛpa

The sage said: For what reason have you come here, and what is it you wish to do? O king, I recognize you as Uttama, the son of Uttanapada.

Verse 53 (markandeya.69.53)

राजोवाच ब्राह्मणस्य गृहाद्भार्या केनाप्यपहृता मुने । अविज्ञातस्यरूपेण तामन्वेष्टुमिहागतः । पृच्छामि यत्ते तन्मे त्वं प्रणतस्यानुकम्पया । अभ्यागतस्याथ गृहं भगवन्वक्तुमर्हसि ॥ 69.53 ॥

rājovāca brāhmaṇasya gṛhādbhāryā kenāpyapahṛtā mune avijñātasyarūpeṇa tāmanveṣṭumihāgataḥ pṛcchāmi yatte tanme tvaṁ praṇatasyānukampayā abhyāgatasyātha gṛhaṁ bhagavanvaktumarhasi

The king said: O sage, a brahmana’s wife has been carried off from his house by someone of unknown form; it is in search of her that I have come here. Out of compassion for one who bows before you, answer what I ask; O lord, for this guest who has come to you, you should tell also of that house.

Verse 54 (markandeya.69.54)

ऋषिरुवाच पृच्छ मामवनीपाल यत्प्रष्टव्यमशङ्कितः । वक्तव्यं चेत्तव मया कथयिष्यामि तत्त्वतः ॥ 69.54 ॥

ṛṣiruvāca pṛccha māmavanīpāla yatpraṣṭavyamaśaṅkitaḥ vaktavyaṁ cettava mayā kathayiṣyāmi tattvataḥ

The sage said: O king, ask me without hesitation whatever you wish to ask; whatever is fit to be told to you, that I shall tell you truly.

Verse 55 (markandeya.69.55)

राजोवाच गृहागताय यो मह्यं प्रथमे दर्शने मुने । त्वया समुद्यतो दातुं कथं सोऽर्घ्यो निवर्तितः ॥ 69.55 ॥

rājovāca gṛhāgatāya yo mahyaṁ prathame darśane mune tvayā samudyato dātuṁ kathaṁ so’rghyo nivartitaḥ

The king said: O sage, when I first arrived at your dwelling, why was the guest-offering that you had made ready to give me withdrawn?

Verse 56 (markandeya.69.56)

ऋषिरुवाच त्वद्दर्शनेन रभसादज्ञप्तोऽयं मया नृप । यदा तदाहमेतेन शिष्येण प्रतिबोधितः ॥ 69.56 ॥

ṛṣiruvāca tvaddarśanena rabhasādajñapto’yaṁ mayā nṛpa yadā tadāhametena śiṣyeṇa pratibodhitaḥ

The sage said: O king, at the sight of you, in my haste, I gave that order without reflection; and then it was that I was made aware by this disciple of mine.

Verse 57 (markandeya.69.57)

एष वेत्ति जगत्यत्र मत्प्रसादादनागतम् । यथाहं समतीतञ्च वर्तमानञ्च सर्वतः ॥ 69.57 ॥

eṣa vetti jagatyatra matprasādādanāgatam yathāhaṁ samatītañca vartamānañca sarvataḥ

By my grace, this disciple knows even what has not yet come to pass in this world, just as I myself know, in every respect, both the past and the present.

Verse 58 (markandeya.69.58)

आलोच्याज्ञापयेत्युक्ते ततो ज्ञातं मयापि तत् । ततो न दत्तवानर्घमहं तुभ्यं विधानतः ॥ 69.58 ॥

ālocyājñāpayetyukte tato jñātaṁ mayāpi tat tato na dattavānarghamahaṁ tubhyaṁ vidhānataḥ

When he said 'consider and then instruct me,' that matter became known to me as well; and so I did not give you the guest-offering according to the proper rite.

Verse 59 (markandeya.69.59)

सत्यं राजन् त्वमर्घार्हः कुले स्वायम्भुवस्य च । तथापि नार्घयोग्यं त्वां मन्यामो वयमुत्तमम् ॥ 69.59 ॥

satyaṁ rājan tvamarghārhaḥ kule svāyambhuvasya ca tathāpi nārghayogyaṁ tvāṁ manyāmo vayamuttamam

It is true, O king, that being born in the line of Svayambhuva, you are worthy of the guest-offering; and yet, O Uttama, we do not consider you fit to receive it.

Verse 60 (markandeya.69.60)

राजोवाच किं कृतं हि मया ब्रह्मन् ज्ञानादज्ञानतोऽपि वा । येन त्वत्तोर्ऽघमर्हामि नाहमभ्यागतश्चिरात् ॥ 69.60 ॥

rājovāca kiṁ kṛtaṁ hi mayā brahman jñānādajñānato’pi vā yena tvattor’ghamarhāmi nāhamabhyāgataścirāt

The king said: O brahmin, what have I done, knowingly or unknowingly, that I am unworthy of the guest-offering from you, though I have only just now arrived?

Verse 61 (markandeya.69.61)

ऋषिरुवाच किं विस्मृतन्ते यत्पत्नी त्वया त्यक्ता च कानने । परित्यक्तस्तया सार्धं त्वया धर्मो नृपाखिलः ॥ 69.61 ॥

ṛṣiruvāca kiṁ vismṛtante yatpatnī tvayā tyaktā ca kānane parityaktastayā sārdhaṁ tvayā dharmo nṛpākhilaḥ

The sage said: Have you forgotten that you abandoned your own wife in the forest? O king, together with her you abandoned your entire dharma as well.

Verse 62 (markandeya.69.62)

पक्षेण कर्मणो हान्या प्रयात्यस्पर्शतां नरः । विण्मूत्रैर्वार्षिकी यस्य हानिस्ते नित्यकर्मणः ॥ 69.62 ॥

pakṣeṇa karmaṇo hānyā prayātyasparśatāṁ naraḥ viṇmūtrairvārṣikī yasya hāniste nityakarmaṇaḥ

By the mere neglect of his rites for a fortnight a man comes to a state of untouchability, as though sullied by filth; and in your case, a full year's worth of daily rites has now been lost.

Verse 63 (markandeya.69.63)

पत्न्यानुकूलया भाव्यं यथाशीलेऽपि भर्तरि । दुः शीलापि तथा भार्या पोषणीया नरेश्वर ॥ 69.63 ॥

patnyānukūlayā bhāvyaṁ yathāśīle’pi bhartari duḥ śīlāpi tathā bhāryā poṣaṇīyā nareśvara

Whatever the husband’s nature, the wife ought to remain accommodating to it; and, O lord of men, in the same way even an ill-natured wife ought to be maintained by her husband.

Verse 64 (markandeya.69.64)

प्रतिकूला हि सा पत्नी तस्य विप्रस्य या हृता । तथापि धर्मकामोऽसौ त्वामुद्योतितवान् नृप ॥ 69.64 ॥

pratikūlā hi sā patnī tasya viprasya yā hṛtā tathāpi dharmakāmo’sau tvāmudyotitavān nṛpa

That brahmana's wife who was carried off was likewise unaccommodating by nature; yet even so, that brahmana, desiring dharma, has roused you to your duty, O king.

Verse 65 (markandeya.69.65)

चलतः स्थापयस्यन्यान् स्वधर्मेषु महीपते । त्वां स्वधर्माद्विचलितं कोऽपरः स्थापयिष्यति ॥ 69.65 ॥

calataḥ sthāpayasyanyān svadharmeṣu mahīpate tvāṁ svadharmādvicalitaṁ ko’paraḥ sthāpayiṣyati

O lord of the earth, you it is who set others, when they waver, firmly back upon their own duty — but who else is there to set you back upon your own duty, now that you yourself have strayed from it?

Verse 66 (markandeya.69.66)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच विलक्ष्यः स महीपाल इत्युक्तस्तेन धीमता । तथेत्युक्त्वा च पप्रच्छ हृतां पत्नीं द्विजन्मनः ॥ 69.66 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca vilakṣyaḥ sa mahīpāla ityuktastena dhīmatā tathetyuktvā ca papraccha hṛtāṁ patnīṁ dvijanmanaḥ

Markandeya said: Thus addressed by that wise sage, the king was made to feel ashamed; and saying, 'It is indeed so,' he then asked about the abducted wife of that brahmana.

Verse 67 (markandeya.69.67)

भगवन् केन नीता सा पत्नी विप्रस्य कुत्र वा । अतीतानागतं वेत्ति जगत्यवितथं भवान् ॥ 69.67 ॥

bhagavan kena nītā sā patnī viprasya kutra vā atītānāgataṁ vetti jagatyavitathaṁ bhavān

"O lord, who has taken away that brahmana’s wife, and to where? You alone in this world know, without error, both what is past and what is yet to come."

Verse 68 (markandeya.69.68)

ऋषिरुवाच तां जहाराद्रितनयो बलाको नाम राक्षसः । द्रक्ष्यसे चाद्य तां भूप उत्पलावतके वने ॥ 69.68 ॥

ṛṣiruvāca tāṁ jahārādritanayo balāko nāma rākṣasaḥ drakṣyase cādya tāṁ bhūpa utpalāvatake vane

The sage said: A Rakshasa named Balaka, son of the mountain, has carried her off; O king, this very day you shall see her in the Utpalavataka forest.

Verse 69 (markandeya.69.69)

गच्छ संयोजयाशु त्वं भार्यया हि द्विजात्तमम् । मा पापास्पदतां यातु त्वमिवासौ दिने दिने ॥ 69.69 ॥

gaccha saṁyojayāśu tvaṁ bhāryayā hi dvijāttamam mā pāpāspadatāṁ yātu tvamivāsau dine dine

Go now, and swiftly reunite that foremost of brahmanas with his wife; let him not, day after day, fall further into sin, even as you yourself have done.