The Birth of the Draupadeyas

Verse 1 (markandeya.7.1)

धर्मपक्षिण ऊचुः । हरिश्चन्द्रेति राजर्षिरासीत् त्रेतायुगे पुरा । धर्मात्मा पृथिवीपालः प्रोल्लसत्कीर्तिरुत्तमः ॥ 7.1 ॥

dharmapakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / hariścandreti rājarṣirāsīt tretāyuge purā / dharmātmā pṛthivīpālaḥ prollasatkīrtiruttamaḥ // 7.1 //

The Dharma-bird said: In ages past, in the Treta Yuga, there lived a royal sage named Harishchandra — righteous of soul, protector of the earth, his fame shining forth supreme.

Verse 2 (markandeya.7.2)

न दुर्भिक्षं न च व्याधिर्नाकालमरणं नृणाम् । नाधर्मरुचयः पौरास्तस्मिन् शासति पार्थिवे ॥ 7.2 ॥

na durbhikṣaṃ na ca vyādhirnākālamaraṇaṃ nṛṇām / nādharmarucayaḥ paurāstasmin śāsati pārthive // 7.2 //

While that king ruled, there was neither famine nor disease nor untimely death among men, nor were the citizens ever inclined toward unrighteousness.

Verse 3 (markandeya.7.3)

बभूवुर्न तथोन्मत्ता धन-वीर्य-तपोमदैः । नाजायन्त स्त्रियश्चैव काश्चिदप्राप्तयौवनाः ॥ 7.3 ॥

babhūvurna tathonmattā dhana-vīrya-tapomadaiḥ / nājāyanta striyaścaiva kāścidaprāptayauvanāḥ // 7.3 //

No one became intoxicated with the pride of wealth, strength, or austerity, nor did any woman become a widow before reaching the prime of youth.

Verse 4 (markandeya.7.4)

स कदाचिन्महाबाहुररण्येऽनुसरन् मृगम् । शुश्राव शब्दमसकृत् त्रायस्वेति च योषिताम् ॥ 7.4 ॥

sa kadācinmahābāhuraraṇye 'nusaran mṛgam / śuśrāva śabdamasakṛt trāyasveti ca yoṣitām // 7.4 //

Once, that mighty-armed king, while pursuing a deer in the forest, repeatedly heard the cries of women calling out, 'Save us!'

Verse 5 (markandeya.7.5)

स विहाय मृगं राजा मा भैषीरित्यभाषत । मयि शासति दुर्मेधाः कोऽयमन्यायवृत्तिमान् ॥ 7.5 ॥

sa vihāya mṛgaṃ rājā mā bhaiṣīrityabhāṣata / mayi śāsati durmedhāḥ ko 'yamanyāyavṛttimān // 7.5 //

Abandoning the deer, the king called out: 'Fear not! While I reign, what fool is this who behaves so unjustly?'

Verse 6 (markandeya.7.6)

तत्क्रन्दितानुसारी च सर्वारम्भविघातकृत् । एकस्मिन्नन्तरे रौद्रो विघ्नराट् समचिन्तयत् ॥ 7.6 ॥

tatkranditānusārī ca sarvārambhavighātakṛt / ekasminnantare raudro vighnarāṭ samacintayat // 7.6 //

Now that terrible lord of obstacles, Vighnaraja — who follows the sound of such cries and thwarts every undertaking — was, at that very moment, reflecting thus:

Verse 7 (markandeya.7.7)

विश्वामित्रोऽयमतुलं तप आस्थाय वीर्यवान् । प्रागसिद्धाभवादीनां विद्याः साध्यति व्रती ॥ 7.7 ॥

viśvāmitro 'yamatulaṃ tapa āsthāya vīryavān / prāgasiddhābhavādīnāṃ vidyāḥ sādhyati vratī // 7.7 //

'This powerful Vishvamitra, having undertaken incomparable austerity and keeping his vow, is on the verge of mastering sciences that were never before attained even by Bhava (Shiva) and others.'

Verse 8 (markandeya.7.8)

साध्यमानाः क्षमामौनचित्तसंयमिनामुना । ता वै भयार्ताः क्रन्दन्ति कथं कार्यमिदं मया ॥ 7.8 ॥

sādhyamānāḥ kṣamāmaunacittasaṃyamināmunā / tā vai bhayārtāḥ krandanti kathaṃ kāryamidaṃ mayā // 7.8 //

'These sciences, being subdued by him through forbearance, silence, and control of mind, are the very ones crying out in fear — how am I to accomplish my task?'

Verse 9 (markandeya.7.9)

तेजस्वी कौशिकश्वेष्ठो वयमस्य सुदुर्बलाः । क्रोशन्त्येतास्तथा भीता दुष्पारं प्रतिभाति मे ॥ 7.9 ॥

tejasvī kauśikaśveṣṭho vayamasya sudurbalāḥ / krośantyetāstathā bhītā duṣpāraṃ pratibhāti me // 7.9 //

'Kaushika is powerful and supreme; we are utterly weak before him. These frightened ones cry out so — this task seems insurmountable to me.'

Verse 10 (markandeya.7.10)

अथवायं नृपः प्राप्तो मा भैरिति वदन् मुहुः । इममेव प्रविश्याशु साधयिष्ये यथेप्सितम् ॥ 7.10 ॥

athavāyaṃ nṛpaḥ prāpto mā bhairiti vadan muhuḥ / imameva praviśyāśu sādhayiṣye yathepsitam // 7.10 //

'But here is this king who has arrived, calling out again and again, ‘fear not’ — I shall enter into him and thus swiftly accomplish my desire.'

Verse 11 (markandeya.7.11)

इति संचिन्त्य रौद्रेण विघ्नराजेन वै ततः । तेनाविष्टो नृपः कोपादिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 7.11 ॥

iti saṃcintya raudreṇa vighnarājena vai tataḥ / tenāviṣṭo nṛpaḥ kopādidaṃ vacanamabravīt // 7.11 //

Having thought thus, the fierce Vighnaraja entered into the king; and the king, possessed by him, spoke these words in anger:

Verse 12 (markandeya.7.12)

कोऽयं बघ्नाति वस्त्रान्ते पावकं पापकृन्नरः । बलोष्णतेजसा दीप्ते मयि पत्यावुपस्थिते ॥ 7.12 ॥

ko 'yaṃ baghnāti vastrānte pāvakaṃ pāpakṛnnaraḥ / baloṣṇatejasā dīpte mayi patyāvupasthite // 7.12 //

'What sinful man is this, tying fire to the hem of his own garment, while I, blazing with the heat of my strength, their protector, stand present?'

Verse 13 (markandeya.7.13)

सोऽद्य मत्कार्मुकाक्षेप-विदीपितदिगन्तरैः । शरैर्विभिन्नसर्वाङ्गो दीर्घनिद्रां प्रवेक्ष्यति ॥ 7.13 ॥

so 'dya matkārmukākṣepa-vidīpitadigantaraiḥ / śarairvibhinnasarvāṅgo dīrghanidrāṃ pravekṣyati // 7.13 //

'This very day, his whole body pierced by arrows loosed from my bow — arrows that set the horizons ablaze — he shall fall into a long sleep.'

Verse 14 (markandeya.7.14)

विश्वामित्रस्ततः क्रुद्धः श्रुत्वा तन्नृपतेर्वचः । क्रुद्धे चर्षिवरे तस्मिन् नेशुर्विद्याः क्षणेन ताः ॥ 7.14 ॥

viśvāmitrastataḥ kruddhaḥ śrutvā tannṛpatervacaḥ / kruddhe carṣivare tasmin neśurvidyāḥ kṣaṇena tāḥ // 7.14 //

Hearing those words of the king, Vishvamitra grew angry; and the very instant that best of sages grew angry, all those sciences were lost in a moment.

Verse 15 (markandeya.7.15)

स चापि राजा तं दृष्ट्वा विश्वामित्रं तपोनिधिम् । भीतः प्रावेपतात्यर्थं सहसाश्वत्थपर्णवत् ॥ 7.15 ॥

sa cāpi rājā taṃ dṛṣṭvā viśvāmitraṃ taponidhim / bhītaḥ prāvepatātyarthaṃ sahasāśvatthaparṇavat // 7.15 //

And the king too, on beholding that Vishvamitra, that treasury of austerity, became afraid and at once trembled violently, like a leaf of the ashvattha tree.

Verse 16 (markandeya.7.16)

स दुरात्मन्निति यदा मुनिस्तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् । ततः स राजा विनयात् प्रणिपत्याभ्यभाषत ॥ 7.16 ॥

sa durātmanniti yadā munistiṣṭheti cābravīt / tataḥ sa rājā vinayāt praṇipatyābhyabhāṣata // 7.16 //

When the sage said, 'Stand still, O wicked one!' — then the king, humbly, bowing down, spoke thus:

Verse 17 (markandeya.7.17)

भगवन्नेष धर्मो मे नापराधो मम प्रभो । न क्रोद्धुमर्हसि मुने निजधर्मरतस्य मे ॥ 7.17 ॥

bhagavanneṣa dharmo me nāparādho mama prabho / na kroddhumarhasi mune nijadharmaratasya me // 7.17 //

'O lord, this is only my duty; it is no offense of mine, O master. You ought not be angry, O sage, with one who is devoted to his own dharma.'

Verse 18 (markandeya.7.18)

दातव्यं रक्षितव्यं च धर्मज्ञेन महीक्षिता । चापं चोद्यम्य योद्धव्यं धर्मशास्त्रानुसारतः ॥ 7.18 ॥

dātavyaṃ rakṣitavyaṃ ca dharmajñena mahīkṣitā / cāpaṃ codyamya yoddhavyaṃ dharmaśāstrānusārataḥ // 7.18 //

'A king who knows dharma must give gifts, must protect the afflicted, and, taking up the bow, must fight — all in accordance with the scriptures of dharma.'

Verse 19 (markandeya.7.19)

विश्वामित्र उवाच । दातव्यं कस्य के रक्ष्याः कैर्योद्धव्यं च ते नृप । क्षिप्रमेतत् समाचक्ष्व यद्यधर्मभयं तव ॥ 7.19 ॥

viśvāmitra uvāca / dātavyaṃ kasya ke rakṣyāḥ kairyoddhavyaṃ ca te nṛpa / kṣiprametat samācakṣva yadyadharmabhayaṃ tava // 7.19 //

Vishvamitra said: 'To whom must you give, whom must you protect, and with whom must you fight, O king? Tell me this at once, if you fear unrighteousness.'

Verse 20 (markandeya.7.20)

हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच । दातव्यं विप्रमुख्येभ्यो ये चान्ये कृशवृत्तयः । रक्ष्या भीताः सदा युद्धं कर्तव्यं परिपन्थिभिः ॥ 7.20 ॥

hariścandra uvāca / dātavyaṃ vipramukhyebhyo ye cānye kṛśavṛttayaḥ / rakṣyā bhītāḥ sadā yuddhaṃ kartavyaṃ paripanthibhiḥ // 7.20 //

Harishchandra said: 'Gifts must be given to eminent brahmanas and to others of meager means; the frightened must always be protected; and war must be waged against enemies.'

Verse 21 (markandeya.7.21)

विश्वामित्र उवाच । यदि राजा भवान् सम्यग्राजधर्ममवेक्षते । निर्वेष्टुकामो विप्रोऽहं दीयतामिष्टदक्षिणा ॥ 7.21 ॥

viśvāmitra uvāca / yadi rājā bhavān samyagrājadharmamavekṣate / nirveṣṭukāmo vipro 'haṃ dīyatāmiṣṭadakṣiṇā // 7.21 //

Vishvamitra said: 'If you, being a king, rightly observe the duty of kings, then know that I am a brahmana wishing to complete a rite — let the desired fee be given to me.'

Verse 22 (markandeya.7.22)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । एतद्राजा वचः श्रुत्वा प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना । पुनर्जातमिवात्मानं मेने प्राह च कौशिकम् ॥ 7.22 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / etadrājā vacaḥ śrutvā prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā / punarjātamivātmānaṃ mene prāha ca kauśikam // 7.22 //

The birds said: Hearing these words, the king's inner heart filled with joy — he felt as though reborn — and he said to Kaushika (Vishvamitra):

Verse 23 (markandeya.7.23)

उच्यतां भगवन् यत्ते दातव्यमविशङ्कितम् । दत्तमित्येव तद्विद्धि यद्यपि स्यात् सुदुर्लभम् ॥ 7.23 ॥

ucyatāṃ bhagavan yatte dātavyamaviśaṅkitam / dattamityeva tadviddhi yadyapi syāt sudurlabham // 7.23 //

'O lord, speak without hesitation of whatever is to be given to you. Know it as already given, however hard it may be to obtain —'

Verse 24 (markandeya.7.24)

हिरण्यं वा सुवर्णं वा पुत्रः पत्नी कलेवरम् । प्राणा राज्यं पुरं लक्ष्मीर्यदभिप्रेतमात्मनः ॥ 7.24 ॥

hiraṇyaṃ vā suvarṇaṃ vā putraḥ patnī kalevaram / prāṇā rājyaṃ puraṃ lakṣmīryadabhipretamātmanaḥ // 7.24 //

'— be it silver or gold, my son, my wife, or my body, my life-breath, my kingdom, my city, my royal fortune, whatever is your desire.'

Verse 25 (markandeya.7.25)

विश्वामित्र उवाच । राजन् प्रतिगृहीतोऽयं यस्ते दत्तः प्रतिग्रहः । प्रयच्छ प्रथमं तावद् दक्षिणां राजसूयिकीम् ॥ 7.25 ॥

viśvāmitra uvāca / rājan pratigṛhīto 'yaṃ yaste dattaḥ pratigrahaḥ / prayaccha prathamaṃ tāvad dakṣiṇāṃ rājasūyikīm // 7.25 //

Vishvamitra said: 'O king, this gift which you have offered is accepted. First of all, then, give me the sacrificial fee due for a rajasuya.'

Verse 26 (markandeya.7.26)

राजोवाच । ब्रह्मंस्तामपि दास्यामि दक्षिणां भवतो ह्यहम् । व्रियतां द्विजशार्दूल यस्तवेष्टः प्रतिग्रहः ॥ 7.26 ॥

rājovāca / brahmaṃstāmapi dāsyāmi dakṣiṇāṃ bhavato hyaham / vriyatāṃ dvijaśārdūla yastaveṣṭaḥ pratigrahaḥ // 7.26 //

The king said: 'O brahmana, I shall give you that dakshina too. Choose, O tiger among the twice-born, whatever gift is pleasing to you.'

Verse 27 (markandeya.7.27)

विश्वामित्र उवाच । ससागरां धरामेतां सभूभृद्ग्रामपत्तनाम् । राज्यं च सकलं वीर रथाश्व-गजसङ्कुलम् ॥ 7.27 ॥

viśvāmitra uvāca / sasāgarāṃ dharāmetāṃ sabhūbhṛdgrāmapattanām / rājyaṃ ca sakalaṃ vīra rathāśva-gajasaṅkulam // 7.27 //

Vishvamitra said: 'This earth together with her oceans, mountains, villages, and cities; and the entire kingdom, O hero, thronged with chariots, horses, and elephants;'

Verse 28 (markandeya.7.28)

कोष्ठागारं च कोषं च यच्चान्यद्विद्यते तव । विना भार्यां च पुत्रं च शरीरं च तवानघ ॥ 7.28 ॥

koṣṭhāgāraṃ ca koṣaṃ ca yaccānyadvidyate tava / vinā bhāryāṃ ca putraṃ ca śarīraṃ ca tavānagha // 7.28 //

'— your granaries and treasury, and whatever else belongs to you — save only your wife, your son, and your own body, O sinless one;'

Verse 29 (markandeya.7.29)

धर्मं च सर्वधर्मज्ञ यो यान्तमनुगच्छति । बहुना वा किमुक्तेन सर्वमेतत् प्रदीयताम् ॥ 7.29 ॥

dharmaṃ ca sarvadharmajña yo yāntamanugacchati / bahunā vā kimuktena sarvametat pradīyatām // 7.29 //

'— and, O knower of all dharmas, the merit that follows a man wherever he goes. But why say more? Let all of this be given to me.'

Verse 30 (markandeya.7.30)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । प्रहृष्टेनैव मनसा सोऽविकारमुखो नृपः । तस्यर्षेर्वचनं श्रुत्वा तथेत्याह कृताञ्जलिः ॥ 7.30 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / prahṛṣṭenaiva manasā so 'vikāramukho nṛpaḥ / tasyarṣervacanaṃ śrutvā tathetyāha kṛtāñjaliḥ // 7.30 //

The birds said: With a joyful heart yet an unwavering face, the king, on hearing the sage's words, said 'So be it,' with folded hands.

Verse 31 (markandeya.7.31)

विश्वामित्र उवाच । सर्वस्वं यदि मे दत्तं राज्यमुर्वो बलं धनम् । प्रभुत्वं कस्य राजर्षे राज्यस्थे तापसे मयि ॥ 7.31 ॥

viśvāmitra uvāca / sarvasvaṃ yadi me dattaṃ rājyamurvo balaṃ dhanam / prabhutvaṃ kasya rājarṣe rājyasthe tāpase mayi // 7.31 //

Vishvamitra said: 'O royal sage, if everything — the kingdom, the earth, the army, the wealth — has been given to me, then, now that I, an ascetic, hold the kingdom, whose is the sovereignty?'

Verse 32 (markandeya.7.32)

हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच । यस्मिन्नपि मया काले ब्राह्मन् दत्ता वसुन्धरा । तस्मिन्नपि भवान् स्वामी किमुताद्य महीपतिः ॥ 7.32 ॥

hariścandra uvāca / yasminnapi mayā kāle brāhman dattā vasundharā / tasminnapi bhavān svāmī kimutādya mahīpatiḥ // 7.32 //

Harishchandra said: 'O brahmana, from the very moment I gave you this earth, you have been its master — how much more so now, O sovereign lord!'

Verse 33 (markandeya.7.33)

विश्वामित्र उवाच । यदि राजंस्त्वया दत्ता मम सर्वा वसुन्धरा । यत्र मे विषये स्वाम्यं तस्मान्निष्क्रान्तुमर्हसि ॥ 7.33 ॥

viśvāmitra uvāca / yadi rājaṃstvayā dattā mama sarvā vasundharā / yatra me viṣaye svāmyaṃ tasmānniṣkrāntumarhasi // 7.33 //

Vishvamitra said: 'O king, if you have given me this whole earth, then you must depart from that domain over which I now hold sovereignty.'

Verse 34 (markandeya.7.34)

श्रोणीसूत्रादिसकलं मुक्त्वा भूषणसंग्रहम् । तरुवल्कलमाबध्य सह पत्न्या सुतेन च ॥ 7.34 ॥

śroṇīsūtrādisakalaṃ muktvā bhūṣaṇasaṃgraham / taruvalkalamābadhya saha patnyā sutena ca // 7.34 //

'— having cast off your girdle-string and all your other ornaments, and having put on tree-bark garments instead, together with your wife and son —'

Verse 35 (markandeya.7.35)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । तथेति चोक्त्वा कृत्वा च राजा गन्तुं प्रचक्रमे । स्वपत्न्या शैव्यया सार्धं बालकेनात्मजेन च ॥ 7.35 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / tatheti coktvā kṛtvā ca rājā gantuṃ pracakrame / svapatnyā śaivyayā sārdhaṃ bālakenātmajena ca // 7.35 //

The birds said: Saying 'So be it,' and having done so, the king made ready to depart, together with his wife Shaivya and his young son.

Verse 36 (markandeya.7.36)

व्रजतः स ततो रुद्ध्वा पन्थानं प्राह तं नृपम् । क्व यास्यसीत्यदत्त्वा मे दक्षिणां राजसूयिकीम् ॥ 7.36 ॥

vrajataḥ sa tato ruddhvā panthānaṃ prāha taṃ nṛpam / kva yāsyasītyadattvā me dakṣiṇāṃ rājasūyikīm // 7.36 //

As he was setting out, Vishvamitra blocked the king's path and said, 'Where are you going, without having given me the rajasuya dakshina?'

Verse 37 (markandeya.7.37)

हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच । भगवन् राज्यमेतत् ते दत्तं निहतकण्टकम् । अवशिष्टमिदं ब्रह्मन्नद्य देहत्रयं मम ॥ 7.37 ॥

hariścandra uvāca / bhagavan rājyametat te dattaṃ nihatakaṇṭakam / avaśiṣṭamidaṃ brahmannadya dehatrayaṃ mama // 7.37 //

Harishchandra said: 'O lord, this kingdom, its thorns removed, has been given to you. All that remains to me now, O brahmana, are these three bodies.'

Verse 38 (markandeya.7.38)

विश्वामित्र उवाच । तथापि खलु दातव्या त्वया मे यज्ञदक्षिणा । विशेषतो ब्राह्मणानं हन्त्यदत्तं प्रतिश्रुतम् ॥ 7.38 ॥

viśvāmitra uvāca / tathāpi khalu dātavyā tvayā me yajñadakṣiṇā / viśeṣato brāhmaṇānaṃ hantyadattaṃ pratiśrutam // 7.38 //

Vishvamitra said: 'Even so, you must still give me the sacrificial fee. What is promised but not delivered — especially to a brahmana — destroys a man.'

Verse 39 (markandeya.7.39)

यावत् तोषो राजसूये ब्राह्मणानां तभवेन्नृप । तावदेव तु दातव्या दक्षिणा राजसूयिकी ॥ 7.39 ॥

yāvat toṣo rājasūye brāhmaṇānāṃ tabhavennṛpa / tāvadeva tu dātavyā dakṣiṇā rājasūyikī // 7.39 //

'O king, the rajasuya dakshina must be given in the measure that satisfies the brahmanas at such a sacrifice — no less.'

Verse 40 (markandeya.7.40)

प्रतिश्रुत्य च दातव्यं योद्धव्यं चाततायिभिः । रक्षितव्यास्तथा चार्तास्त्वयैव प्राक् प्रतिश्रुतम् ॥ 7.40 ॥

pratiśrutya ca dātavyaṃ yoddhavyaṃ cātatāyibhiḥ / rakṣitavyāstathā cārtāstvayaiva prāk pratiśrutam // 7.40 //

'Having promised, one must give; one must fight against assailants; and the afflicted must be protected — you yourself declared this before.'

Verse 41 (markandeya.7.41)

हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच । भगवन् साम्प्रतं नास्ति दास्ये कालक्रमेण ते । प्रसादं कुरु विप्रर्षे सद्भावमनुचिन्त्य च ॥ 7.41 ॥

hariścandra uvāca / bhagavan sāmprataṃ nāsti dāsye kālakrameṇa te / prasādaṃ kuru viprarṣe sadbhāvamanucintya ca // 7.41 //

Harishchandra said: 'O lord, I have nothing at present; I shall give it to you in due time. Show me your favor, O sage, bearing my sincerity in mind.'

Verse 42 (markandeya.7.42)

विश्वामित्र उवाच । किम्प्रमाणो मया कालः प्रतीक्ष्यस्ते जनाधिप । शीघ्रमाचक्ष्व शापाग्निरन्यथा त्वां प्रधक्ष्यति ॥ 7.42 ॥

viśvāmitra uvāca / kimpramāṇo mayā kālaḥ pratīkṣyaste janādhipa / śīghramācakṣva śāpāgniranyathā tvāṃ pradhakṣyati // 7.42 //

Vishvamitra said: 'O lord of men, how long a time am I to wait for you? Tell me quickly, or the fire of my curse shall burn you to ashes.'

Verse 43 (markandeya.7.43)

हरिचन्द्र उवाच । मासेन तव विप्रर्षे प्रदास्ये दक्षिणाधनम् । साम्प्रतं नास्ति मे वित्तमनुज्ञां दातुमर्हसि ॥ 7.43 ॥

haricandra uvāca / māsena tava viprarṣe pradāsye dakṣiṇādhanam / sāmprataṃ nāsti me vittamanujñāṃ dātumarhasi // 7.43 //

Harishchandra said: 'O sage, within one month I shall give you the wealth of the dakshina. I have no money at present; please grant me leave.'

Verse 44 (markandeya.7.44)

विश्वामित्र उवाच । गच्छ गच्छ नृपश्रेष्ठ स्वधर्ममनुपालय । शिवश्च तेऽध्वा भवतु मा सन्तु परिपन्थिनः ॥ 7.44 ॥

viśvāmitra uvāca / gaccha gaccha nṛpaśreṣṭha svadharmamanupālaya / śivaśca te 'dhvā bhavatu mā santu paripanthinaḥ // 7.44 //

Vishvamitra said: 'Go, go, O best of kings, uphold your own dharma. May your path be auspicious; may no obstacles beset you.'

Verse 45 (markandeya.7.45)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । अनुज्ञातश्च गच्छेति जगाम वसुधाधिपः । पद्भ्यामनुचिता गन्तुमन्वगच्छत तं प्रिया ॥ 7.45 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / anujñātaśca gaccheti jagāma vasudhādhipaḥ / padbhyāmanucitā gantumanvagacchata taṃ priyā // 7.45 //

The birds said: Given leave with the word 'go,' the lord of the earth departed; and his beloved wife, unaccustomed to walking on foot, followed close behind.

Verse 46 (markandeya.7.46)

तं सभार्यं नृपश्रेष्ठं निर्यान्तं ससुतं पुरात् । दृष्ट्वा प्रचुक्रुशुः पौरा राज्ञश्चैवानुयायिनः ॥ 7.46 ॥

taṃ sabhāryaṃ nṛpaśreṣṭhaṃ niryāntaṃ sasutaṃ purāt / dṛṣṭvā pracukruśuḥ paurā rājñaścaivānuyāyinaḥ // 7.46 //

Seeing that best of kings departing from the city with his wife and son, the citizens and the king's own followers cried out in grief:

Verse 47 (markandeya.7.47)

हानाथ किं जहास्यस्मान् नित्यार्तिपरिपीडितान् । त्वं धर्मतत्परो राजन् पौरानुग्रहकृत् तथा ॥ 7.47 ॥

hānātha kiṃ jahāsyasmān nityārtiparipīḍitān / tvaṃ dharmatatparo rājan paurānugrahakṛt tathā // 7.47 //

'O protector, why do you abandon us, who are ever afflicted with sorrow? You, O king, have always been devoted to dharma and gracious to your people.'

Verse 48 (markandeya.7.48)

नयास्मानपि राजर्षे यदि धर्ममवेक्षसे । मुहूर्तं तिष्ठ राजेन्द्र भवतो मुखपङ्कजम् ॥ 7.48 ॥

nayāsmānapi rājarṣe yadi dharmamavekṣase / muhūrtaṃ tiṣṭha rājendra bhavato mukhapaṅkajam // 7.48 //

'O royal sage, take us too, if you have regard for dharma. Stay a moment, O king of kings, that we may drink in your lotus face —'

Verse 49 (markandeya.7.49)

पिबामो नेत्रभ्रमरैः कदा द्रक्ष्यामहे पुनः । यस्य प्रयातस्य पुरो यान्ति पृष्ठे च पार्थिवाः ॥ 7.49 ॥

pibāmo netrabhramaraiḥ kadā drakṣyāmahe punaḥ / yasya prayātasya puro yānti pṛṣṭhe ca pārthivāḥ // 7.49 //

'— with our eyes as bees. When shall we see it again — he before whom, when he set out, kings walked ahead and behind,'

Verse 50 (markandeya.7.50)

तस्यानुयाति भार्येयं गृहीत्वा बालकं सुतम् । यस्य भृत्याः प्रयातस्य यान्तयग्रे कुञ्जचरस्थिताः ॥ 7.50 ॥

tasyānuyāti bhāryeyaṃ gṛhītvā bālakaṃ sutam / yasya bhṛtyāḥ prayātasya yāntayagre kuñjacarasthitāḥ // 7.50 //

'— his wife now follows him, carrying their infant son. He, whose servants, when he set out, marched ahead stationed in the groves,'

Verse 51 (markandeya.7.51)

स एष पद्भ्यां राजेन्द्रो हरिश्चन्द्रोऽद्य गच्छति । हा राजन् सुकुमारं ते सुभ्रु सुत्वचमुन्नसम् ॥ 7.51 ॥

sa eṣa padbhyāṃ rājendro hariścandro 'dya gacchati / hā rājan sukumāraṃ te subhru sutvacamunnasam // 7.51 //

'— that very king of kings, Harishchandra, walks today on foot! Alas, O king, your delicate son, fine-browed, fine-skinned, with his high, fine nose —'

Verse 52 (markandeya.7.52)

पथि पांशुपरिक्लिष्टं मुखं कीदृग्भविष्यति । तिष्ठ तिष्ठ नृपश्रेष्ठ स्वधर्ममनुपालय ॥ 7.52 ॥

pathi pāṃśuparikliṣṭaṃ mukhaṃ kīdṛgbhaviṣyati / tiṣṭha tiṣṭha nṛpaśreṣṭha svadharmamanupālaya // 7.52 //

'— how will his face look, soiled by the dust of the road? Stay, stay, O best of kings — yet, even so, uphold your own dharma —'

Verse 53 (markandeya.7.53)

आनृशंस्यं परो धर्मः क्षत्रियाणां विशेषतः । किं दारैः किं सुतैर्नाथ धनैर्धान्यैरथापि वा ॥ 7.53 ॥

ānṛśaṃsyaṃ paro dharmaḥ kṣatriyāṇāṃ viśeṣataḥ / kiṃ dāraiḥ kiṃ sutairnātha dhanairdhānyairathāpi vā // 7.53 //

'— for kshatriyas especially, freedom from cruelty is the highest dharma. What use, O lord, are wives, sons, wealth, or grain,'

Verse 54 (markandeya.7.54)

सर्वमेतत् परित्यज्य छायाभूता वयं तव । हानाथ हा महाराज हा स्वामिन् किं जहासि नः ॥ 7.54 ॥

sarvametat parityajya chāyābhūtā vayaṃ tava / hānātha hā mahārāja hā svāmin kiṃ jahāsi naḥ // 7.54 //

'— when we, having renounced all these, exist only as your shadow? Alas, protector, alas, great king, alas, lord — why do you forsake us?'

Verse 55 (markandeya.7.55)

यत्र त्वं तत्र हि वयं तत् सुखं यत्र वै भवान् । नगरं तद्भवान् यत्र स स्वर्गो यत्र नो नृपः ॥ 7.55 ॥

yatra tvaṃ tatra hi vayaṃ tat sukhaṃ yatra vai bhavān / nagaraṃ tadbhavān yatra sa svargo yatra no nṛpaḥ // 7.55 //

'Wherever you are, there we are too; happiness is wherever you are. Wherever you are, that is our city; wherever our king is, that is heaven.'

Verse 56 (markandeya.7.56)

इति पौरवचः श्रुत्वा राजा शोकपरिप्लुतः । अतिष्ठत् स तदा मार्गे तेषामेवानुकम्पया ॥ 7.56 ॥

iti pauravacaḥ śrutvā rājā śokapariplutaḥ / atiṣṭhat sa tadā mārge teṣāmevānukampayā // 7.56 //

Hearing these words of the citizens, the king, overwhelmed with grief, stood still there on the road, out of compassion for them.

Verse 57 (markandeya.7.57)

विश्वामित्रोऽपि तं दृष्ट्वा पौरवाक्याकुलीकृतम् । रोषमर्षविवृत्ताक्षः समागम्य वचोऽब्रवीत् ॥ 7.57 ॥

viśvāmitro 'pi taṃ dṛṣṭvā pauravākyākulīkṛtam / roṣamarṣavivṛttākṣaḥ samāgamya vaco 'bravīt // 7.57 //

Vishvamitra too, seeing him thus troubled by the citizens' words, his eyes rolling with fury and impatience, came up and spoke:

Verse 58 (markandeya.7.58)

धिक् त्वां दुष्टसमाचारमनृतं जिह्मभाषणम् । मम राज्यं च दत्वा यः पुनः प्राक्रष्टुमिच्छसि ॥ 7.58 ॥

dhik tvāṃ duṣṭasamācāramanṛtaṃ jihmabhāṣaṇam / mama rājyaṃ ca datvā yaḥ punaḥ prākraṣṭumicchasi // 7.58 //

'Shame on you, of wicked conduct, false and crooked of speech, who, having given me your kingdom, now wish to draw it back again!'

Verse 59 (markandeya.7.59)

इत्युक्तः परुषं तेन गच्छामीति सवेपथुः । ब्रुवन्नेवं ययौ शीघ्रमाकर्षन् दयितां करे ॥ 7.59 ॥

ityuktaḥ paruṣaṃ tena gacchāmīti savepathuḥ / bruvannevaṃ yayau śīghramākarṣan dayitāṃ kare // 7.59 //

Addressed so harshly by him, trembling, saying only 'I am going,' he went on quickly, drawing his beloved wife along by the hand.

Verse 60 (markandeya.7.60)

कर्षतस्तां ततो भार्यां सुकुमारीं श्रमातुराम् । सहसा दण्डकाष्ठेन ताडयामास कौशिकः ॥ 7.60 ॥

karṣatastāṃ tato bhāryāṃ sukumārīṃ śramāturām / sahasā daṇḍakāṣṭhena tāḍayāmāsa kauśikaḥ // 7.60 //

As he pulled along his delicate wife, exhausted with fatigue, Kaushika (Vishvamitra) suddenly struck her with his staff.

Verse 61 (markandeya.7.61)

तां तथा ताडितां दृष्ट्वा हरिश्चन्द्रो महीपतिः । गच्छामीत्याह दुः खार्तो नान्यत् किञ्चिदुदाहरत् ॥ 7.61 ॥

tāṃ tathā tāḍitāṃ dṛṣṭvā hariścandro mahīpatiḥ / gacchāmītyāha duḥ khārto nānyat kiñcidudāharat // 7.61 //

Seeing her thus beaten, King Harishchandra, tormented with grief, said only, 'I am going,' and said nothing else.

Verse 62 (markandeya.7.62)

अथ विश्वे तदा देवाः पञ्च प्राहुः कृपालवः । विश्वामित्रः सुपापोऽयं लोकान् कान् समवाप्स्यति ॥ 7.62 ॥

atha viśve tadā devāḥ pañca prāhuḥ kṛpālavaḥ / viśvāmitraḥ supāpo 'yaṃ lokān kān samavāpsyati // 7.62 //

Then the compassionate Vishvedevas said, 'This Vishvamitra is truly sinful — what worlds will he attain,'

Verse 63 (markandeya.7.63)

येनायां यज्वनां श्रेष्ठः स्वराज्यादवरोपितः । कस्य वा श्रद्धया पूतं सुतं सोमं महाध्वरे । पीत्वा वयं प्रयास्यामो मुदं मन्त्रपुरः सरम् ॥ 7.63 ॥

yenāyāṃ yajvanāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ svarājyādavaropitaḥ / kasya vā śraddhayā pūtaṃ sutaṃ somaṃ mahādhvare / pītvā vayaṃ prayāsyāmo mudaṃ mantrapuraḥ saram // 7.63 //

'— by whom this best of sacrificers has been cast down from his own kingdom? Purified by whose faith shall we now drink the pressed Soma at a great sacrifice, and go forth with mantra-led joy?'

Verse 64 (markandeya.7.64)

पक्षिण ऊचुः । इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा कौशिकोऽतिरुषान्वितः । शशाप तान् मनुष्यत्वं सर्वे यूयमवाप्स्यथ ॥ 7.64 ॥

pakṣiṇa ūcuḥ / iti teṣāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā kauśiko 'tiruṣānvitaḥ / śaśāpa tān manuṣyatvaṃ sarve yūyamavāpsyatha // 7.64 //

The birds said: Hearing these words of theirs, Kaushika (Vishvamitra), filled with great fury, cursed them: 'All of you shall attain the state of mortal men!'

Verse 65 (markandeya.7.65)

प्रसादितश्च तैः प्राह पुनरेव महामुनिः. मानुषत्वेऽपि भवतां भवित्री नैव सन्ततिः ॥ 7.65 ॥

prasāditaśca taiḥ prāha punareva mahāmuniḥ. mānuṣatve 'pi bhavatāṃ bhavitrī naiva santatiḥ // 7.65 //

When appeased by them, the great sage said once more: 'Even in your human state, you shall never have ordinary offspring.'

Verse 66 (markandeya.7.66)

न दारसंग्रहश्चैव भविता न च मत्सरः । कामक्रोधविनिर्मुक्ता भविष्यथ सुराः पुनः ॥ 7.66 ॥

na dārasaṃgrahaścaiva bhavitā na ca matsaraḥ / kāmakrodhavinirmuktā bhaviṣyatha surāḥ punaḥ // 7.66 //

'You shall have no accumulation of separate wives, nor any mutual envy; and, freed from desire and anger, you shall become gods once again.'

Verse 67 (markandeya.7.67)

ततोऽवतेरुरंशैः स्वैर्देवास्ते कुरुवेश्मनि । द्रौपदीगर्भसम्भूताः पञ्च वै पाण्डुनन्दनाः ॥ 7.67 ॥

tato 'vateruraṃśaiḥ svairdevāste kuruveśmani / draupadīgarbhasambhūtāḥ pañca vai pāṇḍunandanāḥ // 7.67 //

Then those gods descended, each with his own portion, into the house of the Kurus, and were born from Draupadi's womb as the five sons of Pandu.

Verse 68 (markandeya.7.68)

एतस्मात् कारणात् पञ्च पाण्डवेया महारथाः । न दारसंग्रहं प्राप्ताः शापात् तस्य महामुनेः ॥ 7.68 ॥

etasmāt kāraṇāt pañca pāṇḍaveyā mahārathāḥ / na dārasaṃgrahaṃ prāptāḥ śāpāt tasya mahāmuneḥ // 7.68 //

For this very reason, those five great-charioted sons of Pandu, on account of that great sage's curse, never took separate wives.

Verse 69 (markandeya.7.69)

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं पाण्डवेयकथाश्रयम् । प्रश्नं चतुष्टयं गीतं किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि ॥ 7.69 ॥

etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ pāṇḍaveyakathāśrayam / praśnaṃ catuṣṭayaṃ gītaṃ kimanyacchrotumicchasi // 7.69 //

All of this, connected with the story of the Pandavas, has now been told to you, and the four questions have been answered — what else do you wish to hear?