The Birth of Manu Tamasa

Verse 1 (markandeya.74.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच राजाभूद् विख्यातः स्वराष्ट्रो नाम वीर्यवान् । अनेकयज्ञकृत् प्राज्ञः संग्रामेष्वपराजितः ॥ 74.1 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca rājābhūd vikhyātaḥ svarāṣṭro nāma vīryavān anekayajñakṛt prājñaḥ saṁgrāmeṣvaparājitaḥ

Markandeya said: There was a renowned king named Svarashtra, mighty in valor, performer of many sacrifices, wise, and unconquered in battle.

Verse 2 (markandeya.74.2)

तस्यायुः सुमहत्प्रादात् मन्त्रिणाराधितो रविः । पत्नीनाञ्च शतन्तस्य धन्यानामभवद् द्विज ॥ 74.2 ॥

tasyāyuḥ sumahatprādāt mantriṇārādhito raviḥ patnīnāñca śatantasya dhanyānāmabhavad dvija

The Sun, worshipped by his minister, granted him a very long life; and, O Brahmin, he had a hundred fortunate wives.

Verse 3 (markandeya.74.3)

तस्य दीर्घायुषः पत्न्यो नातिदीर्घायुषो मुने । कालेन जग्मुर्निधनं भृत्यमन्त्रिजनास्तथा ॥ 74.3 ॥

tasya dīrghāyuṣaḥ patnyo nātidīrghāyuṣo mune kālena jagmurnidhanaṁ bhṛtyamantrijanāstathā

O sage, his wives, though long-lived, were not as long-lived as he; in time they, along with his servants and ministers, passed away.

Verse 4 (markandeya.74.4)

स भार्याभिस्तथायुक्तो भृत्यैश्च सहजन्मभिः । उद्विग्नचेताः संप्राप वीर्यहानिमहर्निशम् ॥ 74.4 ॥

sa bhāryābhistathāyukto bhṛtyaiśca sahajanmabhiḥ udvignacetāḥ saṁprāpa vīryahānimaharniśam

Thus bereft of wives and of the servants born with him in his own time, he, his heart troubled, began to feel a loss of vigor day and night.

Verse 5 (markandeya.74.5)

तं वीर्यहीनं निभृतैर्भृत्यैस्त्यक्तं सुदुः खितम् । अनन्तरो विमर्दाख्यो राज्याच्च्यावितवांस्तदा ॥ 74.5 ॥

taṁ vīryahīnaṁ nibhṛtairbhṛtyaistyaktaṁ suduḥ khitam anantaro vimardākhyo rājyāccyāvitavāṁstadā

That king, deprived of strength and abandoned even by his own trusted servants, greatly distressed — his younger brother, named Vimarda, then deposed him from the kingdom.

Verse 6 (markandeya.74.6)

राज्याच्च्युतः सोऽपि वनं गत्वा निर्विण्णमानसः । तपस्तेपे महाभागे वितस्तापुलिने स्थितः ॥ 74.6 ॥

rājyāccyutaḥ so'pi vanaṁ gatvā nirviṇṇamānasaḥ tapastepe mahābhāge vitastāpuline sthitaḥ

Cast out of his kingdom, he too went to the forest, his mind despondent, and settling on the bank of the river Vitasta, began to practice austerity.

Verse 7 (markandeya.74.7)

ग्रीष्मे पञ्चतमा भूत्वा वर्षास्वभ्रंकषाशिकः । जलशायी च शिशिरे निराहारो यतव्रतः ॥ 74.7 ॥

grīṣme pañcatamā bhūtvā varṣāsvabhraṁkaṣāśikaḥ jalaśāyī ca śiśire nirāhāro yatavrataḥ

In summer he practiced the five-fire penance; in the rains he stayed exposed beneath the raining clouds; in the cold season he lay in water, fasting, holding fast to his vows.

Verse 8 (markandeya.74.8)

ततस्तपस्यतस्तस्य प्रावृट्काले महाप्लवः । बभूवानुदिनं मेघैर्वर्षद्भिरनुसन्ततम् ॥ 74.8 ॥

tatastapasyatastasya prāvṛṭkāle mahāplavaḥ babhūvānudinaṁ meghairvarṣadbhiranusantatam

While he was thus practicing austerity, in the rainy season there came a great flood, continuous from clouds that rained day after day.

Verse 9 (markandeya.74.9)

न दिग्विज्ञायते पूर्वा दक्षिणा वा न पश्चिमा । नोत्तरा तमसा सर्वमनुलिप्तमिवाभवत् ॥ 74.9 ॥

na digvijñāyate pūrvā dakṣiṇā vā na paścimā nottarā tamasā sarvamanuliptamivābhavat

No direction could be discerned — not east, not south, not west, nor north; everything seemed smeared over as if with darkness.

Verse 10 (markandeya.74.10)

ततोऽतिपूरेण नृपः स नद्याः प्रेरितस्तटम् । प्रार्थयन्नापि नावाप ह्रियमाणो महीपतिः ॥ 74.10 ॥

tato'tipūreṇa nṛpaḥ sa nadyāḥ preritastaṭam prārthayannāpi nāvāpa hriyamāṇo mahīpatiḥ

By that excessive flood the king was swept from the riverbank; though he pleaded, he found no boat, and he was carried helplessly away.

Verse 11 (markandeya.74.11)

अथ दूरे जलौघेन ह्रियमाणो महीपतिः । आससाद जले रौहीं स पुच्छे जगृहे च ताम् ॥ 74.11 ॥

atha dūre jalaughena hriyamāṇo mahīpatiḥ āsasāda jale rauhīṁ sa pucche jagṛhe ca tām

Then, borne far away by the mass of water, that lord of the earth came upon a doe in the water and seized hold of her by the tail.

Verse 12 (markandeya.74.12)

तेन प्लवेन स ययावूह्यमानो महीतले । इतश्चेतश्चान्धकारे आससाद तटन्ततः ॥ 74.12 ॥

tena plavena sa yayāvūhyamāno mahītale itaścetaścāndhakāre āsasāda taṭantataḥ

By that means of floating he went on, borne here and there over the earth in the darkness, until at last he reached a bank.

Verse 13 (markandeya.74.13)

विस्तारि पङ्कमत्यर्थं दुस्तरं स नृपस्तरन् । तथैव कृष्यमाणोऽन्यद्रम्यं वनमवाप सः ॥ 74.13 ॥

vistāri paṅkamatyarthaṁ dustaraṁ sa nṛpastaran tathaiva kṛṣyamāṇo'nyadramyaṁ vanamavāpa saḥ

Crossing a vast and impassable mire, that king, thus dragged along, came to yet another beautiful forest.

Verse 14 (markandeya.74.14)

तत्रान्धकारे सा रौही चकर्ष वसुधाधिपम् । पुच्छे लग्नं महाभागं कृशं धमनिसन्ततौ ॥ 74.14 ॥

tatrāndhakāre sā rauhī cakarṣa vasudhādhipam pucche lagnaṁ mahābhāgaṁ kṛśaṁ dhamanisantatau

There in the darkness, that doe dragged along the greatly fortunate lord of the earth, clinging to her tail, his body emaciated, his sinews standing out.

Verse 15 (markandeya.74.15)

तस्याश्च स्पर्शसंभूतामवापमुदमुत्तमाम् । सोऽन्धकारे भ्रमन् भूयो मदनाकृष्टमानसः ॥ 74.15 ॥

tasyāśca sparśasaṁbhūtāmavāpamudamuttamām so'ndhakāre bhraman bhūyo madanākṛṣṭamānasaḥ

From her touch he felt a supreme delight; wandering again in the darkness, his mind now overcome by desire.

Verse 16 (markandeya.74.16)

विज्ञाय सानुरागं तं पृष्ठस्पर्शनतत्परम् । नरेन्द्रं तद्वनस्यान्तः सा मृगी तमुवाच ह ॥ 74.16 ॥

vijñāya sānurāgaṁ taṁ pṛṣṭhasparśanatatparam narendraṁ tadvanasyāntaḥ sā mṛgī tamuvāca ha

Perceiving his passion and his eagerness to touch her back, that doe, there within the forest, spoke to the king.

Verse 17 (markandeya.74.17)

किं पृष्ठं वेपथुमता करेण स्पृशसे मम । अन्यथैवास्य कार्यस्य सञ्जाता नृपते गतिः ॥ 74.17 ॥

kiṁ pṛṣṭhaṁ vepathumatā kareṇa spṛśase mama anyathaivāsya kāryasya sañjātā nṛpate gatiḥ

"Why do you touch my back with a trembling hand? Otherwise, this matter would have taken quite a different course.

Verse 18 (markandeya.74.18)

नास्थाने वो मनो यातं नागम्याहं तवेश्वर । किन्तु त्वत्सङ्गमे विघ्नमेष लोलः करोति मे ॥ 74.18 ॥

nāsthāne vo mano yātaṁ nāgamyāhaṁ taveśvara kintu tvatsaṅgame vighnameṣa lolaḥ karoti me

It is not that your heart has gone astray, nor am I forbidden to you, O lord; but this restless one, Lola, creates an obstacle to our union."

Verse 19 (markandeya.74.19)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्या मृग्याश्च जगतीपतिः । जातकौतूहलो रौहीमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 74.19 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca iti śrutvā vacastasyā mṛgyāśca jagatīpatiḥ jātakautūhalo rauhīmidaṁ vacanamabravīt

Markandeya said: Hearing this speech of the doe, that lord of the earth, filled with curiosity, spoke this word to the doe Rauhi.

Verse 20 (markandeya.74.20)

का त्वं ब्रूहि मृगी वाक्यं कथं मानुषवद्वदेत् । कश्चैव लोलो यो विघ्नं त्वत्सङ्गे कुरुते मम ॥ 74.20 ॥

kā tvaṁ brūhi mṛgī vākyaṁ kathaṁ mānuṣavadvadet kaścaiva lolo yo vighnaṁ tvatsaṅge kurute mama

"Who are you? Tell me — how does a doe speak human words? And who is this restless one who obstructs our union?"

Verse 21 (markandeya.74.21)

मृग्युवाच अहन्ते दयिता भूप ! प्रागासमुत्पलावती । भार्या शताग्रमहिषी दुहिता दृढधन्वनः ॥ 74.21 ॥

mṛgyuvāca ahante dayitā bhūpa ! prāgāsamutpalāvatī bhāryā śatāgramahiṣī duhitā dṛḍhadhanvanaḥ

The doe said: O king, formerly I was your beloved, named Utpalavati, daughter of Dridhadhanvan, chief among your hundred queens.

Verse 22 (markandeya.74.22)

राजोवाच किन्तु यावत् कृतं कर्म येनेमां योनिमागता । पतिव्रता धर्मपरा सा चेत्थं कथमीदृशी ॥ 74.22 ॥

rājovāca kintu yāvat kṛtaṁ karma yenemāṁ yonimāgatā pativratā dharmaparā sā cetthaṁ kathamīdṛśī

The king said: But what deed did you do, by which you came to this animal birth? You were devoted to your husband and to dharma — how then did this happen?

Verse 23 (markandeya.74.23)

मृग्युवाच अहं पितृगृहे बाला सखीभिः सहिता वनम् । रन्तुं गता ददर्शैकं मृगं मृग्या समागतम् ॥ 74.23 ॥

mṛgyuvāca ahaṁ pitṛgṛhe bālā sakhībhiḥ sahitā vanam rantuṁ gatā dadarśaikaṁ mṛgaṁ mṛgyā samāgatam

The doe said: As a girl, in my father's house, I went with my friends to the forest to play, and there I saw a stag approaching a doe.

Verse 24 (markandeya.74.24)

ततः समीपवर्तिन्या मया सा ताडिता मृगी । मया त्रस्ता गतान्यत्र क्रुद्धः प्राह ततो मृगः ॥ 74.24 ॥

tataḥ samīpavartinyā mayā sā tāḍitā mṛgī mayā trastā gatānyatra kruddhaḥ prāha tato mṛgaḥ

Then I, standing nearby, teased that doe; frightened, she fled elsewhere, and thereupon that angered stag said —

Verse 25 (markandeya.74.25)

मूढे किमेवं मत्तासि धिक्ते दौःशील्यमीदृशम् । आधानकालो येनायं त्वया मे विफलीकृतः ॥ 74.25 ॥

mūḍhe kimevaṁ mattāsi dhikte dauḥśīlyamīdṛśam ādhānakālo yenāyaṁ tvayā me viphalīkṛtaḥ

"Fool! Why are you so reckless? Shame upon such wickedness of yours, by which this mating season of mine has been rendered fruitless."

Verse 26 (markandeya.74.26)

वाचं श्रुत्वा ततस्तस्य मानुषस्येव भाषतः । भीता तमब्रुवं कोऽसीत्येतां योनिमुपागतः ॥ 74.26 ॥

vācaṁ śrutvā tatastasya mānuṣasyeva bhāṣataḥ bhītā tamabruvaṁ ko'sītyetāṁ yonimupāgataḥ

Hearing his voice, speaking thus like a human being, frightened, I said to him: "Who are you, who have come to this animal birth?"

Verse 27 (markandeya.74.27)

ततः स प्राह पुत्रोऽहमृषेर्निर्वृतिचक्षुषः । सुतपा नाम मृग्यान्तु साभिलाषो मृगोऽभवम् ॥ 74.27 ॥

tataḥ sa prāha putro'hamṛṣernirvṛticakṣuṣaḥ sutapā nāma mṛgyāntu sābhilāṣo mṛgo'bhavam

Then he said: "I am the son of the tranquil-eyed sage Sutapa; enamored of a doe, I became a stag.

Verse 28 (markandeya.74.28)

इमाञ्चानुगतः प्रेम्णा वाञ्छितश्चानया वने । त्वया वियोजिता दुष्टे तस्माच्छापं ददामि ते ॥ 74.28 ॥

imāñcānugataḥ premṇā vāñchitaścānayā vane tvayā viyojitā duṣṭe tasmācchāpaṁ dadāmi te

Following her out of love, and desired by her in the forest, you have parted us, wicked one — therefore I curse you."

Verse 29 (markandeya.74.29)

मया चोक्तं तवाज्ञानादपराधः कृतो मुने । प्रसादं कुरु शापं मे न भवान् दातुमर्हति ॥ 74.29 ॥

mayā coktaṁ tavājñānādaparādhaḥ kṛto mune prasādaṁ kuru śāpaṁ me na bhavān dātumarhati

I said: This offense, O sage, was committed by me out of ignorance; show mercy — you should not give me a curse.

Verse 30 (markandeya.74.30)

इत्युक्तः प्राह मां सोऽपि मुनिरित्थं महीपते । न प्रयच्छामि शापं ते यद्यात्मानं ददासि मे ॥ 74.30 ॥

ityuktaḥ prāha māṁ so'pi muniritthaṁ mahīpate na prayacchāmi śāpaṁ te yadyātmānaṁ dadāsi me

When I said this, that sage too, O king, replied to me thus: "If you give yourself to me, I shall not give you the curse."

Verse 31 (markandeya.74.31)

मया चोक्तं मृगी नाहं मृगरूपधरा वने । लप्स्यसेऽन्यां मृगीन्तावन्मयि भावो निवर्त्यताम् ॥ 74.31 ॥

mayā coktaṁ mṛgī nāhaṁ mṛgarūpadharā vane lapsyase'nyāṁ mṛgīntāvanmayi bhāvo nivartyatām

I said: "I am not a doe, only wearing a doe's form in this forest; you shall find another doe — let this feeling toward me be withdrawn."

Verse 32 (markandeya.74.32)

इत्युक्तः कोपरक्ताक्षः स प्राह स्फुरिताधरः । नाहं मृगी त्वयेत्युक्तं मृगी मूढे भविष्यसि ॥ 74.32 ॥

ityuktaḥ koparaktākṣaḥ sa prāha sphuritādharaḥ nāhaṁ mṛgī tvayetyuktaṁ mṛgī mūḍhe bhaviṣyasi

When I said this, he, his eyes red with anger, his lips quivering, said: "You said, I am not a doe — fool, a doe indeed you shall become!"

Verse 33 (markandeya.74.33)

ततो भृशं प्रव्यथिता प्रणम्य मुनिमब्रुवम् । स्वरूपस्थमतिक्रुद्धं प्रसीदेति पुनः पुनः ॥ 74.33 ॥

tato bhṛśaṁ pravyathitā praṇamya munimabruvam svarūpasthamatikruddhaṁ prasīdeti punaḥ punaḥ

Then, greatly distressed, I bowed to that sage and, to him standing there in his own form, exceedingly angry, said again and again: "Be gracious."

Verse 34 (markandeya.74.34)

बालानभिज्ञा वाक्यानां ततः प्रोक्तमिदं मया । पितर्यसति नारीभिर्व्रियते हि पतिः स्वयम् ॥ 74.34 ॥

bālānabhijñā vākyānāṁ tataḥ proktamidaṁ mayā pitaryasati nārībhirvriyate hi patiḥ svayam

Then, ignorant of proper speech through my youthful folly, I said this: "In the absence of a father, women choose a husband for themselves."

Verse 35 (markandeya.74.35)

सति ताते कथञ्चाहं वृणोमि मुनिसत्तम । सापराधाथवा पादौ प्रसीदेश नमाम्यहम् ॥ 74.35 ॥

sati tāte kathañcāhaṁ vṛṇomi munisattama sāparādhāthavā pādau prasīdeśa namāmyaham

"O best of sages, while my father lives, how could I choose for myself? Whether I am at fault or not, I bow at your feet, beseeching grace."

Verse 36 (markandeya.74.36)

प्रसीदेति प्रसीदेति प्रणताया महामते । इत्थं लालप्यमानायाः स प्राह मुनिपुङ्गवः ॥ 74.36 ॥

prasīdeti prasīdeti praṇatāyā mahāmate itthaṁ lālapyamānāyāḥ sa prāha munipuṅgavaḥ

O great-minded one, to me thus bowing and lamenting again and again, "Be gracious, be gracious," that foremost of sages then said.

Verse 37 (markandeya.74.37)

न भवत्यन्यथा प्रोक्तं मम वाक्यं कदाचन । मृगी भविष्यसि मृता वनेऽस्मिन्नेव जन्मनि ॥ 74.37 ॥

na bhavatyanyathā proktaṁ mama vākyaṁ kadācana mṛgī bhaviṣyasi mṛtā vane'sminneva janmani

"My word, once spoken, is never otherwise; in this very birth, in this very forest, you shall die a doe.

Verse 38 (markandeya.74.38)

मृगत्वे च महाबाहुस्तव गर्भमुपैष्यति । लोलो नाम मुनेः पुत्रः सिद्धवीर्यस्य भामिनि ॥ 74.38 ॥

mṛgatve ca mahābāhustava garbhamupaiṣyati lolo nāma muneḥ putraḥ siddhavīryasya bhāmini

In your doe-state, O lady, you shall conceive; the son of the sage Siddhavirya, named Lola, shall be born.

Verse 39 (markandeya.74.39)

जातिस्मरा भवित्री त्वं तस्मिन् गर्भमुपागते । स्मृतिं प्राप्य तथा वाचं मानुषीमीरयिष्यसि ॥ 74.39 ॥

jātismarā bhavitrī tvaṁ tasmin garbhamupāgate smṛtiṁ prāpya tathā vācaṁ mānuṣīmīrayiṣyasi

As soon as that embryo enters you, you shall become one who remembers past births; regaining memory, you shall then speak human speech.

Verse 40 (markandeya.74.40)

तस्मिन् जाते मृगीत्वात् त्वं विमुक्ता पतिनार्चिता । लोकानवाप्स्यसि प्राप्या ये न दुष्कृतकर्मभिः ॥ 74.40 ॥

tasmin jāte mṛgītvāt tvaṁ vimuktā patinārcitā lokānavāpsyasi prāpyā ye na duṣkṛtakarmabhiḥ

The moment he is born you shall be freed from your doe-nature, and, honored by your husband, shall attain those worlds unattainable by those of evil deeds.

Verse 41 (markandeya.74.41)

सोऽपि लोलो महावीर्यः पितृशत्रून् निपात्य वै । जित्वा वसुन्धरां कृत्स्त्रां भविष्यति ततो मनुः ॥ 74.41 ॥

so'pi lolo mahāvīryaḥ pitṛśatrūn nipātya vai jitvā vasundharāṁ kṛtstrāṁ bhaviṣyati tato manuḥ

"That mighty Lola, having slain his father's enemies and conquered the whole earth, shall thereafter become Manu."

Verse 42 (markandeya.74.42)

एवं शापमहं लब्ध्वा मृता तिर्यक्त्वमागता । त्वत्संस्पर्शाच्च गर्भोऽसौ संभूतो जठरे मम ॥ 74.42 ॥

evaṁ śāpamahaṁ labdhvā mṛtā tiryaktvamāgatā tvatsaṁsparśācca garbho'sau saṁbhūto jaṭhare mama

Thus, having received this curse, I died and came into this animal birth; and by your touch this child has arisen in my womb.

Verse 43 (markandeya.74.43)

अतो ब्रवीमि नास्थाने तव यातं मनो मयि । न चाप्यगम्या गर्भस्थो लोलो विघ्नं करोत्यसौ ॥ 74.43 ॥

ato bravīmi nāsthāne tava yātaṁ mano mayi na cāpyagamyā garbhastho lolo vighnaṁ karotyasau

Therefore I say: your heart has not gone astray, nor am I forbidden to you — but Lola, in my womb, is the one who creates this obstacle.

Verse 44 (markandeya.74.44)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच एवमुक्तस्ततः सोऽपि राजा प्राप्य परां मुदम् । पुत्रो ममारीञ्जित्वेति पृथिव्यां भविता मनुः ॥ 74.44 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca evamuktastataḥ so'pi rājā prāpya parāṁ mudam putro mamārīñjitveti pṛthivyāṁ bhavitā manuḥ

Markandeya said: Hearing this, the king too attained supreme joy, thinking: "My son, having conquered my enemies, shall become Manu upon this earth."

Verse 45 (markandeya.74.45)

ततस्तं सुषुवे पुत्रं सा मृगी लक्षणान्वितम् । तस्मिन् जाते च भूतानि सर्वाणि प्रययुर्मुदम् ॥ 74.45 ॥

tatastaṁ suṣuve putraṁ sā mṛgī lakṣaṇānvitam tasmin jāte ca bhūtāni sarvāṇi prayayurmudam

Thereafter that doe gave birth to that son, endowed with auspicious marks; at his birth all beings were filled with joy.

Verse 46 (markandeya.74.46)

विशेषतश्च राजासौ पुत्रे जाते महाबले । सा विमुक्ता मृगी शापात् प्राप लोकाननुत्तमान् ॥ 74.46 ॥

viśeṣataśca rājāsau putre jāte mahābale sā vimuktā mṛgī śāpāt prāpa lokānanuttamān

Above all the king rejoiced at the birth of his mighty son; and that doe, freed from the curse, attained the highest worlds.

Verse 47 (markandeya.74.47)

ततस्तस्यर्षयः सर्वे समेत्य मुनिसत्तम । अवेक्ष्य भाविनीमृद्धिं नाम चक्रुर्महात्मनः ॥ 74.47 ॥

tatastasyarṣayaḥ sarve sametya munisattama avekṣya bhāvinīmṛddhiṁ nāma cakrurmahātmanaḥ

Then all the sages of that place gathered, O best of sages, and, foreseeing that great soul's future greatness, gave him a name.

Verse 48 (markandeya.74.48)

तामसीं भजमानायां योनिं मातर्यजायत । तमसा चावृते लोके तामसोऽयं भविष्यति ॥ 74.48 ॥

tāmasīṁ bhajamānāyāṁ yoniṁ mātaryajāyata tamasā cāvṛte loke tāmaso'yaṁ bhaviṣyati

"Since he was born from a mother who took on a nature of darkness, and was born into a world enveloped in darkness, he shall be called Tamasa."

Verse 49 (markandeya.74.49)

ततः स तामसस्तेन पित्रा संवर्धितो वने । जातबुद्धिरुवाचेदं पितरं मुनिसत्तम ॥ 74.49 ॥

tataḥ sa tāmasastena pitrā saṁvardhito vane jātabuddhiruvācedaṁ pitaraṁ munisattama

That Tamasa, raised by his father in the forest, having attained understanding, then spoke thus to his father, O best of sages.

Verse 50 (markandeya.74.50)

कस्त्वं तात कथं वाहं पुत्रो माता च का मम । किमर्थमागतश्च त्वमेतत् सत्यं ब्रवीहि मे ॥ 74.50 ॥

kastvaṁ tāta kathaṁ vāhaṁ putro mātā ca kā mama kimarthamāgataśca tvametat satyaṁ bravīhi me

"Who are you, father? How am I your son, and who is my mother? For what purpose have you come here? Tell me this truthfully."

Verse 51 (markandeya.74.51)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततः पिता यथावृत्तं स्वराज्यच्यावनादिकम् । तस्याचष्टे महाबहुः पुत्रस्य जगतीपतिः ॥ 74.51 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tataḥ pitā yathāvṛttaṁ svarājyacyāvanādikam tasyācaṣṭe mahābahuḥ putrasya jagatīpatiḥ

Markandeya said: Then that mighty-armed lord of the earth, the father, related to his son the whole account of his fall from his kingdom, exactly as it had happened.

Verse 52 (markandeya.74.52)

श्रुत्वा तत् सकलं सोऽपि समाराध्य च भास्करम् । अवाप दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि ससंहाराण्यशेषतः ॥ 74.52 ॥

śrutvā tat sakalaṁ so'pi samārādhya ca bhāskaram avāpa divyānyastrāṇi sasaṁhārāṇyaśeṣataḥ

Hearing all this, he too worshipped the Sun-god and obtained all the divine weapons, together with their means of withdrawal.

Verse 53 (markandeya.74.53)

कृतास्त्रस्तानरीन् जित्वा पितुरानीय चान्तिकम् । अनुज्ञातान् मुनोचाथ तेन स्वं धर्ममास्थितः ॥ 74.53 ॥

kṛtāstrastānarīn jitvā piturānīya cāntikam anujñātān munocātha tena svaṁ dharmamāsthitaḥ

Having gained the weapons, he conquered the enemies who had defeated his father, brought them before his father, and, with the sage's leave, established himself in his own duty.

Verse 54 (markandeya.74.54)

पितापि तस्य स्वान् लोकांस्तपोयज्ञसमार्जितान् । विसृष्टदेहः संप्राप्तो दृष्ट्वा पुत्रमुखं सुखम् ॥ 74.54 ॥

pitāpi tasya svān lokāṁstapoyajñasamārjitān visṛṣṭadehaḥ saṁprāpto dṛṣṭvā putramukhaṁ sukham

His father too, having seen his son's happy face, gave up his body and attained his own worlds, earned through austerity and sacrifice.

Verse 55 (markandeya.74.55)

जित्वा समस्तां पृथिवीं तामसाख्यः स पार्थिवः । तामसाख्यो मनुरभूत्तस्य मन्वन्तरं शृणु ॥ 74.55 ॥

jitvā samastāṁ pṛthivīṁ tāmasākhyaḥ sa pārthivaḥ tāmasākhyo manurabhūttasya manvantaraṁ śṛṇu

Having conquered the whole earth, that king named Tamasa became Manu Tamasa — hear now his manvantara.

Verse 56 (markandeya.74.56)

ये देवा यत्पतिर्यश्च देवेन्द्रो ये तथर्षयः । ये पुत्राश्च मनोस्तस्य पृथिवीपरिपालकाः ॥ 74.56 ॥

ye devā yatpatiryaśca devendro ye tatharṣayaḥ ye putrāśca manostasya pṛthivīparipālakāḥ

The gods who were there, their lord, who was Indra of the gods, and the sages likewise, and the sons of that Manu, protectors of the earth —

Verse 57 (markandeya.74.57)

सत्यास्तथान्ये सुधियः सुरूपा हरयस्तथा । एते देवगणास्तत्र सप्तविंशतिका मुने ॥ 74.57 ॥

satyāstathānye sudhiyaḥ surūpā harayastathā ete devagaṇāstatra saptaviṁśatikā mune

O sage, the Satyas, the other wise ones, the Surupas, and the Harayas likewise — these were the twenty-seven groups of gods there.

Verse 58 (markandeya.74.58)

महाबलो महावीर्यः शतयज्ञोपलक्षितः । शिखिरिन्द्रस्तथा तेषां देवानामभवद्विभुः ॥ 74.58 ॥

mahābalo mahāvīryaḥ śatayajñopalakṣitaḥ śikhirindrastathā teṣāṁ devānāmabhavadvibhuḥ

Mighty, of great valor, marked by a hundred sacrifices, Shikhi became the lord of those gods.

Verse 59 (markandeya.74.59)

ज्योतिर्धर्मा पृथुः काव्यश्चैत्रोऽग्निर्वलकस्तथा । पीवरश्च तथा ब्रह्मन् ! सप्त सप्तर्षयोऽभवन् ॥ 74.59 ॥

jyotirdharmā pṛthuḥ kāvyaścaitro'gnirvalakastathā pīvaraśca tathā brahman ! sapta saptarṣayo'bhavan

Jyotirdharma, Prithu, Kavya, Chaitra, Agni, Valaka, and, O Brahmin, Pivara too — these seven became the Seven Sages.

Verse 60 (markandeya.74.60)

नरः क्षान्तिः शान्तदान्तजानुजङ्घादयस्तथा । पुत्रास्तु तामसस्यासन् राजानः सुमहाबलाः ॥ 74.60 ॥

naraḥ kṣāntiḥ śāntadāntajānujaṅghādayastathā putrāstu tāmasasyāsan rājānaḥ sumahābalāḥ

Nara, Kshanti, Shanta, Danta, Janujangha and the rest — these were the sons of Tamasa, kings of very great might.

Verse 61 (markandeya.74.61)

इत्येतत्तामसं विप्र मन्वन्तरमुदाहृतम् । यः पठेत् शृणुयाद्वापि तमसा सन बाध्यते ॥ 74.61 ॥

ityetattāmasaṁ vipra manvantaramudāhṛtam yaḥ paṭhet śṛṇuyādvāpi tamasā sana bādhyate

O Brahmin, thus has this Tamasa manvantara been related; whoever reads or hears it is never troubled by darkness.