The Birth of Chakshusha Manu

Verse 1 (markandeya.76.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच इत्येतत् कथितं तुभ्यं पञ्च मन्वन्तरं तव । चाक्षुषस्य मनोः षष्ठं श्रूयतामिदमन्तरम् ॥ 76.1 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca ityetat kathitaṁ tubhyaṁ pañca manvantaraṁ tava cākṣuṣasya manoḥ ṣaṣṭhaṁ śrūyatāmidamantaram

Thus have I told you of the five Manvantaras. Now hear this sixth interval, that of Chakshusha Manu.

Verse 2 (markandeya.76.2)

अन्यजन्मनि जातोऽसौ चक्षुषः परमेष्ठिनः । चाक्षुषत्वमतस्तस्य जन्मन्यस्मिन्नपि द्विज ॥ 76.2 ॥

anyajanmani jāto 'sau cakṣuṣaḥ parameṣṭhinaḥ cākṣuṣatvamatastasya janmanyasminnapi dvija

In another birth he was born as the son of Chakshus, the supreme one; hence his designation "Chakshusha" applies to him even in this present birth too, O brahmin.

Verse 3 (markandeya.76.3)

जातं माता निजोत्सङ्गे स्थितमुल्लाप्य तं पुनः । परिष्वजति हार्देन पुनरुल्लापयत्यथ ॥ 76.3 ॥

jātaṁ mātā nijotsaṅge sthitamullāpya taṁ punaḥ pariṣvajati hārdena punarullāpayatyatha

After he was born, his mother, holding him in her lap, would speak fondly to him and embrace him with affection again and again, then speak to him once more.

Verse 4 (markandeya.76.4)

जातिस्मरः स जातो वै मातुरुत्सङ्गमास्थितः । जहास तं तदा माता संक्रुद्धा वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ 76.4 ॥

jātismaraḥ sa jāto vai māturutsaṅgamāsthitaḥ jahāsa taṁ tadā mātā saṁkruddhā vākyamabravīt

Being born with the memory of his past lives, while resting in his mother's lap he laughed. His mother, angered by this, then spoke these words to him.

Verse 5 (markandeya.76.5)

भीतास्मि किमिदं वत्स ! हासो यद्वदने तव । अकालबोधः सञ्जातः कच्चित् पश्यसि शोभनम् ॥ 76.5 ॥

bhītāsmi kimidaṁ vatsa ! hāso yadvadane tava akālabodhaḥ sañjātaḥ kaccit paśyasi śobhanam

"I am frightened, my child — what is this laughter on your face? Has some untimely awareness arisen in you? Do you see something auspicious?"

Verse 6 (markandeya.76.6)

पुत्र उवाच मामत्तुमिच्छति पुरो मार्जारी किम न पश्यसि । अन्तर्धानगता चेयं द्वितीया जातहारिणी ॥ 76.6 ॥

putra uvāca māmattumicchati puro mārjārī kima na paśyasi antardhānagatā ceyaṁ dvitīyā jātahāriṇī

"A cat wishes to devour me before you — do you not see her? And here is a second one too, unseen, the child-snatching demoness."

Verse 7 (markandeya.76.7)

पुत्रप्रीत्या च भवती सहार्दा मामवेक्षती । उल्लाप्योल्लाप्य बहुशः परिष्वजति मां यतः ॥ 76.7 ॥

putraprītyā ca bhavatī sahārdā māmavekṣatī ullāpyollāpya bahuśaḥ pariṣvajati māṁ yataḥ

"You look at me with a mother's tender love, and out of affection speak to me again and again, and embrace me repeatedly."

Verse 8 (markandeya.76.8)

उद्भूतपुलका स्नेहसम्भवास्त्राविलेक्षणा । ततो ममागतो हासः शृणु चाप्यत्र कारणम् ॥ 76.8 ॥

udbhūtapulakā snehasambhavāstrāvilekṣaṇā tato mamāgato hāsaḥ śṛṇu cāpyatra kāraṇam

"Your body thrills with affection, your eyes are clouded with tears born of love — that is why laughter has come to me; hear now the reason for it."

Verse 9 (markandeya.76.9)

स्वार्थे प्रसक्ता मार्जारी प्रसक्तं मामवेक्षते । तथान्तर्धानगा चैव द्वितीया जातहारिणी ॥ 76.9 ॥

svārthe prasaktā mārjārī prasaktaṁ māmavekṣate tathāntardhānagā caiva dvitīyā jātahāriṇī

"The cat, intent on her own purpose, watches me with the same intentness; and so too does the second, unseen child-snatcher."

Verse 10 (markandeya.76.10)

स्वार्थाय स्निग्धहृदया यथैवैते ममोपरि । प्रवृत्ते स्वार्थमास्थाय तथैव प्रतिभासि मे ॥ 76.10 ॥

svārthāya snigdhahṛdayā yathaivaite mamopari pravṛtte svārthamāsthāya tathaiva pratibhāsi me

"Just as these two, tender-hearted toward me, act only for their own purpose while directed at me, so too you appear to me — acting for your own end."

Verse 11 (markandeya.76.11)

किन्तु मदुपभोगाय मार्जारी जातहारिणी । त्वन्तु क्रमेणोपभोग्यं मत्तः फलमभीप्ससि ॥ 76.11 ॥

kintu madupabhogāya mārjārī jātahāriṇī tvantu krameṇopabhogyaṁ mattaḥ phalamabhīpsasi

"But the cat and the child-snatcher want me for their own enjoyment, to devour me; whereas you desire from me a fruit to be enjoyed only in due course."

Verse 12 (markandeya.76.12)

न मां जानासि कोऽप्येष न चैवापकृतं मया । सङ्गतं नातिकालीनं पञ्चसप्तदिनात्मकम् ॥ 76.12 ॥

na māṁ jānāsi ko 'pyeṣa na caivāpakṛtaṁ mayā saṅgataṁ nātikālīnaṁ pañcasaptadinātmakam

"You do not even truly know who I am, nor have I done you any good. Our connection is barely a few days old — a matter of five or seven days."

Verse 13 (markandeya.76.13)

तथापि स्त्रिह्यसे सास्त्रा परिष्वजसि चाप्यति । तातेति वत्स ! भद्रेति निर्व्यलीकं ब्रवीषि माम् ॥ 76.13 ॥

tathāpi strihyase sāstrā pariṣvajasi cāpyati tāteti vatsa ! bhadreti nirvyalīkaṁ bravīṣi mām

"And yet you melt with love, your eyes filled with tears, and embrace me so fervently, calling me, without any pretense, 'dear one,' 'child,' 'auspicious one.'"

Verse 14 (markandeya.76.14)

मातोवाच न त्वाहमुपकारार्थं वत्स ! प्रीत्या परिष्वजे । न चेदेतद्भवत्प्रीत्यै परित्यक्तास्म्यहं त्वया ॥ 76.14 ॥

mātovāca na tvāhamupakārārthaṁ vatsa ! prītyā pariṣvaje na cedetadbhavatprītyai parityaktāsmyahaṁ tvayā

"It is not for any gain, my child, that I embrace you with love. If this were not for your own good, you would long ago have abandoned me."

Verse 15 (markandeya.76.15)

स्वार्थो मया परित्यक्तो यस्त्वत्तो मे भविष्यति । इत्युक्त्वा सा तमुत्सृज्य निष्क्रान्ता सूतिकागृहात् ॥ 76.15 ॥

svārtho mayā parityakto yastvatto me bhaviṣyati ityuktvā sā tamutsṛjya niṣkrāntā sūtikāgṛhāt

"Whatever self-interest I might have gained through you, I have set it aside." Having said this, she released him and left the birthing-chamber.

Verse 16 (markandeya.76.16)

जडाङ्गबाह्यकरणं शुद्धान्तः करणात्मकम् । जहार तं परित्यक्तं सा तदा जातहारिणी ॥ 76.16 ॥

jaḍāṅgabāhyakaraṇaṁ śuddhāntaḥ karaṇātmakam jahāra taṁ parityaktaṁ sā tadā jātahāriṇī

Then the child-snatching demoness seized that child — inert in his outer limbs and organs, yet pure in his inner faculty — the moment he was left alone.

Verse 17 (markandeya.76.17)

सा हृत्वा तं तदा बालं विक्रान्तस्य महीभृतः । प्रसूतपत्नीशयने न्यस्य तस्याददे सुतम् ॥ 76.17 ॥

sā hṛtvā taṁ tadā bālaṁ vikrāntasya mahībhṛtaḥ prasūtapatnīśayane nyasya tasyādade sutam

Having stolen that infant, she placed him upon the birthing-bed of King Vikranta's wife, and carried off her son in his place.

Verse 18 (markandeya.76.18)

तमप्यन्यगृहे नीत्वा गृहीत्वा तस्य चात्मजम् । तृतीयं भक्षयामास सा क्रमाज्जातहारिणी ॥ 76.18 ॥

tamapyanyagṛhe nītvā gṛhītvā tasya cātmajam tṛtīyaṁ bhakṣayāmāsa sā kramājjātahāriṇī

Taking that one to yet another house, and taking that house's own child in turn, the pitiless demoness then devoured the third child.

Verse 19 (markandeya.76.19)

हृत्वा हृत्वा तृतीयन्तु भक्षयत्यतिनिर्घृणा । करोत्यनुदिनं सा नु परिवर्तन्तथान्ययोः ॥ 76.19 ॥

hṛtvā hṛtvā tṛtīyantu bhakṣayatyatinirghṛṇā karotyanudinaṁ sā nu parivartantathānyayoḥ

Stealing and stealing in this way, she devours the third each time without mercy, and continues this exchange daily between the remaining two.

Verse 20 (markandeya.76.20)

विक्रान्तोऽपि ततस्तस्य सुतस्यैव महीपतिः । कारयामास संस्कारान् राजन्यस्य भवन्ति ये ॥ 76.20 ॥

vikrānto 'pi tatastasya sutasyaiva mahīpatiḥ kārayāmāsa saṁskārān rājanyasya bhavanti ye

King Vikranta, for his part, then had performed for that child — the one placed in his queen's bed — all the sacraments proper to a prince.

Verse 21 (markandeya.76.21)

आनन्देति च नामास्य पिता चक्रे विधानतः । मुदा परमया युक्तो विक्रान्तः स नराधिपः ॥ 76.21 ॥

ānandeti ca nāmāsya pitā cakre vidhānataḥ mudā paramayā yukto vikrāntaḥ sa narādhipaḥ

His father, filled with the greatest joy, duly gave him the name Ananda.

Verse 22 (markandeya.76.22)

कृतोपनयनं तन्तु गुरुराह कुमारकम् । जनन्याः प्रागुपस्थानं क्रियताञ्चाभिवादनम् ॥ 76.22 ॥

kṛtopanayanaṁ tantu gururāha kumārakam jananyāḥ prāgupasthānaṁ kriyatāñcābhivādanam

When his sacred-thread investiture had been performed, the guru told the boy: "Go first before your mother and pay her your respects."

Verse 23 (markandeya.76.23)

स गुरोस्तद्वचः श्रुत्वा विहस्यैवमथाब्रवीत् । वन्द्या मे कतमा माता जननी पालनी नु किम् ॥ 76.23 ॥

sa gurostadvacaḥ śrutvā vihasyaivamathābravīt vandyā me katamā mātā jananī pālanī nu kim

Hearing his guru's words, he laughed and said: "Which mother should I revere — the one who bore me, or the one who raised me?"

Verse 24 (markandeya.76.24)

गुरुरुवाच न त्वियं ते महाभाग ! जनयित्री रुथात्मजा । विक्रान्तस्याग्रमहिषी हैमिनी नाम नामतः ॥ 76.24 ॥

gururuvāca na tviyaṁ te mahābhāga ! janayitrī ruthātmajā vikrāntasyāgramahiṣī haiminī nāma nāmataḥ

The guru said: "O fortunate one, this is not the woman who bore you... she is King Vikranta's chief queen, named Haimini."

Verse 25 (markandeya.76.25)

आनन्द उवाच इयं जनित्री चैत्रस्य विशालग्रमवासिनः । विप्राग्र्यबोधपुत्रस्य योऽस्यां जातोऽन्यतो वचम् ॥ 76.25 ॥

ānanda uvāca iyaṁ janitrī caitrasya viśālagramavāsinaḥ viprāgryabodhaputrasya yo 'syāṁ jāto 'nyato vacam

Ananda said: "She is the mother of Chaitra, who dwells in Vishala village, the one raised as son of the eminent brahmin Bodha, though born through another."

Verse 26 (markandeya.76.26)

गुरुरुवाच कुतस्त्वं कथयानन्द ! चैत्रः को वा त्वयोच्यते । सङ्कटं महदाभाति क्व जातोऽत्र ब्रवीषि किम् ॥ 76.26 ॥

gururuvāca kutastvaṁ kathayānanda ! caitraḥ ko vā tvayocyate saṅkaṭaṁ mahadābhāti kva jāto 'tra bravīṣi kim

The guru said: "Tell me, Ananda, where do you truly come from? Who is this Chaitra you speak of? A great confusion appears here — where were you born? Explain yourself."

Verse 27 (markandeya.76.27)

आनन्द उवाच जातोऽहमवनीन्द्रस्य क्षत्रियस्य गृहे द्विज । तत्पत्न्यां गिरिभद्रायामाददे जातहारिणी ॥ 76.27 ॥

ānanda uvāca jāto 'hamavanīndrasya kṣatriyasya gṛhe dvija tatpatnyāṁ giribhadrāyāmādade jātahāriṇī

Ananda said: "O brahmin, I was born in the house of a kshatriya king, to his wife Giribhadra. The child-snatcher took me from there."

Verse 28 (markandeya.76.28)

तयात्र मुक्तो हैमिन्या गृहीत्वा च सुतञ्च सा । बोधस्य द्विजमुख्यस्य गृहे नीतवती पुनः ॥ 76.28 ॥

tayātra mukto haiminyā gṛhītvā ca sutañca sā bodhasya dvijamukhyasya gṛhe nītavatī punaḥ

"She left me here with Haimini, and, taking her son in turn, carried him onward to the house of Bodha, foremost of brahmins."

Verse 29 (markandeya.76.29)

भक्षयामास च सुतं तस्य बोधद्विजन्मनः । स तत्र द्विजसंस्कारैः संस्कृतो हैमिनीसुतः ॥ 76.29 ॥

bhakṣayāmāsa ca sutaṁ tasya bodhadvijanmanaḥ sa tatra dvijasaṁskāraiḥ saṁskṛto haiminīsutaḥ

"She devoured the son born to that brahmin Bodha; and it was Haimini's own son who was there consecrated, in his place, with a brahmin's sacraments."

Verse 30 (markandeya.76.30)

वयमत्र महाभाग ! संस्कृता गुरुणा त्वया । मया तव वचः कार्यमुपैमि कतमां गुरो ॥ 76.30 ॥

vayamatra mahābhāga ! saṁskṛtā guruṇā tvayā mayā tava vacaḥ kāryamupaimi katamāṁ guro

"Thus we have both here been given our sacraments by you, our teacher, O illustrious one. I must obey your word — but tell me, teacher, to which mother should I now go?"

Verse 31 (markandeya.76.31)

गुरुरुवाच अतीव गहनं वत्स ! सङ्कटं महदागतम् । न वेद्मि किञ्चिन्मोहेन भ्रमन्तीव हि बुद्धयः ॥ 76.31 ॥

gururuvāca atīva gahanaṁ vatsa ! saṅkaṭaṁ mahadāgatam na vedmi kiñcinmohena bhramantīva hi buddhayaḥ

The guru said: "This is an extremely deep and grave confusion that has arisen, my child. I no longer know anything — my mind seems to reel in bewilderment."

Verse 32 (markandeya.76.32)

आनन्द उवाच मोहस्यावसरः कोऽत्र जगत्येवं व्यवस्थिते । कः कस्य पुत्रो विप्रर्षे ! को वा कस्य नु बान्धवः ॥ 76.32 ॥

ānanda uvāca mohasyāvasaraḥ ko 'tra jagatyevaṁ vyavasthite kaḥ kasya putro viprarṣe ! ko vā kasya nu bāndhavaḥ

Ananda said: "What room is there for bewilderment, when the world itself is ordered this way, O sage among brahmins? Who indeed is whose son? Who indeed is whose kinsman?"

Verse 33 (markandeya.76.33)

आरभ्य जन्मनो नॄणां सम्बन्धित्वमुपैति यः । अन्ये सम्बन्धिनो विप्र ! मृत्युना सन्निवर्तिताः ॥ 76.33 ॥

ārabhya janmano nṝṇāṁ sambandhitvamupaiti yaḥ anye sambandhino vipra ! mṛtyunā sannivartitāḥ

"The bond that begins with a person's birth continues only for a time, O brahmin; every other bond too is undone again by death."

Verse 34 (markandeya.76.34)

अत्रापि जातस्य सतः सम्बन्धोयोऽस्य बान्धवैः । सोऽप्यस्तङ्गते देहे प्रयात्येषोऽखिलक्रमः ॥ 76.34 ॥

atrāpi jātasya sataḥ sambandhoyo 'sya bāndhavaiḥ so 'pyastaṅgate dehe prayātyeṣo 'khilakramaḥ

"Even the bond that one, once born, has with kinsmen departs when the body sets like the sun. This is the whole order of things."

Verse 35 (markandeya.76.35)

अतो ब्रवीमि संसारे वसतः को न बान्धवः । को वापि सततं बन्धुः किं वो विभ्राम्यते मतिः ॥ 76.35 ॥

ato bravīmi saṁsāre vasataḥ ko na bāndhavaḥ ko vāpi satataṁ bandhuḥ kiṁ vo vibhrāmyate matiḥ

"Therefore I say — for one dwelling in this cycle of existence, who indeed is not a kinsman? And who is a kinsman forever? Why does your mind wander in confusion?"

Verse 36 (markandeya.76.36)

पितृद्वयं मया प्राप्तमस्मिन्नेव हि जन्मनि । मातृद्वयञ्च किञ्चित्रं यदन्यद् देहसम्भवे ॥ 76.36 ॥

pitṛdvayaṁ mayā prāptamasminneva hi janmani mātṛdvayañca kiñcitraṁ yadanyad dehasambhave

"In this very birth I have obtained two fathers, and two mothers as well, each somewhat different — how strange indeed is this coming-into-being of the body!"

Verse 37 (markandeya.76.37)

सोऽहं तपः करिष्यामि त्वया यो ह्यस्य भूपतेः । विशालग्रामतः पुत्रश्चैत्र आनीयतामिह ॥ 76.37 ॥

so 'haṁ tapaḥ kariṣyāmi tvayā yo hyasya bhūpateḥ viśālagrāmataḥ putraścaitra ānīyatāmiha

"As for me, I shall now undertake austerities. But let that son of this king, Chaitra, be brought here from Vishala village."

Verse 38 (markandeya.76.38)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततः स विस्मितो राजा सभार्यः सह बन्धुभिः । तस्मान्निवर्त्य ममतामनुमेने वनाय तम् ॥ 76.38 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tataḥ sa vismito rājā sabhāryaḥ saha bandhubhiḥ tasmānnivartya mamatāmanumene vanāya tam

Then the astonished king, together with his queen and kinsmen, set aside his attachment to Ananda and consented to his going to the forest.

Verse 39 (markandeya.76.39)

चैत्रमानीय तनयं राज्ययोग्यं चकार सः । संमान्य ब्राह्मणं येन पुत्रबुद्ध्या स पालितः ॥ 76.39 ॥

caitramānīya tanayaṁ rājyayogyaṁ cakāra saḥ saṁmānya brāhmaṇaṁ yena putrabuddhyā sa pālitaḥ

He had Chaitra, his true son, brought and made fit for kingship, and duly honored the brahmin by whom that son had been raised with a father's affection.

Verse 40 (markandeya.76.40)

सोऽप्यानन्दस्तपस्तेपे बाल एव महावने । कर्मणां क्षुपणार्थाय विमुक्तेः परिपन्थिनाम् ॥ 76.40 ॥

so 'pyānandastapastepe bāla eva mahāvane karmaṇāṁ kṣupaṇārthāya vimukteḥ paripanthinām

Ananda, though still a child, then practiced austerity in the great forest, so as to burn away the deeds that stand in the way of final liberation.

Verse 41 (markandeya.76.41)

तपस्यन्तं ततस्तञ्च प्राह देवः प्रजापतिः । किमर्थं तप्यसे वत्स ! तपस्तीव्रं वदस्व तत् ॥ 76.41 ॥

tapasyantaṁ tatastañca prāha devaḥ prajāpatiḥ kimarthaṁ tapyase vatsa ! tapastīvraṁ vadasva tat

As he practiced austerity, the god Prajapati addressed him: "For what purpose, my child, do you undertake such fierce austerity? Tell me."

Verse 42 (markandeya.76.42)

आनन्द उवाच आत्मनः शुद्धिकामोऽहं करोमि भगवंस्तपः । बन्धाय मम कर्माणि यानि तत्क्षपणोन्मुखः ॥ 76.42 ॥

ānanda uvāca ātmanaḥ śuddhikāmo 'haṁ karomi bhagavaṁstapaḥ bandhāya mama karmāṇi yāni tatkṣapaṇonmukhaḥ

Ananda said: "O Lord, I perform this austerity desiring the purification of my self, intent on burning away those deeds of mine that bind."

Verse 43 (markandeya.76.43)

ब्रह्मोवाच क्षीणाधिकारो भवति मुक्तियोग्यो न कर्मवान् । सत्त्वाधिकारवान् मुक्तिमवाप्स्यति ततो भवान् ॥ 76.43 ॥

brahmovāca kṣīṇādhikāro bhavati muktiyogyo na karmavān sattvādhikāravān muktimavāpsyati tato bhavān

Brahma said: "One whose entitlement to action is exhausted becomes fit for liberation — not one who still has karma to work out. You still possess an entitlement rooted in sattva; only after that shall you attain liberation."

Verse 44 (markandeya.76.44)

भवता मनुना भाव्यं षष्ठेन व्रज तत् कुरु । अलन्ते तपसा तस्मिन् कृते मुक्तिमवाप्स्यसि ॥ 76.44 ॥

bhavatā manunā bhāvyaṁ ṣaṣṭhena vraja tat kuru alante tapasā tasmin kṛte muktimavāpsyasi

"You are destined to become the sixth Manu — go and fulfill that. When it is completed, then, through this austerity, you shall attain liberation at its end."

Verse 45 (markandeya.76.45)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच इत्युक्तो ब्रह्मणा सोऽपि तथेत्युक्त्वा महामतिः । तत्कर्माभिमुखो यातस्तपसो विरराम ह ॥ 76.45 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca ityukto brahmaṇā so 'pi tathetyuktvā mahāmatiḥ tatkarmābhimukho yātastapaso virarāma ha

Thus addressed by Brahma, that great-minded one said "so be it," and, turning to that task, ceased from his austerity.

Verse 46 (markandeya.76.46)

चाक्षुषेत्याह तं ब्रह्मा तपसो विनिवर्तयन् । पूर्वनाम्ना बभूवाथ प्रख्यातश्चाक्षुषो मनुः ॥ 76.46 ॥

cākṣuṣetyāha taṁ brahmā tapaso vinivartayan pūrvanāmnā babhūvātha prakhyātaścākṣuṣo manuḥ

As he turned him back from his austerities, Brahma called him "Chakshusha" — and by that former name he then became renowned as Chakshusha Manu.

Verse 47 (markandeya.76.47)

उपयेमे विदर्भां स सुतामुग्रस्य भूभृतः । तस्याञ्चोत्पादयामास पुत्रान् प्रख्यातविक्रमान् ॥ 76.47 ॥

upayeme vidarbhāṁ sa sutāmugrasya bhūbhṛtaḥ tasyāñcotpādayāmāsa putrān prakhyātavikramān

He married Vidarbha, daughter of King Ugra, and begot upon her sons of renowned valor.

Verse 48 (markandeya.76.48)

तस्य मन्वन्तरेशस्य येऽन्तरे त्रिदशा द्विज । ये चर्षयस्तथैवेन्द्रो ये सुताश्चास्य तान् शृणु ॥ 76.48 ॥

tasya manvantareśasya ye 'ntare tridaśā dvija ye carṣayastathaivendro ye sutāścāsya tān śṛṇu

O brahmin, hear now of the gods, the sages, the Indra, and the sons who belonged to the interval of that lord of the age.

Verse 49 (markandeya.76.49)

आप्या नाम सुरास्तत्र तेषामेकोऽष्टको गणः । प्रख्यातकर्मणां विप्र ! यज्ञे हव्यभुजामयम् ॥ 76.49 ॥

āpyā nāma surāstatra teṣāmeko 'ṣṭako gaṇaḥ prakhyātakarmaṇāṁ vipra ! yajñe havyabhujāmayam

There, one group of eight gods, renowned for their deeds and receivers of the sacrificial offering, O brahmin, was called the Apyas.

Verse 50 (markandeya.76.50)

प्रख्यातबलवीर्याणां प्रभामण्डलदुर्दृशाम् । द्वितीयश्च प्रसूताख्यो देवानामष्टको गणः ॥ 76.50 ॥

prakhyātabalavīryāṇāṁ prabhāmaṇḍaladurdṛśām dvitīyaśca prasūtākhyo devānāmaṣṭako gaṇaḥ

A second group of eight gods, called Prasuta, was renowned for strength and valor, hard to look upon for the halo of their splendor.

Verse 51 (markandeya.76.51)

तथैवाष्टक एवान्यो भव्याख्यो देवतागणः । चतुर्थश्च गणस्तत्र यूथगाख्यस्तथाष्टकः ॥ 76.51 ॥

tathaivāṣṭaka evānyo bhavyākhyo devatāgaṇaḥ caturthaśca gaṇastatra yūthagākhyastathāṣṭakaḥ

Likewise another group of eight deities was called Bhavya; and a fourth group there, also of eight, was called Yuthaga.

Verse 52 (markandeya.76.52)

लेखसंज्ञास्तथैवान्ये तत्र मन्वन्तरे द्विज । पञ्चमे च गणे देवास्तत्संज्ञा ह्यमृताशिनः ॥ 76.52 ॥

lekhasaṁjñāstathaivānye tatra manvantare dvija pañcame ca gaṇe devāstatsaṁjñā hyamṛtāśinaḥ

There were others too in that manvantara, O brahmin, called Lekha; and in a fifth group were gods known by that same name, the eaters of ambrosia.

Verse 53 (markandeya.76.53)

शतं क्रतूनामाहृत्य यस्तेषामधिपोऽभवत् । मनोजवस्तथैवेन्द्रः संख्यातो यज्ञभागभुक् ॥ 76.53 ॥

śataṁ kratūnāmāhṛtya yasteṣāmadhipo 'bhavat manojavastathaivendraḥ saṁkhyāto yajñabhāgabhuk

He who, having performed a hundred sacrifices, became their lord and was reckoned as their Indra, receiving the share of the sacrifice, was Manojava.

Verse 54 (markandeya.76.54)

सुमेधा विरजाश्चैव हविष्मानुन्नतो मधुः । अतिनामा सहिष्णुश्च सप्तासन्निति चर्षयः ॥ 76.54 ॥

sumedhā virajāścaiva haviṣmānunnato madhuḥ atināmā sahiṣṇuśca saptāsanniti carṣayaḥ

Sumedhas, Viraja, Havishman, Unnata, Madhu, Atinaman, and Sahishnu — these seven were the sages of that age.

Verse 55 (markandeya.76.55)

ऊरु-पुरु-शतद्युम्नप्रमुखाः सुमहाबलाः । चाक्षुषस्य मनोः पुत्राः पृथिवीपतयोऽभवन् ॥ 76.55 ॥

ūru-puru-śatadyumnapramukhāḥ sumahābalāḥ cākṣuṣasya manoḥ putrāḥ pṛthivīpatayo 'bhavan

Uru, Puru, Shatadyumna and others foremost among them, all of great might, were the sons of Chakshusha Manu, and they became rulers of the earth.

Verse 56 (markandeya.76.56)

एतत्ते कथितं षष्ठं मया मन्वन्तरं द्विज । चाक्षुषस्य तथा जन्म चरितञ्च महात्मनः ॥ 76.56 ॥

etatte kathitaṁ ṣaṣṭhaṁ mayā manvantaraṁ dvija cākṣuṣasya tathā janma caritañca mahātmanaḥ

Thus, O brahmin, I have told you of this sixth manvantara, and likewise the birth and deeds of the great-souled Chakshusha.

Verse 57 (markandeya.76.57)

साम्प्रतं वर्तते योऽयं नाम्ना वैवस्वतो मनुः । सप्तमीयेऽन्तरे तस्य देवाद्यास्तान् शृणुष्व मे ॥ 76.57 ॥

sāmprataṁ vartate yo 'yaṁ nāmnā vaivasvato manuḥ saptamīye 'ntare tasya devādyāstān śṛṇuṣva me

Now hear from me of the one who reigns at present, named Vaivasvata Manu, and of the gods and others of his seventh interval.

Verse 58 (markandeya.76.58)

य इदं कीर्तयेद् धीमान् चाक्षुषस्यान्तरं भुवि । शृणुते च लभेत् पुत्रानारोग्यसुखसम्पदम् ॥ 76.58 ॥

ya idaṁ kīrtayed dhīmān cākṣuṣasyāntaraṁ bhuvi śṛṇute ca labhet putrānārogyasukhasampadam

Whoever, being wise, proclaims on this earth this account of the interval of Chakshusha, or hears it proclaimed, obtains sons, health, happiness, and prosperity.