The Paring of Surya's Radiance

Verse 1 (markandeya.78.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततस्तं तुष्टुवुर्देवास्तथा देवर्षयो रविम् । वाग्भिरोड्यमशेषस्य त्रैलोक्यस्य समागताः ॥ 78.1 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tatastaṁ tuṣṭuvurdevāstathā devarṣayo ravim vāgbhiroḍyamaśeṣasya trailokyasya samāgatāḥ

Then the gods and the divine sages, having assembled, praised the Sun with hymns proclaiming the greatness of the entire threefold world.

Verse 2 (markandeya.78.2)

देवा ऊचुः नमस्ते ऋक्स्वरूपाय सामरूपाय ते नमः । यजुः स्वरूपरूपाय साम्नान्धामवते नमः ॥ 78.2 ॥

devā ūcuḥ namaste ṛksvarūpāya sāmarūpāya te namaḥ yajuḥ svarūparūpāya sāmnāndhāmavate namaḥ

The gods said: "Salutation to you who are of the very form of the Rig, and of the form of the Sama; salutation to you whose form is the Yajus, possessed of the radiance of the Sama."

Verse 3 (markandeya.78.3)

ज्ञानैकधामभूताय निर्धूततमसे नमः । शुद्धज्योतिः स्वरूपाय विशुद्धायामलात्मने ॥ 78.3 ॥

jñānaikadhāmabhūtāya nirdhūtatamase namaḥ śuddhajyotiḥ svarūpāya viśuddhāyāmalātmane

"Salutation to you who are the sole abode of knowledge, from whom all darkness has been shaken off; to you of pure luminous form, utterly stainless and taintless of self."

Verse 4 (markandeya.78.4)

वरिष्ठाय वरेण्याय परस्मै परमात्मने । नमोऽखिलजगद्व्यापिस्वरूपायात्ममूर्तये ॥ 78.4 ॥

variṣṭhāya vareṇyāya parasmai paramātmane namo 'khilajagadvyāpisvarūpāyātmamūrtaye

"Salutation to the most excellent, the most worthy of choice, the supreme, the Supreme Self; to you whose very form pervades the whole universe, the embodiment of the Self."

Verse 5 (markandeya.78.5)

इदं स्तोत्रवरं रम्यं श्रोतव्यं श्रद्धया नरैः । शिष्यो भूत्वा समाधिस्थो दत्त्वा देयं गुरोरपि ॥ 78.5 ॥

idaṁ stotravaraṁ ramyaṁ śrotavyaṁ śraddhayā naraiḥ śiṣyo bhūtvā samādhistho dattvā deyaṁ gurorapi

This excellent and beautiful hymn should be heard by men with faith, having become a disciple, established in concentration, after giving to one's guru what is due.

Verse 6 (markandeya.78.6)

न शून्यभूतैः श्रोतव्यमेतत्तु सफलं भवेत् । सर्वकारणभूताय निष्ठायै ज्ञानचेतसाम् ॥ 78.6 ॥

na śūnyabhūtaiḥ śrotavyametattu saphalaṁ bhavet sarvakāraṇabhūtāya niṣṭhāyai jñānacetasām

It should not be recited to those whose minds are empty of faith — only then does it bear fruit — for it leads, in the minds of those set on knowledge, to steadfastness in him who is the cause of all things.

Verse 7 (markandeya.78.7)

नमः सूर्यस्वरूपाय प्रकाशात्मस्वरूपिणे । भास्कराय नमस्तुभ्यं तथा दिनकृते नमः ॥ 78.7 ॥

namaḥ sūryasvarūpāya prakāśātmasvarūpiṇe bhāskarāya namastubhyaṁ tathā dinakṛte namaḥ

"Salutation to you who are of the very form of the sun, whose nature is light itself; salutation to you, the illuminator, and salutation to you, the maker of the day."

Verse 8 (markandeya.78.8)

शर्वरीहेतवे चैव सन्ध्याज्योत्स्नाकृते नमः । त्वं सर्वमेतद् भगवन् जगदुद्भ्रमता त्वया ॥ 78.8 ॥

śarvarīhetave caiva sandhyājyotsnākṛte namaḥ tvaṁ sarvametad bhagavan jagadudbhramatā tvayā

"Salutation to you, the cause of night, and the maker of twilight and moonlight; you, O Lord, are this whole world, set in motion by you."

Verse 9 (markandeya.78.9)

भ्रमत्याविद्धमखिलं ब्रह्माण्डं सचराचरम् । त्वदंशुभिरिदं स्पृष्टं सर्वं सञ्जायते शुचि ॥ 78.9 ॥

bhramatyāviddhamakhilaṁ brahmāṇḍaṁ sacarācaram tvadaṁśubhiridaṁ spṛṣṭaṁ sarvaṁ sañjāyate śuci

"Set whirling by you, the whole universe revolves, with all that moves and does not move; touched by your rays, all this becomes pure."

Verse 10 (markandeya.78.10)

क्रियते त्वत्करैः स्पर्शाज्जलादीनां पवित्रता । होमदानादिको धर्मो नोपकाराय जायते ॥ 78.10 ॥

kriyate tvatkaraiḥ sparśājjalādīnāṁ pavitratā homadānādiko dharmo nopakārāya jāyate

"The purity of water and other things is brought about by the touch of your rays; without your rays, oblations, gifts, and other pious rites bring no benefit."

Verse 11 (markandeya.78.11)

तावद्यावन्न संयोगि जगदेतत् त्वदंशुभिः । ऋचस्ते सकला ह्येता यजूंष्येतानि चान्यतः ॥ 78.11 ॥

tāvadyāvanna saṁyogi jagadetat tvadaṁśubhiḥ ṛcaste sakalā hyetā yajūṁṣyetāni cānyataḥ

"This holds only so long as this world is not touched by your rays. All these verses of the Rig are indeed yours, and likewise these formulas of the Yajus."

Verse 12 (markandeya.78.12)

सकलानि च सामानि निपतन्ति त्वदड्गतः । ऋङ्मयस्त्वं जगन्नाथ ! त्वमेव च यजुर्मयः ॥ 78.12 ॥

sakalāni ca sāmāni nipatanti tvadaḍgataḥ ṛṅmayastvaṁ jagannātha ! tvameva ca yajurmayaḥ

"And all the Sama chants proceed from your very limbs. You, O lord of the world, consist of the Rig, and you alone consist of the Yajus."

Verse 13 (markandeya.78.13)

यतः साममयश्चैव ततो नाथ ! त्रयीमयः । त्वमेव ब्रह्मणो रूपं परञ्चापरमेव च ॥ 78.13 ॥

yataḥ sāmamayaścaiva tato nātha ! trayīmayaḥ tvameva brahmaṇo rūpaṁ parañcāparameva ca

"Since you likewise consist of the Sama, therefore, O lord, you consist of the whole triple Veda. You alone are the form of Brahman, both the higher and the lower."

Verse 14 (markandeya.78.14)

मूर्तामूर्तस्तथा सूक्ष्मः स्थूलरूपस्तथा स्थितः । निमेषकाष्ठादिमयः कालरूपः क्षयात्मकः । प्रसीद स्वेच्छया रूपं स्वतेजः शमनं कुरु ॥ 78.14 ॥

mūrtāmūrtastathā sūkṣmaḥ sthūlarūpastathā sthitaḥ nimeṣakāṣṭhādimayaḥ kālarūpaḥ kṣayātmakaḥ prasīda svecchayā rūpaṁ svatejaḥ śamanaṁ kuru

"You are both formed and formless, subtle and likewise abiding in gross form; you consist of the moment, the kashtha, and other measures of time, taking the very form of time, whose nature is decay. Be gracious; of your own will, take a form that calms your own radiance."

Verse 15 (markandeya.78.15)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच एवं संस्तूयमानस्तु देवैर्देवर्षिभिस्तथा । मुमोच स्वं तदा तेजस्तेजसां राशिरव्ययः ॥ 78.15 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca evaṁ saṁstūyamānastu devairdevarṣibhistathā mumoca svaṁ tadā tejastejasāṁ rāśiravyayaḥ

Thus praised by the gods and the divine sages, that imperishable mass of radiance then released his own splendor.

Verse 16 (markandeya.78.16)

यत्तस्य ऋङ्मयं तेजो भविता तेन मेदिनी । यजुर्मयेनापि दिवं स्वर्गः साममयं रवेः ॥ 78.16 ॥

yattasya ṛṅmayaṁ tejo bhavitā tena medinī yajurmayenāpi divaṁ svargaḥ sāmamayaṁ raveḥ

By that portion of his radiance which consisted of the Rig, the earth was to come into being; by the Yajus-portion, the sky; and by the Sama-portion of the Sun, heaven.

Verse 17 (markandeya.78.17)

शातितास्तेजसो भागा ये त्वष्ट्रा दश पञ्च च । त्वष्ट्रैव तेन शर्वस्य कृतं शूलं महात्मना ॥ 78.17 ॥

śātitāstejaso bhāgā ye tvaṣṭrā daśa pañca ca tvaṣṭraiva tena śarvasya kṛtaṁ śūlaṁ mahātmanā

The portions of that radiance which Tvashtri pared away numbered fifteen; and from that very radiance the great Tvashtri fashioned the trident of Shiva.

Verse 18 (markandeya.78.18)

चक्रं विष्णोर्वसूनाञ्च शङ्कवोऽथ सुदारुणाः । पावकस्य तथा शक्तिः शिबिका धनदस्य च ॥ 78.18 ॥

cakraṁ viṣṇorvasūnāñca śaṅkavo 'tha sudāruṇāḥ pāvakasya tathā śaktiḥ śibikā dhanadasya ca

The discus of Vishnu, and the fearsome spikes of the Vasus, likewise the spear of Agni, and the palanquin of Kubera, the giver of wealth —

Verse 19 (markandeya.78.19)

अन्येषामसुरारीणामस्त्राण्युग्राणि यानि वै । यक्षविद्याधराणाञ्च तानि चक्रे स विश्वकृत् ॥ 78.19 ॥

anyeṣāmasurārīṇāmastrāṇyugrāṇi yāni vai yakṣavidyādharāṇāñca tāni cakre sa viśvakṛt

and the fierce weapons of the other enemies of the gods, and those of the Yakshas and Vidyadharas as well — all these too the maker of all things fashioned.

Verse 20 (markandeya.78.20)

ततश्च षोडशं भागं बिभर्ति भगवान् विभुः । तत्तेजः पञ्चदशधा शातितं विश्वकर्मणा ॥ 78.20 ॥

tataśca ṣoḍaśaṁ bhāgaṁ bibharti bhagavān vibhuḥ tattejaḥ pañcadaśadhā śātitaṁ viśvakarmaṇā

After that, the mighty Lord retains only the sixteenth part of his radiance — the rest having been pared by Vishvakarman into fifteen parts.

Verse 21 (markandeya.78.21)

ततोऽश्वरूपधृग्भानुरुत्तरानगमत् कुरून् । तदृशे तत्र संज्ञाञ्च वडवारूपधारिणीम् ॥ 78.21 ॥

tato 'śvarūpadhṛgbhānuruttarānagamat kurūn tadṛśe tatra saṁjñāñca vaḍavārūpadhāriṇīm

Then the Sun, taking the form of a horse, went to the land of the Uttara Kurus; and there he beheld Sanjna, in the form of a mare.

Verse 22 (markandeya.78.22)

सा च दृष्ट्वा तमायान्तं परपुंसो विशङ्कया । जगाम संमुखं तस्य पृष्ठरक्षणतत्परा ॥ 78.22 ॥

sā ca dṛṣṭvā tamāyāntaṁ parapuṁso viśaṅkayā jagāma saṁmukhaṁ tasya pṛṣṭharakṣaṇatatparā

Seeing him approaching, and suspecting him to be another male, she turned to face him, intent on guarding her hindquarters.

Verse 23 (markandeya.78.23)

ततश्च नासिकायोगं तयोस्तत्र समेतयोः । नासत्यदस्त्रौ तनयावश्वीवक्त्रविनिर्गतौ ॥ 78.23 ॥

tataśca nāsikāyogaṁ tayostatra sametayoḥ nāsatyadastrau tanayāvaśvīvaktravinirgatau

Then, as the two came together there and their muzzles touched, two sons, the Nasatyas, were born, issuing from the mare's mouth.

Verse 24 (markandeya.78.24)

रेतसोऽन्ते च रेवन्तः खड्गी चर्मो तनुत्रधृक् । अश्वारूढः समुद्भूतो बाणतूणसमन्वितः ॥ 78.24 ॥

retaso 'nte ca revantaḥ khaḍgī carmo tanutradhṛk aśvārūḍhaḥ samudbhūto bāṇatūṇasamanvitaḥ

And at the end of that union, Revanta too was born, bearing sword and shield, clad in armor, mounted upon a horse, equipped with bow and quiver.

Verse 25 (markandeya.78.25)

ततः स्वरूपमतुलं दर्शयामास भानुमान् । तस्यैषा च समालोक्य स्वरूपं मुदमाददे ॥ 78.25 ॥

tataḥ svarūpamatulaṁ darśayāmāsa bhānumān tasyaiṣā ca samālokya svarūpaṁ mudamādade

Then the radiant Sun revealed his own incomparable true form; and she, beholding that form, was filled with great delight.

Verse 26 (markandeya.78.26)

स्वरूपधारिणीञ्चैमामानिनाय निजाश्रयम् । संज्ञां भार्यां प्रीतिमतीं भास्करो वारितस्करः ॥ 78.26 ॥

svarūpadhāriṇīñcaimāmānināya nijāśrayam saṁjñāṁ bhāryāṁ prītimatīṁ bhāskaro vāritaskaraḥ

The Sun, that thief of the waters, then brought this Sanjna — now in her own true form and full of love for him — back to his own abode as his wife.

Verse 27 (markandeya.78.27)

ततः पूर्वसुतो योऽस्याः सोऽभूद्वैवस्वतो मनुः । द्वितीयश्च यमः शापाद्धर्मदृष्टिरभूत् सुतः ॥ 78.27 ॥

tataḥ pūrvasuto yo 'syāḥ so 'bhūdvaivasvato manuḥ dvitīyaśca yamaḥ śāpāddharmadṛṣṭirabhūt sutaḥ

Then, of her sons, the first-born became Vaivasvata Manu; and the second, Yama, by reason of the curse, became known as "Dharmadrishti."

Verse 28 (markandeya.78.28)

कृमयो मांसमादाय पादतोऽस्य महीतले । पतिष्यन्तीति शापान्तं तस्य चक्रे पिता स्वयम् ॥ 78.28 ॥

kṛmayo māṁsamādāya pādato 'sya mahītale patiṣyantīti śāpāntaṁ tasya cakre pitā svayam

His father himself set a limit to that curse — that only worms, taking flesh, would fall from his foot upon the earth, rather than the foot itself.

Verse 29 (markandeya.78.29)

धर्मदृष्टिर्यतश्चासौ समो मित्रे तथाहिते । ततो नियोगं तं याम्ये चकार तिमिरापहः ॥ 78.29 ॥

dharmadṛṣṭiryataścāsau samo mitre tathāhite tato niyogaṁ taṁ yāmye cakāra timirāpahaḥ

And since that Dharmadrishti was even-minded alike toward friend and foe, the dispeller of darkness then appointed him to the office of Yama.

Verse 30 (markandeya.78.30)

यमुना च नदी जज्ञे कलिन्दान्तरवाहिनी । अश्विनौ देवभिषजौ कृतौ पित्रा महात्मना ॥ 78.30 ॥

yamunā ca nadī jajñe kalindāntaravāhinī aśvinau devabhiṣajau kṛtau pitrā mahātmanā

And the river Yamuna was born, flowing amid the Kalinda hills; the two Ashvins were made by their great father the physicians of the gods.

Verse 31 (markandeya.78.31)

गुह्यकाधिपतित्वे च रेवन्तोऽपि नियोजितः । च्छायासंज्ञासुतानाञ्च नियोगः श्रुयतां मम ॥ 78.31 ॥

guhyakādhipatitve ca revanto 'pi niyojitaḥ cchāyāsaṁjñāsutānāñca niyogaḥ śruyatāṁ mama

Revanta, too, was appointed to lordship over the Guhyakas. Now hear from me of the offices given to the sons of Chhaya-Sanjna.

Verse 32 (markandeya.78.32)

पूर्वजस्य मनोस्तुल्यश्छायासंज्ञासुतोऽग्रजः । ततः सावर्णिकीं संज्ञामवाप तनयो रवेः ॥ 78.32 ॥

pūrvajasya manostulyaśchāyāsaṁjñāsuto 'grajaḥ tataḥ sāvarṇikīṁ saṁjñāmavāpa tanayo raveḥ

The elder son of Chhaya-Sanjna, equal in stature to the first-born Manu, this son of the Sun, then came to bear the designation "Savarni."

Verse 33 (markandeya.78.33)

भविष्यति मनुः सोऽपि बलिरिन्द्रो यदा तदा । शनैश्चरो ग्रहाणाञ्च मध्ये पित्रा नियोजितः ॥ 78.33 ॥

bhaviṣyati manuḥ so 'pi balirindro yadā tadā śanaiścaro grahāṇāñca madhye pitrā niyojitaḥ

He too shall become a Manu, at the time when Bali becomes Indra. The younger son, Shanaishchara, was appointed by his father among the planets.

Verse 34 (markandeya.78.34)

तयोस्तृतीया या कन्या तपती नाम सा कुरुम् । नृपात् संवरणात् पुत्रमवाप मनुजेश्वरम् ॥ 78.34 ॥

tayostṛtīyā yā kanyā tapatī nāma sā kurum nṛpāt saṁvaraṇāt putramavāpa manujeśvaram

Their third child, a daughter named Tapati, obtained from King Samvarana a son, Kuru, a lord among men.

Verse 35 (markandeya.78.35)

तस्य वैवस्वतस्याहं मनोः सप्तममन्तरम् । कथयामि सुतान् भूपानृषीन् देवान् सुराधिपम् ॥ 78.35 ॥

tasya vaivasvatasyāhaṁ manoḥ saptamamantaram kathayāmi sutān bhūpānṛṣīn devān surādhipam

I now proceed to tell of the seventh interval, that of this Vaivasvata Manu — his sons, the kings, the sages, the gods, and the lord of the gods.