The Slaying of Madhu and Kaitabha

Verse 1 (markandeya.81.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच सावर्णिः सूर्यतनयो यो मनुः कथ्यतेऽष्टमः । निशामय तदुत्पत्तिं विस्तराद् गदतो मम ॥ 81.1 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca sāvarṇiḥ sūryatanayo yo manuḥ kathyate ’ṣṭamaḥ niśāmaya tadutpattiṁ vistarād gadato mama

Markandeya said: Hear from me, as I relate at length, the origin of that eighth Manu called Savarni, who is spoken of as the son of Surya.

Verse 2 (markandeya.81.2)

महामायानुभावेन यथा मन्वन्तराधिपः । स बभूव महाभागः सावर्णिस्तनयो रवेः ॥ 81.2 ॥

mahāmāyānubhāvena yathā manvantarādhipaḥ sa babhūva mahābhāgaḥ sāvarṇistanayo raveḥ

Hear how, by the power of Mahamaya, that illustrious Savarni, son of the sun, came to be the ruler of a Manvantara.

Verse 3 (markandeya.81.3)

स्वारोचिषेऽन्तरे पूर्वं चैत्रवंशसमुद्भवः । सुरथो नाम राजाभूत् समस्ते क्षितिमण्डले ॥ 81.3 ॥

svārociṣe ’ntare pūrvaṁ caitravaṁśasamudbhavaḥ suratho nāma rājābhūt samaste kṣitimaṇḍale

Formerly, in the Svarochisha Manvantara, there was a king named Suratha, born in the Chaitra lineage, who ruled over the entire circle of the earth.

Verse 4 (markandeya.81.4)

तस्य पालयतः सम्यक् प्रजाः पुत्रानिवौरसान् । बभूवुः शत्रवो भूपाः कोलाविध्वंसिनस्तथा ॥ 81.4 ॥

tasya pālayataḥ samyak prajāḥ putrānivaurasān babhūvuḥ śatravo bhūpāḥ kolāvidhvaṁsinastathā

While he protected his subjects well, as though they were his own sons, there arose against him enemy kings known as the Kolavidhvamsins.

Verse 5 (markandeya.81.5)

तस्य तैरभवद् युद्धमतिप्रबलदण्डिनः । न्यूनैरपि स तैर्युद्धे कोलाविध्वंसिभिर्जितः ॥ 81.5 ॥

tasya tairabhavad yuddhamatiprabaladaṇḍinaḥ nyūnairapi sa tairyuddhe kolāvidhvaṁsibhirjitaḥ

That king, though commanding a very mighty force, fought with them; and despite being fewer in number, the Kolavidhvamsins defeated him in that battle.

Verse 6 (markandeya.81.6)

ततः स्वपुरमायातो निजदेशाधिपोऽभवत् । आक्रान्तः स महाभागस्तैस्तदा प्रबलारिभिः ॥ 81.6 ॥

tataḥ svapuramāyāto nijadeśādhipo ’bhavat ākrāntaḥ sa mahābhāgastaistadā prabalāribhiḥ

Then he returned to his own city and remained lord of his own country in name only, for that illustrious king had by then been utterly overrun by those powerful enemies.

Verse 7 (markandeya.81.7)

अमात्यैर्बलिभिर्दुष्टैर्दुर्बलस्य दुरात्मभिः । कोषो बलञ्चापहृतं तत्रापि स्वपुरे ततः ॥ 81.7 ॥

amātyairbalibhirduṣṭairdurbalasya durātmabhiḥ koṣo balañcāpahṛtaṁ tatrāpi svapure tataḥ

Even in his own city, taking advantage of his weakness, his own wicked and evil-minded ministers seized his treasury and his army.

Verse 8 (markandeya.81.8)

ततो मृगयाव्याजेन हृतस्वाम्यः स भूपतिः । एकाकी हयमारुह्य जगाम गहनं वनम् ॥ 81.8 ॥

tato mṛgayāvyājena hṛtasvāmyaḥ sa bhūpatiḥ ekākī hayamāruhya jagāma gahanaṁ vanam

Then that king, stripped of his sovereignty, mounted his horse alone under the pretext of hunting, and went off into a dense forest.

Verse 9 (markandeya.81.9)

स तत्राश्रममद्राक्षीद् द्विजवर्यस्य मेधसः । प्रशान्तश्वापदाकीर्णं मुनिशिष्योपशोभितम् ॥ 81.9 ॥

sa tatrāśramamadrākṣīd dvijavaryasya medhasaḥ praśāntaśvāpadākīrṇaṁ muniśiṣyopaśobhitam

There he saw the hermitage of Medhas, the finest of brahmins, which was filled with tranquil wild creatures and graced by the sage's disciples.

Verse 10 (markandeya.81.10)

तस्थौ कञ्चित् स कालञ्च मुनिना तेन सत्कृतः । इतश्चैतश्च विचरंस्तस्मिन् मुनिवराश्रमे ॥ 81.10 ॥

tasthau kañcit sa kālañca muninā tena satkṛtaḥ itaścaitaśca vicaraṁstasmin munivarāśrame

Honored by that sage, he remained there for some time, wandering here and there about that great sage's hermitage.

Verse 11 (markandeya.81.11)

सोऽचिन्तयत् तदा तत्र ममत्वाकृष्टचेतनः । मत्पूर्वैः पालितं पूर्वं मया हीनं पुरं हि तत् । मद्भृत्यैस्तैरसद्वृत्तैर्धर्मतः पाल्यते न वा ॥ 81.11 ॥

so ’cintayat tadā tatra mamatvākṛṣṭacetanaḥ matpūrvaiḥ pālitaṁ pūrvaṁ mayā hīnaṁ puraṁ hi tat madbhṛtyaistairasadvṛttairdharmataḥ pālyate na vā

There, his mind drawn by attachment, he began to think: "That city, which was once protected by my forefathers and by me — is it, now that I am gone, being governed righteously by those wicked servants of mine, or not?"

Verse 12 (markandeya.81.12)

न जाने स प्रधानो मे शूरहस्ती सदामदः । मम वैरिवशं यातः कान् भोगानुपलप्स्यते ॥ 81.12 ॥

na jāne sa pradhāno me śūrahastī sadāmadaḥ mama vairivaśaṁ yātaḥ kān bhogānupalapsyate

"I do not know what treatment my chief elephant — that brave and ever-mighty beast — now receives, having fallen under my enemy's power."

Verse 13 (markandeya.81.13)

ये ममानुगता नित्यं प्रसादधनभोजनैः । अनुवृत्तिं ध्रुवं तेऽद्य कुर्वन्त्यन्यमहीभृताम् ॥ 81.13 ॥

ye mamānugatā nityaṁ prasādadhanabhojanaiḥ anuvṛttiṁ dhruvaṁ te ’dya kurvantyanyamahībhṛtām

"Those who always followed me for the sake of my favor, wealth, and food are surely now, this very day, attending on some other king."

Verse 14 (markandeya.81.14)

असम्यग्व्ययशीलैस्तैः कुर्वद्भिः सततं व्ययम् । संचितः सोऽतिदुः खेन क्षयं कोशो गमिष्यति ॥ 81.14 ॥

asamyagvyayaśīlaistaiḥ kurvadbhiḥ satataṁ vyayam saṁcitaḥ so ’tiduḥ khena kṣayaṁ kośo gamiṣyati

"That treasury of mine, gathered with such great difficulty, will surely be squandered to ruin by those wasteful men who constantly spend it improperly."

Verse 15 (markandeya.81.15)

एतच्चान्यच्च सततं चिन्तयामास पार्थिवः । तत्र विप्राश्रमाभ्यासे वैश्यमेकं ददर्श सः ॥ 81.15 ॥

etaccānyacca satataṁ cintayāmāsa pārthivaḥ tatra viprāśramābhyāse vaiśyamekaṁ dadarśa saḥ

The king kept dwelling constantly on this and on other such thoughts. There, near that brahmin's hermitage, he saw a certain merchant.

Verse 16 (markandeya.81.16)

स पृष्टस्तेन कस्त्वं भोः हेतुश्चागमनेऽत्र कः । सशोक इव कस्मात्त्वं दुर्मना इव लक्ष्यसे ॥ 81.16 ॥

sa pṛṣṭastena kastvaṁ bhoḥ hetuścāgamane ’tra kaḥ saśoka iva kasmāttvaṁ durmanā iva lakṣyase

He asked him: "Who are you? What is the reason for your coming here? Why do you appear as though sorrowful, as though troubled in mind?"

Verse 17 (markandeya.81.17)

इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य भूपतेः प्रणयोदितम् । प्रत्युवाच स तं वैश्यः प्रश्रयावनतो नृपम् ॥ 81.17 ॥

ityākarṇya vacastasya bhūpateḥ praṇayoditam pratyuvāca sa taṁ vaiśyaḥ praśrayāvanato nṛpam

Hearing these kindly-spoken words of the king, the merchant, bowing with humility, replied to him in this way.

Verse 18 (markandeya.81.18)

वैश्य उवाच समाधिर्नाम वैश्योऽहमुत्पन्नो धनिनां कुले । पुत्रदारैर्निरस्तश्च धनलोभादसाधुभिः ॥ 81.18 ॥

vaiśya uvāca samādhirnāma vaiśyo ’hamutpanno dhanināṁ kule putradārairnirastaśca dhanalobhādasādhubhiḥ

The merchant said: I am a merchant named Samadhi, born into a family of the wealthy. I have been cast out by my own sons and wife, who, out of greed for wealth, turned wicked toward me.

Verse 19 (markandeya.81.19)

विहीनश्च धनैर्दारैः पुत्रैरादाय मे धनम् । वनमभ्यागतो दुः खी निरस्तश्चाप्तबन्धुभैः ॥ 81.19 ॥

vihīnaśca dhanairdāraiḥ putrairādāya me dhanam vanamabhyāgato duḥ khī nirastaścāptabandhubhaiḥ

Deprived of wealth and wife — my own sons having seized my riches — and cast out even by my trusted kinsmen, I have come, sorrowful, into this forest.

Verse 20 (markandeya.81.20)

सोऽहं न वेद्मि पुत्राणां कुशलाकुशलात्मिकाम् । प्रवृत्तिं स्वजनानाञ्च दाराणाञ्चात्र संस्थितः ॥ 81.20 ॥

so ’haṁ na vedmi putrāṇāṁ kuśalākuśalātmikām pravṛttiṁ svajanānāñca dārāṇāñcātra saṁsthitaḥ

Living here, I have no news at all — whether good or ill — of my sons, my kinsmen, and my wife.

Verse 21 (markandeya.81.21)

किं नु तेषां गृहे क्षेममक्षेमं किं नु साम्प्रतम् । कथं ते किं नु सद्वृत्ताः दुर्वृत्ताः किं नु मे सुताः ॥ 81.21 ॥

kiṁ nu teṣāṁ gṛhe kṣemamakṣemaṁ kiṁ nu sāmpratam kathaṁ te kiṁ nu sadvṛttāḥ durvṛttāḥ kiṁ nu me sutāḥ

Is all now well or unwell in their household? How do they fare? Are my sons still behaving righteously, or have they turned to evil ways?

Verse 22 (markandeya.81.22)

राजोवाच यैर्निरस्तो भवांल्लुब्धैः पुत्रदारादिभिर्धनैः । तेषु किं भवतः स्नेहमनुबध्नाति मानसम् ॥ 81.22 ॥

rājovāca yairnirasto bhavāṁllubdhaiḥ putradārādibhirdhanaiḥ teṣu kiṁ bhavataḥ snehamanubadhnāti mānasam

The king said: Why does your mind still remain bound in affection to those very ones — your sons, wife, and others, greedy for wealth — who cast you out?

Verse 23 (markandeya.81.23)

वैश्य उवाच एवमेतद्यथा प्राह भवानस्मद्गतं वचः । किं करोमि न बध्नाति मम निष्ठुरतां मनः ॥ 81.23 ॥

vaiśya uvāca evametadyathā prāha bhavānasmadgataṁ vacaḥ kiṁ karomi na badhnāti mama niṣṭhuratāṁ manaḥ

The merchant said: What you say concerning my case is indeed true. Yet what can I do — my heart simply will not turn to hardness.

Verse 24 (markandeya.81.24)

यैः सन्त्यज्य पितृस्नेहं धनलुब्धैर्निराकृतः । पतिस्वजनहार्दं च हार्दि तेष्वेव मे मनः ॥ 81.24 ॥

yaiḥ santyajya pitṛsnehaṁ dhanalubdhairnirākṛtaḥ patisvajanahārdaṁ ca hārdi teṣveva me manaḥ

Even though they, out of greed for wealth, abandoned a father's love and cast me off, my heart's affection still remains fixed on them alone — as husband, as kinsman.

Verse 25 (markandeya.81.25)

किमेतन्नाभिजानामि जानन्नपि महामते । यत्प्रेमप्रवणं चित्तं विगुणेष्वपि बन्धुषु ॥ 81.25 ॥

kimetannābhijānāmi jānannapi mahāmate yatpremapravaṇaṁ cittaṁ viguṇeṣvapi bandhuṣu

O wise one, though I know it well, I cannot fathom this: why does my heart still incline with love toward my kinsmen, even though they are without merit toward me?

Verse 26 (markandeya.81.26)

तेषां कृते मे निः श्वासो दौर्मनस्यं च जायते । करोमि किं यन्न मनस्तेष्वप्रीतिषु निष्ठुरम् ॥ 81.26 ॥

teṣāṁ kṛte me niḥ śvāso daurmanasyaṁ ca jāyate karomi kiṁ yanna manasteṣvaprītiṣu niṣṭhuram

For their sake alone, sighs and despondency rise in me. What can I do, when my mind refuses to harden even toward those who feel no love for me?

Verse 27 (markandeya.81.27)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततस्तौ सहितौ विप्र तं मुनिं समुपस्थितौ । समाधिर्नाम वैश्योऽसौ स च पार्थिवसत्तमः ॥ 81.27 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tatastau sahitau vipra taṁ muniṁ samupasthitau samādhirnāma vaiśyo ’sau sa ca pārthivasattamaḥ

Markandeya said: Then, O brahmin, those two together — the merchant named Samadhi and that finest of kings — approached the sage.

Verse 28 (markandeya.81.28)

कृत्वा तु तौ यथान्यायं यथार्हं तेन संविदम् । उपविष्टौ कथाः काश्चिच्चक्रतुर्वैश्य-पार्थिवौ ॥ 81.28 ॥

kṛtvā tu tau yathānyāyaṁ yathārhaṁ tena saṁvidam upaviṣṭau kathāḥ kāściccakraturvaiśya-pārthivau

Having duly exchanged proper and fitting greetings with him, the merchant and the king, seated, fell into some conversation.

Verse 29 (markandeya.81.29)

राजौवाच भगवंस्त्वामहं प्रष्टुमिच्छाम्येकं वदस्व तत् । दुः खाय यन्मे मनसः स्वचित्तायत्ततां विना ॥ 81.29 ॥

rājauvāca bhagavaṁstvāmahaṁ praṣṭumicchāmyekaṁ vadasva tat duḥ khāya yanme manasaḥ svacittāyattatāṁ vinā

The king said: O venerable one, there is one thing I wish to ask you — please tell me this: something that grieves my mind, something that lies beyond my own heart's control.

Verse 30 (markandeya.81.30)

ममत्वं गतराज्यस्य राज्याङ्गेष्वखिलेष्वपि । जानतोऽपि यथाज्ञस्य किमेतन्मुनिसत्तम ॥ 81.30 ॥

mamatvaṁ gatarājyasya rājyāṅgeṣvakhileṣvapi jānato ’pi yathājñasya kimetanmunisattama

O best of sages, what is this — that even knowing full well my kingdom is lost, I still feel, like an ignorant man, a sense of "mine" toward that kingdom and all its parts?

Verse 31 (markandeya.81.31)

अयं च निकृतः पुत्रैर्दारैर्भृत्यैस्तथोज्झितः । स्वजनेन च सन्त्यक्तस्तेषु हार्दे तथाप्यति ॥ 81.31 ॥

ayaṁ ca nikṛtaḥ putrairdārairbhṛtyaistathojjhitaḥ svajanena ca santyaktasteṣu hārde tathāpyati

And this merchant too — spurned by his own sons, abandoned likewise by his wife and servants, forsaken even by his own kin — his heart nonetheless remains bound in affection to them.

Verse 32 (markandeya.81.32)

एवमेष तथाहं च द्वावप्यत्यन्तदुः खितौ । दृष्टदोषेऽपि विषये ममत्वाकृष्टमानसौ ॥ 81.32 ॥

evameṣa tathāhaṁ ca dvāvapyatyantaduḥ khitau dṛṣṭadoṣe ’pi viṣaye mamatvākṛṣṭamānasau

Thus he, and I likewise — both of us, exceedingly sorrowful, and yet with our minds still drawn by attachment toward that whose faults we have plainly seen.

Verse 33 (markandeya.81.33)

तत्किमेतन्महाभाग यन्मोहो ज्ञानिनोरपि । ममास्य च भवत्येषा विवेकान्धस्य मूढता ॥ 81.33 ॥

tatkimetanmahābhāga yanmoho jñāninorapi mamāsya ca bhavatyeṣā vivekāndhasya mūḍhatā

O greatly fortunate one, what then is this — that delusion overtakes even the two of us though we possess knowledge? What is this folly that blinds our discernment?

Verse 34 (markandeya.81.34)

ऋषिरुवाच ज्ञानमस्ति समस्तस्य जन्तोर्विषयगोचरे । विषयश्च महाभाग याति चैवं पृथक्-पृथक् ॥ 81.34 ॥

ṛṣiruvāca jñānamasti samastasya jantorviṣayagocare viṣayaśca mahābhāga yāti caivaṁ pṛthak-pṛthak

The sage said: O greatly fortunate one, every creature possesses knowledge with respect to the objects within its own sphere; and the object of knowledge likewise operates differently for each.

Verse 35 (markandeya.81.35)

दिवान्धाः प्राणिनः केचिद् रात्रावन्धास्तथापरे । केचिद् दिवा तथा रात्रौ प्राणिनस्तुल्यदृष्टयः ॥ 81.35 ॥

divāndhāḥ prāṇinaḥ kecid rātrāvandhāstathāpare kecid divā tathā rātrau prāṇinastulyadṛṣṭayaḥ

Some creatures are blind by day, others likewise blind by night; while some creatures possess equal sight both by day and by night.

Verse 36 (markandeya.81.36)

ज्ञानिनो मनुजाः सत्यं किन्तु ते न हि केवलम् । यतो हि ज्ञानिनः सर्वे पशु-पक्षि-मृगादयः ॥ 81.36 ॥

jñānino manujāḥ satyaṁ kintu te na hi kevalam yato hi jñāninaḥ sarve paśu-pakṣi-mṛgādayaḥ

It is true that human beings possess knowledge; but they alone do not possess it — for indeed all beasts, birds, and animals likewise possess knowledge.

Verse 37 (markandeya.81.37)

ज्ञानं च तन्मनुष्याणां यत् तेषां मृगृपक्षिणाम् । मनुष्याणां च यत्तेषां तुल्यमन्यत् तथोभयोः ॥ 81.37 ॥

jñānaṁ ca tanmanuṣyāṇāṁ yat teṣāṁ mṛgṛpakṣiṇām manuṣyāṇāṁ ca yatteṣāṁ tulyamanyat tathobhayoḥ

The knowledge possessed by human beings is the same as that possessed by beasts and birds; and what those beasts and birds possess is the same as what humans possess — in the rest too, the two are alike.

Verse 38 (markandeya.81.38)

ज्ञानेऽपि सति पश्यैतान् पतङ्गाञ्छावचञ्चुषु । कणमोक्षादृतान् मोहात्पीड्यमानानपि क्षुधा ॥ 81.38 ॥

jñāne ’pi sati paśyaitān pataṅgāñchāvacañcuṣu kaṇamokṣādṛtān mohātpīḍyamānānapi kṣudhā

Even possessing knowledge, behold: these birds, though themselves tormented by hunger, remain — out of delusion — intent on dropping grains into the beaks of their young.

Verse 39 (markandeya.81.39)

मानुषा मनुजव्याघ्र साभिलाषाः सुतान् प्रति । लोभात् प्रत्युपकाराय नन्वेतान् किं न पश्यसि ॥ 81.39 ॥

mānuṣā manujavyāghra sābhilāṣāḥ sutān prati lobhāt pratyupakārāya nanvetān kiṁ na paśyasi

O tiger among men, do you not see that human beings too, out of desire for their children, driven by greed, hope for benefit in return?

Verse 40 (markandeya.81.40)

तथापि ममतावर्ते मोहगर्ते निपातिताः । महामायाप्रभावेण संसारस्थितिकारिणा ॥ 81.40 ॥

tathāpi mamatāvarte mohagarte nipātitāḥ mahāmāyāprabhāveṇa saṁsārasthitikāriṇā

Nevertheless, by the power of Mahamaya, who upholds the continuance of worldly existence, all creatures are cast down into the whirlpool of attachment, into the pit of delusion.

Verse 41 (markandeya.81.41)

तन्नात्र विस्मयः कार्यो योगनिद्रा जगत्पतेः । महामाया हरेश्चैतत् तथा संमोह्यते जगत् ॥ 81.41 ॥

tannātra vismayaḥ kāryo yoganidrā jagatpateḥ mahāmāyā hareścaitat tathā saṁmohyate jagat

Therefore no wonder need be felt at this: she is the Yoganidra of the Lord of the world, the Mahamaya of Hari — and it is by her that the world is thus deluded.

Verse 42 (markandeya.81.42)

ज्ञानिनामपि चेतांसि देवी भगवती हि सा । बलादाकृष्य मोहाय महामाया प्रयच्छति ॥ 81.42 ॥

jñānināmapi cetāṁsi devī bhagavatī hi sā balādākṛṣya mohāya mahāmāyā prayacchati

That divine goddess forcibly draws away even the minds of the wise and casts them into delusion.

Verse 43 (markandeya.81.43)

तया विसृज्यते विश्वं जगदेतच्चराचरम् । सैषा प्रसन्ना वरदा नृणां भवति मुक्तये ॥ 81.43 ॥

tayā visṛjyate viśvaṁ jagadetaccarācaram saiṣā prasannā varadā nṛṇāṁ bhavati muktaye

By her this whole world, made of moving and unmoving things, is brought into being; and she alone, when gracious, becomes the giver of liberation to human beings.

Verse 44 (markandeya.81.44)

सा विद्या परमा मुक्तेर्हेतुभूता सनातनी । संसारबन्धहेतुश्च सैव सर्वेश्वरेश्वरी ॥ 81.44 ॥

sā vidyā paramā mukterhetubhūtā sanātanī saṁsārabandhahetuśca saiva sarveśvareśvarī

She is the supreme, eternal knowledge that becomes the cause of liberation; and she alone is also the cause of the bondage of worldly existence — she who is the Sovereign over all sovereigns.

Verse 45 (markandeya.81.45)

राजोवाच भगवन् ! का हि सा देवी महामायेति यां भवान् । ब्रवीति कथमुत्पन्ना सा कर्मास्याश्च किं द्विज ॥ 81.45 ॥

rājovāca bhagavan ! kā hi sā devī mahāmāyeti yāṁ bhavān bravīti kathamutpannā sā karmāsyāśca kiṁ dvija

The king said: O venerable one, who indeed is that goddess whom you speak of as Mahamaya? How did she come into being, O brahmin, and what is her office?

Verse 46 (markandeya.81.46)

यत्स्वभावा च सा देवी यत्स्वरूपा यदुद्भवा । तत् सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वत्तो ब्रह्मविदां वर ॥ 81.46 ॥

yatsvabhāvā ca sā devī yatsvarūpā yadudbhavā tat sarvaṁ śrotumicchāmi tvatto brahmavidāṁ vara

O best among the knowers of Brahman, what is her nature, what is her form, and from what did she arise — all this I wish to hear from you.

Verse 47 (markandeya.81.47)

ऋषिरुवाच नित्यैव सा जगन्मूर्तिस्तया सर्वमिदं ततम् । तथापि तत्समुत्पत्तिर्बहुधा श्रुयतां मम ॥ 81.47 ॥

ṛṣiruvāca nityaiva sā jaganmūrtistayā sarvamidaṁ tatam tathāpi tatsamutpattirbahudhā śruyatāṁ mama

The sage said: She is indeed eternal, the very embodiment of the universe; by her all this is pervaded. Nevertheless, hear from me the manifold accounts of her arising.

Verse 48 (markandeya.81.48)

देवानां कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थमाविर्भवति सा यदा । उत्पन्नेति तदा लोके सा नित्याप्यभिधीयते ॥ 81.48 ॥

devānāṁ kāryasiddhyarthamāvirbhavati sā yadā utpanneti tadā loke sā nityāpyabhidhīyate

When, for the accomplishment of the gods' purposes, she becomes manifest, then in the world she — though eternal — is spoken of as "born."

Verse 49 (markandeya.81.49)

योगनिद्रां यदा विष्णुर्जगत्येकार्णवीकृते । आस्तीर्य शेषमभजत् कल्पान्ते भगवान् प्रभुः ॥ 81.49 ॥

yoganidrāṁ yadā viṣṇurjagatyekārṇavīkṛte āstīrya śeṣamabhajat kalpānte bhagavān prabhuḥ

At the end of an aeon, when the whole world had become a single ocean, the Lord Vishnu, having spread out Shesha as his couch, resorted to Yoganidra.

Verse 50 (markandeya.81.50)

तदा द्वावसुरौ घोरौ विख्यातौ मधुकैटभौ । विष्णुकर्णमलोद्भूतौ हन्तुं ब्रह्माणमुद्यतौ ॥ 81.50 ॥

tadā dvāvasurau ghorau vikhyātau madhukaiṭabhau viṣṇukarṇamalodbhūtau hantuṁ brahmāṇamudyatau

Then two terrible asuras, famed as Madhu and Kaitabha, born from the wax of Vishnu's ear, rose up intent on slaying Brahma.

Verse 51 (markandeya.81.51)

स नाभिकमले विष्णोः स्थितो ब्रह्मा प्रजापतिः । दृष्ट्वा तावसुरौ चोग्रौ प्रसुप्तं च जनार्दनम् ॥ 81.51 ॥

sa nābhikamale viṣṇoḥ sthito brahmā prajāpatiḥ dṛṣṭvā tāvasurau cograu prasuptaṁ ca janārdanam

Brahma, the lord of creatures, seated on the lotus of Vishnu's navel, beholding those two fierce asuras and the sleeping Janardana,

Verse 52 (markandeya.81.52)

तुष्टाव योगनिद्रां तामेकाग्रहृदयस्थितः । विबोधनार्थाय हरेर्हरिनेत्रकृतालयाम् ॥ 81.52 ॥

tuṣṭāva yoganidrāṁ tāmekāgrahṛdayasthitaḥ vibodhanārthāya harerharinetrakṛtālayām

with focused heart, praised that Yoganidra — who had made her dwelling in Hari's eyes — so that Hari might awaken.

Verse 53 (markandeya.81.53)

ब्रह्मोवाच विश्वेश्वरीं जगद्धात्रीं स्थिति-संहारकारिणीम् । निद्रां भगवतीं विष्णोरतुलां तेजसः प्रभुः ॥ 81.53 ॥

brahmovāca viśveśvarīṁ jagaddhātrīṁ sthiti-saṁhārakāriṇīm nidrāṁ bhagavatīṁ viṣṇoratulāṁ tejasaḥ prabhuḥ

Brahma said: O Sovereign of the universe, sustainer of the world, cause of its maintenance and dissolution — the peerless, radiant, divine Sleep of Vishnu, whom Brahma, the Lord, thus praised —

Verse 54 (markandeya.81.54)

त्वं स्वाहा त्वं स्वधा त्वं हि वषट्कारः स्वरात्मिका । सुधा त्वमक्षरे नित्ये त्रिधा मात्रात्मिका स्थिता ॥ 81.54 ॥

tvaṁ svāhā tvaṁ svadhā tvaṁ hi vaṣaṭkāraḥ svarātmikā sudhā tvamakṣare nitye tridhā mātrātmikā sthitā

You are Svaha, you are Svadha; you indeed are the Vashatkara, embodied as sacred utterance. You are the nectar of immortality; abiding as the eternal, imperishable syllable, threefold in its measure.

Verse 55 (markandeya.81.55)

अर्धमात्रा स्थिता नित्या यानुच्चार्या विशेषतः । त्वमेव सन्ध्या सावित्री त्वं देवि जननी परा ॥ 81.55 ॥

ardhamātrā sthitā nityā yānuccāryā viśeṣataḥ tvameva sandhyā sāvitrī tvaṁ devi jananī parā

You are that eternal half-measure, which is to be uttered in a special manner; you alone are the Sandhya, the Savitri; you, O goddess, are the supreme Mother.

Verse 56 (markandeya.81.56)

त्वयैव धार्यते सर्वं त्वयैतत्सृज्यते जगत् । त्वयैतत्पाल्यते देवि त्वमत्स्यन्ते च सर्वदा ॥ 81.56 ॥

tvayaiva dhāryate sarvaṁ tvayaitatsṛjyate jagat tvayaitatpālyate devi tvamatsyante ca sarvadā

By you alone is everything sustained; by you this world is created; by you, O goddess, it is preserved; and by you it is always devoured at the end.

Verse 57 (markandeya.81.57)

विसृष्टौ सृष्टिरूपा त्वं स्थितिरूपा च पालने । तथा संहृतिरूपान्ते जगतोऽस्य जगन्मये ॥ 81.57 ॥

visṛṣṭau sṛṣṭirūpā tvaṁ sthitirūpā ca pālane tathā saṁhṛtirūpānte jagato ’sya jaganmaye

At creation, you take the form of creation; in preservation, the form of maintenance; and likewise at the end of this world, O all-pervading one, the form of dissolution.

Verse 58 (markandeya.81.58)

महाविद्या महामाया महामेधा महास्मृतिः । महामोहा च भवती महादेवी महेश्वरी ॥ 81.58 ॥

mahāvidyā mahāmāyā mahāmedhā mahāsmṛtiḥ mahāmohā ca bhavatī mahādevī maheśvarī

You are the great Knowledge, the great Illusion, the great Intellect, the great Memory; you are also the great Delusion, the great Goddess, the great Sovereign.

Verse 59 (markandeya.81.59)

प्रकृतिस्त्वञ्च सर्वस्य गुणत्रयविभाविनी । कालरात्रिर्महारात्रिर्मोहरात्रिश्च दारुणा ॥ 81.59 ॥

prakṛtistvañca sarvasya guṇatrayavibhāvinī kālarātrirmahārātrirmoharātriśca dāruṇā

You are the primal nature of all, the manifester of the three gunas; you are Kalaratri, Mahaaratri, and the terrible Mohaaratri.

Verse 60 (markandeya.81.60)

त्वं श्रीस्त्वमीश्वरी त्वं ह्रीस्त्वं बुद्धिर्बोधलक्षणा । लज्जा पुष्टिस्तथा तुष्टिस्त्वं शान्तिः क्षान्तिरेव च ॥ 81.60 ॥

tvaṁ śrīstvamīśvarī tvaṁ hrīstvaṁ buddhirbodhalakṣaṇā lajjā puṣṭistathā tuṣṭistvaṁ śāntiḥ kṣāntireva ca

You are Shri, you are Ishvari, you are Hri, you are Buddhi characterized by understanding; you are Lajja, Pushti, and Tushti; you are Shanti and indeed Kshanti.

Verse 61 (markandeya.81.61)

खडिगनी शूलिनी घोरा गदिनी चक्रिणी तथा । शङ्खिनी चापिनी बाण-भुशुण्डी परिघायुधा ॥ 81.61 ॥

khaḍiganī śūlinī ghorā gadinī cakriṇī tathā śaṅkhinī cāpinī bāṇa-bhuśuṇḍī parighāyudhā

Terrible one, you bear the sword, you bear the trident; you likewise bear the mace and the discus; you bear the conch and the bow — the arrow, the bhushundi, and the club are your weapons.

Verse 62 (markandeya.81.62)

सौम्या सौम्यतराशेष-सौम्येभ्यस्त्वतिसुन्दरी । परापराणां परमा त्वमेव परमेश्वरी ॥ 81.62 ॥

saumyā saumyatarāśeṣa-saumyebhyastvatisundarī parāparāṇāṁ paramā tvameva parameśvarī

You are gentle, gentler than all things gentle, exceedingly beautiful; you alone are the highest among the highest and the lowest — the Supreme Sovereign.

Verse 63 (markandeya.81.63)

यच्च किञ्चित् क्वचिद्वस्तु सदसद्वाखिलात्मिके । तस्य सर्वस्य या शिक्तिः सा त्वं किं स्तूयते तदा ॥ 81.63 ॥

yacca kiñcit kvacidvastu sadasadvākhilātmike tasya sarvasya yā śiktiḥ sā tvaṁ kiṁ stūyate tadā

O all-pervading one, whatever thing there may be, anywhere, existent or non-existent — you are that power belonging to all of it. How, then, can you be adequately praised?

Verse 64 (markandeya.81.64)

यया त्वया जगत्स्त्रष्टा जगत्पात्यत्ति यो जगत् । सोऽपि निद्रावशं नीतः कस्त्वां स्तोतुमिहेश्वरः ॥ 81.64 ॥

yayā tvayā jagatstraṣṭā jagatpātyatti yo jagat so ’pi nidrāvaśaṁ nītaḥ kastvāṁ stotumiheśvaraḥ

Even he who creates, protects, and devours the world — even he has been brought under the sway of sleep by you. Who then is capable of praising you here?

Verse 65 (markandeya.81.65)

विष्णुः शरीरग्रहणमहामीशान एव च । कारितास्ते यतोऽतस्त्वां कः स्तोतुं शक्तिमान् भवेत् ॥ 81.65 ॥

viṣṇuḥ śarīragrahaṇamahāmīśāna eva ca kāritāste yato ’tastvāṁ kaḥ stotuṁ śaktimān bhavet

Vishnu, the great Lord Shiva, and I myself — since you have caused us to take on these very bodies — who then could have the power to praise you?

Verse 66 (markandeya.81.66)

सा त्वमित्थं प्रभावैः स्वैरुदारैर्देवि संस्तुता । मोहयैतौ दुराधर्षावसुरो मधुकैटभौ ॥ 81.66 ॥

sā tvamitthaṁ prabhāvaiḥ svairudārairdevi saṁstutā mohayaitau durādharṣāvasuro madhukaiṭabhau

You, O goddess, thus praised for your own noble powers — delude these two unassailable asuras, Madhu and Kaitabha.

Verse 67 (markandeya.81.67)

प्रबोधञ्च जगत्स्वामी नीयतामच्युतो लघु । बोधश्च क्रियतामस्य हन्तुमेतौ महासुरौ ॥ 81.67 ॥

prabodhañca jagatsvāmī nīyatāmacyuto laghu bodhaśca kriyatāmasya hantumetau mahāsurau

And let the Lord of the world, the Unfallen One, quickly be led to awakening; let him be roused, so that he may slay these two great asuras.

Verse 68 (markandeya.81.68)

ऋषिरुवाच एवं स्तुता तदा देवी तामसी तत्र वेधसा । विष्णोः प्रबोधनार्थाय निहन्तुं मधुकैटभौ ॥ 81.68 ॥

ṛṣiruvāca evaṁ stutā tadā devī tāmasī tatra vedhasā viṣṇoḥ prabodhanārthāya nihantuṁ madhukaiṭabhau

The sage said: Thus praised there by the Creator, that goddess of Tamas, in order to awaken Vishnu — so that he might slay Madhu and Kaitabha —

Verse 69 (markandeya.81.69)

नेत्रास्य-नासिका-बाहु-हृदयेभ्यस्तथोरसः । निर्गम्य दर्शने तस्थौ ब्रह्मणोऽव्यक्तजन्मनः ॥ 81.69 ॥

netrāsya-nāsikā-bāhu-hṛdayebhyastathorasaḥ nirgamya darśane tasthau brahmaṇo ’vyaktajanmanaḥ

emerging from his eyes, mouth, nose, arms, heart, and chest, stood there manifest before Brahma, whose own birth is unmanifest.

Verse 70 (markandeya.81.70)

उत्तस्थौ च जगन्नाथस्तया मुक्तो जनार्दनः । एकार्णवेऽहिशयनात् ततः स ददृशे च तौ ॥ 81.70 ॥

uttasthau ca jagannāthastayā mukto janārdanaḥ ekārṇave ’hiśayanāt tataḥ sa dadṛśe ca tau

Released by her, Janardana, Lord of the world, rose up from his serpent-couch in that world become a single ocean, and then he beheld those two asuras.

Verse 71 (markandeya.81.71)

मधुकैटभौ दुरात्मानावतिवीर्यपराक्रमौ । क्रोधरक्तेक्षणावत्तुं ब्रह्माणं जनितोद्यमौ ॥ 81.71 ॥

madhukaiṭabhau durātmānāvativīryaparākramau krodharaktekṣaṇāvattuṁ brahmāṇaṁ janitodyamau

Madhu and Kaitabha, evil-minded, of exceeding might and valor, their eyes red with rage, rose up intent on devouring Brahma.

Verse 72 (markandeya.81.72)

समुत्थाय ततस्ताभ्यां युयुधे भगवान् हरिः । पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि बाहुप्रहरणो विभुः ॥ 81.72 ॥

samutthāya tatastābhyāṁ yuyudhe bhagavān hariḥ pañcavarṣasahasrāṇi bāhupraharaṇo vibhuḥ

Then the mighty Lord Hari, rising up, fought with those two — his very arms his weapons — for five thousand years.

Verse 73 (markandeya.81.73)

तावप्यतिबलोन्मत्तौ महामायाविमोहितौ । उक्तवन्तौ वरोऽस्मत्तो व्रियतामिति केशवम् ॥ 81.73 ॥

tāvapyatibalonmattau mahāmāyāvimohitau uktavantau varo ’smatto vriyatāmiti keśavam

Those two, intoxicated with excessive strength and deluded by Mahamaya, said to Keshava: "Choose a boon from us."

Verse 74 (markandeya.81.74)

भगवानुवाच भवेतामद्य मे तुष्टौ मम वध्यावुभावपि । किमन्येन वरेणात्र एतावद्धि वृतं मम ॥ 81.74 ॥

bhagavānuvāca bhavetāmadya me tuṣṭau mama vadhyāvubhāvapi kimanyena vareṇātra etāvaddhi vṛtaṁ mama

The Lord said: If you two are indeed pleased with me, then be you both slain by me this very day — what use is any other boon? This alone is what I have chosen.

Verse 75 (markandeya.81.75)

ऋषिरुवाच वञ्चिताभ्यामिति तदा सर्वमापोमयं जगत् । विलोक्यं ताभ्यां गदितो भगवान् कमलेक्षणः ॥ 81.75 ॥

ṛṣiruvāca vañcitābhyāmiti tadā sarvamāpomayaṁ jagat vilokyaṁ tābhyāṁ gadito bhagavān kamalekṣaṇaḥ

The sage said: Thus outwitted, and beholding the entire world as nothing but water, those two said to the lotus-eyed Lord —

Verse 76 (markandeya.81.76)

आवां जहि न यत्रोर्वी सलिलेन परिप्लुता । प्रीतौ स्वस्तव युद्धेन श्लाघ्यस्त्वं मृत्युरावयोः ॥ 81.76 ॥

āvāṁ jahi na yatrorvī salilena pariplutā prītau svastava yuddhena ślāghyastvaṁ mṛtyurāvayoḥ

"Slay us where the earth is not flooded by water! We are pleased with your fighting; you are worthy of praise — be the death of us both!"

Verse 77 (markandeya.81.77)

ऋषिरुवाच तथेत्युक्त्वा भगवता शङ्ख-चक्र-गदाभृता । कृत्वा चक्रेण वै च्छिन्ने जघने शिरसी तयोः ॥ 81.77 ॥

ṛṣiruvāca tathetyuktvā bhagavatā śaṅkha-cakra-gadābhṛtā kṛtvā cakreṇa vai cchinne jaghane śirasī tayoḥ

The sage said: Having said, "so be it," the Lord, bearer of conch, discus, and mace, placed the two of them upon his own thighs, and with his discus severed their two heads there.

Verse 78 (markandeya.81.78)

एवमेषा समुत्पन्ना ब्रह्मणा संस्तुता स्वयम् । प्रभावमस्या देव्यास्तु भूयः शृणु वदामि ते ॥ 81.78 ॥

evameṣā samutpannā brahmaṇā saṁstutā svayam prabhāvamasyā devyāstu bhūyaḥ śṛṇu vadāmi te

Thus did this goddess arise, praised by Brahma himself. Now hear further, as I tell you, of the power of this goddess.