The Ancestors Grant Their Boon

Verse 1 (markandeya.97.1)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच एवं तु स्तुवतस्तस्य तेजसो राशिरुच्छ्रितः । प्रादुर्बभूव सहसा गगनव्याप्तिकारकः ॥ 97.1 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca evaṁ tu stuvatastasya tejaso rāśirucchritaḥ prādurbabhūva sahasā gaganavyāptikārakaḥ

Markandeya said: Thus, as he praised them, a towering mass of light suddenly appeared, filling the whole sky.

Verse 2 (markandeya.97.2)

तद्दृष्ट्वा सुमहत्तेजः समासाद्य स्थितं जगत् । जानुभ्यामवनिं गत्वा रुचिः स्तोत्रमिदं जगौ ॥ 97.2 ॥

taddṛṣṭvā sumahattejaḥ samāsādya sthitaṁ jagat jānubhyāmavaniṁ gatvā ruciḥ stotramidaṁ jagau

Seeing that exceedingly great radiance standing there, having pervaded the world, Ruchi knelt down upon the ground and sang this hymn.

Verse 3 (markandeya.97.3)

रुचिरुवाच अमूर्तानां च मूर्तानां पितॄणां दीप्ततेजसाम् । नमस्यामि सदा तेषां ध्यानिनां दिव्यचक्षुषाम् ॥ 97.3 ॥

ruciruvāca amūrtānāṁ ca mūrtānāṁ pitṝṇāṁ dīptatejasām namasyāmi sadā teṣāṁ dhyānināṁ divyacakṣuṣām

Ruchi said: I ever bow to those ancestors — formless and embodied, of blazing radiance, absorbed in meditation, possessed of divine sight.

Verse 4 (markandeya.97.4)

इन्द्रादीनां च नेतारो दक्षमारीचयोस्तथा । सप्तर्षीणां तथान्येषां तान्नमस्यामि कामदान् ॥ 97.4 ॥

indrādīnāṁ ca netāro dakṣamārīcayostathā saptarṣīṇāṁ tathānyeṣāṁ tānnamasyāmi kāmadān

I bow to those who are the guides of Indra and the other gods, and likewise of Daksha and Marichi, of the Seven Sages and others — ancestors who grant every desire.

Verse 5 (markandeya.97.5)

मन्वादीनां मुनीन्द्राणां सूर्याचन्द्रमसोस्तथा । तान्नमस्याम्यहं सर्वान्पितरश्चार्णवेषु ये ॥ 97.5 ॥

manvādīnāṁ munīndrāṇāṁ sūryācandramasostathā tānnamasyāmyahaṁ sarvānpitaraścārṇaveṣu ye

I bow to all those ancestors who guide the Manus and the great sages, and likewise the Sun and the Moon, and also those who dwell within the oceans.

Verse 6 (markandeya.97.6)

नक्षत्राणां ग्रहाणां च वाय्वग्न्योर्नभसस्तथा । द्यावापृथिव्योश्च तथा नमस्यामि कृताञ्जलिः ॥ 97.6 ॥

nakṣatrāṇāṁ grahāṇāṁ ca vāyvagnyornabhasastathā dyāvāpṛthivyośca tathā namasyāmi kṛtāñjaliḥ

With joined palms I bow to those ancestors who preside over the stars and planets, over Wind and Fire and Sky, and likewise over Heaven and Earth.

Verse 7 (markandeya.97.7)

देवर्षीणां ग्रहाणां च सर्वलोकनमस्कृतान् । अक्षय्यस्य सदा दातॄन्नमस्येऽहं कृताञ्जलिः ॥ 97.7 ॥

devarṣīṇāṁ grahāṇāṁ ca sarvalokanamaskṛtān akṣayyasya sadā dātṝnnamasye 'haṁ kṛtāñjaliḥ

With joined palms I bow to those ancestors of the divine sages and the planets, worshipped by all the worlds, ever the givers of the imperishable reward.

Verse 8 (markandeya.97.8)

प्रजापतेः कश्यपाय सोमाय वरुणाय च । योगेश्वरेभ्यश्च सदा नमस्यामि कृताञ्जलिः ॥ 97.8 ॥

prajāpateḥ kaśyapāya somāya varuṇāya ca yogeśvarebhyaśca sadā namasyāmi kṛtāñjaliḥ

I ever bow, with joined palms, to those ancestors who guide the Prajapati Kashyapa, Soma, and Varuna, and also the lords of yoga.

Verse 9 (markandeya.97.9)

नमो गणेभ्यः सप्तभ्यस्तथा लोकेषु सप्तसु । स्वयंभुवे नमस्यामि ब्रह्मणे योगचक्षुषे ॥ 97.9 ॥

namo gaṇebhyaḥ saptabhyastathā lokeṣu saptasu svayaṁbhuve namasyāmi brahmaṇe yogacakṣuṣe

Homage to the seven classes of ancestors in the seven worlds; I bow to the self-existent Brahma, whose eye is yoga itself.

Verse 10 (markandeya.97.10)

सोमाधारान्पितृगणान्योगमूर्तिधरांस्तथा । नमस्यामि तथा सोमं पितरं जगतामहम् ॥ 97.10 ॥

somādhārānpitṛgaṇānyogamūrtidharāṁstathā namasyāmi tathā somaṁ pitaraṁ jagatāmaham

I bow to the classes of ancestors who rest upon Soma, and likewise who take embodied form through yoga; and I bow also to Soma, the father of all the worlds.

Verse 11 (markandeya.97.11)

अग्निरूपांस्तथैवान्यान्नमस्यामि पितॄनहम् । अग्नीषोममयं विश्वं यत एतदशेषतः ॥ 97.11 ॥

agnirūpāṁstathaivānyānnamasyāmi pitṝnaham agnīṣomamayaṁ viśvaṁ yata etadaśeṣataḥ

I bow likewise to those other ancestors who bear the form of Fire, since this whole universe, without remainder, consists of Fire and Soma.

Verse 12 (markandeya.97.12)

ये तु तेजसि ये चैते सोमसूर्याग्निमूर्त्तयः । जगत्स्वरूपिणश्चैव तथा ब्रह्मस्वरूपिणः ॥ 97.12 ॥

ye tu tejasi ye caite somasūryāgnimūrttayaḥ jagatsvarūpiṇaścaiva tathā brahmasvarūpiṇaḥ

Those who dwell in radiance, who bear the forms of Moon, Sun, and Fire, who are the very form of the universe, and likewise the very form of Brahman —

Verse 13 (markandeya.97.13)

तेभ्योऽखिलेभ्यो योगिभ्यः पितृभ्यो यतमानसः । नमो नमो नमस्ते मे प्रसीदन्तु स्वधाभुजः ॥ 97.13 ॥

tebhyo 'khilebhyo yogibhyaḥ pitṛbhyo yatamānasaḥ namo namo namaste me prasīdantu svadhābhujaḥ

to all of them, the ancestors who are yogis, with a mind wholly composed, salutation, salutation, salutation! May they who feed on svadha be pleased with me.

Verse 14 (markandeya.97.14)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच एव स्तुतास्ततस्तेन तेजसा मुनिसत्तम । निश्चक्रमुस्तेऽपि ततो भासयन्तो दिशो दश ॥ 97.14 ॥

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca eva stutāstatastena tejasā munisattama niścakramuste 'pi tato bhāsayanto diśo daśa

Markandeya said: O best of sages, thus praised, they then emerged from that mass of radiance, illuminating the ten directions.

Verse 15 (markandeya.97.15)

निवेदितं च यत्तेन पुष्पगन्धानुलेपनम् । तद्भूषितानथ स तान्ददृशे पुरतः स्थितान् ॥ 97.15 ॥

niveditaṁ ca yattena puṣpagandhānulepanam tadbhūṣitānatha sa tāndadṛśe purataḥ sthitān

And he saw them standing before him, adorned with the very flowers, fragrances, and unguents that he had offered them.

Verse 16 (markandeya.97.16)

प्रणिपत्य पुनर्भक्तया पुनरेव कृताञ्जलिः । नमस्तुभ्यं नमस्तुभ्यमित्याह पृथगादृतः ॥ 97.16 ॥

praṇipatya punarbhaktayā punareva kṛtāñjaliḥ namastubhyaṁ namastubhyamityāha pṛthagādṛtaḥ

Bowing down again with devotion, and again with joined palms, he said to each of them in turn, with reverence, 'Salutation to you, salutation to you.'

Verse 17 (markandeya.97.17)

ततः प्रसन्नाः पितरस्तमूचुर्मुनिसत्तमम् । वरं वृणीष्वेति स तानुवाचानतकन्धरः ॥ 97.17 ॥

tataḥ prasannāḥ pitarastamūcurmunisattamam varaṁ vṛṇīṣveti sa tānuvācānatakandharaḥ

Then the pleased ancestors said to that best of sages, 'Choose a boon.' And he, his neck bowed, spoke to them thus.

Verse 18 (markandeya.97.18)

रुचिरुवाच साम्प्रतं सर्गकर्तृत्वमादिष्टं ब्रह्मणा मम । सोऽहं पुत्रीमभीप्सामि धन्यां दिव्यां प्रजावतीम् ॥ 97.18 ॥

ruciruvāca sāmprataṁ sargakartṛtvamādiṣṭaṁ brahmaṇā mama so 'haṁ putrīmabhīpsāmi dhanyāṁ divyāṁ prajāvatīm

Ruchi said: Brahma has just now ordained for me the task of creation; I therefore desire a bride — blessed, divine, and capable of bearing offspring.

Verse 19 (markandeya.97.19)

पितर ऊचुः अद्यैव सद्यः पत्नी ते भवत्वतिमनोरमा । तस्यां च पुत्रो भविता भवतो मनुरुत्तमः ॥ 97.19 ॥

pitara ūcuḥ adyaiva sadyaḥ patnī te bhavatvatimanoramā tasyāṁ ca putro bhavitā bhavato manuruttamaḥ

The ancestors said: This very day, at once, let there be a most beautiful wife for you; and in her a son shall be born to you, who shall become an excellent Manu.

Verse 20 (markandeya.97.20)

मन्वन्तराधिपो धीमांस्त्वन्नाम्नैवोपलक्षितः । रुचे रौच्य इति ख्यातिं यो यास्यति जगत्त्रये ॥ 97.20 ॥

manvantarādhipo dhīmāṁstvannāmnaivopalakṣitaḥ ruce raucya iti khyātiṁ yo yāsyati jagattraye

That wise lord of a manvantara, marked by your very name, O Ruchi, shall become famed throughout the three worlds by the name 'Raucya'.

Verse 21 (markandeya.97.21)

तस्यापि बहवः पुत्रा महाबलपराक्रमाः । भविष्यन्ति महात्मानः पृथिवीपरिपालकाः ॥ 97.21 ॥

tasyāpi bahavaḥ putrā mahābalaparākramāḥ bhaviṣyanti mahātmānaḥ pṛthivīparipālakāḥ

He too shall have many sons — great in strength and valor, great of soul, protectors of the earth.

Verse 22 (markandeya.97.22)

त्वं च प्रजापतिर्भूत्वा प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा चतुर्विधाः । क्षीणाधिकारो धर्मज्ञ ततः सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि ॥ 97.22 ॥

tvaṁ ca prajāpatirbhūtvā prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā caturvidhāḥ kṣīṇādhikāro dharmajña tataḥ siddhimavāpsyasi

And you too, having become a Prajapati and created beings of four kinds, O knower of dharma, shall — your charge fulfilled — thereafter attain perfection.

Verse 23 (markandeya.97.23)

स्तोत्रेणानेन च नरो योऽस्मांस्तोष्यति भक्तितः । तस्य तुष्टा वयं भोगानात्मज्ञानं तथोत्तमम् ॥ 97.23 ॥

stotreṇānena ca naro yo 'smāṁstoṣyati bhaktitaḥ tasya tuṣṭā vayaṁ bhogānātmajñānaṁ tathottamam

And whatever man pleases us with devotion through this hymn — for him, being satisfied, we shall grant enjoyments, and likewise the highest knowledge of the Self,

Verse 24 (markandeya.97.24)

शरीरारोग्यमर्थं च पुत्रपौत्रादिकं तथा । प्रदास्यामो न सन्देहो यच्चान्यदभिवाच्छितम् ॥ 97.24 ॥

śarīrārogyamarthaṁ ca putrapautrādikaṁ tathā pradāsyāmo na sandeho yaccānyadabhivācchitam

bodily health, wealth, and sons and grandsons besides; without doubt we shall grant these, and whatever else he may desire.

Verse 25 (markandeya.97.25)

तस्मात्पुण्यफलं लोके वाञ्छद्भिः सततं नरैः । पितॄणां चाक्षया तृप्तिं स्तव्याः स्तोत्रेण मानवैः ॥ 97.25 ॥

tasmātpuṇyaphalaṁ loke vāñchadbhiḥ satataṁ naraiḥ pitṝṇāṁ cākṣayā tṛptiṁ stavyāḥ stotreṇa mānavaiḥ

Therefore, by men who continually desire the fruit of merit in this world, and who desire the imperishable satisfaction of the ancestors, we are to be praised with this hymn.

Verse 26 (markandeya.97.26)

वाञ्छद्भिः सततं स्तव्याः स्तोत्रेणानेन वै यतः । श्राद्धे च इमं भक्त्या अस्मत्प्रीतिकरं स्तवम् ॥ 97.26 ॥

vāñchadbhiḥ satataṁ stavyāḥ stotreṇānena vai yataḥ śrāddhe ca imaṁ bhaktyā asmatprītikaraṁ stavam

for we are ever to be praised, by those who continually desire this, through this very hymn; and this hymn, which pleases us, during the shraddha, with devotion —

Verse 27 (markandeya.97.27)

पठिष्यन्ति द्विजाग्र्याणां भुञ्जतां पुरतः स्थितः । स्तोत्रश्रवणसम्प्रीत्या सन्निधाने परे कृते ॥ 97.27 ॥

paṭhiṣyanti dvijāgryāṇāṁ bhuñjatāṁ purataḥ sthitaḥ stotraśravaṇasamprītyā sannidhāne pare kṛte

those who shall recite it, standing before the foremost brahmins as they eat, by the joy of hearing this hymn establishing our supreme presence there —

Verse 28 (markandeya.97.28)

अस्माकमक्षयं श्राद्धं तद्भविष्यत्यसंशयम् । यद्यप्यश्रोत्रियं श्राद्धं यद्यप्युपहतं भवेत् ॥ 97.28 ॥

asmākamakṣayaṁ śrāddhaṁ tadbhaviṣyatyasaṁśayam yadyapyaśrotriyaṁ śrāddhaṁ yadyapyupahataṁ bhavet

for us that shraddha shall become, without doubt, imperishable — even if that shraddha be performed by one unlearned in the Veda, even if it be flawed,

Verse 29 (markandeya.97.29)

अन्यायोपात्तवित्तेन यदि वा कृतमन्यथा । अश्राद्धार्हैरुपहतैरुपहारैस्तथा कृतम् ॥ 97.29 ॥

anyāyopāttavittena yadi vā kṛtamanyathā aśrāddhārhairupahatairupahāraistathā kṛtam

even if performed with wealth wrongfully acquired, or done otherwise improperly, even if performed with offerings unfit or defiled,

Verse 30 (markandeya.97.30)

अकालेऽप्यथवाऽदेशे विधिहीनमथापि वा । अश्रद्धया वा पुरुषैर्दम्भमाश्रित्य वा कृतम् ॥ 97.30 ॥

akāle 'pyathavā 'deśe vidhihīnamathāpi vā aśraddhayā vā puruṣairdambhamāśritya vā kṛtam

even if performed at the wrong time or in the wrong place, even if lacking due ritual, or performed by men without faith, or resorting to hypocrisy —

Verse 31 (markandeya.97.31)

अस्माकं तृप्तये श्राद्धं तथाप्येतदुदीरणात् । यत्रैतत्पठ्यते श्राद्धे स्तोत्रमस्मत्सुखावहम् ॥ 97.31 ॥

asmākaṁ tṛptaye śrāddhaṁ tathāpyetadudīraṇāt yatraitatpaṭhyate śrāddhe stotramasmatsukhāvaham

still, by the mere utterance of this hymn, that shraddha shall serve for our satisfaction — wherever, in a shraddha, this hymn which brings us joy is recited.

Verse 32 (markandeya.97.32)

अस्माकं जायते तृप्तिस्तत्र द्वादशवार्षिकी । हेमन्ते द्वादशाब्दानि तृप्तिमेतत्प्रयच्छति ॥ 97.32 ॥

asmākaṁ jāyate tṛptistatra dvādaśavārṣikī hemante dvādaśābdāni tṛptimetatprayacchati

Our satisfaction arising there lasts twelve years; if recited in the winter season, this grants satisfaction for twelve years.

Verse 33 (markandeya.97.33)

शिशिरे द्विगुणाब्दांश्च तृप्तिं स्तोत्रमिदं शुभम् । वसन्ते षोडश समास्तृप्तये श्राद्धकर्मणि ॥ 97.33 ॥

śiśire dviguṇābdāṁśca tṛptiṁ stotramidaṁ śubham vasante ṣoḍaśa samāstṛptaye śrāddhakarmaṇi

In the cool season this auspicious hymn grants twice as many years of satisfaction; in spring, sixteen years of satisfaction in the shraddha rite.

Verse 34 (markandeya.97.34)

ग्रीष्मे षोडशैवैतत्पठितं तृप्तिकारकम् । विकलेऽपि कृते श्राद्धे स्तोत्रेणानेन साधिते ॥ 97.34 ॥

grīṣme ṣoḍaśaivaitatpaṭhitaṁ tṛptikārakam vikale 'pi kṛte śrāddhe stotreṇānena sādhite

In summer too, when recited, it likewise grants sixteen years of satisfaction; even a defectively performed shraddha is made effective by this hymn.

Verse 35 (markandeya.97.35)

वर्षासु तृप्तिरस्माकमक्षया जायते रुचे । शरत्कालेऽपि पठितं श्राद्धकाले प्रयच्छति ॥ 97.35 ॥

varṣāsu tṛptirasmākamakṣayā jāyate ruce śaratkāle 'pi paṭhitaṁ śrāddhakāle prayacchati

In the rainy season, O Ruchi, our satisfaction becomes imperishable; recited also in autumn, at the time of shraddha, it grants the same.

Verse 36 (markandeya.97.36)

अस्माकमेतत्पुरुषस्तृप्तिं पञ्चदशाब्दिकीम् । यस्मिन्गृहे च लिखितमेतत्तिष्ठति नित्यदा ॥ 97.36 ॥

asmākametatpuruṣastṛptiṁ pañcadaśābdikīm yasmingṛhe ca likhitametattiṣṭhati nityadā

This grants a man fifteen years of our satisfaction; and in whatever house this, kept written down, remains permanently,

Verse 37 (markandeya.97.37)

सन्निधानं कृते श्राद्धे तत्रास्माकं भविष्यति । तस्मादेतत्त्वया श्राद्धे विप्राणां भुञ्जतः पुरः ॥ 97.37 ॥

sannidhānaṁ kṛte śrāddhe tatrāsmākaṁ bhaviṣyati tasmādetattvayā śrāddhe viprāṇāṁ bhuñjataḥ puraḥ

there, whenever a shraddha is performed, our presence shall be established. Therefore this hymn should be used by you during the shraddha, before the brahmins as they eat —

Verse 38 (markandeya.97.38)

श्रवणीयं महाभाग अस्माकं पुष्टिहेतुकम् । इत्युक्त्वा पितरस्तस्य स्वर्गता मुनिसत्तम ॥ 97.38 ॥

śravaṇīyaṁ mahābhāga asmākaṁ puṣṭihetukam ityuktvā pitarastasya svargatā munisattama

it should be recited for all to hear, O fortunate one, for it is the cause of our nourishment. Having said this, O best of sages, his ancestors departed to heaven.