Yudhishthira's Grief and the Coming of Markandeya

Verse 1 (padma.3.40.1)

सूत उवाच । एवमुक्तानि तीर्थानि विष्णुदेहानि सुव्रताः । एषामन्यतमा संगान्मुक्तो भवति मानवः ।

sūta uvāca evamuktāni tīrthāni viṣṇudehāni suvratāḥ eṣāmanyatamā saṁgānmukto bhavati mānavaḥ

Suta said: Thus have the tirthas been described, O men of good vows, as the very body of Vishnu; by contact with even one of these, a man becomes liberated.

Verse 2 (padma.3.40.2)

तीर्थानुश्रवणं धन्यं धन्यं तीर्थनिषेवणम् । पापराशिनिपाताय नान्योपायः कलौयुगे ।

tīrthānuśravaṇaṁ dhanyaṁ dhanyaṁ tīrthaniṣevaṇam pāparāśinipātāya nānyopāyaḥ kalauyuge

Blessed is the hearing of the tirthas, blessed is resorting to the tirthas; in the Kali age there is no other means for the destruction of the mass of sin.

Verse 3 (padma.3.40.3)

वासं कुर्यामहं तीर्थे तीर्थस्पर्शमहं तथा । एवं योऽनुदिनं ब्रूते स याति परमं महत् ।

vāsaṁ kuryāmahaṁ tīrthe tīrthasparśamahaṁ tathā evaṁ yo'nudinaṁ brūte sa yāti paramaṁ mahat

'May I dwell at a tirtha, may I touch a tirtha' — whoever says this daily attains the supreme greatness.

Verse 4 (padma.3.40.4)

पापानि तस्य नश्यंति तीर्थालापनमात्रतः । तीर्थानि खलु धन्यानि धन्यसेव्यानि सुव्रताः ।

pāpāni tasya naśyaṁti tīrthālāpanamātrataḥ tīrthāni khalu dhanyāni dhanyasevyāni suvratāḥ

His sins are destroyed merely by speaking of tirthas. Tirthas indeed are blessed, O men of good vows, and are to be resorted to by the blessed.

Verse 5 (padma.3.40.5)

तीर्थानां सेवनादेव सेवितो भवति प्रभुः । नारायणो जगत्कर्ता नास्ति तीर्थात्परं पदम् ।

tīrthānāṁ sevanādeva sevito bhavati prabhuḥ nārāyaṇo jagatkartā nāsti tīrthātparaṁ padam

By resorting to the tirthas alone, the Lord Narayana, the maker of the world, is indeed served; there is no state higher than a tirtha.

Verse 6 (padma.3.40.6)

ब्राह्मणस्तुलसी चैव अश्वत्थस्तीर्थसंचयः । विष्णुश्च परमेशानः सेव्य एव सदा नृभिः ।

brāhmaṇastulasī caiva aśvatthastīrthasaṁcayaḥ viṣṇuśca parameśānaḥ sevya eva sadā nṛbhiḥ

The Brahmin, the tulasi plant, the ashvattha tree, the whole collection of tirthas, and Vishnu the supreme lord — these are ever to be served by men.

Verse 7 (padma.3.40.7)

ब्राह्मणानां विशेषेण सेवनं मुनिपुंगवाः । सर्वतीर्थावगाहादेरधिकं विदुरग्रजाः ।

brāhmaṇānāṁ viśeṣeṇa sevanaṁ munipuṁgavāḥ sarvatīrthāvagāhāderadhikaṁ viduragrajāḥ

O foremost of sages, the elders know the service of Brahmins especially to be even greater than bathing in all the tirthas.

Verse 8 (padma.3.40.8)

तस्माद्द्विजपदं साक्षात्सर्वतीर्थमयं शुभम् । भजेतानुदिनं विद्वांस्तत्र तीर्थाधिकं भवेत् ।

tasmāddvijapadaṁ sākṣātsarvatīrthamayaṁ śubham bhajetānudinaṁ vidvāṁstatra tīrthādhikaṁ bhavet

Therefore the feet of a twice-born are themselves the very embodiment of all tirthas, auspicious; a wise man should serve them daily, for there lies something greater than a tirtha.

Verse 9 (padma.3.40.9)

अश्वत्थस्य तुलस्याश्च गवां कुर्यात्प्रदक्षिणम् । सर्वतीर्थफलंप्राप्य विष्णुलोके महीयते ।

aśvatthasya tulasyāśca gavāṁ kuryātpradakṣiṇam sarvatīrthaphalaṁprāpya viṣṇuloke mahīyate

One should circumambulate the ashvattha tree, the tulasi plant, and cows; obtaining the fruit of all tirthas, one is glorified in the world of Vishnu.

Verse 10 (padma.3.40.10)

तस्माद्दुष्कृतकर्माणि नाशयेत्तीर्थसेवनात् । अन्यथा नरकं याति कर्म्मभोगाद्धि शाम्यति ।

tasmādduṣkṛtakarmāṇi nāśayettīrthasevanāt anyathā narakaṁ yāti karmmabhogāddhi śāmyati

Therefore one should destroy one's evil deeds through resort to the tirthas; otherwise, one goes to hell, for it is only through experiencing the deed's consequence that it is quelled.

Verse 11 (padma.3.40.11)

पापिनां नरके वासः सुकृती स्वर्गमश्नुते । तस्मात्पुण्यं निषेवेत तीर्थं खलु विचक्षणः ।

pāpināṁ narake vāsaḥ sukṛtī svargamaśnute tasmātpuṇyaṁ niṣeveta tīrthaṁ khalu vicakṣaṇaḥ

The abode of sinners is hell; the virtuous man enjoys heaven. Therefore the discerning man should resort to the meritorious tirthas.

Verse 12 (padma.3.40.12)

ऋषय ऊचुः । श्रुतानि किल तीर्थानि समाहात्म्यानि सुव्रत । इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामः प्रयागस्य विशेषकम् ।

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ śrutāni kila tīrthāni samāhātmyāni suvrata idānīṁ śrotumicchāmaḥ prayāgasya viśeṣakam

The sages said: We have indeed heard of the tirthas along with their greatness, O one of good vows. Now we wish to hear the particulars of Prayaga.

Verse 13 (padma.3.40.13)

प्रयागं तु पुरा प्रोक्तं संक्षेपात्सूत यत्त्वया । विशेषाच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामः सूत नः कथ्यतामिति ।

prayāgaṁ tu purā proktaṁ saṁkṣepātsūta yattvayā viśeṣācchrotumicchāmaḥ sūta naḥ kathyatāmiti

Prayaga was indeed already spoken of by you in brief, O Suta; we wish to hear it in particular detail — tell us, O Suta.

Verse 14 (padma.3.40.14)

सूत उवाच । साधु पृष्टं महाभागाः प्रयागं प्रति सुव्रताः । हंताहं तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रयागस्योपवर्णनम् ।

sūta uvāca sādhu pṛṣṭaṁ mahābhāgāḥ prayāgaṁ prati suvratāḥ haṁtāhaṁ tatpravakṣyāmi prayāgasyopavarṇanam

Suta said: Well have you asked, O greatly fortunate, virtuous ones, concerning Prayaga. Indeed I shall tell you a full description of Prayaga.

Verse 15 (padma.3.40.15)

मार्कंडेयेन कथितं यत्पुरा पांडुसूनवे । भारते तु यदा वृत्ते प्राप्तराज्ये पृथासुते ।

mārkaṁḍeyena kathitaṁ yatpurā pāṁḍusūnave bhārate tu yadā vṛtte prāptarājye pṛthāsute

That which was told by Markandeya formerly to the son of Pandu — when the war of the Bharatas had passed, and the son of Pritha had obtained the kingdom —

Verse 16 (padma.3.40.16)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे राजा कुंतीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । भ्रातृशोकेन संतप्तः चिंतयंस्तु पुनः पुनः ।

etasminnaṁtare rājā kuṁtīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ bhrātṛśokena saṁtaptaḥ ciṁtayaṁstu punaḥ punaḥ

at that time, King Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, tormented by grief for his brothers, thinking again and again —

Verse 17 (padma.3.40.17)

आसीद्दुर्योधनो राजा एकादशचमूपतिः । अस्मान्संतप्य बहुशः सर्वे ते निधनं गताः ।

āsīdduryodhano rājā ekādaśacamūpatiḥ asmānsaṁtapya bahuśaḥ sarve te nidhanaṁ gatāḥ

'There was King Duryodhana, lord of eleven armies, who tormented us greatly; but all of them have gone to their death.'

Verse 18 (padma.3.40.18)

वासुदेवं समाश्रित्य पंचशेषास्तु पांडवाः । कथं द्रोणं च भीष्मं च कर्णं चैव महाबलम् ।

vāsudevaṁ samāśritya paṁcaśeṣāstu pāṁḍavāḥ kathaṁ droṇaṁ ca bhīṣmaṁ ca karṇaṁ caiva mahābalam

'Having taken refuge in Vasudeva, we five Pandavas alone remain. Drona, and Bhishma, and mighty Karna —'

Verse 19 (padma.3.40.19)

दुर्योधनं च राजानं भ्रातृपुत्रसमन्वितम् । राजानो निहताः सर्वे ये चान्ये शूरमानिनः ।

duryodhanaṁ ca rājānaṁ bhrātṛputrasamanvitam rājāno nihatāḥ sarve ye cānye śūramāninaḥ

'and King Duryodhana together with his brothers and sons — all the kings have been slain, and other men who thought themselves heroes as well.'

Verse 20 (padma.3.40.20)

विना राज्येन कर्तव्यं किं भोगैर्जीवितेनवा । धिक्कष्टमिति संचिंत्य राजा विह्वलतां गतः ।

vinā rājyena kartavyaṁ kiṁ bhogairjīvitenavā dhikkaṣṭamiti saṁciṁtya rājā vihvalatāṁ gataḥ

'What use is the kingdom now, what use are pleasures or even life?' Thinking thus, 'Alas, what misery!', the king became overwhelmed.

Verse 21 (padma.3.40.21)

निश्चेष्टोऽथ निरुत्साहः किं चित्तिष्ठत्यधोमुखः । लब्धसंज्ञो यदा राजा चिंतयानः पुनः पुनः ।

niśceṣṭo'tha nirutsāhaḥ kiṁ cittiṣṭhatyadhomukhaḥ labdhasaṁjño yadā rājā ciṁtayānaḥ punaḥ punaḥ

Motionless, without energy, he sat silent with his face bowed down. When the king regained his senses, thinking again and again —

Verse 22 (padma.3.40.22)

कं चरे विधिना योगं नियमं तीर्थमेव वा । येनाहं शीघ्रमामुच्ये महापातककिल्बिषात् ।

kaṁ care vidhinā yogaṁ niyamaṁ tīrthameva vā yenāhaṁ śīghramāmucye mahāpātakakilbiṣāt

'What discipline, by rule — what yoga, what observance, or what tirtha — should I resort to, by which I may quickly be freed from this great sin and guilt,'

Verse 23 (padma.3.40.23)

यत्र स्नात्वा नरो याति विष्णुलोकमनुत्तमम् । कथं पृच्छामि वै कृष्णं येनेदं कारितं महत् ।

yatra snātvā naro yāti viṣṇulokamanuttamam kathaṁ pṛcchāmi vai kṛṣṇaṁ yenedaṁ kāritaṁ mahat

'where, bathing, a man goes to the unsurpassed world of Vishnu? How can I ask Krishna, by whom all this great deed was caused?'

Verse 24 (padma.3.40.24)

धृतराष्ट्रं कथं पृच्छे यस्य पुत्रशतं हतम् । व्यासं कथमहं पृच्छे यस्य गोत्रक्षयः कृतः ।

dhṛtarāṣṭraṁ kathaṁ pṛcche yasya putraśataṁ hatam vyāsaṁ kathamahaṁ pṛcche yasya gotrakṣayaḥ kṛtaḥ

'How can I ask Dhritarashtra, whose hundred sons have been slain? How can I ask Vyasa, whose own lineage's destruction was brought about?'

Verse 25 (padma.3.40.25)

एवं वैक्लव्यमापन्नो धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । रुदंतः पांडवाः सर्वे भ्रातृशोकपरिप्लुताः ।

evaṁ vaiklavyamāpanno dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ rudaṁtaḥ pāṁḍavāḥ sarve bhrātṛśokapariplutāḥ

Thus overcome with distress was the son of Dharma, Yudhishthira; and all the Pandavas wept, overwhelmed with grief for their brothers.

Verse 26 (padma.3.40.26)

ये च तत्र महात्मानः समेताः पांडवाश्रिताः । कुंती च द्रौपदी चैव ये च तत्र समागताः ।

ye ca tatra mahātmānaḥ sametāḥ pāṁḍavāśritāḥ kuṁtī ca draupadī caiva ye ca tatra samāgatāḥ

And whatever great souls were assembled there, dependent on the Pandavas, Kunti and Draupadi too, and whoever else had gathered there —

Verse 27 (padma.3.40.27)

भूमौ निपतिताः सर्वे रोदमानाः समंततः । वाराणस्यां तु मार्कंडस्तेन ज्ञातो युधिष्ठरः ।

bhūmau nipatitāḥ sarve rodamānāḥ samaṁtataḥ vārāṇasyāṁ tu mārkaṁḍastena jñāto yudhiṣṭharaḥ

all fell upon the ground, weeping on every side. Now Markanda, then in Varanasi, came to know of Yudhishthira's state —

Verse 28 (padma.3.40.28)

यथाविक्लवमापन्नो रोदमानः सुदुःखितः । अचिरेणैव कालेन मार्कंडस्तु महातपाः ।

yathāviklavamāpanno rodamānaḥ suduḥkhitaḥ acireṇaiva kālena mārkaṁḍastu mahātapāḥ

how he had fallen into deep distress, weeping, greatly grieved. Within a short time, Markanda, of great austerity —

Verse 29 (padma.3.40.29)

हस्तिनापुर संप्राप्तो राजद्वारे स तिष्ठति । द्वारपालोऽपि तं दृष्ट्वा राज्ञः कथितवान्द्रुतम् ।

hastināpura saṁprāpto rājadvāre sa tiṣṭhati dvārapālo'pi taṁ dṛṣṭvā rājñaḥ kathitavāndrutam

arrived at Hastinapura and stood at the king's gate. The gatekeeper too, seeing him, quickly reported it to the king:

Verse 30 (padma.3.40.30)

त्वां द्रष्टुकामो मार्कंडो द्वारे तिष्ठत्यसौ मुनिः । त्वरितो धर्मपुत्रस्तु द्वारमेत्याह तत्परः ।

tvāṁ draṣṭukāmo mārkaṁḍo dvāre tiṣṭhatyasau muniḥ tvarito dharmaputrastu dvārametyāha tatparaḥ

'The sage Markanda, wishing to see you, stands at the gate.' Then the son of Dharma, hastening eagerly, came to the gate and said:

Verse 31 (padma.3.40.31)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच । स्वागतं ते महाप्राज्ञ स्वागतं ते महामुने । अद्य मे सफलं जन्म अद्य मे पावितं कुलम् ।

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca svāgataṁ te mahāprājña svāgataṁ te mahāmune adya me saphalaṁ janma adya me pāvitaṁ kulam

Yudhishthira said: Welcome to you, O greatly wise one! Welcome to you, O great sage! Today my birth is made fruitful, today my lineage is purified.

Verse 32 (padma.3.40.32)

अद्य मे पितरस्तृप्तास्त्वयि दृष्टे महामुने । सिंहासन उपस्थाप्य पादशौचार्चनादिभिः ।

adya me pitarastṛptāstvayi dṛṣṭe mahāmune siṁhāsana upasthāpya pādaśaucārcanādibhiḥ

Today, having seen you, O great sage, my ancestors are satisfied. Having him seated on a throne, and honoring him with the washing of his feet and other rites of worship —

Verse 33 (padma.3.40.33)

युधिष्ठिरो महात्मा वै पूजयामास तं मुनिम् । ततस्तमूचे मार्कण्डः पूजितोऽहं त्वया विभो ।

yudhiṣṭhiro mahātmā vai pūjayāmāsa taṁ munim tatastamūce mārkaṇḍaḥ pūjito'haṁ tvayā vibho

the great-souled Yudhishthira duly worshipped that sage. Then Markanda said to him: 'I have been well honored by you, O lord.'

Verse 34 (padma.3.40.34)

आख्याहि त्वरितो राजन्किमर्थं त्वरितं त्वया । केन वा विक्लवीभूतः कथयस्व ममाग्रतः ।

ākhyāhi tvarito rājankimarthaṁ tvaritaṁ tvayā kena vā viklavībhūtaḥ kathayasva mamāgrataḥ

'Tell me quickly, O king, for what reason you are so agitated. By what cause have you become distressed? Tell me before me.'

Verse 35 (padma.3.40.35)

युधिष्ठिर उवाच । अस्माकं चैव यद्वृत्तं राज्यस्यार्थे महामुने । एतत्सर्वं विदित्वा तु भगवानिह चागतः ।

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca asmākaṁ caiva yadvṛttaṁ rājyasyārthe mahāmune etatsarvaṁ viditvā tu bhagavāniha cāgataḥ

Yudhishthira said: O great sage, whatever has befallen us for the sake of the kingdom — having known all this, you, blessed one, have come here.

Verse 36 (padma.3.40.36)

मार्कंडेय उवाच । शृणु राजन्महाबाहो यत्र धर्मो व्यवस्थितः । नैव दृष्टं रणे पापं युध्यमानस्य धीमतः ।

mārkaṁḍeya uvāca śṛṇu rājanmahābāho yatra dharmo vyavasthitaḥ naiva dṛṣṭaṁ raṇe pāpaṁ yudhyamānasya dhīmataḥ

Markandeya said: Listen, O king, mighty-armed one — where dharma is firmly established, no sin at all is seen in a wise man who fights in battle.

Verse 37 (padma.3.40.37)

किं पुना राजधर्मेण क्षत्रियस्य विशेषतः । तदेवं हृदये कृत्वा तस्मात्पापं न चिंतयेत् ।

kiṁ punā rājadharmeṇa kṣatriyasya viśeṣataḥ tadevaṁ hṛdaye kṛtvā tasmātpāpaṁ na ciṁtayet

How much less, then, is there sin according to the duty of a king, especially for a Kshatriya? Bearing this in your heart, you should not think of it as sin.

Verse 38 (padma.3.40.38)

ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा प्रणम्य शिरसा मुनिम् । पृच्छामि त्वां मुनिश्रेष्ठ सदा त्रैकाल्यदर्शनम् । कथयस्व समासेन मुच्येऽहं येन किल्बिषात् ।

tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā praṇamya śirasā munim pṛcchāmi tvāṁ muniśreṣṭha sadā traikālyadarśanam kathayasva samāsena mucye'haṁ yena kilbiṣāt

Then King Yudhishthira, bowing his head to the sage, said: 'I ask you, O best of sages, ever seer of the three times — tell me in brief, by what means I may be freed from this sin.'

Verse 39 (padma.3.40.39)

मार्कंडेय उवाच । शृणु राजन्महाभाग यन्मां पृच्छसि भारत । एवं सांख्यं च योगं च तीर्थं चैव युधिष्ठिर ।

mārkaṁḍeya uvāca śṛṇu rājanmahābhāga yanmāṁ pṛcchasi bhārata evaṁ sāṁkhyaṁ ca yogaṁ ca tīrthaṁ caiva yudhiṣṭhira

Markandeya said: Listen, O greatly fortunate king, O Bharata, to what you ask me. Thus, O Yudhishthira, I shall tell of Sankhya, and Yoga, and the tirthas as well.

Verse 40 (padma.3.40.40)

किं पुनर्ब्राह्मणैः पुण्यैः कीर्तितं वै पुरा विभो । प्रयागगमनं श्रेष्ठं नराणां पुण्यकर्मणाम् ।

kiṁ punarbrāhmaṇaiḥ puṇyaiḥ kīrtitaṁ vai purā vibho prayāgagamanaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ narāṇāṁ puṇyakarmaṇām

And moreover, O lord, what has been declared of old by pious Brahmins — going to Prayaga is the best of paths for men of meritorious deeds.