Markandeya's Vision of the Great Dissolution

Verse 1 (skanda.2.43.1)

श्रीरुवाच । साधु ते बुद्धिरुत्पन्ना विष्णोः संनिधिमाश्रिता । अद्भुतं कथयाम्येतत्क्षेत्रस्य रविनंदन

śrīruvāca sādhu te buddhirutpannā viṣṇoḥ saṁnidhimāśritā adbhutaṁ kathayāmyetatkṣetrasya ravinaṁdana

Shri said: Good is this thought that has arisen in you, taking refuge in the presence of Vishnu. I shall now tell you a wondrous thing about this field, O son of the Sun.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.43.2)

यथाहं भगवद्वक्षः स्थलस्था ददृशे पुरा । चराचरे जगत्यस्मिन्प्रलीने प्रलये यम

yathāhaṁ bhagavadvakṣaḥ sthalasthā dadṛśe purā carācare jagatyasminpralīne pralaye yama

As I, dwelling upon the Lord's chest, once beheld, O Yama, when this world of moving and unmoving beings had dissolved in the great dissolution —

Verse 3 (skanda.2.43.3)

एतत्क्षेत्रमहं चैव द्वे एवोपस्थिते तदा । स तदा सप्तकल्पायुर्मृकंडोरात्मजो मुनिः

etatkṣetramahaṁ caiva dve evopasthite tadā sa tadā saptakalpāyurmṛkaṁḍorātmajo muniḥ

— then only this field and I, we two alone, remained present. At that time there was a sage, the son of Mrikandu, whose lifespan spanned seven kalpas,

Verse 4 (skanda.2.43.4)

प्रणष्टे स्थावरचरे निमग्नः प्रलयार्णवे । नावस्थानमवाप्यैव शर्म लेभे न कुत्रचित्

praṇaṣṭe sthāvaracare nimagnaḥ pralayārṇave nāvasthānamavāpyaiva śarma lebhe na kutracit

— who, when all that is moving and unmoving had perished, was submerged in the ocean of dissolution; finding no place to stand, he found peace nowhere at all.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.43.5)

जलार्णवे भ्राम्यमाणः प्रलये स इतस्ततः । पुरुषोत्तमसादृश्ये क्षेत्रे स वटमैक्षत

jalārṇave bhrāmyamāṇaḥ pralaye sa itastataḥ puruṣottamasādṛśye kṣetre sa vaṭamaikṣata

Drifting here and there in the flood-waters of dissolution, he beheld, in a field resembling Purushottama, a banyan tree.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.43.6)

उत्प्लुत्योत्प्लुत्य मूलं तु न्यग्रोधस्य समीपतः । शुश्राव बाल वचनं मार्कण्डेय ममांतिकम्

utplutyotplutya mūlaṁ tu nyagrodhasya samīpataḥ śuśrāva bāla vacanaṁ mārkaṇḍeya mamāṁtikam

Leaping up again and again toward the root of the banyan, he heard, near its trunk, the words of a child: 'Markandeya, come into my presence—

Verse 7 (skanda.2.43.7)

प्रविश्य दुःखमतुलं जहीहि खलु मा शुचः । तच्छ्रुत्वा चित्रवचनमप्रतर्क्यं तदा मुनिः

praviśya duḥkhamatulaṁ jahīhi khalu mā śucaḥ tacchrutvā citravacanamapratarkyaṁ tadā muniḥ

'—enter, and give up your incomparable sorrow; do not grieve.' Hearing that strange, inconceivable speech, the sage then,

Verse 8 (skanda.2.43.8)

विस्मयं परमं लेभे स्वदुःखं नाप्यचिन्तयत् । वारिभिः शीर्यते नैतद्दह्यते कालवह्निना

vismayaṁ paramaṁ lebhe svaduḥkhaṁ nāpyacintayat vāribhiḥ śīryate naitaddahyate kālavahninā

— fell into utmost astonishment, and thought no more of his own sorrow. 'This is not worn away by the waters, nor is it burned by the fire of time;

Verse 9 (skanda.2.43.9)

संवर्तकादिभिर्नैतच्छोष्यते नापि चाल्यते । एकार्णवे महाघोरे नौरिव क्षेत्रमीक्ष्यते

saṁvartakādibhirnaitacchoṣyate nāpi cālyate ekārṇave mahāghore nauriva kṣetramīkṣyate

'—nor is it dried by the destructive winds of dissolution, nor is it shaken. In this single, terrible ocean the field is seen like a boat.'

Verse 10 (skanda.2.43.10)

तत्रायं यूपसदृशो न्यग्रोधस्तिष्ठते महान् । यं गृहीत्वा क्षेत्रमिदं न्यग्रोध ईशितुस्तनुः

tatrāyaṁ yūpasadṛśo nyagrodhastiṣṭhate mahān yaṁ gṛhītvā kṣetramidaṁ nyagrodha īśitustanuḥ

'There stands this great banyan, like a sacrificial post, holding on to which this field endures — the banyan being the very body of the Lord —

Verse 11 (skanda.2.43.11)

महाप्रलय वातेन शाखा नास्य हि कम्पते । तस्याधस्तात्स हि मुनिः स्थित्वा चैतदचिंतयत्

mahāpralaya vātena śākhā nāsya hi kampate tasyādhastātsa hi muniḥ sthitvā caitadacintayat

'—its branches do not tremble even in the wind of the great dissolution.' Standing beneath it, the sage pondered this:

Verse 12 (skanda.2.43.12)

एकार्णवेऽस्मिन्प्रलये नष्टे स्थावरजंगमे । भूप्रदेशः स्थिरतरः कथमेष विभाव्यते

ekārṇave'sminpralaye naṣṭe sthāvarajaṁgame bhūpradeśaḥ sthirataraḥ kathameṣa vibhāvyate

'In this single ocean of dissolution, with all that is moving and unmoving destroyed, how does this appear as so stable a region of earth—

Verse 13 (skanda.2.43.13)

यत्रायं शाखिप्रवरः कोमलः परिदृश्यते । मार्कंडेयागच्छ मुहुरिति सप्रश्रयं वचः

yatrāyaṁ śākhipravaraḥ komalaḥ paridṛśyate mārkaṁḍeyāgaccha muhuriti sapraśrayaṁ vacaḥ

'—where this most excellent, tender tree is seen?' And there echoed that courteous speech: 'Markandeya, come again.'

Verse 14 (skanda.2.43.14)

कुतो निराश्रमियदं चिन्तयन्निति स प्लवन् । शंखचक्रगदापाणिं नारायणमलोकयत्

kuto nirāśramiyadaṁ cintayanniti sa plavan śaṅkhacakragadāpāṇiṁ nārāyaṇamalokayat

'From where has this hermitage come?' Thinking thus, as he floated, he beheld Narayana, bearing conch, discus and mace in hand,

Verse 15 (skanda.2.43.15)

तदंगपद्मासनगां मां च वैवस्वतैक्षत । विवशो जलवाताभ्यां तदा सुस्थो व्यवस्थितः

tadaṁgapadmāsanagāṁ māṁ ca vaivasvataikṣata vivaśo jalavātābhyāṁ tadā sustho vyavasthitaḥ

— and me as well, seated beside him on the lotus seat, O son of Vivasvat. Though helpless before the water and the wind, he then became firmly composed.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.43.16)

हृष्टांतरात्मा स मुनिरावां साष्टांगमानतः । प्रसादनाय देवस्य स्तोत्रमेतदुदाहरत्

hṛṣṭāṁtarātmā sa munirāvāṁ sāṣṭāṅgamānataḥ prasādanāya devasya stotrametadudāharat

His inner self rejoicing, the sage bowed to us both in eightfold prostration, and, to gain the god's favor, uttered this hymn:

Verse 17 (skanda.2.43.17)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच । त्वत्पादपद्मानुसरानुषंगं रुद्रेंद्रपद्मासनसम्पदाढ्यम् । त्वद्भक्तिहीनं परितः प्रतप्तं दीनं परित्राहि कृपांबुधे माम्

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tvatpādapadmānusarānuṣaṁgaṁ rudreṁdrapadmāsanasampadāḍhyam tvadbhaktihīnaṁ paritaḥ prataptaṁ dīnaṁ paritrāhi kṛpāṁbudhe mām

Markandeya said: O ocean of compassion, protect wretched me — scorched on every side, devoid of devotion to you — though [true] wealth lies in following your lotus feet, a wealth in which even Rudra and Indra on his lotus seat share.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.43.18)

ब्रह्मादिभिर्यत्परिचर्यमाणं पदाम्बुजद्वन्द्वमचिंत्यशक्ति । श्वः श्रेयसप्राप्तिनिदानतत्त्वं दीनं परित्राहि कृपाम्बुधे माम्

brahmādibhiryatparicaryamāṇaṁ padāmbujadvandvamaciṁtyaśakti śvaḥ śreyasaprāptinidānatattvaṁ dīnaṁ paritrāhi kṛpāmbudhe mām

That pair of lotus feet, of inconceivable power, served even by Brahma and the other gods, the very foundation and truth of attaining future welfare — O ocean of compassion, protect wretched me.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.43.19)

यदंगभूतं जगदण्डमेतदनेककोटि प्रगुणं विभाति । लीलाविलासस्थितिसृष्टिलीनं तन्मां सुदीनं परिरक्ष विष्णो

yadaṁgabhūtaṁ jagadaṇḍametadanekakoṭi praguṇaṁ vibhāti līlāvilāsasthitisṛṣṭilīnaṁ tanmāṁ sudīnaṁ parirakṣa viṣṇo

O Vishnu, you of whose body this cosmic egg, appearing as countless myriads, well-ordered, is but a part — in whose play and sport creation, preservation and dissolution dissolve — protect me, utterly wretched.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.43.20)

एकं सुवर्णं कटकादिभेदैर्नाना यथा वा नभसोदितोऽर्कः । आधारवैषम्यजलेषु तादृग्विभाव्यसे निर्गुण एक एव

ekaṁ suvarṇaṁ kaṭakādibhedairnānā yathā vā nabhasodito'rkaḥ ādhāravaiṣamyajaleṣu tādṛgvibhāvyase nirguṇa eka eva

As a single mass of gold appears manifold through its forms — bracelet and the rest — or as the one sun risen in the sky appears various through the unevenness of the waters that hold its image, so do you, though one and beyond the gunas, appear thus manifold.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.43.21)

अशेषसंपूर्णरुचिप्रहीणोपादानसंकल्पविवर्जितोऽपि । दीनानुकंपानुगुणं बिभर्षि युगे युगे देहमपारशक्ते

aśeṣasaṁpūrṇaruciprahīṇopādānasaṁkalpavivarjito'pi dīnānukampānuguṇaṁ bibharṣi yuge yuge dehamapāraśakte

Though wholly complete in splendor, devoid of material cause or of any wish, still, O boundless in power, in keeping with your compassion for the wretched, you assume a body in age after age.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.43.22)

त्वत्पादपद्मं जगदीश पूर्वमसेव्यतानात्मधिया मया यत् । तत्कर्मणा दारुणपाकभाजं दीनं परित्राहि कृपांबुधे माम्

tvatpādapadmaṁ jagadīśa pūrvamasevyatānātmadhiyā mayā yat tatkarmaṇā dāruṇapākabhājaṁ dīnaṁ paritrāhi kṛpāṁbudhe mām

O Lord of the universe, that your lotus feet were left unserved by me in the past, through a mind unaware of the Self — for that deed I am subject now to a terrible ripening. O ocean of compassion, protect wretched me.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.43.23)

अशेषलोकस्थितिसृष्टिलीनविलासि यत्ते त्रिगुणं विभाति । वपुर्महात्मन्महदादिहेतुर्हेतोर्नमस्ते प्रकृतेः परस्य

aśeṣalokasthitisṛṣṭilīnavilāsi yatte triguṇaṁ vibhāti vapurmahātmanmahadādihetur hetornamaste prakṛteḥ parasya

O great soul, that threefold-natured form of yours, in which the preservation, creation and dissolution of every world is mere play, is itself the source of Mahat and the rest. Salutation to you, cause even of that cause, beyond Prakriti.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.43.24)

सर्वत्र गत्वा बृहदप्रमेयं प्रवर्द्धमानं त्वयि बृंहितं च । तद्बह्मरूपं परिणामहेतुं स्वाध्यात्मविश्वात्मकमाश्रयामि

sarvatra gatvā bṛhadaprameyaṁ pravarddhamānaṁ tvayi bṛṁhitaṁ ca tadbahmarūpaṁ pariṇāmahetuṁ svādhyātmaviśvātmakamāśrayāmi

Going everywhere, vast, immeasurable, ever growing, and expanded within you — that Brahman-form, the cause of transformation, the very self of one's own spirit and of the whole universe, I take as my refuge.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.43.25)

एकार्णवे महाघोरे नावस्थातुं प्रदेशभूः । अस्ति लक्ष्मीपते मेघवारिवातप्रकंपनात्

ekārṇave mahāghore nāvasthātuṁ pradeśabhūḥ asti lakṣmīpate meghavārivātaprakaṁpanāt

O Lord of Lakshmi, in this single, terrible ocean there is no ground on which to stand, trembling as it is from the clouds, the waters and the wind —

Verse 26 (skanda.2.43.26)

त्राहि विष्णो जगन्नाथ मग्नं संसारसागरे । मामुद्धरास्माद्गोविंद कृपापांगविलोकनात

trāhi viṣṇo jagannātha magnaṁ saṁsārasāgare māmuddharāsmādgoviṁda kṛpāpāṅgavilokanāta

— save me, O Vishnu, Jagannatha, submerged in the ocean of worldly existence; lift me up from it, O Govinda, with a glance of your compassionate, sidelong look.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.43.27)

श्रीरुवाच । स्तुवंतमेवं ब्रह्मर्षि साक्षान्नारायणो विभुः । विलोक्यानुग्रहदृशा वाक्यं चेदमुवाच ह

śrīruvāca stuvaṁtamevaṁ brahmarṣi sākṣānnārāyaṇo vibhuḥ vilokyānugrahadṛśā vākyaṁ cedamuvāca ha

Shri said: As the Brahmarshi praised him thus, the Lord Narayana himself, gazing upon him with a look of grace, spoke these very words:

Verse 28 (skanda.2.43.28)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । मार्कंडेय सुदीनोऽसि मामज्ञाय द्विजोत्तम । दुश्चरं तु तपस्तप्तं दीर्घायुस्तेन केवलम्

śrībhagavānuvāca mārkaṁḍeya sudīno'si māmajñāya dvijottama duścaraṁ tu tapastaptaṁ dīrghāyustena kevalam

The Blessed Lord said: Markandeya, O best of the twice-born, you are utterly wretched for not having known me; the severe austerity you performed has won you long life alone.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.43.29)

शयानं पत्रपुटके पश्य कल्पवटोर्ध्वगम । बालस्वरूपं सर्वेषां कालात्मानं महामुने । प्रविश्य विस्तृतं वक्त्रं तत्रावस्थातुमर्हसि

śayānaṁ patrapuṭake paśya kalpavaṭordhvagam bālasvarūpaṁ sarveṣāṁ kālātmānaṁ mahāmune praviśya vistṛtaṁ vaktraṁ tatrāvasthātumarhasi

Behold, O great sage, one lying upon a leaf-cradle above the eternal banyan, the child-form of all, the very Self of Time; entering his wide-open mouth, you should abide there.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.43.30)

श्रीरुवाच । एवमुक्तो भगवता स मुनिर्विस्मिताननः । आरुह्य ददृशे बालरूपं तस्याविशन्मुखे

śrīruvāca evamukto bhagavatā sa munirvismitānanaḥ āruhya dadṛśe bālarūpaṁ tasyāviśanmukhe

Shri said: Thus addressed by the Lord, the sage, his face filled with wonder, climbed up, beheld that child-form, and entered into his mouth.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.43.31)

प्रविष्टः कंठमार्गेण महायामं महोदरम् । तत्रासौ ददृशे विप्रो भुवनानि चतुर्दश

praviṣṭaḥ kaṇṭhamārgeṇa mahāyāmaṁ mahodaram tatrāsau dadṛśe vipro bhuvanāni caturdaśa

Having entered, by way of the throat, into that vast, great belly, the Brahmin beheld there the fourteen worlds,

Verse 32 (skanda.2.43.32)

ब्रह्मादिदिक्पालसुरान्सिद्धगंधर्वराक्षसान् । ऋषीन्दिव्यऋषींश्चैव भूतलं सागरांकितम्

brahmādidikpālasurānsiddhagaṁdharvarākṣasān ṛṣīndivyaṛṣīṁścaiva bhūtalaṁ sāgarāṁkitam

— Brahma, the guardians of the directions, the gods, siddhas, gandharvas and rakshasas, sages both human and celestial, and the surface of the earth marked by the oceans,

Verse 33 (skanda.2.43.33)

नानातीर्थैर्नदीभिश्च पर्वतैः काननैस्तथा । लक्षितं पत्तनपुरं ग्रामखर्वटकैर्युतम्

nānātīrthairnadībhiśca parvataiḥ kānanaistathā lakṣitaṁ pattanapuraṁ grāmakharvaṭakairyutam

— marked with various sacred fords and rivers, mountains and forests, and dotted with cities, towns, villages and hamlets;

Verse 34 (skanda.2.43.34)

पातालानि तथा सप्त नागकन्याः सहस्रशः । महार्घ्यमणिसौधैश्च सुधापात्रैः समुज्ज्वलैः

pātālāni tathā sapta nāgakanyāḥ sahasraśaḥ mahārghyamaṇisaudhaiśca sudhāpātraiḥ samujjvalaiḥ

— the seven netherworlds also, and the maiden daughters of the Nagas by the thousand, gleaming with palaces of priceless gems and radiant vessels of nectar,

Verse 35 (skanda.2.43.35)

अनर्घ्यमणिभिर्नागैः सेवितं परमाद्भुतम् । जगतां धारिणं शेषं सहस्रफणमंडितम्

anarghyamaṇibhirnāgaiḥ sevitaṁ paramādbhutam jagatāṁ dhāriṇaṁ śeṣaṁ sahasraphaṇamaṁḍitam

— those realms served by Nagas adorned with priceless jewels, most wondrous; and Shesha, sustainer of the worlds, adorned with a thousand hoods,

Verse 36 (skanda.2.43.36)

व्याकर्तारमशेषाणां शास्त्राणां शिष्यमध्यगम् । ब्रह्मांडोदरगं वस्तु यत्किंचित्परमेष्ठिना

vyākartāramaśeṣāṇāṁ śāstrāṇāṁ śiṣyamadhyagam brahmāṇḍodaragaṁ vastu yatkiṁcitparameṣṭhinā

— the expounder of every scripture, seated in the midst of his disciples; and whatsoever thing exists within the belly of the cosmic egg, created by the Supreme Being,

Verse 37 (skanda.2.43.37)

सृष्टं सर्वं ददृशेऽसौ तत्कुक्षौ स महामुनिः । नापश्यदंतं कुक्षेस्तु भ्रममाण इतस्ततः

sṛṣṭaṁ sarvaṁ dadṛśe'sau tatkukṣau sa mahāmuniḥ nāpaśyadaṁtaṁ kukṣestu bhramamāṇa itastataḥ

— all of it that great sage beheld within that belly; yet, wandering here and there, he could not find the end of the belly.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.43.38)

ततो विनिष्क्रम्य पुनर्ददृशे च मया सह । पूर्वमालक्षितं यद्वदास्थितं पुरुषोत्तमम्

tato viniṣkramya punardadṛśe ca mayā saha pūrvamālakṣitaṁ yadvadāsthitaṁ puruṣottamam

Then, having come forth again, he once more beheld, together with me, Purushottama, seated exactly as he had first seen him.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.43.39)

विस्मयोत्फुल्लनयनः प्रणिपत्येदमब्रवीत्

vismayotphullanayanaḥ praṇipatyedamabravīt

With eyes wide with astonishment, he bowed down and spoke these words:

Verse 40 (skanda.2.43.40)

मार्कंडेय उवाच । भगवन्देवदेवेश किमद्भुतमिदं प्रभो । महाप्रलयसंरोधे सृष्टिरत्र विभाव्यते

mārkaṁḍeya uvāca bhagavandevadeveśa kimadbhutamidaṁ prabho mahāpralayasaṁrodhe sṛṣṭiratra vibhāvyate

Markandeya said: O Lord, God of gods, O Master, what is this wonder — that even amid the total obstruction of the great dissolution, creation is seen manifest here?

Verse 41 (skanda.2.43.41)

त्वन्माया दुरवच्छेद्या कथं वै ज्ञायते मया

tvanmāyā duravacchedyā kathaṁ vai jñāyate mayā

Your maya is impossible to fathom — how indeed could it ever be known by me?

Verse 42 (skanda.2.43.42)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । मुने क्षेत्रमिदं चित्रं शाश्वतं मे विभावय । न सृष्टिप्रलयावत्र विद्येते न च संसृतिः

śrībhagavānuvāca mune kṣetramidaṁ citraṁ śāśvataṁ me vibhāvaya na sṛṣṭipralayāvatra vidyete na ca saṁsṛtiḥ

The Blessed Lord said: O sage, know this wondrous field to be my own eternal nature; here neither creation nor dissolution exist, nor the cycle of transmigration.

Verse 43 (skanda.2.43.43)

सदैकरूपं पुरुषोत्तमाख्यं मुक्तिप्रदं मामिह संप्रबुध्य । अत्र प्रविष्टो न पुनः प्रयाति गर्भस्थितिं सांद्रसुखस्वरूपः

sadaikarūpaṁ puruṣottamākhyaṁ muktipradaṁ māmiha saṁprabudhya atra praviṣṭo na punaḥ prayāti garbhasthitiṁ sāṁdrasukhasvarūpaḥ

Having here fully awakened to me, ever of one form, named Purushottama, the giver of liberation — one who has entered here does not again go to the state of the womb, but becomes one whose very nature is dense bliss.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.43.44)

इत्याज्ञप्तो भगवता मार्कंडेयो महामुनिः । अत्र वासं करिष्यामीत्यन्यतीर्थपराङ्मुखः । प्रहृष्टवदनः प्राह प्रणिपत्य जगद्गुरुम्

ityājñapto bhagavatā mārkaṁḍeyo mahāmuniḥ atra vāsaṁ kariṣyāmītyanyatīrthaparāṅmukhaḥ prahṛṣṭavadanaḥ prāha praṇipatya jagadgurum

Thus instructed by the Lord, the great sage Markandeya, resolving 'I shall dwell here,' turned away from every other sacred ford and, with a joyful countenance, bowed down and spoke to the guru of the world:

Verse 45 (skanda.2.43.45)

मार्कण्डेय उवाच । उवाच स तथा विष्णुं भक्तिश्रद्धासमन्वितः । अनुगृह्णीष्व भगवन्क्षेत्रेस्मिन्पुरुषोत्तमे । यथा स्थितो मृत्युवशं न व्रजे पुरुषोत्तम

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca uvāca sa tathā viṣṇuṁ bhaktiśraddhāsamanvitaḥ anugṛhṇīṣva bhagavankṣetresminpuruṣottame yathā sthito mṛtyuvaśaṁ na vraje puruṣottama

Markandeya said: Filled with devotion and faith, he spoke thus to Vishnu: 'Show me your grace, O Lord, in this field of Purushottama, so that, remaining here, O Purushottama, I may never fall under the sway of death.'

Verse 46 (skanda.2.43.46)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । अत्र स्थितिं मे विप्रर्षे क्षेत्रे मोक्षप्रसाधके

śrībhagavānuvāca atra sthitiṁ me viprarṣe kṣetre mokṣaprasādhake

The Blessed Lord said: O sage among Brahmins, my abiding in this field that accomplishes liberation —

Verse 47 (skanda.2.43.47)

करिष्यामि न संदेहो यावदाभूतसंप्लवम् । प्रलयावसाने तीर्थं ते रचयिष्यामि शाश्वतम्

kariṣyāmi na saṁdeho yāvadābhūtasaṁplavam pralayāvasāne tīrthaṁ te racayiṣyāmi śāśvatam

— I shall grant, without doubt, until the dissolution of all beings; and at the end of that dissolution, I shall fashion for you an eternal sacred ford,

Verse 48 (skanda.2.43.48)

यत्तीरे तप आस्थाय मद्द्वितीयतनुं शिवम् । आराध्य मदनुक्रोशान्मृत्युं जेष्यसि निश्चितम्

yattīre tapa āsthāya maddvitīyatanuṁ śivam ārādhya madanukrośānmṛtyuṁ jeṣyasi niścitam

— on whose bank, having undertaken austerity and worshipped Shiva, my second body, by my grace you shall assuredly conquer death.

Verse 49 (skanda.2.43.49)

जैमिनिरुवाच । एवं पुरा दत्तवरो मार्कंडेयो महामुनिः । न्यग्रोधवायव्यकोणे खातं चक्रेण वै हरेः

jaiminiruvāca evaṁ purā dattavaro mārkaṁḍeyo mahāmuniḥ nyagrodhavāyavyakoṇe khātaṁ cakreṇa vai hareḥ

Jaimini said: Thus, having received this boon of old, the great sage Markandeya, in the northwest corner of the banyan, [found] a pit dug by Hari's very discus,

Verse 50 (skanda.2.43.50)

पावनं गर्तमास्थाय पूजयित्वा महेश्वरम् । महता तपसा विप्रो जितवान्मृत्युमंजसा

pāvanaṁ gartamāsthāya pūjayitvā maheśvaram mahatā tapasā vipro jitavānmṛtyumaṁjasā

— taking his stand at that purifying pit and worshipping the great Lord, the Brahmin, through great austerity, swiftly conquered death.

Verse 51 (skanda.2.43.51)

मुनेस्तस्यैव नाम्नायं प्रख्यातो गर्त उत्तमः । यत्र स्नात्वा शिवं दृष्ट्वा वाजिमेधफलं लभेत्

munestasyaiva nāmnāyaṁ prakhyāto garta uttamaḥ yatra snātvā śivaṁ dṛṣṭvā vājimedhaphalaṁ labhet

By that very sage's own name is this excellent pit renowned, where, having bathed and beheld Shiva, one obtains the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice.

Verse 52 (skanda.2.43.52)

श्रीरुवाच । पञ्चक्रोशमिदं क्षेत्रं समुद्रांतर्व्यवस्थितम् । द्विक्रोशं तीर्थराजस्य तटभूमौ सुनिर्मलम्

śrīruvāca pañcakrośamidaṁ kṣetraṁ samudrāṁtarvyavasthitam dvikrośaṁ tīrtharājasya taṭabhūmau sunirmalam

Shri said: This field measures five krosas, situated within the sea; two krosas of it, most pure, lie upon the shore-land of the king of sacred fords.

Verse 53 (skanda.2.43.53)

सुवर्णवालुकाकीर्णं नीलपर्वतशोभितम् । योऽसौ विश्वेश्वरो देवः साक्षान्नारायणात्मकः

suvarṇavālukākīrṇaṁ nīlaparvataśobhitam yo'sau viśveśvaro devaḥ sākṣānnārāyaṇātmakaḥ

Strewn with golden sand, adorned by the Blue Mountain — that god who is the Lord of the universe, of the very nature of Narayana himself,

Verse 54 (skanda.2.43.54)

संयम्य विषयग्रामं समुद्रतटमास्थितः । उपासितुं जगन्नाथं चतुःषष्टितमः प्रभुः

saṁyamya viṣayagrāmaṁ samudrataṭamāsthitaḥ upāsituṁ jagannāthaṁ catuḥṣaṣṭitamaḥ prabhuḥ

— having restrained the whole host of the senses, stationed upon the ocean's shore to worship Jagannatha, is the sixty-fourth Lord [presiding there],

Verse 55 (skanda.2.43.55)

यमेश्वर इति ख्यातो यमसंयमनाशनः । यं दृष्ट्वा पूजयित्वा तु कोटिलिंगफलं लभेत्

yameśvara iti khyāto yamasaṁyamanāśanaḥ yaṁ dṛṣṭvā pūjayitvā tu koṭiliṁgaphalaṁ labhet

— known as Yameshvara, the one who undoes Yama's very power of restraint; having seen and worshipped whom, one obtains the fruit of worshipping a koti (ten million) lingas.