The Glory of Markandeyeshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.5.107.1)

श्रीहर उवाच। मार्कण्डेयेश्वरं विद्धि षट्त्रिंशत्तममीश्वरम्। यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण पुत्रवाञ्जायते नरः॥

śrīhara uvāca| mārkaṇḍeyeśvaraṁ viddhi ṣaṭtriṁśattamamīśvaram| yasya darśanamātreṇa putravāñjāyate naraḥ||

Shri Hara said: Know Markandeyeshvara as the thirty-sixth Lord, by the mere sight of whom a man becomes blessed with a son.

Verse 2 (skanda.5.107.2)

ब्रह्मवंशसमुत्पन्नो मृकण्डोनाम तापसः। वेदाध्ययनसंपन्नः स चापुत्रो बभूव ह॥

brahmavaṁśasamutpanno mṛkaṇḍonāma tāpasaḥ| vedādhyayanasaṁpannaḥ sa cāputro babhūva ha||

There was an ascetic named Mrikandu, born in the lineage of Brahma, accomplished in Vedic study, but he was without a son.

Verse 3 (skanda.5.107.3)

पुत्रार्थं चिन्तयामास कथं पुत्रो भवेदिति। अपुत्रस्य कुतो लोक इति वेदेषु पठ्यते॥

putrārthaṁ cintayāmāsa kathaṁ putro bhavediti| aputrasya kuto loka iti vedeṣu paṭhyate||

He pondered constantly on how a son might be obtained, for it is declared in the Vedas that the childless have no worlds hereafter.

Verse 4 (skanda.5.107.4)

तस्मात्तपः करिष्यामि येन मे तनयो भवेत्। एवं संचित्य बहुधा स जगाम हिमालयम्॥

tasmāttapaḥ kariṣyāmi yena me tanayo bhavet| evaṁ saṁcitya bahudhā sa jagāma himālayam||

"Therefore I shall perform austerity, by which I may obtain a son" — thinking thus repeatedly, he went to the Himalaya.

Verse 5 (skanda.5.107.5)

चकार वसतिं चापि तपसे भावितात्मवान्। वायुभक्षोऽम्बुभक्षश्च निराहारोर्ध्वपादकः॥

cakāra vasatiṁ cāpi tapase bhāvitātmavān| vāyubhakṣo'mbubhakṣaśca nirāhārordhvapādakaḥ||

With a purified mind he made his dwelling there for austerity — living on air, living on water, fasting, and standing with feet upward.

Verse 6 (skanda.5.107.6)

शाकमूलफलाहारः पर्णाश्येकद्विपर्णभुक्। एवमादीनि चान्यानि तपांसि सुबहून्यपि॥

śākamūlaphalāhāraḥ parṇāśyekadviparṇabhuk| evamādīni cānyāni tapāṁsi subahūnyapi||

Living on greens, roots and fruits, on fallen leaves, subsisting on one or two leaves — he performed these and many other such austerities.

Verse 7 (skanda.5.107.7)

चकार स मुनिस्तत्र वर्षाणि द्वादशैव तु। न तुष्टोऽहं तदा देवि तपसा दुष्करेण तु॥

cakāra sa munistatra varṣāṇi dvādaśaiva tu| na tuṣṭo'haṁ tadā devi tapasā duṣkareṇa tu||

The sage did this for twelve full years there; yet, O Devi, I was not satisfied even by that severe austerity.

Verse 8 (skanda.5.107.8)

ततो ज्ञात्वा मतिं तस्य विज्ञप्तोऽहं तदा त्वया। करोत्येव तपः क्रूरं पुत्रहेतोर्मुनिर्महान्॥

tato jñātvā matiṁ tasya vijñapto'haṁ tadā tvayā| karotyeva tapaḥ krūraṁ putrahetormunirmahān||

Then, learning his intent, you petitioned me thus: "This great sage is performing severe austerity for the sake of a son."

Verse 9 (skanda.5.107.9)

तेजसा दीपयञ्छैलं शोषयन्सलिलाशयान्। तपसा दुष्करेणैव क्षुभिता नाकवासिनः॥

tejasā dīpayañchailaṁ śoṣayansalilāśayān| tapasā duṣkareṇaiva kṣubhitā nākavāsinaḥ||

Blazing the mountain with his radiance, drying up the reservoirs of water, by his severe austerity the dwellers of heaven were thrown into turmoil.

Verse 10 (skanda.5.107.10)

समुद्राः क्षुभिताः सर्वे चन्द्रादित्यौ तथैव च। ऋषयो विस्मृतिं प्राप्ताः कम्पेते चापि रोदसी। अकालप्रलयो देव भविष्यति न संशयः॥

samudrāḥ kṣubhitāḥ sarve candrādityau tathaiva ca| ṛṣayo vismṛtiṁ prāptāḥ kampete cāpi rodasī| akālapralayo deva bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ||

All the oceans were agitated, and the moon and sun likewise; the sages fell into forgetfulness, and both heaven and earth trembled. "O God, an untimely dissolution will surely occur."

Verse 11 (skanda.5.107.11)

मुनये तन्मृकण्डाय पुत्रो वै दीयतामिति। मया प्रोक्तं वरारोहे पुत्रमिच्छत्ययोनिजम्॥

munaye tanmṛkaṇḍāya putro vai dīyatāmiti| mayā proktaṁ varārohe putramicchatyayonijam||

"Let a son be granted to that sage Mrikandu." I then said, O fair-hipped one, "He desires a son not born of a womb."

Verse 12 (skanda.5.107.12)

अक्षयं सुविशालाक्षि सहस्राक्षमिवापरम्। चन्द्राभं चन्द्रवदनं चन्द्रवद्भुवनप्रियम्॥

akṣayaṁ suviśālākṣi sahasrākṣamivāparam| candrābhaṁ candravadanaṁ candravadbhuvanapriyam||

"an imperishable son, O wide-eyed one, like another thousand-eyed Indra, moon-radiant, moon-faced, dear to the world like the moon,"

Verse 13 (skanda.5.107.13)

नीलोत्पलदलश्यामं नीलोत्पलदलेक्षणम्। विशालचारुजघनं चारुकुण्डलमंडितम्। पुत्रमिच्छति देवेशि मृकण्डोऽयं महामुनिः॥

nīlotpaladalaśyāmaṁ nīlotpaladalekṣaṇam| viśālacārujaghanaṁ cārukuṇḍalamaṁḍitam| putramicchati deveśi mṛkaṇḍo'yaṁ mahāmuniḥ||

"dark like a blue-lotus petal, with eyes like blue-lotus petals, of broad and beautiful hips, adorned with lovely earrings — such a son, O Goddess of gods, this great sage Mrikandu desires."

Verse 14 (skanda.5.107.14)

त्वयाप्युक्तं पुनर्देवि कारुण्याद्भक्तिवत्सले। न ददासि मुनेः पुत्रं तप्यतो विषमं तपः॥

tvayāpyuktaṁ punardevi kāruṇyādbhaktivatsale| na dadāsi muneḥ putraṁ tapyato viṣamaṁ tapaḥ||

Then again, O Devi so tender to your devotees, you said out of compassion: "You do not grant a son to the sage who undergoes such extreme austerity."

Verse 15 (skanda.5.107.15)

फलस्य दाता तपसां कथं त्वं गीयसे बुधैः। कस्त्वां नु शरणं गच्छेल्लोकानां सम्भवं भवम्॥

phalasya dātā tapasāṁ kathaṁ tvaṁ gīyase budhaiḥ| kastvāṁ nu śaraṇaṁ gacchellokānāṁ sambhavaṁ bhavam||

"How then are you extolled by the wise as the bestower of the fruit of austerities? Who indeed would take refuge in you, O Bhava, the source of the worlds,"

Verse 16 (skanda.5.107.16)

करोषि सर्वदैत्यानां सर्वदेवाकुलाकुलम्। त्वयाहं सुचिरं देवं सत्कृता करुणाकर॥

karoṣi sarvadaityānāṁ sarvadevākulākulam| tvayāhaṁ suciraṁ devaṁ satkṛtā karuṇākara||

"if you grant everything to all the demons while leaving all the gods in distress? O compassionate God, I have long been honoured by you,"

Verse 17 (skanda.5.107.17)

नान्यो मामनुकम्पार्थं प्रयच्छेत्प्रवरं वरम्। स त्वं सर्वजगन्नाथ प्रभुः कर्त्ता प्रशासिता॥

nānyo māmanukampārthaṁ prayacchetpravaraṁ varam| sa tvaṁ sarvajagannātha prabhuḥ karttā praśāsitā||

"no one else could grant me, out of compassion, so excellent a boon. You alone are the lord of the whole universe, the master, the creator, the ruler,"

Verse 18 (skanda.5.107.18)

हेतुः स्वामी महेशानो दयालुर्भक्तवत्सलः। सर्वेश्वर स्तुतोऽभीष्टं किं न विप्राय दीयते॥

hetuḥ svāmī maheśāno dayālurbhaktavatsalaḥ| sarveśvara stuto'bhīṣṭaṁ kiṁ na viprāya dīyate||

"the cause, the lord, the great ruler, merciful and tender to devotees. O Lord of all, though thus praised, why is the desired boon not given to that Brahmin?"

Verse 19 (skanda.5.107.19)

तपसा क्षीणपापस्य ब्रह्मत्वे भावितात्मनः। अस्य पुत्रप्रदानं त्वं कुरु मद्वचनाच्छिव॥

tapasā kṣīṇapāpasya brahmatve bhāvitātmanaḥ| asya putrapradānaṁ tvaṁ kuru madvacanācchiva||

"Whose sins have been consumed by austerity and whose mind is fixed on the Brahman-state — O Shiva, grant this man a son at my word."

Verse 20 (skanda.5.107.20)

मया त्वं वर्णिता देवि स्नेहाक्षरपदैः शुभैः। लोलपंकजपत्राक्षि गौरि भूधरगात्रजे॥

mayā tvaṁ varṇitā devi snehākṣarapadaiḥ śubhaiḥ| lolapaṁkajapatrākṣi gauri bhūdharagātraje||

Then I described you, O Devi, with sweet and auspicious words of affection — "O you with restless lotus-petal eyes, O fair one, O daughter of the mountain,"

Verse 21 (skanda.5.107.21)

स्कंदमातः कलापूर्णचंद्रबिम्बनिभानने। कृशोदरि विनिःस्पृष्टचामीकरनिभद्युते॥

skaṁdamātaḥ kalāpūrṇacaṁdrabimbanibhānane| kṛśodari viniḥspṛṣṭacāmīkaranibhadyute||

"O mother of Skanda, whose face is like the full orb of the moon, O slender-waisted one, radiant like burnished gold,"

Verse 22 (skanda.5.107.22)

त्वयोक्तं प्रकरिष्यामि वाक्यं द्विरदगामिनि। त्वं सिद्धिः साधका साध्यं त्वं क्रिया प्रक्रमाश्रया॥

tvayoktaṁ prakariṣyāmi vākyaṁ dviradagāmini| tvaṁ siddhiḥ sādhakā sādhyaṁ tvaṁ kriyā prakramāśrayā||

"I shall carry out the word you have spoken, O you of elephant gait; you are the accomplishment, the means, and the goal; you are the action and the basis of its undertaking."

Verse 23 (skanda.5.107.23)

त्वं माया श्रीर्द्युतिः श्रीमच्छ्रद्धारुचिरसंततिः। कृत्वा मानं बहुविधं मयैव सह सुन्दरि॥

tvaṁ māyā śrīrdyutiḥ śrīmacchraddhārucirasaṁtatiḥ| kṛtvā mānaṁ bahuvidhaṁ mayaiva saha sundari||

"You are Maya, Shri, radiance, the beautiful and gracious continuity of faith. Having assumed, O beautiful one, many kinds of pride together with me,"

Verse 24 (skanda.5.107.24)

भ्राजसे विविधाकारा मोहयित्वाखिलं जगत्। त्वयाप्युक्तं पुनर्देवि क्रियतां तु वचो मम॥

bhrājase vividhākārā mohayitvākhilaṁ jagat| tvayāpyuktaṁ punardevi kriyatāṁ tu vaco mama||

"you shine in manifold forms, having bewitched the entire universe." Then you too said again, O Devi, "Let my word now be carried out—"

Verse 25 (skanda.5.107.25)

मुनयेऽस्मै तपःक्षीणसर्वगात्राय सांप्रतम्। वरः प्रदीयतामस्मै ब्राह्मणाय महेश्वर॥

munaye'smai tapaḥkṣīṇasarvagātrāya sāṁpratam| varaḥ pradīyatāmasmai brāhmaṇāya maheśvara||

"let a boon now be given to this sage, whose whole body has been worn away by austerity — to this Brahmin, O Maheshvara."

Verse 26 (skanda.5.107.26)

मयाप्युक्तं विशालाक्षि श्रूयतां वचनं मम। असौ गच्छतु विप्रेंद्रो महाकालवनोत्तमे॥

mayāpyuktaṁ viśālākṣi śrūyatāṁ vacanaṁ mama| asau gacchatu vipreṁdro mahākālavanottame||

I too then said, "O wide-eyed one, hear my word: let this foremost of Brahmins go to the excellent Mahakala forest,"

Verse 27 (skanda.5.107.27)

पत्तनेश्वरपूर्वे तु तत्रास्ते लिंगमुत्तमम्। पुत्रप्रदं विशालाक्षि महापातकनाशनम्॥

pattaneśvarapūrve tu tatrāste liṁgamuttamam| putrapradaṁ viśālākṣi mahāpātakanāśanam||

"east of Pattaneshvara there stands an excellent linga, O wide-eyed one, which grants sons and destroys the greatest sins."

Verse 28 (skanda.5.107.28)

मदीयं वचनं श्रुत्वा त्वयाप्युक्तो द्विजोत्तमः। महाकालवनं गच्छ पुत्रार्थमृषि सत्तम। तत्र लिंगं समाराध्य लप्स्यसे पुत्रमुत्तमम्॥

madīyaṁ vacanaṁ śrutvā tvayāpyukto dvijottamaḥ| mahākālavanaṁ gaccha putrārthamṛṣi sattama| tatra liṁgaṁ samārādhya lapsyase putramuttamam||

Hearing my word, you also said to that foremost of the twice-born: "Go, O best of sages, to the Mahakala forest for the sake of a son; worshipping the linga there, you shall obtain an excellent son."

Verse 29 (skanda.5.107.29)

त्वया संप्रेरितो विप्रस्तथेति कृतनिश्चयः। आशया परया युक्तः पुत्रकामो जगाम सः॥

tvayā saṁprerito viprastatheti kṛtaniścayaḥ| āśayā parayā yuktaḥ putrakāmo jagāma saḥ||

Thus urged by you, the Brahmin, resolving "so be it," filled with supreme hope and longing for a son, went there.

Verse 30 (skanda.5.107.30)

तत्र दृष्ट्वा महालिंगं पुत्रदं पापनाशनम्। भक्त्या संसेवयामास तपसा दुष्करेण तु॥

tatra dṛṣṭvā mahāliṁgaṁ putradaṁ pāpanāśanam| bhaktyā saṁsevayāmāsa tapasā duṣkareṇa tu||

There, seeing the great linga that bestows sons and destroys sin, he served it with devotion and with severe austerity.

Verse 31 (skanda.5.107.31)

अथ केनापि कालेन निःसृतोऽहं त्वया सह। लिंगमध्याद्वरारोहे स च प्रोक्तो द्विजोत्तमः॥

atha kenāpi kālena niḥsṛto'haṁ tvayā saha| liṁgamadhyādvarārohe sa ca prokto dvijottamaḥ||

Then, after some time, I emerged together with you, O fair-hipped one, from the midst of the linga, and said to that foremost of the twice-born:

Verse 32 (skanda.5.107.32)

शर्वोऽहमिति जानीहि ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते। आवां पुरा प्रसन्नौ ते ज्ञातं तव विचेष्टितम्॥

śarvo'hamiti jānīhi brūhi kiṁ karavāṇi te| āvāṁ purā prasannau te jñātaṁ tava viceṣṭitam||

"Know that I am Sharva; tell me what I should do for you. We two are pleased with you already; your endeavour is known to us."

Verse 33 (skanda.5.107.33)

यमिच्छसि वरं ब्रह्मंस्तदद्य प्रददामि ते। मया प्रोक्तः प्रसन्नेन मुनिः परमविस्मितः॥

yamicchasi varaṁ brahmaṁstadadya pradadāmi te| mayā proktaḥ prasannena muniḥ paramavismitaḥ||

"Whatever boon you desire, O Brahmin, that I grant you this day." Thus addressed by me with pleasure, the sage was filled with the greatest astonishment.

Verse 34 (skanda.5.107.34)

प्रह्वः प्राह सुहृदये स हृष्टो मुनिसत्तमः। अपत्यहेतोर्देवेशौ किमलभ्यं भवेन्मम॥

prahvaḥ prāha suhṛdaye sa hṛṣṭo munisattamaḥ| apatyahetordeveśau kimalabhyaṁ bhavenmama||

Bowing low, with a joyful heart, that foremost sage said: "O you two lords of the gods, for the sake of offspring, what is unattainable for me?"

Verse 35 (skanda.5.107.35)

मया प्रोक्तस्तदा देवि मृकण्डो मुनिसत्तमः। अयोनिजस्ते तनयो मानुषो वै भविष्यति। ऐश्वर्यज्ञानसंपन्नो दीर्घायुः सर्ववित्सुधीः॥

mayā proktastadā devi mṛkaṇḍo munisattamaḥ| ayonijaste tanayo mānuṣo vai bhaviṣyati| aiśvaryajñānasaṁpanno dīrghāyuḥ sarvavitsudhīḥ||

Then, O Devi, I said to that foremost sage Mrikandu: "Your son shall be born not from a womb, in human form; he shall be endowed with lordship and knowledge, long-lived, all-knowing, and of excellent wisdom."

Verse 36 (skanda.5.107.36)

एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवि प्रादुर्भूतो महातपाः। पुत्रः परमधर्मात्मा मार्कण्डेयो महामुनिः॥

etasminnaṁtare devi prādurbhūto mahātapāḥ| putraḥ paramadharmātmā mārkaṇḍeyo mahāmuniḥ||

Meanwhile, O Devi, there appeared a son of great austerity, the supremely righteous great sage Markandeya.

Verse 37 (skanda.5.107.37)

स जातमात्रो धर्मात्मा तत्रैव तपसि स्थितः। देवमाराधयामास स तुष्टोऽथ वरं ददौ॥

sa jātamātro dharmātmā tatraiva tapasi sthitaḥ| devamārādhayāmāsa sa tuṣṭo'tha varaṁ dadau||

No sooner born, that righteous one remained fixed in austerity there, and worshipped the God; the God, being pleased, then gave him a boon.

Verse 38 (skanda.5.107.38)

त्वयाहं जातमात्रेण तपसा तोषितो यतः। तस्मात्ख्यातिं गमिष्यामि त्वन्नाम्ना द्विजसत्तम॥

tvayāhaṁ jātamātreṇa tapasā toṣito yataḥ| tasmātkhyātiṁ gamiṣyāmi tvannāmnā dvijasattama||

(The God said:) "Since, though newly born, you have satisfied me by austerity, therefore, O best of the twice-born, I shall become famous by your name."

Verse 39 (skanda.5.107.39)

ये मां पश्यंति विप्रेंद्र भक्त्या परमया युताः। प्राप्नुवंति गतिं नित्यं ते सदानंद दायिनीम्॥

ye māṁ paśyaṁti vipreṁdra bhaktyā paramayā yutāḥ| prāpnuvaṁti gatiṁ nityaṁ te sadānaṁda dāyinīm||

"O foremost of Brahmins, those who behold me endowed with supreme devotion attain the eternal state that ever bestows bliss."

Verse 40 (skanda.5.107.40)

प्रसंगाद्ये गमिष्यंति ते सदा दुःखवर्जिताः। देवदेवं समाराध्य मोदिष्यंति हि ते नराः॥

prasaṁgādye gamiṣyaṁti te sadā duḥkhavarjitāḥ| devadevaṁ samārādhya modiṣyaṁti hi te narāḥ||

"Those who come here even incidentally shall ever be free from sorrow; having worshipped the God of gods, those men shall rejoice."

Verse 41 (skanda.5.107.41)

त्र्यक्षा गणेश्वराः सिद्धाः सिद्धगंधर्वसेविताः। ते भविष्यंति सततं मम भक्ताश्च ये नराः॥

tryakṣā gaṇeśvarāḥ siddhāḥ siddhagaṁdharvasevitāḥ| te bhaviṣyaṁti satataṁ mama bhaktāśca ye narāḥ||

"Those men who become my constant devotees shall become three-eyed lords of the ganas, siddhas, served by siddhas and gandharvas."

Verse 42 (skanda.5.107.42)

ये मां संपूजयिष्यंति हृद्यैः पुष्पैः सुगंधिभिः। दीर्घायुषो भविष्यंति सदा दुःखविवर्जिताः॥

ye māṁ saṁpūjayiṣyaṁti hṛdyaiḥ puṣpaiḥ sugaṁdhibhiḥ| dīrghāyuṣo bhaviṣyaṁti sadā duḥkhavivarjitāḥ||

"Those who worship me with fragrant and delightful flowers shall become long-lived and ever free from sorrow."

Verse 43 (skanda.5.107.43)

इत्युक्ते तेन लिंगेन मार्कण्डेयो महातपाः। तपश्चचार तत्रैव महाकालवने स्थितः॥

ityukte tena liṁgena mārkaṇḍeyo mahātapāḥ| tapaścacāra tatraiva mahākālavane sthitaḥ||

When this had been spoken by that linga, Markandeya of great austerity practised his austerities, remaining there in the Mahakala forest.

Verse 44 (skanda.5.107.44)

प्रभावः कथितो देवि मार्कंडेयेश्वरस्य च। शिवेश्वरस्य देवस्य माहात्म्यं शृणु सांप्रतम्॥

prabhāvaḥ kathito devi mārkaṁḍeyeśvarasya ca| śiveśvarasya devasya māhātmyaṁ śṛṇu sāṁpratam||

O Devi, thus has the power of Markandeyeshvara been told. Now hear the greatness of the God Shiveshvara.