The Glory of Markandeyeshvara

Verse 1 (skanda.7.209.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। ततो गच्छेन्महादेवि मार्कण्डेयेशमुत्तमम्। तस्मादुत्तरदिग्भागे मार्कण्डेन प्रतिष्ठितम्

īśvara uvāca| tato gacchenmahādevi mārkaṇḍeyeśamuttamam| tasmāduttaradigbhāge mārkaṇḍena pratiṣṭhitam

Ishvara said: Then, O great Goddess, one should proceed to the excellent Markandeyeshvara, established by Markanda to the north of that place.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.209.2)

सावित्र्याः पूर्वभागे तु नातिदूरे व्यवस्थितम्। महर्षिरभवत्पूर्वं मार्कण्डेय इति श्रुतः

sāvitryāḥ pūrvabhāge tu nātidūre vyavasthitam| maharṣirabhavatpūrvaṁ mārkaṇḍeya iti śrutaḥ

It is situated not far to the east of Savitri. In ancient times there lived a great sage renowned by the name Markandeya.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.209.3)

अजरश्चामरश्चैव प्रसादात्पद्मयोनिनः। स गत्वा तत्र विप्रेन्द्रो देवदेवस्य शूलिनः। लिंगं तु स्थापयामास ज्ञात्वा तत्क्षेत्रमुत्तमम्

ajaraścāmaraścaiva prasādātpadmayoninaḥ| sa gatvā tatra viprendro devadevasya śūlinaḥ| liṅgaṁ tu sthāpayāmāsa jñātvā tatkṣetramuttamam

By the grace of the lotus-born Brahma, he had become undecaying and immortal. That foremost of brahmins, going there and recognizing that excellent field, established the linga of the trident-bearing God of gods.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.209.4)

स तं पूज्य विधानेन स्थित्वा दक्षिणतो मुनिः। पद्मासनधरो भूत्वा ध्यानावस्थस्तदाऽभवत्

sa taṁ pūjya vidhānena sthitvā dakṣiṇato muniḥ| padmāsanadharo bhūtvā dhyānāvasthastadā'bhavat

Having duly worshipped that linga, the sage settled to its south, seated in the lotus posture, and entered into a state of meditation.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.209.5)

तस्य ध्यानरतस्यैव प्रयुतान्यर्बुदानि च। युगानां समतीतानि न जानाति मुनीश्वरः

tasya dhyānaratasyaiva prayutānyarbudāni ca| yugānāṁ samatītāni na jānāti munīśvaraḥ

So absorbed was that lord of sages in meditation that he did not even know that millions upon millions of ages had passed.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.209.6)

अथ लोपं समापन्नः प्रासादः शांकरः स्थितः। कालेन महता देवि पांसुभिर्मारुतोद्भवैः

atha lopaṁ samāpannaḥ prāsādaḥ śāṁkaraḥ sthitaḥ| kālena mahatā devi pāṁsubhirmārutodbhavaiḥ

Meanwhile, O Goddess, over that vast span of time, the temple of Shankara became buried, lost beneath dust borne by the wind.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.209.7)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य प्रबुद्धो मुनिसत्तमः। अपश्यत्पांसुभिर्व्याप्तं तत्सर्वं शिवमन्दिरम्

kasyacittvatha kālasya prabuddho munisattamaḥ| apaśyatpāṁsubhirvyāptaṁ tatsarvaṁ śivamandiram

After some time, when that foremost of sages awoke, he saw that entire temple of Shiva covered over with dust.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.209.8)

ततः कृच्छ्रात्स निष्क्रान्तः खनित्वा मुनिपुंगवः। अकरोत्सुमहाद्वारं पूजार्थं तस्य भामिनि

tataḥ kṛcchrātsa niṣkrāntaḥ khanitvā munipuṁgavaḥ| akarotsumahādvāraṁ pūjārthaṁ tasya bhāmini

Then, with great difficulty, that bull among sages dug his way out, and, O radiant one, he fashioned a great gateway there so that worship might continue.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.209.9)

प्रविश्य तत्र यो भक्त्या पूजयेद्वृषभध्वजम्। स याति परमं स्थानं यत्र देवो महेश्वरः

praviśya tatra yo bhaktyā pūjayedvṛṣabhadhvajam| sa yāti paramaṁ sthānaṁ yatra devo maheśvaraḥ

Whoever enters there and worships with devotion the bull-bannered lord attains that supreme abode where the god Maheshvara himself dwells.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.209.10)

देव्युवाच। अमरत्वं कथं प्राप्तो मार्कंण्डो मुनिसत्तमः। अभवत्कौतुकं ह्येतत्तस्मात्त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि

devyuvāca| amaratvaṁ kathaṁ prāpto mārkaṇḍo munisattamaḥ| abhavatkautukaṁ hyetattasmāttvaṁ vaktumarhasi

The Goddess said: How did the sage Markandeya attain immortality? This fills me with wonder; please be so kind as to tell me.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.209.11)

अमरत्वं यतो नास्ति प्राणिनां भुवि शंकर। देवानामपि कल्पांते स कथं न मृतो मुनिः

amaratvaṁ yato nāsti prāṇināṁ bhuvi śaṁkara| devānāmapi kalpāṁte sa kathaṁ na mṛto muniḥ

O Shankara, since no being on earth possesses immortality — even the gods die at the end of a kalpa — how then did that sage not die?

Verse 12 (skanda.7.209.12)

ईश्वर उवाच। अथातस्त्वां प्रवक्ष्यामि यथासावमरोऽभवत्। आसीन्मुनिः पुराकल्पे मृकण्ड इति विश्रुतः

īśvara uvāca| athātastvāṁ pravakṣyāmi yathāsāvamaro'bhavat| āsīnmuniḥ purākalpe mṛkaṇḍa iti viśrutaḥ

Ishvara said: Now I shall tell you how he became immortal. In ancient times there lived a sage renowned by the name Mrikanda.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.209.13)

भृगोः पुत्रो महाभागः सभार्यस्तपसि स्थितः। तस्य पुत्रस्तदा जातो वसतस्तु वनांतरे

bhṛgoḥ putro mahābhāgaḥ sabhāryastapasi sthitaḥ| tasya putrastadā jāto vasatastu vanāṁtare

He, the son of Bhrigu, greatly blessed, dwelt in austerity together with his wife. While they lived deep in the forest, a son was born to them.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.209.14)

स पाञ्चवार्षिको भूत्वा बाल एव गुणान्वितः। कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य ज्ञानी तत्र समागतः

sa pāñcavārṣiko bhūtvā bāla eva guṇānvitaḥ| kasyacittvatha kālasya jñānī tatra samāgataḥ

Even as a five-year-old child, he was endowed with fine qualities. After some time, a wise seer arrived there.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.209.15)

तेन दृष्टस्तदा बालः प्रांगणे विचरन्प्रिये। स्मृत्वाऽहसच्चिरं कालं भाव्यर्थं प्रति नोदितः

tena dṛṣṭastadā bālaḥ prāṁgaṇe vicaranpriye| smṛtvā'hasaccciraṁ kālaṁ bhāvyarthaṁ prati noditaḥ

O beloved, he saw the child wandering about the courtyard; recalling something, he laughed for a long while, as though stirred by what was destined to happen.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.209.16)

तस्य पित्रा स दृष्टस्तु सामुद्रज्ञो विदुत्तमः। हास्यस्य कारणं पृष्टो विस्मयान्वितचेतसा

tasya pitrā sa dṛṣṭastu sāmudrajño vidúttamaḥ| hāsyasya kāraṇaṁ pṛṣṭo vismayānvitacetasā

The child's father, seeing that wisest of men, learned in the science of omens, asked him, his mind filled with astonishment, the reason for his laughter.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.209.17)

कस्मान्मे सुतमालोक्य स्मितं विप्र कृतं त्वया। तत्र मे कारणं ब्रह्मन्यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि

kasmānme sutamālokya smitaṁ vipra kṛtaṁ tvayā| tatra me kāraṇaṁ brahmanyathāvadvaktumarhasi

O brahmin, why did you smile upon seeing my son? O sage, please explain to me truly the reason for it.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.209.18)

इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ज्ञानी विप्रो वचोऽब्रवीत्

iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā jñānī vipro vaco'bravīt

Hearing these words of his, that wise brahmin spoke.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.209.19)

अयं पुत्रस्तव मुने सर्वलक्षणसंयुतः। अद्यप्रभृति षण्मासमध्ये मृत्युमवाप्स्यति

ayaṁ putrastava mune sarvalakṣaṇasaṁyutaḥ| adyaprabhṛti ṣaṇmāsamadhye mṛtyumavāpsyati

O sage, this son of yours is endowed with every auspicious mark; yet, from this day, within six months he will meet death.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.209.20)

यदि जीवेत्पुनरयं चिरायुर्वै भविष्यति। अतो मया कृतं हास्यं विचित्रा कर्मणो गतिः

yadi jīvetpunarayaṁ cirāyurvai bhaviṣyati| ato mayā kṛtaṁ hāsyaṁ vicitrā karmaṇo gatiḥ

But if he should live beyond that, he will indeed become long-lived. It was for this reason I laughed — how strange is the course of karma.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.209.21)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचो रौद्रं ज्ञानिना समुदाहृतम्। व्रतोपनयनं चक्रे बालकस्य पिता तदा

etacchrutvā vaco raudraṁ jñāninā samudāhṛtam| vratopanayanaṁ cakre bālakasya pitā tadā

Hearing this dreadful pronouncement uttered by the seer, the child's father then had his vow-initiation and sacred-thread ceremony performed at once.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.209.22)

आह चैनमृषिः पुत्रं दृष्ट्वा ब्राह्मणमागतम्। अभिवाद्यास्त्रयो वर्णास्ततः श्रेयो ह्यवाप्स्यसि

āha cainamṛṣiḥ putraṁ dṛṣṭvā brāhmaṇamāgatam| abhivādyāstrayo varṇāstataḥ śreyo hyavāpsyasi

And the sage said to his son: 'Whenever you see one arriving, offer him reverent salutation — the three varnas are to be so saluted, and thereby you shall attain well-being.'

Verse 23 (skanda.7.209.23)

एवमुक्तः स वै विप्रः करोत्येवाभिवादनम्। न वर्णावरजं वेत्ति बालभावाद्वरानने

evamuktaḥ sa vai vipraḥ karotyevābhivādanam| na varṇāvarajaṁ vetti bālabhāvādvarānane

O fair-faced one, thus instructed, that young brahmin boy would offer salutation to everyone; being but a child, he did not know the distinctions of higher and lower varna.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.209.24)

पंचमासा ह्यतिक्रान्ता दिवसाः पञ्चविंशतिः। एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु प्राप्ताः सप्तर्षयोऽमलाः

paṁcamāsā hyatikrāntā divasāḥ pañcaviṁśatiḥ| etasminneva kāle tu prāptāḥ saptarṣayo'malāḥ

Five months and twenty-five days had passed. At this very time, the seven immaculate sages arrived there.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.209.25)

तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन तेन मार्गेण भामिनि। कालेन तेन सर्वेऽथ यथावदभिवादनैः। आयुष्मान्भव तैरुक्तः स बालो दण्डवल्कली

tīrthayātrāprasaṁgena tena mārgeṇa bhāmini| kālena tena sarve'tha yathāvadabhivādanaiḥ| āyuṣmānbhava tairuktaḥ sa bālo daṇḍavalkalī

O radiant one, while journeying on that road in the course of a pilgrimage, they arrived at that very time; the boy, bearing his staff and bark garment, duly saluted them all, and they blessed him: 'May you have long life.'

Verse 26 (skanda.7.209.26)

उक्त्वा ते तु पुनर्बालं वीक्ष्य वै क्षीणजीवितम्। दिनानि पंच ते ह्यायुर्ज्ञात्वा भीतास्ततोऽनृतात्

uktvā te tu punarbālaṁ vīkṣya vai kṣīṇajīvitam| dināni paṁca te hyāyurjñātvā bhītāstato'nṛtāt

Having spoken thus, they looked again at the boy and perceived that his life was nearly spent, with only five days of it remaining; then, fearing that their own words might prove false, they grew afraid.

Verse 27 (skanda.7.209.27)

ब्रह्मचारिणमादाय गतास्ते ब्रह्मणोऽन्तिके। प्रतिमुच्याग्रतो बालं प्रणेमुस्ते पितामहम्

brahmacāriṇamādāya gatāste brahmaṇo'ntike| pratimucyāgrato bālaṁ praṇemuste pitāmaham

Taking the young celibate student with them, they went into the presence of Brahma; leaving the boy in front, they bowed down to the Grandsire.

Verse 28 (skanda.7.209.28)

ततस्तेनापि बालेन ब्रह्मा चैवाभिवादितः। चिरायुर्ब्रह्मणा बालः प्रोक्तोऽसावृषिसन्निधौ

tatastenāpi bālena brahmā caivābhivāditaḥ| cirāyurbrahmaṇā bālaḥ prokto'sāvṛṣisannidhau

Then that boy too offered his salutation to Brahma, and in the presence of those sages, Brahma pronounced the boy to be long-lived.

Verse 29 (skanda.7.209.29)

ततस्ते मुनयः प्रीताः श्रुत्वा वाक्यं पितामहात्। पितामहस्तु तान्दृष्ट्वा ऋषीन्प्रोवाच विस्मितान्। केन कार्येण वाऽऽयाताः केन बालो निवेदितः

tataste munayaḥ prītāḥ śrutvā vākyaṁ pitāmahāt| pitāmahastu tāndṛṣṭvā ṛṣīnprovāca vismitān| kena kāryeṇa vā'āyātāḥ kena bālo niveditaḥ

Hearing the Grandsire's words, those sages were pleased. Then the Grandsire, seeing them astonished, asked the sages: 'For what purpose have you come, and how has this boy been presented?'

Verse 30 (skanda.7.209.30)

ऋषय ऊचुः। भृगोः पुत्रो मृकण्डस्तु क्षीणायुस्तस्य बालकः। अकालेन पिता ज्ञात्वा बबंधास्य च मेखलाम्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ| bhṛgoḥ putro mṛkaṇḍastu kṣīṇāyustasya bālakaḥ| akālena pitā jñātvā babaṁdhāsya ca mekhalām

The sages said: This is the son of Mrikanda, son of Bhrigu, and his life has run short. Knowing this before the proper time, his father had already bound the sacred girdle upon him,

Verse 31 (skanda.7.209.31)

यज्ञोपवीतं च ततस्तेन विप्रेण बोधितः। यं कञ्चिद्द्रक्ष्यसे लोके भ्रमन्तं भूतले द्विजम्

yajñopavītaṁ ca tatastena vipreṇa bodhitaḥ| yaṁ kañciddrakṣyase loke bhramaṁtaṁ bhūtale dvijam

and the sacred thread as well. Thereafter that brahmin instructed him: 'Whatever twice-born you see wandering upon this earth,'

Verse 32 (skanda.7.209.32)

तस्याभिवादनं कार्यं नित्यमेव च पुत्रक। ततो वयमनेनैव दृष्टा बालेन सत्तम

tasyābhivādanaṁ kāryaṁ nityameva ca putraka| tato vayamanenaiva dṛṣṭā bālena sattama

'O son, you must always salute him.' O most excellent one, this very boy then saw us,

Verse 33 (skanda.7.209.33)

तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन दैवयोगात्पितामह। चिरायुरेष वै प्रोक्तो ह्यमीभिश्चाभिवादितैः

tīrthayātrāprasaṁgena daivayogātpitāmaha| cirāyureṣa vai prokto hyamībhiścābhivāditaiḥ

O Grandsire, by chance and divine ordinance, during our pilgrimage; upon receiving his salutation, we all pronounced him to be long-lived.

Verse 34 (skanda.7.209.34)

त्वत्सकाशं समानीतस्त्वया चैवमुदाहृतः। कथं वागनृता देव ह्यस्माकं भवता सह

tvatsakāśaṁ samānītastvayā caivamudāhṛtaḥ| kathaṁ vāganṛtā deva hyasmākaṁ bhavatā saha

We brought him into your presence, and you too have spoken the same blessing; O Lord, how then could our word, joined with yours, prove false?

Verse 35 (skanda.7.209.35)

उवाच बालमुद्दिश्य प्रहसन्पद्मसंभवः। मत्समानायुषो बालो मार्कण्डेयो भविष्यति

uvāca bālamuddiśya prahasanpadmasaṁbhavaḥ| matsamānāyuṣo bālo mārkaṇḍeyo bhaviṣyati

Then the lotus-born Brahma, gesturing toward the boy, said with a smile: 'This boy, Markandeya, shall have a life-span equal to my own.'

Verse 36 (skanda.7.209.36)

कल्पस्यादौ तथा चान्ते सहायो मे भविष्यति। ततस्तु मुनयः प्रीता गृहीत्वा मुनिदारकम्। तस्मिन्नेव प्रदेशे तु मुमुचुश्चेष्टितं यतः

kalpasyādau tathā cānte sahāyo me bhaviṣyati| tatastu munayaḥ prītā gṛhītvā munidārakam| tasminneva pradeśe tu mumucuśceṣṭitaṁ yataḥ

At the beginning and at the end of the kalpa, he shall be my helper. Then those sages, well pleased, took the young ascetic back to that very place from which they had brought him, and left him there.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.209.37)

तीर्थयात्रां गता विप्रा मार्कण्डेयो गृहं ययौ। गत्वा गृहमथोवाच मृकण्डं मुनिसत्तमम्

tīrthayātrāṁ gatā viprā mārkaṇḍeyo gṛhaṁ yayau| gatvā gṛhamathovāca mṛkaṇḍaṁ munisattamam

The brahmins continued on their pilgrimage, and Markandeya returned home. Arriving home, he spoke to Mrikanda, that foremost of sages.

Verse 38 (skanda.7.209.38)

ब्रह्मलोकमहं नीतो मुनिभिस्तात सप्तभिः। उक्तोऽयं ब्रह्मणा कल्पस्यादौ चान्ते च मे सखा

brahmalokamahaṁ nīto munibhistāta saptabhiḥ| ukto'yaṁ brahmaṇā kalpasyādau cānte ca me sakhā

O father, I was taken to the world of Brahma by the seven sages; Brahma declared that I would be his companion at the beginning and the end of the kalpa,

Verse 39 (skanda.7.209.39)

भविष्यति न संदेहो मत्समायुश्च बालकः। ततस्तैः पुनरानीतो मुक्तश्चैवाश्रमं प्रति

bhaviṣyati na saṁdeho matsamāyuśca bālakaḥ| tatastaiḥ punarānīto muktaścaivāśramaṁ prati

and would have a life-span equal to his own — of this there is no doubt. Then they brought me back and released me here at the hermitage.

Verse 40 (skanda.7.209.40)

मत्कृते हि द्विजश्रेष्ठ यातु ते मनसो ज्वरः। मार्कण्डेयवचः श्रुत्वा मृकण्डो मुनिसत्तमः। जगाम परमं हर्षं क्षणमेकं सुदुःसहम्

matkṛte hi dvijaśreṣṭha yātu te manaso jvaraḥ| mārkaṇḍeyavacaḥ śrutvā mṛkaṇḍo munisattamaḥ| jagāma paramaṁ harṣaṁ kṣaṇamekaṁ suduḥsaham

O foremost of the twice-born, let the torment of your mind, caused on my account, now depart. Hearing these words of Markandeya, Mrikanda, that most excellent sage, was overcome with supreme joy, so intense for that one moment as to be almost unbearable.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.209.41)

ततो धैर्यं समास्थाय वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह

tato dhairyaṁ samāsthāya vākyametaduvāca ha

Then, composing himself with fortitude, he spoke these words.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.209.42)

अद्य मे सफलं जन्म जीवितं च सुजीवितम्। यत्त्वया मे सुपुत्रेण दृष्टो लोकपितामहः

adya me saphalaṁ janma jīvitaṁ ca sujīvitam| yattvayā me suputreṇa dṛṣṭo lokapitāmahaḥ

Today my birth is made fruitful, and my life truly worth living, since you, my excellent son, have beheld the Grandsire of the worlds,

Verse 43 (skanda.7.209.43)

वाजपेयसहस्रेण राजसूयशतेन च। यं न पश्यन्ति विद्वांसः स त्वया लीलया सुत

vājapeyasahasreṇa rājasūyaśatena ca| yaṁ na paśyanti vidvāṁsaḥ sa tvayā līlayā suta

whom even the learned, through a thousand Vajapeya sacrifices and a hundred Rajasuya sacrifices, cannot behold — him, O son, you have beheld with ease.

Verse 44 (skanda.7.209.44)

दृष्टश्चिरायुरप्येवं कृतस्तेनाब्जयोनिना। दिवारात्रमहं तात तव दुःखेन दुखितः। न निद्रामनुगच्छामि तन्मेदुःखं गतं महत्

dṛṣṭaścirāyurapyevaṁ kṛtastenābjayoninā| divārātramahaṁ tāta tava duḥkhena dukhitaḥ| na nidrāmanugacchāmi tanmeduḥkhaṁ gataṁ mahat

And that lotus-born Brahma, upon seeing you, has thereby made you long-lived as well. O child, day and night I was grieved by your sorrow and could not find sleep; now that great sorrow of mine has departed.