The Origin of Markandeya's Hermitage

Verse 1 (skanda.7.425.1)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ ततो गच्छेन्नृपश्रेष्ठ मार्कंडेयस्य चाश्रमम् । यत्र पूर्वं तपस्तप्तं मार्कंडेन महात्मना

pulastya uvāca | tato gacchennṛpaśreṣṭha mārkaṇḍeyasya cāśramam | yatra pūrvaṁ tapastaptaṁ mārkaṇḍena mahātmanā

Pulastya said: Then, O best of kings, one should go to the hermitage of Markandeya, where austerity was formerly performed by the great soul Markanda.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.425.2)

मृकण्डो ब्राह्मणोनाम पुराऽऽसीच्छंसितव्रतः । अन्ते वयसि संजातस्तस्य पुत्रोऽतिसुन्दरः

mṛkaṇḍo brāhmaṇonāma purāsīcchaṁsitavrataḥ | ante vayasi saṁjātastasya putro'tisundaraḥ

There was of old a brahmin named Mrikandu, of praiseworthy vows; in his old age a most beautiful son was born to him.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.425.3)

सर्वलक्षणसंपूर्णः शांतः सूर्यसमप्रभः । कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य तस्याश्रमपदे नृप

sarvalakṣaṇasaṁpūrṇaḥ śāntaḥ sūryasamaprabhaḥ | kasyacittvatha kālasya tasyāśramapade nṛpa

Complete with all auspicious marks, tranquil, of splendour equal to the sun; then, O king, after some time, at that hermitage —

Verse 4 (skanda.7.425.4)

आगतो ब्राह्मणो ज्ञानी कश्चित्सामुद्रविच्छुभः । ततोऽसौ क्रीडमानस्तु बालकः पंचवार्षिकः

āgato brāhmaṇo jñānī kaścitsāmudravicchubhaḥ | tato'sau krīḍamānastu bālakaḥ pañcavārṣikaḥ

— a certain wise, auspicious brahmin, versed in the science of bodily signs, arrived. Then that boy, five years old, playing —

Verse 5 (skanda.7.425.5)

आनासाग्रशिखाग्राभ्यां चिरं चैवावलोकितः । ततोऽहसत्स सहसा तं मृकण्डो ह्यलक्षयत्

ānāsāgraśikhāgrābhyāṁ ciraṁ caivāvalokitaḥ | tato'hasatsa sahasā taṁ mṛkaṇḍo hyalakṣayat

— was examined by him for a long time, from the tip of the nose to the crown of the head; then he suddenly laughed, and Mrikandu noticed it.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.425.6)

अथाऽब्रवीच्चिरं दृष्टस्त्वया पुत्रो मम द्विज । ततो हसितवान्भूयः किमिदं कारणं वद

athā'bravīccciraṁ dṛṣṭastvayā putro mama dvija | tato hasitavānbhūyaḥ kimidaṁ kāraṇaṁ vada

Then he said: "O brahmin, my son has been examined by you for a long time; then you laughed again — tell me, what is the reason for this?"

Verse 7 (skanda.7.425.7)

असकृत्स मृकण्डेन यावत्पृष्टो द्विजोत्तमः । उपरोधवशात्तस्मै यथार्थं संन्यवेदयत्

asakṛtsa mṛkaṇḍena yāvatpṛṣṭo dvijottamaḥ | uparodhavaśāttasmai yathārthaṁ sannyavedayat

When that best of brahmins was asked repeatedly by Mrikandu, out of compulsion he told him the truth of the matter.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.425.8)

अस्य बालस्य चिह्नानि यानि काये द्विजोत्तम । अजरश्चामरश्चैव तैर्भवेत्पुरुषः किल

asya bālasya cihnāni yāni kāye dvijottama | ajaraścāmaraścaiva tairbhavetpuruṣaḥ kila

"O best of brahmins, the marks that are on this boy's body — by them a man would surely become ageless and immortal —"

Verse 9 (skanda.7.425.9)

षण्मासेनास्य बालस्य नूनं मृत्युर्भविष्यति । एतस्मात्कारणाद्धास्यं मयाऽकारि द्विजोत्तम । अनृतं नोक्तपूर्वं मे वैरिष्वपि कदाचन

ṣaṇmāsenāsya bālasya nūnaṁ mṛtyurbhaviṣyati | etasmātkāraṇāddhāsyaṁ mayā'kāri dvijottama | anṛtaṁ noktapūrvaṁ me vairiṣvapi kadācana

"— yet within six months this boy will certainly meet death. For this reason, O best of brahmins, laughter came from me. Untruth has never been spoken by me before, even to enemies."

Verse 10 (skanda.7.425.10)

॥ पुलस्त्य उवाच ॥ एवमुक्त्वा तु स ज्ञानी उषित्वा तत्र शर्वरीम् । मृकंडेनाभ्यनुज्ञात इष्टं देशं जगाम ह

pulastya uvāca | evamuktvā tu sa jñānī uṣitvā tatra śarvarīm | mṛkaṇḍenābhyanujñāta iṣṭaṁ deśaṁ jagāma ha

Pulastya said: Having said this, that wise man, having spent the night there, took leave from Mrikandu and went to the region of his choice.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.425.11)

मृकंडोपि सुतं ज्ञात्वा ततः क्षीणायुषं नृप । पंचवार्षिकमप्यार्त्तश्चकारोपनयान्वितम्

mṛkaṇḍopi sutaṁ jñātvā tataḥ kṣīṇāyuṣaṁ nṛpa | pañcavārṣikamapyārttaścakāropanayānvitam

O king, Mrikandu too, knowing his son's life then to be short, though grieved, performed his investiture though he was only five years old.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.425.12)

श्रुताध्ययनसंपन्नं यंयं पश्यसि चाग्रतः । तस्याभिवादनं कार्यं त्वया पुत्रक नित्यशः

śrutādhyayanasaṁpannaṁ yaṁyaṁ paśyasi cāgrataḥ | tasyābhivādanaṁ kāryaṁ tvayā putraka nityaśaḥ

"Whomever you see before you, accomplished in scriptural learning, him you must always salute, O son."

Verse 13 (skanda.7.425.13)

ततश्चक्रे ब्रह्मचारी पितुर्वाक्यं विशेषतः

tataścakre brahmacārī piturvākyaṁ viśeṣataḥ

Then the young celibate student especially carried out his father's word.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.425.14)

बालं वृद्धं युवानं च यंयं पश्यति चक्षुषा । नमस्करोति तं सर्वं ब्राह्मणं विनयान्वितः

bālaṁ vṛddhaṁ yuvānaṁ ca yaṁyaṁ paśyati cakṣuṣā | namaskaroti taṁ sarvaṁ brāhmaṇaṁ vinayānvitaḥ

Whatever child, elder, or youth he saw with his eyes — every brahmin — he, filled with humility, would bow to.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.425.15)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य तस्याश्रमसमीपतः । सप्तर्षयः समायातास्तीर्थयात्रापरायणाः

kasyacittvatha kālasya tasyāśramasamīpataḥ | saptarṣayaḥ samāyātāstīrthayātrāparāyaṇāḥ

Then, after some time, near his hermitage, the seven sages, devoted to pilgrimage, arrived.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.425.16)

अथ तान्सत्वरं गत्वा वंदयामास पार्थिव । बालः सविनयोपेतः सर्वांश्चैव यथाक्रमम्

atha tānsatvaraṁ gatvā vandayāmāsa pārthiva | bālaḥ savinayopetaḥ sarvāṁścaiva yathākramam

O king, then the boy, going quickly to them, humbly saluted all of them in due order.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.425.17)

दीर्घायुर्भव तैरुक्तः स बालस्तुष्टितत्परैः । आस्थिताश्च यथाभीष्टं देशं बालं विसर्ज्य तम्

dīrghāyurbhava tairuktaḥ sa bālastuṣṭitatparaiḥ | āsthitāśca yathābhīṣṭaṁ deśaṁ bālaṁ visarjya tam

"Be long-lived," he was told by them, pleased; and, taking leave of the boy, they proceeded to their desired destination.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.425.18)

तेषां मध्येंऽगिरानाम दिव्यज्ञानसमन्वितः । तेनावलोकितो बालः सूक्ष्मदृष्ट्या परंतप

teṣāṁ madhye'ṅgirānāma divyajñānasamanvitaḥ | tenāvalokito bālaḥ sūkṣmadṛṣṭyā parantapa

Among them, the one named Angiras, endowed with divine knowledge — O scorcher of foes, by him the boy was observed with subtle sight.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.425.19)

अथ तानब्रवीत्सर्वान्मुनीन्किंचित्सविस्मयः । दीर्घायुर्न च बालोऽयं युष्माभिः संप्रकीर्तितः

atha tānabravītsarvānmunīnkiñcitsavismayaḥ | dīrghāyurna ca bālo'yaṁ yuṣmābhiḥ saṁprakīrtitaḥ

Then, somewhat astonished, he said to all those sages: "This boy, proclaimed long-lived by you, is not so."

Verse 20 (skanda.7.425.20)

गमिष्यति कुमारोऽयं निधनं पंचमे दिने । तन्न युक्तं हि नो वाक्यमसत्यं द्विजसत्तमाः

gamiṣyati kumāro'yaṁ nidhanaṁ pañcame dine | tanna yuktaṁ hi no vākyamasatyaṁ dvijasattamāḥ

"This boy shall go to death on the fifth day. That is not fitting — our word must not be untrue, O foremost of brahmins."

Verse 21 (skanda.7.425.21)

यथाऽयं चिरजीवी स्यात्तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम् । अथ ते मुनयो भीता मिथ्या वाक्यस्य पार्थिव

yathā'yaṁ cirajīvī syāttathā nītirvidhīyatām | atha te munayo bhītā mithyā vākyasya pārthiva

"Let such measures be taken that this boy may become long-lived." Then, O king, those sages, afraid of their word proving false —

Verse 22 (skanda.7.425.22)

बालकं तं समादाय ब्रह्मलोकं गतास्तदा । तत्र दृष्ट्वा चतुर्वक्त्रं नमश्चक्रुर्मुनीश्वराः

bālakaṁ taṁ samādāya brahmalokaṁ gatāstadā | tatra dṛṣṭvā caturvaktraṁ namaścakrurmunīśvarāḥ

— taking that boy with them, went then to the world of Brahma; there, seeing the four-faced one, the lords of sages made obeisance.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.425.23)

तेषामनंतरं तेन बालके नाभिवादितः । दीर्घायुर्भव तेनाऽपि ब्रह्मणोक्तः स बालकः

teṣāmanantaraṁ tena bālake nābhivāditaḥ | dīrghāyurbhava tenā'pi brahmaṇoktaḥ sa bālakaḥ

After them, the boy too bowed to him; and by him too, by Brahma, the boy was told, "Be long-lived."

Verse 24 (skanda.7.425.24)

ततः सप्तर्षयो हृष्टाः स्वचित्ते नृपसत्तम । सुखासीनान्सविश्रांतानब्रवीन्मुनिपुंगवान्

tataḥ saptarṣayo hṛṣṭāḥ svacitte nṛpasattama | sukhāsīnānsaviśrāntānabravīnmunipuṅgavān

O best of kings, then the seven sages were joyful at heart. To them, comfortably seated and rested, the foremost of sages spoke.

Verse 25 (skanda.7.425.25)

॥ ब्रह्मोवाच ॥ परिपृच्छत किं कार्यं कुतो यूयमिहागताः

brahmovāca | paripṛcchata kiṁ kāryaṁ kuto yūyamihāgatāḥ

Brahma said: "Ask me — what is the matter? From where have you come here?"

Verse 26 (skanda.7.425.26)

॥ ऋषय ऊचुः ॥ तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन भ्रममाणा महीतलम् । अर्बुदं पर्वतं नाम तस्य तीर्थेषु वै गताः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | tīrthayātrāprasaṅgena bhramamāṇā mahītalam | arbudaṁ parvataṁ nāma tasya tīrtheṣu vai gatāḥ

The sages said: "Wandering the earth in the course of pilgrimage, we went to the sacred fords of the mountain named Arbuda."

Verse 27 (skanda.7.425.27)

अथागत्य द्रुतं दूराद्बालेनानेन वंदिताः । दीर्घायुर्भव संदिष्टस्ततश्चायमनेकधा । पंचमे दिवसेऽस्यापि मृत्युर्देव भविष्यति

athāgatya drutaṁ dūrādbālenānena vanditāḥ | dīrghāyurbhava saṁdiṣṭastataścāyamanekadhā | pañcame divase'syāpi mṛtyurdeva bhaviṣyati

"There, coming quickly from afar, we were saluted by this boy; we told him, 'Be long-lived.' But then he was declared, in many ways, O god, to meet death on the fifth day."

Verse 28 (skanda.7.425.28)

यथा वयं त्वया सार्द्धमसत्या न चतुर्मुख । भवामोऽस्य कृते देव तथा किंचिद्विधीयताम्

yathā vayaṁ tvayā sārddhamasatyā na caturmukha | bhavāmo'sya kṛte deva tathā kiñcidvidhīyatām

"O four-faced one, so that we, along with you, may not become false — O god, for his sake let something be done."

Verse 29 (skanda.7.425.29)

अथ ब्रह्मा प्रहृष्टात्मा दृष्ट्वा तं मुनिदारकम् । मत्प्रसादादयं बालो भावी कल्पायुरब्रवीत्

atha brahmā prahṛṣṭātmā dṛṣṭvā taṁ munidārakam | matprasādādayaṁ bālo bhāvī kalpāyurabravīt

Then Brahma, delighted at heart, seeing that sage's child, said: "By my grace this boy shall have a life of a kalpa."

Verse 30 (skanda.7.425.30)

ततस्ते मुनयो हृष्टास्तमादाय गृहं प्रति । प्रस्थिता ब्रह्मलोकात्तु नमस्कृत्वा चतुर्मुखम्

tataste munayo hṛṣṭāstamādāya gṛhaṁ prati | prasthitā brahmalokāttu namaskṛtvā caturmukham

Then those sages, joyful, took him and set out toward home from the world of Brahma, having bowed to the four-faced one.

Verse 31 (skanda.7.425.31)

अथ तस्य पिता तत्र मृकंडो मुनिसत्तमः । ततो भार्यासमायुक्तो विललाप सुदुःखितः

atha tasya pitā tatra mṛkaṇḍo munisattamaḥ | tato bhāryāsamāyukto vilalāpa suduḥkhitaḥ

Then his father, the foremost of sages Mrikandu, there, together with his wife, being greatly grieved, lamented.

Verse 32 (skanda.7.425.32)

हा पुत्रपुत्र करुणं रुदित्वा धर्मवत्सलः । अनामंत्र्य च मां कस्माद्दीर्घं पंथानमाश्रितः

hā putraputra karuṇaṁ ruditvā dharmavatsalaḥ | anāmantrya ca māṁ kasmāddīrghaṁ panthānamāśritaḥ

"O my son, my son!" — weeping piteously, that lover of dharma cried: "Why, without taking leave of me, have you taken the long path?"

Verse 33 (skanda.7.425.33)

अकृत्वापि क्रियाः कार्याः कथं मृत्युवशं गतः । सोऽहं त्वया विना पुत्र न जीवामि कथंचन

akṛtvāpi kriyāḥ kāryāḥ kathaṁ mṛtyuvaśaṁ gataḥ | so'haṁ tvayā vinā putra na jīvāmi kathaṁcana

"Without performing the necessary rites, how have you come under the sway of death? I, without you, O son, cannot live in any way."

Verse 34 (skanda.7.425.34)

एवं विलपतस्तस्य बहुधा नृपसत्तम । बालश्चाभ्यागतस्तत्र यत्र देशे पुरा स्थितः

evaṁ vilapatastasya bahudhā nṛpasattama | bālaścābhyāgatastatra yatra deśe purā sthitaḥ

O best of kings, as he thus lamented in many ways, the boy arrived there, at the place where he had formerly resided.

Verse 35 (skanda.7.425.35)

अथासौ प्रययौ बालः प्रहृष्टेनांतरात्मना । तं दृष्ट्वा पथि तातश्च संप्रहृष्टो बभूव ह

athāsau prayayau bālaḥ prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā | taṁ dṛṣṭvā pathi tātaśca saṁprahṛṣṭo babhūva ha

Then the boy went forward with a joyful inner heart; and his father too, seeing him on the path, became greatly overjoyed.

Verse 36 (skanda.7.425.36)

पप्रच्छांकं समारोप्य चिरागमन कारणम् । ततः स कथयामास सर्वं मुनिविचेष्टितम् । दर्शनं ब्रह्मलोकस्य पद्मयोनेर्वरं तथा

papracchāṅkaṁ samāropya cirāgamana kāraṇam | tataḥ sa kathayāmāsa sarvaṁ munivicheṣṭitam | darśanaṁ brahmalokasya padmayonervaraṁ tathā

Taking him up on his lap, he asked the reason for his long absence. Then he related everything — the sages' actions, the sight of Brahma's world, and the boon of the lotus-born one.

Verse 37 (skanda.7.425.37)

॥ बालक उवाच ॥ अजरश्चामरश्चाहं कृतस्तात स्वयंभुवा । तस्मात्सत्यं मदर्थे ते व्येत्वसौ मानसो ज्वरः

bālaka uvāca | ajaraścāmaraścāhaṁ kṛtastāta svayaṁbhuvā | tasmātsatyaṁ madarthe te vyetvasau mānaso jvaraḥ

The boy said: "O father, I have been made ageless and immortal by the Self-born. This is true — so let that mental fever of yours, for my sake, go away."

Verse 38 (skanda.7.425.38)

सोऽहमाराधयिष्यामि तथैव चतुराननम् । कृत्वाऽऽश्रमपदं रम्यमर्बुदे पर्वतोत्तमे

so'hamārādhayiṣyāmi tathaiva caturānanam | kṛtvāśramapadaṁ ramyamarbude parvatottame

"So I shall worship the four-faced one accordingly, having made a delightful hermitage on the supreme mountain Arbuda."

Verse 39 (skanda.7.425.39)

अमृतस्रावि तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा पुत्रस्य स द्विजः । मृकंडो हर्षसंयुक्तो वाचमित्यब्रवीच्च तम्

amṛtasrāvi tadvākyaṁ śrutvā putrasya sa dvijaḥ | mṛkaṇḍo harṣasaṁyukto vācamityabravīcca tam

Hearing that nectar-dripping speech of his son, that brahmin Mrikandu, filled with joy, spoke thus to him.

Verse 40 (skanda.7.425.40)

मार्क्कंडोऽपि द्रुतं गत्वा रम्यमर्बुदपर्वतम् । तपस्तेपे सुविस्तीर्णं ध्यायन्देवं पितामहम्

mārkkaṇḍo'pi drutaṁ gatvā ramyamarbudaparvatam | tapastepe suvistīrṇaṁ dhyāyandevaṁ pitāmaham

Markanda too, going swiftly to the delightful Mount Arbuda, performed extensive austerity, meditating on the god, the grandfather.

Verse 41 (skanda.7.425.41)

तस्याश्रमपदे पुण्ये श्रावणे मासि पार्थिव । पौर्णमास्यां विशेषेण यः कुर्यात्पितृतर्पणम् । पितृमेधफलं तस्य सकलं स्यादसंशयम्

tasyāśramapade puṇye śrāvaṇe māsi pārthiva | paurṇamāsyāṁ viśeṣeṇa yaḥ kuryātpitṛtarpaṇam | pitṛmedhaphalaṁ tasya sakalaṁ syādasaṁśayam

O king, at his sacred hermitage, in the month of Shravana, whoever performs the tarpana offering to the forefathers, especially on the full moon, for him the complete fruit of the pitri-medha sacrifice shall accrue, without doubt.

Verse 42 (skanda.7.425.42)

ऋषियोगेन यस्तत्र तर्पयेद्ब्राह्मणोत्तमान् । ब्रह्मलोके चिरं वासस्तस्य संजायते नृप

ṛṣiyogena yastatra tarpayedbrāhmaṇottamān | brahmaloke ciraṁ vāsastasya saṁjāyate nṛpa

O king, he who, in company with sages, satisfies the foremost brahmins there, obtains a long residence in the world of Brahma.

Verse 43 (skanda.7.425.43)

यः स्नानं कुरुते तत्र सम्यक्छ्रद्धासमन्वितः । नाल्पमृत्युभयं तस्य कुले क्वापि प्रजायते

yaḥ snānaṁ kurute tatra samyakchraddhāsamanvitaḥ | nālpamṛtyubhayaṁ tasya kule kvāpi prajāyate

Whoever, with true faith, duly bathes there — the fear of premature death is never born anywhere in his family.