Markandeya Purana (chapters 94–134) — Chapter 110
MkP 110.1
नाभागाख्यानवर्णनम् मार्कण्डेय उवाच कारुषाः क्षत्रियाः शूराः करुषस्याभवन्सुताः । ते तु सप्तशतं वीरास्तेभ्यश्चान्ये सहस्रशः
nābhāgākhyānavarṇanam mārkaṇḍeya uvāca kāruṣāḥ kṣatriyāḥ śūrāḥ karuṣasyābhavansutāḥ | te tu saptaśataṃ vīrāstebhyaścānye sahasraśaḥ
Description of the story of Nābhāga. Mārkaṇḍeya said: The Kāruṣas, valiant kṣatriyas, were the sons of Karuṣa; they were seven hundred heroes, and from them others by thousands.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.2
दिष्टपुत्रस्तु नाभागः स्थितः प्रथमयौवने । ददर्श वैश्यतनयामतीव सुमनोहराम्
diṣṭaputrastu nābhāgaḥ sthitaḥ prathamayauvane | dadarśa vaiśyatanayāmatīva sumanoharām
But Nābhāga, the son of Diṣṭa, standing in his first youth, saw a merchant's daughter, exceedingly lovely.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.3
तस्यां संदृष्टमात्रायां मदनाक्षिप्तमानसः । बभूव भूपतनयो निःश्वासाक्षेपतत्परः
tasyāṃ saṃdṛṣṭamātrāyāṃ madanākṣiptamānasaḥ | babhūva bhūpatanayo niḥśvāsākṣepatatparaḥ
The moment she was seen, the king's son, his mind carried off by love, became given over to the heaving of sighs.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.4
तस्याः स गत्वा जनकं वव्रे तां वैश्यकन्यकाम् । ततोऽनङ्गपराधीनमनोवृत्तिं नृपात्मजम्
tasyāḥ sa gatvā janakaṃ vavre tāṃ vaiśyakanyakām | tato'naṅgaparādhīnamanovṛttiṃ nṛpātmajam
He went to her father and asked for that merchant's daughter (in marriage). Then, to the king's son, whose mental workings were under the sway of the Bodiless One (Kāma)—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.5
तं चाह स पिता तस्या राजपुत्रं कृताञ्जलिः । बिभ्यत्तस्य पितुर्विप्र प्रश्रयावनतं वचः
taṃ cāha sa pitā tasyā rājaputraṃ kṛtāñjaliḥ | bibhyattasya piturvipra praśrayāvanataṃ vacaḥ
—her father, with hands joined, spoke to that prince, O brahmin, fearing his (the prince's) father, words bowed down with deference:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.6
भवन्तो भूभुजो भृत्या वयं वः करदायकाः । कथं सम्बन्धमसमैरस्माभिरभिवाच्छसि
bhavanto bhūbhujo bhṛtyā vayaṃ vaḥ karadāyakāḥ | kathaṃ sambandhamasamairasmābhirabhivācchasi
"You are kings; we are servants, payers of tribute to you. How can you desire a marriage-connection with us, who are unequal (to you)?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.7
राजपुत्र उवाच साम्यं मानुषदेहस्य काममोहादिभिः कृतम् । तथापि काले तैरेव योज्यते मानुषं वपुः
rājaputra uvāca sāmyaṃ mānuṣadehasya kāmamohādibhiḥ kṛtam | tathāpi kāle taireva yojyate mānuṣaṃ vapuḥ
The prince said: The sameness of the human body is brought about by desire, delusion and the rest; and even so, in time the human body is joined with those very things.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 110.8
तथैव चोपकाराय जायन्ते तस्य तान्यपि । अन्यानि चान्ये जीवन्ति भिन्नजातिमतां सताम्
tathaiva copakārāya jāyante tasya tānyapi | anyāni cānye jīvanti bhinnajātimatāṃ satām
And just so, those (bodies) too are born for its (the body's) benefit; and others live upon other (things), belonging to beings of different kinds.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 110.9
तथान्यान्यप्ययोग्यानि योग्यतां यान्ति कालतः । योग्यान्ययोग्यतां यान्ति कालवश्या हि योग्यता
tathānyānyapyayogyāni yogyatāṃ yānti kālataḥ | yogyānyayogyatāṃ yānti kālavaśyā hi yogyatā
So too other things that are unfit come, through time, to fitness; and fit things come to unfitness—for fitness is subject to time.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.11
इत्थं ममैषाभिमता तनया दीयतां त्वया । अन्यथा मच्छरीरस्य विपत्तिरुपलक्ष्यते
itthaṃ mamaiṣābhimatā tanayā dīyatāṃ tvayā | anyathā maccharīrasya vipattirupalakṣyate
Thus this daughter is desired by me: let her be given by you. Otherwise the destruction of my body is in sight.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.12
वैश्य उवाच परतन्त्रा वयं त्वं च परतन्त्रो महीभुजः । पित्रा तेनाभ्यनुज्ञातस्त्वं गृहाण ददाम्यहम्
vaiśya uvāca paratantrā vayaṃ tvaṃ ca paratantro mahībhujaḥ | pitrā tenābhyanujñātastvaṃ gṛhāṇa dadāmyaham
The vaiśya said: We are dependent on another, and you too are dependent on the king. Being permitted by that father (of yours), take her—I give her.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.13
राजपुत्र उवाच प्रष्टव्या सर्वकार्येषु गुरवो गुरुवर्तिभिः । न त्वीदृशेष्वकार्येषु गुरूणां वाक्यगोचरः
rājaputra uvāca praṣṭavyā sarvakāryeṣu guravo guruvartibhiḥ | na tvīdṛśeṣvakāryeṣu gurūṇāṃ vākyagocaraḥ
The prince said: Elders are to be consulted in all matters by those who follow their elders; but in such matters as this, which ought not to be done, there is no scope for the words of elders.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.14
क्व मन्मथ कथालापो गुरूणां श्रवणं क्व च । विरुद्धमेतदन्यत्र प्रष्टव्या गुरवो नृभिः
kva manmatha kathālāpo gurūṇāṃ śravaṇaṃ kva ca | viruddhametadanyatra praṣṭavyā guravo nṛbhiḥ
Where is talk of love-matters, and where the hearing of elders? This is unsuitable; in other things elders are to be consulted by men.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.15
वैश्य उवाच एवमेतत्स्मरालापस्तवायं पृच्छ मा गुरुम् । अहं पृच्छामि नालापो मम कामकथाश्रयः
vaiśya uvāca evametatsmarālāpastavāyaṃ pṛccha mā gurum | ahaṃ pṛcchāmi nālāpo mama kāmakathāśrayaḥ
The vaiśya said: So it is—this is love-talk of yours; do not ask your elder. I shall ask (him); my speech is not one that rests on talk of desire.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.16
मार्कण्डेय उवाच इत्युक्तः सोऽभवन्मौनी राजपुत्रः स चापि तत् । तत्पित्रे सर्वमाचष्ट राजपुत्रस्य यन्मतम्
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca ityuktaḥ so'bhavanmaunī rājaputraḥ sa cāpi tat | tatpitre sarvamācaṣṭa rājaputrasya yanmatam
Mārkaṇḍeya said: So addressed, the prince fell silent, and he (the vaiśya) told all that to his (the prince's) father—whatever the prince's intention was.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.17
ततस्तस्य पिता विप्रानृचीकादीन्द्विजोत्तमान् । प्रवेश्य राजपुत्रं च यथाख्यानं न्यवेदयत्
tatastasya pitā viprānṛcīkādīndvijottamān | praveśya rājaputraṃ ca yathākhyānaṃ nyavedayat
Then his father, having brought in the brahmins Ṛcīka and the other best of the twice-born, and the prince as well, reported the matter as it had been told.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.18
निवेद्य च ततः प्राह मुनीनेवं व्यवस्थिते । यत्कर्तव्यं तदादेष्टुमर्हन्ति द्विजसत्तमाः
nivedya ca tataḥ prāha munīnevaṃ vyavasthite | yatkartavyaṃ tadādeṣṭumarhanti dvijasattamāḥ
And having reported it, he then said to the sages: "This being the situation, the best of the twice-born should instruct (us) as to what is to be done."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.19
ऋषयः ऊचु राजपुत्रानुरागस्ते यद्यस्यां वैश्यसन्ततौ । तदस्तु धर्म एवैष किं तु न्यायक्रमेण सः
ṛṣayaḥ ūcu rājaputrānurāgaste yadyasyāṃ vaiśyasantatau | tadastu dharma evaiṣa kiṃ tu nyāyakrameṇa saḥ
The sages said: If, prince, you have this love for that merchant's offspring, then let it be—this is indeed dharma; but let it be by the lawful procedure.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.21
एवं न दोषो भवति तथेमामुपभुञ्जतः । अन्यथाऽभ्येति ते जातिरुत्कृष्टा बालकानयात्
evaṃ na doṣo bhavati tathemāmupabhuñjataḥ | anyathā'bhyeti te jātirutkṛṣṭā bālakānayāt
Thus there is no fault for you when you enjoy her; otherwise your high caste falls away through the wrong conduct of a child.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 110.22
मार्कण्डेय उवाच इत्युक्तस्तदपास्येव वचस्तेषां महात्मनाम् । विनिष्क्रम्य गृहीत्वा तामुद्यतासिरथाब्रवीत्
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca ityuktastadapāsyeva vacasteṣāṃ mahātmanām | viniṣkramya gṛhītvā tāmudyatāsirathābravīt
Mārkaṇḍeya said: Thus addressed, casting aside as it were the words of those great-souled ones, he went out, seized her, and then, with sword upraised, said:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.23
राक्षसेन विवाहेन मया वैश्यसुता हृता । यस्य सामर्थ्यमत्रास्ति स एतां मोचयत्विति
rākṣasena vivāhena mayā vaiśyasutā hṛtā | yasya sāmarthyamatrāsti sa etāṃ mocayatviti
"By me the merchant's daughter has been carried off by the rākṣasa form of marriage. Let him who has the power here set her free!"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.24
ततः स वैश्यस्तां दृष्ट्वा गृहीतां तनयां द्रुतम् । त्राहीति पितरं तस्य प्रययौ शरणं द्विज
tataḥ sa vaiśyastāṃ dṛṣṭvā gṛhītāṃ tanayāṃ drutam | trāhīti pitaraṃ tasya prayayau śaraṇaṃ dvija
Then that vaiśya, seeing his daughter seized, quickly went for refuge to his (the prince's) father, crying "Save (her)!", O twice-born one.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.25
ततस्तस्य पिता क्रुद्ध आदिदेश बलं महत् । हन्यतां हन्यतां दुष्टो नाभागो धर्मदूषकः
tatastasya pitā kruddha ādideśa balaṃ mahat | hanyatāṃ hanyatāṃ duṣṭo nābhāgo dharmadūṣakaḥ
Then his father, enraged, commanded a great army: "Let him be slain, slain — the wicked Nābhāga, defiler of dharma!"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.26
ततस्तद्युयुधे सैन्यं तेन भूभृत्सुतेन वै । कृतास्त्रेण तदास्त्रेण तत्प्राचुर्येण पातितम्
tatastadyuyudhe sainyaṃ tena bhūbhṛtsutena vai | kṛtāstreṇa tadāstreṇa tatprācuryeṇa pātitam
Then that army fought with him, the king's son; and by him, who was accomplished in missiles, it was felled with his missiles in abundance.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.27
स श्रुत्वा निहतं सैन्यं राजपुत्रेण भूपतिः । स्वयमेव ययौ योद्धुं स्वसैन्यपरिवारितः
sa śrutvā nihataṃ sainyaṃ rājaputreṇa bhūpatiḥ | svayameva yayau yoddhuṃ svasainyaparivāritaḥ
Hearing that the army had been slain by the prince, the king himself went out to fight, surrounded by his own troops.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.28
ततो युद्धमभूत्तस्य भूभुजः स्वसुतेन यत् । राजपुत्रेण शस्त्रास्त्रैस्तत्रातिशयितः पिता
tato yuddhamabhūttasya bhūbhujaḥ svasutena yat | rājaputreṇa śastrāstraistatrātiśayitaḥ pitā
Then there was a battle of that king with his own son; and there the father was surpassed by the prince in weapons and missiles.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.29
ततोऽन्तरिक्षादागत्य परिव्राट् सहसा मुनिः । प्रत्युवाच महीपालं विरमस्वेति संयुगात्
tato'ntarikṣādāgatya parivrāṭ sahasā muniḥ | pratyuvāca mahīpālaṃ viramasveti saṃyugāt
Then the wandering ascetic, the sage, coming suddenly from the sky, said in reply to the king, "Desist from the fight!"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.31
ब्राह्मण्या ब्राह्मणः पूर्वं कुर्वन्दारपरिग्रहम् । ब्राह्मण्यात्सर्ववर्णेषु न हानिमुपगच्छति
brāhmaṇyā brāhmaṇaḥ pūrvaṃ kurvandāraparigraham | brāhmaṇyātsarvavarṇeṣu na hānimupagacchati
A brahmin who first takes a brahmin woman as wife suffers no loss of brahminhood (by marrying) among all the classes.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.32
तथैव क्षत्रियसुतां क्षत्रियः पूर्वमुद्वहन् । इतरे च ततो राजंश्च्यवते न स्वधर्मतः
tathaiva kṣatriyasutāṃ kṣatriyaḥ pūrvamudvahan | itare ca tato rājaṃścyavate na svadharmataḥ
Just so, a kṣatriya who first marries a kṣatriya's daughter, and (only) then others, O king, does not fall from his own dharma.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.33
पूर्वं वैश्यस्तथा वैश्यां पश्चाच्छूद्रकुलोद्भवाम् । न हीयते वैश्यकुलादयं न्यायः क्रमोदितः
pūrvaṃ vaiśyastathā vaiśyāṃ paścācchūdrakulodbhavām | na hīyate vaiśyakulādayaṃ nyāyaḥ kramoditaḥ
Likewise a vaiśya (who marries) a vaiśya woman first and afterwards one born of a śūdra family is not deprived of the vaiśya rank; this is the rule, stated in due order.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.34
ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः सवर्णापाणिसंग्रहम् । अकृत्वाऽन्यभवापाणेः पतन्ति नृप संग्रहात्
brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ savarṇāpāṇisaṃgraham | akṛtvā'nyabhavāpāṇeḥ patanti nṛpa saṃgrahāt
Brahmins, kṣatriyas and vaiśyas, not having first made a marriage with one of their own varṇa, fall, O king, by taking the hand of another.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 110.35
यस्या यस्या हि हीनाया कुरुते पाणिसंग्रहम् । अकृत्वा वर्णसयोगं सोऽपि तद्वर्णभाग्भवेत्
yasyā yasyā hi hīnāyā kurute pāṇisaṃgraham | akṛtvā varṇasayogaṃ so'pi tadvarṇabhāgbhavet
For whatever lower-born woman's hand he takes without having first made the union within his own varṇa, he too comes to share that varṇa.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.36
सोऽयं वैश्यत्वमापन्नस्तव पुत्रः सुमन्दधीः । नास्याधिकारो युद्धाय क्षत्रियेण त्वया सह
so'yaṃ vaiśyatvamāpannastava putraḥ sumandadhīḥ | nāsyādhikāro yuddhāya kṣatriyeṇa tvayā saha
So this son of yours, of very dull wit, has come to be a vaiśya; he has no right to a battle with you, a kṣatriya.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.37
वयमेतन्न जानीमः कारणं नृपनन्दन । यथा भविष्यतीदं च निवर्त्त रणकर्मतः
vayametanna jānīmaḥ kāraṇaṃ nṛpanandana | yathā bhaviṣyatīdaṃ ca nivartta raṇakarmataḥ
We do not know the cause of this, O delight of kings, nor how this will turn out; turn back from the work of battle.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 110.110
आप्याय्यते यच्छरीरमाहारादिभिरीप्सितैः । कालं ज्ञात्वा तथा भुक्तं तदेव परिशिष्यते मूर्धाभिषिक्ततनयापाणिग्राहोत्सवः पुरा । भवत्वनन्तरं चेयं तव भार्या भविष्यति त्वत्पुत्रस्य महाभाग विधर्मोऽयं महात्मनः । तवापि वैश्येन सह न युद्धं धर्मवन्नृप इति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे वंशानुचरिते नाभागाख्यानं नाम दशाधिकशततमोऽध्यायः
āpyāyyate yaccharīramāhārādibhirīpsitaiḥ | kālaṃ jñātvā tathā bhuktaṃ tadeva pariśiṣyate mūrdhābhiṣiktatanayāpāṇigrāhotsavaḥ purā | bhavatvanantaraṃ ceyaṃ tava bhāryā bhaviṣyati tvatputrasya mahābhāga vidharmo'yaṃ mahātmanaḥ | tavāpi vaiśyena saha na yuddhaṃ dharmavannṛpa iti śrīmārkaṇḍeyapurāṇe vaṃśānucarite nābhāgākhyānaṃ nāma daśādhikaśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ
Whatever body is nourished by desired food and the rest — what is eaten thus, with knowledge of the proper time, that alone remains over. Earlier there was to be the festival of taking the hand of a consecrated king's daughter; let it be, and afterwards she shall become your wife. For your son, O greatly fortunate one, this is contrary to dharma, O great soul; and for you too, O king devoted to dharma, there is no battle with a vaiśya. Thus (ends) in the glorious Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, in the account of the lineages, the one hundred and tenth chapter, called the story of Nābhāga.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain