Markandeya Purana (chapters 94–134) — Chapter 111
MkP 111.1
नाभागचरितवर्णनम् मार्कण्डेय उवाच निवृत्तोऽसौ ततो भूपः संग्रामात्स्वसुतेन वै । उपयेमे च तां वैश्यतनयां सोऽपि तत्सुतः
nābhāgacaritavarṇanam mārkaṇḍeya uvāca nivṛtto'sau tato bhūpaḥ saṃgrāmātsvasutena vai | upayeme ca tāṃ vaiśyatanayāṃ so'pi tatsutaḥ
Description of the deeds of Nābhāga. Mārkaṇḍeya said: Then that king turned back from the fight with his own son, and that son of his married the vaiśya's daughter.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.2
ततः स वैश्यतां प्राप्तः समुपेत्याह पार्थिवम् । भूपाल यन्मया कार्यं तत्ममादिश्यतां मम
tataḥ sa vaiśyatāṃ prāptaḥ samupetyāha pārthivam | bhūpāla yanmayā kāryaṃ tatmamādiśyatāṃ mama
Then he, having become a vaiśya, approached the king and said: "O protector of the earth, let what is to be done by me be enjoined upon me."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.3
राजोवाच धर्माधिकरणे युक्ता बाभ्रव्याद्यास्तपस्विनः । यदस्य कर्मधर्माय तद्वदन्तु तथाचर
rājovāca dharmādhikaraṇe yuktā bābhravyādyāstapasvinaḥ | yadasya karmadharmāya tadvadantu tathācara
The king said: Bābhravya and the other ascetics are appointed in the court of dharma; whatever they declare to be his proper work and duty, do that.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.4
मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततस्ते मुनयस्तस्य पाशुपाल्यं तथा कृषिम् । वाणिज्यं च परं धर्ममाचचख्युः सभासदः
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tataste munayastasya pāśupālyaṃ tathā kṛṣim | vāṇijyaṃ ca paraṃ dharmamācacakhyuḥ sabhāsadaḥ
Mārkaṇḍeya said: Then those sages, the members of the assembly, declared cattle-keeping, farming, and trade to be the highest dharma for him.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.5
तथैव चक्रे स सुतस्तस्य राज्ञो यथोदितम् । तैर्धर्मवादिभिर्धर्मं च्युतस्य निजधर्मतः
tathaiva cakre sa sutastasya rājño yathoditam | tairdharmavādibhirdharmaṃ cyutasya nijadharmataḥ
And that son of the king did just so, as was declared by those speakers of dharma to be the dharma of one fallen from his own dharma.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.6
तस्य पुत्रस्ततो जातो नाम्ना ख्यातो भलन्दनः । स मात्रा प्रहितो गच्छद्गोपालो भव पुत्रक
tasya putrastato jāto nāmnā khyāto bhalandanaḥ | sa mātrā prahito gacchadgopālo bhava putraka
Then a son was born to him, known by the name Bhalandana. Sent off by his mother — "Go, become a cowherd, my son" — he went.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.7
मात्रा तथा नियुक्तोऽथ प्रणिपत्य स्वमातरम् । राजर्षिमगमन्नीपं हिमवत्पर्वताश्रयम्
mātrā tathā niyukto'tha praṇipatya svamātaram | rājarṣimagamannīpaṃ himavatparvatāśrayam
Thus directed by his mother, then, bowing down to his own mother, he went to the royal sage Nīpa, who dwelt on the Himālaya mountain.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.8
तं समेत्य च जग्राह तस्य पादौ यथाविधि । प्रणिपत्याह चैवैनं राजर्षिं स भलन्दनः
taṃ sametya ca jagrāha tasya pādau yathāvidhi | praṇipatyāha caivainaṃ rājarṣiṃ sa bhalandanaḥ
And having come to him, he clasped his feet in the prescribed manner; and having bowed down, that Bhalandana said this to the royal sage:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.9
आदिष्टो भगवन्मात्रा गोपालस्त्वं भवेति वै । मया च पालनीया क्ष्मा तस्याः स्वीकरणं कथम्
ādiṣṭo bhagavanmātrā gopālastvaṃ bhaveti vai | mayā ca pālanīyā kṣmā tasyāḥ svīkaraṇaṃ katham
"Lord, I have been directed by my mother, 'Be you a cowherd (protector of the earth)'; and the earth is to be protected by me — how (is) the taking of her (to be accomplished)?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.11
तां यथा प्राप्नुयां पृथ्वीं त्वत्प्रसादादहं विभो । तथादिश करिष्यामि तवाज्ञां प्रणतोऽस्मि ते
tāṃ yathā prāpnuyāṃ pṛthvīṃ tvatprasādādahaṃ vibho | tathādiśa kariṣyāmi tavājñāṃ praṇato'smi te
Instruct (me) in the way by which I may obtain that earth by your grace, O mighty one; I shall carry out your command — I am bowed down before you."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.12
मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततः स नीपो राजर्षिस्तस्मै निरवशेषतः । भलन्दाय ददौ ब्रह्मन्नस्त्रग्रामं महात्मने
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tataḥ sa nīpo rājarṣistasmai niravaśeṣataḥ | bhalandāya dadau brahmannastragrāmaṃ mahātmane
Mārkaṇḍeya said: Then, O brahman, that royal sage Nīpa gave to him, to the great-souled Bhalanda, the whole body of weapon-lore without remainder.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.13
प्राप्तास्त्रविद्यः स ययौ पितृव्यतनयान्द्विज । वसुरातादिकान्पुत्रानादिष्टः स महात्मना
prāptāstravidyaḥ sa yayau pitṛvyatanayāndvija | vasurātādikānputrānādiṣṭaḥ sa mahātmanā
Having obtained the science of weapons, O twice-born, and being directed by that great-souled one, he went to his paternal uncle's sons, the sons Vasurāta and the rest.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.14
अयाचत स राज्यार्धं पितृपैतामहोचितम् । ते चोचुर्वैश्यपुत्रस्त्वं कथं भोक्ष्यसि मेदिनीम्
ayācata sa rājyārdhaṃ pitṛpaitāmahocitam | te cocurvaiśyaputrastvaṃ kathaṃ bhokṣyasi medinīm
He asked for half the kingdom, which was fitting (as his) from father and grandfather; and they said: "You are a Vaiśya's son — how will you enjoy the earth?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.15
ततस्तैर्युद्धमभवद्भलन्दस्यात्मवंशजैः । वसुरातादिभिः क्रुद्धैः कृतास्त्रस्यास्त्रवर्षिभिः
tatastairyuddhamabhavadbhalandasyātmavaṃśajaiḥ | vasurātādibhiḥ kruddhaiḥ kṛtāstrasyāstravarṣibhiḥ
Then there was a battle between Bhalanda, who was trained in weapons, and those angry men born of his own lineage, Vasurāta and the rest, who rained weapons.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.16
स जित्वा तानशेषांस्तु शस्त्रविक्षतसैनिकान् । जहार पृथिवी तेषां धर्मयुद्धेन धर्मवित्
sa jitvā tānaśeṣāṃstu śastravikṣatasainikān | jahāra pṛthivī teṣāṃ dharmayuddhena dharmavit
And having conquered them all, their soldiers wounded by weapons, that knower of dharma took away their earth by a righteous battle.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.17
स निर्जितारिः सकलां पृथ्वीं राज्यं तथा पितुः । निवेदयामास ततस्तत्पिता जगृहे न च ।। प्रत्युवाच स तं पुत्रं भार्यायाः पुरतस्तदा
sa nirjitāriḥ sakalāṃ pṛthvīṃ rājyaṃ tathā pituḥ | nivedayāmāsa tatastatpitā jagṛhe na ca || pratyuvāca sa taṃ putraṃ bhāryāyāḥ puratastadā
He, his enemies vanquished, presented the whole earth, and likewise the kingdom, to his father; but his father did not accept it. He then replied to his son, in his wife's presence:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.18
नाभाग उवाच भलन्द राज्यमेतत्ते क्रियतां पूर्वजैः कृतम्
nābhāga uvāca bhalanda rājyametatte kriyatāṃ pūrvajaiḥ kṛtam
Nābhāga said: Bhalanda, let this kingdom, made (by our) forefathers, be ruled by you.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.19
अहं न कृतवान्राज्यं नासामर्थ्ययुतः पुरा । वैश्यतां तु पुरस्कृत्य तथैवाज्ञाकरः पितुः
ahaṃ na kṛtavānrājyaṃ nāsāmarthyayutaḥ purā | vaiśyatāṃ tu puraskṛtya tathaivājñākaraḥ pituḥ
I did not rule the kingdom formerly, not because I lacked the ability, but placing Vaiśya-hood first (accepting it), being thus one who carried out his father's command.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.21
उल्लंघ्याज्ञां पुनस्तस्य पालयामि महीं यदि । नास्ति मोक्षस्ततो नूनं मम कल्पशतैरपि
ullaṃghyājñāṃ punastasya pālayāmi mahīṃ yadi | nāsti mokṣastato nūnaṃ mama kalpaśatairapi
If, transgressing his command, I now protect the earth, then surely there is no release for me even in hundreds of kalpas.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.22
न चापि युक्तं त्वद्बाहुनिर्जितं मम मानिनः । राज्यं भोक्तुमनीहस्य दुर्बलस्येव कस्यचित्
na cāpi yuktaṃ tvadbāhunirjitaṃ mama māninaḥ | rājyaṃ bhoktumanīhasya durbalasyeva kasyacit
Nor is it fitting for me, a man of self-respect, to enjoy a kingdom won by your arm, as though I were some weakling with no exertion of his own.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.23
राज्यं कुरु स्वयं पुत्र दायादेभ्यो विमुञ्च वा । ममाज्ञापालनं शस्तं पितुर्न क्षितिपालनम्
rājyaṃ kuru svayaṃ putra dāyādebhyo vimuñca vā | mamājñāpālanaṃ śastaṃ piturna kṣitipālanam
Rule the kingdom yourself, my son, or release it to the (rival) heirs; the keeping of my father's command is praiseworthy for me, not the protecting of the earth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.24
मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततः प्रहस्य तद्भार्या सुप्रभा नाम भामिनी । प्रत्युवाच पतिं भूप गृह्यतां राज्यमूर्जितम्
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tataḥ prahasya tadbhāryā suprabhā nāma bhāminī | pratyuvāca patiṃ bhūpa gṛhyatāṃ rājyamūrjitam
Mārkaṇḍeya said: Then his wife, a spirited lady named Suprabhā, laughing, replied to her husband: "O ruler of the earth, let this mighty kingdom be accepted.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.25
न त्वं वैश्यो न चैवाहं जाता वैश्यकुले नृप । क्षत्रियस्त्वं तथैवाहं क्षत्रियाणां कुलोद्भवा
na tvaṃ vaiśyo na caivāhaṃ jātā vaiśyakule nṛpa | kṣatriyastvaṃ tathaivāhaṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ kulodbhavā
You are no Vaiśya, nor was I born in a Vaiśya family, O king; you are a Kṣatriya, and I too am sprung from the family of Kṣatriyas.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.26
पूर्वमासीन्महीपालः सुदेव इति विश्रुतः । तस्याभूच्च सखा राज्ञो धूम्राश्वस्य सुतो नलः
pūrvamāsīnmahīpālaḥ sudeva iti viśrutaḥ | tasyābhūcca sakhā rājño dhūmrāśvasya suto nalaḥ
Formerly there was a ruler of the earth renowned as Sudeva; and that king had a friend, Nala, the son of Dhūmrāśva.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.27
स तेन सख्या सहितो जगामाम्रवनं वनम् । पत्नीभिः स समं रन्तुं माधवे मासि पार्थिव
sa tena sakhyā sahito jagāmāmravanaṃ vanam | patnībhiḥ sa samaṃ rantuṃ mādhave māsi pārthiva
He, together with that friend, went to a forest of mango trees, to take his pleasure along with his wives, in the month of Mādhava, O prince.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.28
ततः पानान्यनेकानि भक्ष्याणि बुभुजे तदा । भार्याभिः सहितस्ताभिस्तेन सख्या समन्वितः
tataḥ pānānyanekāni bhakṣyāṇi bubhuje tadā | bhāryābhiḥ sahitastābhistena sakhyā samanvitaḥ
Then he partook of many drinks and foods there, together with those wives of his and accompanied by that friend.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.29
ततः पुष्करिणीतीरे ददर्शातिमनोरमाम् । पत्नीं च्यवनपुत्रस्य प्रमतेः पार्थिवात्मजाम्
tataḥ puṣkariṇītīre dadarśātimanoramām | patnīṃ cyavanaputrasya pramateḥ pārthivātmajām
Then on the bank of a lotus pond he saw an exceedingly lovely woman, the wife of Cyavana's son Pramati, a king's daughter.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.31
आक्रन्दितं निशम्यैव स तस्याः प्रमतिः पतिः । आजगाम त्वरायुक्तः किमेतदिति वै वदन्
ākranditaṃ niśamyaiva sa tasyāḥ pramatiḥ patiḥ | ājagāma tvarāyuktaḥ kimetaditi vai vadan
As soon as he heard her cry, Pramati, her husband, came in haste, saying, "What is this?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.32
ततो ददर्श राजानं सुदेवं तत्र संस्थितम् । गृहीतां च तथा पत्नीं नलेन सुदुरात्मना
tato dadarśa rājānaṃ sudevaṃ tatra saṃsthitam | gṛhītāṃ ca tathā patnīṃ nalena sudurātmanā
Then he saw King Sudeva standing there, and his wife seized by the utterly wicked Nala.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.33
ततः सुदेवं प्रमतिः प्राहायं शास्यतामिति । त्वं च शास्ता भवद्राज्ये दुष्टश्चायं नलो नृप
tataḥ sudevaṃ pramatiḥ prāhāyaṃ śāsyatāmiti | tvaṃ ca śāstā bhavadrājye duṣṭaścāyaṃ nalo nṛpa
Then Pramati said to Sudeva, "Let this man be punished! You are the punisher in your own kingdom, and this Nala, O king, is a wrongdoer."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.34
मार्कण्डेय उवाच तस्यार्तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा सुदेवो नलगौरवात् । प्राह वैश्योऽस्मि गच्छान्यं क्षत्रियं त्राणकारणात्
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tasyārtasya vacaḥ śrutvā sudevo nalagauravāt | prāha vaiśyo'smi gacchānyaṃ kṣatriyaṃ trāṇakāraṇāt
Mārkaṇḍeya said: Hearing the words of that distressed man, Sudeva, out of regard for Nala, said, "I am a vaiśya; go to some other kṣatriya for protection."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.35
ततः स प्रमतिः क्रुद्धस्तेजसा निर्दहन्निव । प्रत्युवाचाथ राजानं वैश्योऽस्मीत्यभिभाषिणम्
tataḥ sa pramatiḥ kruddhastejasā nirdahanniva | pratyuvācātha rājānaṃ vaiśyo'smītyabhibhāṣiṇam
Then that Pramati, enraged, as if burning (him) up with his fiery power, answered the king who had declared, "I am a vaiśya":
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.36
प्रमतिरुवाच एवमस्तु भवान्वैश्यः क्षत्रियः क्षतरक्षणात् । क्षत्रियैर्धार्यते शस्त्रं नार्त्तशब्दो भवेदिति ।। स त्वं न क्षत्रियो भावी वैश्य एव कुलाधमः
pramatiruvāca evamastu bhavānvaiśyaḥ kṣatriyaḥ kṣatarakṣaṇāt | kṣatriyairdhāryate śastraṃ nārttaśabdo bhavediti || sa tvaṃ na kṣatriyo bhāvī vaiśya eva kulādhamaḥ
Pramati said: So be it — you are a vaiśya! A kṣatriya is so called from protecting against harm; kṣatriyas bear weapons so that no cry of distress may arise. Such as you are, you will not become a kṣatriya: you will be a vaiśya only, the lowest of your line.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 111.111
मया हि गौः पालनीया सा यदा स्वीकृता भवेत् । आक्रान्ता बलवद्भिः सा दायादैः पृथिवी मम कृत्वाऽप्रीतिं पितुरहं वैश्यकन्यापरिग्रहात् । न पुण्यलोकभाग्राजा यावदाभूतसम्प्लवम् सखा तस्य नलो मत्तो जगृहे तां च दुर्मतिः । पश्यतस्तस्य राज्ञश्च त्रातत्रातेति वादिनीम् इति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे नाभागचरिते एकादशाधिकशततमोऽध्यायः
mayā hi gauḥ pālanīyā sā yadā svīkṛtā bhavet | ākrāntā balavadbhiḥ sā dāyādaiḥ pṛthivī mama kṛtvā'prītiṃ piturahaṃ vaiśyakanyāparigrahāt | na puṇyalokabhāgrājā yāvadābhūtasamplavam sakhā tasya nalo matto jagṛhe tāṃ ca durmatiḥ | paśyatastasya rājñaśca trātatrāteti vādinīm iti śrīmārkaṇḍeyapurāṇe nābhāgacarite ekādaśādhikaśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ
"For a cow must be protected by me once she has been accepted as mine" — (yet) this earth of mine has been overrun by powerful kinsmen. "Having caused my father displeasure by taking a vaiśya girl to wife, I, the king, have no share in the worlds of merit until the dissolution of beings." And his friend Nala, drunk and evil-minded, seized her, while that king looked on, as she cried, "Save me, save me!"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain