Markandeya Purana (chapters 94–134) — Chapter 129
MkP 129.1
नरिष्यंतचरितवर्णनम् क्रौष्टुकिरुवाच मरुत्तचरितं कृत्स्नं भगवन्कथितं त्वया । तत्सन्ततिमशेषेण श्रोतुमिच्छा प्रवर्तते
nariṣyaṃtacaritavarṇanam krauṣṭukiruvāca maruttacaritaṃ kṛtsnaṃ bhagavankathitaṃ tvayā | tatsantatimaśeṣeṇa śrotumicchā pravartate
Description of the deeds of Nariṣyanta. Krauṣṭuki said: The whole story of Marutta has been told by you, O lord; a wish arises (in me) to hear of his progeny in full.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.2
तत्सन्ततौ क्षितीशा ये राज्यार्हा वीर्यशालिनः । तानहं श्रोतुमिच्छामि त्वया ख्यातान्महामुने
tatsantatau kṣitīśā ye rājyārhā vīryaśālinaḥ | tānahaṃ śrotumicchāmi tvayā khyātānmahāmune
Those lords of the earth in his line who were worthy of kingship and endowed with valour — I wish to hear of them, declared by you, O great sage.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.3
मार्कण्डेय उवाच नरिष्यन्त इति ख्यातो मरुत्तस्याभवत्सुतः । अष्टादशानां पुत्राणां स ज्येष्ठः श्रेष्ठ एव च
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca nariṣyanta iti khyāto maruttasyābhavatsutaḥ | aṣṭādaśānāṃ putrāṇāṃ sa jyeṣṭhaḥ śreṣṭha eva ca
Mārkaṇḍeya said: Marutta had a son known as Nariṣyanta; of the eighteen sons he was the eldest and indeed the best.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.4
वर्षाणां च सहस्राणि सप्ततिं दश पञ्च च । बुभुजै पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां मरुत्तः क्षत्रियर्षभः
varṣāṇāṃ ca sahasrāṇi saptatiṃ daśa pañca ca | bubhujai pṛthivīṃ kṛtsnāṃ maruttaḥ kṣatriyarṣabhaḥ
And for seventy thousand years, and ten and five (thousand more), Marutta, the bull among kṣatriyas, enjoyed the whole earth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.5
कृत्वा राज्यं स्वधर्मेण इष्ट्वा यज्ञाननुत्तमान् । नरिष्यन्तसुतं ज्येष्ठमभिषिच्य ययौ वनम्
kṛtvā rājyaṃ svadharmeṇa iṣṭvā yajñānanuttamān | nariṣyantasutaṃ jyeṣṭhamabhiṣicya yayau vanam
Having exercised kingship in accordance with his own dharma and having offered the most excellent sacrifices, he consecrated Nariṣyanta, his eldest son, and went to the forest.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.6
एकाग्रचित्तः स नृपस्तप्त्वा तत्र तपो महत् । आरुरोह दिवं विप्र यशसावृत्य रोदसी
ekāgracittaḥ sa nṛpastaptvā tatra tapo mahat | āruroha divaṃ vipra yaśasāvṛtya rodasī
That king, with single-pointed mind, having practised great austerity there, ascended to heaven, O brahmin, covering heaven and earth with his fame.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.7
नरिष्यन्तः सुतः सोऽस्य चिन्तयामास बुद्धिमान् । पितुर्वृत्तं समालोक्य तथान्येषां च भूभृताम्
nariṣyantaḥ sutaḥ so'sya cintayāmāsa buddhimān | piturvṛttaṃ samālokya tathānyeṣāṃ ca bhūbhṛtām
That wise son of his, Nariṣyanta, reflected, having observed the conduct of his father and likewise of the other rulers of the earth:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.8
अत्र वंशे महात्मानो राजानो मम पूर्वजाः । यज्विनो धर्मतः पृथ्वीं पालयामासुरूर्जिताः
atra vaṃśe mahātmāno rājāno mama pūrvajāḥ | yajvino dharmataḥ pṛthvīṃ pālayāmāsurūrjitāḥ
"In this line my great-souled forebears, kings, performers of sacrifice, mighty, protected the earth according to dharma;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.9
दातारश्चापि वित्तानां संग्रामेष्वनिवर्तिनः । तेषां कश्चरितं शक्तस्त्वनुयातुं महात्मनाम्
dātāraścāpi vittānāṃ saṃgrāmeṣvanivartinaḥ | teṣāṃ kaścaritaṃ śaktastvanuyātuṃ mahātmanām
"and (they were) givers of wealth, not turning back in battles. Who is able to follow the conduct of those great-souled ones?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.11
धर्मात्पालयतः पृथ्वीं को गणोऽत्र महीपतेः । असम्यक्पालनात्पापी नरेन्द्रो नरकं व्रजेत्
dharmātpālayataḥ pṛthvīṃ ko gaṇo'tra mahīpateḥ | asamyakpālanātpāpī narendro narakaṃ vrajet
What special merit has a king in this, that he protects the earth in accordance with dharma? For by protecting (it) improperly the king becomes a sinner and would go to hell.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.12
सति वित्ते महायज्ञाः कर्तव्या एव भूभृता । दातव्यं चात्र किं चित्रं सीदतामीश्वरो गतिः
sati vitte mahāyajñāḥ kartavyā eva bhūbhṛtā | dātavyaṃ cātra kiṃ citraṃ sīdatāmīśvaro gatiḥ
When wealth is at hand, great sacrifices must indeed be performed by a ruler of the earth; and (wealth) must be given away here — what is remarkable in that? (For) he is the lord and the recourse of those who are in distress.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.13
आभिजात्यं तथा लज्जा कोपश्चारि जनाश्रयः । कारयन्ति स्वधर्मश्च सङ्ग्रामादपलायनम्
ābhijātyaṃ tathā lajjā kopaścāri janāśrayaḥ | kārayanti svadharmaśca saṅgrāmādapalāyanam
Nobility of birth, and shame, and anger, and dependence on (the good opinion of) people, and one's own duty — these bring about not fleeing from battle.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.14
एतत्सर्वं यथा सम्यङ्मत्पूर्वैः पुरुषैः कृतम् । पित्रा च मे मरुत्तेन तथा तत्केन शक्यते
etatsarvaṃ yathā samyaṅmatpūrvaiḥ puruṣaiḥ kṛtam | pitrā ca me maruttena tathā tatkena śakyate
All this was done properly in this way by the men who came before me, and by my father Marutta; so by whom can that (be surpassed)?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 129.15
तदहं किं करिष्यामि यत्तु तैः पूर्वजैः कृतम् । ये यज्विनो वरा दान्ताः सङ्ग्रामाच्चानिवर्तिनः
tadahaṃ kiṃ kariṣyāmi yattu taiḥ pūrvajaiḥ kṛtam | ye yajvino varā dāntāḥ saṅgrāmāccānivartinaḥ
So what shall I do that has (not) already been done by those forebears, who were sacrificers, excellent, self-controlled, and who did not turn back from battle,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 129.16
महत्सङ्ग्रामसंमर्देष्वविसंवादिपौरुषाः । क्रमेणाहं यतिष्यामि कस्मै तानभिसन्धितुम्
mahatsaṅgrāmasaṃmardeṣvavisaṃvādipauruṣāḥ | krameṇāhaṃ yatiṣyāmi kasmai tānabhisandhitum
whose manly valour did not fail in the crush of great battles? By what means shall I strive, step by step, to match them?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 129.17
अथवा तैः स्वयं यज्ञाः कृताः पूर्वजनेश्वरैः । अविश्रमद्भिर्नान्यैस्तु कारितास्तत्करोम्यहम्
athavā taiḥ svayaṃ yajñāḥ kṛtāḥ pūrvajaneśvaraiḥ | aviśramadbhirnānyaistu kāritāstatkaromyaham
Or rather: those lords of men of former times performed the sacrifices themselves, without resting, and did not have them performed by others — that I shall do.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.18
मार्कण्डेय उवाच इति सञ्चिंत्य यज्ञं स चकारैकं नरेश्वरः । यादृशं न चकारान्यो वित्तोत्सर्गोपशोभितम्
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca iti sañciṃtya yajñaṃ sa cakāraikaṃ nareśvaraḥ | yādṛśaṃ na cakārānyo vittotsargopaśobhitam
Mārkaṇḍeya said: Having reflected thus, that lord of men performed a single sacrifice, such as no other had performed, resplendent with the lavishing of wealth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.19
द्विजानां जीवनायालं दत्त्वा तु सुमहाधनम् । ततः शतगुणं तेषां यज्ञार्थमददान्नृपः
dvijānāṃ jīvanāyālaṃ dattvā tu sumahādhanam | tataḥ śataguṇaṃ teṣāṃ yajñārthamadadānnṛpaḥ
Having given the twice-born very great wealth, enough for their livelihood, the king then gave them a hundred times that for the purpose of the sacrifice.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.21
ततस्तेन यदा यज्ञः प्रारब्धो भूभुजा पुनः । प्रारब्धे स मखे यष्टुं ततो नालभत द्विजान्
tatastena yadā yajñaḥ prārabdho bhūbhujā punaḥ | prārabdhe sa makhe yaṣṭuṃ tato nālabhata dvijān
Then, when the sacrifice was undertaken by that ruler of the earth again — the rite having been begun — he could not obtain twice-born to perform the sacrifice.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.22
यान्यान्वृणोति स नृपो विप्रानार्त्विज्यकर्मणि । ते ते तमूचुर्यज्ञाय वयमप्यत्र दीक्षिताः
yānyānvṛṇoti sa nṛpo viprānārtvijyakarmaṇi | te te tamūcuryajñāya vayamapyatra dīkṣitāḥ
Whatever brahmins that king chose for the office of officiating priest, each of them said to him: "We too are consecrated here for a sacrifice.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.23
अन्यं वरय यद्वित्तं त्वयास्माकं विसर्जितम् । तस्यान्तो नास्ति यज्ञेषु दद्यास्त्वं नृपते कथम्
anyaṃ varaya yadvittaṃ tvayāsmākaṃ visarjitam | tasyānto nāsti yajñeṣu dadyāstvaṃ nṛpate katham
Choose another. There is no end to the wealth that has been made over to us by you; how, O king, could you give (us more) at (our own) sacrifices?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 129.24
मार्कण्डेय उवाच न चाप ऋत्विजो विप्रांस्तदाशेषक्षितीश्वरः । बहिर्वेद्यां तदा दानं स दातुमुपचक्रमे
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca na cāpa ṛtvijo viprāṃstadāśeṣakṣitīśvaraḥ | bahirvedyāṃ tadā dānaṃ sa dātumupacakrame
Mārkaṇḍeya said: That lord of the whole earth did not obtain brahmins as officiants; so then he set about giving gifts outside the sacrificial enclosure.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.25
तथापि जगृहुर्नैव धनसम्पूर्णमन्दिराः । द्विजाय दातुं भूयोऽसौ निर्विण्ण इदमब्रवीत्
tathāpi jagṛhurnaiva dhanasampūrṇamandirāḥ | dvijāya dātuṃ bhūyo'sau nirviṇṇa idamabravīt
Even so those whose houses were full of wealth did not accept at all; and he, dejected at (having to) give yet again to a twice-born, said this:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.26
अहोऽतिशोभनं पृथ्व्यां यद्विप्रो नाधनः क्वचित् । अशोभनं च यत्कोशो विफलोयमयज्विनः
aho'tiśobhanaṃ pṛthvyāṃ yadvipro nādhanaḥ kvacit | aśobhanaṃ ca yatkośo viphaloyamayajvinaḥ
"Ah, it is most excellent on earth that nowhere is a brahmin without wealth; and it is not excellent that this treasury of mine, who do not sacrifice, is fruitless.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.27
नार्त्विज्यं कुरुते कश्चिद्यजमानोऽखिलो जनः । द्विजानां न च नो दानं ददतां सम्प्रतीच्छते
nārtvijyaṃ kurute kaścidyajamāno'khilo janaḥ | dvijānāṃ na ca no dānaṃ dadatāṃ sampratīcchate
No one performs the office of officiant; the whole people are sacrificers; and when we offer a gift, none of the twice-born accepts it."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.28
मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततः कांश्चिद्द्विजान्भक्त्या प्रणिपत्य पुनः पुनः । स्वयज्ञे ऋत्विजश्चक्रे ते प्रचक्रुर्महामखम्
mārkaṇḍeya uvāca tataḥ kāṃściddvijānbhaktyā praṇipatya punaḥ punaḥ | svayajñe ṛtvijaścakre te pracakrurmahāmakham
Mārkaṇḍeya said: Then, bowing again and again with devotion, he made certain twice-born officiants at his own sacrifice, and they carried out the great rite.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.29
अत्यद्भुतमिदं चासीद्यदा तस्य महीपतेः । स यज्ञोऽभूत्तदा पृथ्व्यां यजमानोऽखिलो जनः
atyadbhutamidaṃ cāsīdyadā tasya mahīpateḥ | sa yajño'bhūttadā pṛthvyāṃ yajamāno'khilo janaḥ
And this was most wonderful: when that sacrifice of the king took place, then on earth the whole people were sacrificers.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.31
नरिष्यन्तो नरपतिरियाज स यदा तदा । तत्प्रदातुर्धनैर्यागं कुर्युः पृथ्व्यामशेषतः
nariṣyanto narapatiriyāja sa yadā tadā | tatpradāturdhanairyāgaṃ kuryuḥ pṛthvyāmaśeṣataḥ
When King Nariṣyanta sacrificed, then, with the wealth given by him, (people) would perform sacrifice on earth without exception.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.32
प्राच्यां कोट्यस्तु यज्ञानामासन्नष्टादशाधिकाः । प्रतीच्यां सप्त वै कोट्यो दक्षिणस्यां चतुर्दश
prācyāṃ koṭyastu yajñānāmāsannaṣṭādaśādhikāḥ | pratīcyāṃ sapta vai koṭyo dakṣiṇasyāṃ caturdaśa
In the east there were eighteen crores and more of sacrifices; in the west seven crores, in the south fourteen,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.33
उत्तरस्यां च पञ्चाशदेककालं तदाभवन् । मुने ब्राह्मणयज्ञानां नरिष्यन्तो यदाऽयजत्
uttarasyāṃ ca pañcāśadekakālaṃ tadābhavan | mune brāhmaṇayajñānāṃ nariṣyanto yadā'yajat
And in the north there were fifty (crores) at that one time, O sage — (such was the number) of brahmin sacrifices, when Nariṣyanta sacrificed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.34
एवं स राजा धर्मात्मा नरिष्यन्तोऽभवत्पुरा । मरुत्ततनयो विप्र विख्यातबलपौरुषः
evaṃ sa rājā dharmātmā nariṣyanto'bhavatpurā | maruttatanayo vipra vikhyātabalapauruṣaḥ
Such, in olden times, was that king Nariṣyanta, whose self was dharma, the son of Marutta, O brahmin, renowned for strength and manly prowess.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 129.129
किन्तु तैर्यत्कृतं कर्म धर्म्यमाहवनादिभिः । तदहं कर्तुमिच्छामि तच्च नास्ति करोमि किम् गावो वस्त्राण्यलङ्कारं धान्यागारादिकं तथा । प्रत्येकमददात्तेषां सर्वपृथ्वीनिवासिनाम् द्विजन्मनामभून्नासीत्सदस्यस्तत्र कश्चन । यजमाना द्विजाः केचित्केचित्तेषां तु याजकाः इति श्रीमार्कण्डेयपुराणे नरिष्यन्तचरितं नामैकोनत्रिंशदधिकशततमोऽध्यायः
kintu tairyatkṛtaṃ karma dharmyamāhavanādibhiḥ | tadahaṃ kartumicchāmi tacca nāsti karomi kim gāvo vastrāṇyalaṅkāraṃ dhānyāgārādikaṃ tathā | pratyekamadadātteṣāṃ sarvapṛthvīnivāsinām dvijanmanāmabhūnnāsītsadasyastatra kaścana | yajamānā dvijāḥ kecitkecitteṣāṃ tu yājakāḥ iti śrīmārkaṇḍeyapurāṇe nariṣyantacaritaṃ nāmaikonatriṃśadadhikaśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ
"But the lawful rite that was performed by them with oblations and the rest — that I wish to perform, and it does not exist; what am I to do?" Cows, garments, ornament, and granaries and so forth he gave to each one of the twice-born dwelling in all the earth. There was no one there who was (merely) an attendant at the session: some of the twice-born were the sacrificers, and some of them were the officiating priests. Thus (ends) the one hundred and twenty-ninth chapter, called "The Deeds of Nariṣyanta," in the glorious Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain