Markandeya Purana — Chapter 11

MkP 11.1

निषेकं मानवं स्त्रीणां बीजं प्राप्तं रजस्यथ । विमुक्तमात्रो नरकात् स्वर्गाद्वापि प्रपद्यते

niṣekaṃ mānavaṃ strīṇāṃ bījaṃ prāptaṃ rajasyatha / vimuktamātro narakāt svargādvāpi prapadyate

The human emission, the seed of men, having reached the menstrual blood of women — the moment he is released, from hell or from heaven, (the being) enters it.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

MkP 11.2

तेनाभिभूतं तत् स्थैर्यं याति बीजद्वयं पितः । कललत्वं बुद्बुदत्वं ततः पेषित्वमेव च

tenābhibhūtaṃ tat sthairyaṃ yāti bījadvayaṃ pitaḥ / kalalatvaṃ budbudatvaṃ tataḥ peṣitvameva ca

Overcome by it, that pair of seeds attains firmness, O father: (first) the state of a fluid film, (then) the state of a bubble, and then the state of a lump of flesh.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.3

पेष्यां यथाणुबीजं स्यादह्कुरस्तद्वदुच्यते । अङ्गानां च तथोत्पत्तिः पञ्चानामनुभागशः

peṣyāṃ yathāṇubījaṃ syādahkurastadvaducyate / aṅgānāṃ ca tathotpattiḥ pañcānāmanubhāgaśaḥ

As a tiny seed in a lump would sprout, so it is said (of this); and thus in due proportion arises the production of the five limbs.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

MkP 11.4

उपाङ्गान्यङ्गुली-नेत्र-नासास्य-श्रवणानि च । प्ररोहं यान्ति चाङ्गेभ्यस्तद्वत् तेभ्यो नखादिकम्

upāṅgānyaṅgulī-netra-nāsāsya-śravaṇāni ca / prarohaṃ yānti cāṅgebhyastadvat tebhyo nakhādikam

And the sub-limbs — fingers, eyes, nose, mouth and ears — grow forth from the limbs, and likewise from these the nails and the rest.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.5

त्वचि रोमाणि जायन्ते केशाश्चैव ततः परम् । समं समृद्धिमायाति तेनैवोद्भवकोषकम्

tvaci romāṇi jāyante keśāścaiva tataḥ param / samaṃ samṛddhimāyāti tenaivodbhavakoṣakam

On the skin the body-hairs are produced, and after that the hair of the head; and equally the enveloping sac in which (the embryo) has arisen grows too.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.6

नारिकेलफलं यद्वत् सकोषं वृद्धिमृच्छति । तद्वत् प्रयात्यसौ वृद्धिं सकोषो ऽधोमुखः स्थितः

nārikelaphalaṃ yadvat sakoṣaṃ vṛddhimṛcchati / tadvat prayātyasau vṛddhiṃ sakoṣo 'dhomukhaḥ sthitaḥ

Just as the coconut fruit grows with its husk, so this (embryo) grows within its sac, remaining head-downward.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.7

तले तु जानु-पार्श्वाभ्यां करौ न्यस्य स वर्धते । अङ्गुष्ठो चोपरि न्यस्तौ जान्वोरग्रे तथाङ्गुली

tale tu jānu-pārśvābhyāṃ karau nyasya sa vardhate / aṅguṣṭho copari nyastau jānvoragre tathāṅgulī

It grows with its two hands placed on the soles (of the feet), at the sides of the knees; the two thumbs are placed above, and the fingers likewise in front of the knees.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

MkP 11.8

जानुपृष्ठे तथा नेत्रे जानुमध्ये च नासिका । स्फिचौ पार्ष्णिद्वयस्थे च बाहुजङ्घे बहिः स्थिते

jānupṛṣṭhe tathā netre jānumadhye ca nāsikā / sphicau pārṣṇidvayasthe ca bāhujaṅghe bahiḥ sthite

The eyes are at the back of the knees, and the nose between the knees; the buttocks rest on the two heels, and the arms and shanks stand outside.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.9

एवं वृद्धिं क्रमाद्याति जन्तुः स्त्रीगर्भसंस्थितः । अन्यसत्त्वोदरे जन्तोर्यथा रूपं तथा स्थितिः

evaṃ vṛddhiṃ kramādyāti jantuḥ strīgarbhasaṃsthitaḥ / anyasattvodare jantoryathā rūpaṃ tathā sthitiḥ

Thus the creature situated in a woman's womb grows step by step; and in the belly of another kind of being, the creature's position corresponds to its form.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.10

काठिन्यमग्निना याति भुक्तपीतेन जीवति । पुण्यापुण्याश्रयमयी स्थितिर्जन्तोस्तथोदरे

kāṭhinyamagninā yāti bhuktapītena jīvati / puṇyāpuṇyāśrayamayī sthitirjantostathodare

It attains firmness by (the internal) fire; it lives on what (the mother) has eaten and drunk. Such is the creature's dwelling in the belly, consisting of the fruits of merit and demerit.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

MkP 11.11

नाडी चाप्यायनी नाम नाभ्यां तस्य निबध्यते । स्त्रीणां तथान्त्रसुषिरे सा निबद्धोपजायते

nāḍī cāpyāyanī nāma nābhyāṃ tasya nibadhyate / strīṇāṃ tathāntrasuṣire sā nibaddhopajāyate

And a vessel called āpyāyanī (the nourisher) is fastened to its navel; that (vessel), fastened in the hollow of the women's entrails, comes to be.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.12

क्रामन्ति भुक्तपीतानि स्त्रीणां गर्भोदरे यथा । तैराप्यायितदेहो ऽसौ जन्तुर्वृद्धिमुपैति वै

krāmanti bhuktapītāni strīṇāṃ garbhodare yathā / tairāpyāyitadeho 'sau janturvṛddhimupaiti vai

Just as the food and drink of women pass into the belly of the womb, by them this creature's body, being nourished, indeed attains growth.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.13

स्मृतीस्तस्य प्रयान्त्यस्य बह्व्यः संसारभूमयः । ततो निर्वेदमायाति पीड्यमान इतस्ततः

smṛtīstasya prayāntyasya bahvyaḥ saṃsārabhūmayaḥ / tato nirvedamāyāti pīḍyamāna itastataḥ

As it goes along, many memories come to it — the (former) grounds of its transmigration; thereupon, tormented this way and that, it comes to weariness (with existence).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.14

पुनर्नैवं करिष्यामि मुक्तमात्र इहोदरात् । तथा तथा यतिष्यामि गर्भं नाप्स्याम्यहं यथा

punarnaivaṃ kariṣyāmi muktamātra ihodarāt / tathā tathā yatiṣyāmi garbhaṃ nāpsyāmyahaṃ yathā

"I shall not act thus again, once I am merely released from this belly; I shall strive in such and such a way so that I shall not come to a womb (again)."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.15

इति चिन्तयते स्मृत्वा जन्मदुः खशतानि वै । यानि पूर्वानुभूतानि दैवभूतानि यानि वै

iti cintayate smṛtvā janmaduḥ khaśatāni vai / yāni pūrvānubhūtāni daivabhūtāni yāni vai

Thus it thinks, recalling the hundreds of sorrows of birth which were formerly experienced, and those which were brought about by fate.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.16

ततः कालक्रमाज्जन्तुः परिवर्तत्यधोमुखः । नवमे दशमे वापि मासि सज्जयते यतः

tataḥ kālakramājjantuḥ parivartatyadhomukhaḥ / navame daśame vāpi māsi sajjayate yataḥ

Then, in the course of time, the creature turns around head-downward; and in the ninth or even the tenth month it is made ready (for delivery).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

MkP 11.17

निष्क्रम्यमाणो वातेन प्राजापत्येन पीड्यते । निष्क्राम्यते च विलपन् हृदि दुः खनिपीडितः

niṣkramyamāṇo vātena prājāpatyena pīḍyate / niṣkrāmyate ca vilapan hṛdi duḥ khanipīḍitaḥ

As it is being expelled it is squeezed by the Prājāpatya wind; and it is driven out, wailing, sorely pained in its heart.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.18

निष्क्रान्तश्चोदरान्मूर्च्छामसह्यां प्रतिपद्यते । प्राप्नोति चेतनां चासौ वायुस्पर्शसमन्वितः

niṣkrāntaścodarānmūrcchāmasahyāṃ pratipadyate / prāpnoti cetanāṃ cāsau vāyusparśasamanvitaḥ

And once out of the belly it falls into an unbearable swoon; and, upon contact with the air, it regains consciousness.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.19

ततस्तं वैष्णवी माया समास्कन्दति मोहिनी । तया विमोहितात्मासौ ज्ञानभ्रंशमवाप्नुते

tatastaṃ vaiṣṇavī māyā samāskandati mohinī / tayā vimohitātmāsau jñānabhraṃśamavāpnute

Then Viṣṇu's deluding māyā assails it; with its self bewildered by her, it undergoes a loss of (that) knowledge.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.20

भ्रष्टज्ञानो बालभावं ततो जन्तुः प्रपद्यते । ततः कौमारकावस्थां यौवनं वृद्धतामपि

bhraṣṭajñāno bālabhāvaṃ tato jantuḥ prapadyate / tataḥ kaumārakāvasthāṃ yauvanaṃ vṛddhatāmapi

With its knowledge lost, the creature then enters the state of infancy, then the condition of childhood, youth, and old age too.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.21

पुनश्च मरणं तद्वज्जन्म चाप्नोति मानवः । ततः संसारचक्रे ऽस्मिन् भ्राम्यते घटियन्त्रवत्

punaśca maraṇaṃ tadvajjanma cāpnoti mānavaḥ / tataḥ saṃsāracakre 'smin bhrāmyate ghaṭiyantravat

And again the man attains death and likewise birth; thus he is whirled around in this wheel of transmigration like (a bucket on) a water-wheel.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.22

कदाचित् स्वर्गमाप्नोति कदाचिन्निरयं नरः । नरकं चैव स्वर्गं च कदाचिच्च मृतो ऽश्नुते

kadācit svargamāpnoti kadācinnirayaṃ naraḥ / narakaṃ caiva svargaṃ ca kadācicca mṛto 'śnute

Sometimes a man attains heaven, sometimes hell; and sometimes, dead, he enjoys both hell and heaven.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.23

कदाचिदत्रैव पुनर्जातः स्वं कर्म सो ऽश्नुते । कदाचिद्भुक्तकर्मा च मृतः स्वल्पेन गच्छति

kadācidatraiva punarjātaḥ svaṃ karma so 'śnute / kadācidbhuktakarmā ca mṛtaḥ svalpena gacchati

Sometimes, born again right here, he consumes his own (accumulated) karma; and sometimes, having consumed his karma, he dies with (only) a little (remaining).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

MkP 11.24

कदाचिदल्पैश्च ततो जायते ऽत्र शुभाशुभैः । स्वर्लोके नरके चैव भुक्तप्रायो द्विजोत्तम

kadācidalpaiśca tato jāyate 'tra śubhāśubhaiḥ / svarloke narake caiva bhuktaprāyo dvijottama

And sometimes he is born here with (only) a few good and bad (deeds left), having nearly consumed them in heaven and in hell, O best of the twice-born.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

MkP 11.25

नरकेषु महद्दुः खमेतद् यत् स्वर्गवासिनः । दृश्यन्ते तात मोदन्ते पात्यमानाश्च नारकाः

narakeṣu mahadduḥ khametad yat svargavāsinaḥ / dṛśyante tāta modante pātyamānāśca nārakāḥ

In the hells this is the great pain: that the dwellers in heaven are seen, my dear, rejoicing, while the hell-beings are being cast down.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.26

स्वर्गे ऽपि दुः खमतुलं यदारोहणकालतः । प्रभृत्यहं पतिष्यामीत्येतन्मनसि वर्तते

svarge 'pi duḥ khamatulaṃ yadārohaṇakālataḥ / prabhṛtyahaṃ patiṣyāmītyetanmanasi vartate

In heaven too there is incomparable pain, in that from the time of ascent onward this remains in the mind: "I shall fall."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.27

नारकांश्चैव संप्रेक्ष्य महद्दुः खमवाप्यते । एतां गतिमहं गन्तेत्यहर्निशमनिर्वृतः

nārakāṃścaiva saṃprekṣya mahadduḥ khamavāpyate / etāṃ gatimahaṃ gantetyaharniśamanirvṛtaḥ

And by looking upon the hell-beings great pain is obtained: "I am to go to that state" — (thinking thus) he is day and night without contentment.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.28

गर्भवासे महद्दुः खं जायमानस्य योनितः । जातस्य बलाभावे च वृद्धत्वे दुः खमेव च

garbhavāse mahadduḥ khaṃ jāyamānasya yonitaḥ / jātasya balābhāve ca vṛddhatve duḥ khameva ca

There is great pain in dwelling in the womb, and for one being born from the womb-passage; and for one born, in the absence of strength; and in old age there is pain as well.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.29

कामेर्ष्या-क्रोधसम्बन्धं यौवने चातिदुः सहम् । दुः खप्राया वृद्धता च मरणे दुः खमुत्तमम्

kāmerṣyā-krodhasambandhaṃ yauvane cātiduḥ saham / duḥ khaprāyā vṛddhatā ca maraṇe duḥ khamuttamam

And in youth there is the wholly unbearable bond with desire, envy and anger; and old age consists mostly of pain, and in death the pain is supreme.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.30

कृष्णमाणस्य याम्यैश्च नरकेषु च पात्यतः । पुनश्च गर्भो जन्माथ मरणं नरकस्तथा

kṛṣṇamāṇasya yāmyaiśca narakeṣu ca pātyataḥ / punaśca garbho janmātha maraṇaṃ narakastathā

And (there is pain) for one being dragged off by Yama's servants and cast into the hells; and then again the womb, then birth, then death, and hell likewise.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

MkP 11.31

एवं संसारचक्रे ऽस्मिन् जन्तवो घटियन्त्रवत् । भ्राम्यन्ते प्राकृतैर्बन्धैर्बद्ध्वा बाध्यन्ति चासकृत्

evaṃ saṃsāracakre 'smin jantavo ghaṭiyantravat / bhrāmyante prākṛtairbandhairbaddhvā bādhyanti cāsakṛt

Thus in this wheel of transmigration creatures are whirled about like (buckets on) a water-wheel, and, bound by the bonds of nature, they are afflicted again and again.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 11.32

नास्ति तात ! सुखं किञ्चिदत्र दुः खशताकुले । तस्मान्मोक्षाय यतता कथं सेव्या मया त्रयी

nāsti tāta ! sukhaṃ kiñcidatra duḥ khaśatākule / tasmānmokṣāya yatatā kathaṃ sevyā mayā trayī

There is no happiness at all, father, here in (this world) crowded with hundreds of sorrows; therefore, since I strive for liberation, how should the triple Veda be served by me?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition