Markandeya Purana — Chapter 12
MkP 12.1
पितोवाच साधु वत्स ! त्वयाख्यातं संसारगहनं परम् । ज्ञानप्रदानसम्भूतं समाश्रित्य महाफलम्
pitovāca sādhu vatsa ! tvayākhyātaṃ saṃsāragahanaṃ param / jñānapradānasambhūtaṃ samāśritya mahāphalam
The father said: Well spoken, my son! By you the supremely impenetrable (nature of) transmigration has been described, based on (that) which arises from the giving of knowledge and is of great fruit.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 12.2
तत्र ते नरकाः सर्वे यथा वै रौरवस्तथा । वर्णितास्तान् समाचक्ष्व विस्तरेण महामते
tatra te narakāḥ sarve yathā vai rauravastathā / varṇitāstān samācakṣva vistareṇa mahāmate
Among those, all those hells, such as Raurava, have been described (by you); tell of them at length, O greatly wise one.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.3
रौरवस्ते समाख्यातः प्रथमं नरको मया । महारौरवसंज्ञं तु शृणुष्व नरकं पितः
rauravaste samākhyātaḥ prathamaṃ narako mayā / mahārauravasaṃjñaṃ tu śṛṇuṣva narakaṃ pitaḥ
Raurava, the first hell, has been described to you by me; now hear, father, of the hell called Mahāraurava.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.4
योजनानां सहस्राणि सप्त पञ्च समन्ततः । तत्र ताम्रमयी भूमिरधस्तस्य हुताशनः
yojanānāṃ sahasrāṇi sapta pañca samantataḥ / tatra tāmramayī bhūmiradhastasya hutāśanaḥ
(It measures) seven thousand and five thousand yojanas all around; there the ground is made of copper, and beneath it is fire.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.5
तत्तापतप्ता सर्वाशा प्रोद्यदिन्दुसमप्रभा । विभात्यतिमहारौद्रा दर्शनस्पर्शनादिषु
tattāpataptā sarvāśā prodyadindusamaprabhā / vibhātyatimahāraudrā darśanasparśanādiṣu
Heated by that heat, filling all the quarters, with a radiance like the rising moon, it shines exceedingly terrible to see and to touch and so on.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 12.6
तस्यां बद्धः कराभ्याञ्च पद्भ्याञ्चैव यमानुगैः । मुच्यते पापकृन्मध्ये लुठमानः स गच्छति
tasyāṃ baddhaḥ karābhyāñca padbhyāñcaiva yamānugaiḥ / mucyate pāpakṛnmadhye luṭhamānaḥ sa gacchati
Bound there by hand and foot by Yama's followers, the evildoer is released in the middle (of it), and he goes rolling about.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.7
काकैर्वकैर्वृकोलूकैर्वृश्चिकैर्मशकैस्तथा । भक्ष्यमाणस्तथा गृध्रैर्द्रुतं मार्गे विकृष्यते
kākairvakairvṛkolūkairvṛścikairmaśakaistathā / bhakṣyamāṇastathā gṛdhrairdrutaṃ mārge vikṛṣyate
Being devoured by crows, herons, wolves, owls, scorpions and gnats, and by vultures, he is dragged swiftly along the road.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.8
दह्यमानः पितर्मातर्भ्रातस्तातेति चाकुलः । वदत्यसकृदुद्विग्नो न शान्तिमधिगच्छति
dahyamānaḥ pitarmātarbhrātastāteti cākulaḥ / vadatyasakṛdudvigno na śāntimadhigacchati
Burning, distraught, he cries again and again, "Father! Mother! Brother! Sir!" and, terrified, he finds no peace.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.9
एवं तस्मान्नरैमर्मोक्षो ह्यतिक्रान्तैरवाप्यते । वर्षायुतायुतैः पापं यैः कृतं दुष्टबुद्धिभिः
evaṃ tasmānnaraimarmokṣo hyatikrāntairavāpyate / varṣāyutāyutaiḥ pāpaṃ yaiḥ kṛtaṃ duṣṭabuddhibhiḥ
Thus release from that hell is obtained only when ten thousand times ten thousand years have passed, by those of evil mind who have committed sin.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.10
तथान्यस्तु तमो नाम सो ऽतिशीतः स्वभावतः । महारौरववद् दीर्घस्तथा स तमसा वृतः
tathānyastu tamo nāma so 'tiśītaḥ svabhāvataḥ / mahārauravavad dīrghastathā sa tamasā vṛtaḥ
And another likewise, named Tamas, which by its nature is extremely cold; it is as vast as Mahāraurava, and it is covered with darkness.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.11
शीतार्तास्तत्र धावन्तो नरास्तमसि दारुणे । परस्परं समासाद्य परिरभ्याश्रयन्ति च
śītārtāstatra dhāvanto narāstamasi dāruṇe / parasparaṃ samāsādya parirabhyāśrayanti ca
There men, tormented by cold, running about in the dreadful darkness, meeting one another, embrace and cling (to each other).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.12
दन्तास्तेषाञ्च भज्यन्ते शीतार्तिपरिकम्पिताः । क्षुत्तृष्णाप्रबलास्तत्र तथैवान्ये ऽप्युपद्रवाः
dantāsteṣāñca bhajyante śītārtiparikampitāḥ / kṣuttṛṣṇāprabalāstatra tathaivānye 'pyupadravāḥ
And their teeth are broken, chattering with the pain of the cold; there hunger and thirst are severe, and likewise other afflictions too.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.13
हिमखण्डवहो वायुर्भिनत्त्यस्थीनि दारुणः । मज्जासृग्गलितं तस्मादश्नुवन्ति क्षुधान्विताः
himakhaṇḍavaho vāyurbhinattyasthīni dāruṇaḥ / majjāsṛggalitaṃ tasmādaśnuvanti kṣudhānvitāḥ
A cruel wind carrying blocks of ice splits their bones; from that the marrow and blood ooze out, and, gripped by hunger, they eat it.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.14
लेलिह्यमाना भ्राम्यन्ते परस्परसमागमे । एवं तत्रापि सुमहान् क्लेशस्तमसि मानवैः
lelihyamānā bhrāmyante parasparasamāgame / evaṃ tatrāpi sumahān kleśastamasi mānavaiḥ
Licking again and again, they are whirled about when they meet one another; thus there too, in Tamas, very great is the torment (undergone) by men,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.15
प्राप्यते ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ यावद्दुष्कृतसंक्षयः । निकृन्तन इति ख्यातस्ततो ऽन्यो नरकोत्तमः
prāpyate brāhmaṇaśreṣṭha yāvadduṣkṛtasaṃkṣayaḥ / nikṛntana iti khyātastato 'nyo narakottamaḥ
—which is undergone, best of brahmins, until their evil deeds are wholly destroyed. Then there is another, the foremost of hells, known as Nikṛntana.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.16
तस्मिन् कुलालचक्राणि भ्राम्यन्त्यविरतं पितः । तेष्वारोप्य निकृत्यन्ते कालसूत्रेण मानवाः
tasmin kulālacakrāṇi bhrāmyantyavirataṃ pitaḥ / teṣvāropya nikṛtyante kālasūtreṇa mānavāḥ
In it, father, potters' wheels revolve unceasingly; men are set upon them and are cut apart by the thread of Time.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.17
यमानुगाङ्गुलिस्थेन आपादतलमस्तकम् । न चैषां जीवितभ्रंशो जायते द्विजसत्तम
yamānugāṅgulisthena āpādatalamastakam / na caiṣāṃ jīvitabhraṃśo jāyate dvijasattama
By (the thread) held in the fingers of Yama's followers, (they are cut) from the soles of the feet to the head; yet no loss of life occurs to them, O best of the twice-born.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.18
छिन्नानि तेषां शतशः खण्डान्यैक्यं व्रजन्ति च । एवं वर्षसहस्राणि छिद्यन्ते पापकर्मिणः
chinnāni teṣāṃ śataśaḥ khaṇḍānyaikyaṃ vrajanti ca / evaṃ varṣasahasrāṇi chidyante pāpakarmiṇaḥ
Their pieces, cut into hundreds, come together again into one; thus for thousands of years the doers of evil are cut up,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.19
तावद् यावदशेषं वै तत्पापं हि क्षयं गतम् । अप्रतिष्ठञ्च नरकं शृणुष्व गदतो मम
tāvad yāvadaśeṣaṃ vai tatpāpaṃ hi kṣayaṃ gatam / apratiṣṭhañca narakaṃ śṛṇuṣva gadato mama
(They are cut) just so long, until that sin has wholly come to destruction. And now hear, as I tell of it, the hell called Apratiṣṭha.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.20
अत्रस्थैर्नारकैर्दुः खमसह्यमनुभूयते । तान्येव यत्र चक्राणि घटीयन्त्राणि चान्यतः
atrasthairnārakairduḥ khamasahyamanubhūyate / tānyeva yatra cakrāṇi ghaṭīyantrāṇi cānyataḥ
There unbearable pain is undergone by the hell-beings who abide in it; where there are those same wheels, and in another place water-wheel contrivances,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.21
दुः खस्य हेतुभूतानि पापकर्मकृतां नृणाम् । चक्रेष्वारोपिताः केचिद् भ्राम्यन्ते तत्र मानवाः
duḥ khasya hetubhūtāni pāpakarmakṛtāṃ nṛṇām / cakreṣvāropitāḥ kecid bhrāmyante tatra mānavāḥ
which are the causes of suffering for men who have done evil deeds. Some men, set upon the wheels, are whirled about there
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.22
यावद्वर्षसहस्राणि न तेषां स्थितिरन्तरा । घटीयन्त्रेषु चैवान्यो बद्धस्तोये यथा घटी
yāvadvarṣasahasrāṇi na teṣāṃ sthitirantarā / ghaṭīyantreṣu caivānyo baddhastoye yathā ghaṭī
for thousands of years, with no standing still for them in the meanwhile; and another is bound upon the water-wheels like a pot in the water.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.23
भ्राम्यन्ते मानवा रक्तमुदिगरन्तः पुनः पुनः । अस्त्रैर्मुखविनिष्क्रान्तैः नेत्रैरश्रुविलम्बिभिः
bhrāmyante mānavā raktamudigarantaḥ punaḥ punaḥ / astrairmukhaviniṣkrāntaiḥ netrairaśruvilambibhiḥ
The men are whirled about, vomiting blood again and again, with weapons issuing from their mouths, with eyes streaming tears.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 12.24
दुः खानि ते प्राप्नुवन्ति यान्यसह्यानि जन्तुभिः । असिपत्रवनं नाम नरकं शृणु चापरम्
duḥ khāni te prāpnuvanti yānyasahyāni jantubhiḥ / asipatravanaṃ nāma narakaṃ śṛṇu cāparam
They undergo sufferings that are unbearable for living creatures. Hear now of another hell, named Asipatravana (Sword-Leaf Forest):
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.25
योजनानां सहस्रं यो ज्वलदग्न्यास्तृतावनिः । तप्ताः सूर्यकरैश्चण्डैर्यत्रातीव सुदारुणैः
yojanānāṃ sahasraṃ yo jvaladagnyāstṛtāvaniḥ / taptāḥ sūryakaraiścaṇḍairyatrātīva sudāruṇaiḥ
which extends a thousand yojanas, its ground overspread with blazing fire, where (the beings) are scorched by the sun's rays, fierce and exceedingly cruel;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.26
प्रपतन्ति सदा तत्र प्राणिनो नरकौकसः । तन्मध्ये च वनं रम्यं स्निग्धपत्रं विभाव्यते
prapatanti sadā tatra prāṇino narakaukasaḥ / tanmadhye ca vanaṃ ramyaṃ snigdhapatraṃ vibhāvyate
there the living beings, the inmates of hell, are forever falling down; and in the midst of it a pleasant forest with glossy leaves comes into view.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.27
पत्राणि तत्र खङ्गानां फलानि द्विजसत्तमम् । श्वानश्च तत्र सबलाः स्वनन्त्ययुतशोभिताः
patrāṇi tatra khaṅgānāṃ phalāni dvijasattamam / śvānaśca tatra sabalāḥ svanantyayutaśobhitāḥ
There the leaves are of swords, and so are the fruits, O best of the twice-born; and there dogs, strong, bay aloud, arrayed in tens of thousands,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 12.28
महावक्त्रा महादंष्ट्रा व्याघ्रा इव भयानकाः । ततस्तद्वनमालोक्य शिशिरच्छायमग्रतः
mahāvaktrā mahādaṃṣṭrā vyāghrā iva bhayānakāḥ / tatastadvanamālokya śiśiracchāyamagrataḥ
great-mouthed, great-fanged, frightful as tigers. Then, seeing that forest with its cool shade before them,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.29
प्रयान्ति प्राणिनस्तत्र तीव्रतृट्परिपीडिताः । हा मातर्हा तात ! इति क्रान्दन्तो ऽतीव दुः खिता
prayānti prāṇinastatra tīvratṛṭparipīḍitāḥ / hā mātarhā tāta ! iti krāndanto 'tīva duḥ khitā
the beings go there, tormented by fierce thirst, crying out "Alas, mother! Alas, father!", exceedingly wretched,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.30
दह्यमानाङ्घ्रयुगला धरणीस्थेन वह्निना । तेषां गतानां तत्रासिपत्रपाती समीरणः
dahyamānāṅghrayugalā dharaṇīsthena vahninā / teṣāṃ gatānāṃ tatrāsipatrapātī samīraṇaḥ
their two feet burning from the fire that is in the ground. And when they have gone there, a wind that brings down the sword-leaves
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.31
प्रवाति तेन पात्यन्ते तेषां खड्गान्यथोपरि । ततः पतन्ति ते भूमौ ज्वलत्पवकसञ्चये
pravāti tena pātyante teṣāṃ khaḍgānyathopari / tataḥ patanti te bhūmau jvalatpavakasañcaye
blows, and by it the swords are made to fall upon them from above. Then they fall on the ground, into a heap of blazing fire
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.32
लेलिह्यमाने चान्यत्र व्याप्ताशेषमहीतले । सारमेयास्ततः शीघ्रं शातयन्ति शरीरतः
lelihyamāne cānyatra vyāptāśeṣamahītale / sārameyāstataḥ śīghraṃ śātayanti śarīrataḥ
that licks about elsewhere, the whole surface of the earth being covered (by it); then the dogs swiftly tear from their bodies
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.33
तेषामङ्गानि रुदतामनेकान्यतिभीषणाः । असिपत्रवनं तात ! मयैतत् कीर्तितं तव
teṣāmaṅgāni rudatāmanekānyatibhīṣaṇāḥ / asipatravanaṃ tāta ! mayaitat kīrtitaṃ tava
many limbs of those weeping ones — most terrible (dogs they are). This, dear one, is the Asipatravana, described by me to you.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.34
अतः परं भीमतरं तप्तकुम्भं निबोध मे । समन्ततस्तप्तकुम्भा वह्निज्वालासमावृताः
ataḥ paraṃ bhīmataraṃ taptakumbhaṃ nibodha me / samantatastaptakumbhā vahnijvālāsamāvṛtāḥ
Learn from me of the one more fearful than this, Taptakumbha (Heated Jars): heated jars on every side, encompassed by flames of fire,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.35
ज्वलदग्निचयोद्वृत्ततैलायश्चूर्णपूरिताः । तेषु दुष्कृतकर्माणो याम्यैः क्षिप्ता ह्यधोमुखाः
jvaladagnicayodvṛttatailāyaścūrṇapūritāḥ / teṣu duṣkṛtakarmāṇo yāmyaiḥ kṣiptā hyadhomukhāḥ
filled with oil and iron filings boiling up from the masses of blazing fire; into them the doers of evil deeds are flung head-downward by Yama's men,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.36
क्वाथ्यन्ते विस्फुटद्गात्र-गलन्मज्जजलाविलाः । स्फुरत्कपालनेत्रास्थिच्छिद्यमाना विभीषणैः
kvāthyante visphuṭadgātra-galanmajjajalāvilāḥ / sphuratkapālanetrāsthicchidyamānā vibhīṣaṇaiḥ
and are boiled, their bodies bursting open, befouled with the fluid of oozing marrow, their skulls, eyes and bones splitting apart, cut to pieces by fearsome
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.37
गृध्रैरुत्पाट्य मुच्यन्ते पुनस्तेष्वेव वेगितैः । पुनः सिमसिमायन्ते तैलेनैक्यं व्रजन्ति च
gṛdhrairutpāṭya mucyante punasteṣveva vegitaiḥ / punaḥ simasimāyante tailenaikyaṃ vrajanti ca
vultures, by whom they are torn out and let go, and again (dropped) into those very (jars) by the swift ones; again they hiss and seethe, and become one with the oil,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.38
द्रवीभूतैः शिरोगात्र-स्नायु-मांस-त्वगस्थिभिः । ततो याम्यैर्नरैराशु दर्व्या घट्टनघट्टिताः
dravībhūtaiḥ śirogātra-snāyu-māṃsa-tvagasthibhiḥ / tato yāmyairnarairāśu darvyā ghaṭṭanaghaṭṭitāḥ
their heads, limbs, sinews, flesh, skin and bones having turned to liquid; then by Yama's men they are quickly stirred with the churning of a ladle.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 12.39
कृतावर्ते महातैले मथ्यन्ते पापकर्मिणः । एष ते विस्तरेणोक्तस्तप्तकुम्भो मया पितः
kṛtāvarte mahātaile mathyante pāpakarmiṇaḥ / eṣa te vistareṇoktastaptakumbho mayā pitaḥ
In a great (vat of) oil made to swirl, the doers of evil are churned about. This, father, is the Taptakumbha (Heated Pot), which I have described to you at length.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition