Markandeya Purana — Chapter 26
MkP 26.1
वर्धमानं सुतं सा तु राजपत्नी दिने दिने । तमुल्लापादिना बोधमनयन्निर्ममात्मकम्
vardhamānaṃ sutaṃ sā tu rājapatnī dine dine / tamullāpādinā bodhamanayannirmamātmakam
But that queen, day by day, brought her growing son to awakening, free of the sense of 'mine', by lullabies and the like.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.2
यथायथं बलं लेभे यथा लेभे मतिं पितुः । तथा तथात्मबोधञ्च सो ऽवापन्मातृभाषितैः
yathāyathaṃ balaṃ lebhe yathā lebhe matiṃ pituḥ / tathā tathātmabodhañca so 'vāpanmātṛbhāṣitaiḥ
In proportion as he gained strength, as he gained his father's understanding, so too he obtained knowledge of the self through his mother's words.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.3
इत्थं तया स तनयो जन्मप्रभृति बोधितः । चकार न मतिं प्राज्ञो गार्हस्थ्यं प्रति निर्ममः
itthaṃ tayā sa tanayo janmaprabhṛti bodhitaḥ / cakāra na matiṃ prājño gārhasthyaṃ prati nirmamaḥ
Thus that son, instructed by her from birth, being wise and free of the sense of 'mine', did not set his mind on household life.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.4
द्वितीयो ऽस्याः सुतो जज्ञे तस्य नामाकरोत्पिता । सुबाहुरयमित्युक्ते सा जाहस मदालसा
dvitīyo 'syāḥ suto jajñe tasya nāmākarotpitā / subāhurayamityukte sā jāhasa madālasā
A second son was born to her; the father made his name, and when it was said, 'This one is Subāhu,' Madālasā laughed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.5
तमप्येवं यथापूर्वं बालमुल्लापनादिना । प्राह बाल्यात् स च प्राप तथा बोधं माहमतिः
tamapyevaṃ yathāpūrvaṃ bālamullāpanādinā / prāha bālyāt sa ca prāpa tathā bodhaṃ māhamatiḥ
To him too, as a child, she spoke in the same way as before, with lullabies and the like, and he too, from childhood, of great mind, attained such awakening.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.6
तृतीयं तनयं जातं स राजा शत्रुमर्दनम् । यदाह तेन सा सुभ्रुर्जहासातिचिरं पुनः
tṛtīyaṃ tanayaṃ jātaṃ sa rājā śatrumardanam / yadāha tena sā subhrurjahāsāticiraṃ punaḥ
When a third son was born and the king named him Śatrumardana, the fair-browed woman laughed again for a very long time.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.7
तथैव सो ऽपि तन्वङ्ग्या बालत्वादवबोधितः । क्रियाश्चकार निष्कामो न किञ्चिदुपकारकम्
tathaiva so 'pi tanvaṅgyā bālatvādavabodhitaḥ / kriyāścakāra niṣkāmo na kiñcidupakārakam
In just the same way he too, awakened from childhood by the slender-limbed one, performed his acts without desire, (seeking) no advantage at all.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.8
चतुर्थस्य सुतस्याथ चिकीर्षुर्नाम भूमिपः । ददर्श तां शुभाचारामीषद्धासां मदालसाम् । तामाह राजा हसतीं किञ्चित् कौतूहलान्वितः
caturthasya sutasyātha cikīrṣurnāma bhūmipaḥ / dadarśa tāṃ śubhācārāmīṣaddhāsāṃ madālasām / tāmāha rājā hasatīṃ kiñcit kautūhalānvitaḥ
Then the king, wishing to make a name for his fourth son, saw Madālasā of good conduct smiling slightly; and the king, filled with curiosity, spoke to her as she laughed a little.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.9
क्रियमाणे ऽसकृन्नाम्नि कथ्यतां हास्यकारणम् । विक्रान्तश्च सुबाहुश्च तथान्यः शत्रुमर्दनः
kriyamāṇe 'sakṛnnāmni kathyatāṃ hāsyakāraṇam / vikrāntaśca subāhuśca tathānyaḥ śatrumardanaḥ
"Whenever a name is made, again and again — tell (me) the reason for your laughter. Vikrānta and Subāhu, and the other, Śatrumardana —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.10
शोभनानीति नामानि मया मन्ये कृतानि वै । योग्यानि क्षत्रबन्धूनां शौर्याटोपयुतानि च
śobhanānīti nāmāni mayā manye kṛtāni vai / yogyāni kṣatrabandhūnāṃ śauryāṭopayutāni ca
these names made by me are, I think, fine ones, and fitting for kinsmen of the kṣatriyas, endowed with the pomp of valour.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.11
असन्त्येतानि चेद्भद्रे ! यदि ते मनसि स्थितम् । तदस्य क्रियतां नाम चतुर्थस्य सुतस्य मे
asantyetāni cedbhadre ! yadi te manasi sthitam / tadasya kriyatāṃ nāma caturthasya sutasya me
If, good lady, these are not (so), if that is what is in your mind, then let a name be made by you for this fourth son of mine."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.12
मयाज्ञा भवतः कार्या महाराज ! यथात्थ माम् । तथा नाम करिष्यामि चतुर्थस्य सुतस्य ते
mayājñā bhavataḥ kāryā mahārāja ! yathāttha mām / tathā nāma kariṣyāmi caturthasya sutasya te
"Your command must be obeyed by me, great king; as you tell me, so shall I make the name of your fourth son.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.13
अलर्क इति धर्मज्ञः ख्यातिं लोके प्रयास्यति । कनीयानेष ते पुत्रो मतिमांश्च भविष्यति
alarka iti dharmajñaḥ khyātiṃ loke prayāsyati / kanīyāneṣa te putro matimāṃśca bhaviṣyati
He will become known in the world as 'Alarka', a knower of dharma; this youngest son of yours will also be intelligent."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.14
तच्छ्रुत्वा नाम पुत्रस्य कृतं मात्रा महीपतिः । अलर्क इत्यसम्बद्धं प्रहस्येदमथाब्रवीत्
tacchrutvā nāma putrasya kṛtaṃ mātrā mahīpatiḥ / alarka ityasambaddhaṃ prahasyedamathābravīt
Hearing that name made for his son by the mother, the king laughed at 'Alarka' as meaningless and then said this:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.15
भवत्या यदिदं नाम मत्पुत्रस्य कृतं शुभे । किमीदृशमसम्बद्धमर्थः को ऽस्य मदालसे
bhavatyā yadidaṃ nāma matputrasya kṛtaṃ śubhe / kimīdṛśamasambaddhamarthaḥ ko 'sya madālase
"This name which has been made by you for my son, fair one — why such a meaningless one? What is its sense, Madālasā?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.16
कल्पनेयं महाराज ! कृता सा व्यावहारिको । त्वत्कृतानां तथा नाम्नां शृणु भूप ! निरर्थताम्
kalpaneyaṃ mahārāja ! kṛtā sā vyāvahāriko / tvatkṛtānāṃ tathā nāmnāṃ śṛṇu bhūpa ! nirarthatām
This is (only) a construction, great king; it was made for practical purposes. So hear, O king, the meaninglessness of the names given by you.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.17
वदन्ति पुरुषाः प्राज्ञा व्यापिनं पुरुषं यतः । क्रान्तिश्च गतिरुद्दिष्टा देशाद्देशान्तरन्तु या
vadanti puruṣāḥ prājñā vyāpinaṃ puruṣaṃ yataḥ / krāntiśca gatiruddiṣṭā deśāddeśāntarantu yā
Since wise men call the puruṣa 'all-pervading' (vyāpin), and 'krānti' is declared to be motion, that going from one place to another—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.18
सर्वगो न प्रयातीति व्यापी देहेश्वरो यतः । ततो विक्रान्तसंज्ञेयं मता मम निरर्थिका
sarvago na prayātīti vyāpī deheśvaro yataḥ / tato vikrāntasaṃjñeyaṃ matā mama nirarthikā
—since the pervading lord of the body is all-going, he does not travel; therefore this designation 'Vikrānta' is, in my view, meaningless.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.19
सुबाहुरिति या संज्ञा कृतान्यस्य सुतस्य ते । निरर्था साप्यमूर्तत्वात् पुरुषस्य महीपते
subāhuriti yā saṃjñā kṛtānyasya sutasya te / nirarthā sāpyamūrtatvāt puruṣasya mahīpate
And the name 'Subāhu' (Fine-armed) that you gave to this other son of yours—that too is meaningless, since the puruṣa is without body, O lord of the earth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.20
पुत्रस्य यद् कृतं नाम तृतीयस्यारिमर्दनः । मन्ये तदप्यसम्बद्धं शृणु चाप्यत्र कारणम्
putrasya yad kṛtaṃ nāma tṛtīyasyārimardanaḥ / manye tadapyasambaddhaṃ śṛṇu cāpyatra kāraṇam
The name 'Arimardana' (Crusher of foes) that was given to the third son—that too I consider incoherent; hear the reason for this as well.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.21
एक एव शरीरेषु सर्वेषु पुरुषो यदा । तदास्य राजन् ! क शत्रुः को वा मित्रमिहेष्यते
eka eva śarīreṣu sarveṣu puruṣo yadā / tadāsya rājan ! ka śatruḥ ko vā mitramiheṣyate
When the puruṣa is one and the same in all bodies, then, O king, who is to be reckoned here his enemy, and who his friend?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.22
भूतैर्भूतानि मृद्यन्ते अमूर्तो मृद्यते कथम् । क्रोधादीनां पृथग्भावात् कल्पनेयं निरर्थिका
bhūtairbhūtāni mṛdyante amūrto mṛdyate katham / krodhādīnāṃ pṛthagbhāvāt kalpaneyaṃ nirarthikā
Beings are crushed by beings; how can the bodiless be crushed? And since anger and the rest are separate (from him), this coinage is meaningless.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.23
यदि संव्यवहारार्थमसन्नाम प्रकल्प्यते । नाम्नि कस्मादलर्काख्ये नैरर्थ्यं भवतो मतम्
yadi saṃvyavahārārthamasannāma prakalpyate / nāmni kasmādalarkākhye nairarthyaṃ bhavato matam
If an unreal name is devised for the sake of ordinary dealings, then why do you hold the name 'Alarka' to be meaningless?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.24
एवमुक्तस्तया साधु महीष्या स महीपतिः । तथेत्याह महाबुद्धिर्दयितां तथ्यवादिनीम्
evamuktastayā sādhu mahīṣyā sa mahīpatiḥ / tathetyāha mahābuddhirdayitāṃ tathyavādinīm
Thus well spoken to by that queen, the king of great understanding said "So be it" to his beloved, who spoke the truth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.25
तञ्चापि सा सुतं सुभ्रूर्यथा पूर्वसुतांस्तथा । प्रोवाच बोधजननं तामुवाच स पार्थिवः
tañcāpi sā sutaṃ subhrūryathā pūrvasutāṃstathā / provāca bodhajananaṃ tāmuvāca sa pārthivaḥ
And that son too the fair-browed woman instructed just as (she had) the earlier sons, with words producing awakening; (whereupon) the king said to her:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.26
करोषि किमिदं मूढे ! ममाभावाय सन्ततेः । दुष्टावबोधदानेन यथापूर्वं सुतेषु मे
karoṣi kimidaṃ mūḍhe ! mamābhāvāya santateḥ / duṣṭāvabodhadānena yathāpūrvaṃ suteṣu me
"What is this you are doing, foolish woman, toward the ending of my line, by imparting a corrupting awakening, as you did before with my sons?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.27
यदि ते मत्प्रियं कार्यं यदि ग्राह्यं वचो मम । तदेनं तनयं मार्गे प्रवृत्तेः सन्नियोजय
yadi te matpriyaṃ kāryaṃ yadi grāhyaṃ vaco mama / tadenaṃ tanayaṃ mārge pravṛtteḥ sanniyojaya
If you would do what pleases me, if my word is to be accepted, then set this son upon the path of engagement (in action).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.28
कर्ममार्गः समुच्छेदं नैवं देवि ! गमिष्यति । पितृपिण्डनिवृत्तिश्च नैवं साध्वि ! भविष्यति
karmamārgaḥ samucchedaṃ naivaṃ devi ! gamiṣyati / pitṛpiṇḍanivṛttiśca naivaṃ sādhvi ! bhaviṣyati
In this way, O queen, the path of ritual action will not be cut off, and in this way, O virtuous one, there will be no cessation of the ancestral rice-ball offerings.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.29
पितरो देवलोकस्थास्तथा तिर्यक्त्वमागताः । तद्वन्मनुष्यतां याता भूतवर्गे च संस्थिताः
pitaro devalokasthāstathā tiryaktvamāgatāḥ / tadvanmanuṣyatāṃ yātā bhūtavarge ca saṃsthitāḥ
The fathers who dwell in the world of the gods, and those who have come to the animal condition, likewise those who have gone to human birth, and those abiding among the class of spirits—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.30
सपुण्यानसपुण्यांश्च क्षुत्क्षामान् तृट्परिप्लुतान् । पिण्डोदकप्रदानेन नरः कर्मण्यवस्थितः
sapuṇyānasapuṇyāṃśca kṣutkṣāmān tṛṭpariplutān / piṇḍodakapradānena naraḥ karmaṇyavasthitaḥ
—those possessed of merit and those without merit, wasted with hunger and flooded with thirst—a man established in ritual action, by the gift of rice-balls and water,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.31
सदाप्यायते सुभ्रु ! तद्वद्देवातिथोनपि । देवैर्मनुष्यैः पितृभिः प्रेतैर्भूतैः सगुह्यकैः
sadāpyāyate subhru ! tadvaddevātithonapi / devairmanuṣyaiḥ pitṛbhiḥ pretairbhūtaiḥ saguhyakaiḥ
always refreshes (them), O fair-browed one, and likewise the gods and guests too—by gods, men, fathers, departed spirits, spirits together with guhyakas...
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 26.34
तेनैवमुक्ता सा भर्त्रा वरनारी मदालसा । अलर्कं नाम तनयमुवाचोल्लापवादिनी
tenaivamuktā sā bhartrā varanārī madālasā / alarkaṃ nāma tanayamuvācollāpavādinī
Thus addressed by her husband, that excellent woman Madālasā spoke to her son named Alarka, uttering (these) fond/lulling words:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.35
पुत्र वर्धस्व मद्भर्तुर्मनो नन्दय कर्मभिः । मित्राणामुपकाराय दुर्हृदां नाशनाय च
putra vardhasva madbharturmano nandaya karmabhiḥ / mitrāṇāmupakārāya durhṛdāṃ nāśanāya ca
"Grow, son; gladden my husband's heart by your deeds, for the helping of friends and for the destruction of the ill-hearted.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.36
धन्यो ऽसि रे यो वसुधामशत्रुर् एकश्चिरं पालयितासि पुत्र । तत्पालनादस्तु सुखोपभोगो धर्मात् फलं प्राप्स्यसि चामरत्वम्
dhanyo 'si re yo vasudhāmaśatrur ekaściraṃ pālayitāsi putra / tatpālanādastu sukhopabhogo dharmāt phalaṃ prāpsyasi cāmaratvam
Blessed are you, my son, who alone, free of enemies, shall long protect the earth; from that protecting may there be enjoyment of happiness, and from dharma you shall win the fruit—even immortality.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.37
धरामरान् पर्वसु तर्पयेथाः समीहितं बन्धुषु पूरयेथाः । हितं परस्मै हृदि चिन्तयेथाः मनः परस्त्रीषु निवर्तयेथाः
dharāmarān parvasu tarpayethāḥ samīhitaṃ bandhuṣu pūrayethāḥ / hitaṃ parasmai hṛdi cintayethāḥ manaḥ parastrīṣu nivartayethāḥ
On the sacred days you should satisfy the earthly immortals (the brahmins); you should fulfil what is wished for among your kinsmen; in your heart you should think of the good of others; you should turn your mind away from the wives of others.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.38
यज्ञौरनेकैर्विबुधानजस्त्रम् अर्थैर्द्विजान् प्रीणय संश्रितांश्च । स्त्रियश्च कामैरतुलैश्चिराय युद्धैश्चारींस्तोषयितासि वीर
yajñauranekairvibudhānajastram arthairdvijān prīṇaya saṃśritāṃśca / striyaśca kāmairatulaiścirāya yuddhaiścārīṃstoṣayitāsi vīra
With many sacrifices gladden the gods unceasingly, and the twice-born and your dependents with wealth, and women with matchless pleasures for a long time; and with battles, O hero, you shall satisfy your enemies.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.39
बालो मनो नन्दय बान्धवानां गुरोस्तथाज्ञानकरणैः कुमारः । स्त्रीणां युवा सत्कुलभूषणानां वृद्धो वने वत्स ! वनेचराणाम्
bālo mano nandaya bāndhavānāṃ gurostathājñānakaraṇaiḥ kumāraḥ / strīṇāṃ yuvā satkulabhūṣaṇānāṃ vṛddho vane vatsa ! vanecarāṇām
As a child, gladden the minds of your kinsmen; as a boy, (gladden the mind) of your teacher by carrying out his commands; as a young man, (the minds) of women, ornaments of good families; as an old man in the forest, child, (the minds) of the forest-dwellers.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 26.40
राज्यं कुर्वन् सुहृदो नन्दयेथाः साधून् रक्षंस्तात ! यज्ञैर्यजेथाः । दुष्टान्निघ्रन् वैरिणश्चाजिमध्ये गोविप्रार्थे वत्स ! मृत्युं व्रजेथाः
rājyaṃ kurvan suhṛdo nandayethāḥ sādhūn rakṣaṃstāta ! yajñairyajethāḥ / duṣṭānnighran vairiṇaścājimadhye goviprārthe vatsa ! mṛtyuṃ vrajethāḥ
While ruling the kingdom, gladden your friends; protecting the good, dear one, sacrifice with sacrifices; slaying the wicked and your foes in the midst of battle, child, go to your death for the sake of cows and brahmins.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition