Markandeya Purana — Chapter 37

MkP 37.1

सो ऽप्यलर्को यथान्यायं पुत्रवन्मुदिताः प्रजाः । पालयामास धर्मात्मा स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यवस्थिताः

so 'pyalarko yathānyāyaṃ putravanmuditāḥ prajāḥ / pālayāmāsa dharmātmā sve sve karmaṇyavasthitāḥ

And that righteous Alarka too, as was right, protected his subjects — glad as sons, each established in his own duty.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.2

दुष्टैषु दण्डं शिष्टेषु सम्यक् च परिपालनम् । कुर्वन् परां मुदं लेभे इयाज च महामखैः

duṣṭaiṣu daṇḍaṃ śiṣṭeṣu samyak ca paripālanam / kurvan parāṃ mudaṃ lebhe iyāja ca mahāmakhaiḥ

Inflicting punishment on the wicked and giving full protection to the well-behaved, he obtained the highest joy, and sacrificed with great sacrifices.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.3

अजायन्त सुताश्चास्य महाबलपराक्रमाः । धर्मात्मानो माहत्मानो विमार्गपरिपन्थिनः

ajāyanta sutāścāsya mahābalaparākramāḥ / dharmātmāno māhatmāno vimārgaparipanthinaḥ

And sons were born to him, of great strength and prowess, righteous in nature, great-souled, opposing (all) wrong paths.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.4

चकार सोर्ऽथं धर्मेण धर्ममर्थेन वा पुनः । तयोश्चैवाविरोधेन बुभुजे विषयानपि

cakāra sor'thaṃ dharmeṇa dharmamarthena vā punaḥ / tayoścaivāvirodhena bubhuje viṣayānapi

He pursued wealth by way of righteousness, and again righteousness by way of wealth, and he enjoyed the objects of the senses too without conflict between those two.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.5

एवं बहूनि वर्षाणि तस्य पालयतो महीम् । धर्मार्थकामसक्तस्य जग्मुरेकमहर्यथा

evaṃ bahūni varṣāṇi tasya pālayato mahīm / dharmārthakāmasaktasya jagmurekamaharyathā

Thus, while he guarded the earth, attached to duty, wealth and pleasure, many years passed for him as though they were a single day.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.6

वैराग्यं नास्य सञ्जज्ञे भुञ्जतो विषयान् प्रियान् । न चाप्यलमभूत्तस्य धर्मार्थोपार्जनं प्रति

vairāgyaṃ nāsya sañjajñe bhuñjato viṣayān priyān / na cāpyalamabhūttasya dharmārthopārjanaṃ prati

No dispassion arose in him as he enjoyed the pleasant sense-objects, nor did he have enough of acquiring merit and wealth.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.8

तं तथा भोगसंसर्ग-प्रमत्तमजितेन्द्रियम् । सुबाहुर्नाम शुश्राव भ्राता तस्य वनेचरः ॥ मर्क्प्_३७।७ ॥ तं बुबोधयिषुः सो ऽथ चिरं ध्यात्वा महीपतिः । तद्वैरिसंश्रयं तस्य श्रेयो ऽमन्यत भूपतेः

taṃ tathā bhogasaṃsarga-pramattamajitendriyam / subāhurnāma śuśrāva bhrātā tasya vanecaraḥ // markp_37.7 // taṃ bubodhayiṣuḥ so 'tha ciraṃ dhyātvā mahīpatiḥ / tadvairisaṃśrayaṃ tasya śreyo 'manyata bhūpateḥ

That he was thus heedless through contact with enjoyments and had not subdued his senses—of this his brother named Subāhu, who dwelt in the forest, heard. (37.7) Then that lord of the earth, wishing to awaken him, having pondered long, deemed it best for that king (to take) refuge with his enemy.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.9

ततः स काशिभूपालमुदीर्णबलवाहनम् । स्वराज्यं प्राप्तुमागच्छद् बहुशः शरणं कृती

tataḥ sa kāśibhūpālamudīrṇabalavāhanam / svarājyaṃ prāptumāgacchad bahuśaḥ śaraṇaṃ kṛtī

Then he, being skilful, went many times for refuge to the king of Kāśī, whose forces and mounts were mighty, in order to obtain his own kingdom.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.10

सो ऽपि चक्रे बलोद्योगमलर्कं प्रति पार्थिवः । दूतञ्च प्रेषयामास राज्यमस्मै प्रदीयताम्

so 'pi cakre balodyogamalarkaṃ prati pārthivaḥ / dūtañca preṣayāmāsa rājyamasmai pradīyatām

And that king too made a mustering of forces against Alarka, and sent a messenger: "Let the kingdom be given over to him."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.12

सो ऽपि नैच्छत्तदा दातुमाज्ञापूर्वं स्वधर्मवित् । प्रत्युवाच च तं दूतमलर्कः काशिभूभृतः ॥ मर्क्प्_३७।११ ॥ मामेवाभ्येत्य हार्देन याचतां राज्यमग्रजः । नाक्रान्त्या संप्रदास्यामि भयेनाल्पामपि क्षितिम्

so 'pi naicchattadā dātumājñāpūrvaṃ svadharmavit / pratyuvāca ca taṃ dūtamalarkaḥ kāśibhūbhṛtaḥ // markp_37.11 // māmevābhyetya hārdena yācatāṃ rājyamagrajaḥ / nākrāntyā saṃpradāsyāmi bhayenālpāmapi kṣitim

But he, knowing his own duty, did not then wish to give it when preceded by a command; and Alarka replied thus to that messenger of the king of Kāśī: (37.11) "Let my elder brother come to me himself and ask for the kingdom in affection; under invasion, out of fear, I shall not hand over even a little land."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.13

सुबाहुरपि नो याञ्चां चकार मतिमांस्तदा । न धर्मः क्षत्रियस्येति याञ्चा वीर्यधनो हि सः

subāhurapi no yāñcāṃ cakāra matimāṃstadā / na dharmaḥ kṣatriyasyeti yāñcā vīryadhano hi saḥ

Subāhu too, being wise, did not then make any request, (thinking) "asking is not a kṣatriya's duty"—for his wealth was his valour.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.14

ततः समस्तसैन्येन काशीशः परिवारितः । आक्रान्तुमभ्यगाद्राष्ट्रमलर्कस्य महीपतेः

tataḥ samastasainyena kāśīśaḥ parivāritaḥ / ākrāntumabhyagādrāṣṭramalarkasya mahīpateḥ

Then the lord of Kāśī, surrounded by his entire army, advanced to invade the realm of King Alarka.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.15

अनन्तरैश्च संश्लेषमभ्येत्य तदनन्तरम् । तेषामन्यतमैर्भृत्यैः समाक्रम्यानयद्वशम्

anantaraiśca saṃśleṣamabhyetya tadanantaram / teṣāmanyatamairbhṛtyaiḥ samākramyānayadvaśam

And having first come to an alliance with the neighbouring (kings), thereupon, by means of some among their servants, he attacked and brought (the realm) under his sway.

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

MkP 37.16

अपीडयंश्च सामान्तांस्तस्य राष्ट्रोपरोधनैः । तथा दुर्गानुपालांश्च चक्रे चाटविकान् वशे

apīḍayaṃśca sāmāntāṃstasya rāṣṭroparodhanaiḥ / tathā durgānupālāṃśca cakre cāṭavikān vaśe

And he harassed his vassals by blockades of the realm, and likewise brought the guardians of the forts and the forest-dwellers under his control.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.17

कांश्चिच्चोपप्रदानेन कांश्चिद् भेदेन पार्थिवान् । साम्नैवान्यान् वशं निन्ये निभृतास्तस्य ये ऽभवन्

kāṃściccopapradānena kāṃścid bhedena pārthivān / sāmnaivānyān vaśaṃ ninye nibhṛtāstasya ye 'bhavan

And some of the kings by gifts, some by sowing division, and others by conciliation alone he brought under his sway—those who had been submissive to him (Alarka).

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

MkP 37.18

ततः सो ऽल्पबलो राजा परचक्रावपीजितः । कोषक्षयमवापोच्चैः पुरञ्चारुध्यतारिणा

tataḥ so 'lpabalo rājā paracakrāvapījitaḥ / koṣakṣayamavāpoccaiḥ purañcārudhyatāriṇā

Then that king, with small forces, being overcome by the enemy's army, suffered a great loss of treasury, and his city was besieged by the foe.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.19

इत्थं सम्पीड्यमानस्तु क्षीणकोषो दिने दिने । विषादमागात्परमं व्याकुलत्वञ्च चेतसः

itthaṃ sampīḍyamānastu kṣīṇakoṣo dine dine / viṣādamāgātparamaṃ vyākulatvañca cetasaḥ

Thus being oppressed, his treasury dwindling day by day, he fell into the deepest dejection and into agitation of mind.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.20

आर्ति स परमां प्राप्य तत् सस्माराङ्गुलीयकम् । यदुद्दिश्य पुरा प्राह माता तस्य मदालसा

ārti sa paramāṃ prāpya tat sasmārāṅgulīyakam / yaduddiśya purā prāha mātā tasya madālasā

Having reached the utmost distress, he remembered that ring, with reference to which his mother Madālasā had spoken long ago.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.21

ततः स्त्रातः शुचिर्भूत्वा वाचयित्वा द्विजोत्तमान् । निष्कृष्य शासनं तस्माद्ददृशे प्रस्फुटाक्षरम्

tataḥ strātaḥ śucirbhūtvā vācayitvā dvijottamān / niṣkṛṣya śāsanaṃ tasmāddadṛśe prasphuṭākṣaram

Then, having bathed and become pure, and having had the best of the twice-born recite (blessings), he drew the writing out of it and saw it in clearly legible letters.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.22

तत्रैव लिखितं मात्रा वाचयामास पार्थिवः । प्रकाशपुलकाङ्गो ऽसौ प्रहर्षोत्फुल्ललोचनः

tatraiva likhitaṃ mātrā vācayāmāsa pārthivaḥ / prakāśapulakāṅgo 'sau praharṣotphullalocanaḥ

The king had what was written there by his mother read out, his body visibly bristling (with thrill), his eyes wide open with delight.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.23

सङ्गः सर्वात्मना त्याज्यः स चेत्त्यक्तुं न शक्यते । स सदिभः सह कर्तव्यः सतां सङ्गो हि भेषजम्

saṅgaḥ sarvātmanā tyājyaḥ sa cettyaktuṃ na śakyate / sa sadibhaḥ saha kartavyaḥ satāṃ saṅgo hi bheṣajam

"Attachment is to be given up with one's whole being; and if it cannot be given up, it should be made with the good—for association with the good is the medicine.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.24

कामः सर्वात्मना हेयो हातुञ्चेच्छक्यते न सः । मुमुक्षां प्रति तत्कार्यं सैव तस्यापि भेषजम्

kāmaḥ sarvātmanā heyo hātuñcecchakyate na saḥ / mumukṣāṃ prati tatkāryaṃ saiva tasyāpi bheṣajam

Desire is to be abandoned with one's whole being; and if it cannot be abandoned, let it be directed toward the wish for liberation—that very (wish) is the medicine for it too."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.25

वाचयित्वा तु बहुशो नृणां श्रेयः कथं त्विति । मुमुक्षयेति निश्चित्य सा च तत्सङ्गतो यतः

vācayitvā tu bahuśo nṛṇāṃ śreyaḥ kathaṃ tviti / mumukṣayeti niścitya sā ca tatsaṅgato yataḥ

But having had (this) recited many times over — "How, then, does the good of men come about?" — and having concluded, "It is by the longing for release," and (knowing) that this (longing) arises from company with such (holy men) —

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

MkP 37.26

ततः स साधुसम्पर्कं चिन्तयन् पृथिवीपतिः । दत्तात्रेयं महाभागमगच्छत् परमार्तिमान्

tataḥ sa sādhusamparkaṃ cintayan pṛthivīpatiḥ / dattātreyaṃ mahābhāgamagacchat paramārtimān

Then that lord of the earth, reflecting on contact with the good, went, in extreme distress, to the greatly blessed Dattātreya.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.27

तं समेत्य महात्मानमकल्पषमसङ्गिनम् । प्रणिपत्याभिसम्पूज्य यथान्यायमभाषत

taṃ sametya mahātmānamakalpaṣamasaṅginam / praṇipatyābhisampūjya yathānyāyamabhāṣata

Having come to that great soul, stainless and unattached, and having bowed down and worshipped (him) duly, he spoke.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.28

ब्रह्मन् ! कुरु प्रसादं मे शरणं शरणार्थिनाम् । दुः खापहारं कुरु मे दुः खार्तस्यातिकामिनः

brahman ! kuru prasādaṃ me śaraṇaṃ śaraṇārthinām / duḥ khāpahāraṃ kuru me duḥ khārtasyātikāminaḥ

"Brahman, show me your grace — you are the refuge of those who seek refuge; take away the suffering of me, who am pained with suffering and full of craving."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.29

दुः खापहारमद्यैव करोमि तव पार्थिव ! । सत्यं ब्रूहि किमर्थं ते दुः खं तत् पृथिवीपते

duḥ khāpahāramadyaiva karomi tava pārthiva ! / satyaṃ brūhi kimarthaṃ te duḥ khaṃ tat pṛthivīpate

"This very day I will take away your suffering, son of Pṛthā (king); speak the truth: for what reason is that suffering of yours, lord of the earth?"

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.30

इत्युक्तश्चिन्तयामास स राजा तेन धीमता । त्रिविधस्यापि दुः खस्य स्थानमात्मानमेव च

ityuktaścintayāmāsa sa rājā tena dhīmatā / trividhasyāpi duḥ khasya sthānamātmānameva ca

Addressed thus by that wise one, the king reflected that he himself was the very seat of the threefold suffering.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.31

स विमृष्य चिरं राजा पुनः पुनरुदारधीः । आत्मानमात्मना धीरः प्रहस्येदमथाब्रावीत्

sa vimṛṣya ciraṃ rājā punaḥ punarudāradhīḥ / ātmānamātmanā dhīraḥ prahasyedamathābrāvīt

That king of noble mind, steadfast, having pondered long and again and again upon himself by himself, then laughed and said this:

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.32

नाहमुर्वो न सलिलं न ज्योतिरनिलो न च । नाकाशं किन्तु शारीरं समेत्य सुखमिष्यते

nāhamurvo na salilaṃ na jyotiranilo na ca / nākāśaṃ kintu śārīraṃ sametya sukhamiṣyate

"I am not earth, nor water, nor fire, nor wind, nor space; yet pleasure is held to arise (only) upon (my) coming together with what belongs to the body.

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

MkP 37.33

न्यूनातिरिक्ततां याति पञ्चके ऽस्मिन् सुखासुखम् । यदि स्यान्म किन्न स्यादन्यस्थे ऽपि हि तन्मयि

nyūnātiriktatāṃ yāti pañcake 'smin sukhāsukham / yadi syānma kinna syādanyasthe 'pi hi tanmayi

Pleasure and pain undergo decrease and increase in this pentad (of elements); if it were mine, why would it not be mine even when it resides in another?

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

MkP 37.35

नित्यप्रभूतसद्भावे न्यूनाधिक्यान्नतोन्नते । तथा च ममतात्यक्ते विशेषो नोपलभ्यते ॥ मर्क्प्_३७।३४ ॥ तन्मात्रावस्थिते सूक्ष्मे तृतीयांशे च पश्यतः । तथैव भूतसद्भावं शरीरं किं सुखासुखम्

nityaprabhūtasadbhāve nyūnādhikyānnatonnate / tathā ca mamatātyakte viśeṣo nopalabhyate // markp_37.34 // tanmātrāvasthite sūkṣme tṛtīyāṃśe ca paśyataḥ / tathaiva bhūtasadbhāvaṃ śarīraṃ kiṃ sukhāsukham

Where the true being (of the elements) is eternally produced, there is depression and elevation through deficiency and excess; and so, when mine-ness is abandoned, no distinction is found. // And for one who beholds the subtle third portion abiding as the tanmātras, and likewise the very being of the elements — what is the body's pleasure or pain?

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

MkP 37.36

मनस्यवस्थितं दुःखं सुखं वा मानसञ्च यत् । यतस्ततो न मे दुः खं सुखं वा नह्यहं मनः

manasyavasthitaṃ duḥkhaṃ sukhaṃ vā mānasañca yat / yatastato na me duḥ khaṃ sukhaṃ vā nahyahaṃ manaḥ

Suffering, or pleasure, abides in the mind, and whatever is mental (belongs to the mind); therefore neither suffering nor pleasure is mine, for I am not the mind.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.37

नाहङ्कारो न च मनो बुद्धिर्नाहं यतस्ततः । अन्तः करणजं दुः खं पारख्यं मम तत्कथम्

nāhaṅkāro na ca mano buddhirnāhaṃ yatastataḥ / antaḥ karaṇajaṃ duḥ khaṃ pārakhyaṃ mama tatkatham

I am not the ego-sense, nor the mind, nor the intellect; therefore the suffering born of the inner organ belongs to another — how is it mine?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.38

नाहं शरीरं न मनो यतो ऽहं पृथक् शरीरान्मनसस्तथाहम् । तत् सन्तु चेतस्यथवापि देहे सुखानि दुः खानि च किं ममात्र

nāhaṃ śarīraṃ na mano yato 'haṃ pṛthak śarīrānmanasastathāham / tat santu cetasyathavāpi dehe sukhāni duḥ khāni ca kiṃ mamātra

Since I am not the body nor the mind, I am distinct from the body and likewise from the mind; so let there be pleasures and pains in the mind or in the body — what is that to me here?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.39

राज्यस्य वाञ्छां सुरुते ऽग्रजो ऽस्य देहस्य चेत् पञ्चमयः स राशिः । गुणप्रवृत्त्या मम किन्नु तत्र तत्स्थः स चाहञ्च शरीरतो ऽन्यः

rājyasya vāñchāṃ surute 'grajo 'sya dehasya cet pañcamayaḥ sa rāśiḥ / guṇapravṛttyā mama kinnu tatra tatsthaḥ sa cāhañca śarīrato 'nyaḥ

If the elder-born of this body produces the desire for kingship — that (body) is a heap made of the five (elements): what is that to me, arising as it does from the working of the guṇas? He (the desirer) abides in that, while I am other than the body.

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

MkP 37.40

न यस्य हस्तादिकमप्यशेषं मांसं न चास्थीनि खिराविभागः । कस्तस्य नागाश्वरथादिकोषैः स्वल्पो ऽपि सम्बन्ध इहास्ति पुंसः

na yasya hastādikamapyaśeṣaṃ māṃsaṃ na cāsthīni khirāvibhāgaḥ / kastasya nāgāśvarathādikoṣaiḥ svalpo 'pi sambandha ihāsti puṃsaḥ

He whose is not the hand and the rest at all, nor flesh, nor bones, nor the arrangement of veins — what connection, even the slightest, has that person here with elephants, horses, chariots, treasuries and the like?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.41

तस्मान्न मे ऽरिर्न च मे ऽस्ति दुः खं न मे सुखं नापि पुरं न कोषम् । न चाश्वनागादि बलं न तस्य नान्यस्य वा कस्यचिद्वा ममास्ति

tasmānna me 'rirna ca me 'sti duḥ khaṃ na me sukhaṃ nāpi puraṃ na koṣam / na cāśvanāgādi balaṃ na tasya nānyasya vā kasyacidvā mamāsti

Therefore I have no enemy, and I have no suffering, no pleasure, no city, no treasury; nor is the army of horses, elephants and the rest his, nor another's, nor anyone's, nor mine.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 37.42

यथा घटीकुम्भकमण्डलुस्थम् आकाशमेकं बहुधा हि दृष्टम् । तथा सुबाहुः स च काशिपो ऽहं मल्ये च देहेषु शरीरभेदैः

yathā ghaṭīkumbhakamaṇḍalustham ākāśamekaṃ bahudhā hi dṛṣṭam / tathā subāhuḥ sa ca kāśipo 'haṃ malye ca deheṣu śarīrabhedaiḥ

Just as the one space, standing in a jar, a pot and a water-pitcher, is indeed seen as many, so are Subāhu, and he the king of Kāśi, and I — (all) alike in (our) bodies, (differing only) by the distinctions of bodies.

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