Markandeya Purana — Chapter 4
MkP 4.1
एवं ते द्रोणतनयाः पक्षिणो ज्ञानिनो ऽभवन् । वसन्ति ह्यचले विन्ध्ये तानुपास्व च पृच्छ च
evaṃ te droṇatanayāḥ pakṣiṇo jñānino 'bhavan / vasanti hyacale vindhye tānupāsva ca pṛccha ca
Thus those sons of Droṇa became birds possessed of knowledge; they dwell on the Vindhya mountain—attend upon them and question them.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.2
इत्यृषेर्वचनं श्रुत्वा मार्कण्डेयस्य जैमिनिः । जगाम विन्ध्यशिखरं यत्र ते धर्मपक्षिणः
ityṛṣervacanaṃ śrutvā mārkaṇḍeyasya jaiminiḥ / jagāma vindhyaśikharaṃ yatra te dharmapakṣiṇaḥ
Having heard these words of the sage Mārkaṇḍeya, Jaimini went to the Vindhya peak where those dharma-knowing birds were.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.3
तन्नगासन्नभूतश्च शुश्राठ पठतां ध्वनिम् । श्रुत्वा च विस्मयाविष्टश्चिन्तयामास जैमिनिः
tannagāsannabhūtaśca śuśrāṭha paṭhatāṃ dhvanim / śrutvā ca vismayāviṣṭaścintayāmāsa jaiminiḥ
And when he had come near that mountain he heard the sound of (them) reciting; and hearing it, Jaimini, filled with amazement, reflected:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.4
स्थानसौष्ठवसम्पन्नं जितश्वासमविश्रमम् । विस्पष्टमपदोषञ्च पठ्यते द्विजसत्तमैः
sthānasauṣṭhavasampannaṃ jitaśvāsamaviśramam / vispaṣṭamapadoṣañca paṭhyate dvijasattamaiḥ
"It is recited by these best of twice-born with excellence of (articulation-)position, with breath controlled, without pause, distinctly and free from faults.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.5
वियोनिमपि सम्प्राप्तानेतान् मुनिकुमारकान् । चित्रमेतदहं मन्ये न जहाति सरस्वती
viyonimapi samprāptānetān munikumārakān / citrametadahaṃ manye na jahāti sarasvatī
Though these sons of sages have entered another (kind of) birth, I think this a marvel: Sarasvatī (speech/learning) does not abandon (them).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.6
बन्धुवर्गस्तथा मित्रं यच्चेष्टमपरं गृहे । त्यक्त्वा गच्छति तत्सर्वं न जहाति सरस्वती
bandhuvargastathā mitraṃ yacceṣṭamaparaṃ gṛhe / tyaktvā gacchati tatsarvaṃ na jahāti sarasvatī
One goes leaving behind all of it—the circle of kinsmen, friends, and whatever else is dear in the house—(but) Sarasvatī does not abandon (one).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.7
इति सञ्चिन्तयन्नेव विवेश गिरिकन्दरम् । प्रविश्य च ददर्शासौ शिलापट्टगातान् द्विजान्
iti sañcintayanneva viveśa girikandaram / praviśya ca dadarśāsau śilāpaṭṭagātān dvijān
Reflecting thus, he entered the mountain cave; and having entered, he saw the twice-born seated on a slab of rock.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.8
पठतस्तान् समालोक्य मुखदोषविवर्जितान् । सो ऽथ शोकेन हर्षेण सर्वानेवाभ्यभाषत
paṭhatastān samālokya mukhadoṣavivarjitān / so 'tha śokena harṣeṇa sarvānevābhyabhāṣata
Seeing them reciting, free from any defect of mouth, he then, with sorrow and with joy, addressed them all:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.9
स्वस्त्यस्तु वो द्विजश्रेष्ठा जैमिनिं मां निबोधत । व्यासशिष्यमनुप्राप्तं भवतां दर्शनोत्सुकम्
svastyastu vo dvijaśreṣṭhā jaiminiṃ māṃ nibodhata / vyāsaśiṣyamanuprāptaṃ bhavatāṃ darśanotsukam
"May it be well with you, best of the twice-born; know me as Jaimini, a pupil of Vyāsa, come here eager for the sight of you.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.10
मन्युर्न खलु कर्तव्यो यत् पित्रातीव मन्युना । शप्ताः खगत्वमापन्नाः सर्वथा दिष्टमेव तत्
manyurna khalu kartavyo yat pitrātīva manyunā / śaptāḥ khagatvamāpannāḥ sarvathā diṣṭameva tat
Indeed no anger should be felt because you were cursed by your father in excessive wrath and have come to the state of birds; that was in every way fated.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.11
स्फीतद्रव्ये कुले केचिज्जाताः किल मनस्विनः । द्रव्यनाशे द्विजेन्द्रास्ते शबरेण सुसान्त्विताः
sphītadravye kule kecijjātāḥ kila manasvinaḥ / dravyanāśe dvijendrāste śabareṇa susāntvitāḥ
Certain proud men, they say, were born in a family of abundant wealth; and when the wealth was lost those chief brahmins were well consoled by a Śabara.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 4.12
दत्त्वा याचन्ति पुरुषा हत्वा वध्यन्ति चापरे । पातयित्वा च पात्यन्ते त एव तपसः क्षयात्
dattvā yācanti puruṣā hatvā vadhyanti cāpare / pātayitvā ca pātyante ta eva tapasaḥ kṣayāt
Men who have given (later) beg, and others who have killed are killed; and those very ones who have cast (others) down are cast down, through the exhaustion of their austerity.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.13
एतद्दृष्टं सुबहुशो विपरीतं तथा मया । भावाभावसमुच्छेदैरजस्त्रं व्याकुलं जगत्
etaddṛṣṭaṃ subahuśo viparītaṃ tathā mayā / bhāvābhāvasamucchedairajastraṃ vyākulaṃ jagat
This, and the reverse of it, has been seen by me very many times: the world is ceaselessly agitated by the arisings and destructions of existence and non-existence.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.14
इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा न शोकं कर्तुमर्हथ । ज्ञानस्य फलमेतावच्छोकहर्षैरधृष्यता
iti sañcintya manasā na śokaṃ kartumarhatha / jñānasya phalametāvacchokaharṣairadhṛṣyatā
Considering this in your mind, you ought not to grieve; just this is the fruit of knowledge—not being overcome by sorrow and joy.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.15
ततस्ते जैमिनिं सर्वे पाद्यार्घ्याभ्यामपूजयन् । अनामयञ्च पप्रच्छुः प्रणिपत्य महामुनिम्
tataste jaiminiṃ sarve pādyārghyābhyāmapūjayan / anāmayañca papracchuḥ praṇipatya mahāmunim
Then they all honoured Jaimini with water for the feet and the guest-offering, and bowing to the great sage they asked after his health.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.16
अथोचुः खगमाः सर्वे व्यासशिष्यं तपोनिधिम् । सुखोपविष्टं विश्रान्तं पक्षानिलहतक्लमम्
athocuḥ khagamāḥ sarve vyāsaśiṣyaṃ taponidhim / sukhopaviṣṭaṃ viśrāntaṃ pakṣānilahataklamam
Then all the birds spoke to that pupil of Vyāsa, that treasury of austerity, comfortably seated, rested, his fatigue removed by the wind of their wings:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.17
अद्य नः सफलं जन्म जीवितञ्च सुजीवितम् । यत् पश्यामः सुरैर्वन्द्यं तव पादाम्बुजद्वयम्
adya naḥ saphalaṃ janma jīvitañca sujīvitam / yat paśyāmaḥ surairvandyaṃ tava pādāmbujadvayam
"Today our birth has borne fruit and our life is well lived, in that we behold the pair of your lotus feet, worthy of the reverence of the gods.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.18
पितृकोपाग्निरुद्भूतो यो नो देहेषु वर्तते । सो ऽद्य शान्तिं गतो विप्र युष्मद्दर्शनवारिणा
pitṛkopāgnirudbhūto yo no deheṣu vartate / so 'dya śāntiṃ gato vipra yuṣmaddarśanavāriṇā
The fire of our father's anger that arose and abides in our bodies has today, O brahmin, been quenched by the water of the sight of you.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.19
कच्चित् ते कुशलं ब्रह्मन्नाश्रमे मृगपक्षिषु । वृक्षेष्वथ लता-गुल्म-त्वक्सार-तृणजातिषु
kaccit te kuśalaṃ brahmannāśrame mṛgapakṣiṣu / vṛkṣeṣvatha latā-gulma-tvaksāra-tṛṇajātiṣu
Is it well with you, O brahmin, in your hermitage—with the beasts and birds, with the trees, and with the creepers, shrubs, hard-barked plants and kinds of grass?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.20
अथवा नैतदुक्तं हि सम्यगस्माभिरादृतैः । भवता सङ्गमो येषां तेषामकुशलं कुतः
athavā naitaduktaṃ hi samyagasmābhirādṛtaiḥ / bhavatā saṅgamo yeṣāṃ teṣāmakuśalaṃ kutaḥ
Or rather this was not rightly said by us, though we meant it respectfully: for those who have your company, whence could there be anything not well?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.21
प्रसादञ्च कुरुष्वात्र ब्रूह्यागमनकारणम् । देवानामिव संसर्गो भवतो ऽभ्युदयो महान् । केनास्मद्भाग्यगुरुण आनीतो दृष्टिगोचरम्
prasādañca kuruṣvātra brūhyāgamanakāraṇam / devānāmiva saṃsargo bhavato 'bhyudayo mahān / kenāsmadbhāgyaguruṇa ānīto dṛṣṭigocaram
"And do us this favour here: tell (us) the reason for your coming. Association with you is like (association) with the gods — a great blessing. By what greatness of our good fortune have you been brought within our sight?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.22
श्रूयतां द्विजशार्दूलाः कारणं येन कन्दरम् । विन्ध्यस्येहागतो रम्यं रेवावारिकणोक्षितम् । सन्देहान् भारते शास्त्रे तान् प्रष्टुं गतवानहम्
śrūyatāṃ dvijaśārdūlāḥ kāraṇaṃ yena kandaram / vindhyasyehāgato ramyaṃ revāvārikaṇokṣitam / sandehān bhārate śāstre tān praṣṭuṃ gatavānaham
"Hear, tigers among the twice-born, the reason for which I have come here to the lovely gorge of the Vindhya, sprinkled with the spray-drops of the Revā: I had gone to ask about certain doubts (I had) concerning the Bhārata treatise."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.23
मार्कण्डेयं महात्मानं पूर्वं भृगुकुलोद्वहम् । तमहं पृष्टवान् प्राप्य सन्देहान् भरतं प्रति
mārkaṇḍeyaṃ mahātmānaṃ pūrvaṃ bhṛgukulodvaham / tamahaṃ pṛṣṭavān prāpya sandehān bharataṃ prati
"Having reached the great-souled Mārkaṇḍeya, foremost bearer of the line of Bhṛgu, I first questioned him about my doubts concerning the Bhārata."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.24
स च पृष्टो मया प्राह सन्ति विन्ध्ये महाचले । द्रोणपुत्रा महात्मानस्ते वक्ष्मन्त्यर्थविस्तरम्
sa ca pṛṣṭo mayā prāha santi vindhye mahācale / droṇaputrā mahātmānaste vakṣmantyarthavistaram
"And he, being questioned by me, said: 'On the great mountain Vindhya there live the great-souled sons of Droṇa; they will expound the matter at length.'"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.25
तद्वाक्ययोदितश्चेममागतो ऽहं महागिरिम् । तच्छृणुध्वमशेषेण श्रुत्वा व्याख्यातुमर्हथ
tadvākyayoditaścemamāgato 'haṃ mahāgirim / tacchṛṇudhvamaśeṣeṇa śrutvā vyākhyātumarhatha
"Urged on by his words, I have come to this great mountain. Hear that (question) in full, and having heard it, please explain it."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.26
विषये सति वक्ष्यामो निर्विशङ्कः शृणुष्व तत् । कथं तन्न वदिष्यामो यदस्मद्बुद्धिगोचरम्
viṣaye sati vakṣyāmo nirviśaṅkaḥ śṛṇuṣva tat / kathaṃ tanna vadiṣyāmo yadasmadbuddhigocaram
"If it is within our range, we shall speak; hear it without hesitation. How should we not say what falls within the range of our understanding?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.27
चतुर्ष्वपि हि वेदेषु धर्मशास्त्रेषु चैव हि । समस्तेषु तथाङ्गेषु यच्चान्यद्वेदसंमितम्
caturṣvapi hi vedeṣu dharmaśāstreṣu caiva hi / samasteṣu tathāṅgeṣu yaccānyadvedasaṃmitam
"For in all four Vedas, and in the treatises on dharma, and likewise in all the auxiliary sciences, and in whatever else is held equal to the Veda —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.28
एतेषु गोचरो ऽस्माकं बुद्धेर्ब्राह्मणसत्तम । प्रतिज्ञान्तु समारोढुं तथापि नहि शक्नुमः
eteṣu gocaro 'smākaṃ buddherbrāhmaṇasattama / pratijñāntu samāroḍhuṃ tathāpi nahi śaknumaḥ
— in these our understanding has its range, best of brahmins; yet we are not able to mount to (such) a claim."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.29
तस्माद्वदस्व विश्रब्धं सन्दिग्धं यद्वि भारते । वक्ष्यामस्तव धर्मज्ञ न चेन्मोहो भविष्यति
tasmādvadasva viśrabdhaṃ sandigdhaṃ yadvi bhārate / vakṣyāmastava dharmajña na cenmoho bhaviṣyati
"Therefore speak confidently whatever is doubtful in the Bhārata; we shall tell it to you, knower of dharma, if no confusion arises."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.30
सन्दिग्धानीह वस्तूनि भारतं प्रति यानि मे । शृणुध्वममलास्तानि श्रुत्वा व्याख्यातुमर्हथ
sandigdhānīha vastūni bhārataṃ prati yāni me / śṛṇudhvamamalāstāni śrutvā vyākhyātumarhatha
"Hear then, spotless ones, those matters concerning the Bhārata that are doubtful to me; and having heard them, please explain them."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.31
कस्मान्मानुषतां प्राप्तो निर्गुणो ऽपि जनार्दनः । वासुदेवो ऽखिलाधारः सर्वकारणकारणम्
kasmānmānuṣatāṃ prāpto nirguṇo 'pi janārdanaḥ / vāsudevo 'khilādhāraḥ sarvakāraṇakāraṇam
"Why did Janārdana attain human condition, though he is without qualities — Vāsudeva, the support of all, the cause of all causes?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.32
कस्माच्च पाण्डुपुत्राणामेका सा द्रुपदात्मजा । पञ्चानां महिषी कृष्णा सुमाहनत्र संशयः
kasmācca pāṇḍuputrāṇāmekā sā drupadātmajā / pañcānāṃ mahiṣī kṛṣṇā sumāhanatra saṃśayaḥ
And why was that one daughter of Drupada, Kṛṣṇā, the queen of the five sons of Pāṇḍu? My doubt about this is very great.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.33
भेषजं ब्रह्महत्याया बलदेवो महाबलः । तीर्थयात्राप्रसङ्गेन कस्माच्चक्रे हलायुधः
bheṣajaṃ brahmahatyāyā baladevo mahābalaḥ / tīrthayātrāprasaṅgena kasmāccakre halāyudhaḥ
Why did the mighty Baladeva, the plough-armed, perform the remedy for brahmin-slaughter in connection with a pilgrimage to the sacred fords?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.34
कथं च द्रौपदेयास्ते ऽकृतदारा महारथाः । पाण्डुनाथा महात्मानो वधमापुरनाथवत्
kathaṃ ca draupadeyāste 'kṛtadārā mahārathāḥ / pāṇḍunāthā mahātmāno vadhamāpuranāthavat
And how did those sons of Draupadī, great chariot-warriors, who had taken no wives, great-souled and having the Pāṇḍavas as their protectors, meet death as though they had no protector?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.35
एतत् सर्वं कथ्यतां मे सन्दिग्धं भारतं प्रति । कृतार्थोहं सुखं येन गच्छेयं निजमाश्रमम्
etat sarvaṃ kathyatāṃ me sandigdhaṃ bhārataṃ prati / kṛtārthohaṃ sukhaṃ yena gaccheyaṃ nijamāśramam
Let all this that is doubtful to me concerning the Bhārata be told to me, so that, my purpose accomplished, I may go happily to my own hermitage."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.36
नमस्कृत्य सुरेशाय विष्णवे प्रभविष्णवे । पुरुषायाप्रमेयाय शाश्वतायाव्ययाय च
namaskṛtya sureśāya viṣṇave prabhaviṣṇave / puruṣāyāprameyāya śāśvatāyāvyayāya ca
Having paid homage to Viṣṇu, the lord of the gods, the mighty one, to the Person, the immeasurable, the eternal and the imperishable,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.37
चतुर्व्यूहात्मने तस्मै त्रिगुणायागुणाय च । वरिष्ठाय गरिष्ठाय वरेष्यायामृताय च
caturvyūhātmane tasmai triguṇāyāguṇāya ca / variṣṭhāya gariṣṭhāya vareṣyāyāmṛtāya ca
to him whose self is the fourfold arrangement (of forms), who has the three qualities and is without qualities, to the most excellent, the most weighty, the most desirable, the immortal,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.38
यस्मादणुतरं नास्ति यस्मान्नास्ति बृहत्तरम् । येन विश्वमिदं व्याप्तमजेन जगदादिना
yasmādaṇutaraṃ nāsti yasmānnāsti bṛhattaram / yena viśvamidaṃ vyāptamajena jagadādinā
than whom there is nothing more minute, than whom there is nothing greater, by whom, the unborn, the beginning of the world, this universe is pervaded,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.39
आविर्भाव-तिरोभाव-दृष्टादृष्ट-विलक्षणम् । वदन्ति यद् सृष्टमिदं तथैवान्ते च संहृतम्
āvirbhāva-tirobhāva-dṛṣṭādṛṣṭa-vilakṣaṇam / vadanti yad sṛṣṭamidaṃ tathaivānte ca saṃhṛtam
by whom, they say, this (universe) — marked by appearance and disappearance, by the seen and the unseen — is created and likewise at the end withdrawn;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 4.40
ब्रह्मणे चादिदेवाय नमस्कृत्य समाधिना । ऋक्सामान्युद्गिरन् वक्त्रैर्यः पुनाति जगत्त्रयम्
brahmaṇe cādidevāya namaskṛtya samādhinā / ṛksāmānyudgiran vaktrairyaḥ punāti jagattrayam
and having paid homage in deep concentration to Brahmā, the primal god, who purifies the three worlds, chanting forth the Ṛk and Sāman verses with his mouths;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.41
प्रणिपत्य तथेशानमेकबाणविनिर्जितैः । यस्यासुरगणैर्यज्ञा विलुप्यन्ते न यज्विनाम्
praṇipatya tatheśānamekabāṇavinirjitaiḥ / yasyāsuragaṇairyajñā vilupyante na yajvinām
And having bowed to Īśāna, by whose hosts of asuras—vanquished by a single arrow—the sacrifices of the sacrificers are (now) no longer destroyed,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.42
प्रवक्ष्यामो मतं कृत्स्नं व्यासस्याद्भुतकर्मणः । येन भारतमुद्दिश्य धर्माद्याः प्रकटीकृताः
pravakṣyāmo mataṃ kṛtsnaṃ vyāsasyādbhutakarmaṇaḥ / yena bhāratamuddiśya dharmādyāḥ prakaṭīkṛtāḥ
we shall set forth in full the doctrine of Vyāsa of wondrous deeds, by which, with reference to the Bhārata, dharma and the rest were made manifest.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.43
आपो नारा इति प्रोक्ता मुनिभिस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः । अयनं तस्य ताः पूर्वं तेन नारायणः स्मृतः
āpo nārā iti proktā munibhistattvadarśibhiḥ / ayanaṃ tasya tāḥ pūrvaṃ tena nārāyaṇaḥ smṛtaḥ
The waters are called 'nārāḥ' by the sages who see the truth; they were formerly his resting-place, therefore he is remembered as Nārāyaṇa.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.44
स देवो भगवान् सर्वं व्याप्य नारायणो विभुः । चतुर्धा संस्थितो ब्रह्मन् सगुणो निर्गुणस्तथा
sa devo bhagavān sarvaṃ vyāpya nārāyaṇo vibhuḥ / caturdhā saṃsthito brahman saguṇo nirguṇastathā
That divine lord Nārāyaṇa, the all-pervading, having pervaded everything, stands fourfold, O brahman, both with qualities and without qualities.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.45
एका मूर्तिरनिर्देश्या शुक्लां पश्यन्ति तां बुधाः । ज्वालामालोपरुद्धाङ्गी निष्ठा सा योगिनां परा
ekā mūrtiranirdeśyā śuklāṃ paśyanti tāṃ budhāḥ / jvālāmāloparuddhāṅgī niṣṭhā sā yogināṃ parā
One form is indefinable; the wise see it as white; its body enclosed by a garland of flames, it is the supreme goal of yogins.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.46
दूरस्था चान्तिकस्था च विज्ञेया सा गुणातिगा । वासुदेवाभिधानासौ निर्ममत्वेन दृश्यते
dūrasthā cāntikasthā ca vijñeyā sā guṇātigā / vāsudevābhidhānāsau nirmamatvena dṛśyate
It is to be known as standing far off and standing near, and as beyond the guṇas; that one, named Vāsudeva, is seen through freedom from the sense of 'mine'.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.47
रूपवर्णादयस्तस्या न भावाः कल्पनामयाः । अस्त्येव सा सदा शुद्धा सुप्रतिष्ठैकरूपिणी
rūpavarṇādayastasyā na bhāvāḥ kalpanāmayāḥ / astyeva sā sadā śuddhā supratiṣṭhaikarūpiṇī
Form, colour and the rest are not its states, (which are) products of imagination; it simply exists, ever pure, well-established, of a single form.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.48
द्वितीया पृथिवीं मूद्र्घ्ना शेषाख्या धारयत्यधः । तामसी सा समाख्याता तिर्यक्त्वं समुपाश्रिता
dvitīyā pṛthivīṃ mūdrghnā śeṣākhyā dhārayatyadhaḥ / tāmasī sā samākhyātā tiryaktvaṃ samupāśritā
The second, named Śeṣa, supports the earth below with its head; it is declared to be tamasic, having taken on the animal condition.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.49
तृतीया कर्म कुरुते प्रजापालनतत्परा । सत्त्वोद्रिक्ता तु सा ज्ञेया धर्मसंस्थानकारिणी
tṛtīyā karma kurute prajāpālanatatparā / sattvodriktā tu sā jñeyā dharmasaṃsthānakāriṇī
The third performs action, being intent on protecting creatures; it is to be known as abounding in sattva, effecting the establishment of dharma.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.50
चतुर्थो जलमध्यस्था शेते पन्नगतल्पगा । रजस्तस्या गुणः सर्गं सा करोति सदैव हि
caturtho jalamadhyasthā śete pannagatalpagā / rajastasyā guṇaḥ sargaṃ sā karoti sadaiva hi
The fourth, situated in the midst of the waters, lies on the serpent-couch; rajas is its quality, and it always performs creation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.51
या तृतीया हरेर्मूर्तिः प्रजापालनतत्परा । सा तु धर्मव्यवस्थानं करोति नियतं भुवि
yā tṛtīyā harermūrtiḥ prajāpālanatatparā / sā tu dharmavyavasthānaṃ karoti niyataṃ bhuvi
That third form of Hari, intent on protecting creatures, brings about the fixed establishment of dharma on earth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.52
प्रोद्धूतानसुरान् हन्ति धर्मविच्छित्तिकारिणः । पाति देवान् सतश्चान्यान् धर्मरक्षापरायणान्
proddhūtānasurān hanti dharmavicchittikāriṇaḥ / pāti devān sataścānyān dharmarakṣāparāyaṇān
It slays the risen asuras who cause the disruption of dharma, and protects the gods and other good people devoted to the guarding of dharma.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.53
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति जैमिने । अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजत्यसौ
yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānirbhavati jaimine / abhyutthānamadharmasya tadātmānaṃ sṛjatyasau
For whenever there is a decline of dharma, O Jaimini, and a rising up of adharma, then he brings forth himself.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.54
भूत्वा पुरा वराहेण तुण्डेनापो निरस्य च । एकया दंष्ट्रयोत्खाता नलिनीव वसुन्धरा
bhūtvā purā varāheṇa tuṇḍenāpo nirasya ca / ekayā daṃṣṭrayotkhātā nalinīva vasundharā
Formerly, having become a boar and having thrust the waters aside with his snout, the earth was lifted up by a single tusk, like a lotus.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.55
कृत्वा नृसिंहरूपञ्च हिरण्यकशिपुर्हतः । विप्रचित्तिमुखाश्चान्ये दानवा विनिपातिताः
kṛtvā nṛsiṃharūpañca hiraṇyakaśipurhataḥ / vipracittimukhāścānye dānavā vinipātitāḥ
And having taken the man-lion form, Hiraṇyakaśipu was slain, and other dānavas headed by Vipracitti were struck down.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.56
वामनादींस्तथैवान्यान् न संख्यातुमिहोत्सहे । अवताराश्च तस्येह माथुरः साम्प्रतं त्वयम्
vāmanādīṃstathaivānyān na saṃkhyātumihotsahe / avatārāśca tasyeha māthuraḥ sāmprataṃ tvayam
The Dwarf and the other (incarnations) likewise I am not able to enumerate here; and of his incarnations here, the present one is this one of Mathurā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.57
इति सा सात्त्विकी मूर्तिरवतारान् करोति वै । प्रद्युम्नेति च सा ख्याता रक्षाकर्मण्यवस्थिता
iti sā sāttvikī mūrtiravatārān karoti vai / pradyumneti ca sā khyātā rakṣākarmaṇyavasthitā
Thus that sattvic form makes the incarnations; and it is known as Pradyumna, established in the work of protection.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.58
देवत्वे ऽथ मनुष्यत्वे तिर्यग्योनौ च संस्थिता । गृह्णाति तत्स्वभावं च वासुदेवेच्छया सदा
devatve 'tha manuṣyatve tiryagyonau ca saṃsthitā / gṛhṇāti tatsvabhāvaṃ ca vāsudevecchayā sadā
Abiding in godhood, or in manhood, or in the animal womb, it takes on the nature of that (state), always by the will of Vāsudeva.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 4.59
इत्येतत् ते समाख्यातं कृतकृत्यो ऽपि यत्प्रभुः । मानुषत्वं गतो विष्णुः शृणुष्वास्योत्तरं पुनः
ityetat te samākhyātaṃ kṛtakṛtyo 'pi yatprabhuḥ / mānuṣatvaṃ gato viṣṇuḥ śṛṇuṣvāsyottaraṃ punaḥ
Thus this has been fully told to you, how the Lord Viṣṇu, though he has accomplished all that is to be done, went to the human condition; hear now further what follows from this.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition