Markandeya Purana — Chapter 40
MkP 40.1
उपसर्गाः प्रवर्तन्ते दृष्टे ह्यात्मनि योगिनः । ये तांस्ते संप्रवक्ष्यामि समासेन निबोध मे
upasargāḥ pravartante dṛṣṭe hyātmani yoginaḥ / ye tāṃste saṃpravakṣyāmi samāsena nibodha me
When the Self has been seen, obstacles arise for the yogin. Which they are I shall declare to you: learn them from me in brief.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.2
काम्याः क्रियास्तथा कामान् मानुषानभिवाञ्छति । स्त्रियो दानफलं विद्यां मायां कुप्यं धनं दिवम्
kāmyāḥ kriyāstathā kāmān mānuṣānabhivāñchati / striyo dānaphalaṃ vidyāṃ māyāṃ kupyaṃ dhanaṃ divam
He desires rites done for a purpose, and human pleasures: women, the fruit of gifts, learning, magic, wrought metal, wealth, heaven,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 40.3
देवत्वममरेशत्वं रसायनचयाः क्रियाः । मरुत्प्रपतनं यज्ञं जलग्न्यावेशनन्तथा
devatvamamareśatvaṃ rasāyanacayāḥ kriyāḥ / marutprapatanaṃ yajñaṃ jalagnyāveśanantathā
godhood, lordship over the immortals, stores of elixirs, ritual acts, flight upon the wind, sacrifice, and entering water and fire,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 40.4
श्राद्धानां सर्वदानानां फलानि नियमांस्तथा । तथोपवासात् पूर्ताच्च देवताभ्यर्च्चनादपि
śrāddhānāṃ sarvadānānāṃ phalāni niyamāṃstathā / tathopavāsāt pūrtācca devatābhyarccanādapi
the fruits of śrāddhas and of all gifts, and the observances, and (the fruits) from fasting, from works of public benefit, and from the worship of deities.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.5
तेभ्यस्तेभ्यश्च कर्मभ्य उपसृष्टो ऽभिवाञ्छति । चित्तमित्थं वर्तमानं यत्नाद्योगी निवर्तयेत्
tebhyastebhyaśca karmabhya upasṛṣṭo 'bhivāñchati / cittamitthaṃ vartamānaṃ yatnādyogī nivartayet
Assailed (by these obstacles), he longs (for the fruits) from each of those acts. The yogin should with effort turn back the mind that behaves in this way.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.6
ब्रह्मसङ्गिमनः कुर्वन्नुपसर्गात् प्रमुच्यते । उपसर्गैर्जितैरेभिरुपसर्गास्ततः पुनः
brahmasaṅgimanaḥ kurvannupasargāt pramucyate / upasargairjitairebhirupasargāstataḥ punaḥ
Making his mind cling to Brahman, he is released from the affliction (upasarga). But when these afflictions have been conquered, then again afflictions
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.7
योगिनः संप्रवर्तन्ते सात्त्वराजसतामसाः । प्रातिभिः श्रावणो दैवो भ्रमावत्तौ तथापरौ
yoginaḥ saṃpravartante sāttvarājasatāmasāḥ / prātibhiḥ śrāvaṇo daivo bhramāvattau tathāparau
arise for the yogin, of sattva, rajas and tamas: the intuitive (prātibha), the auditory (śrāvaṇa), the divine (daiva), and the other two, delusion (bhrama) and the whirl (āvarta).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.8
पञ्चैते योगिनां योगविघ्राय कटुकोदयाः । वेदार्थाः काव्यशास्त्रार्था विद्याशिल्पान्यशेषतः
pañcaite yogināṃ yogavighrāya kaṭukodayāḥ / vedārthāḥ kāvyaśāstrārthā vidyāśilpānyaśeṣataḥ
These five, of bitter issue, arise to obstruct the yoga of yogins. The meanings of the Vedas, the meanings of poetry and the treatises, the sciences and the crafts without remainder
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.9
प्रतिभान्ति यदस्येति प्रातिभः स तु योगिनः । शब्दार्थानाखिलान् वेत्ति शब्दं गृह्णाति चैव यत्
pratibhānti yadasyeti prātibhaḥ sa tu yoginaḥ / śabdārthānākhilān vetti śabdaṃ gṛhṇāti caiva yat
shine forth (pratibhānti) to him — that is the yogin's prātibha. And that by which he knows all words and their meanings, and catches a sound
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.10
योजनानां सहस्रेभ्यः श्रावणः सो ऽभिधीयते । ममन्ताद्वीक्षते चाष्टौ स यदा देवतोपमः
yojanānāṃ sahasrebhyaḥ śrāvaṇaḥ so 'bhidhīyate / mamantādvīkṣate cāṣṭau sa yadā devatopamaḥ
from thousands of yojanas away — that is called the śrāvaṇa. And when he looks upon the eight (quarters?) all around, being like a god,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 40.11
उपसर्गन्तमप्याहुर्दैवमुन्मत्तवद् बुधाः । भ्राम्यते यन्निरालम्बं मनो दोषेण योगिनः
upasargantamapyāhurdaivamunmattavad budhāḥ / bhrāmyate yannirālambaṃ mano doṣeṇa yoginaḥ
that too the wise call the divine (daiva) affliction, resembling madness. When the yogin's mind, without support, is made to wander through the fault
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.12
समस्ताचारविभ्रांशाद् भ्रमः स परिकीर्तितः । आवर्त इव तोयस्य ज्ञानावर्तो यदाकुलः
samastācāravibhrāṃśād bhramaḥ sa parikīrtitaḥ / āvarta iva toyasya jñānāvarto yadākulaḥ
of a total collapse of right conduct, that is proclaimed to be delusion (bhrama). When, like a whirlpool in water, a whirl of knowledge, turbid,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.13
नाशयेच्चित्तमावर्त उपसर्गः स उच्यते । एतैर्नाशितयोगास्तु सकला देवयोनयः
nāśayeccittamāvarta upasargaḥ sa ucyate / etairnāśitayogāstu sakalā devayonayaḥ
destroys the mind, that whirl (āvarta) is called an affliction. All the classes of divine beings, their yoga destroyed by these,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.14
उपसर्गैर्महाघोरैरावर्तन्ते पुनः पुनः । प्रावृत्य कम्बलं शुक्लं योगी तस्मान्मनोमयम्
upasargairmahāghorairāvartante punaḥ punaḥ / prāvṛtya kambalaṃ śuklaṃ yogī tasmānmanomayam
turn back again and again through these most terrible afflictions. Therefore the yogin, wrapping himself in the white blanket made of mind,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.15
चिन्तयेत् परमं ब्रह्म कृत्वा तत्प्रवणं मनः । योगयुक्तः सदा योगी लघ्वाहारो जितेन्द्रियः
cintayet paramaṃ brahma kṛtvā tatpravaṇaṃ manaḥ / yogayuktaḥ sadā yogī laghvāhāro jitendriyaḥ
should meditate on the supreme Brahman, having made his mind inclined toward it — the yogin ever joined in yoga, eating lightly, his senses conquered.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.16
सूक्ष्मास्तु धारणाः सप्त भूराद्या मूर्घ्नि धारयेत् । धरित्रीं धारयेद्योगी तत् सौक्ष्म्यं प्रतिपद्यते
sūkṣmāstu dhāraṇāḥ sapta bhūrādyā mūrghni dhārayet / dharitrīṃ dhārayedyogī tat saukṣmyaṃ pratipadyate
The subtle concentrations are seven, beginning with earth; he should hold them in the head. The yogin should hold the earth, (and) he attains its subtlety.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.17
आत्मानं मन्यते चोर्व्ॐ तद्गन्धञ्च जहाति सः । यथैवाप्सु रसं सूक्ष्मं तद्वद्रूपञ्च तेजसि
ātmānaṃ manyate corvoṃ tadgandhañca jahāti saḥ / yathaivāpsu rasaṃ sūkṣmaṃ tadvadrūpañca tejasi
And he thinks himself to be the earth, and he lets go of its smell. Just as taste is subtle in the waters, so too is form in fire,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.18
स्पर्शं वायो तथा तद्वद्विभ्रतस्तस्य धारणाम् । व्योम्रः सूक्ष्मां प्रवृत्तिञ्च शब्दं तद्वज्जहाति सः
sparśaṃ vāyo tathā tadvadvibhratastasya dhāraṇām / vyomraḥ sūkṣmāṃ pravṛttiñca śabdaṃ tadvajjahāti saḥ
and touch likewise in wind — as he holds the concentration on that, and the subtle activity of space, he likewise lets go of sound.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 40.19
मनसा सर्वभूतानां मनस्याविशते यदा । मानसीं धारणां बिभ्रन्मनः सूक्ष्मञ्च जायते
manasā sarvabhūtānāṃ manasyāviśate yadā / mānasīṃ dhāraṇāṃ bibhranmanaḥ sūkṣmañca jāyate
When by his mind he enters into the mind of all beings, bearing the mental concentration, his mind too becomes subtle.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.20
तद्वद् बुद्धिमशेषाणां सत्त्वानामेत्य योगवित् । परित्यजति सम्प्राप्य बुद्धिसौक्ष्म्यमनुत्तमम्
tadvad buddhimaśeṣāṇāṃ sattvānāmetya yogavit / parityajati samprāpya buddhisaukṣmyamanuttamam
So too the knower of yoga, having reached the intellect of all creatures, abandons it, having attained the unsurpassed subtlety of intellect.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.21
परित्यजति सूक्ष्माणि सप्त त्वेतानि योगवित् । सम्यग्विज्ञाय यो ऽलर्क ! तस्यावृत्तिर्न विद्यते
parityajati sūkṣmāṇi sapta tvetāni yogavit / samyagvijñāya yo 'larka ! tasyāvṛttirna vidyate
The knower of yoga abandons these seven subtle (states); and he who has rightly understood them, O Alarka, has no return.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.22
एतासां धारणानान्तु सप्तानां सौक्ष्म्यमात्मवान् । दृष्ट्वा दृष्ट्वा ततः सिद्धिं त्यक्त्वा त्यक्त्वा परां व्रजेत्
etāsāṃ dhāraṇānāntu saptānāṃ saukṣmyamātmavān / dṛṣṭvā dṛṣṭvā tataḥ siddhiṃ tyaktvā tyaktvā parāṃ vrajet
Seeing again and again the subtlety of these seven concentrations, the self-controlled one, abandoning again and again the attainment (siddhi) that comes from it, would go to the supreme.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.23
यस्मिन् यस्मिंश्च कुरुते भूते रागं महीपते । तस्मिंस्तस्मिन् समासक्तिं संप्राप्य स विनश्यति
yasmin yasmiṃśca kurute bhūte rāgaṃ mahīpate / tasmiṃstasmin samāsaktiṃ saṃprāpya sa vinaśyati
And in whatever element he forms a passion, O lord of the earth, having come to be attached to that very one, he perishes.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.24
तस्माद्विदित्वा सूक्ष्माणि संसक्तानि परस्परम् । परित्यजति यो देही स परं प्राप्नुयात् पदम्
tasmādviditvā sūkṣmāṇi saṃsaktāni parasparam / parityajati yo dehī sa paraṃ prāpnuyāt padam
Therefore the embodied one who, knowing the subtle (principles) to be bound to one another, abandons them, would attain the supreme state.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.25
एतान्येव तु सन्धाय सप्त सूक्ष्माणि पार्थिव ! । भूतादीनां विरागो ऽत्र सद्भावज्ञस्य मुक्तये
etānyeva tu sandhāya sapta sūkṣmāṇi pārthiva ! / bhūtādīnāṃ virāgo 'tra sadbhāvajñasya muktaye
But having fixed on precisely these seven subtle (principles), O king, dispassion toward the elements and the rest is here (the means) to the liberation of one who knows true being.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 40.26
गन्धादिषु समासक्तिं सम्प्राप्य स विनश्यति । पुनरावर्तते भूप ! स ब्रह्मापरमानुषम्
gandhādiṣu samāsaktiṃ samprāpya sa vinaśyati / punarāvartate bhūpa ! sa brahmāparamānuṣam
Having fallen into attachment to smells and the rest, he perishes, and returns again, O king — (to the state) of Brahmā, or (to) what is not highest, the human (condition).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 40.27
सप्तैता धारणा योगी समतीत्य यदिच्छति । तस्मिंस्तस्मिंल्लयं सूक्ष्मे भूते याति नरेश्वर !
saptaitā dhāraṇā yogī samatītya yadicchati / tasmiṃstasmiṃllayaṃ sūkṣme bhūte yāti nareśvara !
Having passed wholly beyond these seven fixations (of the mind), the yogin, whatever he wishes, goes to dissolution in this or that subtle element, O lord of men.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.28
देवानामसुराणां वा गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम् । देहेषु लयमायाति सङ्गं नाप्रोति च क्वचित्
devānāmasurāṇāṃ vā gandharvoragarakṣasām / deheṣu layamāyāti saṅgaṃ nāproti ca kvacit
He comes to dissolution in the bodies of gods, or of asuras, gandharvas, serpents and rākṣasas, and nowhere does he acquire attachment.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.29
अणिमा लघिमा चैव महिमा प्राप्तिरेव च । प्राकाम्यं च तथेशित्वं वशित्वञ्च तथापरम्
aṇimā laghimā caiva mahimā prāptireva ca / prākāmyaṃ ca tatheśitvaṃ vaśitvañca tathāparam
Minuteness (aṇimā) and lightness (laghimā), greatness (mahimā) and attainment (prāpti), and irresistible will (prākāmya), and likewise lordship (īśitva), and further the power of control (vaśitva),
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.30
यत्रकामावसायित्वं गुणानेतांस्तथैश्वरान् । प्राप्नोत्यष्टौ नरव्याघ्र ! परं निर्वाणसूचकान्
yatrakāmāvasāyitvaṃ guṇānetāṃstathaiśvarān / prāpnotyaṣṭau naravyāghra ! paraṃ nirvāṇasūcakān
and the power of realizing one's will wherever (it is directed) — these eight qualities of lordship, O tiger among men, he obtains, (qualities) that point to the supreme extinction.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.31
सूक्ष्मात् सूक्ष्मतमो ऽणीयान् शीघ्रत्वं लघिमा गुणः । महिमाशेषपूज्यत्वात् प्राप्तिर्नाप्राप्यमस्य यत्
sūkṣmāt sūkṣmatamo 'ṇīyān śīghratvaṃ laghimā guṇaḥ / mahimāśeṣapūjyatvāt prāptirnāprāpyamasya yat
Being more minute than the minute, he is exceedingly small (aṇimā); swiftness is the quality of lightness (laghimā); greatness (mahimā) is from his being worthy of honour by all; attainment (prāpti) is because there is nothing unattainable for him.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.32
प्राकाम्यमस्य व्यापित्वादीशित्वञ्चेश्वरो यतः । वखित्वाद्वशिमा नाम योगिनः सप्तमो गुणः
prākāmyamasya vyāpitvādīśitvañceśvaro yataḥ / vakhitvādvaśimā nāma yoginaḥ saptamo guṇaḥ
His irresistible will (prākāmya) is from his pervasiveness, and lordship (īśitva) because he is a lord; from being in control comes what is called vaśimā, the seventh quality of the yogin.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.33
यत्रेच्छास्थानमप्युक्तं यत्रकामावसायिता । ऐश्वर्यकारणैरेभिर्योगिनः प्रोक्तमष्टधा
yatrecchāsthānamapyuktaṃ yatrakāmāvasāyitā / aiśvaryakāraṇairebhiryoginaḥ proktamaṣṭadhā
Where even the placing of his wish is declared (to be effective), that is the realizing of his will wherever (he pleases); by these causes of lordship (the power) of the yogin is declared to be eightfold.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 40.34
मुक्तिसंसूचकं भूप ! परं निर्वाणमात्मनः । ततो न जायते नैव वर्धते न विनश्यति
muktisaṃsūcakaṃ bhūpa ! paraṃ nirvāṇamātmanaḥ / tato na jāyate naiva vardhate na vinaśyati
It indicates release, O king — the supreme extinction of the self; thereafter he is not born, nor does he grow, nor does he perish;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.35
नापि क्षयमवाप्रोति परिणामं न गच्छति । छेदं क्लेदं तथा दाहं शोषं भूरादितो न च
nāpi kṣayamavāproti pariṇāmaṃ na gacchati / chedaṃ kledaṃ tathā dāhaṃ śoṣaṃ bhūrādito na ca
nor does he undergo wasting away, nor does he go to transformation; nor (does he suffer) cutting, wetting, burning, or drying up from earth and the rest.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.36
भूतवर्गादवाप्नोति शब्दाद्यैः ह्रियते न च । न चास्य सन्ति शब्दाद्यास्तद्भोक्ता तैर्न युज्यते
bhūtavargādavāpnoti śabdādyaiḥ hriyate na ca / na cāsya santi śabdādyāstadbhoktā tairna yujyate
He obtains nothing from the host of elements, nor is he carried off by sounds and the rest; nor do sounds and the rest exist for him, and (though) their enjoyer, he is not joined with them.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 40.37
यथाहि कनकं खण्डमपद्रव्यवदग्निना । दग्धदोषं द्वितीयेन खण्डेनैक्यं व्रजेन्नृप
yathāhi kanakaṃ khaṇḍamapadravyavadagninā / dagdhadoṣaṃ dvitīyena khaṇḍenaikyaṃ vrajennṛpa
For just as a piece of gold whose impurity has been burned away by fire, as with a base substance, becomes one with a second piece, O king,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 40.38
न विशेषमवाप्रोति तद्वद्योगाग्निना यतिः । निर्दग्धदोषस्तेनैक्यं प्रयाति ब्रह्मणा सह
na viśeṣamavāproti tadvadyogāgninā yatiḥ / nirdagdhadoṣastenaikyaṃ prayāti brahmaṇā saha
and no distinction (between them) is found — so the ascetic, his impurity burned away by the fire of yoga, attains oneness with that, with brahman.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.39
यथाग्निरग्नौ संक्षिप्तः समानत्वमनुव्रजेत् । तदाख्यस्तन्मयो भूतो न गृह्येत विशेषतः
yathāgniragnau saṃkṣiptaḥ samānatvamanuvrajet / tadākhyastanmayo bhūto na gṛhyeta viśeṣataḥ
Just as fire thrown into fire would become identical (with it), and, called by its name and made of it, would not be grasped as distinct,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.40
परेण ब्रह्मणा तद्वत् प्राप्यैक्यं दग्धकिल्विषः । योगी याति पृथग्भावं न कदाचिन्महीपते !
pareṇa brahmaṇā tadvat prāpyaikyaṃ dagdhakilviṣaḥ / yogī yāti pṛthagbhāvaṃ na kadācinmahīpate !
so the yogin, his stain burned away, having attained oneness with the supreme brahman, never goes to a separate existence, O lord of the earth.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 40.41
यथा जलं जलेनैक्यं निक्षिप्तमुपगच्छति । तथात्मा साम्यमभ्येति योगिनः परमात्मनि
yathā jalaṃ jalenaikyaṃ nikṣiptamupagacchati / tathātmā sāmyamabhyeti yoginaḥ paramātmani
Just as water poured in comes to oneness with water, so the self of the yogin comes to sameness in the supreme Self.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition