Markandeya Purana — Chapter 48

MkP 48.1

समासात् कथिता सृष्टिः सम्यग् भगवता मम । देवादीनां भवं ब्रह्मन् विस्तरात्तु ब्रवीहि मे

samāsāt kathitā sṛṣṭiḥ samyag bhagavatā mama / devādīnāṃ bhavaṃ brahman vistarāttu bravīhi me

The creation has been rightly told to me in brief by the Lord; but tell me at length, O brahman, the coming into being of the gods and the rest.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.2

कुशलाकुशलैर्ब्रह्मन् ! भाविता पूर्वकमर्मभिः । ख्याता तथा ह्यनिर्मुक्ताः प्रलये ह्यु पसंहृताः

kuśalākuśalairbrahman ! bhāvitā pūrvakamarmabhiḥ / khyātā tathā hyanirmuktāḥ pralaye hyu pasaṃhṛtāḥ

O brahman, (the creatures) were brought into being by their former deeds, good and bad; thus they are declared to be unreleased, being withdrawn (into the source) at the dissolution.

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

MkP 48.3

देवाद्याः स्थावरान्ताश्च प्रजा ब्रह्मंश्चतुर्विधाः । ब्रह्मणः कुर्वतः सृष्टिं जज्ञिरे मानसास्तदा

devādyāḥ sthāvarāntāśca prajā brahmaṃścaturvidhāḥ / brahmaṇaḥ kurvataḥ sṛṣṭiṃ jajñire mānasāstadā

The creatures, O brahman, beginning with the gods and ending with immovable things, are of four kinds; while Brahmā was performing the creation, the mind-born ones were then produced.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.4

ततो देवासुरान् पितॄन् मानुषांश्च चतुष्टयम् । सिसृक्षुरम्भांस्येतानि स्वमात्मानमयूयुजत्

tato devāsurān pitṝn mānuṣāṃśca catuṣṭayam / sisṛkṣurambhāṃsyetāni svamātmānamayūyujat

Then, wishing to create the fourfold group — gods, asuras, ancestors and men — he joined his own self to these waters.

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

MkP 48.5

युक्तात्मनस्तमोमात्रा उद्रिक्ताभूत् प्रजापतेः । सिसृक्षोर्जघनात् पूर्वमसुरा जज्ञिरे ततः

yuktātmanastamomātrā udriktābhūt prajāpateḥ / sisṛkṣorjaghanāt pūrvamasurā jajñire tataḥ

In him whose self was thus concentrated, in Prajāpati desiring to create, the portion of darkness became predominant; thereupon the asuras were born first from his hip.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.6

उत्ससर्ज ततस्तान्तु तमोमात्रात्मिकां तनुम् । सापविद्धा तनुस्तेन सद्यो रात्रिरजायत

utsasarja tatastāntu tamomātrātmikāṃ tanum / sāpaviddhā tanustena sadyo rātrirajāyata

Then he cast off that body, which consisted of the portion of darkness; and that body, discarded by him, at once became night.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.7

अन्यां तनुमुपादाय सिसृक्षुः प्रीतिमाप सः । सत्त्वोद्रेकास्ततो देवा मुखतस्तस्य जज्ञिरे

anyāṃ tanumupādāya sisṛkṣuḥ prītimāpa saḥ / sattvodrekāstato devā mukhatastasya jajñire

Taking up another body, and wishing to create, he attained delight; then the gods, having a predominance of sattva, were born from his mouth.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.8

उत्ससर्ज च भूतेशस्तनुं तामप्यसौ विभुः । सा चापविद्धा दिवसं सत्त्वप्रायमजायत्

utsasarja ca bhūteśastanuṃ tāmapyasau vibhuḥ / sā cāpaviddhā divasaṃ sattvaprāyamajāyat

And that lord of beings, the mighty one, cast off that body too; and it, being discarded, became the day, in which sattva predominates.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.9

सत्त्वमात्रात्मिकामेव ततो ऽन्यां जगृहे तनुम् । पितृवन्मन्यमानस्य पितरस्तस्य जज्ञिरे

sattvamātrātmikāmeva tato 'nyāṃ jagṛhe tanum / pitṛvanmanyamānasya pitarastasya jajñire

Then he took another body, one consisting of sattva alone; and as he regarded himself as a father, the Fathers (Pitṛs) were born to him.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.10

सृष्ट्वा पितॄनुत्ससर्ज तनुं तामपि स प्रभुः । सा चोत्सृष्टाभवत् सन्ध्या दिवननक्तान्तरस्थिता

sṛṣṭvā pitṝnutsasarja tanuṃ tāmapi sa prabhuḥ / sā cotsṛṣṭābhavat sandhyā divananaktāntarasthitā

Having created the Fathers, that lord cast off that body too; and when cast off, it became twilight, which stands between day and night.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.11

रजोमात्रात्मिकामन्यां तनुं भेजे ऽथ स प्रभुः । ततो मनुष्याः सम्भूता रजोमात्रासमुद्भवाः

rajomātrātmikāmanyāṃ tanuṃ bheje 'tha sa prabhuḥ / tato manuṣyāḥ sambhūtā rajomātrāsamudbhavāḥ

Then that lord assumed another body, consisting of rajas alone; from it human beings came into being, arisen from the rajas-element.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.12

सृष्ट्वा मनुष्यान् स विभुरुत्ससर्ज तनुं ततः । ज्योत्स्ना समभवत् सा च नक्तान्ते ऽहर्मुखे च या

sṛṣṭvā manuṣyān sa vibhurutsasarja tanuṃ tataḥ / jyotsnā samabhavat sā ca naktānte 'harmukhe ca yā

Having created humans, the lord then cast off that body; and it became the moonlight, which is at the end of night and at the opening of day.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.13

इत्येतास्तनवस्तस्य देवदेवस्य धीमतः । ख्याता रात्र्यहनी चैव सन्ध्या ज्योत्स्ना च वै द्विज

ityetāstanavastasya devadevasya dhīmataḥ / khyātā rātryahanī caiva sandhyā jyotsnā ca vai dvija

Thus these are the bodies of that wise god of gods: they are known as night and day, and twilight and moonlight, O twice-born one.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.14

ज्योत्स्तना सन्ध्या तथैवाह---सत्त्वमात्रात्मकं त्रयम् । तमोमात्रात्मिका रात्रिः सा वै तस्मात् त्रियामिका

jyotstanā sandhyā tathaivāha---sattvamātrātmakaṃ trayam / tamomātrātmikā rātriḥ sā vai tasmāt triyāmikā

Moonlight, twilight and likewise day — that triad consists of sattva alone; night consists of tamas alone, and it is therefore of three watches.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.15

तस्माद् देवा दिवा रात्रावसुरास्तु बलान्विताः । ज्योत्स्नागमे च मनुजाः सन्ध्यायां पितरस्तथा

tasmād devā divā rātrāvasurāstu balānvitāḥ / jyotsnāgame ca manujāḥ sandhyāyāṃ pitarastathā

Therefore the gods by day, but the asuras by night, are endowed with strength; and men at the coming of moonlight, and likewise the Fathers at twilight,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.16

भवन्ति बलिनो ऽधृष्या विपक्षाणां न संशयः । तद्विपर्ययमासाद्य प्रयान्ति च विपर्ययम्

bhavanti balino 'dhṛṣyā vipakṣāṇāṃ na saṃśayaḥ / tadviparyayamāsādya prayānti ca viparyayam

become strong and unassailable by their opponents — there is no doubt of it; and coming upon the reverse of that (time), they pass into the reverse (condition).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.17

ज्योत्स्नो रात्र्यहनी सन्ध्या चत्वार्येतानि वै प्रभोः । ब्रह्मणस्तु शरीराणि त्रिगुणोपश्रितानि तु

jyotsno rātryahanī sandhyā catvāryetāni vai prabhoḥ / brahmaṇastu śarīrāṇi triguṇopaśritāni tu

Moonlight, night, day, twilight — these four indeed are the bodies of the lord Brahmā, and they rest upon the three qualities.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.18

चत्वार्येतान्यथोत्पाद्य तनुमन्यां प्रजापतिः । रजस्तमोमयीं रात्रौ जगृहे क्षुत्तृडन्वितः

catvāryetānyathotpādya tanumanyāṃ prajāpatiḥ / rajastamomayīṃ rātrau jagṛhe kṣuttṛḍanvitaḥ

Having brought forth these four, Prajāpati then took another body, made of rajas and tamas, by night, and was possessed of hunger and thirst.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.19

तदन्धकारे क्षुत्क्षामानसृजद् भगवानजः । विरूपान् श्मश्रुलानत्तुमारब्धास्ते च तां तनुम्

tadandhakāre kṣutkṣāmānasṛjad bhagavānajaḥ / virūpān śmaśrulānattumārabdhāste ca tāṃ tanum

In that darkness the unborn Lord created (beings) gaunt with hunger, misshapen and bearded; and they set about eating that body.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.20

रक्षाम इति तेभ्यो ऽन्ये य ऊचुस्ते तु राक्षसाः । खादाम इति ये चोचुस्ते यक्षा यक्षणात् द्विज

rakṣāma iti tebhyo 'nye ya ūcuste tu rākṣasāḥ / khādāma iti ye cocuste yakṣā yakṣaṇāt dvija

Those among them who said "Let us guard it!" are the Rākṣasas; and those who said "Let us eat it!" are the Yakṣas, from 'eating' (yakṣaṇa), O twice-born one.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.21

तान् दृष्ट्वा ह्यप्रियेणास्य केशाः शीर्यन्त वेधसः । समारोहणहीनाश्च शिरसो ब्रह्मणस्तु ते

tān dṛṣṭvā hyapriyeṇāsya keśāḥ śīryanta vedhasaḥ / samārohaṇahīnāśca śiraso brahmaṇastu te

On seeing them, from displeasure the hairs of the creator fell away; and those (hairs), unable to climb back onto Brahmā's head,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.22

सर्पणात्ते ऽभवन् सर्पा हीनत्वादहयः स्मृताः । सर्पान् दृष्ट्वा ततः क्रोधात् क्रोधात्मानो विनिर्ममे

sarpaṇātte 'bhavan sarpā hīnatvādahayaḥ smṛtāḥ / sarpān dṛṣṭvā tataḥ krodhāt krodhātmāno vinirmame

became serpents (sarpa) from their creeping (sarpaṇa), and are called ahi from their having fallen away (hīnatva). Then, on seeing the serpents, out of anger he fashioned beings whose very nature was wrath.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.23

वर्णेन कपिलेनोग्रास्ते भूताः पिशिताशनाः । ध्यायतो गां ततस्तस्य गन्धर्वा जज्ञिरे सुताः

varṇena kapilenogrāste bhūtāḥ piśitāśanāḥ / dhyāyato gāṃ tatastasya gandharvā jajñire sutāḥ

Tawny in colour and fierce, those beings were eaters of flesh. Then, as he was meditating on speech, Gandharvas were born as his sons.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.24

जज्ञिरे पिबतो वाचं गन्धर्वास्तेन ते स्मृताः । अष्टास्वेतासु सृष्टासु देवयोनिषु स प्रभुः

jajñire pibato vācaṃ gandharvāstena te smṛtāḥ / aṣṭāsvetāsu sṛṣṭāsu devayoniṣu sa prabhuḥ

They were born while he was drinking in speech, and therefore they are called Gandharvas. When these eight classes of divine beings had been created, that lord

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.25

ततः स्वदेहतो ऽन्यानि वयांसि पशवो ऽसृजत् । मुखतो ऽजाः ससर्जाथ वक्षसश्चावयो ऽसृजत्

tataḥ svadehato 'nyāni vayāṃsi paśavo 'sṛjat / mukhato 'jāḥ sasarjātha vakṣasaścāvayo 'sṛjat

then created from his own body other things: birds and cattle; from his mouth he brought forth goats, and from his breast he created sheep.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.26

गावश्चैवोदराद् ब्रह्मा पार्श्वाभ्याञ्च विनिर्ममे । पद्भ्याञ्चाश्वान् स मातङ्गान् रासबान् शशकान् मृगान्

gāvaścaivodarād brahmā pārśvābhyāñca vinirmame / padbhyāñcāśvān sa mātaṅgān rāsabān śaśakān mṛgān

And cows Brahmā formed from his belly, and from his two flanks (other animals); and from his feet horses, elephants, asses, hares, deer,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.27

उष्ट्रानश्वतरांश्चैव नानारूपाश्च जातयः । ओषध्यः फलमूलिन्यो रोमभ्यस्तस्य जज्ञिरे

uṣṭrānaśvatarāṃścaiva nānārūpāśca jātayaḥ / oṣadhyaḥ phalamūlinyo romabhyastasya jajñire

camels and mules, and species of many forms; and from his hairs were born the herbs that bear fruits and roots.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.28

एवं पश्वोषधीः सृष्ट्वा ह्ययजच्चाध्वरे विभुः । तस्मादादौ तु कल्पस्य त्रेतायुगमुखे तदा

evaṃ paśvoṣadhīḥ sṛṣṭvā hyayajaccādhvare vibhuḥ / tasmādādau tu kalpasya tretāyugamukhe tadā

Thus, having created the cattle and the herbs, the lord offered them in a sacrifice; therefore at the beginning of the kalpa, at the opening of the Tretā age, then

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.29

गौरजः पुरुषो मेषो अश्वाश्वतरगर्दभाः । एतान् ग्राम्यान् पशूनाहुरारण्यांश्च निबोध मे

gaurajaḥ puruṣo meṣo aśvāśvataragardabhāḥ / etān grāmyān paśūnāhurāraṇyāṃśca nibodha me

The cow, the goat, man, the sheep, the horse, the mule and the donkey — these they call the village animals; now learn from me the forest ones.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.30

श्वापदं द्विखुरं हस्ती वानराः पक्षिपञ्चमाः । औदकाः पशवः षष्ठाः सप्तमास्तु सरीसृपाः

śvāpadaṃ dvikhuraṃ hastī vānarāḥ pakṣipañcamāḥ / audakāḥ paśavaḥ ṣaṣṭhāḥ saptamāstu sarīsṛpāḥ

The beast of prey, the two-hoofed (animal), the elephant, monkeys, and birds as the fifth; aquatic animals are the sixth, and the seventh are the creeping things.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.31

गायत्रीञ्च ऋचञ्चैव त्रिवृत् सोमं रथन्तरम् । अग्निष्टोमञ्च यज्ञानां निर्ममे प्रथमान्मुखात्

gāyatrīñca ṛcañcaiva trivṛt somaṃ rathantaram / agniṣṭomañca yajñānāṃ nirmame prathamānmukhāt

The Gāyatrī, the Ṛc, the trivṛt (chant), the soma, the rathantara, and among sacrifices the agniṣṭoma — (these) he fashioned from the first mouth.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.32

यजूंषि त्रैष्टुभं धन्दः स्तोमं पञ्चदशन्तथा । बृहत् साम तथोकथञ्च दक्षिणादसृजन्मुखात्

yajūṃṣi traiṣṭubhaṃ dhandaḥ stomaṃ pañcadaśantathā / bṛhat sāma tathokathañca dakṣiṇādasṛjanmukhāt

The yajus formulas, the metre triṣṭubh, and likewise the fifteenfold stoma, the bṛhat sāman and the uktha — (these) he emitted from the southern mouth.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.33

सामानि जगतीच्छन्दः स्तोमं पञ्चदशन्तथा । वैरूपमतिरात्रञ्च निर्ममे पश्चिमान्मुखात्

sāmāni jagatīcchandaḥ stomaṃ pañcadaśantathā / vairūpamatirātrañca nirmame paścimānmukhāt

The sāmans, the metre jagatī, and likewise the fifteenfold stoma, the vairūpa (chant) and the atirātra — (these) he fashioned from the western mouth.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.34

एकविशमथर्वाणमाप्तोर्यामाणमेव च । अनुष्टुभं सवैराजमुत्तरादसृजन्मुखात्

ekaviśamatharvāṇamāptoryāmāṇameva ca / anuṣṭubhaṃ savairājamuttarādasṛjanmukhāt

The twenty-onefold (stoma), the Atharvan (Veda), and the āptoryāma, the anuṣṭubh together with the vairāja — (these) he emitted from the northern mouth.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.35

विद्युतो ऽशनिमेघाश्च रोहितेन्द्रधनूंषि च । वयांसि च ससर्जादौ कल्पस्य भगवान् विभुः

vidyuto 'śanimeghāśca rohitendradhanūṃṣi ca / vayāṃsi ca sasarjādau kalpasya bhagavān vibhuḥ

Lightnings, the thunderbolt and clouds, red (streaks) and rainbows, and the birds — (these) the mighty Lord created at the beginning of the aeon.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.36

उच्चावचानि भूतानि गात्रेभ्यस्तलस्य जज्ञिरे । सृष्ट्वा चतुष्टयं पूर्वं देवासुरपितॄन् प्रजाः

uccāvacāni bhūtāni gātrebhyastalasya jajñire / sṛṣṭvā catuṣṭayaṃ pūrvaṃ devāsurapitṝn prajāḥ

High and low beings were born from the limbs of his body; having first created the fourfold (class) — gods, asuras, ancestors, and men —

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

MkP 48.37

ततो ऽसृजत् स भूतानि स्थावराणि चराणि च । यक्षान् पिशाचान् गन्धर्वांस्तथैवाप्सरसाङ्गणान्

tato 'sṛjat sa bhūtāni sthāvarāṇi carāṇi ca / yakṣān piśācān gandharvāṃstathaivāpsarasāṅgaṇān

thereafter he created the beings, both immobile and moving: yakṣas, piśācas, gandharvas, and likewise the troops of apsarases,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.38

नरकिन्नररक्षांसि वयः पशुमृगोरगान् । अव्ययञ्च व्ययञ्चैव यदिदं स्थाणुजङ्गमम्

narakinnararakṣāṃsi vayaḥ paśumṛgoragān / avyayañca vyayañcaiva yadidaṃ sthāṇujaṅgamam

men, kinnaras and rākṣasas, birds, cattle, deer and serpents, and the unchanging and the changing — all this that stands still and moves.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.39

तेषां ये यानि कर्माणि प्राक् सृष्टेः प्रतिपेदिरे । तान्येव प्रतिपद्यन्ते सृज्यमानाः पुनः पुनः

teṣāṃ ye yāni karmāṇi prāk sṛṣṭeḥ pratipedire / tānyeva pratipadyante sṛjyamānāḥ punaḥ punaḥ

Whatever deeds among them they had taken up before the creation, those very ones they take up (again), as they are created over and over.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.40

हिंस्त्राहिंस्त्रे मृदुक्रूरे धर्माधर्मावृतानृते । तद्भाविताः प्रपद्यन्ते तस्मात्तत्तस्य रोचते

hiṃstrāhiṃstre mṛdukrūre dharmādharmāvṛtānṛte / tadbhāvitāḥ prapadyante tasmāttattasya rocate

Harmfulness and harmlessness, gentleness and cruelty, dharma and adharma, truth and untruth — being shaped by that (former disposition), they take these up; hence that is what pleases each one.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.41

इन्द्रियार्थेषु भूतेषु शरीरेषु च स प्रभुः । नानात्वं विनियोगञ्च धातैव व्यदधात् स्वयम्

indriyārtheṣu bhūteṣu śarīreṣu ca sa prabhuḥ / nānātvaṃ viniyogañca dhātaiva vyadadhāt svayam

In the objects of the senses, in the elements, and in bodies, that Lord, the Ordainer himself, established diversity and (each one's) appointed function.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.42

नाम रूपञ्च भूतानां कृत्यानाञ्च प्रपञ्चनम् । वेदशब्देभ्य एवादौ देवादीनाञ्चकार सः

nāma rūpañca bhūtānāṃ kṛtyānāñca prapañcanam / vedaśabdebhya evādau devādīnāñcakāra saḥ

The names and forms of beings, and the elaboration of their functions, he made at the beginning from the words of the Veda alone, for the gods and the rest.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.43

ऋषीणां नामधेयानि याश्च देवेषु सृष्टयः । शर्वर्यन्ते प्रसूतानामन्येषाञ्च ददाति सः

ṛṣīṇāṃ nāmadheyāni yāśca deveṣu sṛṣṭayaḥ / śarvaryante prasūtānāmanyeṣāñca dadāti saḥ

The names of the seers, and the creations that occur among the gods — these he assigns to those brought forth at the end of the night, and to the others (as well).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.44

यथर्तावृतुलिङ्गानि नानारूपाणि पर्यये । दृश्यन्ते तानि तान्येव तथा भावा युगादिषु

yathartāvṛtuliṅgāni nānārūpāṇi paryaye / dṛśyante tāni tānyeva tathā bhāvā yugādiṣu

Just as, at each season, the marks of the season, of various forms, are seen in the recurring cycle — those very same ones — so are the beings at the beginnings of the yugas.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 48.45

एवंविधाः सृष्टयस्तु ब्रह्मणो ऽव्यक्तजन्मनः । शर्वर्यन्ते प्रबुद्धस्य कल्पे कल्पे भवन्ति वै

evaṃvidhāḥ sṛṣṭayastu brahmaṇo 'vyaktajanmanaḥ / śarvaryante prabuddhasya kalpe kalpe bhavanti vai

Such, then, are the creations of Brahmā, who is born of the unmanifest, when he awakens at the end of the night — they come to be in aeon after aeon.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition