Markandeya Purana — Chapter 6

MkP 6.1

रामः पार्थे परां प्रीतिं ज्ञात्वा कृष्णस्य लाङ्गली । चिन्तयामास बहुधा किं कृतं सुकृतं भवेत्

rāmaḥ pārthe parāṃ prītiṃ jñātvā kṛṣṇasya lāṅgalī / cintayāmāsa bahudhā kiṃ kṛtaṃ sukṛtaṃ bhavet

Rāma the plough-bearer, knowing Kṛṣṇa's supreme affection for Pārtha, pondered in many ways: "What deed would be well done?"

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.2

कृष्णेन हि विना नाहं यास्ये दुर्योधनान्तिकम् । पाण्डवान् वा समाश्रित्य कथं दुर्योधनं नृपम्

kṛṣṇena hi vinā nāhaṃ yāsye duryodhanāntikam / pāṇḍavān vā samāśritya kathaṃ duryodhanaṃ nṛpam

"For without Kṛṣṇa I will not go into Duryodhana's presence; or, taking refuge with the Pāṇḍavas, how (could I strike) king Duryodhana—

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.3

जामातरं तथा शिष्यं घातयिष्ये नरेश्वरम् । तस्मान्न पार्थं यास्यामि नापि दुर्योधनं नृपम्

jāmātaraṃ tathā śiṣyaṃ ghātayiṣye nareśvaram / tasmānna pārthaṃ yāsyāmi nāpi duryodhanaṃ nṛpam

my son-in-law and my pupil, the lord of men—shall I have him killed? Therefore I will go neither to Pārtha nor to king Duryodhana.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.4

तीर्थेष्वाप्लावयिष्यामि तावदात्मानमात्मना । कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च यावदन्ताय कल्पते

tīrtheṣvāplāvayiṣyāmi tāvadātmānamātmanā / kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca yāvadantāya kalpate

I shall instead bathe myself by myself in the sacred fords, for so long as it takes for the end of the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas to come about."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.5

इत्यामन्त्र्य हृषीकेशं पार्थ-दुर्योधनावपि । जगाम द्वारकां शौरिः स्वसैन्युपरिवारितः

ityāmantrya hṛṣīkeśaṃ pārtha-duryodhanāvapi / jagāma dvārakāṃ śauriḥ svasainyuparivāritaḥ

Having thus taken leave of Hṛṣīkeśa and also of Pārtha and Duryodhana, the descendant of Śūra went to Dvārakā, surrounded by his own troops.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.6

गत्वा द्वारवतीं रामो हृष्टपुष्टजनाकुलाम् । श्वो गन्तव्येषु तीर्थेषु पपौ पानं हलायुधः

gatvā dvāravatīṃ rāmo hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanākulām / śvo gantavyeṣu tīrtheṣu papau pānaṃ halāyudhaḥ

Having gone to Dvāravatī, thronged with joyful, well-fed people, Rāma the plough-armed drank drink, the sacred fords being (his) destination on the morrow.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.7

पीतपानो जगामाथ रैवतोद्यानमृद्धिमत् । हस्ते गृहीत्वा समदां रेवतीमप्सरोपमाम्

pītapāno jagāmātha raivatodyānamṛddhimat / haste gṛhītvā samadāṃ revatīmapsaropamām

Then, having drunk his drink, he went to the prosperous garden of Raivata, taking by the hand the intoxicated Revatī, like an apsaras.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.8

स्त्रीकदम्बकमध्यस्थो ययौ मत्तः पदा स्खलन् । ददर्शच वनं वीरो रमणीयमनुत्तमम्

strīkadambakamadhyastho yayau mattaḥ padā skhalan / dadarśaca vanaṃ vīro ramaṇīyamanuttamam

Standing in the midst of a cluster of women he went, drunk, stumbling in his step; and the hero saw a forest, delightful and unsurpassed,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.9

सर्वर्तुफलपुष्पाढ्यं शाखामृगगणाकुलम् । पुण्यं पद्मवनोपेतं सपल्वलमहावनम्

sarvartuphalapuṣpāḍhyaṃ śākhāmṛgagaṇākulam / puṇyaṃ padmavanopetaṃ sapalvalamahāvanam

rich in the fruits and flowers of every season, filled with troops of branch-dwelling beasts (monkeys), holy, furnished with lotus groves—a great forest with pools.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.10

स शृण्वन् प्रीतिजननान् बहून् मदकलान् शुभान् । श्रोत्ररम्यान् सुमधुरान् शब्दान् खगमुखेरितान्

sa śṛṇvan prītijananān bahūn madakalān śubhān / śrotraramyān sumadhurān śabdān khagamukheritān

He, hearing many auspicious sounds that generated delight, slurred with intoxication, pleasing to the ear and very sweet, uttered from the mouths of birds,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.11

सर्वर्तुफलभाराढ्यान् सर्वर्तुकुसुमोज्ज्वलान् । अपश्यत् पादपांस्तत्र विहगैरनुनादितान्

sarvartuphalabhārāḍhyān sarvartukusumojjvalān / apaśyat pādapāṃstatra vihagairanunāditān

saw there trees laden with the burden of fruits of all seasons, brilliant with the blossoms of all seasons, resounding with birds:

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.12

आम्रानाम्रातकान् भव्यान् नारिकेलान् सतिन्दुकान् । आविल्वकांस्तथा जीरान् दाडिमान् बीजपूरकान्

āmrānāmrātakān bhavyān nārikelān satindukān / āvilvakāṃstathā jīrān dāḍimān bījapūrakān

mangoes, hog-plums, bhavya trees, coconuts, and tinduka trees, and āvilvaka trees, jīra trees, pomegranates, and citrons,

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

MkP 6.13

पनसान् लकुचान् मोचान् नीपांश्चातिमनोहरान् । पारावतांश्च कङ्कोलान् नलिनानम्लवेतसान्

panasān lakucān mocān nīpāṃścātimanoharān / pārāvatāṃśca kaṅkolān nalinānamlavetasān

jackfruits, lakuca trees, plantains, and most charming nīpa trees, and pārāvata trees, kaṅkola trees, nalina and sour vetasa (reed) plants,

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

MkP 6.14

भल्लातकानामलकांस्तिन्दुकांश्च महाफलान् । इङ्गुदान् करमर्दांश्च हरीतक-विभीतकान्

bhallātakānāmalakāṃstindukāṃśca mahāphalān / iṅgudān karamardāṃśca harītaka-vibhītakān

bhallātaka (marking-nut) trees, āmalaka trees, and tinduka trees with great fruit, iṅgudī trees and karamarda bushes, harītaka and vibhītaka trees—

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.15

एतानन्यांश्च स तरून् ददर्श यदुनन्दनः । तथैवाशोक-पुन्नाग-केतकी-बकुलानथ

etānanyāṃśca sa tarūn dadarśa yadunandanaḥ / tathaivāśoka-punnāga-ketakī-bakulānatha

these and other trees the son of Yadu saw, and likewise aśoka, punnāga, ketakī and bakula trees,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.16

चम्पकान् सप्तपर्णांश्च कर्णिकारान् समालतीन् । पारिजातान् कोविदारान् मन्दारान् बदरांस्तथा

campakān saptaparṇāṃśca karṇikārān samālatīn / pārijātān kovidārān mandārān badarāṃstathā

campakas and saptaparṇas, karṇikāras together with mālatīs, pārijātas, kovidāras, mandāras, and badaras as well,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.17

पाटलान् पुष्पितान् रम्यान् देवदारुद्रुमांस्तथा । सालांस्तालांस्तमालांश्च किंशौकान् वञ्जुलान् वरान्

pāṭalān puṣpitān ramyān devadārudrumāṃstathā / sālāṃstālāṃstamālāṃśca kiṃśaukān vañjulān varān

lovely pāṭalas in flower, and deodar trees, and sālas, palms, and tamālas, kiṃśukas, and fine vañjula trees,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.18

चकोरैः शातपत्रैश्च भृङ्गराजैस्तथा शुकैः । कोकिलैः कलविङ्कैश्च हारीतैर्जोवजीवकैः

cakoraiḥ śātapatraiśca bhṛṅgarājaistathā śukaiḥ / kokilaiḥ kalaviṅkaiśca hārītairjovajīvakaiḥ

(and it was filled) with cakora birds and woodpeckers, with drongos and parrots, with cuckoos and sparrows, with green pigeons and jīvajīvaka pheasants,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.19

प्रियपुत्रैश्चातकैश्च तथान्यैर्विविधैः खगैः । श्रोत्ररम्यं सुमधुरं कूजद्भिश्चाप्यधिष्ठितम्

priyaputraiścātakaiśca tathānyairvividhaiḥ khagaiḥ / śrotraramyaṃ sumadhuraṃ kūjadbhiścāpyadhiṣṭhitam

with priyaputras and cātakas and other birds of many kinds — (the wood) was occupied by them as they cried very sweetly, delightfully to the ear.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.20

सरांसि च मनोज्ञानि प्रसन्नसलिलानि च । कुमुदैः पुण्डरीकैश्च तथा नीलोत्पलैः शुभैः

sarāṃsi ca manojñāni prasannasalilāni ca / kumudaiḥ puṇḍarīkaiśca tathā nīlotpalaiḥ śubhaiḥ

And (there were) charming lakes with clear water, covered all around with white water-lilies and with white lotuses and with lovely blue lotuses,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.21

कह्लारैः कमलैश्चापि आचितानि समन्ततः । कादम्बैश्चक्रवाकैश्च तथैव जलकुक्कुटैः

kahlāraiḥ kamalaiścāpi ācitāni samantataḥ / kādambaiścakravākaiśca tathaiva jalakukkuṭaiḥ

with kahlāra lilies and with lotuses too, (thus) covered all around; and with kādamba geese and with cakravāka ducks and likewise with water-fowl,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.22

कारण्डवैः प्लवैर्हंसैः कूर्मैर्मद्गुभिरेव च । एभिश्चान्यैश्च कीर्णानि समन्ताज्जलचारिभिः

kāraṇḍavaiḥ plavairhaṃsaiḥ kūrmairmadgubhireva ca / ebhiścānyaiśca kīrṇāni samantājjalacāribhiḥ

with kāraṇḍava ducks, with plavas, with geese, with tortoises and with cormorants — with these and with other water-dwellers (the lakes) were strewn all about.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.23

क्रमेणेत्थं वनं शौरिर्वोक्षमाणो मनोरमम् । जगामानुगतः स्त्रीभिर्लतागृहमनुत्तमम्

krameṇetthaṃ vanaṃ śaurirvokṣamāṇo manoramam / jagāmānugataḥ strībhirlatāgṛhamanuttamam

Thus, gradually surveying the delightful wood, Śauri (Balarāma), followed by the women, came to a most excellent bower of creepers.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.24

स ददर्श द्विजांस्तत्र वेदवेदाङ्गपारगान् । कौशिकान् भार्गवांश्चैव भारद्वाजान् सगौतमान्

sa dadarśa dvijāṃstatra vedavedāṅgapāragān / kauśikān bhārgavāṃścaiva bhāradvājān sagautamān

There he saw twice-born men who had mastered the Vedas and the Vedic ancillaries: Kauśikas and Bhārgavas, Bhāradvājas together with Gautamas,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.25

विविधेषु च सम्भूतान् वंशेषु द्विजसत्तमान् । कथाश्रवणबद्धोत्कानुपविष्टान् महत्सु च

vividheṣu ca sambhūtān vaṃśeṣu dvijasattamān / kathāśravaṇabaddhotkānupaviṣṭān mahatsu ca

and the best of the twice-born born in various lineages, seated on great (seats), eager and intent upon hearing the recitation,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.26

कृष्णाजिनोत्तरीयेषु कुशेषु च वृषीषु च । सूतञ्च तेषां मध्यस्थं कथयानं कथाः शुभाः

kṛṣṇājinottarīyeṣu kuśeṣu ca vṛṣīṣu ca / sūtañca teṣāṃ madhyasthaṃ kathayānaṃ kathāḥ śubhāḥ

on (seats) with black antelope skins spread over them, and on kuśa grass and on mats; and (he saw) a bard placed in their midst reciting auspicious tales,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.27

पौराणिकीः सुरर्षोणामाद्यानां चरिताश्रयाः । दृष्ट्वा रामं द्विजाः सर्वे मधुपानारुणेक्षणम्

paurāṇikīḥ surarṣoṇāmādyānāṃ caritāśrayāḥ / dṛṣṭvā rāmaṃ dvijāḥ sarve madhupānāruṇekṣaṇam

tales from the Purāṇas, resting on the deeds of the gods and seers of old. Seeing Rāma (Balarāma), his eyes red with drinking liquor, all the twice-born,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.28

मत्तो ऽयमिति मन्वानाः समुत्तस्थुस्त्वरान्विताः । पूजयन्तो हलधरमृते तं सूतवंशजम्

matto 'yamiti manvānāḥ samuttasthustvarānvitāḥ / pūjayanto haladharamṛte taṃ sūtavaṃśajam

thinking "this man is drunk," rose up in haste, honouring the plough-bearer — all except that one born of the bard's lineage.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.29

ततः क्रोधसमाविष्टो हली सूतं महाबलः । निजघान विवृत्ताक्षः क्षोभिताशेषदानवः

tataḥ krodhasamāviṣṭo halī sūtaṃ mahābalaḥ / nijaghāna vivṛttākṣaḥ kṣobhitāśeṣadānavaḥ

Then the plough-bearer of great strength, filled with anger, his eyes rolling, shaking all the Dānavas (with his fury), struck down the bard.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.30

अध्यास्याति पदं ब्राह्मं तस्मिन् सूते निपातिते । निष्क्रान्तास्ते द्विजाः सर्वे वनात् कृष्णाजिनाम्बराः

adhyāsyāti padaṃ brāhmaṃ tasmin sūte nipātite / niṣkrāntāste dvijāḥ sarve vanāt kṛṣṇājināmbarāḥ

When that bard was struck down, having attained the state of Brahman, all those twice-born men, clad in black antelope skins, went out from the wood.

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

MkP 6.31

अवधूतं तथात्मानं मन्यमानो हलायुधः । चिन्तयामास सुमहन्मया पापमिदं कृतम्

avadhūtaṃ tathātmānaṃ manyamāno halāyudhaḥ / cintayāmāsa sumahanmayā pāpamidaṃ kṛtam

Thinking himself thus reviled, the plough-armed one reflected: "A very great sin has been committed by me.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.32

ब्राह्मं स्थानं गतो ह्येष यद् सूतो विनिपातितः । तथा हीमे द्विजाः सर्वे मामवेक्ष्य विनिर्गताः

brāhmaṃ sthānaṃ gato hyeṣa yad sūto vinipātitaḥ / tathā hīme dvijāḥ sarve māmavekṣya vinirgatāḥ

For this bard, being struck down, has gone to the state of Brahman; and so all these twice-born, on seeing me, have gone out.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.33

शरीरस्य च मे गन्धो लोहस्येवासुखावहः । आत्मानञ्चावगच्छामि ब्रह्मघ्नमिव कुत्सितम्

śarīrasya ca me gandho lohasyevāsukhāvahaḥ / ātmānañcāvagacchāmi brahmaghnamiva kutsitam

And the smell of my body is unpleasant, like that of iron; and I know myself to be despicable, like a slayer of a brahmin.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.34

धिगमर्षं तथा मद्यमतिमानमभीरुताम् । यैराविष्टेन सुमहन्मया पापमिदं कृतम्

dhigamarṣaṃ tathā madyamatimānamabhīrutām / yairāviṣṭena sumahanmayā pāpamidaṃ kṛtam

A curse on rage, and on liquor, on excessive pride, and on recklessness — possessed by which I have done this very great sin.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.35

तत्क्षयार्थं चरिष्यामि व्रतं द्वादशवार्षिकम् । स्वकर्मख्यापनं कुर्वंन् प्रयश्चित्तमनुत्तमम्

tatkṣayārthaṃ cariṣyāmi vrataṃ dvādaśavārṣikam / svakarmakhyāpanaṃ kurvaṃn prayaścittamanuttamam

To wipe it out I shall carry out a twelve-year vow, making my deed publicly known — the highest expiation.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.36

अथ येयं समारब्धा तीर्थयात्रा मयाधुना । एतामेव प्रयास्यामि प्रतिलोमां सरस्वतीम्

atha yeyaṃ samārabdhā tīrthayātrā mayādhunā / etāmeva prayāsyāmi pratilomāṃ sarasvatīm

Now this pilgrimage to the sacred fords which has been begun by me at this time — this very one I shall undertake, going up the Sarasvatī against its current."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 6.37

अतो जगाम रामो ऽसौ प्रतिलोमां सरस्वतीम् । ततः परं शृणुष्वेमं पाण्डवेयकथाश्रयम्

ato jagāma rāmo 'sau pratilomāṃ sarasvatīm / tataḥ paraṃ śṛṇuṣvemaṃ pāṇḍaveyakathāśrayam

Therefore that Rāma went along the Sarasvatī against its current. Now hear what comes after this, which rests on the story of the Pāṇḍavas.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition