Markandeya Purana — Chapter 70
MkP 70.1
अथारुरोह स्वरथं प्रणिपत्य महामुनिम् । तेनाख्यातं वनन्तच्च प्रययावुत्पलावतम्
athāruroha svarathaṃ praṇipatya mahāmunim / tenākhyātaṃ vanantacca prayayāvutpalāvatam
Then, having bowed down to the great sage, he mounted his own chariot, and set out for the Utpalāvata wood that had been named by him.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.2
यथाख्यातस्वरूपाञ्च भार्यां भर्त्रा द्विजस्य ताम् । भक्षयन्तीं ददार्शाथ श्रीफलानि नरेश्वरः
yathākhyātasvarūpāñca bhāryāṃ bhartrā dvijasya tām / bhakṣayantīṃ dadārśātha śrīphalāni nareśvaraḥ
And the lord of men then saw her, the wife of the brahmin, of the very form described by her husband, eating bilva fruits.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.3
पप्रच्छ च कथं भद्रे ! त्वमेतद्वनमागता । स्फुटं ब्रवीहि वैशालेरपि भार्या सुशर्मणः
papraccha ca kathaṃ bhadre ! tvametadvanamāgatā / sphuṭaṃ bravīhi vaiśālerapi bhāryā suśarmaṇaḥ
And he asked: "How, good lady, have you come to this wood? Speak plainly — are you indeed the wife of Suśarman of Vaiśāla?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.4
सुताहमतिरात्रस्य द्विजस्य वनवासिनः । पत्नी विशालपुत्रस्य यस्य नाम त्वयोदितम्
sutāhamatirātrasya dvijasya vanavāsinaḥ / patnī viśālaputrasya yasya nāma tvayoditam
"I am the daughter of Atirātra, a brahmin dwelling in the forest, and the wife of Viśāla's son, whose name you have spoken."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.5
साहं हृता बलाकेन राक्षसेन दुरात्मना । प्रसुप्ता भवनस्यान्ते भ्रातृमातृवियोजिता
sāhaṃ hṛtā balākena rākṣasena durātmanā / prasuptā bhavanasyānte bhrātṛmātṛviyojitā
"I it was who was carried off, while asleep at the far end of the house, by the evil-souled rākṣasa Balāka, and parted from my brother and mother."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.6
भस्मीभवतु तद्रक्षो येनास्म्येवं वियोजिता । मात्रा भ्रातृभिरन्यैश्च तिष्टाम्यत्र सुदुः खिता
bhasmībhavatu tadrakṣo yenāsmyevaṃ viyojitā / mātrā bhrātṛbhiranyaiśca tiṣṭāmyatra suduḥ khitā
"May that rākṣasa be reduced to ashes, by whom I have thus been separated from my mother, my brothers and the rest; I remain here in deep misery."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.7
अस्मिन् वने ऽतिगहने तेनानीयाहमुज्झिता । न वेद्मि कारणं कि तन्नोपभुङ्क्ते न खादति
asmin vane 'tigahane tenānīyāhamujjhitā / na vedmi kāraṇaṃ ki tannopabhuṅkte na khādati
"Brought by him into this very dense wood, I was abandoned. I do not know the reason why he neither enjoys me nor devours me."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.8
राजोवाच अपि तज्ज्ञायते रक्षस्त्वामुत्सृज्य क्व वै गतम् । अहं भर्त्रा तवैवात्र प्रेषितो द्विजनन्दिनि
rājovāca api tajjñāyate rakṣastvāmutsṛjya kva vai gatam / ahaṃ bhartrā tavaivātra preṣito dvijanandini
The king said: "Is it known, then, where that rākṣasa went after leaving you? I have been sent here by your own husband, O daughter of a brahmin."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.9
अस्यैव काननस्यान्ते स तिष्ठति निशाचरः । प्रविश्य पश्यतु भवान् न बिभेति ततो यदि
asyaiva kānanasyānte sa tiṣṭhati niśācaraḥ / praviśya paśyatu bhavān na bibheti tato yadi
"At the edge of this very forest that night-walker stays. Let your honour enter and see him, if you have no fear of him."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.10
प्रविवेश ततः सो ऽथ तया वर्त्मनि दर्शिते । ददृशे परिवारेण समवेतञ्च राक्षसम्
praviveśa tataḥ so 'tha tayā vartmani darśite / dadṛśe parivāreṇa samavetañca rākṣasam
Then he entered, along the path she showed, and saw the rākṣasa surrounded by his retinue.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.11
दृष्टमात्रे ततस्तस्मिन् त्वरमाणः स राक्षसः । दूरादेव महीं मूर्ध्ना स्पृशन् पादान्तिकं ययौ
dṛṣṭamātre tatastasmin tvaramāṇaḥ sa rākṣasaḥ / dūrādeva mahīṃ mūrdhnā spṛśan pādāntikaṃ yayau
Then, the moment he was seen, that rākṣasa hastened and, touching the ground with his head from afar, came to (the king's) feet.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.12
ममात्रागच्छता गेहं प्रसादस्ते महान् कृतः । प्रशाधि किं करोम्येष वसामि विषये तव
mamātrāgacchatā gehaṃ prasādaste mahān kṛtaḥ / praśādhi kiṃ karomyeṣa vasāmi viṣaye tava
"By your coming here to my dwelling a great favour has been done me. Command: what shall I do? Here I dwell within your realm."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.13
अर्घञ्चेमं प्रतीच्छ त्वं स्थीयताञ्चेदमासनम् । वयं भृत्या भवान् स्वामी दृढमाज्ञापयस्व माम्
arghañcemaṃ pratīccha tvaṃ sthīyatāñcedamāsanam / vayaṃ bhṛtyā bhavān svāmī dṛḍhamājñāpayasva mām
"Accept this offering of welcome, and let this seat be taken. We are the servants, your honour is the master; command me firmly."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.14
कृतमेव त्वया सर्वं सर्वामेवातिथिक्रियाम् । किमर्थं ब्राह्मणवधूस्त्वयानीता निशाचर
kṛtameva tvayā sarvaṃ sarvāmevātithikriyām / kimarthaṃ brāhmaṇavadhūstvayānītā niśācara
"Everything has indeed been done by you — the whole duty owed a guest. For what purpose was the brahmin's wife carried off by you, O night-walker?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.15
नेयं सुरूपा सन्त्यन्या भार्यार्थञ्चेद् हृता त्वया । भक्ष्यार्थं चेत्कथं नात्ता त्वयैतत्कथ्यतां मम
neyaṃ surūpā santyanyā bhāryārthañced hṛtā tvayā / bhakṣyārthaṃ cetkathaṃ nāttā tvayaitatkathyatāṃ mama
"She is not beautiful; there are others. If she was carried off by you for a wife — or if for food, then why was she not eaten? Let this be told me by you."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.16
न वयं मानुषाहारा अन्ये ते नृप ! राक्षसाः । सुकृतस्य फलं यत्तु तदश्नीमो वयं नृप
na vayaṃ mānuṣāhārā anye te nṛpa ! rākṣasāḥ / sukṛtasya phalaṃ yattu tadaśnīmo vayaṃ nṛpa
"We are not eaters of men; those are other rākṣasas, O king. Rather, it is the fruit of good deeds that we consume, O king."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.17
स्वभावञ्च मनुष्याणां योषिताञ्च विमानिताः । मानिताश्च समश्नीमो न वयं जन्तुखादकाः
svabhāvañca manuṣyāṇāṃ yoṣitāñca vimānitāḥ / mānitāśca samaśnīmo na vayaṃ jantukhādakāḥ
"And, whether dishonoured or honoured, we consume the (inner) nature of men and of women; we are not devourers of creatures."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MkP 70.18
यदस्माभिर्नृणां क्षान्तिर्भुक्ता क्रुध्यन्ति ते तदा । भुक्ते दुष्टे स्वभावे च गुणवन्तो भवन्ति च
yadasmābhirnṛṇāṃ kṣāntirbhuktā krudhyanti te tadā / bhukte duṣṭe svabhāve ca guṇavanto bhavanti ca
"When men's forbearance is consumed by us, then they grow angry; and when their evil nature is consumed, they become endowed with virtues."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.19
सन्ति नः प्रमदा भूप ! रूपेणाप्सरसां समाः । राक्षस्यस्तासु तिष्ठत्सु मानुषीषु रतिः कथम्
santi naḥ pramadā bhūpa ! rūpeṇāpsarasāṃ samāḥ / rākṣasyastāsu tiṣṭhatsu mānuṣīṣu ratiḥ katham
"We have women, O king, equal in beauty to the apsarases; while those rākṣasa women are there, how could there be pleasure in human women?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.20
यद्येषा नोपभोगाय नाहाराय निशाचर । गृहं प्रविश्य विप्रस्य तत्किमेषा हृता त्वया
yadyeṣā nopabhogāya nāhārāya niśācara / gṛhaṃ praviśya viprasya tatkimeṣā hṛtā tvayā
"If she is not for enjoyment nor for food, O night-roamer, then why was she carried off by you, after entering the brahmin's house?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.21
मन्त्रवित् स द्विजश्रेष्ठो यज्ञे यज्ञे गतस्य मे । रक्षोघ्नमन्त्रपठनात् करोत्युच्चाटनं नृप
mantravit sa dvijaśreṣṭho yajñe yajñe gatasya me / rakṣoghnamantrapaṭhanāt karotyuccāṭanaṃ nṛpa
"That foremost of the twice-born knows the mantras, and when I come to sacrifice after sacrifice he drives me out by reciting the demon-slaying mantras, O king.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.22
वयं बुभुक्षितास्तस्य मन्त्रोच्चाटनकर्मणा । क्व यामः सर्वयज्ञेषु स ऋत्विग् भवति द्विजः
vayaṃ bubhukṣitāstasya mantroccāṭanakarmaṇā / kva yāmaḥ sarvayajñeṣu sa ṛtvig bhavati dvijaḥ
"We are left starving by his act of expulsion with mantras. Where are we to go? At all sacrifices that brahmin becomes the officiating priest.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.23
ततो ऽस्माभिरिदन्तस्य वैकल्यमुपपादितम् । पत्न्या विना पुमानिज्याकर्मयोग्यो न जायते
tato 'smābhiridantasya vaikalyamupapāditam / patnyā vinā pumānijyākarmayogyo na jāyate
"Therefore this disqualification of his was brought about by us: without a wife a man does not become fit for the work of sacrificing."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.24
वैकल्योच्चारणात्तस्य ब्राह्मणस्य महामतेः । ततः स राजातिभृशं विषण्णः समजायत
vaikalyoccāraṇāttasya brāhmaṇasya mahāmateḥ / tataḥ sa rājātibhṛśaṃ viṣaṇṇaḥ samajāyata
At the declaration of the disqualification of that brahmin of great mind, the king then became exceedingly dejected.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.25
वैकल्यमेवं विप्रस्य वदन्मामेव निन्दति । अनर्हमर्घस्य च मां सो ऽप्याह मुनिसत्तमः
vaikalyamevaṃ viprasya vadanmāmeva nindati / anarhamarghasya ca māṃ so 'pyāha munisattamaḥ
"Speaking thus of the brahmin's disqualification, he censures me alone; and that best of sages too has called me undeserving of honour."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.26
वैकल्यं तस्य विप्रस्य राक्षसो ऽप्याह मे यथा । अपत्नीकतया सो ऽहं सङ्कटं महदास्थितः
vaikalyaṃ tasya viprasya rākṣaso 'pyāha me yathā / apatnīkatayā so 'haṃ saṅkaṭaṃ mahadāsthitaḥ
"Since the rākṣasa has told me of that brahmin's disqualification, I, through (his) being without a wife, have come into great straits."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.27
एवं चिन्तयतस्तस्य पुनरप्याह राक्षसः । प्रणामनम्रो राजानं बद्धाञ्जलिपुटो मुने
evaṃ cintayatastasya punarapyāha rākṣasaḥ / praṇāmanamro rājānaṃ baddhāñjalipuṭo mune
As he was thinking thus, the rākṣasa spoke again to the king, bent low in salutation, with his hands joined in añjali, O sage.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.28
नरेन्द्राज्ञाप्रदानेन प्रसादः क्रियतां मम । भृत्यस्य प्रणतस्य त्वं युष्मद्विषयवासिनः
narendrājñāpradānena prasādaḥ kriyatāṃ mama / bhṛtyasya praṇatasya tvaṃ yuṣmadviṣayavāsinaḥ
"Let a favour be done to me by the granting of a royal command; you (are the master) of a bowed-down servant who dwells in your realm."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.29
स्वभावं वयमश्नीमस्त्वयोक्तं यन्निशाचर । तदर्थिनो वयं येन कार्येण शृणु तन्मम
svabhāvaṃ vayamaśnīmastvayoktaṃ yanniśācara / tadarthino vayaṃ yena kāryeṇa śṛṇu tanmama
"As for what was said by you, night-roamer, that you consume (people's) inner nature—hear from me the business for which we want that.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.30
अस्यास्त्वयाद्य ब्राह्मण्या दौः शील्यमुपभुज्यताम् । येन त्वयात्तदौः शील्या तद्विनीता भवेदियम्
asyāstvayādya brāhmaṇyā dauḥ śīlyamupabhujyatām / yena tvayāttadauḥ śīlyā tadvinītā bhavediyam
"Let the bad character of this brahmin woman be consumed by you today, so that, her bad character having been eaten by you, she may become well-behaved.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.31
नीयतां यस्य भार्येयं तस्य वेश्म निशाचर । अस्मिन् कृते कृतं सर्वं गृहमभ्यागतस्य मे
nīyatāṃ yasya bhāryeyaṃ tasya veśma niśācara / asmin kṛte kṛtaṃ sarvaṃ gṛhamabhyāgatasya me
"Let her be taken to the house of him whose wife she is, O night-roamer; when this is done, everything is done for me, who came to (his) house."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.32
ततः स राक्षसस्तस्याः प्रविश्यान्तः स्वमायया । भक्षयामास दौः शील्यं निजशक्त्या नृपाज्ञया
tataḥ sa rākṣasastasyāḥ praviśyāntaḥ svamāyayā / bhakṣayāmāsa dauḥ śīlyaṃ nijaśaktyā nṛpājñayā
Then that rākṣasa, entering within her by his own magic power, devoured her bad character by his own strength, at the king's command.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.33
दौः शील्येनातिरौद्रेण पत्नी तस्य द्विजन्मनः । तेन सा संपरित्यक्ता तमाह जगतीपतिम्
dauḥ śīlyenātiraudreṇa patnī tasya dvijanmanaḥ / tena sā saṃparityaktā tamāha jagatīpatim
That wife of the twice-born one, (afflicted) by an exceedingly terrible bad character—now abandoned by it—spoke to that lord of the earth:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.34
स्वकर्मफलपाकेन भर्तुस्तस्य महात्मनः । वियोजिताहं तद्धेतुरयमासीन्निशाचरः
svakarmaphalapākena bhartustasya mahātmanaḥ / viyojitāhaṃ taddheturayamāsīnniśācaraḥ
"By the ripening of the fruit of my own deeds I was separated from that great-souled husband; this night-roamer was (only) the cause of it.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.35
नास्य दोषो न वा तस्य मम भर्तुर्महात्मनः । ममैव दोषो नान्यस्य सुकृतं ह्युपभुज्यते
nāsya doṣo na vā tasya mama bharturmahātmanaḥ / mamaiva doṣo nānyasya sukṛtaṃ hyupabhujyate
"The fault is not his, nor that of my great-souled husband; the fault is mine alone and no one else's, for what one has done is what one undergoes.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.36
अन्यजन्मनि कस्यापि विप्रयोगः कृतो मया । सो ऽयं ममाप्युपगतः को दोषो ऽस्य महात्मनः
anyajanmani kasyāpi viprayogaḥ kṛto mayā / so 'yaṃ mamāpyupagataḥ ko doṣo 'sya mahātmanaḥ
"In another birth a separation was inflicted by me on someone; that very thing has now come upon me too. What fault is there in this great one?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.37
प्रापयामि तवादेशादिमां भर्तृगृहं प्रभो । यदन्यत्करणीयन्ते तदाज्ञापय पार्थिव
prāpayāmi tavādeśādimāṃ bhartṛgṛhaṃ prabho / yadanyatkaraṇīyante tadājñāpaya pārthiva
"At your command, lord, I shall bring her to her husband's house; whatever else is to be done for you, command that, O king."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.38
अस्मिन् कृते कृतं सर्वं त्वया मे रजनीचर । आगन्तव्यञ्च ते वीर ! कार्यकाले स्मृतेन मे
asmin kṛte kṛtaṃ sarvaṃ tvayā me rajanīcara / āgantavyañca te vīra ! kāryakāle smṛtena me
"When this is done, everything is done for me by you, O night-rover; and you must come, O hero, when remembered by me at a time of need."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MkP 70.39
नथेत्युक्त्वा तु तद्रक्षस्तामादाय द्विजाङ्गनाम् । निन्ये भर्तृगृहं शुद्धां दौः शोल्यापगमात्तदा
nathetyuktvā tu tadrakṣastāmādāya dvijāṅganām / ninye bhartṛgṛhaṃ śuddhāṃ dauḥ śolyāpagamāttadā
Having said "So be it," that demon took the brahmin's wife and then brought her, purified by the removal of her bad character, to her husband's house.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition