Markandeya Purana — Chapter 71

MkP 71.1

तां प्रेषयित्वा राजापि स्वभर्तृगृहमङ्गनाम् । चिन्तयामास निः श्वस्य किमत्र सुकतं भवेत्

tāṃ preṣayitvā rājāpi svabhartṛgṛhamaṅganām / cintayāmāsa niḥ śvasya kimatra sukataṃ bhavet

And the king too, having sent that woman to her own husband's house, sighed and pondered: "What here would be the right thing to do?"

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.2

अनर्घयोग्यता कष्टं स मामाह महामनाः । वैकल्यं विप्रमुद्दिश्य तथाहायं निशाचरः

anarghayogyatā kaṣṭaṃ sa māmāha mahāmanāḥ / vaikalyaṃ vipramuddiśya tathāhāyaṃ niśācaraḥ

"Painful is (my) worthlessness—that great-minded one spoke thus to me; and this night-roamer too spoke of (my) deficiency with reference to the brahmin."

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

MkP 71.3

सो ऽहं कथं करिष्यामि त्यक्ता पत्नी मया हि सा । अथवा ज्ञानदृष्टिं तं पृच्छामि मुनिसत्तमम्

so 'haṃ kathaṃ kariṣyāmi tyaktā patnī mayā hi sā / athavā jñānadṛṣṭiṃ taṃ pṛcchāmi munisattamam

"Being such, what shall I do? For that wife was abandoned by me. Or rather, I shall ask that best of sages, who has the eye of knowledge."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.4

सञ्चिन्त्येत्थं स भूपालः समारुह्य च तं रथम् । ययौ यत्र स धर्मात्मा त्रिकालज्ञो महामिनिः

sañcintyetthaṃ sa bhūpālaḥ samāruhya ca taṃ ratham / yayau yatra sa dharmātmā trikālajño mahāminiḥ

Having thought thus, that king mounted that chariot and went to where that righteous great sage, knower of the three times, was.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.5

अवरुह्य रथात् सो ऽथ तं समेत्य प्रणम्य च । यथावृत्तं समाचख्यौ राक्षसेन समागमम्

avaruhya rathāt so 'tha taṃ sametya praṇamya ca / yathāvṛttaṃ samācakhyau rākṣasena samāgamam

Then he got down from the chariot, approached him and bowed, and related just as it had happened his meeting with the demon,

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.6

ब्राह्मण्या दर्शनञ्चैव दौः शील्यापगमं तथा । प्रेषणं भर्तृगेहे च कार्यमागमने च यत्

brāhmaṇyā darśanañcaiva dauḥ śīlyāpagamaṃ tathā / preṣaṇaṃ bhartṛgehe ca kāryamāgamane ca yat

and the sighting of the brahmin woman, and likewise the removal of her bad character, and (her) being sent to her husband's house, and what the business was in (the demon's) coming.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.7

ज्ञातमेतन्मया पूर्वं यत् कृतन्ते नराधिप । कार्यमागमने चैव मत्समीपे तवाखिलम्

jñātametanmayā pūrvaṃ yat kṛtante narādhipa / kāryamāgamane caiva matsamīpe tavākhilam

"All this was known to me beforehand, O lord of men—what was done by you, and also the business in (your) coming into my presence.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.8

पृच्छ मामिह किं कार्यं मयेत्युद्विग्नमानसः । त्वय्यागते महीपाल ! शृणु कार्यञ्च यत्त्वया

pṛccha māmiha kiṃ kāryaṃ mayetyudvignamānasaḥ / tvayyāgate mahīpāla ! śṛṇu kāryañca yattvayā

Ask me here: what is to be done by me?—thus with an agitated mind you have come, O protector of the earth. Hear what is to be done by you.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.9

पत्नी धर्मार्थकामानां कारणं प्रबलं नृणाम् । विशेषतश्च धर्मस्य सन्त्यक्तस्त्यजता हि ताम्

patnī dharmārthakāmānāṃ kāraṇaṃ prabalaṃ nṛṇām / viśeṣataśca dharmasya santyaktastyajatā hi tām

A wife is the strong cause of men's dharma, wealth, and pleasure—and especially of dharma; for by abandoning her (all) is abandoned.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.10

अपत्नीको नरो भूप ! न योग्यो निजकर्मणाम् । ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वापि वैश्यः शूद्रो ऽपि वा नृप

apatnīko naro bhūpa ! na yogyo nijakarmaṇām / brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyo vāpi vaiśyaḥ śūdro 'pi vā nṛpa

A man without a wife, O king, is not fit for his own rites—whether brahmin, or kshatriya, or vaishya, or even shudra, O king.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.11

त्यजता भवता पत्नीं न शोभनमनुष्ठितम् । अत्याज्यो हि यथा भर्ता स्त्रीणां भर्या तथा नृणाम्

tyajatā bhavatā patnīṃ na śobhanamanuṣṭhitam / atyājyo hi yathā bhartā strīṇāṃ bharyā tathā nṛṇām

In abandoning your wife, nothing good has been done by you; for just as a husband is not to be abandoned by women, so a wife (is not to be abandoned) by men.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.12

भगवन् ! किं करोम्येष विपाको मम कर्मणाम् । नानुकूलानुकूलस्य यस्मात्त्यक्ता ततो मया

bhagavan ! kiṃ karomyeṣa vipāko mama karmaṇām / nānukūlānukūlasya yasmāttyaktā tato mayā

"Reverend one, what am I to do? This is the ripening of my deeds. She was abandoned by me because she was in no way agreeable to one who was agreeable."

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

MkP 71.13

यद्यत्करोति तत् क्षान्तं दह्यमानेन चेतसा । भगवंस्तद्वियोगार्तिबिभीतेनान्तरात्मना

yadyatkaroti tat kṣāntaṃ dahyamānena cetasā / bhagavaṃstadviyogārtibibhītenāntarātmanā

"Whatever she did was borne with a burning mind, reverend one, with an inner self afraid of the pain of separation from her."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.14

साम्प्रतं तु वने त्यक्ता न वेद्मि क्व नु सा गता । भक्षिता वापि विपिने सिंहव्याघ्रनिशाचरैः

sāmprataṃ tu vane tyaktā na vedmi kva nu sā gatā / bhakṣitā vāpi vipine siṃhavyāghraniśācaraiḥ

"But now, abandoned in the forest, I do not know where she has gone—or whether she has been devoured in the woods by lions, tigers, or night-roamers."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.15

न भक्षिता सा भूपाल ! सिहव्याघ्रनिशाचरैः । सा त्वविप्लुतचारित्रा साम्प्रतन्तु रसातले

na bhakṣitā sā bhūpāla ! sihavyāghraniśācaraiḥ / sā tvaviplutacāritrā sāmpratantu rasātale

"She has not been devoured, O protector of the earth, by lions, tigers, or night-roamers; her conduct is unsullied, and at present she is in the nether world."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.16

सा नीता केन पातालमास्ते सादूषिता कथम् । अत्यद्भुतमिदं ब्रह्मन् ! यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि

sā nītā kena pātālamāste sādūṣitā katham / atyadbhutamidaṃ brahman ! yathāvadvaktumarhasi

"By whom was she carried to the underworld, and how does she remain undefiled? This is most marvellous, brahmin—be pleased to tell it as it is."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.17

पाताले नागराजो ऽस्ति प्रख्यातश्च कपोतकः । तेन दृष्टा त्वया त्यक्ता भ्रममाणा महावने

pātāle nāgarājo 'sti prakhyātaśca kapotakaḥ / tena dṛṣṭā tvayā tyaktā bhramamāṇā mahāvane

"In the underworld there is a king of serpents, well known, named Kapotaka. By him she was seen, abandoned by you, wandering in the great forest.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.18

सा रूपशालिनी तेन सानुरागेण पार्थिव । वेदितार्थेन पातालं नीता सा युवती तदा

sā rūpaśālinī tena sānurāgeṇa pārthiva / veditārthena pātālaṃ nītā sā yuvatī tadā

That beautiful woman was then, O prince, carried to the underworld by him, who had become enamoured and had learned the matter.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.19

ततस्तस्य सुता सुभ्रूर्नन्दा नाम महीपते । भार्या मनोरमा चास्य नागराजस्य धीमतः

tatastasya sutā subhrūrnandā nāma mahīpate / bhāryā manoramā cāsya nāgarājasya dhīmataḥ

Then that wise serpent king's daughter, fair-browed, named Nandā, O lord of the earth, and his charming wife—

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.20

तया मातुः सपत्नीयं सा भवित्रीति शोभना । दृष्टा स्वगेहं सा नीता गुप्ता चान्तः पुरे शुभा

tayā mātuḥ sapatnīyaṃ sā bhavitrīti śobhanā / dṛṣṭā svagehaṃ sā nītā guptā cāntaḥ pure śubhā

Seeing her — the lovely one — (and thinking) "this woman will become a co-wife of my mother," she was carried by her (the Nāga's daughter) to her own house, and the fair one was kept hidden in the inner apartments.

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

MkP 71.21

यदा तु याचिता नन्दा न ददाति नृपोत्तरम् । मूका भविष्यसीत्याह तदा तां तनयां पिता

yadā tu yācitā nandā na dadāti nṛpottaram / mūkā bhaviṣyasītyāha tadā tāṃ tanayāṃ pitā

But when Nandā, being asked, would not give up the king's (wife), then the father said to that daughter: "You shall become mute."

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

MkP 71.22

एवं शप्ता सुता तेन सा चास्ते तत्र भूपते । नीता तेनोरगेन्द्रेण धृता तत्सुतया सती

evaṃ śaptā sutā tena sā cāste tatra bhūpate / nītā tenoragendreṇa dhṛtā tatsutayā satī

Cursed in this way by him, the daughter stays there, O king; and she (the king's wife), brought by that lord of serpents, was held (in custody) by his daughter, a virtuous woman though she was.

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

MkP 71.23

ततो राजा परं हर्षमवाप्य तमपृच्छत । द्विजवर्यं स्वदौर्भाग्यकारणं दयितां प्रति

tato rājā paraṃ harṣamavāpya tamapṛcchata / dvijavaryaṃ svadaurbhāgyakāraṇaṃ dayitāṃ prati

Then the king, having attained the highest joy, asked that best of the twice-born about the cause of his own ill fortune with respect to his beloved.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.24

भगवन् ! सर्वलोकस्य मयि प्रीतिरनुत्तमा । किन्नु तत्कारणं येन स्वपत्नी नातिवत्सला

bhagavan ! sarvalokasya mayi prītiranuttamā / kinnu tatkāraṇaṃ yena svapatnī nātivatsalā

"Reverend sir! The whole world's affection for me is unsurpassed; what then is the reason that my own wife is not very loving?"

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.25

मम चासावतीवेष्टा प्राणेभ्यो ऽपि महामुने । सा च मां प्रति दुः शीला ब्रूहि यत्कारणं द्विज

mama cāsāvatīveṣṭā prāṇebhyo 'pi mahāmune / sā ca māṃ prati duḥ śīlā brūhi yatkāraṇaṃ dvija

"And she is exceedingly dear to me, even more than life, O great sage; yet she is ill-disposed toward me — tell me what the reason is, O brahmin."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.26

ऋषीरुवाच पाणिग्रहणकाले त्वं सूर्यभौमशनैश्चरैः । शुक्रवाचस्पतिभ्याञ्च तव भार्यावलोकिता

ṛṣīruvāca pāṇigrahaṇakāle tvaṃ sūryabhaumaśanaiścaraiḥ / śukravācaspatibhyāñca tava bhāryāvalokitā

The seer said: At the time of the marriage you were looked upon by the Sun, Mars and Saturn, and your wife by Venus and Bṛhaspati.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.27

तन्मुहूर्ते ऽभवच्चन्द्रस्तस्याः सोमसुतस्तथा । परस्परविपक्षौ तौ ततः पार्थिव ! ते भृशम्

tanmuhūrte 'bhavaccandrastasyāḥ somasutastathā / parasparavipakṣau tau tataḥ pārthiva ! te bhṛśam

In that muhūrta the Moon was (yours), and Mercury, the son of Soma, was hers; those two being mutually hostile, therefore, O prince, you two are exceedingly (at odds).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.28

तद्गच्छ त्वं स्वधर्मेण परिपालय मेदिनीम् । पत्नीसहायः सर्वाश्च कुरु धर्मवतीः क्रियाः

tadgaccha tvaṃ svadharmeṇa paripālaya medinīm / patnīsahāyaḥ sarvāśca kuru dharmavatīḥ kriyāḥ

So go, protect the earth according to your own duty, and with your wife as helper perform all the rites in accordance with dharma.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

MkP 71.29

इत्युक्ते प्रणिपत्यैनमारुह्य स्यन्दनं ततः । उत्तमः पृथिवीपाल आजगाम निजं पुरम्

ityukte praṇipatyainamāruhya syandanaṃ tataḥ / uttamaḥ pṛthivīpāla ājagāma nijaṃ puram

When this had been said, bowing to him and then mounting his chariot, Uttama, the protector of the earth, came to his own city.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition