CONTENTS.
Canto. Introduction.
1 Jaimini applied to Markandeya for instruction on four questions. Markandeya referred him to four learned Birds, sons of Drona and the Apsaras Vapu who was cursed by the
2 rishi Durvasas to be a bird ; and narrated the story of their
3 birth, and of their education by S'amika; and explained that they were four brahmans, who were so born, because cursed by their father Sukrsa for not offering their bodies as food to a famished bird.
The Birds' discourse on Jaimini's four questions,
4 Jaimini visited the Birds at the Vindhya Mts. and they answered his four questions thus :—Vishnu assumed bodily
5 forms in order to accomplish good; Draupadi became the joint wife of the five Pandavas because they were all
6 emanations of Indra ; Baladeva committed brahmanicide
7 during intoxication and expiated it by pilgrimage ; and five Visve Devas, who, on seeing Visvamitra’s brutality to king Hariscandra, censured Visvamitra, incurred his curse thereby were born as the five sons of Draupadi to die young and unmarried.
8 This story led the Birds at Jaimini’s request to narrate the whole story of king Hariscandra’s sufferings and
9 ultimate beatitude; and the terrible fight which resulted, therefrom between Vasistha and Visvamitra as gigantic
birds.
The Birdi discourse on Jaimini*s further questions. '' ' Discourse on life, death and action,
10 Jaimini propounded forther questions regarding conception, fcetal life, Wrth, growth, death and the consequences^of action; and the Birds answered them by reproducing the instruction that a brahman Sumati, nick-named Jada,
once gave to his father
Thus the Birds gave in Jada’s words a description of
11 death, after-existences and certain hells ; of human concep- 69
12 tion and birth, and the evils of all existence; of certain other 71
13 hells and the various terrible torments inflicted there; and 74
they narrated the story of king Vipaicit’s descent into hell,
14 with a discourse regarding actions and the specific punish- 76
16 ments for a long list of various sins, and of his deliverance 83
from hell together with other persons confined there.
Stories illiistrating religious devotion {yoga).
10 The Birds, continuing Jada’s discourse, broached the sub- 91
ject of yoga or religious devotion, but prefaced it with a long
narrative (cantos xvi to xliv). A brahman Mandavya was
saved from a curse by his devoted wife, who stopped the rising
17 of the sun and gained a boon from Atri’s wife Anasuya; the 99
gods in consequence blessed Anasnya, and Brahma, Visnu and
S’iva were bom as her three sons Soma, Dattatreya and Durva-
18 sas ; Dattatreya indulged in sensual pleasures; Arjuna Kar- 101
tavirya, however, being advised by his minister Garga to
propitiate Dattatreya, because Dattatreya (being an incar¬
nation of Visnu) had once saved the gods from the demons,
19 did so and by Dattatreya’s blessing reigned gloriously. 106
This led on to the story of Alarka, which is used to convey
political, religious and social instruction (cantos xx to xliv),
Alarkons hirth and education.
20 King Satrujit’s son Rtadhvaja lived in intimate friend- 109
ship with two Naga princes; they told their father Asva-
tara—how Rtadhvaja had succoured the brahman Galava
21 with the help of a wondrous horse named Kuvalaya, and 113
descending to Patala,had killed the demon Patala-ketu there,
and had rescued and married the Gandharva princess Mada-
22 lasa, and was famed as Kuvalayasva; and also how a 121
demon had caused Madalasa to die on a false report of
Canto. Page.
23 Kuvalayasva’s death. King A^vatara, by propitiating Sa- 126
rasvati then, gained perfect skill in poetry and music
(which are described), and by propitiating S^iva received
24 Madalasa restored to life; he invited Kuvalayasva to 136
26 Patala and gave Madalasa back to him. Kuvalayasva had 140
26 a son by her, and she prattled to the infant; they had 142
three other sons and she named the youngest Alarka.
Political^ religious and social instruction.
27 Then followed an exposition of political, religious and social 145
doctrine in the guise of instruction given by Madalasa to
Alarka. She instructed him in the duties and conduct
28 of a king; in the duties of the four castes and of a brah- 148
29 man’s life; in the general duties of a gj-hastha and various 151
30 religious matters; in the duties of a grhastha in detail; 155
31 in the sraddha ceremonies; in the performance of the Par- 157
32 vana S'raddha and the persons to be excluded; in the par- 164
ticular foods, periods, sites and ordinances to be observed in
33 the sraddha; in the Voluntary sraddhas and their benefits 168
34 and proper occasions ; in the rules of Virtuous Custom, 170
36 generally and with much detail; about diet, purification, 180
conduct, holy days and various religious ceremonies.
Exposition of religious devotion {yoga).
36 Rtadhvaja then resigned his kingdom to Alarka and de- 186
37 parted to the forest. Alarka lived in pleasure, but, being 187
reduced to great straits by his brother and the king of
38 Kasi, sought relief from Dattatreya. Dattatreya spoke 191
about the soul and, on Alarka’s asking about religious devotion
39 (yoga), expounded the method, conditions and signs of its 193
40 proper performance ; the attendant ailments and the stages 198
41 which lead to final emancipation from existence; the way 202
in which a yogi should live, beg, eat and reach his end;
42 the composition, meaning and efiicacy of the word “Om ”; 206
43 ill omens and their signification ; and the seasons for, and 207
the intportance of, yoga. Alarka then relinquished the
44 kingdom, but his brother, glad at [Alarka’s conversion, de- 213
dined it and departed. Alarka gave it to his son and de¬
parted to the forest. This ends Jada’s exposition.
The Birds* discourse on JaiminVs further questions.
Discourse on Creation.
45 Jaimini put further questions, and the Birds answered 217
them by repeating what Markandeya had tanght Kraustuki.
This discourse runs on to the end of the Purana.
Markandeya, after extolling this Purana, described the
course of creation from Brahma through Pradhana, &c., and
46 the mundane egg; he discoursed about Brahma, and ex- 224
47 plained divine and human time and the four ages. He de- 228
48 scribed the creation of the earth and all it contains; the 232
gods, demons, pitrs, mankind, &c., and the positions assign-
49 ed them; the origin of the primeval human race and its 237
60 social and moral evolution ; the birth of the nine Sages, 246
Eudra, Manu Svayambhuva and his descendants, Daksa and
his offspring; A-dharma and his progeny, especially the
61 goblin Duhsaha and his powers, whose brood of goblins and 257
62 hags are named with their particular functions ; the crea- 268
tion of the Rudras ; and the wives and offspring of the
ysis and pitrs.
Account of the Manus.
63 Markandeya next discoursed of the Manus and man- 271
vantaras. He told of the first Manu, Svayamhhuva, and
his diBScendants who peopled the seven Continents. Jambu-
dvipa was occupied by Agnidhra, and his descendant Bharata
gave his name to India. This introduced the subject of
geography.
G-eography.
64 Markandeya described the earth and its continents, espo- 276
cially Jambu-dvipa; and also Mount Meru, first briefly, and
66 then with full mention of neighbouring forests, lakes and 278
66^ mountains ; and the course of the Ganges in the sky and on 280
67 the earth. He mentioned the nine divisions of Bharata, 283
and then dealt with India in detail; naming its seven 284
mountain ranges and its scattered hills ; and its rivers, dis- 290
tinguishing them according to their sources, in the Hima¬
laya, the Paripatra, the Vindhya, the Rksa, the Saliya, 293
the Malaya, the Mahendra and the S^uktimat ranges. 303
He named the various peoples inhabiting India and its 307
confines, according as they dwelt in the Middle Land
(Madhya*-de^a), in the north-west, outside northwards, 311
in the north, in the east, in the south, in the west, 324
around the Vindhya mountains and beneath the Himalayas. 340
68 Next representing India as resting upon Visnu in the form 348
of a tortoise, Markandeya named the various peoples (with
the corresponding lunar constellations) as they were dis- 349
tributed over the middle of the tortoise’s body, over its 358
face, its right fore-foot, its right flank, its right hind-foot, 370
its tail, its left hind-foot, its left flank and its left fore-foot; 384
and he added some astrological, religious and political
69 comments. He then described the countries Bhadra^va, 387
60 Ketumala, the Northern Kurus, Kimpuru§a, Hari-var§a, 390
Ilavyta, Ramyaka, and Hiranmaya.
Accoimt of the Manus {resumed).
61 Markandeya related the birth of the second Manu. A 391
brahman visited Himavat and met an Apsaras Varuthini;
62 a Gandharva Kali by personating him gained her a:ffection ; 399
63 and she bore a son Svarocis. ' Svarocis delivered a maiden 401
64 Manorama from a curse and married her, and also rescued 406
66 her two girl-companions and married them ; after living 408
66 long in heedless pleasure with them, he had three sons 411
whom he established in separate kingdoms by the know¬
ledge called Padmini; and he had by a forest goddess
67 another son Dyutimat who became the second Manu, 415
68 Svarociga j and his period is noticed. The allusion to the 415
knowledge Padmini introduced a discourse on its supporters^
the Nidhis.
xxviii
Canto. Pag*.
69 Continuing, Markandeya related how king Uttama 419
banished his queen for bad temper, and helped a brahman
to find his ill-tempered wife who had been carried off ; he
70 was rebuked by a rsi for his own conduct; he recovered the 425
brahfnan’s wife, whose bad temper a Raksasa consumed.
71 A Naga king had taken the queen to Fatala, and she was 429
72 hidden ; the brahman changed her nature and the E-aksasa 432
restored her to king Uttama; she bore a son, who became
73 the third Manu, Auttama, and his period is noticed. 436
74 Markandeya related how king Svarastra when driven 438
from his kingdom, met his deceased queen, and had a son
who became the fourth Manu, Tamasa ; his period is noticed.
76 The rsi Rtavac made the constellation Revati fall; a maiden 443
was born therefrom; she married king Durgama and bore
a son, who became the fifth Manu, Raivata; his period is
76 noticed. Caksusa, being changed when an infant by a hag, 449
became king Vikranta’s son, but turned an ascetic and be¬
came the sixth Manu, Caksusa; his period is noticed.
77 Continuing the manvantaras, Markandeya said the Sun 455
married Tvastp’s daughter Sanjna and had two sons Vaivas-
vata and Yama; Sanjna quitted him, leaving her Shadow
78 behind, because his splendour was excessive; Tvastr pared 458
his splendour down while the gods hymned the Sun ; the Sun
regained Sanjna; he had by the Shadow a son who will be the
79 Manu, Savarni. ^ ih.e seventh and present 461
80 Manu; his period is noticed. The future period of Savarni 463
with its T@is, gods, &c., is prophesied.
The Devi-mahatmya,
81 The mention of Savarni introduced the Devi-mahatmya. 465
Markandeya related that king Suratha, being ousted from
his kingdom, met a vaisya driven from his family, and both
consulted a rsi about their longings for home; the ysi as¬
cribed their feelings to the goddess Maha-maya (Great
Illusion), and related how, when she was lauded by Brahma,
Yi§nu slew the demons Madhu and Kaitabha.
82 The vsi then recited her exploits. Here begins the Devi- 473W^
mahatmya properly. The demons under Mahiha vanquish
ed the gods, and the goddess was formed as Candika
83 (Ambika) out of their special energies combined; she began a 478
great battle and destroyed the demons, all the demon chiefs
84 and finally Mahisha himself. The gods praised her in a 482
hymn, and she promised to befriend them always. Again
the gods were vanquished by the demons Sumbha and
Nisumbha, and invoked her; she appeared, and Sumbha
86 wanted to marry her but she declined; he sent an army 497
and she destroyed it; he sent another with Cauda and Munda;
87 the goddess Kali destroyed them and Candika gave her the 499
88 combined name Camunda; S'umbha sent all his armies; 501
89 Candika killed the chief Kaktavija, then Nisumbha in spite 506
90 of S'umbha’s aid, and many demons, and finally S'umbha 509
91 himself; whereat the universe was filled with joy. The 511
gods praised her in a hymn and she promised to deliver them
92 always. She descanted on the merits of this poem. The 519
gods regained their supremacy; and she is extolled. Here
ends the Devi-mahatmya properly.
93 After hearing this poem king Suratha worshipped Candi- 522
ka, and she promised he should be the eighth Manu, Savarni.
Account of the Manus {resumed).
94 Markandeya, continuing, mentioned the other future 524
Manus, the ninth, tenth, eleventh and tuoelth named Savarna,
96 and the thirteenth named Raucya; and their periods. He 526
naiTated the story of Raucya. A prajapati Ruci was urged
96 by the Pitrs to marry; he propitiated Brahma and praised 529
97 the Pitrs in a hymn; they appeared and promised him a 534
98 wife and extolled his hymn; he married an Apsaras and had 538
99 a son who will be the thirteenth Manu Raucya. S'anti, the 539
disciple of an irascible rsi Bhiiti, finding the sacred fire ex-
100 tinguished, offered a hymn to Agni. Agni restored the fire 546
and promised to Bhuti a son who should be the fourteenth
Manu, Bhautya. Bhautya’s period is noticed. This account
of the manvantaras is extolled.
Commencement of the Genealogies,
101 At Kraustuki’s request Markandeya began the genealogies.
Brahma created Daksa, from whom came Martanda,
the Sun. Then mentioning that Brahma was bom from
the mundane egg, and produced the lokas (worlds), and
next the four Vedas with their merits—Markandeya di¬
verged into a laudation of the Sun.
The majesty of the Sun,
102 The gods and the Vedas are declared to be manifesta- 553
103 tions of the Sun. The Sun’s glory was at first too great, 556
and Brahma with a hymn induced him to contract it
104 and then finished the creation. Marici’s son Kasyapa 558
begot the gods, demons, mankind, &c. The demons over¬
came the gods and Aditi sought help of the Sun in a
105 hymn. He became her son as Martanda and destroy- 563
106 ed the demons. The story of the Sun and his wife San- 566
jna (as told in cantos Ixxvii and Ixxviii) is re-told here
with more detail regarding the Shadow-Sanjna, the curse on
107 Yama, the paring down of the Sun’s splendour, the hymns 572
108 offered to the Sun, and the Sun’s offspring and the sta- 574
tions aUoted them.
109 Further Markandeya related that king Rajya-vardhana 577
when old resolved to resign the kingdom, but his people in
110 grief propitiated the Sun, and the Sun granted him great 583
length of life; the king similarly obtained the same boon
for them. This story is extolled.
The Genealogies resumed,
111 Markandeya mentioned Manu Vaivasvata’s seven sons 587
112 and Ha-Sudyumna, Purnravas, &c. Manu’s son Phsadhra 590
killed a brahman’s cow and being cursed became a sndra.
113 Karuj^’s descendants were mentioned. 593
Di^’s son Nabhaga mamed a vaisya maiden wilfully
H4 and became a vai^ya; their son Bhanandana conquered the 697
earth, but Nabhaga declined to reign. Then Nabha’s
wife explained that she was not really a vai^ya, but that her
father was a king who became a vaisya under a rishi’s curse
116 with a promise of recovery, and that she was a princess and 601
had become a vaisya under Agastya’s curse.
116 Bhanandana became king. His son Yatsapri rescued a 604)
princess Sunanda from patala after killing a demon king
117 who had a magic club, and married her. His son was 610
and Pram^u’s son Prajati. Prajati’s son Khani-
tra was beneficent; his brothers* ministers practised magic
118 to dethrone him but destroyed themselves; Khanitra re- 616
119 signed the kingdom in grief and went to the forest. His 617
son Ksupa performed sacrifices for the harvests. His son
120 was Vira and grandson Vivimsa. Vivim^a’s son Khanine- 619
tra while hunting met two deer eager to be sacrificed, and
121 by Indra’s favour obtained a son Balasva. Balaeva was called 623
Karandhama because of a fanciful victory.
122 His son Aviksit married many princesses and carried off 266
123 princess Vai^alini at her svayamvara: the suitor kings 628
conquered and captured him, but she refused them all:
124 Karandhama rescued Aviksit, but Aviksit refused to marry 631
the princess after his discomfiture j she turned to austerities
126 and obtained an assurance from the gods : Aviksit’s mother 637
by a ruse obtained a promise from him to beget a son;
126 while hunting he rescued the princess from a demon and 641
127 pleased the gods : she proved to be a Gandharva maiden and 646
Aviksit married her in the Gandharva world ; she bore a son
128 Marutta there. Aviksit returned but refused the kingdom 649
129 because of his discomfiture. Marutta became king, and was 663
a universal monarch, a great sacrificer, and liberal benefactor
130 to brahmans. The Nagas gave great trouble, and he at- 658
tacked them, but Aviksit interposed in favour of the Nagas;
131 a battle was averted by the rishiis, and the Nagas made reparation. Marutta’s wives are named.
132 His son Narisyanta enriched the brahmans permanently
133 at a great sacrifice. His son Dama was chosen by the 668
Da^arna princess, and defeated the suitor kings, who, in violation
134 of marriage laws, opposed him. Dama became king. 674
Narisyanta was murdered in the forest by Yapusmafc one of
136 those kings. Dama bewailed, and vowed vengeance against
136 the murderer ; he slew Vapusmat and celebrated his father’s obsequies with Vapusmat’s flesh and blood.
Conclusion,
137 The Birds closed their long repetition of Markandeya’s instruction to Kraustuki, with an encomium on the Puranas and this Purana in.particular. Jaimini thanked them.
THE
MARKANDEYA PURANA
TRANSLATED WITH NOTES.
BY
F. EDEN PARGITER, B.A.
Judge of the High Court of Judicature, Calcutta;
http://astro121.com/index.php/markandeya-puranam-in-english/chapters-1-to-70?showall=&start=1
http://astro121.com/index.php/markandeya-puranam-in-english/chapters-71-to-137
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