Pages

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Shri Markandeya Puranam

with 0 comments
Markandeya Puranam
CHAPTER - 1
OM! Salutation unto the Divine Vasudeva.
May those two lotus feet of Hari, capable of dissipating the affliction consequent upon the
fear of existence, which, being got at, are adored by the ascetics of composed minds, and
which coming into view, have in order enveloped heaven and earth and the nether region,
purify you. May he, who is capable of destroying all sins, who reposed on the serpent
(Ananta) living in the interior of the Milky ocean, and in whose company, the ocean, although
having the billows of its waters rendered terrific by its breath, seemed to dance, protect you.
Having saluted the Supreme Deity (Narayana), and the highest of male beings (Nara) as also
the goddess of learning, Saraswati, let us cry success. The highly energetic Jaimini, the
disciple of Vyasa, asked the great ascetic Markandeya, engaged in hard austerities and the
study of Vedas.
(1)
"O Reverend Sir, the story of Bharata, that has been related by the high-
souled Vyasa, is full of many brilliant expressions collected from various scriptures, and
consists of divine metres and figures of speech, excellent words, questions and their
solutions.
(2-3)
As Vishnu is amongst the celestials, a Brahmana amongst men, the peerless
jewel amongst all ornaments, the thunder-bolt amongst all weapons and mind amongst all
organs, so is the most excellent Mahabharata amongst all sacred writings.
(4-5)
In it are
described both collectively and separately wealth, virtue desire and liberation.
(6)
It is the
foremost of all religious scriptures, the most excellent of all treatises treating of wealth, the
foremost of all works relating to desire and the best of all discoursing on liberation.
(7)
O great
Sir, in it have been described by the intelligent Veda Vyasa, the practices, mode of living and
the attainment of object belonging to the four conditions (of life).
(8)
O Sir, this has been so
composed by the generous Vyasa that this great scripture, albeit very extensive, is not
assailed by contradictions.
(9)
The earth has been freed from dust by the watery billows of
Vyasa's words coming down from the mount of the Vedas and capable of destroying the
trees of false arguments.
(10)
The huge lake of the Vedas composed by Krishna (Dwaipayana
Vyasa) has the sweet words for its big swans, the great stories for its excellent lotuses and
the saying for expansive water.
(11)
Being desirous of learning (from you) faithfully this story
of Bharata instinct with deep import and full of Srutis, I have approached you, O reverend Sir.
(12)
Why did Janardana, the son of Vasudeva, although devoid of qualities, assume a human
form for the creation, preservation and destruction of this universe?
(13)
Why did Krishna, the
daughter of Drupada, alone become the queen of the five sons of Pandu? I have a great
doubt in this.
(14)
How did the highly-powerful Balarama, having a plough for his weapon,
atone for the sin of Brahmanacide by visiting holy shrines?
(15)
Why did the mighty car-
warriors, the high-souled sons of Draupadi, having the Pandavas as their lords, die before
they were married like forlorn (persons)?
(16)
It behoves you to describe all this in detail to
me, for you always enlighten ignorant people".
(17)
Hearing those his words, the great ascetic
Markandeya, freed from the eighteen shortcomings
1
, addressed himself to speak.
(18)
MARKANDEYA said: "O foremost of Munis, the hour for performing my rites is present; this
is not the proper time for describing it in detail.
(19)
I shall name now some birds, O Jaimini,
that shall describe (this to you) and remove your doubt.
(20)
Those best of birds, conversant
with true knowledge, who always think upon scriptures, and whose understanding is ever
free in entering into knowledge of the Vedic scriptures, Drona's sons, Pingaksha, Vibodha,
Suputra and Sumukha are living in a cave of the Vindhya (mountain); go there and ask them
(about what you seek to learn)."
(21-22)
Being thus accosted by the intelligent Markandeya,
that best of ascetics, having his eyes expanded with wonderment, replied.
(23)
JAIMINI said: "Highly wonderful it is, O Brahman, that birds speak like men (and greater it is)
that they should attain to knowledge which it is so difficult to acquire.
(24)
If they have sprung
from the species of birds wherefrom have they attained to his knowledge? Where are these
birds called the sons of Drona?
(25)
Who again is Drona who has these four sons born to
1
sleep, lassitude, fear, anger, stupefaction, pride, insanity, negligence, surprise, doubt, covetousness, malice,
envy, insincerity, falsehood, faithlessness, partiality and ignorance
him? How did these high-souled and accomplished ones acquire knowledge of
righteousness?"
(26)
MARKANDEYA said: "Listen attentively to what took place in Nandana (the garden of gods)
when Sakra, Narada and Apsaras met.
(27)
Narada saw Sakra, the king of celestials, in the
midst of the courtesans with his looks firmly fixed upon their faces.
(28)
As soon as he was
espied by that best of ascetics, Sachi's lord (Indra) at once rose up and respectfully offered
him his own seat.
(29)
Beholding that destroyer of Vala and Vitra rise up, the celestial
damsels, bending low with humility, bowed to that celestial saint.
(30)
Being honoured by them
and on the performer of hundred sacrifices taking his seat, (the ascetic), duly welcomed,
started a pleasant conversation. After it had ended, the performer of hundred sacrifices said
to the great ascetic.
(31)
SAKRA said: "Command, let one of them, whom you like, dance - Rambha, Misrakesi,
Urvasi, Tilottama, Ghritachi, Menaka, or (any one else) whom you choose
(32)
". Hearing the
words of Sakra, Narada, the foremost of the twice-born, thinking (for a while) said to the
Apsaras who stood (before him).
(33)
"Let her, amongst you, who considers herself as
superior in beauty and nobility - dance before me.
(34)
One, devoid of beauty and
accomplishments, cannot attain to consummation in dancing. A dancing which is
accompanied by gestures is (real) dancing - any thing else is but infliction
(35)
".
MARKANDEYA said: "Immediately after he had spoken this, each, bowing, said: 'I am
superior in accomplishments.' while the other said 'not you, not you'.
(36)
Seeing their
bewilderment the Divine chastiser of Paka said: 'Ask you the ascetic and he will say who
amongst you is superior in accomplishments'.
(37)
Hear from me, O Jaimini, what Narada then
said on being asked by them, following the direction of Sakra.
(38)
"I shall consider her to be
the foremost in accomplishments, who, by her charm, shall agitate the foremost of ascetics
Durvasa, carrying on hard austerities on the mountain-chief
(39)
". Hearing his words, they all,
shaking their heads said: "We are all incapable of doing this
(40)
". Amongst them one Apsara,
by name Vapu, proud of (her capability) to agitate the sage, said: "I shall go where the
anchoret is.
(41)
I shall make to-day that driver (of the chariot) of the body who has controlled
the horses of the senses, lose the hold of reins and become an unskilled driver.
(42)
Even if
Brahma, Janardana, and the blue-red (deity Siva) come to me I shall make to-day their
hearts pierced with the shafts of desire".
(43)
Having said this Vapu then went to the mount
Praleya, (where) by the power of the ascetic's penances the ferocious beasts and asylums
were rendered quiet.
(44)
Remaining at a distance of two miles from where the great ascetic
was, that excellent Apsara, having the sweet voice of a male coel, began to sing.
(45)
Hearing
her music, the ascetic, having his mind filled with surprise, went where that damsel, of sweet
voice was.
(46)
Beholding her, all whose limbs were graceful, the ascetic, controlling his mind
and knowing that she had come to agitate it, was filled with wrath and indignation. Then the
great sage of hard austerities, told her the following.
(47)
"Since, O ranger of the sky, O you
intoxicated with pride, you have come to cause me woe and to put impediments in my
austerity acquired by pain, you shall, therefore, O you of vicious understanding, sullied by my
wrath, be born in the species of birds (and remain such) for sixteen years.
(48-49)
O wretch of
an Apsara, renouncing own form and assuming that of a bird four sons will be born to you.
(50)
And not obtaining delight in them, and purified by (the stroke of an) weapon you shall
again acquire your residence in heaven. There is nothing for you to say in reply".
(51)
Making
that damsel of tremulous bangles, hear of this unbearable speech, that Brahmana, of eyes
reddened with anger, leaving the earth containing the Ganga of liquid waves, went to the
celestial Ganga endued with well-known virtues.
(52)