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मार्कण्डेयसमास्यापर्वन् (mArkaNDeyasamAsyAparvan)

 
Mahabharata
English
[Mārkaṇḍeyasamāsyāparvan(ºva)]
(“section relating to the [Pāṇḍavas']
enjoying the company of Mārkaṇḍeya, ” the 41st of the minor parvans of Mhbhr.). (Cf. Mārkaṇḍeyasamāsyā.) § 451: When the Pāṇḍavas were dwelling at that very place (cf. v. 12547: caratāṃ marudhanvasu, “roaming about in deserts”), there set in the season of the rains (description). Then in the autumn (description) they spent the holiest night, that of the full moon in the month of Kārttika, on the Sarasvatī with the ascetics. As soon as the dark fortnight set in, they with their charioteers and cooks entered the Kāmyaka forest (III, 182).--§ 452: In the Kāmyaka wood many brahmans came to them, and one of them said that Kṛshṇa and Mārkaṇḍeya would come to see them. Immediately Kṛshṇa arrived with Satyabhāmā on his chariot that was yoked with Śaibya and Sugrīva. He told Kṛshṇā that her sons, though her father and brothers proffered them a kingdom and territories, found no joy in the house of Drupada, but that in the town of the Vṛshṇis they were directed by Subhadrā and received instruction from Raukmiṇeya even as Aniruddha, Abhimanyu, Sunītha, and Bhānu, and were instructed by the young Abhimanyu in the use of arms. Then he suggested to Yudhishṭhira with the Daśārhas, Kukuras, and Andhakas, to kill Duryodhana, etc. Yudhishṭhira said they would stand by their promise, and after the thirteen years take refuge in Kṛshṇa.--§ 453: While they were thus talking, the brahmarshi Mārkaṇḍeya (b) appeared. When they had taken their seats, the devarshi Nārada also came to visit them. Yudhishṭhira, mentioning the happiness of the impious Dhārtarāshṭras, asked Mārkaṇḍeya about the results of men's acts. Mārkaṇḍeya, after having described the Kṛta age and the subsequent deterioration, answered the question (III, 183).--§§ 454--5: Brāhmaṇamāhātmya-kathana (q.v.).--§ 456: SarasvatīTārkshya-saṃvāda (q.v.).--§ 457: Vaivasvatopākhyāna (q.v.). --§ 458: Yudhishṭhira, saying that Mārkaṇḍeya alone worships Brahmán at the time of the great dissolution, when he sleeps in a lotus flower, and when he awakes to recreate the world, asked him to explain the causes of things. Mārkaṇḍeya said: Janārdana attired in yellow robes is the great creator of everything. After the dissolution, creation again comes to life. Kṛta yuga = 4, 000 years + dawn 400 years + eve 400 years
Tretā yuga = 3, 000 + 300 + 300
Dvāpara yuga = 2, 000 + 200 + 200
Kali yuga = 1, 000 + 100 + 100
altogether a cycle of yugas = 12, 000 years. After the Kali yuga is over, the Kṛta yuga comes again. One thousand cycles constitute a day of Brahmán. Description of Kali yuga (b). Then comes a long drought, and seven suns drink up all water and reduce wood and grass to ashes. Then the Samvartaka fire with wind penetrates into Rasātala and terrifies the gods, Dānavas, and Yakshas, and consumes this world with gods, Asuras, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Uragas, and Rākshasas. And there rise in the sky deep masses of clouds flooding the entire surface of the earth and showering incessantly for twelve years. Then Svayambhū, dwelling in the lotus, drinks this terrible wind and goes to sleep.--§ 459: When all has become water, I (i.e. Mārkaṇḍeya) alone wander in affliction and become fatigued, and find no resting-place. Then I behold a vast banyan-tree, and on a couch attached to a bough of that tree a fair boy with yellow robes, with the mark of Śrīvatsa. He caused me to enter his body through the mouth, and then I beheld the whole earth with cities and kingdoms, Gaṅgā, Śatadru, etc. (enumeration) (), gods, Sādhyas, Rudras, Ādityas, etc. (enumeration) (), At last I was suddenly projected through his open mouth by a gust of wind. Within that very moment I acquired a new sight and beheld myself emancipated (nirmuktaṃ). I wished to know his self. Then he spoke to me (III, 188): “The gods even do not know me truly. I am Nārāyaṇa (v. 12952: “in ancient times I called the waters nārā, and because the waters have ever been my ayana [home], therefore I have been called Nārāyaṇa”), the eternal and unchangeable source of all things, the Creator and Destroyer of all
I am Vishṇu, Brahmán, Śakra, etc.
in the form of Śesha I support this earth, in the form of a boar I raised it when sunk in water
I am the Vaḍavāvaktra fire
from my mouth, arms, thighs, and feet sprang brahmans, kshatriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras
from me spring the Ṛg.-, Sāma-, Yajur-, and Atharva-veda
I am the Samvartaka fire, the Samvartaka wind, the Samvartaka sun, and the Samvartaka fire(!) (v. 12966 foll.)
the stars are the pores of my skin, etc. When virtue and morality decrease, I create myself into new forms
in the Kṛta age I become white, etc. (see §§ 426b, 427, 428, 429). When the end comes, I alone in the form of Kāla destroy the three worlds, etc. The grandsire of all creatures (Sarvalokapitāmaha) is half of my body. I am the bearer of the conch-shell, the discus, and the mace. For a period of 1, 000 cycles of yugas I sleep, overwhelming all creatures in insensibility, and I stay here, in the form of a boy though I am old, until Brahmán wakes up
under the form of Brahmán I have repeatedly granted thee boons When Brahmán (Sarvalokapitāmaha) awakes, I will then alone create all creatures.” Then he disappeared, and I (Mārkaṇḍeya) beheld this creation start into life. And that deity is Kṛshṇa, thy relative. In consequence of the boon granted by him memory does not fail me, my life is long, and death is under my control (v. 13002). Then all bowed down unto Jaṇārdana (i.e. Kṛshṇa), who comforted them (III, 189).--§ 460: Yudhishṭhira asked him about the future cause of the government (sāmrājya) of the earth. Mārkaṇḍeya, having given a short description of the other yugas, described in detail the Kali-yuga (b)
“in the new Kṛta-yuga, Kalkin (c) will arise.” Then Mārkaṇḍeya gave Yudhishṭhira some moral precepts and exhortations (III, 190-1).--§ 461: Vāmadevacarita (q.v.).--§ 462: Baka-Śakra-saṃvāda (q.v.). § 463: Śibi (q.v.).--§ 464: Nāhusha-carita (v. Yayāti).-§ 465, on the same topic: There were two learned and able kings, Vṛshadarbha and Seduka. Seduka knew that Vṛshadarbha had from his boyhood an unuttered vow, that he would give no other metal to brahmans than gold and silver. He once sent a brahman, who asked him for 1, 000 horses for his preceptor, to Vṛshadarbha, who whipped him and then gave him a day's tribute (which was more than the value of 1, 000 horses), “because he had whipped him” (III, 196). --§ 466: Śibi (q.v.).--§ 467: Rājanyamahābhāgya (q.v.).-§ 468: Indradyumnopākhyāna (q.v.).--§ 469: Asked by Yudhishṭhira in what condition (age) a man should practise charity, Mārkaṇḍeya enumerated four kinds of futile life and sixteen kinds of futile charity. The brahmans save others and themselves by japa, mantra, and homa. He next enumerated the brahmans that should be excluded from śrāddhas, and gave other moral precepts (of offerings to the gods of flowers and sandals and pastes, entertainment of guests)
then he enumerated the persons to whom one should make gifts
the effects of various gifts to brahmans (food is the best).-§ 470: Yamaloka (q.v.).--§ 471: Precepts about gifts, washing the feet of brahmans, etc. Blessing upon the reader.-§ 472: Three kinds of purity (speech, deed, water)
by adoring sandhyā and reciting Gāyatrī one is protected against sin and evil results from gifts, against inauspicious stars, and against Rākshasas. Greatness of the brahmans. The carrying of three staves, etc., are useless if the heart be not pure. They who do not commit sin in manas, word, deed, and buddhi do really practise austerities (v. 13468: by tapas one may attain Svarga, by charity enjoyment, by knowledge salvation (moksha), by bathing in tīrthas purgation from sins).-§ 473: On the effects of various gifts at various times (v. 13480: the first offspring of fire is gold, earth springs from Vishṇu, and the cows from the sun
he, therefore, that gives away gold, land, and kine, has given the three worlds [of Agni, Vishṇu, and the Sun]) (III, 200).--§ 474: Having heard the history of Indradyumna, Yudhishṭhira, saying that Mārkaṇḍeya knew the gods, Dānavas, Rākshasas, the royal genealogies and the genealogies of the ṛshis, and Gandharvas, Yakshas, Kinnaras, and Apsarases, asked him about Kuvalāśva Ikshvāku. Mārkaṇḍeya related: Dhundhumāropākhyāna (q.v.).--§§ 479--87: Pativratopākhyāna (q.v.).--§§ 488--94: Aṅgirasa (q.v.).--§§ 495--8: Skandotpatti (q.v.).--§ 499: Skanda-Śakra-samāgama (q.v.).--§§ 500--1: Skandopākhyāna (q.v.).--§ 502: Manushyagrahakathana (q.v.).--§§ 503--7: Skandayuddha (q.v.).--§§ 508--9: Kārttikeyastava (q.v.).