कामक्रोधाभिभूतास्ते मायाव्याजोपजीविनः। लोभमोहाभिभूताश्च त्यक्ता देवैस्ततो नराः
Overcome by desire and anger, living by deceit and illusion, overpowered by greed and delusion, those men were then abandoned by the gods.
अशुभैः कर्मभिः पापास्तिर्यङ्गिरयगामिनः। संसारेषु विचित्रेषु पच्यमानाः पुनः पुनः
Through evil deeds, the sinful ones went to animal and hellish births, being cooked again and again in the various cycles of existence.
मोघेष्टा मोघसंकल्पा मोघज्ञाना विचेतसः। `काङ्क्षिणः सर्वकामानां नास्तिका भिन्नसेतवः
Their sacrifices, intentions, and knowledge were fruitless, their minds confused, desiring all objects, faithless, and with broken restraints.
सर्वाभिशङ्खिनश्चैव संवृत्ताः क्लेदायिनः। अशुभैः कर्मभिश्चापि प्रायशः परिचिह्निताः
They became suspicious of everything, causing decay, and were generally marked by evil deeds.
दौष्कुल्या व्याधिबहुला दुरात्मानोऽभितापिनः। भवन्त्यल्पायुषः पापा रौद्रकर्मफलोदयाः। नाथन्तः सर्वकामानां नास्तिका भिन्नचेतसः
They became of wicked lineage, afflicted by many diseases, evil-minded, tormented, short-lived, sinful, with the results of cruel actions arising, faithless, desiring all objects, and with broken minds.
जन्तोः प्रेतस्य कौन्तेय गतिः स्वैरिह कर्मभिः। प्राज्ञस्य हीनबुद्धेश्च कर्मकोशः क्व तिष्ठति
O son of Kunti, the fate of a being after death is determined by his own actions here; but where does the store of deeds of the wise and the dull-witted remain?
क्वस्थस्तत्समुपाश्नाति सुकृतं यदि वेतरत्। इति ते दर्शनं यच्च तत्राप्यनुनयं शृणु
Where does he partake of that which is well done, or otherwise? This is your question regarding the vision; now listen to the explanation concerning it.
अयमादिशरीरेण देवसृष्टेन मानवः। शुभानामशुभानां च कुरुते संचयं महत्
This human being, with the primordial body created by the gods, accumulates a great collection of both auspicious and inauspicious deeds.
आयुषोऽन्ते प्रहायेदं क्षीणप्रायं कलेबरम्। संभवत्येव युगपद्योनौ नास्त्यन्तराऽभवः
At the end of life, this worn-out body is abandoned; birth occurs simultaneously, without any interval between the two.
तत्रास्य स्वकृतं कर्म च्छायेवानुगतं सदा। फलत्यथ सुखार्हो वा दुःखार्होवाऽथ जायते
There, his own actions always follow him like a shadow; then, he becomes one who deserves happiness or suffering, and is born accordingly.
कृतान्तविधिसंयुक्तः स जन्तुर्लक्षणैः शुभैः। अशुभैर्वा निरादानो लक्ष्यते ज्ञानदृष्टिभिः
That creature, endowed with the ordinance of Death, is recognized by wise vision as bearing auspicious or inauspicious marks, and is received accordingly.
एषा तावदबुद्धीनां गतिरुक्ता युधिष्ठिर। अतः परं ज्ञानवतां निबोध गतिमुत्तमाम्
This, then, is the path described for those without wisdom, O Yudhishthira; now hear the supreme path for those who possess knowledge.
मनुष्यास्तप्ततपसः सर्वागमपरायणाः। स्थिरव्रताः सत्यपरा गुरुशुश्रूषणे रताः
Men who are devoted to intense austerity, who follow all scriptures, who are steadfast in vows, who are devoted to truth, and who delight in serving their teachers,
सुशीलाः शुक्लजातीयाः क्षान्ता दान्ताः सुतेजसः। शुचियोन्यन्तरगताः प्रायशः शुभलक्षणाः
Who are virtuous, born in pure lineages, patient, self-controlled, possessing great energy, mostly born in pure wombs, and bearing auspicious marks,
जितेनद्रियत्वाद्वशिनः सत्कृत्यान्मन्दरागिणः। अल्पाबाधपरित्रासा भवन्ति निरुपद्रवाः
Who are masters of their senses due to conquering attachment, who honor others and are free from excessive passion, who have little affliction or fear, and live without disturbance,
च्यवन्तं जायमानं च गर्भस्यं चैव सर्वशः। स्वमात्मानं परं चैव बुध्यन्ते ज्ञानचक्षुषः
Those with the eye of knowledge perceive, in every way, the departing, the being born, and the state within the womb, both their own self and that of others.
ऋषयस्ते महात्मानः प्रत्यक्षागमबुद्धयः। कर्मभूमिमिमां प्राप्य पुनर्यान्ति सुरालयम्। `कृत्वा शुभानि कर्माणि ज्ञानेन भरतर्षभ
Those sages, great-souled, whose wisdom is based on direct perception and scripture, having reached this realm of action, return again to the abode of the gods, having performed auspicious deeds through knowledge, O best of Bharatas.
किंचिद्दैवाद्धठात्किंचित्किंचिदेव स्वकर्मभिः। प्राप्नुवन्ति नरा राजन्मा तेऽस्त्वन्याविचारणा
Some attain by divine favor, some by effort, and some by their own actions; men, O king, receive accordingly—let there be no other speculation.
इमामत्रोपमां चापि निबोध वदतांवर। मनुष्यलोके यच्छ्रेयः परंमन्ये युधिष्ठिर
Now hear this analogy as well, O foremost of speakers; in the world of men, what is considered the highest good, some regard as supreme, O Yudhishthira.
इहैवैकस्य नामुत्र अमुत्रैकस्य नो इह। इह चामुत्र चैकस् नामुत्रैकस्य नो इह
For one, it is only here and not hereafter; for another, only hereafter and not here; for some, both here and hereafter; for another, neither here nor hereafter.
धनानि येषां विपुलानि सन्ति नित्यंरमन्ते सुविभूषिताङ्गाः। तेषामयं शत्रुवरघ्नलोको नासौ सदा ग्राम्यसुखे रतानाम्
Those whose wealth is abundant, who always delight, adorned with splendid ornaments—this world is for them, the realm that destroys enemies; but not so for those who are always attached to worldly pleasures.
ये योगयुक्तास्तपसि प्रसक्ताः स्वाध्यायशीला जरयन्ति देहान्। जितेन्द्रिया भूतहिते निविष्टा स्तेषामसौ नायमरिघ्नलोकः
Those who are united with yoga, devoted to austerity, who practice study and wear out their bodies, who have conquered their senses and are established in the welfare of beings—for them, that world is not this world that destroys enemies.
ये धर्ममेव प्रथमं चरन्ति धर्मेण लब्ध्वा च धनानि काले। दारानवाप्य क्रतुभिर्यजन्ते तेषामयं चैव परश्च लोकः
Those who practice dharma first, and obtain wealth through dharma in due time, who acquire wives and perform sacrifices—both this world and the next belong to them.
ये नैव विद्यां न तपो न दानं न चापि मूढाः प्रजने यतन्ते। न चापिगच्छन्ति शुभान्यभाग्या- स्तेषामयं चैव परश्च नास्ति
Those who neither pursue knowledge, nor austerity, nor charity, nor strive among people, nor attain auspicious things due to misfortune—for them, neither this world nor the next exists.
सर्वे भवन्तस्त्वतिवीर्यसत्वा दिव्यौजसः संहननोपपन्नाः। लोकादमुष्मादवनिं प्रपन्नाः स्वधीतविद्याः सुरकार्यहेतोः
All of you possess extraordinary strength and spirit, endowed with divine energy and firm bodies; you have come to this earth from other worlds, learned in sacred knowledge, for the sake of the gods' work.
कृत्वैव कर्माणइ महान्ति शूरा- स्तपोदमाचारविहारशीलाः। देवानृषीन्प्रेतगतांसच् सर्वा- न्संतर्पयित्वा विधिना परेण
Having performed great deeds, you heroes, devoted to asceticism, charity, and righteous conduct, have duly satisfied the gods, sages, and the departed with the highest rites.
स्वर्गं परं पुण्यकृतां निवासं क्रमेण संप्राप्स्यथ कर्मभिः स्वैः। माभूद्विशङ्का तव कौरवेन्द्र दृष्ट्वाऽऽत्मनः क्लेशमिमं सुखार्थम्
By your own actions, you will in due course attain the supreme heaven, the abode of the virtuous; let there be no doubt in you, O King of the Kurus, seeing your present hardship endured for the sake of happiness.
मार्कण्डेयं महात्मानमूचुः पाण्डुसुतास्तदा। माहात्म्यं द्विजमुख्यानां श्रोतुमिच्छाम कथ्यताम्
At that time, the sons of Pandu said to the great-souled Markandeya: 'We wish to hear about the greatness of the foremost Brahmins; please tell us.'
एवमुक्तः स भगवान्मार्कण्डेयो महातपाः। उवाच सुमहातेजाः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः
Thus addressed, the blessed Markandeya, great in austerity, of immense brilliance and mastery of all scriptures, spoke.
हेहयानां कुलकरो राजा परपुरंजयः। कुमारो रूपसंपननो मृगयां व्यचरद्बली
The founder of the Hehaya line, the king, conqueror of enemy cities, a prince endowed with beauty and strength, once roamed the forest hunting.