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.
चरमाणस्तु सोऽरण्ये तृणवीरुत्समावृते। कृष्णाजिनोत्तरासङ्गं ददर्श मुनिमन्तिके
While wandering in the forest thick with grass and shrubs, he saw near him a sage clad in a black antelope skin.
स तेन हिंसितोऽरण्ये मन्यमानेन वै मृगम्। व्यथितः कर्म तत्कृत्वा शोकोपहतचेतनः
There, thinking he was a deer, he harmed the sage in the forest; after committing that act, he was stricken with grief and his mind was overcome by sorrow.
जगाम हेहयानां वै सकाशं प्रथितात्मनाम्। राज्ञां राजीवनेत्रोसौ कुमारः पृथिवीपते
That prince, whose eyes were like lotus petals, went to the renowned kings of the Hehaya clan, O lord of the earth.
तेषां च तद्यथावृत्तं कथयामास वै तदा। `स कुमारो महीपालो हेहयानां महीभृताम्
Then, that prince, ruler of the earth among the Hehayas, told them all exactly what had happened.
तं चापि हिंसितं तात मुनिं मूलफलाशिनम्। श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा च ते तत्र बभूवुर्दीनमानसाः
Hearing and seeing that the sage, who lived on roots and fruits, had been harmed, they all became downcast in spirit.
कस्यायमिति ते सर्वे मार्गमाणास्ततस्ततः। जग्मुश्चारिष्टनाम्नोऽथ तार्क्ष्यस्याश्रममञ्जसा
All of them, searching here and there for whom this might be, then went straight to the hermitage of Tarkshya named Arishta.
तेऽभिवाद्य महात्मानं तं मुनिं संशितव्रतम्। तस्थुः सर्वे स तु मुनिस्तेषां पूजामथाहरत्
They greeted that great-souled sage, steadfast in his vows, and stood before him; and the sage then offered them hospitality.
ते तमूचुर्महात्मानं न वयं सक्रियां मुने। त्वत्तोऽर्हाः कर्मदोषेण ब्राह्मणो हिंसितो हि नः
They said to that great-souled sage: 'O sage, we are not worthy to receive your rites, for a Brahmin has been harmed by us through a fault in our actions.'
तानब्रवीत्स विप्रर्षिः कथं वो ब्राह्मणो हतः। क्व चासौ ब्रूत सहिताः पश्यध्वं मे रतपोबलम्
That sage among Brahmins said to them: 'How was a Brahmin killed by you? Where is he? Tell me together, and witness my ascetic power.'
ते तु तत्सर्वमखिलमाख्यायास्मै यथातथम्। नापश्यंस्तमृषिं तत्र गतासुं ते समागताः
They then told him everything exactly as it had happened; but when they gathered there, they did not see the sage, for his life had departed.
अन्वेषमाणाः सव्रीडाः सुप्तवद्गतमानसाः। तानब्रवीत्तत्रमुनिस्तार्क्ष्यः परपुरंजयः
Searching, ashamed, and their minds as if dazed by sleep, the sage Tarkshya, conqueror of enemy cities, spoke to them there.
स्यादयं ब्राह्मणः सोऽथयुष्माभिर्यो विनाशितः। पुत्रो ह्ययं मम नृपास्तपोबलसमन्वितः
'This Brahmin whom you have destroyed may indeed be my son, O kings, endowed with ascetic power.'
ते च दृष्ट्वैव तमृषिं विस्मयं परमं गताः। महदाश्चर्यमिति वै ते ब्रुवाणा महीपते
Upon seeing that sage, they were struck with the utmost astonishment, exclaiming, 'This is a great wonder, O King.'
मृतो ह्ययमितो दृष्टः कथं जीवितमाप्तवान्। किमेतत्तपसो वीर्यं येनायं जीवितः पुनः। श्रोतुमिच्छामहे विप्र यदि श्रोतव्यमित्युत
He was seen dead here, yet how has he regained life? Is this the power of austerity by which he lives again? We wish to hear, O Brahmin, if it is fit to be told.
स तानुवाच नास्माकं मृत्युः प्रभवते नृपाः। कारणं च प्रवक्ष्यामि हेतुयोगं समासतः। `मृत्युः प्रभवते येन नास्माकं नृपसत्तमाः
He replied to them, 'Death does not prevail over us, O kings. I will explain the reason and the connection of causes in brief—why death does not prevail over us, O best of kings.'
शुद्धाचारादनलसाः साध्योपासनतत्पराः। शुद्धान्नाः शुद्धसदना ब्रह्मचर्यव्रतान्विताः
Because of pure conduct, freedom from laziness, devotion to the worship of the Sādhyas, purity of food, purity of dwelling, and observance of the vow of celibacy.
सत्यमेवाभिजानीमो नानृते कुर्महे मनः। स्वधर्ममनुतिष्ठामस्तस्मान्मृत्युभयं न नः
We recognize only truth; we do not let our minds dwell on falsehood. We follow our own duty, and therefore we have no fear of death.
यद्ब्राह्मणानां कुशलं तदेषां कथयामहे। तेषां हि चरितं ब्रूमस्तस्मान्मृत्युभयं न नः
Whatever is beneficial for Brahmins, that we declare for them. We recount their practices, and therefore we have no fear of death.
अतिथीनन्नपानेन भृत्यानत्यशनेन च। संभोज्य शेषमश्नीमस्तस्मान्मृत्युभयं न नः
Having honored guests with food and drink, and servants with proper meals, we partake of what remains; therefore we have no fear of death.
क्षान्ता दान्ताः क्षमाशीलास्तीर्थदानपरायणाः। पुण्यदेशनिवासाच्च तस्मान्मृत्युभयं न नः। तेजस्विदेशवासाच्च तस्मान्मृत्युभयं न नः
We are patient, self-controlled, forgiving by nature, devoted to giving at holy places, and dwell in sacred regions; therefore we have no fear of death. And because we reside in regions of energy, therefore we have no fear of death.