ददाति यो वै कपिलां सचैलां कांस्योपदोहां द्रविणैरुत्तरीयैः। तैस्तैर्गुणैः कामदुहाऽथ भूत्वा नरं प्रदातारमुपैति नाकैः
He who gives a tawny cow, with her covering, yielding milk in a bronze vessel, along with wealth and upper garments, that wish-fulfilling cow, adorned with such qualities, approaches her giver in heaven.
यावन्ति रोमाणि भवन्ति धेन्वा- स्तावत्फलं लभते गोप्रदाने। पुत्रांसच् पौत्रांश्च कुलं च सर्व- मासप्तमं तारयते परत्र
As many hairs as are on a cow, so much is the fruit gained by giving a cow; he lifts up his sons, grandsons, and his entire lineage up to the seventh generation in the next world.
सदक्षिणां काञ्चनचारुशृङ्गीं कांस्योपदोहां द्रविणैरुत्तरीयैः। धेनुं तिलानां ददतो द्विजाय लोका वसूनां सुलभा भवन्ति
He who gives to a Brahmin a cow with golden beautiful horns, yielding milk in a bronze vessel, with wealth and upper garments, and of sesame seeds, easily attains the worlds of the Vasus.
स्वकर्मभिर्दानवसंनिरुद्धे तीव्रान्धकारे नरके पतन्तम्। महार्णवे नौरिव वातयुक्ता दानं गवां तारयते परत्र
When one falls into a terrible darkness in hell, bound by his own deeds, the gift of cows carries him across, like a wind-driven boat on a great ocean, to the other shore.
यो ब्राह्मदेयां तु ददाति कन्यां भूमिप्रदानं च करोति विप्रे। ददाति दानं विधिना च यश्च स लोकमाप्नोति पुरंदरस्य
He who gives a maiden in marriage to a Brahmin, or donates land to a Brahmin, or gives gifts according to rule, attains the world of Indra.
यः सप्तवर्षाणि जुहोति तार्क्ष्य हव्यं त्वग्नौ नियतः साधुशीलः। सप्तावरान्सप्तपूर्वान्पुनाति पितामहानात्मना कर्मभिः स्वैः
He who, for seven years, offers oblations to fire with discipline and good conduct, purifies seven generations of ancestors by his own deeds.
किमग्निहोत्रस्य व्रतं पुराण- माचक्ष्व मे पृच्तश्चारुरूपे। त्वयाऽनुशिष्टोऽहमिहाद्य विद्यां यदग्निहोत्रस्य व्रतं पुराणम्
Tell me, what is the ancient vow of the Agnihotra? I ask you, O beautiful one; instructed by you today, I wish to know the ancient vow of the Agnihotra.
न चाशुचिर्नाप्यनिर्णिक्तपाणि- र्नाब्रह्मविज्जुहुयान्नाविपश्चित्। बुभुत्सवः शुचिकामा हि देवा नाश्रद्दधानाद्धि हविर्जुषन्ति
One who is impure, whose hands are not washed, who does not know the Veda, or who is unwise, should not offer oblations; for the gods, desiring purity, do not accept offerings from one without faith.
नाश्रोत्रियं देवहव्ये नियुञ्ज्या- न्मोघं पुरा सिञ्चति तादृशो हि। अपूर्णमश्रोत्रियमाह तार्क्ष्य न वै तादृग्जुहुयादग्निहोत्रम्
One should not appoint a non-Vedic-knower for divine offerings; such an offering is wasted. Tārkṣya says that an uninitiated person is unfit; such a one should not perform the Agnihotra.
रये वै कृशानुं जुह्वति श्रद्दधानाः सत्यव्रता हुतशिष्टाशिनश्च। गवां लोकं प्राप्यते पुण्यगन्धं पश्यन्ति देवं परमं चापि सत्यम्
Those who offer with faith to the fire, who are truthful and eat the remnants of the sacrifice, attain the fragrant world of cows and behold the supreme god and truth itself.
क्षेत्रज्ञभूतां परलोकभावे कर्मोदये बुद्दिमभिप्रविष्टाम्। प्रज्ञां च देवीं सुभगे विमृश्य पृच्छामि त्वां का ह्यसि चारुरूपे
O beautiful one, reflecting on the divine wisdom that enters the intellect as the field-knower in the state beyond, at the rise of karma, I ask you—who are you?
अग्निहोत्रादहमभ्यागताऽस्मि विप्रर्षभाणां संशयच्छेदनाय। त्वत्संयोगादहमेतदब्रुवं भावे स्थिता तथ्यमर्थं यथावत्
I have come from the Agnihotra, to resolve the doubts of the foremost Brahmins; by your association I have spoken this, standing in truth as it is.
न हि त्वया सदृशी काचिदस्ति विभ्राजसे ह्यतिमात्रं यथा श्रीः। रूपं च ते दिव्यमनन्तकान्ति प्रज्ञां च देवीं सुभगे बिभर्षि
There is truly no one like you; you shine exceedingly, like fortune herself. Your form is divine, of endless beauty, and you possess divine wisdom, O blessed one.
श्रेष्ठानि यानि द्विपदांवरिष्ठ यज्ञेषु विद्वन्नुपपादयन्ति। तैरेव चाहं संप्रवृद्धा भवामि चाप्यायिता रूपवती च विप्र
O best of the twice-born, whatever is most excellent among men that the learned attain in sacrifices, by those very means I am nourished and grow beautiful.
यच्चापि पात्रमुपयुज्यते ह वानस्पत्यमायसं पार्थिवं वा। दिव्येन रूपेण प्रज्ञया च तेनैव सिद्धिरिति विद्धि विद्वन्
And whatever vessel is used—whether made of wood, metal, or clay—know, O wise one, that success comes from the purity of intent and understanding, not from the vessel itself.
परं पुराणं तमहं न वेद्मि
I do not know that supreme, ancient one.
तं वै परं वेदविदः प्रपन्नाः परं परेभ्यः प्रथितं पुराणम्। स्वाध्यायदानव्रतपुण्ययोगै- स्तपोधना वीतशोका विमुक्ताः
Those who know the Vedas, who are devoted to study, charity, vows, and meritorious practices—ascetics free from sorrow and liberated—have attained that supreme, renowned, ancient one.
तस्याथ मध्ये वेतसः पुण्यगन्धः सहस्रशाखो विपुलो विभाति। तस्य मूलात्सरितः प्रस्रवन्ति मधूदकप्रस्रवणाः सुपुण्याः
In its midst stands a vetasa tree, fragrant and holy, with a thousand branches, vast and resplendent; from its roots flow sacred streams of honeyed water.
शाखांशाखां महानद्यः संयान्ति सिकताशयाः। धानापूपा मांसशाकाः सदापायसकर्दमाः
To each and every branch, great rivers with sandy beds converge; there are always grains, cakes, meat, vegetables, sweet drinks, and mud of rice.
यस्मिन्नग्निमुखा देवाः सेन्द्राः सहमरुद्गणाः। ईजिरे क्रतुभिः श्रेष्ठैस्तत्पदं परमं मुने
In that place, O sage, the gods led by Agni and Indra, together with the hosts of Maruts, performed the highest sacrifices.
ततः स पाण्डवो भूयो मार्कण्डेयमुवाच ह। कथयस्वति चरितं मनोर्वैवस्वतस्य च
Then that son of Pandu again spoke to Markandeya: 'Tell me the story of Manu, son of Vivasvat.'
विवस्वतः सुतो राजन्महर्षिः सुप्रतापवान्। बभूव नरशार्दूल प्रजापतिसमद्युतिः
O king, Vivasvat’s son was a great sage, blazing in splendor, a tiger among men, shining like the lord of creatures.
ओजसातेजसा लक्ष्म्या तपसा च विशेषतः। अतिचक्राम पितरं मनुः स्वंच पितामहम्
By his energy, brilliance, fortune, and especially his austerity, Manu surpassed his own father and grandfather.
ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्विशालायां बदर्यां स नराधिपः। एकपादस्थितस्तीव्रं चकार सुमहत्तपः
That lord of men, with arms raised upward, stood on one leg in the vast Badari, performing intense and great austerities.
अवाकूशिरास्तथा चापि नेत्रैरनिमिषैर्दृढम्। सोऽतप्यत तपो घोरं वर्षाणामयुतं तदा
With his head bent down and his gaze fixed, unmoving, he practiced fierce austerity for ten thousand years.
तं कदाचित्तपस्यन्तमार्द्रचीरजटाधरम्। चीरिणीतीरमागम्य मत्स्यो वचनमब्रवीत्
Once, as he was engaged in austerity, wearing wet bark and matted hair, a fish approached him on the bank and spoke these words:
भगवन्क्षुद्रमत्स्येस्मि बलवद्भ्यो भयंमम। मत्स्येभ्यो हि ततो मां त्वं त्रातुमर्हसि सुव्रत
'O venerable one, I am a small fish and I fear the strong; please protect me from the bigger fish, O steadfast one.'
दुर्बलं बलवन्तो हि मत्स्या मत्स्यं विशेषतः। भक्षयन्ति सदा वृत्तिर्विहिता नः सनातनी
'For the strong always devour the weak fish, especially among us; such is our eternal way of life.'
तस्माद्भयौघान्महतो मज्जन्तं मां विशेषतः। त्रातुमर्हसि कर्तास्मि कृतेप्रतिकृतं तव
'Therefore, as I am sinking in this great flood of fear, you should protect me; I will repay your kindness in return.'
स मत्स्यवचनं श्रुत्वा कृपयाऽभिपरिप्लुतः। मनुर्वैवस्वतोऽगृह्णात्तं मत्स्यं पाणिना स्वयम्
Hearing the fish’s words, Manu Vaivasvata, filled with compassion, took the fish in his own hand.