तपसा चिन्तयंश्चापि तं शिशुं नोपलक्षये। भूतं भव्यं भविष्यं च जानन्नपि नराधिप
Though I pondered on that child with ascetic power, O king, I could not discern him, even though I know the past, present, and future.
अतसीपुष्पवर्णाभः श्रीवत्सकृतभूषणः। साक्षाल्लक्ष्म्या इवावास स तदा प्रतिभाति मे
He appeared to me as adorned with the mark of Srivatsa, his complexion like the atasi flower, as if Lakshmi herself dwelled there.
ततो मामब्रवीद्बालः स पद्मनिभलोचनः। श्रीवत्सधारी द्युतिमान्वाक्यं श्रुतिसुखावहम्
Then that child, with lotus-like eyes, bearing the Srivatsa, radiant, spoke to me words that were pleasing to hear.
जानामि त्वां परिश्रान्तं तात विश्रामकाङ्क्षिणम्। मार्कण्डेय महासत्वं यावदिच्छसि भार्गव
I know you are weary and seeking rest, O Markandeya of great soul; remain here as long as you wish, O Bhargava.
अभ्यन्तरं शरीरं मे प्रविश्य मुनिसत्तम। आस्खेह विहितो वासः प्रसादस्ते कृतो मया
Enter into my body, O best of sages, and dwell here; I have granted you this favor by my grace.
ततो बालेन तेनैव मुक्तस्यासीत्तदा मम। निर्वेदो जीविते दीर्घे मनुष्यत्वे च भारत
Then, by that child, I was freed from all weariness for life and for the long existence of mankind, O Bharata.
ततो बालेन तेनास्यं सहसा विवृतं कृतम्। तस्याहमवशो वक्रे दैवयोगात्प्रवेशितः
Then, that child suddenly opened his mouth, and by the force of fate, I was helplessly drawn into his curved mouth.
ततः प्रविष्टस्तत्कुक्षिं सहसा मनुजाधिप। सराष्ट्रनगराकीर्णां कृत्स्नां पश्यामि मेदिनीम्
O king of men, having entered his belly at once, I beheld the entire earth, filled with cities and kingdoms.
गङ्गां शतद्रुं सीतां च यमुनामथ कौशिकीम्। चर्मण्वतींवेत्रवतीं चन्द्रभागां सरस्वतीम्
I saw the Ganga, the Shatadru, the Sita, the Yamuna, and the Kaushiki; the Charmavati, the Vetravati, the Chandrabhaga, and the Sarasvati.
सिन्धुं चैव विपाशां च नदीं गोदावरीमपि। वस्वोकसारां नलिनीं नर्मदां चैव भारत
I saw the Sindhu and the Vipasha rivers, and also the Godavari; the Vasvokasara, the Nalini, and the Narmada, O Bharata.
नदीं ताम्रां च वेणां च पुण्यतोयां शुभावहाम्। सुवेणां कृष्णवेणां च इरामां च महानदीम्
I saw the Tamra and the Vena rivers, whose waters are holy and auspicious; the Suvena, the Krishna-Vena, and the great river Irama.
वितस्तां च महाराज कावेरीं च महानदीम्। `तुङ्गभद्रां कृष्णवेणीं कमलां च महानदीम्'। शोणं च पुरुषव्याघ्र विशल्यां किंपुनामपि
I saw the Vitasta, O great king, and the great river Kaveri; the Tungabhadra, the Krishna-Veni, the great river Kamala, the Shona, O tiger among men, the Vishalya, and the Kimpuna as well.
एताश्चान्याश्च नद्योऽहं पृथिव्यां या नरोत्तम। परिक्रामन्प्रपश्यामि तस्य कुक्षौ महात्मनः
And, O best of men, as I wandered, I saw these and other rivers that exist on earth, within the belly of that great soul.
ततः समुद्रं पश्मामि यादोगणनिषेवितम्। रत्नाकरममित्रघ्न पयसोनिधिमुत्तमम्
Then I beheld the ocean, frequented by hosts of aquatic creatures, the treasure-house of gems, the supreme reservoir of waters, O destroyer of foes.
ततः पश्यामि गगनं चन्द्रसूर्यविराजितम्। जाज्वल्यमानं तेजोभिः पावकार्कसमप्रभम्
Then I saw the sky, adorned by the moon and sun, blazing with radiance, shining like fire and the sun.
पश्यामि च महीं राजन्काननैरुपशोभिताम्। `सपर्वतवनद्वीपां निम्नगाशतसंकुलाम्
O king, I saw the earth adorned with forests, mountains, and islands, crowded with hundreds of rivers.
यजन्ते हि ततो राजन्ब्राह्मणा बहुभिर्मखैः। क्षत्रियाश् प्रवर्तन्ते सर्ववर्णानुरञ्जनैः
There, O king, Brahmanas perform many sacrifices, and Kshatriyas engage in acts that delight all the orders.
वैश्याः कृषिं यथान्यायं कारयन्ति नराधिप। शुश्रूषायां च निरता द्विजानां वृषलास्तथा
Vaishyas carry out agriculture according to law, O lord of men, and Shudras are devoted to serving the twice-born.
ततः परिपतन्राजंस्तस्य कुक्षौ महात्मनः। हिमवन्तं च पश्यामि हेमकूटं च पर्वतम्
Then, as I moved about within the belly of that great soul, O king, I saw the Himalaya and the golden-peaked Hemakuta mountain.
निषधं चापि पश्यामि श्वेतं च रजतान्वितम्। पश्यामि च महीपाल पर्वतं गन्धमादनम्
I saw the Nishadha and the white Rajata mountains; and, O protector of the earth, I saw the Gandhamadana mountain.
मन्दरं मनुजव्याघ्र नीलं चापि महागिरिम्। पश्यामि च महाराज मेरु कनकपर्वतम्
O tiger among men, I saw Mandara and the great blue mountain; and, O great king, I saw Meru, the golden mountain.
महेन्द्रं चैव पश्यामि विन्ध्यं च गिरिमुत्तमम्। मलयं चापि पश्यामि पारियात्रं च पर्वतम्
I saw Mahendra and the excellent Vindhya mountain, and I also saw Malaya and the Pariyatra mountain.
एते चान्ये च बहवो यावन्तः पृथिवीधराः। तस्योदरे मया दृष्टाः सर्वे रत्नविभूषिताः
All these and many other mountains that uphold the earth, adorned with jewels, I saw within his belly.
सिंहान्व्याघ्रान्वराहांश्च पश्यामि मनुजाधिप। पृथिव्यां यानि चान्यानि सत्त्वानि जगतीपते। तानि सर्वाण्यहं तत्र पश्यन्पर्यचरं तदा
O king of men, I saw lions, tigers, and boars, and all other creatures that exist on earth; seeing all these, I wandered there at that time.
कुक्षौ तस् नरव्याघ्र प्रविष्टः संचरन्दिशः। शक्रादींश्चापि पश्यामि कृत्स्नान्देवगणानहम्
O tiger among men, having entered his belly, I move about in all directions; I also see all the hosts of gods, including Indra and the others.
साध्यान्रुद्रांस्तथाऽऽदित्यान्गुह्यकान्पितरस्तथा। सर्पान्नागान्सुपर्णांश्च वसूनप्यश्विनावपि
I see the Sādhyas, Rudras, Ādityas, Guhyakas, Pitṛs, serpents, Nāgas, Suparṇas, Vasus, and the Aśvins as well.
गन्धर्वाप्सरसो यक्षानृषींश्चैव महीपते। दैत्यदानवसङ्घांश्च नागांश्च मनुजाधिप
I see Gandharvas, Apsarases, Yakṣas, and also the seers, O king, as well as the hosts of Daityas and Dānavas, and Nāgas, O lord of men.
सिंहिकातनयांश्चापि ये चान्ये सुरशत्रवः। यच्च किंचिन्मया लोके दृष्टं स्थावरजङ्गमम्
I see the sons of Siṃhikā and other enemies of the gods, and whatever else, moving or unmoving, I have seen in the world.
सर्वं पश्याम्यहं राजंस्तस्य कुक्षौ महात्मनः। त्वरमाणः फलाहारः कृत्स्नं जगदिदं विभो
O king, I see all of this within the belly of that great soul, who, hastening to eat fruit, contains this entire world, O mighty one.
अन्तःशरीरे तस्याहं वर्षाणामधिकं शतम्। न च पश्यामि यस्याहं देहस्यान्तं कदाचन
Within his body I remained for more than a hundred years, yet I never saw the end of that body at any time.