एवं सर्वमहं कालमिहासे मुनिसत्तम। अशिशुः शिशुरूपेण यावद्ब्रह्मा न बुध्यते
Thus, O best of sages, I remain here for all that time, in the form of a child, until Brahma awakens.
मया च दत्तो विप्राग्र्य वरस्ते ब्रह्मरूपिणा। असकृत्परितष्टेन विप्रर्षिगणपूजित
And the supreme boon given to you by me, in the form of Brahma, honored repeatedly by hosts of Brahmin sages, has been granted.
सर्वमेकार्णवं दृष्ट्वा नष्टं स्थावरजङ्गमम्। विक्लबोसि मया ज्ञातस्ततस्ते दर्शितं जगत्
Seeing all as a single ocean, with all that moves and is still destroyed, you became despondent; knowing this, I revealed the world to you.
अभ्यन्तरं शरीरस्य प्रविष्टोसि यदा मम। दृष्ट्वा लोकं समस्तं च विस्मितो नावबुध्यसे
When you entered within my body, seeing the entire world, you were amazed and did not comprehend.
ततोसि वक्राद्विप्रर्षे द्रुतं निःसारितो मया। आख्यातस्ते मया चात्मा दुर्ज्ञे योपि सुरासुरैः
Then, O sage among Brahmins, I quickly expelled you from my curved (body); and I have revealed myself to you, though I am difficult to know even for gods and demons.
यावत्स भगवान्ब्रह्मा न बुध्येत महातपाः। तावत्त्वमिह विप्रर्षे विस्रब्धश्चर वै सुखम्
Until that blessed Brahma of great austerity awakens, you, O sage among Brahmins, may remain here at ease and without fear.
ततो विबुद्धे तस्मिंस्तु सर्वलोकपितामहे। एकीभूतः प्रवेक्ष्यामि शरीराणि द्विजोत्तम
Then, when the Lord of all worlds had awakened, I will enter the bodies, united as one, O best of twice-born.
आकाशं पृथिवीं ज्योतिर्वायुं सलिलमेव च। लोके यच्च भवेच्छेषमिह स्थावरजङ्गमम्
The sky, the earth, fire, wind, and water, and whatever else remains in the world, both immovable and movable.
इत्युक्त्वान्तर्हितस्तात स देवः परमाद्भुतः। प्रजाश्चेमाः प्रपश्यामि विचित्रा विविधाः कृताः
Having spoken thus, O dear one, that wondrous deity vanished; and I see these creatures, diverse and manifold, created.
एवं दृष्टं मया राजंस्तस्मिन्प्राप्ते युगक्षये। आश्चर्यं भरतश्रेष्ठ सर्वधर्मभृतांवरः
Thus I beheld, O king, at the end of the age, a marvel, O best of Bharatas, foremost among upholders of dharma.
यः स देवो मया दृष्टः पुरा पद्मायतेक्षणः। स एष पुरुषव्याघ्र संबन्धी ते जनार्दनः
That very god whom I saw before, with lotus-like eyes, is this Janardana, O tiger among men, your kinsman.
अस्यैव वरदानाद्धि स्मृतिर्न प्रजहाति माम्। दीर्गमायुश्च कौन्तेय स्वच्छन्दमरणं मम
By his granting of boons, memory never leaves me; and, O son of Kunti, I have long life and the freedom to die at will.
स एष कृष्णो वार्ष्णेय पुराणपुरुषो विभुः। आस्ते हरिरचिन्त्यात्मा क्रीडन्निव महाभुजः
This Krishna, descendant of Vrishni, ancient and mighty, abides as Hari, whose nature is unfathomable, sporting as if in play, with great arms.
एष धाता विधाता च संहर्ता चैव शाश्वतः। श्रीवत्सवक्षा गोविन्दः प्रजापतिपतिः प्रभुः
He is the creator, the ordainer, and the eternal destroyer; Govinda, with the mark of Srivatsa on his chest, lord of creatures, master.
दृष्ट्वेमं वृष्णिप्रवरं स्मृतिर्मामियमागता। आदिदेवमयं जिष्णुं पुरुषं पीतवाससम्
Upon seeing this foremost of the Vrishnis, memory has returned to me—this victorious primordial god, clad in yellow garments.
सर्वेषामेव भूतानां पिता माता च माधवः। गच्छध्वमेनं शरणं शरण्यं कौरवर्षभाः
Madhava is the father and mother of all beings; go to him for refuge, O bulls among the Kauravas, to the one who grants shelter.
एवमुक्तास्च ते पार्ता यमौ च पुरुषर्षभौ। द्रौपद्या सहिताः सर्वे नमश्चक्रुर्जनार्दनम्
Thus addressed, the sons of Pritha and the two sons of Yama, all together with Draupadi, bowed to Janardana.
स चैतान्पुरुषव्याघ्र साम्ना परमवल्गुना। सान्त्वयामास मानार्हो मन्यमानो यथाविधि
And that tiger among men, with utmost gentleness, comforted them, worthy of honor, considering them according to proper conduct.
युधिष्ठिरस्तु कौन्तेयो मार्कण्डेयं महामुनिम्। पुन- पप्रच्छ सामात्यो भविष्यां जगतो गतिम्
Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, again questioned the great sage Markandeya, together with his ministers, about the future course of the world.
आश्चर्यभूतं भवतः श्रुतं नो वदतांवर। मुने भार्गव यद्वृत्तं युगादौ प्रभवाप्ययौ
We have heard wondrous things from you, O best among speakers; O sage of the Bhargava line, tell us what happened at the beginning and end of the age.
अस्मिन्कलियुगे त्वस्ति पुनः कौतूहलं मम। समाकुलेषु धर्मेषु किंनु शेषं भविष्यति
In this Kali age, I have further curiosity: when dharma is confused, what will remain?
किंवीर्या मानवास्तत्रकिमाहारविहारिणः। किमायुषः किंवसना भविष्यन्ति युगक्षये
What strength will men have there, what will they eat and enjoy, what will their lifespan and clothing be at the end of the age?
कां च काष्ठां समासाद्य पुनः संपत्स्यते कृतम्। विस्तरेण मुने ब्रूहि विचित्राणीह भाषसे
Upon reaching which period will the Krita age return? Tell me in detail, O sage, for you speak of wondrous things here.
इत्युक्तः स मुनिश्रेष्ठः पुनरेवाभ्यभाषत। रमयन्वृष्णिशार्दूलं पाण्डवांस्च महानृषिः
Thus addressed, the foremost sage again spoke, delighting the tiger among the Vrishnis and the Pandavas, that great rishi.
शृणु राजन्मया दृष्टं यत्पुरा श्रुतमेव च। अनुभूतं च राजेनद्रदेवदेवप्रसादजम्
Hear, O King, what I have seen, what I have heard in the past, and what I have experienced, all arising from the favor of the gods and the king of gods.
भविष्यं सर्वलोकस्य वृत्तान्तं भरतर्षभ। कलुषं कालमासाद्य कथ्यमानं निबोध मे
O foremost of the Bharatas, listen to me as I speak of the future events of the entire world, which, upon the arrival of a corrupt age, will be narrated.
कृते चतुष्पात्सकलो निर्व्याजोप्राधिवर्जितः। वृषः प्रतिष्ठितो धर्मो मनुष्ये भरतर्षभ
In the Krita age, O best of Bharatas, Dharma stood firmly on all four legs, free from deceit and wrongdoing, established among men.
अधर्मपादविद्धस्तु त्रिभिरंशैः प्रतिष्ठितः। त्रेतायां द्वापरेऽर्धेन व्यामिश्रो धर्म उच्यते
But in the Treta age, Dharma was struck by the foot of Adharma and stood on three parts; in Dvapara, on two, mixed with unrighteousness, so it is said.
त्रिभिरंशैरधर्मस्तु लोकानाक्रम्य तिष्ठति। तामसं युगमासाद्य तदा भरतसत्तम
With three parts, unrighteousness prevails, occupying the worlds, when the Tamasic age arrives, O best of Bharatas.
चतुर्थांशेन धर्मस्तु मनुष्यानुपतिष्ठति। आयुर्वीर्यं मनो बुद्धिर्बलं तेजश्च पाण्डव
In the fourth part, Dharma remains among men; their lifespan, strength, mind, intellect, power, and brilliance, O Pandava.