संस्तूयमानो विप्रेन्द्रैर्मानयानो द्विजोत्तमान्। कल्कीचरिष्यति महीं सदा दस्युवधे रतः
Praised by the foremost Brahmins, honoring the best of the twice-born, Kalki will traverse the earth, always devoted to the destruction of evildoers.
हा मातस्तात पुत्रेति तास्ता वाचः सुदारुणाः। विक्रोशमानान्सुभृशं दस्यूननेष्यति संक्षयम्
‘Alas, mother! Father! Son!’—such harsh cries, uttered in distress, he will bring the evildoers to utter ruin.
ततोऽधऱ्मविनाशो वै धर्मवृद्धिश्च भारत। भविष्यति कृतेप्राप्ते क्रियावांश्च जनस्तथा
Then, O Bharata, unrighteousness will be destroyed and righteousness will increase; when the Krita age arrives, people will be devoted to right action.
आरामाश्चैव चैत्याश्च तटाकावसथास्तथा। पुष्करिण्यश्च विविधा देवतायतनानि च
There will be gardens, sanctuaries, ponds, dwellings, various lotus pools, and temples for the gods.
यज्ञक्रियाश्च विविधा भविष्यन्ति कृते युगे। ब्राह्मणाः साधवश्चैव मुनयश्च तपस्विनः
Various sacrificial rites will be performed in the Krita age; Brahmins, virtuous men, and ascetic sages will flourish.
आश्रमा हतपाषण्डाः स्थिताः सत्ये जनास्तदा। जायन्ति सर्वभूतानि शुध्यमानानि चैव हि
Hermitages, free from heretics, will be established; people will be steadfast in truth, and all beings will be purified.
सर्वेष्वृतुषु राजेन्द्र सर्वं सस्यं भविष्यति। नरा दानेषु निरता व्रतेषु नियमेषु च
In all seasons, O king, all crops will thrive; men will be devoted to giving, to vows, and to discipline.
जपयज्ञपरा विप्रा धर्मकामा मुदा युताः। पालयिष्यन्ति राजानो धर्मेणेमां वसुंधराम्
Brahmins, intent on recitation and sacrifice, desiring righteousness and filled with joy, and kings will protect this earth by righteousness.
व्यवहाररता वैश्या भविष्यन्ति कृते युगे। षट्कर्मनिरता विप्राः क्षत्रिया रक्षणे रताः
Merchants will be devoted to business in the Krita age; Brahmins will be engaged in the six duties, and warriors will be devoted to protection.
शुश्रूषायां रताः शूद्रास्तथा वर्णत्रयस्य च। एष धर्मः कृतयुगे त्रेतायां द्वापरे तथा
Servants will be devoted to service of the three classes; this is the righteousness of the Krita age, and so also in Treta and Dvapara.
पश्चिमे युगकाले च यः स ते संप्रकीर्तितः। सर्वलोकस् विदिता युगसह्ख्या च पाण्डव
In the last period of the age, this is what has been declared to you; the count of the ages is known to all people, O Pandava.
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातमतीतानागतं मया। वायुप्रोक्तमनुस्मृत्यपुराणमृषिसंस्तुतम्
All this, past and future, has been told to you by me, recalling what was spoken by Vayu, praised by sages in ancient times.
एवं संसारमार्गा मे बहुशश्चिरजीविनः। दृष्टाश्चैवानुभूताश्च किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि
In this way, O long-lived one, I have seen and experienced the many paths of worldly existence; what more do you wish to hear?
इदं चैवापरं भूयः सह भ्रातृभिरच्युत। धर्मसंशयमोक्षार्थं निबोध वचनं मम
And now, O Achyuta, together with your brothers, listen further to my words, which are meant to resolve your doubts about righteousness.
न तेऽन्यथाऽत्र विज्ञेयो धर्मो धर्मभृतांवर। धर्मात्मा हि सुखं राजन्प्रेत्य चेह च नन्दति
O best among upholders of virtue, righteousness is to be understood here in no other way; for the righteous soul, O king, rejoices both here and after death.
न ब्राह्मणे परिभवः कर्तव्यस्ते कदाचन। ब्राह्मणः कुपितोऽहन्यादपि लोकान्प्रतिज्ञया
You must never show contempt toward a Brahmin; for if angered, a Brahmin could destroy even worlds by his resolve.
मार्कण्डेयवचः श्रुत्वा कुरूणां प्रवरो नृपः। उवाच वचनं धीमान्परमं परमद्युतिः
Hearing the words of Markandeya, the foremost and most radiant king of the Kurus, wise among men, spoke these words:
एतच्छ्रुत्वा मया किं स्यात्कर्तव्यं मुनिसत्तम। कथं चायं जितोलोको रक्षितव्यो भविष्यति
Having heard this, O best of sages, what should I do? How shall this conquered world be protected?
कस्मिन्धर्मे मया स्थेयं प्रजाः संरक्षता मुने। कथंच वर्तमानो वै न च्यवेयं स्वधर्मतः
O sage, in which righteousness should I stand while protecting my subjects? And how, conducting myself thus, shall I not fall from my own duty?
दयावान्सर्वबूतेषु हितो रक्तोऽनसूयकः। उपत्यानामिव स्नेहात्प्रजानां रक्षणे रतः
One should be compassionate to all beings, devoted to their welfare, free from envy, and, like a father for his children, delight in protecting his subjects out of affection.
चर धर्मं त्यजाधर्मं पितॄन्पूर्वाननुस्मर। प्रमादाद्यत्कृतं तेऽभूत्सम्यग्ज्ञानेन तज्जय
Practice righteousness, abandon unrighteousness, remember your ancestors of old; whatever wrong you have done out of negligence, overcome that with true knowledge.
अलं ते मानमाश्रित्य सततं प्रियवाग्भव। विजित्य पृथिवीं सर्वां मोदमानः सुखी भव
Let pride not possess you; always speak kindly. Having conquered the whole earth, rejoice and be happy.
एष भूतो भविष्यश्च धर्मस्ते समुदीरितः। न तेऽस्त्यविदितं किंचिदतीतानागतं भुवि
This righteousness, concerning the past and the future, has been declared to you; nothing of what has been or will be on earth is unknown to you.
तस्मादिमं परिक्लेशं त्वं तात हृदि मा कृथाः। प्राज्ञास्तात न मुह्यन्ति कालेनापि प्रपीडिताः
Therefore, my son, do not let this distress dwell in your heart; wise men, even when afflicted by time, do not lose their composure.
एष कालो महाबाहो अपि सर्वदिबौकसाम्। मुह्यन्ति हि प्रजास्तात कालेनापि प्रचोदिताः
O mighty-armed one, this is the time for all beings; indeed, my son, people become deluded even when urged on by time.
मा च तेऽत्र विशङ्का भूद्यन्मयोक्तं तवानघ। अतिशङ्क्य वचो ह्येतद्धर्मलोपो भवेत्तव
Let there be no doubt in you, O sinless one, about what I have said; for excessive suspicion of these words would lead you to the loss of righteousness.
जातोसि प्रथिते वंशे कुरूणां भरतर्षभ। कर्मणा मनसा वाचा सर्वमेतत्समाचर
O bull among the Bharatas, you are born in the renowned line of the Kurus; by deed, thought, and word, fulfill all this.
यत्त्वयोक्तं द्विजश्रेष्ठ वाक्यं श्रुतिमनोहरम्। तथा करिष्ये यत्नेन भवतः शासनं विभो
O best of Brahmins, the words you have spoken, delightful to hear, I shall carry out with effort, O lord, your instruction.
न मे लोभोस्ति विप्रेन्द्रन भयं न च मत्सरः। करिष्यामि हि तत्सर्वमुक्तं यत्ते मयि प्रभो
O Brahmin, I have no greed, nor fear, nor envy; I shall indeed do all that you, my lord, have enjoined upon me.
श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तस्य पाण्डवस्य यशस्विनः। संहृष्टः पाण्डवा राजन्सहिता शार्ङ्गधन्वना
Hearing the words of that illustrious Pandava, the Pandavas, together with the wielder of the Sharnga bow, rejoiced, O king.