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.
विप्र्रषभाश्च ते सर्वे ये तत्रासन्समागताः। तथा कथां शुभां श्रुत्वा रमार्कण्डेयस्य धमतः। विस्मिता समपद्यन्त पुराणस् निवेदनात्
All those eminent Brahmins who had gathered there, having listened to the auspicious tale recited by Markandeya, were filled with wonder at the narration of the ancient lore.
मार्कण्डेयमृषयो ब्राह्मणा युधिष्ठिरश्च। पर्यपृच्छन्नृषिः केन दीर्घायुरासीद्बकः
The sages, the Brahmins, and Yudhishthira questioned Markandeya: 'By what means did the sage Baka attain such long life?'
मार्कण्डेयस्तु तान्सर्वान्प्रत्युवाच महातपाः। दीर्घायुश्च बकोराजन्नृषिर्नात्र विचारणा
Markandeya, the great ascetic, replied to all of them: 'O King, there is no doubt that the sage Baka was long-lived.'
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु कौन्तेयो भ्रातृभिः सह भारत। मार्कण्डेयं पर्यपृच्छद्धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः
Hearing this, Kaunteya Yudhishthira, together with his brothers, questioned Markandeya, the king of dharma.
बकदाल्भ्यौ महात्मानौ श्रूयेते चिरजीविनौ। सखायौ देवराजस् यतावृषी लोकसंमतौ
It is said that the great-souled Baka and Dalbhya were long-lived, both renowned as friends of the king of the gods and esteemed by the world as sages.
एतदिच्छामि भगवन्बकशक्रसमागमम्। सुखदुःखसमायुक्तं तत्त्वेन कथितं त्वया
O venerable one, I wish to hear from you the true account of the meeting between Baka and Shakra, with all its joys and sorrows.
वृत्ते देवासुरे राजन्संग्रामे रोमहर्षणे। त्रयाणामपि लोकानामिन्द्रो लोकाधिपोऽभवत्
O King, when the stirring battle between the gods and asuras had ended, Indra, lord of the three worlds, became sovereign over all beings.
सम्यग्वर्षति पर्जन्ये सस्यसंपद उत्तमाः। निरामयाः सुधर्मिष्ठाः प्रजा धर्मपरायणाः। मुदितश्च जनः सर्वः स्वधर्मेषु व्यवस्थितः
The rains fell in due season, the crops flourished abundantly, the people were healthy and steadfast in righteousness, devoted to dharma, and all were joyful, each established in their own duties.
ताः प्रजा मुदिताः सर्वा दृष्ट्रा बलनिषूदनः। ततस्तु मुदितोराजन्देवराजः शतक्रतुः
Seeing all the people happy, the slayer of foes, the king of the gods, Shatakratu, was also filled with joy.
ऐरावतं समास्थाय अपश्यन्मुदिताः प्रजाः। आश्रमांश्च विचित्रांश् नदीश्च विविधाः शुभाः
Mounted upon Airavata, Indra beheld the joyful people, the diverse hermitages, and the many beautiful rivers.