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.
नगराणि समृद्धानि घेटाञ्जनपदांस्तथा। प्रजापालनदक्षांश्च नरेन्द्रान्धर्मचारिणः
He saw prosperous cities, towns, and villages, and kings skilled in the protection of their subjects, all devoted to righteousness.
उदपानं प्रपा वापी तटाकानि सरांसि च। नानाब्रह्रह्मसमाचारैः सेवितानि द्विजोततमैः
He saw wells, drinking places, ponds, lakes, and reservoirs, all frequented by the foremost twice-born, practicing various Brahmanical rites.
ततोऽवतीर्य रम्यायां पृथ्व्यां राजञ्छतक्रतुः। तत्र रम्ये शिवे देशे बहुवृक्षसमाकुले
Then Shatakratu, the king of the gods, descended to the delightful earth, to a beautiful and auspicious region thick with many trees.
पूर्वस्यां दिशि रम्यायां समुद्राभ्याशतो नृप। तत्राश्रमपदं रम्यं मृगद्विजनिषेवितम्। तत्राश्रमपदे रम्ये बकं पश्यति देवराट्
In the charming eastern direction, near the ocean, O King, there was a lovely hermitage frequented by deer and birds; there, in that delightful hermitage, the king of the gods beheld Baka.
बकस्तु दृष्ट्वा देवेन्द्रं दृढं प्रीतमनाऽभवत्। पाद्यासनार्थदानेन फलमूलैरथार्चयत्
When Baka saw Indra, his heart was filled with firm joy; he honored him with offerings of water for washing feet and seat, as well as with fruits and roots.
सुखोपविष्टो वरदस्ततस्तु बलसूदनः। ततः प्रश्नं बकं देवं उवाच त्रिदशेश्वरः
Having seated himself comfortably, the bestower of boons, the slayer of Bala, the lord of the gods, then addressed Baka with a question.
शतं वर्षसहस्राणि मुने जातस्य तेऽनघ। समाख्याहि मम ब्रह्मन्किं दुःखं चिरजीविनाम्
O sage, sinless one, a hundred thousand years have passed since your birth; tell me, O Brahmin, what is the sorrow of those who live long?
अप्रियैः सह संवासः प्रियैश्चापि विनाभवः। असद्भिः संप्रयोगश्च तद्दुःखं चिरजीविनाम्
Living with those who are disagreeable, separation from those who are dear, and association with the wicked—these are the sorrows of those who live long.
पुत्रदारविनाशोऽत्र ज्ञातीनां सुहृदामपि। परेष्वायत्तता कृच्छ्रं किंनु दुःखतरं ततः
Here, the loss of sons, wives, relatives, and friends, and dependence upon others is a great hardship—what could be more sorrowful than that?
नान्यद्दुःखतरं किंचिल्लोकेषु प्रतिभाति मे। अर्थैर्विहीनः पुरुषः एरैः संपरिभूयते
Nothing appears to me more painful in the worlds than this: a man deprived of wealth is insulted by others.
अकुलानां कुले भावं कुलीनानां कुलक्षयम्। संयोगं विप्रयोगं च पश्यन्ति चिरजीविनः
Those who live long see the rise of the low-born into noble families, the destruction of noble lineages, unions and separations.
अपिप्रत्यक्षमेवैतत्तव देघ शतक्रतो। अकुलानां समृद्धानां कथं कुलविपर्ययः
This, O Shatakratu, is evident before your very eyes: how can there be such reversal of fortune among prosperous and unprosperous families?
देवदानवगन्धर्वमनुष्योरगराक्षसाः। प्राप्नुवन्ति विपर्यासं किंनु दुःखतरं ततः
Even gods, demons, gandharvas, humans, serpents, and rākṣasas experience reversals—what could be more sorrowful than that?
कुले जाताश् क्लिश्यन्ते दौष्कुलेयवशानुगाः। आढ्यैर्दरिद्राऽवमताः किंनु दुःखतरं ततः
Those born in noble families suffer when subject to the power of ignoble kin; the poor are despised by the wealthy—what could be more sorrowful than that?
लोके वैधर्म्यमेतत्तु दृश्ते बहुविस्तरम्। हीनज्ञानाश्च हृष्यन्ते क्लिश्यन्ते प्राज्ञकोविदाः। बहुदुःखपरिक्लेशं मानुष्यमिह दृश्यते
This contradiction is seen widely in the world: the ignorant rejoice, while the wise and learned are afflicted; human life here is seen to be full of many pains and hardships.
पुनरेव महाभाग देवर्षिगणसेवित। समाख्याहि मम ब्रह्मन्किं सुखं चिरजीविनाम्
Again, O greatly fortunate one, served by hosts of divine sages, tell me, O Brahman, what happiness exists for those who live long.
अष्टमे द्वादशे वाऽपि शाकं यः पचते गृहे। कुमित्राण्यनपाश्रित् किं वै सुखतरं ततः
He who, in the eighth or twelfth part of the day, cooks vegetables at home, not relying on false friends—what happiness could be greater than that?
यत्राहानि न गण्यन्ते नैनमाहुर्महाशनम्। अपि शाकं पचानस्य सुखं वै मघवन्गृहे
Where the days are not counted, nor is one called a great eater, even for one who cooks only vegetables—there, O Maghavan, is happiness in the home.
आर्जितं स्वेन वीर्येण नाप्यपाश्रित्य कंचन। फलशाकमपि श्रेयो भोक्तुं ह्यकृपणं गृहे
It is better to eat even fruits and vegetables at home, earned by one's own effort, without depending on anyone, and without meanness.
परस्य तु गृहे भोक्तुः परिभूतस् नित्यशः। सुमृष्टमपि न श्रेयो विकल्पोऽयमतः सताम्
But for one who eats in another's house and is constantly insulted, even the finest food is not better—this is the choice of the virtuous.