कथं पश्यामि तं देवं पुरुषेशं सनातनम् इति संचिन्तयन् देवम् एकाग्रेण सनातनम्
'How can I see that eternal Lord of beings?' Thus reflecting, he concentrated his mind on the eternal God.
प्राप्तवांस् तत् पदं दिव्यं महाप्रलयकारणम् पुरुषेशम् इति ख्यातं वटराजं सनातनम्
He attained that divine state, the cause of the great dissolution, the Lord of beings, known as the eternal banyan tree.
त्वरायुक्तो मुनिश् चासौ न्यग्रोधस्यान्तिकं ययौ आसाद्य तं मुनिश्रेष्ठास् तस्य मूले समाविशत्
Driven by urgency, the sage went to the vicinity of the banyan tree, and, having reached it, the foremost sage sat at its root.
न कालाग्निभयं तत्र न चाङ्गारप्रवर्षणम् न संवर्तागमस् तत्र न च वज्राशनिस् तथा
There was no fear of the fire of time, nor any shower of embers, nor the arrival of the dissolution, nor thunderbolts and lightning.
ततो गजकुलप्रख्यास् तडिन्मालाविभूषिताः समुत्तस्थुर् महामेघा नभस्य् अद्भुतदर्शनाः
Then, clouds resembling herds of elephants, adorned with garlands of lightning, rose up in the sky, wondrous to behold.
केचिन् नीलोत्पलश्यामाः केचित् कुमुदसंनिभाः केचित् किञ्जल्कसंकाशाः केचित् पीताः पयोधराः
Some were dark like blue lotuses, some resembled white water lilies, some were like pollen, and some were yellow rain clouds.
केचिद् धरितसंकाशाः काकाण्डसंनिभास् तथा केचित् कमलपत्त्राभाः केचिद् धिङ्गुलसंनिभाः
Some were green like grass, some like crow eggs, some shone like lotus petals, and some were like vermilion.
केचित् पुरवराकाराः केचिद् गिरिवरोपमाः केचिद् अञ्जनसंकाशाः केचिन् मरकतप्रभाः
Some took the shape of cities, some resembled great mountains, some were dark as collyrium, and some shone with emerald brilliance.
विद्युन्मालापिनद्धाङ्गाः समुत्तस्थुर् महाघनाः घोररूपा महाभागा घोरस्वननिनादिताः
Great clouds, their bodies bound with garlands of lightning, rose up, formidable in form, mighty, and resounding with terrifying voices.
ततो जलधराः सर्वे समावृण्वन् नभस्तलम् तैर् इयं पृथिवी सर्वा सपर्वतवनाकरा
Then all the rain clouds covered the sky, and with them, the entire earth, along with its mountains, forests, and lakes.
आपूरिता दिशः सर्वाः सलिलौघपरिप्लुताः ततस् ते जलदा घोरा वारिणा मुनिसत्तमाः
All directions were filled, flooded by torrents of water; then those fierce clouds, O best of sages, inundated everything with water.
सर्वतः प्लावयाम् आसुश् चोदिताः परमेष्ठिना वर्षमाणा महातोयं पूरयन्तो वसुंधराम्
Urged by the Supreme Lord, they began to flood everywhere, pouring forth great waters and filling the earth.
सुघोरम् अशिवं रौद्रं नाशयन्ति स्म पावकम् ततो द्वादश वर्षाणि पयोदाः समुपप्लवे
They destroyed the dreadful, inauspicious, and fierce fire; then for twelve years, the rain clouds prevailed in the deluge.
धाराभिः पूरयन्तो वै चोद्यमाना महात्मना ततः समुद्राः स्वां वेलाम् अतिक्रामन्ति भो द्विजाः
Urged by the great soul, they filled everything with streams of water; then, O Brahmins, the oceans crossed their own shores.
पर्वताश् च व्यशीर्यन्त मही चाप्सु निमज्जति सर्वतः सुमहाभ्रान्तास् ते पयोदा नभस्तलम्
The mountains were shattered, and the earth sank into the waters; everywhere, the great clouds, bewildered, filled the sky.
संवेष्टयित्वा नश्यन्ति वायुवेगसमाहताः ततस् तं मारुतं घोरं स विष्णुर् मुनिसत्तमाः
Swept up by the force of the wind, they vanished; then that terrible wind, O best of sages, was restrained by Viṣṇu.
आदिपद्मालयो देवः पीत्वा स्वपिति भो द्विजाः तस्मिन्न् एकार्णवे घोरे नष्टे स्थावरजङ्गमे
The god who dwells in the primeval lotus, having drunk the waters, sleeps, O twice-born ones, upon that dreadful single ocean, where all that is moving and unmoving is destroyed.
नष्टे देवासुरनरे यक्षराक्षसवर्जिते ततो मुनिः स विश्रान्तो ध्यात्वा च पुरुषोत्तमम्
With gods, asuras, men, yakṣas, and rākṣasas all perished, the sage, having rested, meditated upon the Supreme Person.
ददर्श चक्षुर् उन्मील्य जलपूर्णां वसुंधराम् नापश्यत् तं वटं नोर्वीं न दिगादि न भास्करम्
Opening his eyes, he beheld the earth filled with water; he saw neither the banyan tree, nor the land, nor the directions, nor the sun.
न चन्द्रार्काग्निपवनं न देवासुरपन्नगम् तस्मिन्न् एकार्णवे घोरे तमोभूते निराश्रये
There was neither moon, nor sun, nor fire, nor wind, nor gods, asuras, or serpents—only that dreadful, single ocean, pervaded by darkness, without support.
निमज्जन् स तदा विप्राः संतर्तुम् उपचक्रमे बभ्रामासौ मुनिश् चार्त इतश् चेतश् च संप्लवन्
Then, O sages, he began to sink and attempted to swim across; the afflicted sage wandered here and there, swept by the flood.
निममज्ज तदा विप्रास् त्रातारं नाधिगच्छति एवं तं विह्वलं दृष्ट्वा कृपया पुरुषोत्तमः प्रोवाच मुनिशार्दूलास् तदा ध्यानेन तोषितः
He sank then, O sages, unable to find a savior; seeing him thus bewildered, the Supreme Person, pleased by his meditation, spoke to the tiger among sages out of compassion.
वत्स श्रान्तो ऽसि बालस् त्वं भक्तत्र मम सुव्रत आगच्छागच्छ शीघ्रं त्वं मार्कण्डेय ममान्तिकम्
"Child, you are weary and young, devoted to me with firm vows; come, come quickly, Mārkaṇḍeya, to my side."
मा त्वयैव च भेतव्यं संप्राप्तो ऽसि ममाग्रतः मार्कण्डेय मुने धीर बालस् त्वं श्रमपीडितः
"Do not be afraid, for you have come before me; O steadfast sage Mārkaṇḍeya, you are a child, afflicted by fatigue."
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा मुनिः परमकोपितः उवाच स तदा विप्रा विस्मितश् चाभवन् मुहुः
Hearing these words, the sage became extremely angry; he spoke then, O sages, and was repeatedly astonished.
को ऽयं नाम्ना कीर्तयति तपः परिभवन्न् इव बहुवर्षसहस्राख्यं धर्षयन्न् इव मे वपुः
"Who is this, who calls me by name, as if mocking my austerity, as if challenging my body, famed for thousands of years?"
न ह्य् एष समुदाचारो देवेष्व् अपि समाहितः मां ब्रह्मा स च देवेशो दीर्घायुर् इति भाषते
"Such conduct is not proper, even among the gods; yet Brahmā and the lord of gods call me long-lived."
कस् तपो घोरशिरसो ममाद्य त्यक्तजीवितः मार्कण्डेयेति चोक्त्वा मन्मृत्युं गन्तुम् इहेच्छति
"Who is this, with dreadful intent, who today seeks my death, calling me Mārkaṇḍeya, and wishes to bring about my end?"
एवम् उक्त्वा तदा विप्राश् चिन्ताविष्टो ऽभवन् मुनिः किं स्वप्नो ऽयं मया दृष्टः किं वा मोहो ऽयम् आगतः
Having spoken thus, the sage became filled with anxiety: "Is this a dream I have seen, or has some delusion come upon me?"
इत्थं चिन्तयतस् तस्य उत्पन्ना दुःखहा मतिः व्रजामि शरणं देवं भक्त्याहं पुरुषोत्तमम्
As he pondered thus, a thought arose that dispelled his sorrow: "I will seek refuge in the god, the Supreme Person, with devotion."