अनुत्पाद्य सुतान्देवानसन्तर्प्य पितॄस्तथा 88.
Without producing sons and without properly satisfying the gods and the ancestors,
क्लेशबोधैककं पुत्रं अन्यायेन भवेत्तव 88.
If a son is born through suffering, knowledge, or by unjust means, he becomes yours.
परिग्रहोऽतिदुः खाय पापाया धोगतेस्तथा 88.
Taking a wife out of excessive desire, or through sinful intent, is also condemned.
आत्मनः संशयोपायः क्रियते क्षणमन्त्रणात् 88.
One brings about uncertainty for oneself by acting without proper deliberation, even for a moment.
प्रक्षाल्यतेऽनुदिवसं य आत्मा निष्परिग्रहः 88.
He who is without possessions purifies himself day by day.
अनेकभवसंभूतकर्मपङ्काङ्कितो बुधैः 88.
Marked by the mud of actions accumulated over countless births, as taught by the wise,
पितर ऊचुः किं तु नोपायमार्गोऽयं यतस्त्वं पुत्र वर्त्तसे ॥ 88.
The ancestors said: Yet this is not the path or means by which you, my son, conduct yourself.
पञ्चयज्ञैस्तपोदानैरशुभं नुदतस्तव 88.
By the five sacrifices, by austerity and charity, you drive away what is inauspicious.
एवं न बन्धो भवति कुर्वतः कारणात्मकम् 88.
Thus, bondage does not arise for one who acts with proper motive.
पूर्वकर्म कृतं भोगैः क्षीयते ह्यनिशन्तथा 88.
Indeed, past actions are exhausted through enjoyment, little by little, without ceasing.
एवं प्रक्षाल्यते प्राज्ञैरात्मा बन्धाच्च रक्ष्यते 88.
In this way, the wise purify themselves and protect themselves from bondage.
रुचिरुवाच तत्कथं कर्मणो मार्गे भवन्तो योजयन्ति माम् ॥ 88.
Ruci said: Then how do you, sirs, involve me in the path of action?
पितर उचुः किं तु विद्यापरिप्राप्तौ हेतुः कर्म न संशयः ॥ 88.
The ancestors said: Yet, there is no doubt that action is the cause for the attainment of knowledge.
विहिताकरणानर्थो न सद्भिः क्रियते तु यः 88.
The harm from neglecting prescribed duties is not committed by the good.
प्रक्षालयामीति भवान्यदेतन्मन्यते वरम् 88.
Bhavani considers this to be the best: 'Let me cleanse myself.'
अविद्याप्युपकाराय विषवज्जायते नृणाम् 88.
Even ignorance, like poison, sometimes serves a purpose for people.
तस्माद्वत्स कुरुष्व त्वं विधिवद्दारसंग्रहम् 88.
Therefore, my child, you should properly undertake the acquisition of a wife.
वृद्धोऽहं साम्प्रतं को मे पितरः सम्प्रिदास्यति 88.
I am now old—who will give me their daughter in marriage?
अस्माकं पतनं वत्स भवतश्चाप्यधोगतिः 88.
For us, my child, there is downfall, and for you as well, a decline.
इत्युक्त्वा पितरस्तस्य पश्यतो मुनिसत्तम 88.
Having spoken thus, his father, as the sage looked on, O best of sages—
मुनिः क्रौंचुकये प्राह मार्कण्डेयो महातपाः 88.
The great ascetic Markandeya then addressed Kraumcuka.
इति श्रागारुडे महापुराणे पूर्वखण्डे प्रथमांशाख्ये आचारकाण्डे कर्मज्ञानमा नामाष्टाशीतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the eighty-eighth chapter, called 'Knowledge of Action,' in the Conduct Section of the first part of the great Purana, Srimad Garuda.
पृष्टः क्रौञ्चुकिनोवाच मार्कण्डेयः पुनश्च तम् 89.
When questioned, Markandeya again spoke to Krauñcuki.
कन्याभिलाषी विप्रर्षिः परिबभ्राम मेदिनीम् चिन्तामवाप महीतमतीवोद्विग्नमानसः ॥ 89.
Desiring a maiden, the sage wandered the earth, falling into deep anxiety, his mind greatly troubled.
किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि कथं मे दारसंग्रहः 89.
'What shall I do? Where shall I go? How will I obtain a wife?'
इति चिन्तयतस्तस्यमतिर्जाता महात्मनः 89.
As he pondered thus, a resolve arose in the mind of that great soul.
ततो वर्षशतं दिव्यं तपस्तेपे महामनाः आराधनाय स तदा परं नियममास्थितः ॥ 89.
Then, with a focused mind, he performed severe austerity for a hundred divine years, undertaking strict vows to propitiate the Supreme.
ततः प्रदर्शयामास ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः 89.
Then Brahma, the grandsire of the worlds, appeared before him.
ततोऽसौ प्रणिपत्याह ब्रह्माणं जगतो गतिम् 89.
He then bowed down and addressed Brahma, the guide of the universe.
प्रजापतिस्त्वं भविता स्रष्टव्या भवता प्रजाः 89.
'You will become a Prajapati; you must create beings.'