Markandeya Purana

पूर्वमित्रेषु शैथिल्यं प्रीतिमन्यैः करोति च । तथैव सत्त्वरजसी यो बिभर्ति महानिधिः ।। 68.

He becomes indifferent to former friends and forms affection with others; likewise, the great treasure that possesses sattva and rajas acts in this way.

स नीलसंज्ञस्तत्सङ्गी नरस्तच्छीलवान् भवेत् । वस्त्र-कार्पास-धान्यादि-फल-पुष्पपरिग्रहम् ।। 68.

That treasure is called Nīla; a man associated with it becomes of its nature, acquiring textiles, cotton, grains, fruits, and flowers.

मुक्ताविद्रुमशङ्खानां शुक्त्यादीनां तथा मुने । काष्ठादीनां करोत्येष यच्चान्यज्जलसम्भवम् ।। 68.

He acquires pearls, coral, conch shells, mother-of-pearl, and the like, O sage, as well as wood and other things, and whatever else is produced from water.

क्रयविक्रयमन्येषां नान्यत्र रमते मनः । तडागान् पुष्करिण्योऽथ तथाऽऽरामान् करोति च ।। 68.

He engages in buying and selling of these and his mind delights in nothing else; he constructs ponds, reservoirs, and also gardens.

बन्धञ्च सरितां वृक्षांस्तथारोपयते नरः । अनुलेपनपुष्पादिभोगं भुक्त्वाभिजायते ।। 68.

He builds dams for rivers and plants trees; after enjoying unguents, flowers, and the like, he is born again.

त्रिपौरुषश्चापि निधिर्नोलो नामैष जायते । रजस्तमोमयश्चान्यः शङ्खसंज्ञो हि यो निधिः ।। 68.

There is also a treasure called Nola, which lasts for three generations; and another treasure, composed of rajas and tamas, is known as Śaṅkha.

तेनापि नीयते विप्र ! तद््गुणित्वं निधी•ारः । एकस्यैव भवत्येष नरं नान्यमुपैति च ।। 68.

By that one also, O brāhmaṇa, a man is led and endowed with its qualities; but it belongs to only one person and does not go to another.

यस्य शङ्खो निधिस्तस्य स्वरूपं क्रौष्टुके ! श्रृणु । एक एवात्मना मिष्टमन्नं भुङ््क्ते तथाम्बरम् ।। 68.

He whose treasure is the conch, O Krauṣṭuki, listen to its nature: he alone eats the best food and wears the best clothes for himself.

कदन्नभुक्् परिजनो न च शोभनवस्त्रधृक् । न ददाति सुह्मद््भाय्र्याभ्रातृपुत्रस्नुषादिषु ।। 68.44 स्वपोषणपरः शङ्खी नरो भवति सर्वदा । इत्येते निधयः ख्याता नराणामर्थदेवताः ।। 68.

His attendants eat inferior food and do not wear fine garments; he does not give generously to his wife, brothers, sons, daughters-in-law, or others; the man with the conch treasure always seeks only his own maintenance. Thus these treasures are known as the wealth-giving deities of men.

मिश्रावलोकनान्मिश्राः स्वभावफलदायिनः । यथाख्यातस्वभावस्तु भवत्येव विलोकनात् 68.

Those treasures that are mixed yield results according to their combined nature; but as described, the result matches the nature of the treasure seen.

द्विसप्ततितमोऽध्यायः ७२ मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततः स्वनगरं प्राप्य तं ददर्श द्विजं नृपः । समेतं भार्यया चैव शीलवत्या मुदान्वितम् ॥ ७२.

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Then, having reached his own city, the king saw that brāhmaṇa together with his virtuous wife, both filled with joy.

ब्राह्मण उवाच राजवर्य ! कृतार्थोऽस्मि यतो धर्मो हि रक्षितः । धर्मज्ञनेह भवता भार्यामानयता मम ॥ ७२.

The brāhmaṇa said: O best of kings, I am fulfilled, for righteousness has been protected; by your knowledge of dharma, you have brought back my wife.

राजोवाच कृतार्थस्त्वं द्विजश्रेष्ठ ! निजधर्मानुपालनात् । वयं सङ्कटिनो विप्र ! येषां पत्नी न वेश्मनि ॥ ७२.

The king said: You are fulfilled, O best of brāhmaṇas, by your adherence to your own duty; but we are in distress, O brāhmaṇa, whose wives are not at home.

ब्राह्मण उवाच नरेन्द्र ! सा हि विपिने भक्षिता श्वनापदैर्यदि । अलन्तया किमन्यस्या न पाणिर्गृह्यते त्वया । क्रोधस्य वशमागम्य धर्मो न रक्षितस्त्वया ॥ ७२.

The brāhmaṇa said: O king, if she had been eaten by wild beasts in the forest, why did you not take another wife? Overcome by anger, you did not protect righteousness.

राजोवाच न भक्षिता मे दयिता श्वापदैः सा हि जीवति । अविदूषितचारित्रा कथमेतत्करोम्यहम् ॥ ७२.

The king said: My beloved was not eaten by wild beasts; she is alive and her conduct is unblemished—how could I do such a thing?

ब्राह्मण उवाच यदि जीवति ते भार्या न चैव व्यभिचारिणी । तदपत्नीकताजन्म किं पापं क्रियते त्वया ॥ ७२.

The brāhmaṇa said: If your wife is alive and not unfaithful, then by making her as if not your wife, what sin have you committed?

राजोवाच आनीतापि हि सा विप्र ! प्रतिकूला सदैव मे । दुः खाय न सुखायालं तस्या मैत्री न वै मयि । तथा त्वं कुरु यत्नं मे यथा सा वशगामिनी ॥ ७२.

The king said: Even though she has been brought back, O brāhmaṇa, she is always unfriendly to me; she brings sorrow, not happiness, and has no affection for me. Therefore, please make an effort so that she becomes devoted to me.

ब्राह्मण उवाच तव संप्रीतये तस्या वरेष्टिरुपकारिणी । क्रियते मित्रकामैर्या मित्रविन्दां करोमि ताम् ॥ ७२.

The brāhmaṇa said: For your satisfaction, a beneficial rite will be performed by those desiring friendship; I will make her friendly to you.

अप्रीतयोः प्रीतिकरो सा हि संजननी परम् । भार्यापत्योर्मनुष्येन्द्र ! तान्तवेष्टिं करोम्यहम् ॥ ७२.

She is indeed the supreme cause of affection between husband and wife, O king of men; I will perform the tāntaveṣṭi rite for the wife and child.

यत्र तिष्ठति सा सुभ्रूस्तव भार्या महीपते । तस्मादानोयतां सा ते परां प्रीतिमुपैष्यति ॥ ७२.

Where your wife with beautiful brows resides, O king, from there she shall be brought to you, and she will attain the highest affection for you.

मार्कण्डेय उवाच इत्युक्तः स तु सम्भारानशेषानवनीपतिः । आनिनाय चकारेष्टिं स च तां द्विजसत्तमः ॥ ७२.

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Thus addressed, the king brought all the necessary materials, and that best of brāhmaṇas performed the rite.

सप्तकृत्वः स तु तदा चकारेष्टिं पुनः पुनः । तस्य राज्ञो द्विजश्रेष्ठो भार्यासम्पादनाय वै ॥ ७२.

Then, seven times, that brāhmaṇa performed the rite again and again for the king, in order to bring about the union with his wife.

यदारोपितमैत्रीन्ताममन्यत महामुनिः । स्वभर्तरि तदा विप्रस्तमुवाच नराधिपम् ॥ ७२.

When the great sage perceived that friendship had arisen in her towards her husband, the brāhmaṇa then spoke to the king.

आनीयतां नरश्रेष्ठ ! या तवेष्टात्मनोऽन्तिकम् । भुङ्क्ष्व भोगांस्तया सार्धं यज यज्ञांस्तथादृतः ॥ ७२.

Bring here, O best of men, the one whom the rite has drawn to you; enjoy pleasures with her and perform sacrifices with devotion.

मार्कण्डेय उवाच इत्युक्तस्तेन विप्रेण भूपालो विस्मितस्तदा । सस्मार तं महावीर्यं सत्यसन्धं निशाचरम् ॥ ७२.

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Thus addressed by the brāhmaṇa, the king was astonished and remembered that mighty, truthful night-wanderer.

स्मृतस्तेन तदा सद्यः समुपेत्य नराधिपम् । किं करोमीति सोऽप्याह प्रणिपत्य महामुने ॥ ७२.

Then, when remembered, he immediately approached the king and, bowing to the great sage, said, 'What shall I do?'

ततस्तेन नरेन्द्रेण विस्तरेण निवेदिते । गत्वा पातालमादाय राजपत्नीमुपाययौ ॥ ७२.

After the king had explained everything in detail, he went to the underworld, brought back the queen, and presented her.

आनीता चातिहार्देन सा ददर्श तदा पतिम् । उवाच च प्रसीदेति भूयोभूयो मुदान्विता ॥ ७२.

She, brought there with great affection, saw her husband and, filled with joy, repeatedly said, 'Be gracious.'

ततः स राजा रभसा परिष्वज्याह मानिनीम् । प्रिये ! प्रसन्न एवाहं भूयोऽप्येवं ब्रवीषि किम् ॥ ७२.

Then the king, eagerly embracing his proud wife, said, 'Beloved, I am already pleased—why do you say this again?'