Markandeya Purana

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?'

पत्न्युवाच यदि प्रिसादप्रवणं नरेन्द्र ! मयि ते मनः । तदेतदभियाचे त्वां तत्कुरुष्व ममार्हणम् ॥ ७२.

The wife said: 'O king, if your mind is truly inclined toward favor for me, then I ask you for this—please grant me what I deserve.'

राजोवाच निः शङ्कं ब्रूहि मत्तो यद्भवात्या किञ्चिदीप्सितम् । तदलभ्यं न ते भीरु ! तवायत्तोऽस्मि नान्यथा ॥ ७२.

The king said: 'Speak without hesitation whatever you desire from me. There is nothing unattainable for you, O timid one! I am at your disposal, in every way.'

पत्न्युवाच मदर्थं तेन नागेन सुता शप्ता सखी मम । मूका भविष्यसीत्याह सा च मूकत्वमागता ॥ ७२.

The wife said: 'For my sake, my friend was cursed by that serpent's daughter to become mute, and so she has become mute.'

तस्याः प्रतिक्रियां प्रीत्या मम शक्नोति चेद्भवान् । वाग्विघातप्रशान्त्यर्थं ततः किं न कृतं मम ॥ ७२.

'If you are able, out of affection for me, to remedy her condition and remove her speech impediment, why would you not do this for me?'

मार्कण्डेय उवाच ततः स राजा तं विप्रमाहास्मिन् कीदृशी क्रिया । तन्मूकतापनोदाय स च तं प्राह पार्थिवम् ॥ ७२.

Markandeya said: Then the king asked that Brahmin, 'What should be done here to remove her muteness?' And he explained it to the king.

ब्राह्मण उवाच भूप ! सारस्वतीमिष्टिं करोमि वचनात्तव । पत्नी तवेयमानृण्यं यातु तद्वाक्प्रवर्तनात् ॥ ७२.

The Brahmin said: 'O king, at your command I will perform a Sarasvati sacrifice. Let your wife be freed from her debt, and let her speech be restored.'

मार्कण्डेय उवाच इष्टिं सारस्वतीं चक्रे तदर्थं स द्विजोत्तमः । सारस्वतानि सूक्तानि जजाप च समाहितः ॥ ७२.

Markandeya said: That excellent Brahmin performed the Sarasvati sacrifice for her sake, and with concentration recited the Sarasvati hymns.

ततः प्रवृत्तवाक्यान्तां गर्गः प्राह रसातले । उपकारः सखीभर्त्रा कृतोऽयमतिदुष्करः ॥ ७२.

Then Garga, now able to speak, said in the underworld, 'This great and difficult favor has been done for my friend by her husband.'

इत्थं ज्ञानं समासाद्य नन्दा शीघ्रगतिः पुरम् । ततो राज्ञीं परिष्वज्य स्वसखीमुरगात्मजा ॥ ७२.

Having regained her speech, Nanda quickly returned to the city, and there, embracing the queen, her friend, the serpent maiden, rejoiced.

तञ्च संस्तूय भूपालं कल्याणोक्त्या पुनः पुनः । उवाच मधुरं नागी कृतासनपरिग्रहा ॥ ७२.

Praising the king again and again with auspicious words, the serpent maiden, having taken her seat, spoke sweetly.

उपकारः कृतो वीर ! भवता यो ममाधुना । तेनास्म्याकृष्टहृदया यद्ब्रवीमि शृणुष्व तत् ॥ ७२.

'O hero, the favor you have just done for me has won my heart. Listen now to what I say.'

तव पुत्रो महावीर्यो भविष्यति नराधिप । तस्माप्रतिहतं चक्रमस्यां भुवि भविष्यति ॥ ७२.

'Your son, O king, will be of great prowess; his wheel of sovereignty will be unconquered on this earth.'

सर्वार्थशास्त्रतत्त्वज्ञो धर्मानुष्ठानतत्परः । मन्वन्तरेश्वरो धीमान् ! भविष्यति स वै मनुः ॥ ७२.

'He will be wise, knowing the essence of all sciences and devoted to the practice of dharma; O intelligent one, he will be the lord of the manvantara, he will indeed be Manu.'

मार्कण्डेय उवाच इति दत्वा वरं तस्मै नागराजसुता ततः । सखीं तां संपरिष्वज्य पातालमगमन्मुने ॥ ७२.

Markandeya said: Having granted him this boon, the serpent king's daughter embraced her friend and returned to the underworld, O sage.

तत्र तस्य तया सार्धं रमतः पृथिवीपतेः । जगाम कालः सुमहान् प्रजाः पालयतस्तथा ॥ ७२.

There, as the lord of the earth enjoyed himself with her, a long time passed while he protected his subjects.

ततः स तस्यान्तनयो जज्ञे राज्ञो महात्मनः । पौर्णमास्यां यथा कान्तश्चन्द्रः संपूर्णमण्डलः ॥ ७२.

Then, a son was born to that great king, just as the full moon, beautiful and complete, appears on the night of the full moon.

तस्मिन् जाते मुदं प्रापुः प्रजाः सर्वा महात्मनि । देवदुन्दुभयो नेदुः पुष्पवृष्टिः पपात च ॥ ७२.

When that noble one was born, all the people rejoiced; divine drums resounded and a shower of flowers fell.

तस्य दृष्ट्वा वपुः कान्तं भविष्यं शीलमेव च । औत्तमश्चेति मुनयो नाम चक्रुः समागताः ॥ ७२.

Seeing his handsome form, his future, and his character, the assembled sages gave him the name 'Uttama.'

जातोऽयमुत्तमे वंशे तत्र काले तथोत्तमे । उत्तमावयवस्तेन औत्तमोऽयं भविष्यति ॥ ७२.

Born in that excellent lineage, at that auspicious time, with excellent features, he will be known as Uttama.

मार्कण्डेय उवाच उत्तमस्य सुतः सोऽथ नाम्ना ख्यातस्तथौत्तमः । मनुरासीत्तत्प्रभावो भागुरे श्रूयतां मम ॥ ७२.

Markandeya said: The son of Uttama, renowned by the name 'Uttama,' became a Manu; O Bhāguri, listen to his greatness from me.