Markandeya Purana

निजरूपं परित्यज्य पक्षिणीरूपधारिणी । चत्वारस्ते च तनया जनिष्यन्तेऽधमाप्सराः॥१.

Abandoning your own form, assuming the shape of a bird, you will have four sons, O lowest of Apsarases.

अप्राप्य तेषु च प्रीतिं शस्त्रपूता पुनर्दिवि । वासमाप्स्यसि वक्तव्यं नोत्तरं ते कथञ्चन॥१.

Without finding joy among them, purified by this ordeal, you will again attain residence in heaven; you must not speak a word in reply.

इति वचनमसह्यं कोपसंरक्तदृष्टिश् चलकलबलयां तां मानिनीं श्रावयित्वा । तरलतरतरङ्गां गां परित्यज्य विप्रः प्रथितगुणगणौघां संप्रयाताः खगङ्गाम्॥१.

Having pronounced this unbearable curse, his eyes red with anger, the sage departed, leaving the trembling, proud one, and she, her mind agitated like the waves of a restless river, took birth among the birds, famed for their many virtues.

; धर्मपक्षिण ऊचुः हरिश्चन्द्रेति राजर्षिरासीत् त्रेतायुगे पुरा । धर्मात्मा पृथिवीपालः प्रोल्लसत्कीर्तिरुत्तमः॥७.

There was once a royal sage named Harishchandra in the Treta age, a ruler of the earth whose noble fame shone forth, steadfast in righteousness.

न दुर्भिक्षं न च व्याधिर्नाकालमरणं नृणाम् । नाधर्मरुचयः पौरास्तस्मिन् शासति पार्थिवे॥७.

During his reign, there was neither famine nor disease, nor untimely death among people, nor were the citizens inclined toward unrighteousness.

बभूवुर्न तथोन्मत्ता धन-वीर्य-तपोमदैः । नाजायन्त स्त्रियश्चैव काश्चिदप्राप्तयौवनाः॥७.

Nor were there those intoxicated by wealth, strength, or asceticism; and no women were born who had not attained youth.

स कदाचिन्महाबाहुररण्येऽनुसरन् मृगम् । शुश्राव शब्दमसकृत् त्रायस्वेति च योषिताम्॥७.

Once, that mighty-armed king, while pursuing a deer in the forest, repeatedly heard the cries of women calling, 'Save us!'

स विहाय मृगं राजा मा भैषीरित्यभाषत । मयि शासति दुर्मेधाः कोऽयमन्यायवृत्तिमान्॥७.

Abandoning the deer, the king spoke, 'Do not fear!' Who, while I rule, would act with such wickedness and injustice?

तत्क्रन्दितानुसारी च सर्वारम्भविघातकृत् । एकस्मिन्नन्तरे रौद्रो विघ्नराट् समचिन्तयत्॥७.

Following the sound of their cries, he encountered the cause of all obstacles—a fierce being—who began to ponder.

विश्वामित्रोऽयमतुलं तप आस्थाय वीर्यवान् । प्रागसिद्धाभवादीनां विद्याः साध्यति व्रती॥७.

This is Vishvamitra, possessing unmatched ascetic power and strength, who, through his vows, is accomplishing the knowledge once attained by the gods.

साध्यमानाः क्षमामौनचित्तसंयमिनामुना । ता वै भयार्ताः क्रन्दन्ति कथं कार्यमिदं मया॥७.

As he strives for them with patience, silence, and control of mind, those (women), terrified, cry out—what should I do about this?

तेजस्वी कौशिकश्वेष्ठो वयमस्य सुदुर्बलाः । क्रोशन्त्येतास्तथा भीता दुष्पारं प्रतिभाति मे॥७.

The powerful Kauśika is protected by horses, while we are exceedingly weak; these frightened ones cry out, and it seems impossible for me to cross.

अथवायं नृपः प्राप्तो मा भैरिति वदन् मुहुः । इममेव प्रविश्याशु साधयिष्ये यथेप्सितम्॥७.

Or perhaps this king has arrived, repeatedly saying 'Do not fear'; I will quickly enter him and accomplish whatever I desire.

इति संचिन्त्य रौद्रेण विघ्नराजेन वै ततः । तेनाविष्टो नृपः कोपादिदं वचनमब्रवीत्॥७.

Thinking thus, the fierce lord of obstacles possessed the king, and out of anger, the king spoke these words.

कोऽयं बघ्नाति वस्त्रान्ते पावकं पापकृन्नरः । बलोष्णतेजसा दीप्ते मयि पत्यावुपस्थिते॥७.

Who is this wicked man, burning fire at the edge of his garment, blazing with strength and energy, while I, the master, am present?

सोऽद्य मत्कार्मुकाक्षेप-विदीपितदिगन्तरैः । शरैर्विभिन्नसर्वाङ्गो दीर्घनिद्रां प्रवेक्ष्यति॥७.

Today, pierced by arrows from my bow, which illuminate all directions, he will enter a long sleep, his body shattered.

विश्वामित्रस्ततः क्रुद्धः श्रुत्वा तन्नृपतेर्वचः । क्रुद्धे चर्षिवरे तस्मिन् नेशुर्विद्याः क्षणेन ताः॥७.

Upon hearing these words of the king, Vishvamitra became angry; and as the sage grew wrathful, the knowledge vanished in an instant.

स चापि राजा तं दृष्ट्वा विश्वामित्रं तपोनिधिम् । भीतः प्रावेपतात्यर्थं सहसाश्वत्थपर्णवत्॥७.

And the king, seeing Vishvamitra, the treasure of asceticism, became greatly afraid and trembled suddenly like the leaves of an ashvattha tree.

स दुरात्मन्निति यदा मुनिस्तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् । ततः स राजा विनयात् प्रणिपत्याभ्यभाषत॥७.

When the sage said, 'You are wicked,' and stood there, the king, out of humility, bowed and spoke.

भगवन्नेष धर्मो मे नापराधो मम प्रभो । न क्रोद्धुमर्हसि मुने निजधर्मरतस्य मे॥७.

Revered one, this is my duty, not a fault, O master; you should not be angry with me, a devotee of my own dharma.

दातव्यं रक्षितव्यं च धर्मज्ञेन महीक्षिता । चापं चोद्यम्य योद्धव्यं धर्मशास्त्रानुसारतः॥७.

A king who knows dharma must give and protect, and, raising his bow, must fight according to the rules of dharma.

; विश्वामित्र उवाच दातव्यं कस्य के रक्ष्याः कैर्योद्धव्यं च ते नृप । क्षिप्रमेतत् समाचक्ष्व यद्यधर्मभयं तव॥७.

Viśvāmitra said: To whom should gifts be given? Whom should be protected? By whom should battles be fought, O king? Quickly tell me this, if you fear unrighteousness.

; हरिश्चन्द्र उवाच दातव्यं विप्रमुख्येभ्यो ये चान्ये कृशवृत्तयः । रक्ष्या भीताः सदा युद्धं कर्तव्यं परिपन्थिभिः॥७.

Hariścandra said: Gifts should be given to eminent Brahmins and to others who are poor. Those who are afraid must always be protected, and battles must be fought against robbers.

; विश्वामित्र उवाच यदि राजा भवान् सम्यग्राजधर्ममवेक्षते । निर्वेष्टुकामो विप्रोऽहं दीयतामिष्टदक्षिणा॥७.

Viśvāmitra said: If you are a king who rightly observes royal duty, and I, a Brahmin, wish to perform a rite, then let the desired offering be given.

; पक्षिण ऊचुः एतद्राजा वचः श्रुत्वा प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना । पुनर्जातमिवात्मानं मेने प्राह च कौशिकम्॥७.

The birds said: Hearing these words of the king, with joy in his heart, he felt as if reborn and spoke again to Kauśika.

उच्यतां भगवन् यत्ते दातव्यमविशङ्कितम् । दत्तमित्येव तद्विद्धि यद्यपि स्यात् सुदुर्लभम्॥७.

Speak, O revered one, what you wish to be given, without hesitation. Know that it is already granted, even if it is exceedingly difficult to obtain.

हिरण्यं वा सुवर्णं वा पुत्रः पत्नी कलेवरम् । प्राणा राज्यं पुरं लक्ष्मीर्यदभिप्रेतमात्मनः॥७.

Whether it is gold, or jewels, or my son, wife, body, life, kingdom, city, wealth—whatever is desired by you.

; विश्वामित्र उवाच राजन् प्रतिगृहीतोऽयं यस्ते दत्तः प्रतिग्रहः । प्रयच्छ प्रथमं तावद् दक्षिणां राजसूयिकीम्॥७.

Viśvāmitra said: O king, the offering you have given is accepted. First, grant me the royal sacrificial gift.

; राजोवाच ब्रह्मंस्तामपि दास्यामि दक्षिणां भवतो ह्यहम् । व्रियतां द्विजशार्दूल यस्तवेष्टः प्रतिग्रहः॥७.

The king said: O Brahmin, I will indeed give you that sacrificial gift. Choose, O best of twice-born, whatever offering you desire.