Markandeya Purana

मत्प्रसादपरौ प्रीत्या शापितौ हृदयेन मे । ततः स्नेहार्द्रवदनौ तावुभौ नागनन्दनौ ॥ २३.

"With my heart full of affection, you are both bound by my favor;" then, with faces wet with affection, the two sons of the serpent lord—

ऊचतुर्नृपतेः पुत्रं किञ्चित्प्रणयकोपितौ । ऋतध्वज ! न सन्देहो यथैवाह भवानिदम् ॥ २३.

Said to the prince, somewhat affectionately and with a touch of reproach: "Ṛtadhvaja, there is no doubt, just as you have said—"

तथैव चास्मन्मनसि नात्र चिन्त्यमतोऽन्यथा । किन्त्वावयोः स्वयं पित्रा प्रोक्तमेतन्महात्मना ॥ २३.

"So it is in our minds; there is no thought otherwise; but this was spoken to us by our own father, the great-souled one."

द्रष्टुं कुवलयाश्वं तमिच्छामीति पुनः पुनः । ततः कुवलयाश्वोऽसौ समुत्थाय वरासनात् । यथाह तातेति वदन् प्रणाममकरोद्भुवि ॥ २३.

Again and again he said, 'I wish to see Kuvalayashva.' Then Kuvalayashva arose from his excellent seat, saying, 'As you command, father,' and bowed down to the ground.

कुवलयाश्व उवाच धन्योऽहमतिपुण्योऽहं कोऽन्योऽस्ति सदृशो मया । यत्तातो मामभिद्रष्टुं करोति प्रवणं मनः ॥ २३.

Kuvalayashva said: 'I am blessed, I am most fortunate—who else is equal to me, when my father so eagerly desires to see me?'

तदुत्तिष्ठत गच्छामस्ताताज्ञां क्षणमप्यहम् । नातिक्रान्तुमिहेच्छामि पद्भ्यां तस्य शपाम्यहम् ॥ २३.

'Let us rise and go; I do not wish to delay, even for a moment, in fulfilling my father's command. I swear by my feet to this.'

जड उवाच एवमुक्त्वा ययौ सोऽथ सह ताभ्यां नृपात्मजः । प्राप्तश्च गोमतीं पुण्यां निर्गम्य नगराद्बहिः ॥ २३.

Jaḍa said: Having spoken thus, the prince departed together with the two of them, and, leaving the city, they reached the sacred Gomati river.

तन्मध्येन ययुस्ते वे नागेन्द्रनृपनन्दनाः । मेने च राजपुत्रोऽसौ पारे तस्यास्तयोर्गृहम् ॥ २३.

Those sons of the king of serpents traveled through the middle of it, and the prince thought their home was on the far shore.

ततश्चाकृष्य पातालं ताभ्यां नीतो नृपात्मजः । पाताले ददृशे चोभौ स पन्नगकुमारकौ ॥ २३.

Then, drawing him down to the netherworld, the two brought the prince, and there he saw both the serpent princes.

फणामणिकृतोद्योतौ व्यक्तस्वस्तिकलक्षणौ । विलोक्य तौ सुरूपाङ्गौ विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनः ॥ २३.

Their hoods shone with jewel-crests, clearly marked with the sign of the svastika; seeing their handsome forms, his eyes widened in astonishment.

विहस्य चाब्रवीत्प्रेम्णा साधु भो द्विजसत्तमौ । कथयामासतुस्तौ च पितरं पन्नगेश्वरम् ॥ २३.

Smiling with affection, he said, 'Well done, O best of Brahmins!' And those two began to tell him about their father, the lord of serpents.

शान्तमश्वतरं नाम माननीयं दिवौकसाम् । रमणीयं ततोऽपस्यत्पातालं स नृपात्मजः ॥ २३.

There he saw the honored Ashvatara, esteemed among the gods; then the prince beheld the beautiful netherworld.

कुमारैस्तरुणैर्वृद्धैरुरगैरुपशोभितम् । तथैव नागकन्याभिः क्रीडन्तीभिरितस्ततः ॥ २३.

It was adorned with young and old serpent youths, and likewise with naga maidens playing here and there.

चारुकुण्डलहाराभिस्ताराभिर्गगनं यथा । गीतशब्दैस्तथान्यत्र वीणावेणुस्वनानुगैः ॥ २३.

With lovely earrings and garlands, shining like stars in the sky; elsewhere, there were songs accompanied by the sounds of vinas and flutes.

मृदङ्गपणवातोद्यं हारिवेश्मशताकुलम् । वीक्षमाणः स पातालं ययौ शत्रुजितः सुतः ॥ २३.

The houses of the serpents were filled with the music of drums and lutes; as he gazed upon the netherworld, the son of Shatrujit proceeded onward.

सह ताभ्यामभीष्टाभ्यां पन्नगाभ्यामरिन्दमः । ततः प्रविश्य ते सर्वे नागराजनिवेशनम् ॥ २३.

With those two beloved serpents, the subduer of enemies entered together into the palace of the serpent king.

ददृशुस्ते महात्मानमुरगाधिपतिं स्थितम् । दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरं मणिकुण्डलभूषणम् ॥ २३.

There they saw the great-souled lord of serpents, adorned with divine garlands and garments, and jeweled earrings.

स्वच्छमुक्ताफललताहारिहारोपशोभितम् । केयूरिणं महाभागमासने सर्वकाञ्चने ॥ २३.

He was splendid with necklaces of pure pearl creepers, wearing armlets, most glorious, seated upon a golden throne.

मणिविद्रुमवैदूर्यजालान्तरितरूपके । स ताभ्यां दर्शितस्तस्य तातोऽस्माकमसाविति ॥ २३.

His form was adorned with nets of jewels, coral, and cat's-eye gems; the two showed him, saying, 'This is our father.'

वीरः कुवलयाश्वोऽयं पित्रे चासौ निवेदितः । ततो ननाम चरणौ नागेन्द्रस्य ऋतध्वजः ॥ २३.

This hero is Kuvalayashva, and he was introduced to their father; then Ritadhvaja bowed at the feet of the serpent king.

तमुत्थाप्य बलाद्गाढं नागेन्द्रः परिषस्वजे । मूर्ध्नि चैनमुपाघ्राय चिरं जीवेत्युवाच सः ॥ २३.

The serpent king raised him up and embraced him tightly with force; smelling his head, he said, 'May you live long.'

निहतामित्रवर्गश्च पित्रोः सुश्रूषणं कुरु । वत्स ! धन्यस्य कथ्यन्ते परोक्षस्यापि ते गुणाः ॥ २३.

Having vanquished your enemies, serve your parents, dear child! Even when you are not present, the virtues of the blessed are spoken of.

भवतो मम पुत्राभ्यामसामान्या निवेदिताः । त्वमेवानेन वर्धेथा मनोवाक्कायचेष्टितैः ॥ २३.

The uncommon qualities have been revealed by you and my sons; may you alone grow further in them, by your thoughts, words, and actions.

जीवितं गुणिनः श्लाघ्यं जीवन्नेव मृतोऽगुणः । गुणवान्निर्वृतिं पित्रोः शत्रुणां हृदयज्वरम् ॥ २३.

The life of a virtuous person is praiseworthy; one without virtue is as if dead, even while living. The virtuous bring joy to their parents and anguish to the hearts of their enemies.

करोत्यात्महितं कुर्वन् विश्वासञ्च महाजने । देवताः पितरो विप्रा मित्रार्थिविकलादयः ॥ २३.

By acting for his own good, and gaining the trust of the people, he pleases the gods, ancestors, brahmins, friends, those seeking help, and the afflicted.

बान्धवाश्च तथेच्छन्ति जीवितं गुणिनश्चिरम् । परिवादनिवृत्तानां दुर्गतेषु दयावताम् । गुणिनां सफलं जन्म संश्रितानां विपद्गतैः ॥ २३.

Relatives too desire the long life of the virtuous; those who refrain from slander, who are compassionate to the unfortunate—such a virtuous one's birth is fruitful for those who seek refuge in times of distress.

जड उवाच एवमुक्त्वा स तं वीरं पुत्राविदमथाब्रवीत् । पूजां कुवलयाश्वस्य कर्तुकामो भुजङ्गमः ॥ २३.

Jaḍa said: Having spoken thus to that heroic son, he then addressed him again, for the serpent wished to perform the worship of Kuvalayāśva.

स्नानादिकक्रमं कृत्वा सर्वमेव यथाक्रमम् । मधुपानादिसम्भोगमाहारञ्च यथेप्सितम् ॥ २३.

After performing the sequence of bathing and other rites, all in due order, he enjoyed honey-drinking and other pleasures, as well as food, as he wished.

ततः कुवलयाश्वेन हृदयोत्सवभूतया । कथया स्वल्पकं कालं स्थास्यामो हृष्टचेतसः ॥ २३.

Then, with Kuvalayāśva, their hearts rejoicing in festive conversation, they remained for a short while, delighted in spirit.