Markandeya Purana

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.

अनुमेन च तन्मौनो वचः शत्रुजितः सुतः । तथा चकार नृपतिः पन्नगानामुदारधीः ॥ २३.

With the approval of his silent father, the son of Śatrujita did just as the noble-minded king of the serpents had requested.

समेत्य तैरात्मजभूपनन्दनैर् महोरगाणामधिपः स सत्यवाक् । मुदान्वितोऽन्नानि मधूनि चात्मवान् यथोपयोगं बुभुजे स भोगभुक् ॥ २३.

Having gathered with his sons and the princes, the truthful lord of the great serpents, filled with joy and self-control, partook of food and honey as was appropriate, enjoying the pleasures.

अलर्क उवाच यत्कार्यं पुरुषाणाञ्च गार्हस्थ्यमनुवर्तताम् । बन्धश्च स्यादकरणे क्रियाया यस्य चोच्छ्रितिः ॥ २९.

Alarka said: What is the duty of those who follow the householder's path? What bondage arises from neglecting action, and what elevation comes from performing it?

उपकाराय यन्नृणां यच्च वर्ज्यं गृहे सता । यथा च क्रियते तन्मे यथावत्पृच्छतो वद ॥ २९.

What brings benefit to people, and what should be avoided by one living in a household? Tell me properly, as I ask, how these things are to be done.

मदालसोवाच वत्स ! गार्हस्थ्यमादाय नरः सर्वमिदं जगत् । पुष्णाति तेन लोकांश्च स जयत्यभिवाञ्छितान् ॥ २९.

Madālasā said: Child, by embracing the householder's life, a man sustains this entire world; through it, he conquers the realms and attains his desired aims.

पितरो मुनयो देवा भूतानि मनुजास्तथा । कृमिकीटपतङ्गाश्च वयांसि पशवोऽसुराः ॥ २९.

Ancestors, sages, gods, beings, humans, as well as worms, insects, flying creatures, birds, animals, and demons—

गृहस्थमुपजीवन्ति ततस्तृप्तिं प्रयान्ति च । मुखं चास्य निरीक्षन्ते अपि नो दास्यतीति वै ॥ २९.

—all live upon the householder, and thus they become satisfied. They look to his face, wondering, 'Will he give to us or not?'

सर्वस्याधारभूतेयं वत्स ! धेनुस्त्रयीमयी । यस्यां प्रतिष्ठितं विश्वं विश्वहेतुश्च या मता ॥ २९.

This, my child, is the cow of threefold form, the very foundation of all; in her the universe is established, and she is regarded as the cause of all.

ऋक्पृष्ठासौ यजुर्मध्या सामवक्त्रशिरोधरा । इष्टापूर्तविषाणा च साधुसूक्ततनूरुहा ॥ २९.

Her back is the Ṛgveda, her middle the Yajurveda, her mouth and head the Sāmaveda; her horns are sacrifice and charity, her body the hymns of the good.

शान्तिपुष्टिशकृन्मूत्रा वर्णपादप्रतिष्ठिता । आजीव्यमाना जगतां साक्षया नापचीयते ॥ २९.

Her dung and urine are peace and nourishment, her limbs are the castes and orders; as long as she is sustained, the worlds do not diminish, but endure.