Markandeya Purana

तस्मिंस्तृप्ते नृयज्ञोत्थादृणान्मुच्येद्गृहाश्रमी । तस्माददत्त्वा यो भुङ्क्ते स्वयं किल्विषभुङ्नरः ॥ २९.

When he is satisfied, the householder is freed from debts arising from human sacrifices; but if one eats without giving, he himself partakes of sin.

स पापं केवलं भुङ्क्ते पुरीषञ्चान्यजन्मनि । अतिथिर्यस्य भग्नाशो गृहात्प्रतिनिवर्तते ॥ २९.

He alone eats sin, and in another birth, filth, if a guest departs from his house with hope unfulfilled.

स दत्त्वा दुष्कृतं तस्मै पुण्यमादाय गच्छति । अप्यम्बुशाकदानेन यद्वाप्यश्नाति स स्वयम् ॥ २९.

By giving even water or vegetables, whatever merit is gained, that is taken by the guest, and the sin remains with the householder.

पूजयेत्तु नरः शक्त्या तेनैवातिथिमादरात् । कुर्याच्चाहरहः श्राद्धमन्नाद्येनोदकेन च ॥ २९.

Therefore, a man should honor a guest with whatever means he has, and daily perform the śrāddha with food and water.

पितॄनुद्दिश्य विप्रांश्च भोजयेद्विप्रमेव वा । अन्नस्याग्रं तदुद्धृत्य ब्राह्मणायोपपादयेत् ॥ २९.

He should feed the Brahmins, or at least one Brahmin, in honor of the ancestors, offering first the best portion of the food.

भिक्षाञ्च याचतां दद्यात्परिव्राड्ब्रह्मचारिणाम् । ग्रासप्रमाणा भिक्षा स्यादग्रं ग्रासचतुष्टयम् ॥ २९.

He should give alms to those who beg—wandering ascetics and students; the measure of alms is four mouthfuls, with the first portion given.

अग्रं चतुर्गुणं प्राहुर्हन्तकारं द्विजोत्तमाः । भोजनं हन्तकारं वा अग्रं भिक्षामथापि वा ॥ २९.

The best of twice-born say that the first portion is four times as effective as the rest; whether it is the meal or the alms, the first portion is most potent.

अदत्त्वा तु न भोक्तव्यं यथाविभवमात्मनः । पूजयित्वातिथीनिष्टान् ज्ञातीन् बन्धूंस्तथार्थिनः ॥ २९.

One should not eat without giving, according to one's means, after honoring guests, household deities, relatives, and those who seek charity.

विकलान् बालवृद्धांश्च भोजयेच्चातुरांस्तथा । वाञ्छते क्षुत्परीतात्मा यच्चान्योऽन्नमकिञ्चनः ॥ २९.

He should feed those who are disabled, children, the elderly, and the clever, as well as anyone else who, afflicted by hunger, desires food and has nothing.

कुटुम्बिना भोजनीयः समर्थे विभवे सति । श्रीमन्तं ज्ञातिमासाद्य यो ज्ञातिरवसीदति ॥ २९.

A householder who is able and prosperous should feed his relatives, especially when a wealthy relative encounters one who has fallen into distress.

सीदता यद्कृतं तेन तत्पापं स समश्नुते । सायं चैव विधिः कार्यः सूर्योढं तत्र चातिथिम् ॥ २९.

Whatever sin is committed by the one who has fallen, that is equally shared by the prosperous relative; and in the evening, after sunset, the guest should be honored according to rule.

पूजयीत यथाशक्ति शयनासनभोजनैः । एवमुद्दवहतस्तात ! गार्हस्थ्यं भारमाहितम् ॥ २९.

He should honor the guest as best he can, with a bed, seat, and food; in this way, O dear one, the burden of household life is properly borne.

स्कन्धे विधाता देवाश्च पितरश्च महर्षयः । श्रेयोऽभिवर्षिणः सर्वे तथैवातिथिबान्धवाः ॥ २९.

On his shoulders, the Creator, the gods, the ancestors, and the great sages, all bestowers of welfare, as well as guests and relatives, are supported.

पशुपक्षिगणास्तृप्ता ये चान्ये सूक्ष्मकीटकाः । गाथाश्चात्र महाभाग ! स्वयमत्रिरगायत ॥ २९.

The groups of animals, birds, and all other small creatures are satisfied; and here, O illustrious one, Atri himself composed verses.

ता शृणुष्व महाभाग ! गृहस्थाश्रमसंस्थिताः । देवान् पितॄंश्चातिथींश्च तद्वत्सम्पूज्य बान्धवान् ॥ २९.

Hear now, O illustrious one, the verses composed by Atri for householders, who, honoring the gods, ancestors, guests, and likewise relatives, ...

जामयश्च गुरुञ्चैव गृहस्थो विभवे सति । श्वभ्यश्च श्वपचेभ्यश्च वयोभ्यश्चावपेद्भुवि ॥ २९.

A householder, if he has the means, should offer food on the ground to dogs, outcastes, and birds, as well as to his wives and to his teacher.

वैश्वदेवं हि नामैतत्कुर्यात्सायं तथा दिने । मांसमन्नं तथा शाकं गृहे यच्चोपसाधितम् । न च तत्स्वयमश्नीयाद्विधिवद्यन्न निर्वपेत् ॥ २९.

He should perform what is called the Vaiśvadeva rite each evening and day, offering meat, rice, vegetables, and whatever else has been prepared in the house; but he should not eat any of it himself until he has made the proper offering according to rule.

; क्रौष्टुकिरुवाच अर्वाक्स्त्रोतस्तु कथितो भवता यस्तु मानुषः । ब्रह्मन् ! विस्तरतो ब्रूहि ब्रह्मा समसृजद्यथा॥४९.

Krauṣṭuki said: You have described the human creation that came after the stream-born beings; O Brahmin, now tell in detail how Brahmā created, and how he brought forth the various beings.

यथा च वर्णानसृजद्यद् गुणाश्च महामते । यच्च येषां स्मृतं कर्म विप्रादीनां वदस्व तत्॥४९.

And how did he create the castes, and what are their qualities, O wise one? Tell also what duties are prescribed for the Brahmins and others.

; मार्कण्डेय उवाच ब्रह्मणः सृजतः पूर्वं सत्याभिध्यायिनस्तथा । मिथुनानां सहस्रन्तु मुखात् सोऽथासृजन्मुने॥४९.

Markandeya said: In the beginning, as Brahmā was creating, intent on truth, he produced a thousand pairs from his mouth, O sage.

जातास्ते ह्यु पपद्यन्ते सत्त्वोद्रिक्ताः स्वतेजसः । सहस्रमन्यद्वक्षस्तो मिथुनानां ससर्ज ह॥४९.

Those who were born thus appeared, endowed with abundant sattva and their own brilliance; then he created another thousand pairs from his chest.

ते सर्वे रजसोद्रिक्ताः शुष्मिणश्चाप्यमर्षिणः । ससर्जान्यते सहस्रन्तु द्वन्द्वानामूरुतः पुनः॥४९.

All of these were dominated by rajas, energetic and impatient; then he created yet another thousand pairs from his thighs.

रजस्तमोभ्यामुद्रिक्ता ईहाशीलास्तु ते स्मृताः । पद्भ्यां सहस्रमन्यच्च मिथुनानां ससर्ज ह॥४९.

These were dominated by both rajas and tamas, and are known as those inclined to desire; then he created another thousand pairs from his feet.

उद्रिक्तास्तमसा सर्वे निः श्रीका ह्यल्पचेतसः । ततः संहर्षमाणास्ते द्वन्द्वोत्पन्नास्तु प्राणिनः॥४९.

All these were dominated by tamas, lacking prosperity and of little intelligence; then, as they became excited, living beings arose in pairs.

अन्योन्यहृर्च्छ्याविष्टा मैथुनायोपचक्रमुः । ततः प्रभृति कल्पेऽस्मिन् मिथुनानां हि सम्भवः॥४९.

Filled with mutual desire, they began to unite sexually; from that time onward, in this cycle, the origin of beings in pairs was established.

मासि मास्यार्तवं यत् तु न तदासीत्तु योषिताम् । तस्मात्तदा न सुषुवुः सेवितैरपि मैथुनैः॥४९.

At that time, women did not have a monthly period; therefore, even though they engaged in sexual union, they did not conceive.

आयुषोऽन्ते प्रसूयन्ते मिथुनान्येव ताः सकृत् । ततः प्रभृति कल्पेऽस्मिन् मिथुनानां हि सम्भवः॥४९.

At the end of their lifespan, they would give birth to offspring, and only once; from that time onward, in this cycle, beings have arisen in pairs.

ध्यानेन मनसा तासां प्रजानां जायते सकृत् । शब्दादिर्विषयः शुद्धः प्रत्येकं पञ्चलक्षणः॥४९.

By meditation and with their mind, their offspring were produced at once; each had pure sensory faculties, characterized by five attributes.

इत्येषा मानुषी सृष्टिर्या पूर्वं वै प्रजापतेः । तस्यान्ववायसम्भूता यैरिदं पूरितं जगत्॥४९.

Such was the human creation that existed in the beginning, O Prajāpati; from their descendants, this world has been filled.