Markandeya Purana

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.

सरित्सरः समुद्रांश्च सेवन्ते पर्वतानपि । तास्तदा ह्यल्पशीतोष्णा युगे तस्मिंश्चरन्ति वै॥४९.

They frequented rivers, lakes, and oceans, and even mountains; in that age, they moved about experiencing only mild heat and cold.

तृप्तिं स्वाभाविकीं प्राप्ता विषयेषु महामते । न तासां प्रतिघातोऽस्ति न द्वेषो नापि मत्सरः॥४९.

They attained natural satisfaction in the objects of the senses, O wise one; among them there was no opposition, no hatred, and no envy.

पर्वतोदधिसेविन्यो ह्यनिकेतास्तु सर्वशः । ता वै निष्कामचारिण्यो नित्यं मुदितमानसाः॥४९.

They wandered everywhere, dwelling on mountains and by the sea, without fixed abode; they acted without desire and were always joyful in mind.

पिशाचोरगरक्षांसि तथा मत्सरिणो जनाः । पशवः पक्षिणश्चैव नक्रा मत्स्याः सरीसृपाः॥४९.

Then arose flesh-eating spirits, serpents, demons, envious people, animals, birds, crocodiles, fish, and reptiles.

अवारका ह्यण्डजा वा ते ह्यधर्मप्रसूतयः । न मूलफलपुष्पाणि नार्तवा वत्सराणि च॥४९.

They were of inferior birth, or born from eggs, and were the offspring of unrighteousness; there were no roots, fruits, or flowers, nor were there seasons or years.

सर्वकालसुखः कालो नात्यर्थं घर्मशीतता । कालेन गच्छता तेषां चित्रा सिद्धिरजायत॥४९.

Time was pleasant at all moments, with neither excessive heat nor cold; as time passed for them, wondrous accomplishments arose.

ततश्च तेषां पूर्वाह्ने मध्याह्ने च वितृप्तता । पुनस्तथेच्छतां तृप्तिरनायासेन साभवत्॥४९.

Thus, in the morning and at midday, they were satisfied; and whenever they wished, satisfaction came to them effortlessly.

इच्छताञ्च तथायासो मनसः समजायत । अपां सौक्ष्म्यं ततस्तासां सिद्धिर्नानारसोल्लसा॥४९.

Yet, for those who desired, exertion of the mind arose; then, through the subtlety of water, various delightful accomplishments appeared.

समजायत चैवान्या सर्वकामप्रदायिनी । असंस्कार्यैः शरीरैश्च प्रजास्ताः स्थिरयौवनाः॥४९.

Then another kind arose, granting every desire; with bodies not requiring purification, those beings remained in perpetual youth.

तासां विना तु संकल्पं जायन्ते मिथुनाः प्रजाः । समं जन्म च रूपञ्च म्रियन्ते चैव ताः समम्॥४९.

Without any intention, offspring were born in pairs; they were born together, had the same form, and died at the same time.