Markandeya Purana

नियोजयति मामिष्टविरोधाच्च विवर्जनम् । आक्रुष्टोऽन्येन मन्येत ताडितो वा नियोजिका॥५१.

She appoints me, and by avoiding opposition to what is desired; if insulted or struck by another, the one who appoints—

नियोजयत्येनमिति न गच्छेत्तद्वशं बुधः । परदारादिसंसर्गे चित्तमात्मानमेव च॥५१.

She appoints him—thus, a wise person should not come under her control; in association with another's wife and the like, both the mind and the self—

नियोजयत्यत्र सा मामिति प्राज्ञो विचिन्तयेत् । विरोधं कुरुते चान्या दम्पत्योः प्रीयमाणयोः॥५१.

She appoints me in this matter—so the wise should reflect; and another woman creates discord between a loving couple—

बन्धूनां सुहृदां पित्रोः पुत्रैः सावर्णिकैश्च या । विरोधिनी सा तद्रक्षां कुर्वोत बलिकर्मणा॥५१.

She who creates discord among relatives, friends, parents, sons, and those of the same caste—protection should be performed for her by means of oblation rites.

तथातिवादसहनाच्छास्त्राचारनिषेवणात् । धान्यं खलाद् गृहाद् गोभ्यः पयः सर्पिस्तथापरा॥५१.

Likewise, by enduring harsh words, by observing scriptural conduct, grain from the threshing floor, from the house, milk from cows, and clarified butter, and other things—

समृद्धिमृद्धिमद्द्रव्यादपहिन्ति च कन्यका । सा स्वयंहारिकेत्युक्ता सदान्तर्धानतत्परा॥५१.

The girl takes away prosperity from prosperous possessions; she is called a self-stealer, always intent on concealment.

महानसादर्धसिद्धमन्नागारस्थितं तथा । परिविश्यमाणञ्च सदा सार्धं भुङ्क्ते च भुञ्जता॥५१.

From the kitchen, from half-cooked food, from what is kept in the storeroom, and whatever is being served, she always eats together with the one eating.

उच्छेषणं मनुष्याणां हरत्यन्नञ्च दुर्हरा । कर्मान्तागारशालाभ्यः सिद्धर्धि हरति द्विज॥५१.

She takes the leftovers of people and the food that is hard to obtain; from the workhouse and the storeroom, she takes the accomplished prosperity, O twice-born.

गोस्त्रीस्तनेभ्यश्च पयः क्षीरहारी सदैव सा । दध्नो घृतं तिलात्तैलं सुरागारात्तथा सुराम्॥५१.

She always steals milk from cows and women’s breasts; ghee from curds, oil from sesame, and liquor from the liquor-house.

रागं कुसुम्भकादीनां कार्पासात् सूत्रमेव च । सा स्वयंहारिका नाम हरत्यविरतं द्विज॥५१.

She takes dye from safflower and the like, and thread from cotton; she is called the self-stealer, O twice-born, and she steals incessantly.

कुर्याच्छिखण्डिनोर्द्वन्द्वं रक्षार्थं कुत्रिमां स्त्रियम् । रक्षाश्चैव गृहे लेख्या वर्ज्याचो च्छिष्टता तथा॥५१.

One should make an artificial woman for the sake of protection, as a pair for the peacock; and protection should be written in the house, and impurity should be avoided.

होमाग्निदेवताधूपभस्मना च परिष्क्रिया । कार्या क्षीरादिभाण्डानामेवं तद्रक्षणं स्मृतम्॥५१.

Purification with the ashes of the sacrificial fire, incense, and offerings to deities should be performed for vessels of milk and the like; thus is their protection declared.

उद्वेगं जनयत्यन्या एकस्थाननिवासिनः । पुरुषस्य तु या प्रोक्ता भ्रामणी सा तु कन्यका॥५१.

Another, dwelling in the same place, causes distress; the one who causes a man's mind to wander is called the 'roaming maiden.'

तस्याथ रक्षां कुर्वोत विक्षिप्तैः सितसर्षपैः । आसने शयने चोर्व्यां यत्रास्ते स तु मानवः॥५१.

For her, protection should be made with scattered white mustard seeds, on the seat, the bed, and the ground where that person stays.

चिन्तयेच्च नरः पापा मामेषा दुष्टचेतना । भ्रामयत्यसकृज्जप्यं भुवः सूक्तं समाधिना॥५१.

A man should think: 'This wicked-minded one brings me harm,' and repeatedly recite with concentration the Bhuḥ Sūkta as a remedy.

स्त्रीणां पुष्पं हरत्यन्या प्रवृत्तं सा तु कन्यका । तथाप्रवृत्तं सा ज्ञेया दौः सहा ऋतहारिका॥५१.

Another takes the flowers of women; she who does so is the maiden who steals the menstrual flow, and she is known as the one who interrupts the cycle.

कुर्वोत तीर्थदेवौकश्चैत्यपर्वतसानुषु । नदीसङ्गमखातेषु स्त्रपनं तत्प्रशान्यते॥५१.

One should perform sprinkling at holy places, abodes of gods, shrines, mountain peaks, river confluences, and wells; by this, her influence is calmed.

मन्त्रवित् कृततत्त्वज्ञः पर्वसूषसि च द्विज । चिकित्साज्ञश्च वै वैद्यः संप्रयुक्तैर्वरौषधैः॥५१.

A knower of mantras, one versed in the true nature of things, a twice-born at the proper times, or a physician skilled in treatment, should use the best medicines together.

स्मृतिञ्चापहरत्यन्या स्त्रीणां सा स्मृतिहारिका । विविक्तदेशसेवित्वात्तस्याश्चोपशमो भवेत्॥५१.

Another takes away the memory of women; she is called the 'memory-stealing' maiden. By residing in a secluded place, her influence is subdued.

बीजापहारिणी चान्या स्त्रीपुंसोरतिभीषणा । मेध्यान्नभोजनैः स्नानैस्तस्याश्चोपशमो भवेत॥५१.

Another steals the seed, terrifying to both women and men; by eating pure food and bathing, her influence is subdued.

अष्टमी द्वेषणी नाम कन्या लोकभयावहा । या करोति जनद्विष्टं नरं नारीमथापि वा॥५१.

The eighth is called the 'hostility-bringing' maiden, who brings fear to the world, causing a man or woman to be hated by people.

मधुक्षीरघृताक्तांस्तु शान्त्यर्थं होमयेत्तिलान् । कुर्वोत मित्रविन्दाञ्च तथेष्टिन्तत् प्रशान्यते॥५१.

For appeasement, one should offer sesame anointed with honey, milk, and ghee into the fire, and also make offerings to Mitravinda; thus, her influence is calmed.

एतेषान्तु कुमाराणां कन्यानां द्विजसत्तम । अष्टत्रिंशदपत्यानि तेषां नामानि मे शृणु॥५१.

O best of twice-born, among these maidens and youths, there are thirty-eight offspring; listen to their names from me.

दन्ताकृष्टेरभूत् कन्या विजल्पा कलहा तथा । अवज्ञानृतदुष्टोक्तिर्विजल्पा तत्प्रशान्तये॥५१.

From Dantākṛṣṭi was born the maiden Vijalpā, and also Kalahā; disrespect, falsehood, and wicked speech—Vijalpā is for their appeasement.

तामेव चिन्तयेत् प्राज्ञः प्रयतश्च गृही भवेत् । कलहा कलहं गेहे करोत्यविरतं नृणाम्॥५१.

A wise man should contemplate her and be diligent at home; Kalahā brings constant quarrels into the houses of men.

कुटुम्बनाशहेतुः सा तत्प्रशान्तिं निशामय । दूर्वाङ्कुरान्मधुघृतक्षीराक्तान् बलिकर्मणि॥५१.

She is the cause of family destruction; hear now her appeasement: with shoots of dūrvā grass anointed with honey, ghee, and milk, one should make offerings.

विक्षिपेज्जुहुयाच्चैवानलं मित्रञ्च कीर्तयेत् । भूतानां मातृभिः सार्धं बालकानान्तु शान्तये॥५१.

One should scatter and offer them into the fire, and praise Mitra; together with the Mothers of beings, this brings peace for children.

विद्यानां तपसाञ्चैव संयमस्य यमस्य च । कृष्यां वाणिज्यलाभे च शान्तिं कुर्वन्तु मे सदा॥५१.

May they always grant me peace in learning, austerity, self-restraint, discipline, and in gaining success in agriculture and trade.

पूजिताश्च यथान्यायं तुष्टिं गच्छन्तु सर्वशः । कुष्माण्डा यातुधानाश्च ये चान्ये गणसंज्ञिताः॥५१.

May they, when properly worshipped, be fully satisfied—all the Kuṣmāṇḍas, Yātudhānas, and others known as the hosts.