Markandeya Purana

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.

महादेवप्रसादेन महेश्वरमतेन च । सर्व एते नृणां नित्यं तुष्टिमाशु व्रजन्तु ते॥५१.

By the grace of Mahadeva and the will of Maheshvara, may all these always and swiftly bring satisfaction to people.

तुष्टाः सर्वं निरस्यन्तु दुष्कृतं दुरनुष्ठितम् । महापताकजं सर्वं यच्चान्यद्विघ्नकारणम्॥५१.

When satisfied, may they remove all evil deeds and misdeeds, all great sins, and whatever else causes obstacles.

तेषामेव प्रसादेन विघ्ना नश्यन्तु सर्वशः । उद्वाहेषु च सर्वेषु वृद्धिकर्मंसु चैव हि॥५१.

By their very favor, may all obstacles be utterly destroyed, whether in marriages or in all rites for prosperity.

पुण्यानुष्ठानयोगेषु गुरुदेवार्चनेषु च । जपयज्ञविधानेषु यात्रासु च चतुर्दश॥५१.

In the performance of virtuous acts, in the worship of teachers and deities, in the arrangements for recitation and sacrifice, and in the fourteen kinds of journeys—

शरीरारोग्यभोग्येषु सुखदानधनेषु च । वृद्धबालातुरेष्वेव शान्तिं कुर्वन्तु मे सदा॥५१.

In matters of bodily health and enjoyment, in the giving of happiness and wealth, and among the old, the young, and the afflicted—may they always bring me peace.

सोमाम्बुपौ तथाम्भोधिः सविता चानिलानलौ । तथोक्तेः कालजिह्वोऽभूत् पुत्रस्तालनिकेतनः॥५१.

Soma, Ambu, the ocean, Savita, wind, and fire—thus it is said—Kālajihva became the son dwelling in Tāla.

स येषां रसनासंस्थास्तानसाधून् विबाधते । परिवर्तसुतौ द्वौ तु विरूपविकृतौ द्विज॥५१.

He, established in their tongues, afflicts those who are impure; and there are two sons called Parivarta, both deformed and misshapen, O twice-born one.

तौ तु वृक्षाग्रपरिखाप्राकाराम्भोधिसंश्रयौ । गुर्विण्याः परिवर्तन्तौ कुरुतः पादपाणिषु॥५१.

Those two dwell upon treetops, in moats, ramparts, and the ocean; wandering about on the branches of trees belonging to Gurviṇī.

क्रौष्टुके परिवर्तःस्यात् गर्भस्यान्योदरात्ततः । न वृक्षं चैव नैवाद्रिं न प्राकारं महोदधिम्॥५१.

Parivarta is found in the krauṣṭuka bird, and from another womb comes the embryo; neither tree, nor mountain, nor rampart, nor the great ocean—

परिखां वा समाक्रामेदबला गर्भधारिणी । अङ्गध्रुक् तनयं लेभे पिशुनं नाम नामतः॥५१.

Nor even a moat should be crossed by a weak pregnant woman; one who bears a son named Piśuna, so called, who clings to the limb.