गार्हस्थ्यमकरोद्धृष्टः शान्तो दान्तः कृतार्थकः
He entered household life, resolute, peaceful, self-controlled, and fulfilled.
मनसा वचसा चापि देहेन च पतिव्रता
With mind, speech, and body, she was devoted to her husband.
रुषुवे दशमासान्ते पुत्रं तेजस्विनां परम्
At the end of ten months, she gave birth to a son of supreme brilliance.
जातकं कारयामास मङ्गलं विधिपूर्वकम्
They performed the birth rites, auspicious and according to prescribed rules.
ततस्तु पञ्चमे वर्षे उपनीय मुदान्वितः
Then, in the fifth year, he was initiated, filled with joy.
नमस्कार्या द्विजाः पुत्र सदादृष्टा विधानतः
O son, the twice-born must always be respectfully greeted, as prescribed.
वैदिकं कर्म तर्तव्यं वेदाध्ययनपूर्वकम्
Vedic duties must be performed, preceded by study of the Vedas.
निषिद्धं वर्जनीयं स्यादृष्टसंभाषणादिकम्
What is forbidden must be avoided, such as improper speech and the like.
न द्वेषः कस्यचित्कार्यः सर्वेषां हितमाचरेत्
One must not bear hatred toward anyone; one should act for the good of all.
एवं पित्रा समादिष्टो मार्कण्डेयो मुनीश्वरः
Thus instructed by his father was the great sage Mārkaṇḍeya.
मार्कण्डेयो महाभागो दयावान्धर्मवत्सलः
Mārkaṇḍeya, greatly fortunate, compassionate, and devoted to righteousness.
वशीं शान्तो महाज्ञानी सर्वतत्त्वार्थकोविदः
Self-controlled, peaceful, greatly wise, and knowing the meaning of all principles.
आराधितो जगन्नाथो माक्रण्डेयेन धीमता
The Lord of the universe was worshipped by the wise Markandeya.
मार्कण्डेयो मुनिस्तस्मान्नारायण इति स्मृतः
Therefore, that sage Markandeya is remembered as Narayana.
जगत्येकार्णवीभूते स्वप्रभावं जनार्द्दनः
When the world became a single ocean, Janardana manifested his own power.
मृकण्डुतनयो धीमान्विष्णुभक्तिसमन्वितः
The intelligent son of Mrikandu, endowed with devotion to Vishnu,
मार्कण्डेयः स्थितस्तावद्यावच्छेते हरिः स्वयम्
Markandeya remained there as long as Hari himself lay at rest.
दशभिः पञ्चभिश्चैव निमेषैः परिकीर्तिता
It is said to consist of ten and five twinklings of the eye.
तत्रिंशतो क्षणो ज्ञेयस्तैः पङ्भर्घटिका स्मृता
Thirty such moments are to be known as one 'ghatika' of time.
त्रिंशद्दिनेर्भवेन्यासः पक्षद्वितयसंयुतः
A month consists of thirty days, joined in two fortnights.
तद्दयेन भवेदब्दः स देवानां दिनं भवेत्
By that reckoning, a year is formed, which is a day for the gods.
मानुषेणैव मासेन पितॄणां दिनमुच्यते
For the ancestors, a day is said to be equal to a month of humans.
दिव्यैर्वर्षसहस्रैर्द्वादशभिर्दैवतं युगम्
A divine yuga is twelve thousand years of the gods.
एकसत्पतिसंख्यातैर्दिव्यैर्मन्वन्तरं युगैः
A manvantara is counted as seventy-one such divine yugas.
यावत्प्रमाणं दिवसं तावद्रात्रिः प्रकीर्तिता
The length of the night is said to be equal to that of the day.
मनुषेण सहस्रेण यत्प्रमाणं भवेच्छृणु
Listen: whatever is measured by a thousand human years—
तद्वन्मासो वत्सरश्च ज्ञेयस्तस्यापि वेधसः
In the same way, a month and a year are to be understood for that Creator.
विष्णोरहस्तु विज्ञेयं तावद्रात्रिः प्रकीर्तिता
The day of Vishnu is to be known as such, and the night is said to be of equal length.
आत्मानं परमं ध्यायन्स्थितवान्हरिसान्निधौ
Meditating on the supreme Self, he remained in the presence of Hari.
सृष्टवान्ब्रह्मरुपेण जगदेतच्चराचरम्
He created this world, moving and unmoving, in the form of Brahma.