अपश्यद्देवकुक्षिस्थान्यज्ञस्थान्शतशो द्विजान्। सद्वृत्तमाश्रिताः सर्वे वर्णा ब्राह्मणपूर्वकाः1.39.
He saw hundreds of sacrificial rites performed by twice-born men within the divine womb; all the classes, led by Brahmins, were established in good conduct.
चत्वार आश्रमाः सम्यग्यथापूर्वं विलोकिता। एवं वर्षशतं साग्रं मार्कंडेयेन धीमता
He saw the four stages of life, all just as before; in this way, the wise Markandeya spent more than a hundred years.
चरता पृथिवी सर्वा तत्कुक्षौ हि समीक्ष्यते। ततः कदाचिदथ वै पुनः कुक्षेर्विनिर्गतः
As he wandered the whole earth, all of it was seen within that womb; then, at some point, he again emerged from the womb.
सुप्तं न्यग्रोधशाखाय ांबालमेकं निरीक्ष्य च। तथैवैकार्णवजले नीहारेणावृतांतरे
He saw a child sleeping on a branch of a banyan tree, and the same single ocean covered with mist all around.
अव्यक्तक्रीडिते लोके सर्वभूतविवर्जिते। स मुनिर्विस्मयाविष्टः कौतूहलसमन्वितः
In a world where play was unmanifest and all beings were absent, the sage, filled with amazement and curiosity, gazed.
बालमादित्यसंकाशं न शक्नोत्यभिवीक्षितुम्। सोप्यचिंतयदेकांते स्थित्वा सलिलसन्निधौ
He could not bear to look at the child, radiant as the sun; standing alone by the water, he reflected.
पूर्वदृष्टमिदं मेने शंकितो देवमायया। अगाधे सलिले शेते मार्कंडेयः सविस्मयः
He thought, 'This is what I saw before,' suspecting it to be the god's illusion; Markandeya, amazed, lay in the deep water.
पूर्ववत्तमथो द्रष्टुमव्रजत्त्रस्तलोचनः। स तस्मै भगवानाह स्वागतो बाल भो इति
Then, as before, he approached to see, his eyes filled with fear; and the Blessed Lord said to him, 'Welcome, child.'
बभाषे मेघतुल्येन स्वरेण पुरुषोत्तमः। मार्कंडेय न भेतव्यमागच्छस्व ममांतिकम्
The Supreme Person spoke with a voice like thunderclouds: 'Markandeya, do not be afraid. Come near to me.'
मार्कंडेय उवाच। को नाम्ना कीर्तयति मां कुर्वन्परिभवं मम। दिव्यवर्षसहस्राख्यं धर्षयंश्चैव मे वयः
Markandeya said: 'Who calls me by name, treating me with disrespect, and challenges my divine, thousand-year age?'
न ह्येष च सदाचारो देवेष्वपि ममोचितः। मां ब्रह्मापि हि सस्नेहो दीर्घायुरिति भाषते
For such conduct is not proper, even among the gods, towards me; even Brahma, with affection, declares me to be long-lived.
कस्तपोघोरमासाद्य ममाद्य त्यक्तजीवितः। मार्कंडेयेति मामुक्त्वा मृत्युमीक्षितुमर्हसि
Who, having attained terrible austerity, dares to call me Markandeya and wishes to see my death today, as if my life were forfeit?
एवं प्रक्षुभितः क्रोधान्मार्कंडेयो महामुनिः। तदैनं भगवान्भूयो बभाषे मधुसूदनः
Thus, greatly agitated with anger, the great sage Markandeya spoke; then the Blessed Lord Madhusudana addressed him again.
श्रीभगवानुवाच। अहं ते जनको वत्स हृषीकेशः पिता गुरुः। आयुः प्रदाता पौराणः किं मां त्वं नोपसर्पसि
The Blessed Lord said: 'I am your father, child, Hrishikesha, your teacher; I am the ancient giver of life—why do you not approach me?'
मां पुत्रकामः प्रथमं त्वत्पितांगिरसो मुनिः। पूर्वमाराधयामास तपस्तीव्रं समाश्रितः
Desiring a son, your father, the sage Angiras, first worshipped me, undertaking severe austerities.
तं दृष्ट्वा घोरतपसं त्रिदशोत्तमतेजसम्। दत्तवांस्त्वामहं पुत्रं महर्षिममितौजसम्
Seeing him engaged in terrible penance, shining with supreme brilliance among the gods, I granted you to him as a son, a great sage of immeasurable energy.
कस्समुत्सहते चान्यो योगिभूतात्मगात्मकम्। द्रष्टुमेकार्णवगतं क्रीडंतं योगमायया
Who else is capable of beholding, besides a yogi whose self has become one with the Supreme Self, you sporting by your yogic power in the midst of the single ocean?
ततः प्रहृष्टहृदयो विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनः। मूर्ध्नि बद्धांजलिपुटो मार्कंडेयो माहातपाः
Then Markandeya, the great ascetic, his heart delighted and eyes wide with wonder, with hands joined upon his head,
नामगोत्रे तु संप्रोच्य दीर्घायुर्लोकपूजितः। तस्मै भगवते भक्त्या नमस्कारमथाकरोत्
Having spoken his name and lineage, long-lived and honored by the world, he offered his reverent salutation to that Blessed Lord with devotion.
मार्कंडेय उवाच। इच्छामि तत्त्वतो ज्ञातुमिमां मायां तवानघ। यदेकार्णवमध्यस्थः शेषे त्वं बालरूपवान्
Markandeya said: I wish to know truly this illusion of yours, O sinless one—how, situated in the midst of the single ocean, you appear in the form of a child.
किं संज्ञश्चैव भगवान्लोके विज्ञायसे प्रभो। तर्कयेहं महात्मानं को ह्यन्यः स्थातुमर्हसि
And by what name, O Lord, are you known in the world? I ponder, who else but you, O great one, is fit to remain thus?
श्रीभगवानुवाच। अहं नारायणो ब्रह्मन्सर्वभूतविनाशनः। अहं सहस्रशीर्षास्यः सहस्रपदसंयुतः
The Blessed Lord said: I am Narayana, O Brahmin, the destroyer of all beings; I am the one with a thousand heads and faces, endowed with a thousand feet.
आदित्यवर्णः पुरुषो मुखे ब्रह्ममयो ह्यहम्। अहमग्निर्हव्यवहः सप्तसप्तिभिरन्वितः
I am the Purusha of the color of the sun, I am filled with Brahman in my mouth; I am Agni, the carrier of offerings, accompanied by the seven sevens.
अहमिंद्रपदः शक्र ॠतूनां परिवत्सरः। अहं योगिषु सांख्याख्यो युगांतावर्त एव च
I am the station of Indra, Shakra; among seasons, I am the year; among yogis, I am called Sankhya; I am also the cycle at the end of the ages.
अहं सर्वाणि सत्वानि दैवतान्यखिलानि च। भुजगानामहं शेषस्तार्क्ष्योऽहं सर्वपक्षिणाम्
I am all beings, and all the deities without exception; among serpents, I am Sesha; among all birds, I am Garuda.
कृतांतः सर्वभूतानां विज्ञेयः कालसंज्ञितः। अहं धर्मस्तपश्चाहं सर्वाश्रमनिवासिनाम्
I am Death for all beings, known as Time; I am Dharma and I am austerity among all who dwell in the ashramas.
अहं दया परोधर्मः क्षीरोदोहं महार्णवः। यत्सत्यं तत्परं त्वेक अहमेव प्रजापतिः
I am compassion, the highest virtue; I am the ocean of milk, the great expanse of water; whatever is supreme truth, I alone am that, and I am the Lord of creatures.
अहं सांख्यमहं योगो ह्यहं तत्परमं पदम्। अहमिज्या क्रिया चाहमहं विद्याधिपः स्मृतः
I am Sankhya, I am Yoga, I am that supreme state; I am sacrifice and ritual, and I am known as the lord of knowledge.
अहं ज्योतिरहं वायुरहं भूमिरहं जलम्। आकाशोहं समुद्राश्च नक्षत्राणि दिशो दश
I am light, I am wind, I am earth, I am water; I am space, the oceans, the stars, and the ten directions.
अहं वर्षमहं सोमः पर्जन्योहमहं रविः। अहं पुराणं परमं तथैवाहं परायणम्
I am rain, I am Soma, I am the rain-cloud, I am the sun; I am the ancient, the supreme, and likewise I am the ultimate refuge.