सरस्वती नदीं प्राप्य न स्नाने नियमः क्वचित्। भुक्ते वा न च वा भुक्ते दिवा वा यदि वा निशि
Upon reaching the Sarasvati river, there is no restriction for bathing—whether one has eaten or not, whether by day or by night.
तत्तीर्थं सर्वत्तीर्थानां प्राचीनं प्रवरं स्मृतत्। पापघ्नं पुण्यजननं प्राणिनां परिकीर्तितम्
That holy place is remembered as the foremost among all holy places in the east; it is proclaimed as destroyer of sin and generator of merit for living beings.
ये पुनर्भावितात्मानस्तत्र स्नात्वा जनार्दनम्। पूजयन्ति यथाशक्ति ते प्रयांति त्रिविष्टपम्
Those whose minds are purified, who bathe there and worship Janardana according to their ability, they go to heaven.
देवानां प्रवरो विष्णुस्तेन यत्र सरस्वती। सेविता तत्परं तीर्थं क्षितौ ब्रह्मसुतोऽब्रवीत्
Among the gods, Vishnu is foremost; where Sarasvati is served by him, that supreme holy place on earth was declared by the son of Brahma.
ततस्तस्मान्महातीर्थं मन्यमाना महोदयम्। मंदाकिनीमुदीक्षंती स्थिता तत्र सरस्वती
Therefore, considering that great holy place as Mahodaya, Sarasvati stands there, looking toward the Mandakini.
तत्तीर्थं सर्वतीर्थानां परं स्वायंभुवोऽब्रवीत्। मंदाकिन्यासमं यत्र प्राप्य पुण्यसमागमम्
That holy place is declared by Svayambhu as supreme among all holy places, where one attains the congregation of merit equal to Mandakini.
तत्रस्थाने स्थिता देवैः स्तुता देवी सरस्वती। मत्वा चैकाकिनीं तां तु दीनास्यां दीनमानसां
At that place, the goddess Sarasvati, praised by the gods, stood, thinking herself alone, with a sad face and sorrowful mind.
सखीं तदाऽसृजद्ब्रह्मा रूपिणीं विमलेक्षणाम्। हरिणीं हरिरप्याशु जज्ञे कमललोचनाम्
Then Brahma created a companion for her, beautiful and pure-eyed; Hari also quickly appeared as a doe, lotus-eyed.
वज्रिणीमपि देवेशो वज्रपाणिर्विसृष्टवान्। सुकुरंगरुचिं देवो नीलकंठो वृषध्वजः1.32.
The lord of the gods, bearer of the thunderbolt, also created a companion, radiant as gold; the god with blue throat, bull-bannered, did likewise.
सखीं संजनयामास सरस्वत्यास्त्रिलोचनः। विलोक्यमाना सा राजन्सखीभिः सुरसुंदरी
The three-eyed one generated a companion for Sarasvati; being observed by her companions, she, O king, shone among the divine beauties.
प्रहृष्टा यातुमारब्धा देवादेशान्महानदी। ततः सखीभिः सार्द्धं सा प्राचीनागंतुमुद्यता
Joyfully, the gods began to set out for the great river as commanded; then, together with her companions, she prepared to go east.
सरस्वती समस्तानां तासां श्रेष्ठतमा स्मृता। प्राचीसरस्वतीतोयं ये पिबंति मृगा भुवि
Among them all, Sarasvatī is regarded as the best; the wild animals on earth who drink the water of the Eastern Sarasvatī—
तेपि स्वर्गं गमिष्यंति यज्ञैर्द्विजवरा यथा। चिंतामणिरिवात्रैषा प्राची ज्ञेया सरस्वती
—they too will go to heaven, just as the best of twice-born do through sacrifices; this Eastern Sarasvatī is to be known here as a wish-fulfilling gem.
तथा कामफलस्येयं हेतुभूता महानदी। दक्षिणां दिशमालोक्य पुनः पश्चान्मुखी गता
Thus, this great river is the cause of the fulfillment of desires; looking to the southern direction, she then turned to face west.
उक्ता तया तथा गंगा दिशं प्राचीं व्रजस्व ह। विस्मर्तव्या न चाहं ते व्रज देवि यथागतम्
By her, Gaṅgā was told: 'Go, indeed, to the eastern direction; do not forget me, and return, O goddess, as you came.'
भीष्म उवाच। मार्कंडेयेन वै रामः कथमत्र प्रबोधितः। कथं समागमो भूतः कस्मिन्काले कदा मुने
Bhīṣma said: How was Rāma instructed here by Mārkaṇḍeya? How did their meeting happen, at what time, and when, O sage?
मार्कंडेयः कस्य सुतः कथं जातो महातपाः। नाम्नोऽस्य निगमं ब्रूहि यथाभूतं महामुने
Of whom is Mārkaṇḍeya the son? How was the great ascetic born? Tell me his lineage and name as it truly was, O great sage.
पुलस्त्य उवाच। अथ ते संप्रवक्ष्यामि मार्कंडेयोद्भवं पुनः। पुराकल्पे मुनिः पूर्वं मृकंडुर्नाम विश्रुतः
Pulastya said: Now I will tell you again of the origin of Mārkaṇḍeya; in a former age, there was a renowned sage named Mṛkaṇḍu.
भृगोः पुत्रो महाभागः सभार्यस्तप्तवांस्तपः। तस्य पुत्रस्तदा जातो वसतस्तु वनांतरे
He was the greatly fortunate son of Bhṛgu, living with his wife, practicing severe austerities; while he was dwelling in the forest, a son was born to him.
सपंचवार्षिको भूतो बाल एव गुणाधिकः। ज्ञानिना स तदा दृष्टो भ्रमन्बालस्तदांगणे
When the boy was five years old, though still a child, he excelled in virtues; he was seen by a wise man as he wandered in the yard.
स्थित्वा स सुचिरं कालं भाव्यर्थं प्रत्यबुध्यत। तस्य पित्रा स वै पृष्टः कियदायुः सुतस्य मे
Having remained there for a long time, he became aware of his destined purpose; then his father asked him about the length of his son's life.
संख्यायाचक्ष्व वर्षाणि तस्याल्पान्यधिकानि वा। मृकंडुनैवमुक्तस्तु स ज्ञानी वाक्यमब्रवीत्
'Tell me the number of years—whether few or many—of his lifespan,' said Mṛkaṇḍu; thus addressed, the wise one spoke these words:
षण्मासमायुः पुत्रस्य धात्रा सृष्टं मुनीश्वर। नैव शोकस्त्वया कार्यः सत्यमेतदुदाहृतम्
'The lifespan of your son has been set by the Creator at six months, O lord of sages; you should not grieve—this is truly declared.'
स तच्छ्रुत्वा वचो भीष्म ज्ञानिना यदुदाहृतम्। अथोपनयनं चक्रे बालकस्य पिता तदा
Hearing these words spoken by the wise one, O Bhīṣma, the father then performed the initiation ceremony for the boy.
आह चैनं पितापुत्रमृषींस्त्वमभिवादय। एवमुक्तः स वै पित्रा प्रहृष्टश्चाभिवादने
And the father said to his son, 'Greet the sages.' Thus instructed by his father, he joyfully offered his salutations.
न वर्णा वर्णतां वेत्ति सर्ववर्णाभिवादनः। पंचमासास्त्वतिक्रांता दिवसाः पंचविंशतिः
He did not know the distinctions of caste, but saluted all castes; five months had passed, and twenty-five days.
मार्गेणाथ समायाता ऋषयस्तत्र सप्त वै। बालेन तेन ते दृष्टाः सर्वे चाप्यभिवादिताः
Then, by that path, the seven sages arrived there; the boy saw them all and greeted each of them.
आयुष्मान्भव तैरुक्तः स बालो दंडमेखली। उक्त्वैवं ते पुनर्बालमपश्यन्क्षीणजीवितम्
They said to the boy, who wore a staff and girdle, 'May you live long'; having said this, they saw the boy with his life nearly spent.
दिनानि पंच तस्यायुर्ज्ञात्वा भीताश्च ते नृप। तं गृहीत्वा बालकं च गतास्ते ब्रह्मणोंतिकम्
Knowing his lifespan was five days, and being afraid, they took the boy and went to Brahma.
प्रतिमुच्य च तं राजन्प्रणिपेतुः पितामहम्। अयमावेदितस्तैस्तु तेन ब्रह्माभिवादितः
Having released him, O King, they bowed to Grandfather Brahma; they informed him of everything, and Brahma was duly greeted by them.