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.
चिरायुर्ब्रह्मणा बालः प्रोक्तः स ऋषिसन्निधौ। ततस्ते मुनयः प्रीताः श्रुत्वा वाक्यं पितामहात्
In the presence of the sages, Brahma declared the boy would have a long life; hearing this word from Grandfather, the sages were pleased.
पितामह ऋषीन्दृष्ट्वा प्रोवाच विस्मयान्वितः। कार्येण येन चायातः कोयं बालो निवेद्यताम्
Seeing the sages, Grandfather Brahma, filled with wonder, spoke: 'For what purpose have you come, and who is this boy? Let it be explained.'
ततस्त ऋषयो राजन्सर्वं तस्मै न्यवेदयन्। पुत्रो मृकंडोः क्षीणायुः सायुषं कुरु बालकम्
Then, O King, the sages told him everything: 'This is Mrikandu’s son, of short lifespan; make the boy long-lived.'
अल्पायुषस्त्वस्य मुनिर्बध्वेमां चापि मेखलाम्। यज्ञोपवीतं दंडं च दत्वा चैनमबोधयत्
Though the boy was short-lived, the sage performed the investiture, gave him the sacred thread and staff, and instructed him.
यं कंचित्पश्यसे बाल भ्रमंतं भूतले जनम्। तस्याभिवादः कर्तव्य एवमाह पिता वचः
'Whomever you see wandering on the earth, O boy, you must greet them with respect'—thus spoke his father.
अभिवादनशीलोयं क्षितौ दृष्टः परिभ्रमन्। तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन दैवयोगात्पितामह
This boy, seen wandering on the earth, became habituated to greeting elders, due to pilgrimage and by divine arrangement, O Grandfather.
चिरायुर्भव पुत्रेति प्रोक्तोसौ तत्र बालकः। कथं वचो भवेत्सत्यमस्माकं भवता सह
There, the boy was told, 'Be long-lived, child.' How will this word of ours be true together with yours?
एवमुक्तस्तदा तैस्तु ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः। ऋतवाक्यादियं भूमिः संस्थिता सर्वतोभया
Thus addressed by them, Brahma, Grandfather of the worlds, said: 'This earth is established by the truth of speech in every way.'
ब्रह्मोवाच। मत्समश्चायुषा बालो मार्कंडेयो भविष्यति। कल्पस्यादौ तथाचांते मतो मे मुनिसत्तमः
Brahma said: 'The boy Markandeya shall have a lifespan equal to mine; at the beginning and end of the kalpa, so I consider, O best of sages.'
एवं ते मुनयो बालं ब्रह्मलोके पितामहात्। संसाध्य प्रेषयामासुर्भूयोप्येनं धरातलम्
Thus, the sages, having accomplished their purpose with Grandfather Brahma in Brahma’s world, sent the boy again to the earth.