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.
तीर्थयात्रां गता विप्रा मार्कंडेयो निजं गृहम्। जगाम तेषु यातेषु पितरं स्वमथाब्रवीत्
The brahmins went on pilgrimage, and Markandeya returned to his own home; after they had departed, he spoke to his father.
ब्रह्मलोकमहं नीतो मुनिभिर्ब्रह्मवादिभिः। दीर्घायुश्च कृतश्चास्मि वरान्दत्वा विसर्जितः
'I was taken to Brahma’s world by the sages who know Brahman; I have been made long-lived, granted boons, and then released.'
एतदन्यच्च मे दत्तं गतं चिंताकरं तव। कल्पस्यादौ तथा चांते भविष्ये समनंतरे
'This and other things have been given to me, removing your anxiety; at the beginning and end of the kalpa, I shall exist continuously.'
लोककर्तुर्ब्रह्मणोहं प्रसादात्तस्य वै पितः। पुष्करं वै गमिष्यामि तपस्तप्तुं समुद्यतः
'By the grace of Brahma, the creator of the worlds, O father, I will go to Pushkara, intent on performing austerities.'
तत्राहं देवदेवेशमुपासिष्ये पितामहम्। सर्वकामावाप्तिकरं सर्वारातिनिबर्हणम्
'There I will worship Grandfather Brahma, lord of the gods, who grants all desires and removes all adversities.'
सर्वसौख्यप्रदं देवमिन्द्रादीनां परायणम्। ब्रह्माणं तोषयिष्यामि सर्वलोकपितामहम्
'I will please Brahma, the giver of all happiness, the refuge of Indra and the others, Grandfather of all the worlds.'
मार्कंडेयवचः श्रुत्वा मृकंडुर्मुनिसत्तमः। जगाम परमं हर्षं क्षणमेकं समुच्छ्वसन्
Hearing the words of Markandeya, the eminent sage Mrikandu was filled with supreme joy, and for a moment, he breathed deeply.
धैर्यं सुमनसा स्थाय इदं वचनमब्रवीत्। अद्य मे सफलं जन्म जीवितं च सुजीवितम्
Composing his mind with courage and a cheerful heart, he spoke these words: 'Today my birth is fulfilled, and my life has been well-lived.'
सर्वस्य जगतां स्रष्टा येन दृष्टः पितामहः। त्वया दायादवानस्मि पुत्रेण वंशधारिणा
By whom the creator of all worlds, the Grandfather, has been seen—through you, my son and heir, I have become a bearer of the lineage.
त्वं गच्छ पश्य देवेशं पुष्करस्थं पितामहम्। दृष्टे तस्मिन्जगन्नाथे न जरामृत्युरेव च
Go now and behold the Lord of gods, Brahma, who dwells at Pushkara; having seen the Lord of the universe, there is neither old age nor death.