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.
नृणां भवति सौख्यानि तथैश्वर्यं तपोऽक्षयम्। त्रीणि शृङ्गाणि शुभ्राणि त्रीणि प्रस्रवणानि च
For men, happiness arises there, as well as prosperity and inexhaustible ascetic merit; three shining peaks and three springs are there.
पुष्कराणि तथा त्रीणि नविद्मस्तत्र कारणम्। कनीयांसं मध्यमं च तृतीयं ज्येष्ठपुष्करम्
Likewise, there are three Pushkaras; we do not know the reason for this—one is the youngest, one is the middle, and the third is the eldest Pushkara.
शृंगशब्दाभिधानानि शुभप्रस्रवणानि च। ब्रह्माविष्णुस्तथा रुद्रो नित्यं सन्निहितास्त्रयः
Named after peaks and auspicious springs, Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra—these three are always present there.
पुष्करेषु महाराजा नातः पुण्यतमं भुवि। विरजं विमलं तोयं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम्
Among all places on earth, O great king, there is none more holy than Pushkara; its water is pure, spotless, and renowned in the three worlds.
ब्रह्मलोकस्य पन्थानं धन्याः पश्यंति पुष्करं। यस्तु वर्षशतं साग्रमग्निहोत्रमुपासते
Those blessed ones who see Pushkara behold the path to Brahma's world; whoever worships the sacred fire there for a full hundred years—
कार्तिकीं वा वसेदेकां पुष्करे सममेव च। कर्तुम्मया न शकितं कर्मणा नैव साधितम्
Or dwells at Pushkara for a single Kartika month, even so—such deeds I was not able to perform, nor did I accomplish them by action.
तदयत्नात्त्वया तात मृत्युस्सर्वहरो जितः। तत्र दृष्टस्स देवेशो ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः
Therefore, my son, without effort you have conquered death, the taker of all; there, the Lord of gods, Brahma, the Grandfather of the worlds, was seen.
नान्यो मर्त्यस्त्वया तुल्यो भविता जगतीतले। अहं वै तोषितो येन पञ्चवार्षिकजन्मना
No mortal on earth will be equal to you; I am indeed satisfied by you, who were born for five years.
वरेण त्वं मदीयेन उपमां चिरजीविनाम्। गमिष्यसि न सन्देहस्तथाशीर्वचनम्मम
By my boon, you shall attain the status of those who live long—there is no doubt; such is my blessing.
एवं वदन्ति ते सर्वे व्रज लोकान्यथेप्सितान्। एवं लब्धप्रसादेन मृकण्डुतनयेन च
Thus, all of them say: 'Go to whatever worlds you desire.' In this way, by the grace obtained through Mrikandu's son—