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—
आश्रमःस्थापितस्तेन मार्कण्डाश्रम इत्युत। तत्र स्नात्वा शुचिर्भूत्वा वाजपेयफलं लभेत्
An ashram was established by him, known as Markandeya's ashram; there, by bathing and becoming pure, one attains the fruit of a Vajapeya sacrifice.
सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा चिरायुर्जायते नरः। पुलस्त्य उवाच। तथान्यं ते प्रवक्ष्यामि इतिहासं पुरातनम्
A man, purified from all sins, becomes long-lived; Pulastya said: 'Now I shall tell you another ancient history.'
यथा रामेण वै तीर्थं पुष्करं तु विनिर्मितम्। चित्रकूटात्पुरा रामो मैथिल्या लक्ष्मणेन च
How Pushkara, the holy place, was indeed established by Rama; long ago, Rama, with Sita and Lakshmana, departed from Chitrakuta.
अत्रेराश्रममासाद्य पप्रच्छ मुनिसत्तमम्। राम उवाच। कानि पुण्यानि तीर्थानि किं वा क्षेत्रं महामुने
Reaching the ashram of Atri, he questioned the eminent sage; Rama said: 'Which are the holy places, O great sage, and what is the sacred field?'
यत्र गत्वा नरो योगिन्वियोगं सह बंधुभिः। नैव प्राप्नोति भगवन्तन्ममाचक्ष्व सुव्रत1.33.
O noble one, tell me of that sacred place where, having gone, a man does not experience separation from yogins or from his own kin.
अनेन वनवासेन राज्ञस्तु मरणेन च। भरतस्य वियोगेन परितप्ये ह्यहं त्रिभिः
Through this exile in the forest, the king's death, and separation from Bharata, I am tormented by these three sorrows.
तद्वाक्यं राघवेणोक्तं श्रुत्वा विप्रर्षभस्तदा। ध्यात्वा च सुचिरं कालमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Hearing these words spoken by Rāghava, the foremost of Brahmins, after meditating for a long time, spoke these words.
अत्रिरुवाच। साधु पृष्टं त्वया वीर रघूणां वंशवर्धन। मम पित्रा कृतं तीर्थं पुष्करं नाम विश्रुतम्
Atri said: Well asked, O hero, enhancer of the Raghus' line; my father established a renowned tīrtha called Puṣkara.
पर्वतौ द्वौ च विख्यातौ मर्यादा यज्ञपर्वतौ। कुंडत्रयं तयोर्मध्ये ज्येष्ठमध्यकनिष्ठकम्
There are two famous mountains, the boundary-sacrifice mountains, and between them are three sacred pools: the eldest, the middle, and the youngest.
तेषु गत्वा दशरथं पिंडदानेन तर्पय। तीर्थानां प्रवरं तीर्थं क्षेत्राणामपि चोत्तमम्
Go there and satisfy Daśaratha with the offering of ancestral cakes; it is the foremost of holy places and the best of all sacred fields.