महाभारतम् — ३.१८२

वैशंपायन उवाच ।

मार्कण्डेयं महात्मानमूचुः पाण्डुसुतास्तदा ।
माहात्म्यं द्विजमुख्यानां श्रोतुमिच्छाम कथ्यताम् ॥

M N Dutt Vaishampayana said : Then the sons of Pandu said to the magnanimous Markandeya “(kindly) narrate to us of the greatness of the Brahmanas which we are very desirous of hearing."

३.१८२.२

एवमुक्तः स भगवान्मार्कण्डेयो महातपाः ।
उवाच सुमहातेजाः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः ॥

M N Dutt Thus addressed, the highly energetic and divine Markandeya of great austerities and well versed in all the departments of religious writs replied (to them).

३.१८२.३

हैहयानां कुलकरो राजा परपुरंजयः ।
कुमारो रूपसंपन्नो मृगयामचरद्बली ॥

M N Dutt Markandeya said : Once upon a time a handsome and vigorous young prince of the Haihaya race, conqueror of enemies' cities, went out to hunt.

३.१८२.४

चरमाणस्तु सोऽरण्ये तृणवीरुत्समावृते ।
कृष्णाजिनोत्तरासङ्गं ददर्श मुनिमन्तिके ।
स तेन निहतोऽरण्ये मन्यमानेन वै मृगम् ॥

M N Dutt While he was wandering in the forest covered with grass and creepers he saw near (him) a Muni wrapped up in an antelope's skin which served as an upper garment.

३.१८२.५

व्यथितः कर्म तत्कृत्वा शोकोपहतचेतनः ।
जगाम हैहयानां वै सकाशं प्रथितात्मनाम् ॥

३.१८२.६

राज्ञां राजीवनेत्रोसौ कुमारः पृथिवीपते ।
तेषां च तद्यथावृत्तं कथयामास वै तदा ॥

M N Dutt The lotus-eyed prince went to the distinguished Haihaya Chiefs and informed them of the matter,

३.१८२.७

तं चापि हिंसितं तात मुनिं मूलफलाशिनम् ।
श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा च ते तत्र बभूवुर्दीनमानसाः ॥

M N Dutt O child, on hearing of it and seeing the (dead body) of the Muni who lived on fruits and roots they became sick at heart.

३.१८२.८

कस्यायमिति ते सर्वे मार्गमाणास्ततस्ततः ।
जग्मुश्चारिष्टनेमेस्ते तार्क्ष्यस्याश्रममञ्जसा ॥

M N Dutt Then all those (kings) making enquiries here and there as to whose son the Muni was, soon arrived at the hermitage of Arishtanemi, the son of Kashyapa.

३.१८२.९

तेऽभिवाद्य महात्मानं तं मुनिं संशितव्रतम् ।
तस्थुः सर्वे स तु मुनिस्तेषां पूजामथाहरत् ॥

M N Dutt And bowing down to that high-souled sage constantly engaged in austerities they remained standing there and the Muni 10O busied himself to welcome them.

३.१८२.१०

ते तमूचुर्महात्मानं न वयं सत्क्रियां मुने ।
त्वत्तोऽर्हाः कर्मदोषेण ब्राह्मणो हिंसितो हि नः ॥

M N Dutt They then said to that magnanimous sage, "we are no longer worthy of your reception in as much as we have unfortunately killed a Brahmana."

३.१८२.११

तानब्रवीत्स विप्रर्षिः कथं वो ब्राह्मणो हतः ।
क्व चासौ ब्रूत सहिताः पश्यध्वं मे तपोबलम् ॥

M N Dutt And that Brahmanical sage said to them "how have you killed a Brahmana? Say where he is; and you all behold the power of my devotional exercise."

३.१८२.१२

ते तु तत्सर्वमखिलमाख्यायास्मै यथातथम् ।
नापश्यंस्तमृषिं तत्र गतासुं ते समागताः ।
अन्वेषमाणाः सव्रीडाः स्वप्नवद्गतमानसाः ॥

M N Dutt The chiefs, then having truly related to him all that had taken place and having returned to the place (where the corpse of the Rishi was) did not find it there.

३.१८२.१३

तानब्रवीत्तत्र मुनिस्तार्क्ष्यः परपुरंजयः ।
स्यादयं ब्राह्मणः सोऽथ यो युष्माभिर्विनाशितः ।
पुत्रो ह्ययं मम नृपास्तपोबलसमन्वितः ॥

M N Dutt "O kings, is this the Brahmana who was killed by you? He is indeed my son devoted to great austerities."

३.१८२.१४

ते तु दृष्ट्वैव तमृषिं विस्मयं परमं गताः ।
महदाश्चर्यमिति वै विब्रुवाणा महीपते ॥

M N Dutt And O king, beholding that Rishi they were highly amazed and they all exclaimed “it is indeed highly wonderful.

३.१८२.१५

मृतो ह्ययमतो दृष्टः कथं जीवितमाप्तवान् ।
किमेतत्तपसो वीर्यं येनायं जीवितः पुनः ।
श्रोतुमिच्छाम विप्रर्षे यदि श्रोतव्यमित्युत ॥

M N Dutt How has the dead been restored to life? Is it by the strength of asceticism that he has been brought to life again?

३.१८२.१६

स तानुवाच नास्माकं मृत्युः प्रभवते नृपाः ।
कारणं वः प्रवक्ष्यामि हेतुयोगं समासतः ॥

३.१८२.१७

सत्यमेवाभिजानीमो नानृते कुर्महे मनः ।
स्वधर्ममनुतिष्ठामस्तस्मान्मृत्युभयं न नः ॥

M N Dutt I will relate to you the reason here of briefly and argumentatively. As we strictly adhere to our own duties, we are not afraid of death.

३.१८२.१८

यद्ब्राह्मणानां कुशलं तदेषां कथयामहे ।
नैषां दुश्चरितं ब्रूमस्तस्मान्मृत्युभयं न नः ॥

M N Dutt We speak well of the Brahmanas and never vilify them; therefore we do not fear death.

३.१८२.१९

अतिथीनन्नपानेन भृत्यानत्यशनेन च ।
तेजस्विदेशवासाच्च तस्मान्मृत्युभयं न नः ॥

M N Dutt As we entertain our guests with food and drink and regale our dependents with plenty of food and then eat what is left; so we have no fear of death.

३.१८२.२०

एतद्वै लेशमात्रं वः समाख्यातं विमत्सराः ।
गच्छध्वं सहिताः सर्वे न पापाद्भयमस्ति वः ॥

M N Dutt I have told you a bit only (of our devotional power). Now devoid of pride and vanity you all return together (to your homes).

३.१८२.२१

एवमस्त्विति ते सर्वे प्रतिपूज्य महामुनिम् ।
स्वदेशमगमन्हृष्टा राजानो भरतर्षभ ॥

M N Dutt O best of the Bharatas, (then) those kings, saying "be it so" and bowing down to that great sage returned cheerfully to their country.