03.026
Pancharatra: Markandeya visits Pandavas and advises them not to follow adharma, thinking they are powerful.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
तत्काननं प्राप्य नरेन्द्रपुत्राः; सुखोचिता वासमुपेत्य कृच्छ्रम्। विजह्रुरिन्द्रप्रतिमाः शिवेषु; सरस्वतीशालवनेषु तेषु ॥३-२६-१॥
Having reached that forest, the sons of the king, though accustomed to comfort, endured hardship in their dwelling and sported like Indra in the auspicious groves of śāla trees on the banks of the Sarasvati. (3-26-1)
यतींश्च सर्वान्स मुनींश्च राजा; तस्मिन्वने मूलफलैरुदग्रैः। द्विजातिमुख्यानृषभः कुरूणां; सन्तर्पयामास महानुभावः ॥३-२६-२॥
The king, the great-souled bull among the Kurus, satisfied all the ascetics, sages, and the foremost of the twice-born in that forest with abundant roots and fruits. (3-26-2)
इष्टीश्च पित्र्याणि तथाग्रियाणि; महावने वसतां पाण्डवानाम्। पुरोहितः सर्वसमृद्धतेजा; श्चकार धौम्यः पितृवत्कुरूणाम् ॥३-२६-३॥
While the Pāṇḍavas dwelt in the great forest, Dhaumya, the priest of the Kurus, who possessed all-accomplished splendor, performed sacrificial, ancestral, and foremost rites for them like a father. (3-26-3)
अपेत्य राष्ट्राद्वसतां तु तेषा; मृषिः पुराणोऽतिथिराजगाम। तमाश्रमं तीव्रसमृद्धतेजा; मार्कण्डेयः श्रीमतां पाण्डवानाम् ॥३-२६-४॥
After they had left the kingdom and were dwelling elsewhere, the ancient sage and guest, Markandeya, who possessed intense and abundant splendor, came to the hermitage of the illustrious Pandavas. (3-26-4)
स सर्वविद्द्रौपदीं प्रेक्ष्य कृष्णां; युधिष्ठिरं भीमसेनार्जुनौ च। संस्मृत्य रामं मनसा महात्मा; तपस्विमध्येऽस्मयतामितौजाः ॥३-२६-५॥
He, the all-knowing one, seeing Draupadī (Kṛṣṇā), Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīmasena and Arjuna, and recalling Rāma in his mind, that great-souled ascetic of immeasurable energy smiled among the ascetics. (3-26-5)
तं धर्मराजो विमना इवाब्रवी; त्सर्वे ह्रिया सन्ति तपस्विनोऽमी। भवानिदं किं स्मयतीव हृष्ट; स्तपस्विनां पश्यतां मामुदीक्ष्य ॥३-२६-६॥
Dharmarāja, appearing dispirited, said to him: "All these ascetics are modest. Why do you seem glad and as if smiling, having looked at me in the presence of these ascetics?" (3-26-6)
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Markandeya said.
न तात हृष्यामि न च स्मयामि; प्रहर्षजो मां भजते न दर्पः। तवापदं त्वद्य समीक्ष्य रामं; सत्यव्रतं दाशरथिं स्मरामि ॥३-२६-७॥
O father, I neither rejoice nor smile; no pride born of great joy possesses me. Seeing your misfortune today, I remember Rama, the son of Dasharatha, who is true to his vow. (3-26-7)
स चापि राजा सह लक्ष्मणेन; वने निवासं पितुरेव शासनात्। धन्वी चरन्पार्थ पुरा मयैव; दृष्टो गिरेरृष्यमूकस्य सानौ ॥३-२६-८॥
He, the king, together with Lakṣmaṇa, was dwelling in the forest solely by his father's command. O son of Pṛthā, I myself saw him earlier, armed with a bow and wandering, on the summit of the Ṛṣyamūka mountain. (3-26-8)
सहस्रनेत्रप्रतिमो महात्मा; मयस्य जेत नमुचेश्च हन्ता। पितुर्निदेशादनघः स्वधर्मं; वने वासं दाशरथिश्चकार ॥३-२६-९॥
The great-souled son of Dasharatha, like Indra, conqueror of Maya and slayer of Namuci, sinless, performed his own duty by residing in the forest as commanded by his father. (3-26-9)
स चापि शक्रस्य समप्रभावो; महानुभावः समरेष्वजेयः। विहाय भोगानचरद्वनेषु; नेशे बलस्येति चरेदधर्मम् ॥३-२६-१०॥
He too, equal in power to Śakra (Indra), of great dignity and invincible in battle, having abandoned pleasures, wandered in the forests; he did not command the army, thus he would not act unrighteously. (3-26-10)
नृपाश्च नाभागभगीरथादयो; महीमिमां सागरान्तां विजित्य। सत्येन तेऽप्यजयंस्तात लोका; न्नेशे बलस्येति चरेदधर्मम् ॥३-२६-११॥
Kings such as Nābhāga, Bhagīratha and others, after conquering this earth bounded by the ocean, also conquered the worlds by truth, O dear one; one is not the master of strength, thus one should not act unrighteously. (3-26-11)
अलर्कमाहुर्नरवर्य सन्तं; सत्यव्रतं काशिकरूषराजम्। विहाय राष्ट्राणि वसूनि चैव; नेशे बलस्येति चरेदधर्मम् ॥३-२६-१२॥
They call Alarka, the best of men, virtuous and truthful in vow, the king of Kāśi and Karūṣa; but abandoning his kingdoms and riches, he could not restrain his strength, and thus acted unrighteously. (3-26-12)
धात्रा विधिर्यो विहितः पुराण; स्तं पूजयन्तो नरवर्य सन्तः। सप्तर्षयः पार्थ दिवि प्रभान्ति; नेशे बलस्येति चरेदधर्मम् ॥३-२६-१३॥
O Pārtha, the rule established by the Creator in ancient times is worshipped by the virtuous best of men; the seven sages shine in heaven. In the absence of a ruler, strength prevails, and thus people act unrighteously. (3-26-13)
महाबलान्पर्वतकूटमात्रा; न्विषाणिनः पश्य गजान्नरेन्द्र। स्थितान्निदेशे नरवर्य धातु; र्नेशे बलस्येति चरेदधर्मम् ॥३-२६-१४॥
O king, see those tusked elephants of great strength and mountain-peak size; O best of men, standing at command, the elements under control of strength—thus, one should not act unrighteously. (3-26-14)
सर्वाणि भूतानि नरेन्द्र पश्य; यथा यथावद्विहितं विधात्रा। स्वयोनितस्तत्कुरुते प्रभावा; न्नेशे बलस्येति चरेदधर्मम् ॥३-२६-१५॥
O king, see all beings; as ordained by the Creator, each acts according to their own nature. One who is self-born performs those powerful deeds; not being the master of strength, thus one should not act unrighteously. (3-26-15)
सत्येन धर्मेण यथार्हवृत्त्या; ह्रिया तथा सर्वभूतान्यतीत्य। यशश्च तेजश्च तवापि दीप्तं; विभावसोर्भास्करस्येव पार्थ ॥३-२६-१६॥
O Pārtha, by truth, righteousness, proper conduct, and modesty, you have surpassed all beings; your fame and splendor shine like that of fire and the sun. (3-26-16)
यथाप्रतिज्ञं च महानुभाव; कृच्छ्रं वने वासमिमं निरुष्य। ततः श्रियं तेजसा स्वेन दीप्ता; मादास्यसे पार्थिव कौरवेभ्यः ॥३-२६-१७॥
O great one, as you have promised, after enduring this difficult stay in the forest, you will then, by your own brilliance, obtain radiant prosperity from the Kauravas, O king. (3-26-17)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
तमेवमुक्त्वा वचनं महर्षि; स्तपस्विमध्ये सहितं सुहृद्भिः। आमन्त्र्य धौम्यं सहितांश्च पार्थां; स्ततः प्रतस्थे दिशमुत्तरां सः ॥३-२६-१८॥
Having thus spoken to him, the great sage, in the midst of ascetics and together with friends, after bidding farewell to Dhaumya and the sons of Pṛthā, then he set out towards the northern direction. (3-26-18)
