03.179
mārkaṇḍeyasamāsyāparva
Chapter summarizing Mārkaṇḍeya.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
nidāghāntakaraḥ kālaḥ sarvabhūtasukhāvahaḥ। tatraiva vasatāṃ teṣāṃ prāvṛṭ samabhipadyata ॥03-179-1॥
The summer-ending season, which brings happiness to all beings, then, for those dwelling there, the rains arrived. (03-179-1)
chādayanto mahāghoṣāḥ khaṃ diśaś ca balāhakāḥ। pravavarṣur divā-rātram asitāḥ satataṃ tadā॥03-179-2॥
At that time, the clouds, dark and resounding greatly, covered the sky and all directions, and poured forth rain day and night without ceasing. (03-179-2)
tapātyayaniketāś ca śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ। apetārkaprabhājālāḥ savidyud-vimalaprabhāḥ॥03-179-3॥
There were hundreds and then thousands of abodes of the sun and the summer solstice, from which the network of the sun's rays had disappeared, and which shone with pure brightness like lightning. (03-179-3)
virūḍhaśaṣpā pṛthivī mattadaṃśa-sarīsṛpā। babhūva payasā siktā śāntadhūmarajo'ruṇā ॥03-179-4॥
The earth, covered with grown grass and filled with drunken insects and reptiles, became soaked by water, its dust and smoke settled, and appeared reddish. (03-179-4)
na sma prajñāyate kiñcid ambhasā samavastṛte। samaṃ vā viṣamaṃ vāpi nadyō vā sthāvarāṇi vā ॥03-179-5॥
Indeed, when evenly covered by water, nothing—whether level or uneven, whether rivers or immobile things—can be recognized. (03-179-5)
kṣubdhatoyā mahāghoṣāḥ śvasamānā ivāśugāḥ। sindhavaḥ śobhayāṃ cakruḥ kānanāni tapātyaye ॥03-179-6॥
The rivers, with agitated waters and a great roar, breathing like swift beings, adorned the forests at the end of the summer. (03-179-6)
nadatāṃ kānanānteṣu śrūyante vividhāḥ svanāḥ। vṛṣṭibhis tāḍyamānānāṃ varāha-mṛga-pakṣiṇām ॥03-179-7॥
In the depths of the forests, the various cries of boars, deer, and birds being struck by the rain can be heard. (03-179-7)
stokakāḥ śikhinaś caiva puṁs-kokila-gaṇaiḥ saha। mattāḥ paripatanti sma dardurāś caiva darpitāḥ॥03-179-8॥
Little herons, peacocks, and flocks of male cuckoos, together intoxicated, would indeed fly about; and likewise, the frogs were arrogant. (03-179-8)
tathā bahuvidhākārā prāvṛṇmeghānunāditā. abhyatītā śivā teṣāṃ caratāṃ marudhanvasu ॥03-179-9॥
Thus, the many-formed, cloud-resounding and auspicious season passed away for those who were moving about on the desert. (03-179-9)
krauñcahaṃsagaṇākīrṇā śaratpraṇihitābhavat। rūḍhakakṣavanaprasthā prasannajalanimnagā ॥03-179-10॥
The place was filled with flocks of krauñca and haṃsa birds, took on the character of autumn, featured dense groves and forested tracts, and had streams of clear water. (03-179-10)
vimalākāśanakṣatrā śaratteṣāṃ śivābhavat। mṛgadvijasamākīrṇā pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām ॥03-179-11॥
For the great-souled Pāṇḍavas, the autumn season, with a pure sky and stars, filled with animals and birds, became auspicious. (03-179-11)
paśyantaḥ śāntarajasaḥ kṣapā jaladaśītalāḥ। grahanakṣatrasaṅghaiś ca somena ca virājitāḥ॥03-179-12॥
Beholding the nights, their agitation calmed, made cool by clouds, adorned by groups of planets and stars and by the moon. (03-179-12)
kumudaiḥ puṇḍarīkaiś ca śīta-vāridharāḥ śivāḥ। nadīḥ puṣkariṇīś caiva dadṛśuḥ samalaṅkṛtāḥ॥03-179-13॥
They saw the rivers and lakes, beautifully adorned with white lotuses and other lotuses, bearing cool waters and auspicious.
ākāśa-nikāśa-taṭām nīpa-nīvāra-saṅkulām। babhūva caratām harṣaḥ puṇya-tīrthām sarasvatīm ॥03-179-14॥
The holy Sarasvatī river, with banks like the sky and dense with kadamba trees and wild rice, brought joy to those passing through. (03-179-14)
te vai mumudire vīrāḥ prasanna-salilāṃ śivām। paśyanto dṛḍha-dhanvānaḥ paripūrṇāṃ sarasvatīm॥03-179-15॥
The heroes indeed rejoiced as they beheld the auspicious Sarasvati, full and clear of water, their bows held firm. (03-179-15)
teṣāṃ puṇyatamā rātriḥ parvasandhau sma śāradī। tatraiva vasatām āsīt kārttikī janamejaya ॥03-179-16॥
O Janamejaya, for those residing right there, there was the most holy autumnal night at the festival junction, Kārttikī. (03-179-16)
puṇyakṛdbhir mahāsattvais tāpasaiḥ saha pāṇḍavāḥ। tat sarvaṃ bharataśreṣṭhāḥ samāhuḥ yogam uttamam ॥03-179-17॥
O best of the Bharatas, all that was declared to be the supreme union by the meritorious and great-souled ascetics together with the Pāṇḍavas. (03-179-17)
tamistrābhyudaye tasmin dhaumyena saha pāṇḍavāḥ। sūtaiḥ paurogavaiś caiva kāmyakaṃ prayayur vanam ॥03-179-18॥
At the onset of darkness, the Pāṇḍavas, together with Dhaumya, charioteers, and domestic priests, proceeded to the forest of Kāmyaka. (03-179-18)
