03.194
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Markandeya said;
स एवमुक्तो राजर्षिरुत्तङ्केनापराजितः। उत्तङ्कं कौरवश्रेष्ठ कृताञ्जलिरथाब्रवीत् ॥०३-१९४-१॥
O best of the Kauravas, the unconquered royal sage, having thus been addressed by Uttaṅka, then with joined palms, spoke to Uttaṅka. (03-194-1)
न तेऽभिगमनं ब्रह्मन्मोघमेतद्भविष्यति। पुत्रो ममायं भगवन्कुवलाश्व इति स्मृतः ॥०३-१९४-२॥
O Brahman, your coming here will not be in vain. This son of mine, O revered one, is known as Kuvalāśva. (03-194-2)
धृतिमान्क्षिप्रकारी च वीर्येणाप्रतिमो भुवि। प्रियं वै सर्वमेतत्ते करिष्यति न संशयः ॥०३-१९४-३॥
He, possessed of fortitude, swift to act, and unrivaled in prowess on earth, will certainly do everything dear to you—there is no doubt. (03-194-3)
पुत्रैः परिवृतः सर्वैः शूरैः परिघबाहुभिः। विसर्जयस्व मां ब्रह्मन्न्यस्तशस्त्रोऽस्मि साम्प्रतम् ॥०३-१९४-४॥
O Brahman, surrounded on all sides by sons, by all these heroic men with arms like iron rods, release me now—for at present I am one who has laid down his weapon. (03-194-4)
तथास्त्विति च तेनोक्तो मुनिनामिततेजसा। स तमादिश्य तनयमुत्तङ्काय महात्मने ॥ क्रियतामिति राजर्षिर्जगाम वनमुत्तमम् ॥०३-१९४-५॥
When the sage of immeasurable splendor spoke, 'So be it,' he, after instructing his son to attend to the great-souled Uttaṅka and saying 'let it be done,' the royal sage departed to the excellent forest. (03-194-5)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
क एष भगवन्दैत्यो महावीर्यस्तपोधन। कस्य पुत्रोऽथ नप्ता वा एतदिच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥०३-१९४-६॥
O revered one, who is this Daitya of great power and rich in austerity? Whose son or grandson is he? I wish to know this. (03-194-6)
एवं महाबलो दैत्यो न श्रुतो मे तपोधन। एतदिच्छामि भगवन्याथातथ्येन वेदितुम् ॥ सर्वमेव महाप्राज्ञ विस्तरेण तपोधन ॥०३-१९४-७॥
O possessor of austerities, I have not heard of such a mighty Daitya. I wish, O venerable one, to know this truly from you. Please tell me everything in detail, O greatly wise one, O possessor of austerities. (03-194-7)
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Markandeya said;
शृणु राजन्निदं सर्वं यथावृत्तं नराधिप। एकार्णवे तदा घोरे नष्टे स्थावरजङ्गमे ॥ प्रनष्टेषु च भूतेषु सर्वेषु भरतर्षभ ॥०३-१९४-८॥
Listen, O king, to all this as it happened, O lord of men. When everything–immobile and mobile beings–was destroyed in the dreadful single ocean, and all creatures were lost, O best of the Bharatas. (03-194-8)
प्रभवः सर्वभूतानां शाश्वतः पुरुषोऽव्ययः। सुष्वाप भगवान्विष्णुरप्शय्यामेक एव ह ॥ नागस्य भोगे महति शेषस्यामिततेजसः ॥०३-१९४-९॥
He who is the origin of all beings, the eternal and imperishable person, the revered Viṣṇu, slept alone on the water-bed, truly, on the great coil of the serpent Śeṣa of boundless radiance. (03-194-9)
लोककर्ता महाभाग भगवानच्युतो हरिः। नागभोगेन महता परिरभ्य महीमिमाम् ॥०३-१९४-१०॥
Hari, the creator of the worlds and greatly fortunate illustrious one, having fallen, embraced this earth with the great coil of the serpent. (03-194-10)
स्वपतस्तस्य देवस्य पद्मं सूर्यसमप्रभम्। नाभ्यां विनिःसृतं तत्र यत्रोत्पन्नः पितामहः ॥ साक्षाल्लोकगुरुर्ब्रह्मा पद्मे सूर्येन्दुसप्रभे ॥०३-१९४-११॥
From that god's own body, a lotus as radiant as the sun issued forth from his navel. There, the grandsire (Brahmā), the direct guru of the world, was born on that lotus shining with the brilliance of the sun and the moon. (03-194-11)
चतुर्वेदश्चतुर्मूर्तिस्तथैव च चतुर्मुखः। स्वप्रभावाद्दुराधर्षो महाबलपराक्रमः ॥०३-१९४-१२॥
He is the knower of the four Vedas, has four forms, likewise is four-faced; by his own power he is invincible, and is possessed of great strength and valor. (03-194-12)
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य दानवौ वीर्यवत्तरौ। मधुश्च कैटभश्चैव दृष्टवन्तौ हरिं प्रभुम् ॥०३-१९४-१३॥
At a certain time, then, the two most powerful Dānavas, Madhu and Kaiṭabha, saw Hari, the Lord. (03-194-13)
शयानं शयने दिव्ये नागभोगे महाद्युतिम्। बहुयोजनविस्तीर्णे बहुयोजनमायते ॥०३-१९४-१४॥
He was lying on a divine bed, formed of serpent-coils, possessing great radiance, vast in width and length, each measuring many yojanas. (03-194-14)
किरीटकौस्तुभधरं पीतकौशेयवाससम्। दीप्यमानं श्रिया राजंस्तेजसा वपुषा तथा ॥ सहस्रसूर्यप्रतिममद्भुतोपमदर्शनम् ॥०३-१९४-१५॥
He, adorned with a crown and the Kaustubha gem, dressed in yellow silk, shining with splendor, O king, with radiance and form thus, appeared wondrous, resembling the brilliance of a thousand suns (03-194-15).
विस्मयः सुमहानासीन्मधुकैटभयोस्तदा। दृष्ट्वा पितामहं चैव पद्मे पद्मनिभेक्षणम् ॥०३-१९४-१६॥
Then, very great astonishment arose in Madhu and Kaiṭabha when they saw the Grandfather (Brahmā) seated in the lotus with his lotus-like eyes. (03-194-16)
वित्रासयेतामथ तौ ब्रह्माणममितौजसम्। वित्रास्यमानो बहुशो ब्रह्मा ताभ्यां महायशाः ॥ अकम्पयत्पद्मनालं ततोऽबुध्यत केशवः ॥०३-१९४-१७॥
Then those two instilled fear in Brahmā of boundless splendour; Brahmā, greatly renowned, being repeatedly frightened by them, shook the lotus stalk; then Keśava awoke. (03-194-17)
अथापश्यत गोविन्दो दानवौ वीर्यवत्तरौ। दृष्ट्वा तावब्रवीद्देवः स्वागतं वां महाबलौ ॥ ददानि वां वरं श्रेष्ठं प्रीतिर्हि मम जायते ॥०३-१९४-१८॥
Then Govinda beheld the two exceedingly powerful Dānavas. Seeing them, the god said: "Welcome, mighty ones! I shall grant you both a supreme boon, for indeed affection arises within me." (03-194-18)
तौ प्रहस्य हृषीकेशं महावीर्यौ महासुरौ। प्रत्यब्रूतां महाराज सहितौ मधुसूदनम् ॥०३-१९४-१९॥
Those two mighty Asuras, after laughing, together replied to Hṛṣīkeśa, O great king, to Madhusūdana. (03-194-19)
आवां वरय देव त्वं वरदौ स्वः सुरोत्तम। दातारौ स्वो वरं तुभ्यं तद्ब्रवीह्यविचारयन् ॥०३-१९४-२०॥
O god, you, the best of gods, choose a boon from us two, the bestowers of boons; as our gift to you, speak out what boon you desire, without hesitation. (03-194-20)
भगवानुवाच॥
The Blessed Lord said.
प्रतिगृह्णे वरं वीरावीप्सितश्च वरो मम। युवां हि वीर्यसम्पन्नौ न वामस्ति समः पुमान् ॥०३-१९४-२१॥
I accept the boon, O heroes, and even the boon that is not desired is mine. For you two are truly full of heroic strength; there is no man equal to you two. (03-194-21)
वध्यत्वमुपगच्छेतां मम सत्यपराक्रमौ। एतदिच्छाम्यहं कामं प्राप्तुं लोकहिताय वै ॥०३-१९४-२२॥
May my truly valiant sons become liable to be slain; this is what I desire, indeed, in order to secure the welfare of the world. (03-194-22)
मधुकैटभावूचतुः॥
Madhu and Kaiṭabha both said.
अनृतं नोक्तपूर्वं नौ स्वैरेष्वपि कुतोऽन्यथा। सत्ये धर्मे च निरतौ विद्ध्यावां पुरुषोत्तम ॥०३-१९४-२३॥
O best of men, know that both of us have never spoken untruth before—not even in moments of freedom; we are devoted to truth and righteousness. (03-194-23)
बले रूपे च वीर्ये च शमे च न समोऽस्ति नौ। धर्मे तपसि दाने च शीलसत्त्वदमेषु च ॥०३-१९४-२४॥
In strength, beauty, heroism, and tranquility, none are equal to us; nor in righteousness, austerity, charity, conduct, strength, or self-control. (03-194-24)
उपप्लवो महानस्मानुपावर्तत केशव। उक्तं प्रतिकुरुष्व त्वं कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः ॥०३-१९४-२५॥
A great calamity has come upon us, Keśava. Fulfill what was said; for time is indeed impossible to overcome. (03-194-25)
आवामिच्छावहे देव कृतमेकं त्वया विभो। अनावृतेऽस्मिन्नाकाशे वधं सुरवरोत्तम ॥०३-१९४-२६॥
O god, we two wish to carry out a deed—by you, O mighty one—namely, to slay (someone) in this open sky, O best among the chief gods. (03-194-26)
पुत्रत्वमभिगच्छाव तव चैव सुलोचन। वर एष वृतो देव तद्विद्धि सुरसत्तम ॥०३-१९४-२७॥
O beautiful-eyed one, let us indeed become your sons. This boon is chosen, O god; know that, O best of the gods. (03-194-27)
भगवानुवाच॥
The Blessed One said.
बाढमेवं करिष्यामि सर्वमेतद्भविष्यति। मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
"Certainly, I will do thus; all this will come to pass." Mārkaṇḍeya said.
विचिन्त्य त्वथ गोविन्दो नापश्यद्यदनावृतम्। अवकाशं पृथिव्यां वा दिवि वा मधुसूदनः ॥०३-१९४-२९॥
After reflecting, Govinda (Madhusūdana) did not see any open space, either on earth or in the heavens. (03-194-29)
स्वकावनावृतावूरू दृष्ट्वा देववरस्तदा। मधुकैटभयो राजञ्शिरसी मधुसूदनः ॥ चक्रेण शितधारेण न्यकृन्तत महायशाः ॥०३-१९४-३०॥
O king, then the greatly renowned Madhusūdana, seeing the thighs of Madhu and Kaiṭabha covered by their own skin, cut off their heads with his sharp-edged discus. (03-194-30)
