03.205
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Markandeya said.
गुरू निवेद्य विप्राय तौ मातापितरावुभौ। पुनरेव स धर्मात्मा व्याधो ब्राह्मणमब्रवीत् ॥०३-२०५-१॥
Having reported about both his mother and father to the brāhmaṇa as per his teacher's instruction, the virtuous hunter again spoke to the brāhmaṇa. (03-205-1)
प्रवृत्तचक्षुर्जातोऽस्मि सम्पश्य तपसो बलम्। यदर्थमुक्तोऽसि तया गच्छस्व मिथिलामिति ॥०३-२०५-२॥
My sight having been restored, I am born anew; behold the strength of my austerity. For the purpose you have been instructed by her, go now to Mithila. (03-205-2)
पतिशुश्रूषपरया दान्तया सत्यशीलया। मिथिलायां वसन्व्याधः स ते धर्मान्प्रवक्ष्यति ॥०३-२०५-३॥
The hunter who dwells in Mithilā, with a wife devoted to serving her husband, self-controlled, and truthful in character, will explain the principles of dharma to you. (03-205-3)
ब्राह्मण उवाच॥
The Brāhmaṇa said.
पतिव्रतायाः सत्यायाः शीलाढ्याया यतव्रत। संस्मृत्य वाक्यं धर्मज्ञ गुणवानसि मे मतः ॥०३-२०५-४॥
Having remembered the words of the devoted, truthful, and virtuous wife, an observer of vows, I consider you, knower of dharma and endowed with virtues, as such. (03-205-4)
व्याध उवाच॥
The hunter said.
यत्तदा त्वं द्विजश्रेष्ठ तयोक्तो मां प्रति प्रभो। दृष्टमेतत्तया सम्यगेकपत्न्या न संशयः ॥०३-२०५-५॥
O best of twice-born, what you were told then by her about me, O master, this was truly seen by her, the devoted wife—there is no doubt. (03-205-5)
त्वदनुग्रहबुद्ध्या तु विप्रैतद्दर्शितं मया। वाक्यं च शृणु मे तात यत्ते वक्ष्ये हितं द्विज ॥०३-२०५-६॥
But, Brāhmaṇa, with the intention of your welfare, I have shown you this. And now listen, O dear one, to the words I will say to you for your benefit, O twice-born. (3-205-6)
त्वया विनिकृता माता पिता च द्विजसत्तम। अनिसृष्टोऽसि निष्क्रान्तो गृहात्ताभ्यामनिन्दित ॥ वेदोच्चारणकार्यार्थमयुक्तं तत्त्वया कृतम् ॥०३-२०५-७॥
O best of twice-born, you have neglected your mother and father. Without their permission, you have left the house, blameless one. What you have done for the purpose of Veda recitation is improper. (03-205-7)
तव शोकेन वृद्धौ तावन्धौ जातौ तपस्विनौ। तौ प्रसादयितुं गच्छ मा त्वा धर्मोऽत्यगान्महान् ॥०३-२०५-८॥
Because of your grief, those two elders have become blind and ascetic; go to propitiate them, do not let great righteousness pass you by. (3-205-8)
तपस्वी त्वं महात्मा च धर्मे च निरतः सदा। सर्वमेतदपार्थं ते क्षिप्रं तौ सम्प्रसादय ॥०३-२०५-९॥
You are an ascetic, a great soul, and always devoted to dharma; all this is useless for you — quickly reconcile those two. (03-205-9)
श्रद्दधस्व मम ब्रह्मन्नान्यथा कर्तुमर्हसि। गम्यतामद्य विप्रर्षे श्रेयस्ते कथयाम्यहम् ॥०३-२०५-१०॥
Trust in me, O brāhmaṇa; do not act otherwise. Go today, O best of brāhmaṇas; I will tell you what is best. (03-205-10)
ब्राह्मण उवाच॥
The Brāhmaṇa said;
यदेतदुक्तं भवता सर्वं सत्यमसंशयम्। प्रीतोऽस्मि तव धर्मज्ञ साध्वाचार गुणान्वित ॥०३-२०५-११॥
All that you have said is true, without doubt. I am pleased with you, knower of dharma, endowed with good conduct and virtues. (03-205-11)
व्याध उवाच॥
The hunter said.
दैवतप्रतिमो हि त्वं यस्त्वं धर्ममनुव्रतः। पुराणं शाश्वतं दिव्यं दुष्प्रापमकृतात्मभिः ॥०३-२०५-१२॥
Indeed, you are like a deity, for you are devoted to dharma; the ancient, eternal, divine (goal), difficult to attain by those whose selves are undisciplined. (03-205-12)
अतन्द्रितः कुरु क्षिप्रं मातापित्रोर्हि पूजनम्। अतः परमहं धर्मं नान्यं पश्यामि कञ्चन ॥०३-२०५-१३॥
Without negligence, quickly perform reverence to your mother and father; I see no duty greater than this. (03-205-13)
ब्राह्मण उवाच॥
The Brāhmaṇa said.
इहाहमागतो दिष्ट्या दिष्ट्या मे सङ्गतं त्वया। ईदृशा दुर्लभा लोके नरा धर्मप्रदर्शकाः ॥०३-२०५-१४॥
It is by good fortune that I have come here and by good fortune that I have met you. Men who show the path of dharma like you are rare in this world. (03-205-14)
एको नरसहस्रेषु धर्मविद्विद्यते न वा। प्रीतोऽस्मि तव सत्येन भद्रं ते पुरुषोत्तम ॥०३-२०५-१५॥
Among a thousand men, scarcely one is a true knower of dharma. I am pleased with your truthfulness; may good come to you, O best of men. (03-205-15)
पतमानो हि नरके भवतास्मि समुद्धृतः। भवितव्यमथैवं च यद्दृष्टोऽसि मयानघ ॥०३-२०५-१६॥
While I was falling into hell, I have indeed been lifted up by you. It must indeed have been destined thus, that I have seen you, O sinless one. (03-205-16)
राजा ययातिर्दौहित्रैः पतितस्तारितो यथा। सद्भिः पुरुषशार्दूल तथाहं भवता त्विह ॥०३-२०५-१७॥
Just as King Yayāti, having fallen, was lifted up by his grandsons, so I, O best of men, have been lifted up here by you. (03-205-17)
मातापितृभ्यां शुश्रूषां करिष्ये वचनात्तव। नाकृतात्मा वेदयति धर्माधर्मविनिश्चयम् ॥०३-२०५-१८॥
At your command, I will serve my mother and father. A person whose self is undisciplined does not discern the distinction between right and wrong. (03-205-18)
दुर्ज्ञेयः शाश्वतो धर्मः शूद्रयोनौ हि वर्तता। न त्वां शूद्रमहं मन्ये भवितव्यं हि कारणम् ॥ येन कर्मविपाकेन प्राप्तेयं शूद्रता त्वया ॥०३-२०५-१९॥
The eternal law is difficult to comprehend and governs the condition of birth as a Śūdra. I do not consider you a Śūdra; rather, destiny is the cause. By the result of your actions, this state of being a Śūdra has come to you. (03-205-19)
एतदिच्छामि विज्ञातुं तत्त्वेन हि महामते। कामया ब्रूहि मे तथ्यं सर्वं त्वं प्रयतात्मवान् ॥०३-२०५-२०॥
O great-minded one, I indeed wish to know this truly; out of desire, you who are self-controlled, tell me everything that is true. (03-205-20)
व्याध उवाच॥
The hunter said.
अनतिक्रमणीया हि ब्राह्मणा वै द्विजोत्तम। शृणु सर्वमिदं वृत्तं पूर्वदेहे ममानघ ॥०३-२०५-२१॥
A brāhmaṇa must never be transgressed, O best of the twice-born. Listen, O sinless one, to all that happened in my previous life. (03-205-21)
अहं हि ब्राह्मणः पूर्वमासं द्विजवरात्मज। वेदाध्यायी सुकुशलो वेदाङ्गानां च पारगः ॥ आत्मदोषकृतैर्ब्रह्मन्नवस्थां प्राप्तवानिमाम् ॥०३-२०५-२२॥
I was formerly a Brāhmaṇa, O son of the best of twice-born; a diligent student of the Veda, highly skilled, and expert in the Vedāṅgas. But, O Brāhmaṇa, through faults of my own making, I have come to this state. (03-205-22)
कश्चिद्राजा मम सखा धनुर्वेदपरायणः। संसर्गाद्धनुषि श्रेष्ठस्ततोऽहमभवं द्विज ॥०३-२०५-२३॥
O Brahmin, a certain king, my friend, was devoted to the science of archery; by associating with him, I became superior in archery.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु मृगयां निर्गतो नृपः। सहितो योधमुख्यैश्च मन्त्रिभिश्च सुसंवृतः ॥ ततोऽभ्यहन्मृगांस्तत्र सुबहूनाश्रमं प्रति ॥०३-२०५-२४॥
At that very time, the king went out for hunting, accompanied by chief warriors and ministers, well-protected. Then he slew many animals there near the hermitage. (03-205-24)
अथ क्षिप्तः शरो घोरो मयापि द्विजसत्तम। ताडितश्च मुनिस्तेन शरेणानतपर्वणा ॥०३-२०५-२५॥
Then, O best of twice-born, I too shot a terrible arrow, and the sage was struck by that smooth-shafted arrow. (03-205-25)
भूमौ निपतितो ब्रह्मन्नुवाच प्रतिनादयन्। नापराध्याम्यहं किञ्चित्केन पापमिदं कृतम् ॥०३-२०५-२६॥
Having fallen to the ground, he resounded and said, "O Brahman, I have committed no fault at all; by whom has this sin been done?" (03-205-26)
मन्वानस्तं मृगं चाहं सम्प्राप्तः सहसा मुनिम्। अपश्यं तमृषिं विद्धं शरेणानतपर्वणा ॥ तमुग्रतपसं विप्रं निष्टनन्तं महीतले ॥०३-२०५-२७॥
Thinking that it was the deer, I suddenly approached and saw the sage—saw that sage, pierced by a softened-jointed arrow: that Brahmin of fierce austerity groaning upon the ground. (3-205-27)
अकार्यकरणाच्चापि भृशं मे व्यथितं मनः। अजानता कृतमिदं मयेत्यथ तमब्रुवम् ॥ क्षन्तुमर्हसि मे ब्रह्मन्निति चोक्तो मया मुनिः ॥०३-२०५-२८॥
Because of having done what should not be done, my mind is greatly agitated. This was done by me unknowingly, so I said to him, "You ought to forgive me, O Brāhmaṇa." Thus also spoke I to the sage. (03-205-28)
ततः प्रत्यब्रवीद्वाक्यमृषिर्मां क्रोधमूर्छितः। व्याधस्त्वं भविता क्रूर शूद्रयोनाविति द्विज ॥०३-२०५-२९॥
Then the sage, filled with anger, spoke to me: 'You will become a cruel hunter, born in the womb of a śūdra,' said the Brahmin. (03-205-29)
