Markandeya

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Does anyone have a translation of the Marlandeya Purana that can be sent in a

text file to me. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks

 

Jose

 

 

Markandeya from : http://www.hindubooks.org/culture_course/book4/Markandeya/page1.htm

 

 

MARKANDEYA

Mrikandu was a great rishi. Marudvati was his wife. For a long time they had no children.

The rishi prayed to God Siva. God Siva appeared to him, and said, "I am pleased

with you, Mrikandu. Tell me, do you want a hundred sons, who will live for a

long time, but will all be foolish?

Or, do you want one very intelligent son, who will live for only sixteen years?"

The rishi at once said, "God, give me that one intelligent son."

God Siva said, "Good! You shall have him."

Soon the rishi got a son. He named him Markandeya. The boy grew to be very intel

- ligent and handsome. The rishi invested him with the sacred thread. Markandeya

learnt the Vedas and Sastras,easily. Every one liked him.

MARKANDEYA

As the boy was getting on to be sixteen, Rishi Mrikandu became sadder and

sadder. One day Markandeya asked his father: "Father, why do you look so sad?"

The rishi said, "Son! What shall I say? When God Siva gave you to me, he said

you would live only sixteen years. You are now about to reach that age. How can

I and your mother bear to lose you as we will at the end of this year?"

Markandeya said, "Father! Is that the reason? God Siva is very kind to His devo-

tees. You yourself told me that. He has saved many from death before. I have

read about it in the Puranas. I shall therefore worship God Siva day and night

from today. I am sure, He will save -me too! "

Rishi Mrikandu was very happy to hear his son say this. He blessed his son.

Markandeya built a Siva-Linga at a spot on the sea-shore. He started worshipping

God Siva morning, noon and night. He sang bhajans, and often danced in joy.

MARKANDEYA

On the last day, Markandeya was about to sing bhajans, when Yama, the God of

Death, came to him. Yama rode on a buffalo. He held a noose in his hand. He

spoke to Markandeya, "Stop your bhajan! you boy! Your life in this world is

over. Be ready to die."

Markandeya was not afraid. He clung to the Siva-Linga as one clings to one's mother.

Yama threw his noose round the boy's neck, and pulled him along with the Siva- Linga.

Then the Siva-Linga burst open and God Siva came out of it, God kicked Yama in

the chest, and said, "Yama, begone! Don't touch this boy. He is my beloved

devotee. He will live for ever!"

Yama went away crest-fallen. Markandeya then prayed to God Siva more fervently

than ever. This prayer says at the end of each line, "What can Death do to me?"

Many people recite this prayer even now.

Markandeya came home, and fell at the feet of his parents. They embraced him, and wept with joy.

Markandeya became a great rishi, and lived very long.

MARKANDEYA

MEANINGS

1. noose - a loop with running knot.

2. crest-fallen - dejected.

3. fervently - with great devotion.

4. recite - say.

5. embraced - hugged.

EXERCISE

Questions:

1. Who was Markandeya?

2. What had God said about Markandeya?

3. What did Markandeya do on hearing about his fate?

4. What happened to him at the comple- tion of his sixteenth year?

Markandeya Purana from: http://www.telugutoranam.com/hinduism/index.php3?slide=markandeya

Markandeya Purana begins with a question put forth by sage Jaimini. In reply to

this question, sage Markandeya narrates what constitutes the subject matter of

this Purana.

Once Jaimini, a disciple of sage Vedavyasa expressed his curiosity before

Markandeya- 'O Lord! In the great epic Mahabharat, which was created by

Vedavyasa, description of Dharma, Arth, Kama and Moksha appears to be

intertwined at times and at other times, it appears to be separate from one

another. Vedavyasa had described the norms, the stages and the means to perform

the duties in all the four stages. This epic contains cryptic knowledge of

Vedas. Hence O great sage! I have approached you in order to grasp the full

knowledge contained in Mahabharat with your help. Why did Lord take human

incarnation even though He is the cause of the origin, perpetuation and

destruction of the universe? How did Draupadi become the wife of five Pandavas?

How did Balaram expiate for the sin of killing a Brahmin? How did Draupadi's

sons give up their

lives? Kindly narrate all these things in detail. 'Markandeya says- 'O Muni !

Presently I am engaged in evening worship. Hence I do not have time to narrate

these things in detail. But I am telling you about the birds which will narrate

you the entire content of Mahabharat. Those birds will also remove all your

doubts. Sons of the great bird Drona- Pingaksha, Vibodha, Suputra, Sumuk etc.

stay in the caves among the hills of Vindhyachal. They are proficient in Vedas.

Go and ask them, they will remove all your doubts.'Markandeya's words surprised

Jaimini. To confirm, he asked again- 'It is surprising that the birds could

narrate the content of Mahabharat just like human beings. It is even more

surprising that they are proficient in Vedas knowledge, which is even rare to

find among humans. Kindly tell me how did they come to acquire such profound

knowledge despite having being born in the form of birds. Why do you call them

as the sons of

Drona?'Markandeya says- 'Long ago, a strange event took place in Nandanvan

involving Indra, Devrishi Narad and some of the elves. One day, Indra was

enjoying his time in the Nandanvan forest along with his elves. At the same

time Narad also arrived there. Indra welcomed and offered him a seat. The elves

also greeted Narad. Indra then said- 'Munivar! Tell me what you desire now? If

you desire to listen to a song, should I order the Gandharvas or if you wish to

watch the dance, should I order one of my elves, Menka, Rambha, Mishrakeshi or

Urvashi? Any of these four can perform a seducing dance before you.'Narad

expressed his desire to watch the dance of an elf, who was superior in beauty

to the other elves. This led to a row among the elves. Each one of them was

proud of her beauty and talent. Narad then advised them to test their beauty by

breaking sage Durvaasa's penance who was at that time staying on a hilltop. All

the elves expressed

their inability to perform this task successfully. Only an elf named Vapu,

driven by her haughtiness accepted to break the penance of sage

Durvaasa.Accordingly she reached the hill where Durvaasa was staying and began

to sing an infatuating song in her sweet voice. Very soon, the song began to

show its effect on Durvaasa. Attracted by the sweet voice, Durvaasa went in

search of the origin of the voice and found Vapu singing at a distance.

Durvaasa understood that the elf had come to break his penance. Angrily, he

cursed the elf that she would take birth in the lineage of the birds for

sixteen years, she would not bear a child and ultimately would be killed by a

weapon to regain her heavenly abode. After saying this, sage Durvaasa migrated

to Akashganga.

 

 

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