Critical Edition
मार्कण्डेय उवाच अग्नीनां विविधो वंशः कीर्तितस्ते मयानघ शृणु जन्म तु कौरव्य कार्त्तिकेयस्य धीमतः
M. N. Dutt: Markandeya said : O sinless one, O descendant of Kuru, I have told you the history of the various branches of the Agni race. (Now) hear about the birth of the intelligent Kartikeya.
Supplementary Passages:
3.213.1 Before the ref., T G1.2.4 ins.: *1055 वैशंपायनः श्रुत्वेमां धर्मसंयुक्तां धर्मराजः कथां शुभाम् पुनः पप्रच्छ तमृषिं मार्कण्डेयं तपस्विनम् युधिष्ठिरः कुमारस्तु यथा जातो यथा चाग्नेः सुतोऽभवत् यथा रुद्राच्च संभूतो गङ्गायां कृत्तिकासु च एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं कौतूहलमतीव मे
अद्भुतस्याद्भुतं पुत्रं प्रवक्ष्याम्यमितौजसम् जातं सप्तर्षिभार्याभिर्ब्रह्मण्यं कीर्तिवर्धनम्
M. N. Dutt: I shall (now) speak to you about the wonderful and famous and highly effulgent son of Adbhut, who was born of the wives of the Brahmarsis.
देवासुराः पुरा यत्ता विनिघ्नन्तः परस्परम् तत्राजयन्सदा देवान्दानवा घोररूपिणः
M. N. Dutt: In the days of yore, the Devas and the Danavas were always engaged in destroying one another. The fearful Danavas were always able to vanquish the Devas.
वध्यमानं बलं दृष्ट्वा बहुशस्तैः पुरंदरः स्वसैन्यनायकार्थाय चिन्तामाप भृशं तदा
M. N. Dutt: Findings his armies slaughtered by them and being eager to find out a Generalissimo for the celestials army Purandara (Indra) was filled with great anxiety.
देवसेनां दानवैर्यो भग्नां दृष्ट्वा महाबलः पालयेद्वीर्यमाश्रित्य स ज्ञेयः पुरुषो मया
M. N. Dutt: (He thought), "I must find out a powerful person, who will be able to reorganize the celestials army, slaughtered as it is by the Danavas."
स शैलं मानसं गत्वा ध्यायन्नर्थमिमं भृशम् शुश्रावार्तस्वरं घोरमथ मुक्तं स्त्रिया तदा
M. N. Dutt: He then went to the Mandara mountain. When he was deeply engaged in his own thought, he heard a piteous voice of a woman crying.
अभिधावतु मा कश्चित्पुरुषस्त्रातु चैव ह पतिं च मे प्रदिशतु स्वयं वा पतिरस्तु मे
M. N. Dutt: "May some one soon come to me. Let him point out to me a protector or become my protector himself.”
पुरंदरस्तु तामाह मा भैर्नास्ति भयं तव एवमुक्त्वा ततोऽपश्यत्केशिनं स्थितमग्रतः
M. N. Dutt: Purandara said to her, “Don't be afraid; you have no fear.” When he said this he saw Keshin (an Asura) standing before him.
किरीटिनं गदापाणिं धातुमन्तमिवाचलम् हस्ते गृहीत्वा तां कन्यामथैनं वासवोऽब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Like a hill of metals. He had a crown on his head and a mace in his hand, he held a lady by the hand. To him Vasava thus spoke,
Supplementary Passages:
3.213.9 After 9, K1.2 ins.: *1056 केशिन्ननिच्छतीं कन्यां विजने वरयस्व माम् मयि शास्तरि दुष्टानां वज्रहस्ते मदोदिते
अनार्यकर्मन्कस्मात्त्वमिमां कन्यां जिहीर्षसि वज्रिणं मां विजानीहि विरमास्याः प्रबाधनात्
M. N. Dutt: “Why are you insolently behaving towards this lady? Know that I am the wielder of thunder. Stop from doing any violence to this lady."
केश्युवाच विसृजस्व त्वमेवैनां शक्रैषा प्रार्थिता मया क्षमं ते जीवतो गन्तुं स्वपुरं पाकशासन
M. N. Dutt: Keshin said: O chastiser of Paka, leave her alone. I desire to possess her. Do you think that you will be able to return home with your life?
मार्कण्डेय उवाच एवमुक्त्वा गदां केशी चिक्षेपेन्द्रवधाय वै तामापतन्तीं चिच्छेद मध्ये वज्रेण वासवः
M. N. Dutt: Markandeya said : Having said this, Keshin hurled his mace to kill Indra. When falling Vasava cut it down with his thunderbolt.
अथास्य शैलशिखरं केशी क्रुद्धो व्यवासृजत् तदापतन्तं संप्रेक्ष्य शैलशृङ्गं शतक्रतुः बिभेद राजन्वज्रेण भुवि तन्निपपात ह
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon Keshin in great anger hurled upon Indra a large mass of rocks. Seeing that the mass of rocks was falling (upon him) Shatakratu.
Supplementary Passages:
3.213.13 After 13ab, S (except G3 M2) ins.: *1057 महामेघप्रतीकाशं चलत्पावकसंकुलम्
पतता तु तदा केशी तेन शृङ्गेण ताडितः हित्वा कन्यां महाभागां प्राद्रवद्भृशपीडितः
AI Translation: When Keshi was struck by that horn, he fell down. Abandoning the very fortunate girl, he fled, severely afflicted.
अपयातेऽसुरे तस्मिंस्तां कन्यां वासवोऽब्रवीत् कासि कस्यासि किं चेह कुरुषे त्वं शुभानने
M. N. Dutt: Having been thus wounded, he fled away leaving the damsel behind. When the Asura was gone, Indra thus spoke to the lady, “Who and whose are you? O beautiful one, what has brought you here?” CHADTCR 29A
कन्योवाच अहं प्रजापतेः कन्या देवसेनेति विश्रुता भगिनी दैत्यसेना मे सा पूर्वं केशिना हृता
M. N. Dutt: The lady said : I am the daughter of Prajapati; I am called Devsena. My sister Daityasena has already been carried away by Keshin.
सहैवावां भगिन्यौ तु सखीभिः सह मानसम् आगच्छावेह रत्यर्थमनुज्ञाप्य प्रजापतिम्
M. N. Dutt: We, two sisters, always used to come with our maids to this Mandara mountain to sport with the permission of Prajapati.
नित्यं चावां प्रार्थयते हर्तुं केशी महासुरः इच्छत्येनं दैत्यसेना न त्वहं पाकशासन
M. N. Dutt: The great Asura daily paid his court to us. O chastiser of Paka, Daityasena agreed, but I did not.
सा हृता तेन भगवन्मुक्ताहं त्वद्बलेन तु त्वया देवेन्द्र निर्दिष्टं पतिमिच्छामि दुर्जयम्
M. N. Dutt: O exalted one, she was carried away, but I have been rescued by your prowess. O lord of the celestials, I desire that you should select for me an invincible husband.
इन्द्र उवाच मम मातृष्वसेया त्वं माता दाक्षायणी मम आख्यातं त्वहमिच्छामि स्वयमात्मबलं त्वया
M. N. Dutt: Indra said: You are one of my cousins, for your mother is a sister of my mother Dakshayani. I desire that you should speak to me about your own prowess.
कन्योवाच अबलाहं महाबाहो पतिस्तु बलवान्मम वरदानात्पितुर्भावी सुरासुरनमस्कृतः
M. N. Dutt: Devasena said: O mighty-armed deity, I am a Abala (weak woman), but my husband must be powerful. By my father's boon he will be adorable of the celestials and the Asura.
इन्द्र उवाच कीदृशं वै बलं देवि पत्युस्तव भविष्यति एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं तव वाक्यमनिन्दिते
M. N. Dutt: Indra said: O lady, O faultless one, I desire to hear what sort of power your husband must wield.
कन्योवाच देवदानवयक्षाणां किंनरोरगरक्षसाम् जेता स दृष्टो दुष्टानां महावीर्यो महाबलः
AI Translation: The girl said: The conqueror of gods, demons, yakshas, kinnaras, serpents, and demons, The one who has seen the wicked, the greatly valorous, the greatly powerful,
यस्तु सर्वाणि भूतानि त्वया सह विजेष्यति स हि मे भविता भर्ता ब्रह्मण्यः कीर्तिवर्धनः
AI Translation: He who will conquer all beings with you, he will be my husband, a devotee of Brahman, and an enhancer of fame.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच इन्द्रस्तस्या वचः श्रुत्वा दुःखितोऽचिन्तयद्भृशम् अस्या देव्याः पतिर्नास्ति यादृशं संप्रभाषते
M. N. Dutt: Having heard her these words, he (Indra) became sorry and pensive. (He thought), “There is no husband for this lady like the one she desires to possess.
अथापश्यत्स उदये भास्करं भास्करद्युतिः सोमं चैव महाभागं विशमानं दिवाकरम्
M. N. Dutt: That sun-like effulgent one then saw the sun on the Udaya (rising) mountain. He also saw the greatly exalted moon entering into the sun.
अमावास्यां संप्रवृत्तं मुहूर्तं रौद्रमेव च देवासुरं च संग्रामं सोऽपश्यदुदये गिरौ
M. N. Dutt: It being the time of the new moon, Shatakratu saw in that Rudra (fearful) moment that the celestials and the Asuras were fighting on the Udaya mountain.
लोहितैश्च घनैर्युक्तां पूर्वां संध्यां शतक्रतुः अपश्यल्लोहितोदं च भगवान्वरुणालयम्
M. N. Dutt: Shatakratu saw that the morning twilight was tinged with red clouds. The exalted one also saw that the abode of Varuna (ocean) had become as red as blood.
भृगुभिश्चाङ्गिरोभिश्च हुतं मन्त्रैः पृथग्विधैः हव्यं गृहीत्वा वह्निं च प्रविशन्तं दिवाकरम्
M. N. Dutt: He also saw that Agni, carrying oblations offered with various mantras by Bhrigu, Angira and others, entered the disc of the sun.
पर्व चैव चतुर्विंशं तदा सूर्यमुपस्थितम् तथा धर्मगतं रौद्रं सोमं सूर्यगतं च तम्
M. N. Dutt: He also saw the twenty four Parvas adoring the sun. The beautiful Soma was also present in the sun with such surroundings.
समालोक्यैकतामेव शशिनो भास्करस्य च समवायं तु तं रौद्रं दृष्ट्वा शक्रो व्यचिन्तयत्
M. N. Dutt: Having seen this union of the sun and the moon and also that terrible conjunction, Indra thus reflected.
Supplementary Passages:
3.213.31 After 31, K2 B D (except D2.3) G3 ins.: *1057 सूर्याचन्द्रमसोर्घोरं दृश्यते परिवेषणम् एतस्मिन्नेव रात्र्यन्ते महद्युद्धं तु शंसति सरित्सिन्धुरपीयं तु प्रत्यसृग्वाहिनी भृशम् शृगालिन्यग्निवक्त्रा च प्रत्यादित्यं विराविणी
एष रौद्रश्च संघातो महान्युक्तश्च तेजसा सोमस्य वह्निसूर्याभ्यामद्भुतोऽयं समागमः जनयेद्यं सुतं सोमः सोऽस्या देव्याः पतिर्भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: This great conjunction is terrible and it is full of effulgence. This union of the sun, moon and the fire is very wonderful.
अग्निश्चैतैर्गुणैर्युक्तः सर्वैरग्निश्च देवता एष चेज्जनयेद्गर्भं सोऽस्या देव्याः पतिर्भवेत्
AI Translation: Agni is endowed with all these qualities, and Agni is the deity. If this one were to generate a fetus, he would become the husband of this goddess.
एवं संचिन्त्य भगवान्ब्रह्मलोकं तदा गतः गृहीत्वा देवसेनां तामवन्दत्स पितामहम् उवाच चास्या देव्यास्त्वं साधु शूरं पतिं दिश
M. N. Dutt: Taking Devasena with him. Saluting the Grandsire he said, "Grant this lady a good warrior for her husband."
ब्रह्मोवाच यथैतच्चिन्तितं कार्यं त्वया दानवसूदन तथा स भविता गर्भो बलवानुरुविक्रमः
M. N. Dutt: Brahma said: O slayer of Danavas, it shall be as you desire. The issue of this union will be very powerful and mighty.
स भविष्यति सेनानीस्त्वया सह शतक्रतो अस्या देव्याः पतिश्चैव स भविष्यति वीर्यवान्
M. N. Dutt: O Shatakratu, that powerful being will be the husband of this lady and the generallissimo of your army,
मार्कण्डेय उवाच एतच्छ्रुत्वा नमस्तस्मै कृत्वासौ सह कन्यया तत्राभ्यगच्छद्देवेन्द्रो यत्र देवर्षयोऽभवन् वसिष्ठप्रमुखा मुख्या विप्रेन्द्राः सुमहाव्रताः
M. N. Dutt: Having heard this, Indra, with that damsel bowed to him; and then he went to the place where those great Brahmanas, the mighty celestials Rishis, Mahatmans and other lived.
भागार्थं तपसोपात्तं तेषां सोमं तथाध्वरे पिपासवो ययुर्देवाः शतक्रतुपुरोगमाः
M. N. Dutt: With Indra at their head, the celestials with the desire of drinking the Soma to receive their respective shares, went to the sacrifices of those Rishis.
इष्टिं कृत्वा यथान्यायं सुसमिद्धे हुताशने जुहुवुस्ते महात्मानो हव्यं सर्वदिवौकसाम्
M. N. Dutt: Having duly performed the ceremony with the blazing fire, those high-souled men offered oblation to the dwellers of heaven.
समाहूतो हुतवहः सोऽद्भुतः सूर्यमण्डलात् विनिःसृत्याययौ वह्निर्वाग्यतो विधिवत्प्रभुः आगम्याहवनीयं वै तैर्द्विजैर्मन्त्रतो हुतम्
M. N. Dutt: The Adbhuta fire, that carrier of oblations, was invoked with mantras. Coming out of the disc of the sun, that exalted fire restrained his speech and went there. O best of the Bharata race, entering the sacrificial fire that had been made and into which various offerings were made by the Rishis with mantras, the fire took them with him and made them over to the dwellers of heaven.
स तत्र विविधं हव्यं प्रतिगृह्य हुताशनः ऋषिभ्यो भरतश्रेष्ठ प्रायच्छत दिवौकसाम्
AI Translation: Having received the various oblations there, the fire god gave them to the sages, O best of the Bharatas, to the dwellers of heaven.
निष्क्रामंश्चाप्यपश्यत्स पत्नीस्तेषां महात्मनाम् स्वेष्वाश्रमेषूपविष्टाः स्नायन्तीश्च यथासुखम्
M. N. Dutt: Coming out from that place, he saw the wives of those high-souled Rishis sleeping comfortably on their respective beds,
रुक्मवेदिनिभास्तास्तु चन्द्रलेखा इवामलाः हुताशनार्चिप्रतिमाः सर्वास्तारा इवाद्भुताः
M. N. Dutt: Their complexion was like that of an alter of gold. It was spotless like the disc of moon. It was scattering the beam of light like flames and their bauty was like that of galaxy in the sky.
स तद्गतेन मनसा बभूव क्षुभितेन्द्रियः पत्नीर्दृष्ट्वा द्विजेन्द्राणां वह्निः कामवशं ययौ
M. N. Dutt: Seeing the wives of those foremost of Brahmanas with eager eyes, his mind became greatly agitated; he was filled with desires.
स भूयश्चिन्तयामास न न्याय्यं क्षुभितोऽस्मि यत् साध्वीः पत्नीर्द्विजेन्द्राणामकामाः कामयाम्यहम्
AI Translation: He thought again: “It is not right that I am agitated. I desire the wives of the best of Brahmins, who are chaste and desireless.
नैताः शक्या मया द्रष्टुं स्प्रष्टुं वाप्यनिमित्ततः गार्हपत्यं समाविश्य तस्मात्पश्याम्यभीक्ष्णशः
AI Translation: I am not able to see or touch them without a cause. Entering the domestic fire, I see them frequently.
संस्पृशन्निव सर्वास्ताः शिखाभिः काञ्चनप्रभाः पश्यमानश्च मुमुदे गार्हपत्यं समाश्रितः
M. N. Dutt: Thus transforming himself into a household fire Adbhuta fire was highly gratified with seeing those gold complexioned ladies and touching them with his flames.
निरुष्य तत्र सुचिरमेवं वह्निर्वशं गतः मनस्तासु विनिक्षिप्य कामयानो वराङ्गनाः
M. N. Dutt: Attracted by their beauty, he lived there for a long time. Being filled with great love for them, he gave them his heart.
कामसंतप्तहृदयो देहत्यागे सुनिश्चितः अलाभे ब्राह्मणस्त्रीणामग्निर्वनमुपागतः
M. N. Dutt: Being disappointed to win the hearts of those Brahmana women and being much afflicted by love, he went to a forest to commit suicide.
स्वाहा तं दक्षदुहिता प्रथमं कामयत्तदा सा तस्य छिद्रमन्वैच्छच्चिरात्प्रभृति भामिनी अप्रमत्तस्य देवस्य न चापश्यदनिन्दिता
M. N. Dutt: But a little while ago, Svaha, the daughter of Daksha, had bestowed her heart on him. That lady was seeking to detect his weak moments.
सा तं ज्ञात्वा यथावत्तु वह्निं वनमुपागतम् तत्त्वतः कामसंतप्तं चिन्तयामास भामिनी
AI Translation: Knowing that he had come to the forest as fire, the beautiful woman, tormented by passion, thought about it.
अहं सप्तर्षिपत्नीनां कृत्वा रूपाणि पावकम् कामयिष्यामि कामार्तं तासां रूपेण मोहितम् एवं कृते प्रीतिरस्य कामावाप्तिश्च मे भवेत्
AI Translation: I will assume the forms of the wives of the seven sages and will desire the fire, deluded by their forms, tormented by desire. If this is done, I will be pleased and will attain my desire.