The Markandeya Purana

by Bibek Debroy

  ‘“The sons said, ‘O father! The prince, the possessor of good conduct, told us about what had happened earlier. Earlier, an excellent brahmana came before his father, Shatrujit. His name was Galava and the intelligent one was leading an excellent horse. He told the king, “Come to my hermitage. O king! An evildoing worst among daityas is devastating it. He assumes the form of lions, elephants and other such gigantic creatures and, day and night, is the cause of my peace being destroyed, when I am engaged in meditation or in a vow of observing silence. O king! I wish to take you to the place where he is causing these impediments. O king! I am capable of instantly scorching him with the fire of my rage. However, I do not wish to expend what my austerities have stored up through hardships. Once, distressed by him, I sighed and glanced up at the sky. Immediately, this horse fell down from the sky. An invisible voice spoke from the sky. O lord of men! Listen to what it said. ‘This excellent horse is capable of travelling the entire circle of the globe without being exhausted. It has been given to you. There is nothing in Patala, the firmament or the water that can obstruct its movement. Without impediments, it can go to all the directions and the mountains. Since it can roam around the entire globe of the earth without being exhausted, it will be famous in the worlds by the name of Kuvalaya. 306 O best among brahmanas! There is an evil worst among danavas who harasses you night and day. King Shatrujit has a son named Ritadhvaja. Astride this horse, he will destroy the danava. Once he obtains this jewel among horses, he will also become famous. I have therefore come before you. O protector of the earth! O king who restricts those who destroy the shares of sacrifices. O lord of the earth! I have rendered that jewel among horses to you. Command your son so that dharma is not destroyed.’ Hearing his words, the king placed his son, Ritadhvaja, astride that horse, after having performed all the auspicious rites. At that time, the one with dharma in his soul sent him with Galava. Taking him, the sage left for his own hermitage.”’”’

  Chapter 19

  ‘“The father said, ‘O sons! The prince, wonderful in fighting with weapons, went with Galava. Tell me what he did.’

  ‘“The sons replied, ‘The king’s son remained in Galava’s beautiful hermitage. The brave Kuvalayashva 307 resided in Galava’s hermitage and pacified all the impediments in the path of those who knew about the brahman. Intoxicated by his strength, that worst among danavas did not realize this. On one occasion, the brahmana Galava was engaged in his evening worship. Assuming the form of a boar, he arrived, so as to oppress him. The sage’s disciples cried out. With a bow and arrows in his hand, the prince quickly ascended the horse and pursued the boar. He powerfully stretched his bow, ornamented with beautiful signs, and struck him with a radiant arrow that was in the shape of a half-moon. Struck by the iron arrow, the animal swiftly tried to save himself. He travelled through gigantic forests and dense trees that were on the mountain. Wishing to follow his father’s command, the prince swiftly followed him and urged the horse that possessed the speed of thought. Dexterous in his valour, he 308 powerfully travelled a thousand yojanas and entered a hole in the ground. Following him, along with the horse, the prince also descended into this gigantic pit and was covered in a mass of darkness. The animal could no longer be seen by the king’s son. Though he could not see him, he saw some radiant rays in Patala. He saw hundreds of golden palaces there. There was a city adorned with ramparts and it was like Purandara’s city. He entered, but did not see any man in the city. Wandering around here and there, he saw a beautiful woman. He asked that slender-limbed one, “Who has sent you? Whom do you belong to?” The beautiful woman did not say anything in reply. She ascended a mansion. The prince’s eyes dilated in wonder. Tethering the horse there, he followed her without any hesitation. There, he saw an extremely large couch that was completely made out of gold. A desirable maiden was lying down there. She resembled Rati, when she is with Kama. 309 Her excellent face was like the moon. Her eyebrows were excellent. Her hips were wide and her breasts were plump. Her lips were like bimba fruit and her limbs were slender. Her eyes were like blue lotuses. She was dark 310 and the tips of her nails were red. Her hands and feet were coppery red. Her thighs were like the trunks of an elephant. Her teeth were excellent. Her locks of dark-blue hair were soft and firm. All her limbs were beautiful, like the creeper around Ananga. 311 The king’s son saw her and took her to be a divinity from Rasatala. The auspicious maiden also saw him. His curly locks were dark blue. His breasts and shoulders were broad and his arms were thick. She took him to be Madana. Her mind was agitated. Observing good conduct, she arose. However, the slender one was also overcome by shame, wonder and distress. “Who is he? Is he a god, a yaksha, a naga or a vidyadhara? Is he a lord among men who has come here because of his auspicious deeds?” Seated on the ground, she thought these and many other things and sighed. As she sat there, the one with the intoxicating eyes lost her senses. The king’s son was also struck by Kama’s arrows. He comforted her and said, “Do not be scared.” There was a woman whom the great-souled one had seen earlier. She picked up a fan made of palm leaves and started to fan the lady. Having been comforted and questioned, the maiden, the cause of this confusion, used her friend 312 to recount everything. A bit bashful, she described this to the prince’s son in detail. She also told him everything about how the sight of him had caused her confusion.

  ‘“‘The friend repeated exactly what the beautiful lady said. The friend said, “In heaven, there is a lord and god of the gandharvas, known by the name of Vishvavasu. This one, with the excellent eyebrows, is his daughter. She is known by the name of Madalasa. The danava Vajraketu’s son is fierce and a destroyer of enemies. He is known as Patalaketu and he resides in Patala. When she went to a garden, unattended, the one with evil intelligence used the maya of creating darkness and abducted her. The asura will marry her on the thirteenth lunar day. He does not deserve this one with the beautiful limbs, any more than a shudra deserves the learning of the Vedas. On another day, this maiden wanted to kill herself. However, Surabhi 313 said, ‘The worst among danavas will not be able to get you. When he goes to the world of the mortals, he will be pierced with arrows and the immensely fortunate one who does that will soon become your husband.’ I am the spirited Kundala and I am her friend. I am the daughter of Vindhyavan and the wife of the brave Pushkaramali. Ever since my husband was killed by Shumbha, I have been observing the vow of travelling from one tirtha to another tirtha, desiring benefit in the world hereafter. I have divine powers of travelling. The evil-souled Patalaketu assumed the form of a boar. At that time, desiring to save the sages, someone pierced him with an arrow. Wishing to ascertain the truth about this, I quickly came here. It is true that someone has struck the evil-souled one. Now hear about the reason why she lost her senses. O one who grants honours! As soon as she saw you, she was delighted. You are like the son of a god and your speech is charming. She has been struck by you. However, it has been determined that she will be the wife of the one who pierces the danava. That is the reason she succumbed to this great confusion. Will this slender-limbed one not be freed from miseries for as long as she lives? Her heart is attached to you, but she will be someone else’s wife. She will be miserable for as long as she lives. It cannot be contrary to Surabhi’s words. O lord! I love her and I have come here because she is miserable. There is no particular difference between that of one’s own body and that of a friend’s. O brave one! If this beautiful one obtains the husband she wishes for, only then will I be able to perform austerities without any worries in my mind. O immensely intelligent one! Who are you? What is the reason for your arrival here? Are you a god, a daitya, a gandharva, a pannaga or a kinnara? 314 Humans cannot come here. It is not possible to travel here in human form. I have told you the truth. Will you tell me the truth about who you are?”

  ‘“‘Kuvalayashva replied, “O one who knows about dharma! You have asked me about who I am and why I have come here. O one who is unblemished in wisdom! Therefore, listen. I will tell you. O aus
picious one! I am the son of King Shatrujit and my father has sent me here. Instructed to protect the sages, I went to Galava’s hermitage. I protected the sages who followed dharma. At that time, to cause impediments, someone arrived there, assuming the form of a boar. I pierced him with a radiant arrow that was in the shape of a half-moon. He fled with great speed and I angrily followed him on my horse. Suddenly, I and my horse fell into a pit. I started to wander around, astride the horse. Then, when there was some light, I saw you. When I asked you, you did not say anything in reply. Following you, I entered this excellent palace. I have thus told you the truth. O one with the beautiful smiles! I am not a god, not a danava, not a pannaga, not a gandharva, not a kinnara. O Kundala! All those, the gods and the others, deserve to be worshipped by me. I am human. You should not have any doubt on this account.”’

  ‘“The sons continued, ‘The beautiful maiden was delighted at this. She glanced towards her friend’s face and did not say anything. At this, her friend was delighted at what had been said. This was exactly in accordance with Surabhi’s words. Kundala said, “O brave one! There is no doubt that you have spoken the truth. Had that not been the case, on seeing you, why would her heart have become fixed on you? Supreme beauty exist in the moon, supreme radiance in the sun, supreme prosperity with those who are blessed, supreme patience with those who possess fortitude and supreme tranquility with the excellent. You are the one who has pierced the evil worst among danavas. How can Surabhi, the mother of cattle, utter a falsehood? Therefore, this maiden is extremely fortunate that she will be united with you. O brave one! Be attentive. Follow the rites and do what must be done now.” The prince wondered how he could marry her, since he always followed his father’s commands. However, as he thought about this, her family’s priest, Tumburu, instantly arrived, with some kindling and kusha grass in his hand, because of his love for Madalasa and to honour Kundala. Tumburu kindled a fire, poured oblations and recited the auspicious mantras. Having completed the rites for bestowing the maiden, the intelligent ascetic returned to his own hermitage, where he had come from. She 315 told her friend, “O one with a beautiful face! O maiden! I have accomplished your objective. I have seen you united with someone who is your equal in beauty and good conduct. With no worries in my mind, I will now engage in tormenting myself with matchless austerities. Having cleansed my sins in tirthas, I will no longer be as I am now.” She then spoke words of assurance to the prince. She desired to leave and her voice stuttered because of her love for her friend. Kundala said, “You are a man who is infinite in wisdom. I should not instruct someone like you. What can a woman like me instruct you about? However, my mind is attached to this slender-waisted one through love. That apart, you trust me. O afflicter of enemies! I am only reminding you. A husband must always protect and nurture his bride. A wife is a husband’s aide in achieving dharma, artha and kama. When a husband and a wife are aides in each other’s vows, then they are truly husband and wife. Then a combination of dharma, artha and kama occurs. O lord! Without a wife, how can a man obtain dharma or artha? Nor is he capable of achieving kama. All three are in her. In that way, without a husband, a wife cannot accomplish dharma and the other objectives. Without becoming a couple, the three objectives are not possible. O son of a king! Without a wife, a man is incapable of worshipping the gods, the ancestors, the servants and guests. Even if a man accumulates artha and gathers it in his house, without a wife or with a wicked wife, that store is wasted away. It is directly evident that kama is not possible without her. The couple follows dharma together and obtains the three objectives, dharma and the others. Sons are not born without a wife. Ancestors are satisfied with sons. Guests are satisfied with food. The immortals are satisfied with worship. That is what a man accomplishes through a virtuous wife. Without a husband, a woman cannot obtain dharma, artha, kama and offspring. The three objectives can only be attained by becoming a couple. Having told the two of you this, let me now go and pursue my desired yoga. May you prosper, with riches, sons, happiness and long lives.” Having said this, she embraced her own friend and bowed down to him. Using her power of divine movement, she went wherever she desired.

  ‘“‘Wishing to leave Patala, Shatrujit’s son placed her on the horse. However, Danu’s offspring got to know and suddenly screamed out, “She is being taken away. Patalaketu brought a jewel of a maiden from heaven and she is being taken away.” Along with Patalaketu, an army of danavas assembled, with clubs, swords, maces, spears, arrows and other weapons. Those excellent danavas shouted, “Wait. Wait.” They showered down arrows on the king’s son. They showered down spears. However, Shatrujit’s valiant son fought back. Smiling, as if he was toying, he severed those nets of arrows. In a short while, the floor of Patala was strewn with swords, javelins, spears and arrows, cut to pieces by Ritadhvaja’s arrows. He picked up the Tvashta weapon and hurled it at the danavas. At this, all the danavas, along with Patalaketu, were scorched by fierce nets of flames. Their bones were reduced to ashes, just as Sagara’s sons met Kapila and were consumed by his energy. 316 Thus, the prince slew those excellent asuras. Placing the jewel among women astride the horse, he returned to his father’s city.

  ‘“‘He bowed down and told his father everything—the descent to Patala, seeing Kundala, obtaining Madalasa, the battle with the danavas, their death by the weapon and his return. Hearing about the conduct of the person whose intelligence was splendid, his father was delighted and embraced him. He addressed his son in these words. “O son! I have been saved by a virtuous and great-souled son. You have saved the terrified sages who were pursuing virtuous dharma. My ancestors were famous and I extended that fame. O brave one! But your valour has extended it several times more. A man who does not diminish his father’s fame, wealth and valour is said to be a middling son. However, if a person uses his superior valour and capacity to enhance it, the wise speak of him as an excellent man. If a man diminishes his father’s wealth, valour and fame, the wise speak of him as a worst among men. I repaid the debt of brahmanas. But you went to Patala and destroyed the asuras. Since this is superior, you are an excellent man. You are blessed and you possess more qualities than I do. Therefore, having obtained a son like you, I will be praised by the virtuous. A man whose son does not exceed him in wisdom, donations and valour is not delighted. Nor does he think he has a virtuous son. Shame on the birth of a man who is known by who his father was. A person who is known by his son’s name is a person who has had a good birth. A person known for his own sake is blessed. A person who is known because of his father and grandfathers is middling. A person who is known because of his mother, or his mother’s side, is worst among men. O son! Therefore, extend your wealth, valour and happiness. You should never be separated from this daughter of a gandharva.” Delighted, the father said this several times. Embracing him, he sent him and his wife to his own house. In his father’s city, he enjoyed himself with his wife and also in places like groves, forests and the slopes of mountains. Every morning, the auspicious and slender-waisted one bowed down at the feet of her father-in-law and mother-in-law.’”’

  Chapter 20

  ‘“The sons said, ‘After a long period of time had passed, the king spoke to his son again. “To save brahmanas, quickly go and travel around the earth. Every day, in the morning, ascend this horse and do that. You must always make efforts so that the foremost among brahmanas do not face any impediments. There are hundreds of danavas, evil in intelligence and wicked in conduct. Act so that they cannot create any impediments for the sages.” The king’s son acted in accordance with what his father had said. Every day, in the morning, he bowed down and worshipped his father’s feet. He travelled throughout the earth in the forenoon. In the remaining part of the day, he found pleasure with the slender-waisted one.

  ‘“‘Once, while roaming around along the banks of the Yamuna, he saw Patalaketu’s younger brother, Talaketu, who had constructed a hermitage there. Using his maya, the danava lived there, in the form of a sage. Rememberin
g the earlier enmity, he spoke to the prince. “O prince! Listen to what I have to say. Then do what you wish to. You have never refused someone who asks for something. You are true to your pledges. I wish to perform a sacrifice to Dharma and it is also necessary to arrange for the oblations. However, I am worried because I do not possess the dakshina. O brave one! Hence, for the sake of the dakshina, give me your own golden ornament, the one that is hanging around your neck. To ensure the welfare of subjects, I will immerse myself in the water and invoke the god Varuna, the lord of the waters, using mantras to Varuna mentioned in the Vedas. Until I am back, protect the hermitage. I will return quickly.” He agreed to this. Bowing down, he gave him the necklace and said, “Free your mind of worries and go. O immensely fortunate one! Following your command, I will station myself near your hermitage. As long as I am here, no one will cause any impediments. O best among sages! Trust me and do what is in your mind.” Having been thus addressed, he immersed himself in the water of the river and he 317 protected the hermitage that had been created through the use of maya.

  ‘“‘Abandoning the water, Talaketu went to the city. In the presence of others, he told Madalasa, “The brave Kuvalayashva was near my hermitage. To protect the ascetics, he was fighting against some wicked daityas. He fought with all his might, but the enemies of the brahmanas killed him in the battle. Using maya, a wicked one shattered his breast with a spear. As he was dying, he gave me this necklace. Ascetics who make their homes in trees cremated him there. With tears in its eyes, the terrified horse started to neigh. But the wicked danava has taken it away. I saw the wicked evildoer do this. Now do whatever needs to be done after that. To comfort your heart, accept this necklace. What will an ascetic like me do with gold?” Having said this, he flung it on the ground and went away to wherever he had come from. Afflicted by grief, all the people fell down, senseless with misery. In a short while, all of them regained consciousness, including the king’s wife. The king’s wife and the king lamented in their great misery. Madalasa saw the necklace. Hearing that her beloved had been killed, she gave up the life that everyone loves a lot. There were great lamentations in the city and in the houses of the citizens. It was exactly the same in the king’s own house. The king saw that, separated from her husband, Madalasa had died.