Pramāṇa · Search · About · API

Markandeyapurana 5

English (machine translation) 5

Language
English

Contents

5.1

Then, by virtue of that offense, the fiery energy of Śakra entered Dharma, / and Śakra became devoid of luster when that fiery energy departed into Dharma.

5.2

Then, hearing that his son had been slain, the creator Tvaṣṭṛ, filled with anger, / tore out one of his matted locks and spoke these words:

5.3

'Today let the three worlds along with the gods see my power! / And let that evil-minded Pākaśāsana, the slayer of a brahmin, see it too,

5.4

by whom my son, devoted to his own duties, was cast down!' / Having spoken thus, his eyes red with anger, he offered that matted lock into the fire.

5.5

Then Vṛtra arose, a great asura garlanded with flames, / having a huge body, huge fangs, and the luster of a heap of broken collyrium.

5.6

Then Vṛtra stood up, the great asura crowned with garlands of flame, / huge of body, with large fangs, having the splendor of a mass of crushed collyrium.

5.7

The enemy of Indra, of immeasurable soul, reinforced by the splendour of Tvaṣṭṛ, / grew each day by an arrow's flight, possessing mighty strength.

5.8

Seeing the great asura Vṛtra bent on his destruction, / Śakra, distressed by fear and desiring peace, dispatched the seven sages.

5.9

Then the sages, pleased in mind and devoted to the welfare of all beings, / brought about his friendship with Vṛtra, as well as an agreement.

5.10

When Śakra struck down Vṛtra, violating the terms of the agreement, / then, overcome by [the sin of] murder, his strength dissolved away.

5.11

That strength, fallen from Śakra's body, entered Māruta, / all-pervading, unmanifest, the presiding deity of strength itself.

5.12

And when Śakra, the lord of gods, assuming the form of Gautama, / violated Ahalyā, then his beauty was lost.

5.13

That exceedingly charming loveliness of his limbs and sub-limbs / abandoned the wicked lord of gods and departed to the Nāsatyas.

5.14

Knowing the lord of gods to be abandoned by dharma and splendour, bereft of strength and formless, / the Daiteyas made an effort to conquer him.

5.15

Desiring to conquer the lord of gods, exceedingly powerful Daityas / were born in the lineages of kings of overflowing prowess, O great sage!

5.16

Then, after some time, the Earth, oppressed by her burden, / went to the peak of Meru, where the assembly of the gods was.

5.17

Oppressed by a heavy burden, she explained to them / the cause of her distress arising from the Daityas, the sons of Danu:

5.18

'These asuras of extensive might who were slain by you— / they all have been born in the world of men, in the houses of kings.

5.19

Indeed, there are numerous akṣauhiṇīs; afflicted by their burden, I am sinking down. / Act in such a way, O thirty [gods], that I may find relief!'

5.20

The birds said:
Then, with portions of their splendor, the gods descended from heaven to earth
for the benefit of creatures and to remove the burden of the earth.

5.21

Vṛṣa himself released that splendour which was born of Indra's body; / from it King Yudhiṣṭhira was born of Kuntī, endowed with great splendour.

5.22

Pavana released the strength, and from that Bhīma was born; / and from half of Śakra's virility was born the son of Pṛthā, Dhanañjaya.

5.23

In Mādrī were born the twins of great lustre, possessing the form of Śakra. / Thus the blessed Śatakratu descended in five forms.

5.24

From the sacrificial fire was born his highly fortunate wife, Kṛṣṇā.

5.25

That Kṛṣṇā is the wife of Śakra alone, not of anyone else; / the lords of yoga create even numerous bodies.

5.26

Thus has been told to you her being the single wife of five [men]. / Now hear also how Baladeva went to the Sarasvatī.

5.26.p1

Thus ends the fifth chapter, named 'The Alteration of Indra', in the glorious Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa.

5.26.p2

Chapter Six

Translations (1)

Linked texts (1)