वैशम्पायन उवाच मार्कण्डेयं महात्मानमूचुः पाण्डुसुतास्तदा। माहात्म्यं द्विजमुख्यानां श्रोतुमिच्छाम कथ्यताम्॥
Vaishampayana said : Then the sons of Pandu said to the magnanimous Markandeya “(kindly) narrate to us of the greatness of the Brahmanas which we are very desirous of hearing."
एवमुक्तः स भगवान् मार्कण्डेयो महातपाः। उवाच सुमहातेजाः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः॥
Thus addressed, the highly energetic and divine Markandeya of great austerities and well versed in all the departments of religious writs replied (to them).
मार्कण्डेय उवाच हैहयानां कुलकरो राजा परपुरंजयः। कुमारो रूपसम्पन्नो मृगयां व्यचरद् बली॥
Markandeya said : Once upon a time a handsome and vigorous young prince of the Haihaya race, conqueror of enemies' cities, went out to hunt.
चरमाणस्तु सोऽरण्ये तृणवीरुत्समावृते। कृष्णाजिनोत्तरासङ्गं ददर्श मुनिमन्तिके॥
While he was wandering in the forest covered with grass and creepers he saw near (him) a Muni wrapped up in an antelope's skin which served as an upper garment.
स तेन निहतोऽरण्ये मन्यमानेन वै मृगम्। व्यथितः कर्म तत् कृत्वा शोकोपहतचेतनः॥
And mistaking him for a deer he killed (the Muni). Afflicted at heart and smitten with grief for what he had done,
जगाम हैहयानां वै सकाशं प्रथितात्मनाम्। राज्ञां राजीवनेत्रोऽसौ कुमारः पृथिवीपतिः। तेषां च तद् यथावृत्तं कथयामास वै तदा॥
The lotus-eyed prince went to the distinguished Haihaya Chiefs and informed them of the matter,
तं चापि हिसितं तात मुनि मूलफलाशिनम्। श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा च ते तत्र बभूवुर्दीनमानसाः॥
O child, on hearing of it and seeing the (dead body) of the Muni who lived on fruits and roots they became sick at heart.
कस्यायमिति ते सर्वे मार्गमाणास्ततस्ततः। जग्मुश्चारिष्टनेम्नोऽथ तार्श्वस्वाश्रममञ्जसा॥
Then all those (kings) making enquiries here and there as to whose son the Muni was, soon arrived at the hermitage of Arishtanemi, the son of Kashyapa.
तेऽभिवाद्य महात्मानं तं मुनि नियतव्रतम्। तस्थुः सर्वे स तु मुनिस्तेषां पूजामथाहरत्॥
And bowing down to that high-souled sage constantly engaged in austerities they remained standing there and the Muni 10O busied himself to welcome them.
ते तमूचुर्महात्मानं न वयं सत्क्रियां मुने। त्वत्तोऽर्हाः कर्मदोषेण ब्राह्मणो हिसितो हि नः॥
They then said to that magnanimous sage, "we are no longer worthy of your reception in as much as we have unfortunately killed a Brahmana."
तानब्रवीत् स विप्रर्षिः कथं वो ब्राह्मणो हतः। क्व चासौ ब्रूत सहिताः पश्यध्वं मे तपोबलम्॥
And that Brahmanical sage said to them "how have you killed a Brahmana? Say where he is; and you all behold the power of my devotional exercise."
ते तु तत् सर्वमखिलमाख्यायास्मै यथातथम्। नापश्यंस्तमृषिं तत्र गतासुं ते समागताः॥
The chiefs, then having truly related to him all that had taken place and having returned to the place (where the corpse of the Rishi was) did not find it there.
अन्वेषमाणाः सव्रीडाः स्वप्नवद्गतचेतनाः। तानब्रवीत् तत्र मुनिस्तार्क्ष्यः परपुरंजय॥
And searching about for it they returned covered with shame and devoid of consciousness like one in a dream. Then, O the conqueror of your enemy's cities, that sage, the son of Kashyapa, said to them.
स्यादयं ब्राह्मणः सोऽथ युष्माभिर्यो विनाशितः। पुत्रो ह्ययं मम नृपास्तपोबलसमन्वितः॥
"O kings, is this the Brahmana who was killed by you? He is indeed my son devoted to great austerities."
ते च दृष्ट्वैव तमृर्षि विसमयं परमं गताः। महदाश्चर्यमिति वै ते ब्रुवाणा महीपते॥
And O king, beholding that Rishi they were highly amazed and they all exclaimed “it is indeed highly wonderful.
मृतो ह्ययमुपानीतः कथं जीवितमाप्तवान्। किमेतत् तपसो वीर्यं येनायं जीवितः पुनः॥
How has the dead been restored to life? Is it by the strength of asceticism that he has been brought to life again?
श्रोतुमिच्छामहे विप्र यदि श्रोतव्यमित्युत। स तानुवाच नास्माकं मृत्युः प्रभवते नृपाः॥
O Brahmana, we are (very) curious to hear it, if indeed it can be heard.” (Thereupon) he replied “O kings, death cannot display its power before us.
कारणं वः प्रवक्ष्यामि हेतुयोगसमासतः। सत्यमेवाभिजानीमो नानृते कुर्महे मनः। स्वधर्ममनुतिष्ठामस्तस्मान्मृत्युभयं न नः॥
I will relate to you the reason here of briefly and argumentatively. As we strictly adhere to our own duties, we are not afraid of death.
यद् ब्राह्मणानां कुशलं तदेषां कथयामहे। नैषां दुश्चरितं ब्रूमस्तस्मान्मृत्युभयं न नः॥
We speak well of the Brahmanas and never vilify them; therefore we do not fear death.
अतिथीनन्नपानेन भृत्यानत्यशेनन च। सम्भोज्य शेषमनीमस्तस्मान्मृत्युभयं न नः॥
As we entertain our guests with food and drink and regale our dependents with plenty of food and then eat what is left; so we have no fear of death.
शान्ता दान्ताः क्षमाशीलास्तीर्थदानपरायणाः। पुण्यदेशनिवासाच्च तस्मान्मृत्युभयं न नः। तेजस्विदेशवासाच्च तस्मान्मृत्युभयं न नः॥
We are peaceful, charitable of forgiving disposition, fond of visiting sacred shrines, benevolent and we dwell in holy places; therefore we entertain no fear of death. And as we associate with men of devotional spirit, death has no fear for us.
एतद् वै लेशमात्रं वः समाख्यातं विमत्सराः। गच्छतध्वं सहिताः सर्वे न पापाद् भयमस्ति वः॥
I have told you a bit only (of our devotional power). Now devoid of pride and vanity you all return together (to your homes).
एवमस्त्विति ते सर्वे प्रतिपूज्य महामुनिम्। स्वदेशमगमन् हृष्टा राजानो भरतर्षभ॥
O best of the Bharatas, (then) those kings, saying "be it so" and bowing down to that great sage returned cheerfully to their country.