śrī-śaunakaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śaunaka said; sūta — O Sūta Gosvāmī; jīva — may you live; ciram — for a long time; sādho — O saint; vada — please speak; naḥ — to us; vadatām — of speakers; vara — O you who are the best; tamasi — in darkness; apāre — unbounded; bhramatām — who are wandering; nṝṇām — for men; tvam — you; pāra-darśanaḥ — the seer of the opposite shore.

āhuḥ — they say; cira-āyuṣam — having an extraordinarily long life span; ṛṣim — the sage; mṛkaṇḍu-tanayam — the son of Mṛkaṇḍu; janāḥ — people; yaḥ — who; kalpa-ante — at the end of the day of Lord Brahmā; hi — indeed; urvaritaḥ — remaining alone; yena — by which (annihilation); grastam — seized; idam — this; jagat — entire universe; saḥ — he, Mārkaṇḍeya; vai — indeed; asmat-kula — in my own family; utpannaḥ — born; kalpe — in the day of Brahmā; asmin — this; bhārgava-ṛṣabhaḥ — the most eminent descendant of Bhṛgu Muni; na — not; eva — certainly; adhunā — in our age; api — even; bhūtānām — of all creation; samplavaḥ — annihilation by flood; kaḥ — any; api — at all; jāyate — has arisen; ekaḥ — alone; eta — indeed; arṇave — in the great ocean; bhrāmyan — wandering; dadarśa — he saw; puruṣam — a personality; kila — it is said; vaṭa-patra — of a banyan leaf; puṭe — within the fold; tokam — an infant boy; śayānam — lying; tu — but; ekam — one; adbhutam — wonderful; eṣaḥ — this; naḥ — our; saṁśayaḥ — doubt; bhūyān — great; sūta — O Sūta Gosvāmī; kautūhalam — curiosity; yataḥ — due to which; tam — that; naḥ — for us; chindhi — please cut; mahā-yogin — O great yogī; purāneṣu — of the Purāṇas; api — indeed; sammataḥ — universally accepted (as the expert knower).

sūtaḥ uvāca — Sūta Gosvāmī said; praśnaḥ — question; tvayā — by you; mahā-ṛṣe — O great sage, Śaunaka; ayam — this; kṛtaḥ — made; loka — of the entire world; bhrama — the delusion; apahaḥ — which takes away; nārāyaṇa-kathā — discussion of the Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa; yatra — in which; gītā — is sung; kali-mala — the contamination of the present Age of Kali; apahā — removing.

prāpta — having received; dvi-jāti — of second birth; saṁskāraḥ — the purificatory rituals; mārkaṇḍeyaḥ — Mārkaṇḍeya; pituḥ — from his father; kramāt — by proper sequence; chandāṁsi — the Vedic hymns; adhītya — studying; dharmeṇa — along with regulative principles; tapaḥ — in austerities; svādhyāya — and study; saṁyutaḥ — full; bṛhat-vrata — the great vow of lifelong celibacy; dharaḥ — maintaining; śāntaḥ — peaceful; jaṭilaḥ — with matted hair; valkala-ambaraḥ — wearing bark as his clothing; bibhrat — carrying; kamaṇḍalum — a waterpot; daṇḍam — a mendicant’s staff; upavītam — the sacred thread; sa-mekhalam — along with the ritual belt of a brahmacārī; kṛṣṇa-ajinam — the skin of a black deer; sa-akṣa-sūtram — and prayer beads made of lotus seeds; kuśān — kuśa grass; ca — also; niyama-ṛddhaye — to facilitate his spiritual progress; agni — in the form of fire; arka — the sun; guru — the spiritual master; vipra — the brāhmaṇas; ātmasu — and the Supersoul; arcayan — worshiping; sandhyayoḥ — at the beginning and the end of the day; harim — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sāyam — in the evening; prātaḥ — in the early morning; saḥ — he; gurave — unto his spiritual master; bhaikṣyam — alms obtained by begging; āhṛtya — bringing; vāk-yataḥ — with controlled speech; bubhuje — he partook; guru-anujñātaḥ — invited by his spiritual master; sakṛt — once; na — not (invited); u — indeed; cet — if; upoṣitaḥ — fasting; evam — in this way; tapaḥ-svādhyāya-paraḥ — dedicated to austerities and studies of the Vedic literature; varṣāṇām — years; ayuta-ayutam — ten thousand times ten thousand; ārādhayan — worshiping; hṛṣīka-īśam — the supreme master of the senses, Lord Viṣṇu; jigye — he conquered; mṛtyum — death; su-durjayam — impossible to conquer.

brahmā — Lord Brahmā; bhṛguḥ — Bhṛgu Muni; bhavaḥ — Lord Śiva; dakṣaḥ — Prajāpati Dakṣa; brahma-putrāḥ — the great sons of Brahmā; ca — and; ye — who; apare — others; nṛ — human beings; deva — demigods; pitṛ — forefathers; bhūtāni — and ghostly spirits; tena — with that (conquest of death); āsan — they all became; ati-vismitāḥ — extremely amazed.

ittham — in this manner; bṛhat-vrata-dharaḥ — maintaining the vow of celibacy, brahmacarya; tapaḥ-svādhyāya-saṁyamaiḥ — by his austerities, study of the Vedas and regulative principles; dadhyau — he meditated; adhokṣajam — upon the transcendental Lord; yogī — the yogī; dhvasta — destroyed; kleśa — all troubles; antaḥ-ātmanā — with his introspective mind.

tasya — he; evam — thus; yuñjataḥ — while fixing; cittam — his mind; mahā-yogena — by powerful practice of yoga; yoginaḥ — the mystic sage; vyatīyāya — passed by; mahān — a great; kālaḥ — period of time; manu-antara — lifetimes of Manu; ṣaṭ — six; ātmakaḥ — consisting of.

etat — this; purandaraḥ — Lord Indra; jñātvā — learning; saptame — in the seventh; asmin — this; kila — indeed; antare — reign of Manu; tapaḥ — of the austerities; viśaṅkitaḥ — becoming fearful; brahman — O brāhmaṇa Śaunaka; ārebhe — he set into motion; tat — of that austerity; vighātanam — obstruction.

gandharva-apsarasaḥ — the celestial singers and dancing girls; kāmam — Cupid; vasanta — the spring season; malaya-anilau — and the refreshing breeze from the Malaya Hills; munaye — to the sage; preṣayām āsa — he sent; rajaḥ-toka — the child of passion, greed; madau — and intoxication; tathā — also.

te — they; vai — indeed; tat — of Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi; āśramam — to the hermitage; jagmuḥ — went; hima-adreḥ — of the Himālaya Mountains; pārśve — to the side; uttare — on the north; puṣpabhadrā nadī — the Puṣpabhadrā River; yatra — where; citrā-ākhyā — named Citrā; ca — and; śilā — the peak; vibho — O powerful Śaunaka.

tat — his; āśrama-padam — place of hermitage; puṇyam — pious; puṇya — pious; druma — with trees; latā — and creepers; añcitam — specially marked; puṇya — pious; dvija — of brāhmaṇa sages; kula — with the groups; ākīrṇam — brimming; puṇya — pious; amala — spotless; jala-āśayam — having reservoirs of water; matta — maddened; bhramara — of bees; saṅgītam — with singing; matta — maddened; kokila — of cuckoos; kūjitam — with cooing; matta — maddened; barhi — of peacocks; naṭa-āṭopam — with the frenzy of dancing; matta — maddened; dvija — of birds; kula — with the families; ākulam — filled; vāyuḥ — the wind of the Malaya Hills; praviṣṭaḥ — entering; ādāya — taking up; hima — chilling; nirjhara — of the waterfalls; śīkarān — the drops of mist; sumanobhiḥ — by the flowers; pariṣvaktaḥ — being embraced; vavau — blew; uttambhayan — evoking; smaram — Cupid.

udyat — rising; candra — with the moon; niśā — nighttime; vaktraḥ — whose face; pravāla — of new sprouts; stabaka — and blossoms; ālibhiḥ — with rows; gopa — being hidden; druma — of the trees; latā — and creepers; jālaiḥ — along with the multitude; tatra — there; āsīt — appeared; kusuma-ākaraḥ — the spring season.

anvīyamānaḥ — being followed; gandharvaiḥ — by Gandharvas; gīta — of singers; vāditra — and players of musical instruments; yūthakaiḥ — by companies; adṛśyata — was seen; ātta — holding up; cāpa-iṣuḥ — his bow and arrows; svaḥ-strī-yūtha — of hoardes of heavenly women; patiḥ — the master; smaraḥ — Cupid.

hutvā — having offered oblations; agnim — to the sacrificial fire; samupāsīnam — sitting in yogic meditation; dadṛśuḥ — they saw; śakra — of Indra; kiṅkarāḥ — the servants; mīlita — closed; akṣam — his eyes; durādharṣam — invincible; mūrti-mantam — personified; iva — as if; analam — fire.

nanṛtuḥ — danced; tasya — of him; purataḥ — in front; striyaḥ — women; atha u — and furthermore; gāyakāḥ — singers; jaguḥ — sang; mṛdaṅga — with drums; vīṇā — stringed instruments; paṇavaiḥ — and cymbals; vādyam — instrumental music; cakruḥ — they made; manaḥ-ramam — charming.

sandadhe — he fixed; astram — the weapon; sva-dhanuṣi — upon his bow; kāmaḥ — Cupid; pañca-mukham — having five heads (sight, sound, smell, touch and taste); tadā — then; madhuḥ — spring; manaḥ — the mind of the sage; rajaḥ-tokaḥ — the child of passion, greed; indra-bhṛtyāḥ — the servants of Indra; vyakampayan — attempted to agitate.

krīḍantyāḥ — who was playing; puñjikasthalyāḥ — of the Apsarā named Puñjikasthalī; kandukaiḥ — with a number of balls; stana — of her breasts; gauravāt — because of the great weight; bhṛśam — very much; udvigna — overburdened; madhyāyāḥ — whose waist; keśa — from her hair; visraṁsita — falling; srajaḥ — the flower garland; itaḥ tataḥ — here and there; bhramat — wandering; dṛṣṭeḥ — whose eyes; calantyāḥ — who was running about; anu kandukam — after her ball; vāyuḥ — the wind; jahāra — stole away; tat-vāsaḥ — her garment; sūkṣmam — fine; truṭita — loosened; mekhalam — the belt.

visasarja — shot; tadā — then; bāṇam — the arrow; matvā — thinking; tam — him; sva — by himself; jitam — conquered; smaraḥ — Cupid; sarvam — all this; tatra — directed at the sage; abhavat — became; mogham — futile; anīśasya — of an atheist disbeliever; yathā — just as; udyamaḥ — the endeavors.

te — they; ittham — in this way; apakurvantaḥ — trying to do harm; muneḥ — to the sage; tat — his; tejasā — by the potency; mune — O sage (Śaunaka); dahyamānāḥ — feeling burned; nivavṛtuḥ — they desisted; prabodhya — having awakened; ahim — a snake; iva — as if; arbhakāḥ — children.

iti — thus; indra-anucaraiḥ — by the followers of Indra; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; dharṣitaḥ — impudently attacked; api — although; mahā-muniḥ — the elevated sage; yat — that; na agāt — he did not succumb; ahamaḥ — of false ego; bhāvam — to the transformation; na — not; tat — that; citram — surprising; mahatsu — for great souls; hi — indeed.

dṛṣṭvā — seeing; nistejasam — deprived of his power; kāmam — Cupid; sa-gaṇam — along with his associates; bhagavān — the powerful lord; sva-rāṭ — King Indra; śrutvā — and hearing; anubhāvam — the influence; brahma-ṛṣeḥ — of the sage among the brāhmaṇas; vismayam — astonishment; samagāt — he attained; param — great.

tasya — while he, Mārkaṇḍeya; evam — in this way; yuñjataḥ — was fixing; cittam — his mind; tapaḥ — by austerity; svādhyāya — study of the Vedas; saṁyamaiḥ — and regulative principles; anugrahāya — for showing mercy; āvirāsīt — made Himself manifest; nara-nārāyaṇaḥ — exhibiting the forms of Nara and Nārāyaṇa; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

tau — the two of Them; śukla-kṛṣṇau — one white and the other black; nava-kañja — like blooming lotus flowers; locanau — Their eyes; catuḥ-bhujau — having four arms; raurava — black deerskin; valkala — and bark; ambarau — as Their clothing; pavitra — most purifying; pāṇī — Their hands; upavītakam — sacred thread; tri-vṛt — threefold; kamaṇḍalum — waterpot; daṇḍam — staff; ṛjum — straight; ca — and; vaiṇavam — made of bamboo; padma-akṣa — of lotus seeds; mālām — prayer beads; uta — and; jantu-mārjanam — which purifies all living beings; vedam — the Vedas (represented by bundles of darbha grass); ca — and; sākṣāt — directly; tapaḥ — austerity; eva — indeed; rūpiṇau — personified; tapat — blazing; taḍit — lightning; varṇa — the color; piśaṅga — yellowish; rociṣā — with Their effulgence; prāṁśū — very tall; dadhānau — bearing; vibudha-ṛṣabha — by the chief of the demigods; arcitau — worshiped.

te — They; vai — indeed; bhagavataḥ — of the Personality of Godhead; rūpe — the personal manifestations; nara-nārāyaṇau — Nara and Nārāyaṇa; ṛṣī — the two sages; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; utthāya — standing up; ādareṇa — with respect; uccaiḥ — great; nanāma — bowed down; aṅgena — with his entire body; daṇḍa-vat — just like a stick.

saḥ — he, Mārkaṇḍeya; tat — of Them; sandarśana — because of seeing; ānanda — by the ecstasy; nirvṛta — pleased; ātma — whose body; indriya — senses; āśayaḥ — and mind; hṛṣṭa — standing on end; romā — his bodily hairs; aśru — with tears; pūrṇa — filled; akṣaḥ — his eyes; na sehe — he was unable; tau — upon them; udīkṣitum — to glance.

utthāya — standing up; prāñjaliḥ — with folded hands; prahvaḥ — humble; autsukyāt — out of eagerness; āśliṣan — embracing; iva — as if; namaḥ — obeisances; namaḥ — obeisances; iti — thus; īśānau — to the two Lords; babhāṣe — he spoke; gadgada — choking with ecstasy; akṣaram — the syllables.

tayoḥ — to Them; āsanam — sitting places; ādāya — offering; pādayoḥ — Their feet; avanijya — bathing; ca — and; arhaṇena — with suitable respectful offerings; anulepena — by anointing Them with sandalwood pulp and other fragrant substances; dhūpa — with incense; mālyaiḥ — and flower garlands; apūjayat — he worshiped.

sukham — comfortably; āsanam — on sitting places; āsīnau — seated; prasāda — mercy; abhimukhau — ready to give; munī — to the Lord’s incarnation as the two sages; punaḥ — again; ānamya — bowing down; pādābhyām — at Their feet; gariṣṭhau — to the supremely worshipable; idam — this; abravīt — he spoke.

śrī-mārkaṇḍeyaḥ uvāca — Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said; kim — what; varṇaye — shall I describe; tava — about You; vibho — O Almighty Lord; yat — by whom; udīritaḥ — moved; asuḥ — the vital air; saṁspandate — comes to life; tam anu — following it; vāk — the power of speech; manaḥ — the mind; indriyāṇi — and the senses; spandanti — begin to act; vai — indeed; tanu-bhṛtām — of all embodied living beings; aja-śarvayoḥ — of Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva; ca — as well; svasya — of myself; api — also; atha api — nevertheless; bhajatām — for those who are worshiping; asi — You become; bhāva-bandhuḥ — the intimate loving friend.

mūrtī — the two personal forms; ime — these; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhagavan — O Lord; tri-lokyāḥ — of all the three worlds; kṣemāya — for the ultimate benefit; tāpa — of material misery; viramāya — for the cessation; ca — and; mṛtyu — of death; jityai — for the conquest; nānā — various; bibharṣi — You manifest; avitum — for the purpose of protecting; anya — other; tanūḥ — transcendental bodies; yathā — just as; idam — this universe; sṛṣṭvā — having created; punaḥ — once again; grasasi — You swallow up; sarvam — entirely; iva — just like; ūrṇa-nābhiḥ — a spider.

tasya — of Him; avituḥ — the protector; sthira-cara — of the stationary and moving living beings; īśituḥ — the supreme controller; aṅghri-mūlam — the soles of His lotus feet; yat-stham — one who is situated at which; na — do not; karma-guṇa-kāla — of material work, material qualities and time; rajaḥ — the contamination; spṛśanti — touch; yat — whom; vai — indeed; stuvanti — praise; ninamanti — bow down to; yajanti — worship; abhīkṣṇam — at every moment; dhyāyanti — meditate upon; veda-hṛdayāḥ — who have assimilated the essence of the Vedas; munayaḥ — sages; tat-āptyai — for the purpose of achieving Him.

na anyam — no other; tava — Your; aṅghri — of the lotus feet; upanayāt — than the attainment; apavarga-mūrteḥ — who are liberation personified; kṣemam — benefit; janasya — for the person; paritaḥ — on all sides; bhiyaḥ — who is fearful; īśa — O Lord; vidmaḥ — do we know; brahmā — Lord Brahmā; bibheti — is afraid; alam — very much; ataḥ — on account of this; dvi-parārdha — the entire duration of the universe; dhiṣṇyaḥ — the period of whose reign; kālasya — because of time; te — Your feature; kim uta — then what to speak; tat-kṛta — created by him, Brahmā; bhautikānām — of the mundane creatures.

tat — therefore; vai — indeed; bhajāmi — I worship; ṛta-dhiyaḥ — of Him whose intelligence always perceives the truth; tava — of You; pāda-mūlam — the soles of the lotus feet; hitvā — giving up; idam — this; ātma-chadi — covering of the self; ca — and; ātma-guroḥ — of the master of the soul; parasya — who is the Supreme Truth; deha-ādi — the material body and other false designations; apārtham — useless; asat — insubstantial; antyam — temporary; abhijña-mātram — only imagined to have a separate existence; vindeta — one obtains; te — from You; tarhi — then; sarva — all; manīṣita — desired; artham — objects.

sattvam — goodness; rajaḥ — passion; tamaḥ — ignorance; iti — the modes of nature thus termed; īśa — O Lord; tava — Your; ātma-bandho — O supreme friend of the soul; māyā-mayāḥ — produced from Your personal energy; sthiti-laya-udaya — of maintenance, destruction and creation; hetavaḥ — the causes; asya — of this universe; līlāḥ — as pastimes; dhṛtāḥ — assumed; yat api — although; sattva-mayī — that which is in the mode of goodness; praśāntyai — for liberation; na — not; anye — the other two; nṛṇām — for persons; vyasana — danger; moha — bewilderment; bhiyaḥ — and fear; ca — also; yābhyām — from which.

tasmāt — therefore; tava — Your; iha — in this world; bhagavan — O Supreme Lord; atha — and; tāvakānām — of Your devotees; śuklām — transcendental; tanum — the personal form; sva-dayitām — most dear to them; kuśalāḥ — those who are expert in spiritual knowledge; bhajanti — worship; yat — because; sātvatāḥ — the great devotees; puruṣa — of the original Personality of Godhead; rūpam — the form; uśanti — consider; sattvam — the mode of goodness; lokaḥ — the spiritual world; yataḥ — from which; abhayam — fearlessness; uta — and; ātma-sukham — the happiness of the soul; na — not; ca — and; anyat — any other.

tasmai — to Him; namaḥ — my obeisances; bhagavate — to the Godhead; puruṣāya — the Supreme Person; bhūmne — the all-pervading one; viśvāya — the all-inclusive manifestation of the universe; viśva-gurave — the spiritual master of the universe; para-daivatāya — the supremely worshipable Deity; nārāyaṇāya — to Lord Nārāyaṇa; ṛṣaye — the sage; ca — and; nara-uttamāya — to the best of human beings; haṁsāya — situated in perfect purity; saṁyata-gire — who has controlled his speech; nigama-īśvarāya — the master of the Vedic scriptures.

yam — whom; vai — indeed; na veda — does not recognize; vitatha — deceptive; akṣa-pathaiḥ — by methods of empirical perception; bhramat — becoming diverted; dhīḥ — whose intelligence; santam — present; svakeṣu — within one’s own; asuṣu — senses; hṛdi — within the heart; api — even; dṛk-patheṣu — among perceived objects of the external world; tat-māyayā — by His illusory potency; āvṛta — covered over; matiḥ — his understanding; saḥ — he; u — even; eva — indeed; sākṣāt — directly; ādyaḥ — originally (in ignorance); tava — of You; akhila-guroḥ — the spiritual master of all living beings; upasādya — obtaining; vedam — the knowledge of the Vedas.

yat — of whom; darśanam — the vision; nigame — in the Vedas; ātma — of the Supreme Soul; rahaḥ — the mystery; prakāśam — which reveals; muhyanti — become bewildered; yatra — about which; kavayaḥ — great learned authorities; aja-parāḥ — headed by Brahmā; yatantaḥ — endeavoring; tam — to Him; sarva-vāda — of all different philosophies; viṣaya — the subject matter; pratirūpa — adjusting itself as suitable; śīlam — whose personal nature; vande — I offer my homage; mahā-puruṣam — to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ātma — from the spirit soul; nigūḍha — hidden; bodham — understanding.