The narration by Markandeya (of the events of by gone times)

Vaishampayana said : Arriving at (the forest of) Kamyaka and being hospitably received by the saints, Yudhishthira and the other Pandavas began to dwell there with Krishna.

While those sons of Pandu were securely dwelling at that place they were surrounded by multitudes of Brahmanas.

And a certain Brahmana said "Shauri, the dear friend of Arjuna, of mighty arms, possessed of self-restraint and endued with high intellect, will come (here).

Because it is known to Hari that you the perpetuators of the Kuru race have arrived here; and he is always desirous of seeing you and secks your welfare.

and Markandeya, who has lived for ages, has performed severe austerities, has studied the Vedas and who is given to devotion, will very soon come and join you.”

And at the very moment when the Brahmana was saying these he saw Keshava coming thither. And that foremost of car-warriors, the son of Devaki, desirous of seeing those most exalted of the Kurus, arrived on a chariot yoked with the horses named Saivya and Sugriva and accompanied by Satyabhama as Indra by the daughter of Puloma (Sachi).

Getting down from the car, Krishna following the usual custom, greeted with great delight, the intellectual Dharmaraja and the highly powerful Bhima.

He then paid his adoration to Dhaumya and (in his turn) was greeted by the twins. Then embracing Gudakesha (Arjuna of the curly hair) he spoke soothing words to Draupadi.

And that tormentor of foes, the descendant of the Dasharhas, having met with his beloved and heroic Arjuna after a long time, embraced him again and again.

And similarly Satyabhama, the beloved queen of Krishna, embraced Draupadi, the dear wife of the Pandavas.

Then the Pandavas together with their wife and priest paid then respects to the lotus-eyed (Krishna) and surrounded him on all sides.

And the learned Krishna being joined with the Partha, Dhananjaya (winner of riches), the slayer of demons looked as, beautiful as that high-souled divine lord of all created beings (Shiva) when united with Kartikeya (his son).

Then he who wore a coronet on his head (Arjuna) having related in detail to the elder brother of Gada (Krishna) all the incidents in connection with their forest life asked how are Subhadra and Abhimanyu?

And the destroyer of (the demon) Madhu, having, in the usual manner greeted Arjuna, Draupadi and the priest (Dhaumya) and having eulogised the king Yudhishthira took his seat with them and spoke these words.

"It is asserted (by the wise), O Pandava, that righteousness is superior to winning kingdoms and, O king, in order to foster it (virtue), asceticism is necessary. And you, who have performed your duties in strict obedience to truth and candour have conquered both this world and the next.

You first studied (the Vedas) by observing the proper rites; you have next acquired mastery over the whole science of weapons; and then having obtained wealth by pursuing the methods followed by the Kshatriyas you have performed all the ancient sacrificial rites.

You are are neither addicted to sensual pleasures, nor, O king of kings, do you perform anything froin motives of self-interest nor do you subserve your duties to greed of wealth. It is (for these reasons) that you have been styled the virtuous King.

O King, although you have won kingdoms, wealth and are surrounded by all sorts of luxury, you are ever bent on charity, truthfulness, asceticism, faith, meditation, forgiveness and patience.

When the inhabitants of Kuru Jangala beheld (the modesty of) Krishna outraged in the assembly hall, O Pandu who but yourself could brook that (beastly) conduct (on the part of the Kurus) so very odious to virtue and custom?

It admits of no doubt that with all your desires gratified you will soon creditably govern your subjects. And when your promise (to spend twelve years in exile) will be fulfilled, we will try our utmost to chastise the Kurus."

Then, the chief of the Dasharhas said to Dhaumya, Bhima, Yudhishthira, the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) and Draupadi “it is by your good fortune that Kiriti (Arjuna who wears a coronet on his head) has returned with a merry mind after having been well-versed in the science of weapons."

And the lord of the Dasharhas (Krishna) together with friends said to Yajnaseni the daughter of Yagnasena (Krishna) "fortunate it is that you have been again united with Dhananjaya (the winner of wealth) all hale and hearty.

O Krishna, O Yajnaseni, these young sons of yours chiefly given to the acquisition of the science of arms are all of good behaviour and always follow in the footsteps of their worthy friends.

And, O Krishna, although your father and your brothers try to tempt them with a kingdom and territories, the boys find no pleasure in the abodes of Yajnasena or of their maternal uncles.

And, O Krishna, safely proceeding towards the country of the Anartas when your sons, chiefly bent on the acquisition of arms, enter the city of the Vrishnis, they do not even long for celestials happiness.

And Subhadra always instructs them carefully to observe good manners as you yourself or the venerable Kunti would do.

O Krishna, as the son of Rukmani (Pradyumna) is the tutor and guide to Aniruddha, Abhimanyu Sunitha and Bhanu, so he is to your sons also.

And Prince Abhimanyu, an able teacher always gives instructions to them brave and active as they are, in the arts of wielding maces, swords, buckles and other weapons and of driving cars and riding horses.

And the son of Rukmani, having thoroughly instructed and having duly conferred weapons upon them, takes much delight in witnessing the valour of your sons and of Abhimanyu.

And O daughter of Yajnasena, when your sons go out for field sports, each of them is followed by cars, horses, vehicles and elephants."

Krishna, then addressing the Dharmaraja, said “O king, let the Dasharha warrior, the Kukuras and the Andhakas, obeying your orders remain wherever you wish.

O monarch, let the army of the Madhus, the strength of whose bows is as impetuous as the wind and led by Halayudha (the wielder of the plough) and consisting of cavalry, infantry, horses, chariots and elephants, prepare to carry out your commands.

O Pandava, send Suyodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra, the vilest of sinners together with his friends and followers to the path of the lord of Subha (Soila) the son of the earth.

Dwell where you please, O monarch, during the period appointed by you in the assembly hall; but at the end of which let the city Nagpur (Hastina) await your arrival therein when the Dasharha warriors have cut down the forces of your enemies.

(During the appointed period) abandoning your sorrow and getting rid of your sin, wander at pleasure wherever you like; and then with a merry heart you will enter the renowned city of Hastina and also your principality.”

Then the high-souled Dharmaraja, being informed of the views thus clearly expressed by that best of men and praising the same and looking at Krishna spoke these words with joined hands to him.

"O Keshava, it admits of no doubt that you are the refuge of the Pandavas; and the Parthas are under your protection. When the time for action will arrive, you will undoubtedly do all that you have just said.

We will spend the period of twelve years, as we have promised, in lonely forests. And then having duly completed the period of our are incognito life, O Keshava, the sons of Pandu will place themselves under your protection.

May this intention of yours, always remain in you. For O Keshava, the Parthas, the sons of Pandu, firmn in truth and devoted to charity and duty, together with their friends, relations and their wives (always) under your protection."

Vaishampayana said: O Bharata, when the descendant of the Vrishnis and the Dharmaraja were thus conversing, the high-souled Markandeya, of great devotion, grown wise by austerities, who had lived many thousands of years, was seen to approach (there). Being immortal and without signs of senility, endued with beauty and magnanimity.

He looked like a youth of twenty five years old. When that wise saint who had seen many thousands of years made his appearance,

All the Brahmanas and the Pandavas together with Krishna paid their adoration to him. And when that most exalted of saints, thus honoured, was peacefully seated, Keshava giving expression to the views of the Brahmanas and the Pandavas thus addressed him.

Krishna said : The Pandavas, the assembled Brahmanas, Draupadi, Satyablama as well as myself are all desirous of hearing your most excellent words.

(Graciously) narrate to us (therefore) the sacred events of ancient ages and the eternal rules of righteous conduct by which kings, women and saints should be guided.

Vaishampayana said : When they were all seated the divine saint Narada too, of pure soul, came there to see the Pandavas.

Then, all those highly intellectual and most exalted of mortals, honoured that magnanimous saint by offering him, according to the usual custom, water to wash his feet and the oblation called Arghya.

Learning that they were about to hear the words of Markandeya, the divine saint Narada signified his assent to the proposal.

Then the eternal Krishna, who knows well what is the convenient moment, spoke to Markandeya, with a smile "O Brahmarshi, kindly relate to the Pandavas whatever you wish to say"

Thus addressed, Markandeya, of great austerities replied “wait a moment. I will relate lots of events."

Thus spoken to, the Pandavas together with the Brahmanas waited a little looking at that great saint glorious as the noon-day sun.

Vaishampayana said: (Then) the son of Pandu, the king of the Kurus, seeing that the great sage was desirous of speaking, asked him, with the intention of suggesting topics for narration.

“You are ancient in age and are therefore conversant with the events relating to all the gods, the demons, the high-souled sages and the royal saints.

We consider you deserve all honour and adoration; and we have, for a long time, been desirous of seeing you. This son of Devaki too has come here to pay us a visit.

When I consider that I have been deprived of happiness for no fault of mine and when I see the wicked sons of Dhritarashtra prospering in every respect it strikes me that man is the agent of his meritorious or wicked acts and that he reaps the fruits of his own deeds. How can then God be the agent?

And O the best of those conversant with the Supreme Being, why does man become subject to pleasure or pain? Is it in this world or in another existence that he reaps the fruits of his acts?

O best of Brahmanas, how is it that the consequences of the good or evil acts of an embodied being follow him in this world or after his death in the next?

Do we reap the fruits of our acts in this life or in another existence? And O descendant of Bhrigu, where do the results of the acts of an animated creature rest after his death?”

Markandeya said : "O the best of speakers, this question is worthy of you and is just what you should ask. You are well informed of whatever is fit to be known But it is for the sake of form that you are asking the question.

I will now narrate to you how men experience pleasure and pain in this world and in the next. Listen to me with an undivided attention.

Prajapati (the lord of all created beings) who first sprang into existence, created for the corporeal beings, bodies, stainless, pure and given to virtue.

O the most exalted of the Kurus, the primary men had all their desires gratified, were given to virtuous deeds and were truthful, godly and pure.

They were all as good as the gods themselves, could soar to the heavens, come down again and range at pleasure wherever they liked.

They had control over their life and death, had few difficulties and no fear had all their desires gratified, were free from troubles.

Could visit the high-souled gods and the saints; were well-versed in all the religious ordinances; had self-control and were devoid of envy.

They lived for a thousand years and had as many sons. But in process of time their powers, were limited to walking solely on the earth's surface.

And they became subject to lust and anger, practised falsehood and duplicity for subsistence and were overpowered by greed and ignorance. And when these (wicked) men died,

They were born among lower animals or driven to hell and again and again had to suffer the pain of rebirth in this wonderful world on account of their vicious deeds.

Then their desires, their aims, their knowledge and their rituals bore up fruit; They were afraid of everything their reason was clouded and they were oppressed with sorrow.

And they were generally marked by their wicked deeds, born in low family, afflicted with various diseases and became evil-minded and the terror of others.

Their life became short and wicked and they paid the penalty of their terrible deeds; were covetous of everything, became atheists and indifferent in mind.

O son of Kunti, the fate of a creature after death depends upon his acts in this world. As regards your question as to where the treasure of the acts of the wise and the ignorant remains,

And where they reap the fruits of their own meritorious or vicious deeds, hear the decisions on the subject.

Man by his original subtle frame, made by the creator, accumulates a great store of good and evil deeds.

When his days are numbered he leaves this frail body and is immediately born among another order of creation, and he never remains disembodied even for a single moment.

In that new existence his (good and evil) acts always follow him like his shadow and the consequences thereof make his existence either pleasurable or painful.

The wise only by means of spiritual insight know that every creature is chained to an unchangeable fate by the destroyer (Yama) for his virtue or vice and that he is unable to get rid of the consequences of his acts in good or evil fortune.

O Yudhishthira, I have related (to you) the fate of those whose intelligence has been clouded with ignorance. Now hear of the excellent state attained to by the wise.

These men are of great ascetic merits, learned in all the religious books (i.e. the Vedas and the Tantras), firm in duty, devoted to truth, engaged in ministering to the comforts of their elders;

Are well behaved, given to the practice of yoga, of forgiving spirit, self-controlled, energetic, well-born and are endowed with the signs of greatness.

Owing to their control over their passions they are well-governed in mind; by practising Yoga they are devoid of disease and by the absence of sorrow and fear they are free from (mental troubles).

In course of birth whether timely or premature or while confined in the womb, (in short) in every state, they know the relation subsisting between their own souls and the eternal spirit, by spiritual insight.

The high-souled saints gifted with positive and intuitive knowledge being born in this world of actions attain to the celestials regions again.

O monarch, by practising Yoga or by Destiny or by their own acts, men attain to (happiness or misery). Do not thing otherwise.

O the best of speakers, O Yudhishthira, hear an instance of what I deem to be the highest good in this world.

Some men enjoy happiness in this world but not in the next; some attain it in the next world but not in this; while others neither in this world nor in that to come.

They, that possess vast wealth, sport themselves every day richly adorning their persons (with ornaments and dresses). Such men, O destroyer of powerful enemies being addicted to physical enjoyment, attain to happiness in this world but not in the next.

O slayer of foes, those who are absorbed in spiritual thoughts, devoted to asceticism, engaged in the study of the Vedas and who mortify their bodies, have a control over their passions and abstain from killing animals, enjoy happiness in the next world but not in this.

Those that first lead a virtuous life and honestly acquire wealth in due time and then marry and perform sacrificial rites, attain happiness both in this world and in that to come.

And those stupid persons who have neither learning nor asceticism, nor charity and who do not multiply their kind and are not given to worldly joys attain to happiness neither in this world nor in the next.

You are highly powerful, vigorous, endued with celestials energy, well read and in order to serve the purpose of the gods have come down (from the heavens) and been born in this world for the extirpation (of the wicked people).

Having achieved glorious deeds and having gratified all the gods, the saints and the Pitris, you, who are so heroic, devoted to spiritual meditation, self-controlled, given to purity and engaged in self-extertion will at length in due course.

Gradually attain to that excellent heavenly region, the abode of the virtuous, by means of your own (meritorious) deeds. O the lord of the Kurus, let no doubt, trouble your mind on account of your misfortune, for this affliction will lead to your (ultimate) happiness.