Markandeya Recounts the Haihaya Prince's Tale

The Pandavas came to Markandeya with a question. They wanted to hear about the greatness of the foremost brahmanas — what made them worthy of reverence, what power they carried. Markandeya, the great ascetic, extremely energetic and knowledgeable in all the sacred texts, began to speak. "There was once a handsome prince who was the king of the Haihayas," he said. "He was the pride of his lineage and the destroyer of enemy cities. He was powerful and handsome, and he went out to hunt." The prince roamed through a forest overgrown with grass and bushes. In the undergrowth, he saw a figure clad in a black antelope skin as an upper garment. The light was uncertain, the movement sudden. He mistook the figure for a deer. He drew his bow and loosed his arrow. He killed a sage. When he realized what he had done, the prince was pained and sorrowful. He lost his senses. He went to the kings of the Haihayas — great in their souls — and told them exactly what had happened. The kings heard about the violence done to a sage who lived on roots and fruits. They saw the body. Their minds were distressed. They asked everywhere whose son the dead sage was. Following the road, they came to the hermitage of Tarkshya Arishtanemi. They bowed down before the great-souled sage, whose vows were unwavering. The sage honoured them in return. "We are not deserving of these honours," they told him. "Through our evil deeds, we have killed a brahmana." The brahmana rishi replied, "How have you killed a brahmana? Where is he? Tell me and behold the strength of my austerities." They told him everything, exactly as it had happened. But when they returned to the spot, they could not see the dead body of the rishi. They searched everywhere and were ashamed. They felt as if their senses had been in the midst of a dream. Tarkshya said, "Is this the brahmana who had been killed by you? This is my son. He possesses the power of austerities." The kings saw the rishi alive before them. They were struck with great wonder. "This is extremely wonderful," they exclaimed. "We saw him dead. How can a dead person be restored to life? Is it through the power of austerities that he has become alive again? O brahmana rishi! We are desirous of hearing this, if indeed it can be heard." Tarkshya replied, "Death cannot exhibit its powers before us. I will briefly tell you the reason. We know nothing but the truth. We do not even think of that which is false. Since we are always established in our own dharma, death holds no fear for us. We always speak about the welfare of brahmanas, and never about their evil deeds. Therefore, we have no fear of death. We serve our guests with food and drink. We always feed our servants. We live in a region inhabited by energetic ones. Therefore, we have no fear of death. I have only told you a very little bit. Now all of you return, without any envy. Do not be frightened that you have sinned." The kings agreed that it would be that way. They worshipped the great sage. Then they returned to their own kingdom, happily.