Chapter 49 - A Visit to the Holy Banyan Tree by Mārkaṇḍeya

Brahmā said:

1-4. At the close of the Kalpa, O excellent sages, when the great annihilation began to function, when the sun, moon and wind perished, when the mobile and immobile beings were destroyed, when the sun of dissolution rose up, when the fierce rumbling sound of the clouds of dissolution was heard when the trees and mountains crumbled due to the calamitous mass of lightning and thunder, when the whole world was crushed, when the great comets portended distinction, when the waters in the lakes and rivers were dried up, O brahmins, the fire of utter annihilation accompanied by the wind entered the worlds, brightly illuminated by the twelve Ādityas.

5. It pierced the Earth, entered the nether worlds and caused consternation among Devas, Dānavas and Yakṣas.

6. O leading sages, burning from below, the fire destroyed everything in a trice, the world of Nāgas and whatever there was on the earth.

7-8. The Doomsday fire blazed up hundreds and thousands of Yojanas. The wind blew quickly. The entire universe including Devas, Asuras, Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Nāgas and Rākṣasas was burned by the blazing lordly fire.

9-10. When blazing brightly, it was very terrible. Known as Kalpa fire it had great flames and excessive refulgence. It shone and produced a loud report. Burning with its own brilliance it resembled ten million suns. Immediately it burned the three worlds, the abodes of Devas, Asuras and mortals.

11. In the middle of this terrible dissolution of such a devastating nature an extremely virtuous sage was engaged in the path of meditation.

12. O Brahmins, he stood there alone. He was known as Mārkaṇḍeya. He was bound by the noose of delusion. His sense-organs were agitated by hunger and thirst.

13-14. O brahmins, his throat, lips and palate were parched. On seeing the great fire he became extremely terrified. Oppressed by thirst and faltering at every step, he wondered over the earth like a senseless fugitive. Unable to find a saviour he ran about here and there.

15-19. He did not derive any pleasure. O brahmins, he did not find any place of rest. He thought within himself:—“I do not know in whom I shall take refuge. How can I see that lord, the eternal Puruṣeśa (?)” Thinking thus with his mind in concentration on the eternal lord the cause of the great dissolution he reached that divine region of the eternal lordly Banyan tree well known as Puruṣeśa. O excellent sages, he hastened near the tree. After reaching it he sat under its root. There was no fear from the black fire there. There was no showering of burning sparks of fire. The Doomsday fire did not come there. There was no thunderbolt cither.