ਮਾਰਕੰਡੇ (maar-kaňḍe)
Meaning: noun: Markandeya, an ancient sage from the Hindu tradition.
Quote:
ਗਹਰੀ ਕਰਿ ਕੈ ਨੀਵ ਖੁਦਾਈ ਊਪਰਿ ਮੰਡਪ ਛਾਏ॥
ਮਾਰਕੰਡੇ ਤੇ ਕੋ ਅਧਿਕਾਈ ਜਿਨਿ ਤ੍ਰਿਣ ਧਰਿ ਮੂੰਡ ਬਲਾਏ॥
(ਹੇ ਮਨੁਖ! ਤੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਰਹਿਣ ਲਈ) ਡੂੰਘੀ ਕਰ ਕੇ ਨੀਂਹ ਖੁਦਵਾਈ ਅਤੇ ਉਪਰ ਸੋਹਣੇ ਮਹਿਲ ਬਣਾਏ ਹਨ। ਪਰ ਮਾਰਕੰਡੇ ਰਿਸ਼ੀ ਤੋਂ ਕੌਣ ਵੱਡਾ (ਵਡੇਰੀ ਉਮਰ ਵਾਲਾ) ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਨੇ ਸਿਰ ਉਤੇ ਕੱਖ ਧਰ ਕੇ ਦਿਨ ਲੰਘਾ ਦਿਤੇ ਸਨ?
gahree kar kai neev khudhaaee oopar maňdap chhaaeae.
maarkaňḍe te ko adhikaaee jin triṇ dhar mooňḍ balaae.
(O human! You) have dug a deep foundation and built a lofty palace (to live). However, who can be greater or live longer than Markandeya, who passed his days with only a handful of straw upon his head? -Bhagat Namdev, Guru Granth Sahib, 692
Message: The verse above refers to a story which deals with Markandeya’s long life, giving an account of how he lived his life.
Markandeya, a famous and accomplished rishi of yore, is said to have lived an exceptionally long life. He had no material possessions and spent his life living humbly in a thatch of grass leaves and twigs. He well understood that ultimately one leaves everything behind and becomes nothing.
We should ask ourselves? What really is there to be proud of? The body, the powers we assume we have, and the material possessions or wealth are transient and perishable.
