of God, how is it that men’s actions follow them?  Is it in this world?  Or is it in some subsequent existence?  And, O best of righteous men among the twice-born, in what way is an embodied animated being joined by his good and evil deeds that seek him out?  Is it after death?  Or is it in this world?  And, O descendant of Bhrigu, is what we experience in this world the result of the acts of this very life?  Or will the acts of this life bear fruit in the world to come?  And where do the actions of an animated being who is dead find their resting place?’

“Markandeya said, ’O best of those that can speak, this question befits thee, and is just what it should be.  Thou knowest all that there is to know.  But thou art asking this question, simply for the sake of form.  Here I shall answer thee:  listen to me with an attentive mind, as to how in this world and in that to come, a man experienceth happiness and misery.  The lord of born beings, himself sprung first of all, created, for all embodied beings, bodies which were stainless, pure, and obedient to virtuous impulses, O wisest of the descendants of Kuru!  The ancient men had all their desires fulfilled, were given to praiseworthy courses of life, were speakers of truth, godly and pure.  All were equal to the gods, could ascend to the sky at their pleasure, and could come back again; and all went about at their pleasure.  And they had their death and their life also under their own control; and they had few sufferings; had no fear; and had their wishes fulfilled; and they were free from trouble; could visit the gods and the magnanimous saints; knew by heart all righteous rules; were self-controlled and free from envy.  And they lived many thousand years; and had many thousand sons.  Then in course of time they came to be restricted to walking solely on the surface of the earth, overpowered by lust and wrath, dependent for subsistence upon falsehood and trick, overwhelmed by greed and senselessness.  Then those wicked men, when disembodied, on account of their unrighteous and unblessed deeds, went to hell in a crooked way.  Again and again, they were grilled, and, again and again they began to drag their miserable existence in this wonderful world.  And their desires were unfulfilled, the objects unaccomplished, and their knowledge became unavailing.  And their senses were paralysed and they became apprehensive of everything and the cause of other people’s sufferings.  And they were generally marked by wicked deeds, and born in low families; they became wicked and afflicted with diseases, and the terror of others.  And they became short-lived and sinful and they reaped the fruit of their terrible deeds.  And coveting everything, they became godless and indifferent in mind, O son of Kunti!  The destiny of every creature after death is determined by his acts in this world.  Thou hast asked me where this treasure of acts of the sage and the ignorant remain, and where they enjoy the fruit of their good and evil deeds!  Do thou