સખી માર્કંડી Sakhi Markandi (My Friend, the Markandi River)

નદીને સૌ 'માતા' કહે, પણ નાનકડી માર્કંડી લેખકને નાનપણની સખી લાગે છે.

The writer says that in India every river is called 'mother', but Markandi feels to him not as grand as a mother but like a friend of his childhood. She is so small that he cannot even call her an elder sister - she is simply his little playmate.

ભપકા વિનાની, સાદી માર્કંડી નદીની શાંતિ-સાદગીમાં લેખકને અપાર પ્રેમ મળે છે.

Markandi flows gently past the writer's fields. She is an ordinary river - no high waterfalls, no showy flowers, no colourful butterflies on her banks. Yet in her very simplicity the writer finds a rare peace and love, and he loves to sit on her bank in the afternoon shade.

મહાદેવ દંપતીને પૂછે છે - સો વર્ષ જીવતો મૂઢ બાળક કે સોળ વર્ષ જીવતો સદ્ગુણી? તેઓ સદ્ગુણી પસંદ કરે છે.

The writer recalls the legend of sage Markandeya linked with the river's name. To a childless couple Mahadev offers a choice: a son who lives a hundred years but is foolish, or a virtuous son who lives only sixteen years. The couple choose the virtuous one - and that is Markandeya.

યમ લેવા આવે ત્યારે માર્કંડેય શિવલિંગને વળગે છે; શિવ પ્રગટ થઈ તેને અમર બનાવે છે.

Young Markandeya stays absorbed in worshipping the Shivling. When Yamraj comes to take him, he clings to the Shivling. Seeing his boldness, Mahadev (Mrityunjaya - conqueror of death) appears from the Shivling and grants him immortality - even death cannot drag him away.

વર્ષો પછી પણ માર્કંડી લેખકને જૂની સખીની જેમ સ્મિતથી આવકારે છે; સ્નેહ એનો એ જ.

Though years have passed, whenever the writer goes to the riverside Markandi never feels a stranger. She may no longer frolic as before, but with a smile and a quiet welcome she receives him. With age her depth has grown, yet her affection remains exactly the same.