तमुवाच ततः शक्रः पुनरेव महायशाः
Then Śakra, renowned among the great, spoke to him again.
न हि शक्यं प्राप्तुमेवमचिरान्नाशमेष्यसि
'It is not possible to obtain this; soon you will perish.'
एवमुक्तो मतंगस्तु संशितात्मा दृढव्रतः 5.2.60.
Thus addressed, Mataṅga, resolute and steadfast in his vow,
तदेव च पुनर्वाक्यमुवाच बलवृत्रहा
Again, the slayer of Vṛtra spoke those very words.
अन्यं वरं वृणीष्व त्वं मा कृथास्तत्स्वयं श्रमम्
'Choose another boon; do not undergo this hardship for that.'
अतिष्ठत गयां गत्वा सोंगुष्ठेन शतं समाः
He stood at Gayā for a hundred years on his big toe.
त्वगस्थिभूतो धर्मात्मा तताप परमं तपः
Having become skin and bones, righteous in spirit, he performed supreme austerity.
वराणामीश्वरो दाता सर्वभूतहिते रतः
The lord of boons, the bestower, devoted to the welfare of all beings,
ब्राह्मण्यं दुर्ल्लभं तात ह्यसतां पापशीलिनाम्
O dear one, brahminhood is difficult to attain for the wicked and sinful.
ब्राह्मणे सर्वभूतानां योगक्षेमः समाहितः
In the brahmin, the welfare and sustenance of all beings is established.
अन्यं वरं वृणीष्व त्वं दुर्लभोऽयं हि ते वरः
Choose another boon, for this boon is difficult for you to obtain.
तं तु शोचामि यो लब्ध्वा ब्राह्मण्यं नानुपालयेत्
But I grieve for the one who, having gained Brahminhood, does not uphold it.
ब्राह्मण्यं यदि दुष्प्राप्यं त्रिभिर्वर्णैः शतक्रतो 5.2.60.
If Brahminhood is hard to attain for the three castes, O wielder of the thunderbolt,
वीतहव्यश्च राजर्षिस्तपसा विप्रतां गतः
Even the royal sage Vītahavya attained Brahminhood through austerity.
अहिंसादमसत्यस्थः कथं नार्हामि विप्रताम्
How am I, who stand in nonviolence and truth, not worthy of Brahminhood?
एतामवस्थां संप्राप्तो दैवयोगात्पुरंदर
By the conjunction of fate, O Purandara, I have come to this condition.
यदहं यत्नवानेवं न लभे विप्रतां विभो
If, despite my efforts, I do not obtain Brahminhood, O Lord,
यदि तेऽहमनुग्राह्यः किंचिद्वा सुकृतं मम
If I am worthy of your favor, and if I have any merit at all,
यथा ममाक्षया कीत्तिर्भवेद्वापि पुरंदर ।। कर्तुमर्हसि तद्देव शिरसा त्वां प्रसादये
Grant, O Purandara, that my fame may be imperishable; I beseech you, bowing my head.
इत्युक्तो हि मतंगेन वासवो बलवृत्रहा
Thus addressed by Matanga, Vāsava, the slayer of Vritra,
दिव्यमूर्त्तिधरं दिव्यं श्रीसिद्धेश्वरपूर्वतः
Directed him to the divine form, the divine Lord of Siddhas, before him.
तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण विप्रत्वं समवाप्स्यसि
By merely seeing him, you will attain Brahminhood.
महाकालवनं रम्यं सिद्धक्षेत्रमथापरम् 5.2.60.
Then to the delightful Mahākāla forest, another sacred place, he went.
दृष्ट्वा संपूजयामास पुष्पैर्नानाविधैस्तथा
Having seen it, he worshipped with many kinds of flowers.
अहो महान्सभाग्योसि यस्त्वया तोषितोऽस्म्यहम्
Oh, how greatly fortunate you are, for I am pleased by you.
वरदोऽस्मि वरार्हाणां शापदोऽस्मि दुरात्मनाम
I am the granter of boons to the worthy, and the giver of curses to the wicked.
ततोऽसौ विप्रतां यातो मतंगो लिंगदर्शनात
Then Matanga attained Brahminhood by seeing the liṅga.
ब्राह्मण्यं दुर्लभं लब्धं लिंगस्यास्य प्रभावतः
Brahminhood, difficult to obtain, was gained by the power of this liṅga.
मतंगेश्वरको लोके ब्रह्मलोकप्रदायकः
Matangeśvara in this world is the giver of the realm of Brahma.
निर्मर्यादा निराचारा निःशंकाश्चातिलोलुपाः दर्शनात्तस्य लिंगस्य तेऽपि यांति त्रिविष्टपम्
Even those without restraint, without conduct, fearless, and excessively greedy, by seeing that liṅga, attain heaven.