तव कीर्तिसमुच्छेदः सांप्रतं वसुधातले ७.
Now, your fame is being erased from the surface of the earth.
यदि वांछा महीपाल मम धामनि संस्थितौ॥ ७.
If, O king, you desire to remain in my abode—
मदीयं सुकृतं ब्रह्मन्कथं भूमौ भवेदिति ७.
O Brahman, how might my meritorious deeds come to fruition on earth?
बलवानेष भूपाल कालः कलयति स्वयम्॥ ७.
O king, time itself is powerful and acts according to its own will.
ब्रह्मांडान्यपि मां चैव गणना का भवादृशाम् ७.
Even the universes and myself—what reckoning is there for those like you?
यत्कीर्तिमात्मनो व्यक्तिं नीत्वाभ्येहि पुनर्दिवम् ७.
Having manifested the fame of the self, return again to heaven.
पश्यतिस्म तथात्मानं महीतलमुपागतम् ७.
Thus he saw himself as having come down to the earth.
नगरं स तदा देशमप्राक्षीदिति विस्मितः जना ऊचुः ७.
He then asked about that city and land, and the astonished people said:
यत्त्वं पृच्छसि भो भद्र कञ्चित्पृच्छ चिरायुषम् इन्द्रद्युम्न उवाच ७.
"O fortunate one, ask someone who is long-lived whatever you wish to know." Indradyumna spoke.
पृथिवीजयराज्येस्मिन्यत्र प्रबूत मा चिरम् जना ऊचुः ७.
"In this land of earth-conquering kings, do not tarry long where there is abundance," the people said.
मार्कंडेय इति ख्यातस्तं गत्वा पृच्छ संशयम् ७.
"He is known as Markandeya; go to him and ask your question."
निशम्य प्रणिपत्याह नृपः स्वहृदयस्थितम् इंद्रद्युम्न उवाच ७.
Hearing this, the king approached, bowed, and spoke what was in his heart. Indradyumna said:
पृच्छाम्यहं भवान्वेत्ति इंद्रद्युम्नं नृपं न वा॥ ७.
"I ask you—do you know King Indradyumna or not?"
सप्तकल्पान्तरे नाभूत्कोपींद्रद्युम्नसंज्ञितः ७.
"In seven cycles of creation, there has been no one known by the name Indradyumna."
स निराशस्तदाकर्ण्य वचो भूपोग्निसाधने ७.
Hearing these words, the king, despairing, prepared to enter the fire.
मा साहसमिदं कार्षीर्भद्र वाचं श्रृणुष्व मे ७.
"Do not commit this rash act, O good one; listen to my words."
तत्करोमि प्रतीकारं तव दुःखोपशांतये ७.
"I will make an effort to relieve your sorrow."
नाडीजंघ इति ख्यातः स त्वा ज्ञास्यत्यसंशयम् ७.
"He who is known as Nadijangha will surely recognize you."
परोपकारैकफलं जीवितं हि महात्मनाम् ७.
For the lives of the great-souled are devoted solely to the benefit of others.
तौ प्रस्थिताविति तदा विप्रेंद्रनृपपुंगवौ ७.
Then those two, the foremost among brahmins and kings, set out.
बकोऽथ मित्रं स्वं वीक्ष्य चिरकालादुपागतम् ७.
Then Baka, seeing his friend who had arrived after a long time,
कृतसंविदभूत्पूर्वं कुशलस्वागतादिना ७.
Having previously made an agreement, he greeted him with words of welcome and inquiry after his welfare.
मार्कंडेयोथ तं प्राह बकं प्रस्तुतमीप्सितम् ७.
Then Markandeya spoke to Baka about the matter at hand, expressing his wish.
एतस्य मम मित्रस्य तेन ज्ञातेन कारणम् ७.
The reason for this, concerning my friend, is known by him.
एतस्य प्राणरक्षार्थं ब्रूहि जानासि चेन्नृपम्॥ ७.
If you know, tell me for the sake of preserving his life, O king.
चतुर्दश स्मराम्यस्मि कल्पान्विप्रेंद्र सांप्रतम् ७.
O best of Brahmins, at present I remember fourteen aeons.
इंद्रद्युम्नो महीपालः कोऽपि नासीन्महीतले ७.
There was once a king named Indradyumna on the earth.
ततः स विस्मयाविष्टस्तस्यायुरिति शुश्रुवान् यदायुरीदृशं दीर्घं संजातमिति विस्मितः॥ ७.
Then he, filled with wonder, heard that his lifespan had become so long, and was astonished.
घृतकंबलमाहात्म्यान्मम देवस्य शूलिनः ७.
By the greatness of the Ghṛtakambala and of my Lord Śūlin,
पुरा जन्मन्यहं बालो ब्राह्मणस्याभवं भुवि ७.
In a former birth, when I was a child, I was born on earth as a Brahmin's son.