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.
बालको बक इत्येवं प्रतीतोऽतिप्रियः पितुः ७.
As a boy, I was known as Baka, greatly beloved by my father.
अथ मारकतं लिंगं देवतावसरात्पितुः ७.
Then, on the occasion of a festival for the deity, my father had an emerald liṅga.
घृतस्य कुंभे संक्रांतौ मकरस्योत्तरायणे ७.
At the time of the sun's northern course in Capricorn, it was placed in a pot of ghee.
निर्माल्यापनयं चक्रे तावच्छून्यं शिवालयम् ७.
He performed the removal of the offerings, and the temple of Śiva was empty at that time.
वत्स क्व नु त्वया लिंगं नूनं विनिहितं वद ७.
"Child, where have you placed the liṅga? Tell me, surely you have hidden it."
ततो मया बालभावाद्भक्ष्यलुब्धेन तत्पितुः ७.
Then, because of my childishness and greed for food, I—
अथ काले तु संप्राप्ते प्रमीतोऽहं नृपालये ७.
Then, when the time came, I died in the king's palace.
घृतकंबलमाहात्म्यान्मकरस्थे दिवाकरे ७.
By the greatness of the Ghṛtakambala, when the sun was in Capricorn—
ततः संस्थापितं लिंगं प्राग्जन्म स्मरता मया ७.
Then, recalling my previous birth, I established the liṅga.
पितृपैतामहं प्राप्य राज्यं शक्त्यनुरूपतः ७.
Having attained the kingdom of my ancestors and forefathers, according to my strength,