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,
पूर्वजन्मनि तुष्टोऽहं घृतकंबलपूजया ७.
In my former birth, I was pleased by the worship with clarified butter and woolen cloth.
ततो मया वृतः प्रादाद्गाणपत्यं मदीप्सितम् ७.
Therefore, I was chosen and granted the Gaṇapatya status, which I desired.
तेनैव हि शरिरेण प्रणतं पुरतः स्थितम् ७.
Indeed, with that very body, standing before me, he bowed down.
घृतेन पूजां कर्तासौ भावी मम गणः स्फुटम् ७.
He will certainly become my attendant in the future, performing worship with ghee.
प्रतीपपालकंनाम संस्थितं शिवशासनम् ७.
He will be known as Pratīpapālaka, established by the command of Śiva.
निसर्गचपलां प्राप्य भ्रमरीमिव तां श्रियम् ७.
Having obtained that fickle fortune, like a bee, by nature restless,
विचचार तदा मत्तः किलाहं वारणो यथा ७.
At that time, intoxicated, I wandered just like an elephant.
विद्यामभिजनं लक्ष्मीं प्राप्य नीचनरो यथा ७.
Just as a lowly man, having gained knowledge, lineage, and wealth,
अथ काले व्यतिक्रांते कियन्मात्रे यदृच्छया ७.
Then, after some time had passed, by chance,
तपस्यति मुनिस्तत्र गालवो भार्यया सह ७.
There, the sage Gālava was practicing austerities together with his wife.