तन्मामुपागतोऽहं च त्वां सिद्धं नास्य वांछितम् ८.
Therefore, I have come to you, but you are accomplished, and his wish is not fulfilled.
आशां कृत्वाभ्युपायातं निराशं नेक्षितुं क्षमाः ८.
Having come with hope, it is not possible to look upon him in despair.
प्रार्थितं चामुना हृत्स्थं मया चास्मै प्रतिश्रुतम् ८.
What was requested by him and kept in his heart, I promised to him.
असंपादयतो नार्थं प्रतिज्ञातं ममायुषा ८.
If I do not fulfill what I have promised, my life has no purpose.
प्रतिश्रुतं कृतं श्लाघ्या दासतांत्यजपक्वणे ८.
What was promised has been done; it is praiseworthy to renounce servitude.
मित्रस्नेहस्य पर्यायस्तच्च साप्तपदं स्मृतम् ८.
The alternative to friendship and affection is remembered as the seven steps.
तदवश्यमहं साकमधुना वह्निसाधनम् ८.
Therefore, I must now together undertake the fire ritual.
अनुजानीहि मामेतद्दर्शनं तव पश्चिमम् ८.
Permit me; let this be your last sight of me.
वज्रवद्दुःसहां वाचं मार्कंडेयसमीरिताम् ८.
The words spoken by Markandeya are as hard to endure as thunder.
यद्येवं तदिदं मित्रं विशंतं ज्वलनेऽधुना ८.
If this is so, then let this friend now enter the fire.
प्राकारकर्णनामासावुलूकः शिवपर्वते ८.
There is an owl named Prākārakarṇa on Mount Shiva.
तस्मादहं त्वया सार्धममुना च शिवालयम् ८.
Therefore, together with you and him, I shall go to the temple of Shiva.
इत्येव मुक्त्वा ते जग्मुस्त्रयोऽपि द्विजपुंगवाः ८.
Having spoken thus, the three eminent Brahmins departed.
कृतसंविदसौ तेन बकः स्वागतपूजया ८.
That crane welcomed them with hospitality and honor.
चिरायुरसि जानीषे यदीन्द्रद्युम्नभूपतिम् ८.
You are long-lived; do you know King Indradyumna?
इति पृष्टः स विमना मित्रकार्यप्रसाधनात् ८.
Asked thus, he became disheartened, having failed in his friend's task.
अष्टाविंशत्प्रमाणा मे कल्पा जातस्य भूतले ८.
I have lived for twenty-eight kalpas upon the earth.
तच्छ्रुत्वा विस्मितो भूपस्तस्यायुरतिमात्रतः ८.
Hearing this, the king was astonished at his extraordinary lifespan.
एवमायुर्यदि तव कथं प्राप्तं ब्रवीहि तत् ८.
If your lifespan is so great, tell me how you attained it.
श्रृणु भद्र यथा दीर्घमायुर्मेशिवपूजनात् ८.
Listen, O fortunate one, how I gained long life through worship of Shiva.
वसिष्ठकुलसंभूतः पुराहमभवं द्विजः ८.
Long ago, I was born as a Brahmin in the lineage of Vasiṣṭha.
धर्मश्रवणनिष्ठस्य साधूनां संसदि स्वयम् ८.
In the assembly of virtuous people devoted to hearing about dharma, I myself was present.
न मालती न मंदारः शतपत्रं न मल्लिका ८.
Neither mālatī nor mandāra, nor lotus nor jasmine—
अखंडबिल्वपत्रेण एकेन शिवमूर्धनि ८.
With a single unbroken bilva leaf, I placed it upon Shiva's head.
अखंडितैर्बिल्वपत्रैः श्रद्धया स्वयमाहृतैः ८.
With unbroken bilva leaves, gathered by myself with faith—
सच्छास्त्रेभ्य इति श्रुत्वा पूजयाम्यहमीश्वरम् ८.
Having heard from true scriptures, I worshipped the Lord.
ततो वर्षशतस्यांते तुतोष शशिशेखरः ८.
At the end of a hundred years, the moon-crested one was pleased.
तुष्टोस्मि तव विप्रेंद्राखंडबिल्वदलार्चनात् ८.
I am pleased with you, O foremost of Brahmins, for your worship with unbroken bilva leaves.
अखंडबिल्वपत्रेण महातुष्टिः प्रजायते ८.
Great satisfaction arises from offering an unbroken bilva leaf.
इत्युक्तोऽहं भगवता शंभुना स्वमनः स्थितम् ८.
Thus addressed by the blessed Śambhu, my mind became firmly settled.