अथ सा नर्मदा पुण्या विधिपूर्वां प्रतिष्ठितिम्
Then that holy Narmada received the installation according to the ordinance.
ततः शंभुः प्रसन्नोभूऽत्तस्यै नद्यै शुभात्मने
Then Shambhu, being pleased, became gracious to that auspicious river.
सरिद्वरा निशम्येति रेवा प्राह महेश्वरम्
Hearing this, the best of rivers, Reva, spoke to Maheshvara:
निर्द्वंद्वा त्वत्पदद्वंद्वे भक्तिरस्तु महेश्वर
May there be undivided devotion to your pair of feet, O Maheshvara.
प्रोवाच च सरिच्छेष्ठे त्वयोक्तं यत्तथास्तु तत् 4.2.92.
And the foremost of rivers said, 'Let it be as you have spoken.'
यावंत्यो दृषदः संति तव रोधसि नर्मदे
As many stones as there are on your banks, O Narmada,
अन्यं च ते वरं दद्या तमप्याकर्णयोत्तमम्
I will grant you another boon; listen to this excellent one as well.
सद्यः पापहरा गंगा सप्ताहेन कलिंदजा
The Ganga removes sin instantly; the Kalindi in seven days.
अपरं च वरं दद्यां नर्मदे दर्शनाघहे
I will grant you another boon, O Narmada: the mere sight of you destroys sin.
यत्तल्लिंगं महापुण्यं मुक्तिं दास्यति शाश्वतीम
That linga, supremely meritorious, will grant eternal liberation.
प्रणमिष्यंति यत्नेन महाश्रेयोभिवृद्धये
Those who bow down with effort will attain the increase of the highest good.
परं हि नर्मदेशस्य महिमा कोपि चाद्भुतः
Indeed, the greatness of Narmada is truly extraordinary and wondrous.
नर्मदापि प्रहृष्टासीत्पावित्र्यं प्राप्य चाद्भुतम्
Even the Narmada was filled with joy, having attained wondrous purity.
वाक्यं मृकंडजमुनेस्तेपि श्रुत्वा मुनीश्वराः
Hearing the words of Mrikandu, the great sages listened attentively.
पापकंचुकमुत्सृज्य प्राप्स्यति ज्ञानमुत्तमम् ।। 4.2.92.
Casting off the cloak of sin, one will attain supreme knowledge.
इदानीं कथय स्कंद सतीश्वर समुद्भवम्
Now tell, O Skanda, the origin of Sati's Lord.
स्कंद उवाच मित्रावरुणसंभूत कथयामि कथां शृणु
Skanda said: Born of Mitra and Varuna, I will recount the tale—listen.
पुरा तताप सुमहत्तपः शतधृतिर्मुने
Long ago, Shatadhriti performed a great austerity, O sage.
उवाच चापि ब्रह्माणं नितरां ब्राह्मणप्रियः
He spoke also to Brahma, who is exceedingly fond of Brahmins.
तदा त्वं मे भव सुतो देवी दक्षसुताऽस्तु च
At that time, he said: 'Become my son, and let the goddess be the daughter of Daksha.'
इति श्रुत्वा महादेवः सर्वदो ब्रह्मणो वरम्
Hearing this, Mahadeva, the giver of all, received the boon from Brahma.
ब्रह्मंस्त्वद्वांछितं भूयात्किमदेयं पितामह
Brahma, let your desired wish be fulfilled; what name shall the grandsire give?
रुदन्स उत्तानशयो ब्रह्मणो मुखमैक्षत
Crying, lying on his back, he gazed at Brahma's face.
किं मां जनकमाप्यापि त्वं रोदिषि मुहुर्मुहुः
Why do you weep again and again, even though you have gained me as your father?
नाम्ने रोदिमि मे स्रष्टुर्नाम देहि पितामह 4.2.93.
I cry for a name; O Creator, grant me a name, O grandsire.
यदि वेत्सि तदाचक्ष्व महत्कौतूहलं हि मे
If you know, then tell me, for I am greatly curious.
रोदने कारणं वच्मि शृणु कुंभसमुद्भव
I will speak the reason for my crying—listen, O you born from the pot.
मनसीति विचारोभूद्देवस्य परमात्मनः
A thought arose in the mind of the supreme soul, the Lord.
सत्यलोकाधिनाथस्य चतुरास्यस्य वेधसः
Of the ruler of Satyaloka, the four-faced creator.
किं बुद्धिवैभवं धातुः शंभुना मनसीक्षितम् । येनानंदाश्रु संभारो बाल्येप्यभवदीशितुः
What was the splendor of intellect in the creator, conceived by Shambhu in his mind, by which a gathering of tears of bliss arose even in the childhood of the Lord?