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?
एतत्कथय मे प्राज्ञ सर्वज्ञानंदवर्धन
O wise one, tell me this, which increases all knowledge and joy.
देवे न मनसि ध्यातमिति कुंभजने मुने
O sage, this was not contemplated in the mind of the god, nor in the vessel.
एको मनोरथश्चायं द्वितीयोयं सुनिश्चितम्
This is one desire, and this is certainly a second one.
क्षणंक्षणं समालोक्यमंगस्पर्शे क्षणंक्षणम् ।। एकशय्यासनाहारं लप्स्यतेऽनेन क्षणेक्षणे !
Moment by moment, seeing and touching the limbs, in each instant, one will obtain the sharing of bed, seat, and food.
योयं न गोचरः क्वापि वाणीमनसयोरपि 4.2.93.
This which is not perceived anywhere, not even by speech or mind—
योऽमुं सकृत्स्पृशेज्जंतुर्योमुं पश्येत्सकृन्मुदा । न स भूयोभिजायेत भवेच्चानंदमेदुरः
Whoever touches that one even once, or joyfully sees that one even once, will not be born again and will become filled with bliss.
गृहक्रीडनकं मे सौ यदि भूयात्कथंचन
If by any means this becomes my household plaything—
विधेः समीहितं चेति नूनं ज्ञात्वा स सर्ववित्
Knowing certainly the intention of fate, he, the all-knower—
श्रुत्वैत्यगस्तिः स्कंदस्य भाषितं पर्यमूमुदत्
Hearing thus, Agastya was greatly delighted by Skanda’s words.
विधेरपि मनोज्ञातं शंभोरपि मनोगतम् । । सम्यक्चित्तं त्वया ज्ञातं नमस्तुभ्यं चिदात्मने
The intention of fate has been known, and even the thought of Śambhu; your mind has truly understood—salutations to you, embodiment of consciousness.