मनस्तापेन शुध्येत मतमेतन्मनीषिणाम् ६.२०.
Mental anguish purifies; this is the opinion of the wise.
ईदृक्षान्मनसस्तापात्तस्माच्छुद्धोऽसि लक्ष्मण
Such is the purification from the anguish of the mind; therefore, you are pure, Lakshmana.
ईदृक्क्षेत्रप्रभावोऽयं सौभ्रात्रेण विवर्जितः
Such is the influence of this sacred place, devoid of brotherly affection.
अपि स्वल्पं न सौभ्रात्रं तेषां संजायते क्वचित्
Not even the slightest brotherhood ever arises among them.
तावत्स्नेहपरो मर्त्यस्तावद्वदति कोमलम्
A mortal remains affectionate only so long as he speaks gently.
येऽन्येपि निवसंत्यत्र पशवः पक्षिणो मृगाः
Even the other beings who dwell here—animals, birds, and deer—
कस्यचित्केनचित्सार्धं सौहार्दं नैव विद्यते
No one here shares true friendship with anyone else.
तथापि यदि ते काचिच्छंका चित्ते व्यवस्थिता
Yet, if you still harbor any doubt in your mind,
यत्र शक्रो विपाप्माऽभूद्द्रोहं कृत्वा सुदारुणम्
Here, Indra himself became sinful, having committed a most terrible betrayal.
एवमुक्तस्तु सौमित्रिर्गत्वा तत्र द्विजोत्तमाः रामोऽपि तत्र गत्वाशु मार्कंडेयवराश्रमे
Thus addressed, Saumitri went there, O best of twice-born; and Rama also quickly went to the hermitage of the sage Markandeya.
स्नानं कृत्वा यथान्यायं ददर्शाऽथ पितामहम् ६.२०.
After performing the proper bath, he then beheld the Grandfather.
तत्प्रभावाज्जघानाऽथ खरादीन्राक्षसोत्तमान्
By that power, he then slew Khara and the foremost among the Rakshasas.
इति श्रीस्कांदेमहापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां षष्ठे नागरखण्डे हाटकेश्वरक्षेत्रमाहात्म्ये रामकृतयाम्यदिशाप्रयाणे बालमंडनतीर्थमाहात्म्य वर्णनंनाम विंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the twentieth chapter, entitled 'The Greatness of the Bālamaṇḍana Tīrtha in the Account of Rāma's Journey to the Southern Direction,' in the Hāṭakeśvara Kṣetra Māhātmya of the Nāgara Section, in the Sixth Book of the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahāpurāṇa.
कस्मिन्स्थाने कृतस्तेन स्वाश्रमो मुनिना वद
Tell me, in which place did that sage establish his own hermitage?
चमत्कारपुराभ्याशेवानप्रस्याश्रमे स्थितः
It was situated near the wondrous city, in the hermitage of Vanaprastha.
शांतात्मा नियमोपेतश्चकार सुमहत्तपः
With a tranquil mind and endowed with discipline, he performed great austerities.
पश्चिमे वयसि प्राप्ते पुत्रो जज्ञे सुशोभनः
When he reached old age, a most excellent son was born to him.
मार्कंड इति नामाऽथ तस्य चक्रे पिता स्वयम्
Then, he himself gave the name Markandeya to that son.
शुक्लपक्षं समासाद्य तारापतिरिवांबरे बालक्रीडाप्रसक्तस्य पितुरुत्सङ्गवर्तिनः
When the bright fortnight arrived, like the lord of stars in the sky, the child, absorbed in play, remained in his father's lap.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य कश्चित्तत्र समागतः
Then, at a certain time, someone arrived there.
स तं शिशुं समालोक्य नखाग्रान्मूर्द्धजावधिम्
He beheld that child from the tips of his nails to the crown of his head.
मृकंडोऽपि समालोक्य ज्ञानिनं सस्मिताननम्
Mṛkaṇḍu also gazed upon the wise one, whose face bore a gentle smile.
सुचिरं विस्मयाविष्टस्ततोऽभूः सस्मिताननः ॥ ६.२१.
For a long time, filled with wonder, he too became one whose face was adorned with a smile.
ततश्च कथयामास हास्यकारणमेव हि
Then he began to explain the reason for his laughter.
गात्रस्थानि भवेत्सत्यं तैः पुमानजरामरः
If these marks are truly present on the body, then a man becomes ageless and immortal.
अस्य भावि पुनश्चाऽस्माद्दिवसान्निधनं शिशोः
But for this child, his death is destined to occur again from this very day.
एवं ज्ञात्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठ कुरुष्वाऽस्य हितं च यत्
Knowing this, O best of twice-born, do whatever is beneficial for him.
एवमुक्त्वा स विप्रेंद्रो जगामाऽभीप्सितां दिशम्
Having spoken thus, the foremost of Brāhmaṇas departed for his desired direction.
अकालेऽपि कुमारस्य किंचिद्ध्यात्वा निजे हृदि
Even at an improper time, reflecting a little on the boy in his own heart,
यं कं चिद्वीक्षसे पुत्र भ्रममाणं द्विजोत्तमम्
Whomever you see, O son, wandering about—be it any excellent Brāhmaṇa—