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—
एवं तस्य व्रतस्थस्य षण्मासा दिवसैस्त्रिभिः
Thus, for him who was observing his vow, six months passed in three days.
तान्दृष्ट्वा स मुनीन्सर्वान्नमश्चक्रे मुनेः सुतः ६.२१.
Seeing all those sages, the son of the sage bowed to them.
अथ तं बालभावेन कौतुकाद्ब्रह्मचारिणः
Then, out of curiosity, the celibate students approached him in his childish state.
सर्वैरेष शिशुः प्रोक्तो दीर्घा युरिति सादरम्
All of them respectfully declared, 'This child is said to have a long life.'
तन्न युक्तं भवेदीदृगस्माकं वचनं द्विजाः
Such a statement from us, O Brāhmaṇas, would not be appropriate.
ततो मिथः समालोच्य सर्वे ते मुनिपुंगवाः
Then, after consulting among themselves, all those foremost sages—
तस्मात्तस्य पुरो नीत्वा बालोऽयं क्षीणजीवितः
Therefore, bringing him before them, they said, 'This boy's life is nearly spent.'
ततस्तु ते समादाय सत्वरं ब्रह्मचारिणम्
Then they quickly took the celibate student with them.
ततः प्रणम्य तं देवं वेदोक्तैः स्तवनैर्द्विजाः
Then, having bowed to that god, the twice-born praised him with hymns from the Vedas.
तेषामनंतरं सोऽपि नमश्चक्रे पितामहम्
In turn, he also offered obeisance to Brahmā.