अथोवाच मुनीन्सर्वान्विश्रांतान्पद्मयोनिजः
Then the lotus-born addressed all the sages, who had rested.
प्रोच्यतां चापि यत्कृत्यं युष्माकं क्रियतेऽधुना ६.२१.
Now tell me what business of yours is being undertaken.
तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन भ्रममाणा महीतलम् ः। चमत्कारपुराभ्याशे वयं प्राप्ताः पितामह
While wandering the earth on pilgrimage, O Grandfather, we arrived near the wondrous city.
तत्रानेन वयं देव बालकेनाऽभिवादिताः
There, O god, we were greeted by this boy.
एतस्य तु पुनः शेषमायुषो दिवसत्र यम्
But as for the remainder of his allotted lifespan—
ततश्चैनं समादाय वयं प्राप्तास्तवांतिकम्
Then, taking him with us, we have come into your presence.
तस्माद्यथा वयं सत्या भवता सह पद्मज
Therefore, as we are truthful, together with you, O lotus-born—
प्रोवाच प्रहसन्वाक्यं समादाय च बालकम्
He spoke, smiling, and took up the boy.
मत्प्रसादादयं बालोजरामृत्युवि वर्जितः
By my grace, this boy is freed from old age and death.
तस्मात्प्राग्धरणीपृष्ठं व्रजध्वं मुनिसत्तमाः
Therefore, O best of sages, return to the surface of the earth.
यावदस्य पिता वृद्धः पुत्रदर्शनविह्वलः ३९. आगत्य वसुधापृष्ठं तस्यैवाश्रमसंनिधौ ॥ ६.२१.
Until his aged father, overwhelmed with longing to see his son, comes to the earth's surface, near his own hermitage—
अमुंचन्नग्नितीर्थे तं समाभाष्य ततः परम्
Having spoken with him, then release him at the Agni-tīrtha.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे विप्रो मृकंडः सुतवत्सलः
Meanwhile, the devoted brāhmaṇa Mṛkaṇḍa—
अहो मे तनयोऽभीष्टः कथमद्य न दृश्यते
Alas, my beloved son! Why do I not see him today?
कृत्वा मां दुःखसंतप्तं मातरं चापि पुत्रकः
Having made me, and his mother as well, tormented by sorrow, my son—
पश्य ब्राह्मणि पापेन मया दुष्कृतकारिणा
See, O brāhmaṇī, through my own sin, as a doer of evil—
कथितं ज्ञानिना तेन मम पूर्वं महात्म ना
That was explained to me earlier by that wise one, O great soul.
सोऽहं पुत्रस्य दुःखेन साधयिष्ये हुताशनम्
Now, afflicted by my son's sorrow, I shall accomplish the fire sacrifice.
तत्किं चिरयसि ब्रह्मञ्छीघ्रं दारूणि चानय
Why do you delay, O Brahman? Quickly bring the wood.
येनाऽहं भवता सार्धं प्रवेक्ष्यामि हुताशनम्
So that, together with you, I may enter the sacred fire.
आजगामाऽथ संहृष्टः स बालः सन्निधिं तयोः ॥ ६.२१.
Then that boy, delighted, approached their presence.
तं दृष्ट्वा ब्राह्मणो हृष्टो ब्राह्मण्या सहितस्तदा
Seeing him, the Brahman rejoiced, together with his wife.
भूयोभूयः परिष्वज्य सभार्यः पृष्टवांस्तदा
Again and again, embracing him with his wife, he questioned him.
शोकार्णवे परिक्षिप्य मां सभार्यं वयोऽधिकम्
Having cast me and my wife, advanced in age, into the ocean of grief—
क्रमेण विनयात्तात स्मरमाणेन ते वचः ॥ ५४ दीर्घायुर्भव तैरुक्तः सर्वैरेव द्विजोत्तमैः
Gradually, with humility, remembering your words, O father, he was addressed by all the foremost twice-born: 'May you live long.'
अथ तात समालोक्य तेषां मध्यगतो मुनिः
Then, O father, the sage, standing among them, looked around.
तृतीये दिवसे सोऽयं बालः पंचत्वमेष्यति
On the third day, this boy will attain death.
ततस्ते मुनयो भीता असत्यात्तात तत्क्षणात्
Then the sages, frightened by the falsehood, O father, at that very moment—
नमस्कृतेन तेनाऽपि प्रोक्तोऽहं पद्मयोनिना ॥ दीर्घायुर्भव पृष्टश्च कुतस्त्वमिह चागतः
Having bowed, I was addressed by the lotus-born: 'May you live long.' He also asked, 'From where have you come here?'
अथ तैर्मुनिभिः सर्वैर्वृत्तांतं तस्य कीर्तितम् ६.२१.
Then all those sages narrated his story.