यथाऽयं बालको देव त्वत्प्रसादात्पितामह
Just as this boy, O god, by your grace, O Grandfather—
ततोऽहं ब्रह्मणा तात जरामरणवर्जितः
Then, O father, by Brahma I was made free from old age and death.
ते तु मां मुनयोत्रैव प्रमुच्याश्रमसन्निधौ
Those sages released me here itself, in the presence of the hermitage.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य मृकंडो हर्षसंयुतः
Hearing his words, Mrikanda was filled with joy.
प्रणम्य तान्मुनीन्सर्वान्कृताञ्जलिपुटः स्थितः
Having bowed to all those sages, he stood with hands joined in reverence.
साधु प्रोक्तमिदं कैश्चिदाचार्यैर्मुनिसत्तमाः
O best of sages, this has been rightly spoken by some teachers.
साधूनां दर्शनं पुण्यं तीर्थभूता हि साधवः
The sight of the virtuous is meritorious, for the virtuous are like sacred fords.
तस्मादतिथयः प्राप्ता यूयं सर्वेऽद्य मे गृहम्
Therefore, you all have come today as guests to my house.
अल्पायुरपि ते बालो यज्जातो मृत्युवर्जितः
Though the boy's life is short, he is born free from death.
भवद्भिरद्य संरक्ष्य कुलं कृत्स्नं समुद्धृतम् ॥ ६.२१.
Today, by you all, my entire lineage has been protected and uplifted.
ब्रह्मघ्ने च सुरापे च चौरे भग्नव्रते तथा
Even for a slayer of a Brahmin, a drinker of liquor, a thief, or one who has broken vows,
तस्मात्कृतघ्नतादोषो न स्यान्मम मुनीश्वराः
Therefore, O great sages, let the fault of ingratitude not be mine.
गृहं कुरुष्व नो वाक्याद्देवस्य परमेष्ठिनः
Build a house here at the command of the supreme Lord.
येनाऽयं बालकस्तेऽद्य कृतो मृत्युविवर्जितः
By whom today your son has been made free from death.
पुत्रेण सहितः पश्चादाराधय दिवानिशम्
Afterwards, together with your son, worship him day and night.
नित्यं प्रपूजयिष्यामस्तथान्येऽपि द्विजोत्तमाः बालसख्यमिति ख्यातं नाम्ना तेन भविष्यति
We, and other excellent twice-born as well, will always worship here; it will be known by the name 'Friendship with the Boy.'
तीर्थमन्यैरिति ख्यातं बालकानां हितावहम्
It will be known by others as a sacred ford, beneficial for children.
अस्मिंस्तीर्थे शिशुं लोकाः स्नापयिष्यंति ये द्विज
O twice-born, those people who bathe a child at this sacred ford,
भविष्यति न संदेहः सर्वदोषविवर्जितः
There is no doubt that they will be free from all faults.
ये पुनर्मानुषा विप्र निष्कामाः श्रद्धयान्विताः ६.२१.
But those humans, O Brahmin, who are desireless and endowed with faith,
एवमुक्त्वाथ ते सर्वे मुनयः शंसितव्रताः
Having thus spoken, all those sages, steadfast in their vows,
मृकण्डोऽपि सपुत्रश्च तस्मिन्स्थाने पितामहम्
And Mṛkaṇḍu, together with his son, remained at that place of the Grandsire.
ततश्चाऽऽराधयामास दिवारात्रमतंद्रितः
Then, day and night without fatigue, he worshipped.
पावनं सर्वजंतूनां बालानां रोगनाशनम्
That which is pure, the destroyer of diseases in all beings, especially in children.
ज्येष्ठे ज्येष्ठासु यो बालस्तत्र स्नानं समाचरेत्
In the month of Jyeshtha, among the eldest, the child should perform bathing there.
ग्रहभूतपिशाचानां शाकिनीनां विशेषतः
Especially for protection from planets, spirits, ghosts, and witches.
स्वामिद्रोहकृतात्पापान्निर्मुक्तो यत्र लक्ष्मणः
There, O Lakshmana, one is freed from the sin of betraying one's master.
कथं तत्र पुरा शक्रः स्वामिद्रोहसमुद्भवात्
How, in former times, did Indra incur that sin arising from betrayal of his master?
कस्माद्दितेर्महेन्द्रेण कृतं कृत्यं तथाविधम्
For what reason did Mahendra perform such an act against Diti?
स च संजनयामास पचाशत्कन्यकाः शुभाः
And he begot fifty virtuous daughters.