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.
ददौ च दश धर्माय कश्यपाय त्रयोदश
He gave ten to Dharma, and thirteen to Kashyapa.
अदितिश्च दितिश्चैव द्वे भार्ये मुख्यतां गते
Aditi and Diti became the two chief wives.
ततः स जनयामास देवाञ्च्छक्रपुरःसरान्
Then he begot the gods, with Shakra at their head.
तेषां त्रैलोक्यराज्यार्थं मिथो जज्ञे महाहवः
For the sovereignty of the three worlds, a great battle arose among them.
ततः शोकपरा चक्रे दितिर्व्रतमनुत्तमम्
Then Diti, overwhelmed by grief, undertook an excellent vow.
ततो वर्षसहस्रांते तस्यास्तुष्टो महेश्वरः ६.२२.
At the end of a thousand years, Maheshvara was pleased with her.
साऽब्रवीद्यदि मे तुष्टस्त्वं देव शशिशेखर यज्ञभागप्रभोक्तारं देवानां दर्पनाशनम्
She said, 'If you are pleased with me, O god crowned with the moon, grant me a son who will seize the share of the sacrifice, destroy the pride of the gods—'
अवध्यं संगरे पूर्वैः सर्वैदेवैः सवासवैः
—'and who cannot be slain in battle by all the former gods together with their chiefs.'
दितिश्चैवाऽदधाद्गर्भं कश्यपान्मुनिपुंगवात् वदतो मुनिमुख्यस्य नारदस्य महात्मनः
And Diti conceived a child by Kashyapa, the foremost sage, as the great-souled Narada was speaking.
ततो दुष्टां मतिं कृत्वा तस्य गर्भस्य नाशने
Then, forming an evil intention, she sought to destroy that embryo.