किं त्वया निहतो विप्रोगुरुर्वाबालकोऽथवा
Have you killed a brāhmaṇa, a guru, or a child?
हतो नखांभसा वा त्वं घृष्टः शूर्पानिलेन च
Have you been struck by the water from someone’s nails, or scraped by the wind of a winnowing basket?
रात्रौ प्रविष्टः सुप्ताया जठरे तव पापकृत्
Did you, O wrongdoer, enter my womb at night while I slept?
कृन्तश्चैकोनपञ्चाशत्कृत्वो गर्भो मया शुभे
And did you, O auspicious one, cut the embryo forty-nine times?
ततो भीत्या विनिष्क्रान्तस्त्वया देवि न लक्षितः
Then, out of fear, you slipped away unnoticed by me, O goddess.
तस्मात्प्रार्थय मत्तस्त्वं वरं यन्मनसेप्सि तम् ॥ ६.२२.
Therefore, ask from me whatever boon you desire in your heart.
रुदन्तो वारिता मन्दं मा रुदन्तु मुहुर्मुहुः
Crying, they were gently restrained: 'Do not cry again and again.'
मरुतो नामविख्यातास्तस्मात्संतुजगत्रये
From them, renowned as the Maruts, the three worlds were shaken.
यज्ञभागभुजः सर्वे भविष्यंति मया सह
All those who partake of the sacrificial share shall exist together with me.
बहुभिर्यास्यति ख्यातिं बालमंडनमित्यतः न भविष्यंति छिद्राणि तस्या गर्भे कथंचन
Because of many reasons, it will become renowned as Bālamaṇḍana; therefore, there will never be any defects in her womb.
प्राप्ते प्रसवकाले तु या जलं प्राशयिष्यति
When the time of birth arrives, she who gives her water to drink—
दितिरुवाच तवोच्छेदाय देवेश याचितः प्राङ्मया हरः
Diti said: For your destruction, O Lord of the gods, I had previously asked Hara.
त्वया चैकोनपंचाशत्प्रकारः स विनिर्मितः
And by you, he was fashioned in fifty-one ways.
यज्ञभागस्य भोक्तारो दितेः शक्रस्य शासनात्
By the command of Śakra, the sons of Diti shall be the enjoyers of the sacrificial share.
अथ प्राह सहस्राक्षो देवाचार्यं बृहस्पतिम्
Then the thousand-eyed one addressed Bṛhaspati, the preceptor of the gods.
लिंगं संस्थापयामास स्वयमेव द्विजोत्तमाः
He himself established the liṅga, O best of twice-born.
त्रिकालं पूजयामासपुष्पधूपानुलेपनैः
He worshipped it three times a day with flowers, incense, and ointments.
ततो वर्षसहस्रांते तुष्टस्तस्य महेश्वरः
Then, at the end of a thousand years, Maheśvara was pleased with him.
मातुर्द्रोहकृतं पापं यातु मे त्रिपुरांतक पूजयिष्यंति सद्भक्त्या स्नानं कृत्वा समाहिताः
O Tripurāntaka, may the sin committed by harming my mother depart from me; those who worship with true devotion, having bathed and with focused mind—
सूत उवाच स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय जगामादर्शनं हरः
Sūta said: Having thus promised, Hara became invisible.
एवं तत्र समुत्पन्नं तीर्थं तद्बालमंडनम् ॥। स्वामिद्रोहकृतात्पापान्मुच्यंते यत्र मानवाः
Thus, that holy place called Bālamaṇḍana arose there; at that place, people are freed from the sin of offending their master.
एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं बालमंडनसंभवम्
All this has been told to you—the origin of Bālamaṇḍana.
आश्विनस्य सिते पक्षे दशम्यादि यथाक्रमम्
In the bright fortnight of Āśvina, beginning from the tenth day, in due order—
तीर्थानां स हि सर्वेषां स्नानजं लभते फलम् ६.२२.
There, one obtains the merit of bathing at all the sacred fords.
तस्मिन्काले सहस्राक्षः समागच्छति भूतले
At that time, the thousand-eyed one descends to the earth.
यावद्भूमितले शक्रस्तिष्ठत्येवं द्विजोत्तमाः
As long as Śakra remains on earth in this way, O best of twice-born—
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन तस्मिन्काले विशेषतः
Therefore, with every effort, especially at that time,
अत्र श्लोकौ पुरा गीतौ नारदैन सुर षिंणा
Here are verses formerly sung by Nārada among the gods and sages:
बालमंडनके स्नात्वा शक्रेश्वरमथेक्षयेत् स पापैर्मुच्यते सर्वैराजन्ममरणाद्भुवि
After bathing at Bālāmāṇḍana, one should behold the Lord of Śakra; he is freed from all sins, O king, from birth and death on earth.
प्रभावात्तस्य तीर्थस्य सत्यमेतद्द्विजोत्तमाः
By the power of that sacred place, this is true, O best of twice-born.