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.
सूत उवाच अस्ति पुण्यतमं ख्यातं समस्ते धरणीतले । तत्र ये मानवास्तीर्थे सम्यक्छ्रद्धासमन्विताः
Sūta said: There is a most holy place, renowned on the entire earth; there, those people who, with proper faith, approach the sacred site—
मध्ये स्थिते न ते यांति तिर्यग्योनौ कथंचन
While remaining there, they never go to a lower birth, in any way.
कृतघ्ना नास्तिकाश्चौरा मर्यादाभेदकास्तथा विमानवरमारूढाः स्तूयमानाश्च किंनरैः
Those who are ungrateful, atheists, thieves, and violators of boundaries, ascend to excellent aerial chariots, praised by the Kinnaras.
किं प्रभावं समाचक्ष्व परं कौतूहलं हि नः
What is its power? Tell us; for we have great curiosity.
नानाविहंगसंघुष्टे नानावृक्षसमाकुले
Filled with many flocks of birds, crowded with various trees,
समायाता महारौद्रा लुब्ध काश्चापपाणयः
There arrived fierce hunters, greedy and bearing wicked weapons.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे दृष्टं मृगयूथं तरोरधः
At that moment, a herd of deer was seen beneath a tree.
अथ ताँल्लुब्धकान्दृष्ट्वा दूरतोऽपि भयातुराः
Then, seeing those hunters even from afar, they were seized by fear.
अथ ते सन्निधौ दृष्ट्वा गंभीरं सलिलाशयम् ६.२३.
Then, seeing a deep reservoir of water nearby,
ततस्तत्सलिलस्यांतस्ते मृगाः सर्व एव हि
All those deer entered into that water.