पुलस्त्य उवाच शक्रस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा देवदूते भयान्वितः
Pulastya said: Hearing the words of Śakra, the divine messenger became fearful.
मुद्गलोऽपि विमानस्थं पुनर्दृष्ट्वा समागतम्
Mudgala, too, seeing the messenger again, who had come and was standing in the celestial vehicle,
स तस्य वचनेनैव स्तंभितो लिखितो यथा
He was stunned by his words, just as if he had been written or inscribed.
चिरकालगतं ज्ञात्वा दूतं तु त्रिदशाधिपः
Knowing that the messenger had been delayed for a long time, the lord of the gods,
अथ दृष्ट्वा तदा दूतं स्तंभितं मुद्गलेन तु
Then, seeing that the messenger had been stunned by Mudgala,
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु उत्पातास्तत्र दारुणाः तान्दृष्ट्वा चिन्तयामास मुद्गलो विस्मयान्वितः
At that very moment, terrible omens appeared there; seeing them, Mudgala, filled with wonder, began to reflect.
अथ दृष्ट्वांबरगतं वज्रोद्यतकरं हरिम्
Then, seeing Hari in the sky, holding the thunderbolt raised in his hand,
तत्र शक्रः स्तुतिं चक्रे भग्नोत्साहो नृपोत्तम
There, Śakra offered praise, his enthusiasm broken, O best of kings.
स्वर्गे वा यदि वा मर्त्त्ये तिष्ठ त्वं स्वेच्छया द्विज 7.3.35.
Whether in heaven or on earth, dwell wherever you wish, O twice-born one.
वरं वरय भद्रं ते नित्यं यो मनसि स्थितः
Choose a boon, may it be well with you; that which is always in your mind.
दर्शनं ते सहस्राक्ष स्वप्नेष्वपि सुदुर्लभम्
O thousand-eyed one, even in dreams, the sight of you is exceedingly rare.
अवश्यं यदि मे देयो वरो वृत्रनिषूदन
If you must indeed grant me a boon, O slayer of Vṛtra,
मा मु ह्रदं समागत्य दूतः प्रोक्तो मया यतः
Do not doubt, for I have sent a messenger to the lake.
पिण्डदानात्परां प्रीतिं लभंतां पितरोऽत्र हि
Here, the ancestors attain supreme satisfaction from the offering of rice-balls.
वरिष्ठं नात्र सन्देहो मत्प्रसादाद्विजोत्तम
There is no doubt that, by my grace, this is the highest, O best of Brahmins.
अत्र ये फाल्गुने मासि पौर्णमास्यां समाहिताः
Those who, with focused mind, are present here on the full moon of the month of Phalguna—
पिण्डदानाद्गयातुल्यं लप्स्यंते फलमुत्तमम्
—by offering rice-balls, will obtain the supreme fruit equal to that of Gaya.
मुद्गलोऽपि परं ब्रह्म चिंतयन्ह्यनिशं ततः ॥ 7.3.35.
Mudgala, constantly contemplating the supreme Brahman, thereafter—
शुक्लध्यानपरो भूत्वा मोक्षं प्राप्तस्ततोऽक्षयम्
—absorbed in pure meditation, attained imperishable liberation.
अत्र गाथा पुरा गीता नारदेन महात्मना
Here, a verse was formerly sung by the great soul Narada.
मामु ह्रदे नरः स्नात्वा दृष्ट्वा तं मुद्गलेश्वरम् एतस्मात्कारणाद्राजन्मामुह्रदमिति स्मृतम्
A man, having bathed in the Māmū lake and seen that lord Mudgala— for this reason, O king, it is known as Māmū lake.
तत्तीर्थं सर्वतीर्थानां प्रवरं लोकविश्रुतम्
That sacred place, renowned in the world, is the foremost among all holy sites.
मोक्षकामो विशेषेण य इच्छेत्परमं पदम्
Whoever especially desires liberation, who wishes for the supreme state—
कस्मिन्काले फलं तेन किं दृष्टेन भवेन्नृणाम्
At what time does that fruit arise, and what result comes to men who see it?
यां श्रुत्वा मानवः सम्यक्सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
Hearing which, a man is completely freed from all sins.
पुरा देवयुगे राजन्महिषोनाम दानवः
Long ago, in the age of the gods, O king, there was a demon named Mahisha.
तेन शक्रादयो देवा जिताः संख्ये सहस्रशः
By him, Indra and the other gods were defeated in battle by the thousands.
त्रैलोक्यं स वशे कृत्वा स्वयमिन्द्रो बभूव ह
Having brought the three worlds under his control, he himself became Indra.
आदित्या वसवो रुद्रा नासत्यौ मरुतां गणाः
The Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Ashvins, and the hosts of Maruts—
वह्निर्भयं समापन्नस्त्यक्त्वा देवगणांस्तदा
—even Agni, seized by fear, then abandoned the hosts of gods.