स दृष्ट्वा शिवमाहात्म्यं श्रद्धां कृत्वा नृपोत्तम
Seeing the greatness of Shiva, he developed faith, O best of kings.
यस्मिन्दृष्टे महाराज नारी वा यदि वा नरः
O great king, whoever—woman or man—beholds him,
एवमेतन्मया ख्यातं यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि
Thus have I declared to you what you have asked me.
इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां सप्तमे प्रभासखंडे तृतीयेऽर्बुदखंडे कामेश्वरमाहात्म्यवर्णनंनाम चत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the fortieth chapter, named 'The Greatness of Kameshvara,' in the third Arbuda section of the seventh Prabhasa book, in the eighty-one-thousand-verse Skanda Mahapurana.
यत्र पूर्वं तपस्तप्तं मार्कंडेन महात्मना
Where formerly the great-souled Markandeya performed austerities,
मृकण्डो ब्राह्मणोनाम पुराऽऽसीच्छंसितव्रतः
There was once a brahmin named Mrikanda, devoted to vows.
सर्वलक्षणसंपूर्णः शांतः सूर्यसमप्रभः
He was endowed with all auspicious marks, tranquil, and radiant like the sun.
आगतो ब्राह्मणो ज्ञानी कश्चित्सामुद्रविच्छुभः
A learned brahmin arrived there, shining like the ocean.
आनासाग्रशिखाग्राभ्यां चिरं चैवावलोकितः
He gazed at him for a long time, from the tip of his nose to the top of his head.
अथाऽब्रवीच्चिरं दृष्टस्त्वया पुत्रो मम द्विज
Then he said, 'You have looked at my son for a long time, O brahmin.'
असकृत्स मृकण्डेन यावत्पृष्टो द्विजोत्तमः
The best of twice-borns was repeatedly questioned by Mṛkaṇḍa.
अस्य बालस्य चिह्नानि यानि काये द्विजोत्तम
O best of twice-borns, what are the marks on this child's body?
षण्मासेनास्य बालस्य नूनं मृत्युर्भविष्यति अनृतं नोक्तपूर्वं मे वैरिष्वपि कदाचन
Within six months, this child will surely die; I have never spoken a falsehood, not even to my enemies.
मृकंडेनाभ्यनुज्ञात इष्टं देशं जगाम ह ॥ 7.3.41.
Having been permitted by Mṛkaṇḍa, he went to the desired place.
मृकंडोपि सुतं ज्ञात्वा ततः क्षीणायुषं नृप
Mṛkaṇḍa, knowing then that his son had a short lifespan, O king—
श्रुताध्ययनसंपन्नं यंयं पश्यसि चाग्रतः
Whomever you see before you, endowed with study and learning—
ततश्चक्रे ब्रह्मचारी पितुर्वाक्यं विशेषतः
Then, as a celibate student, he especially followed his father's words.
बालं वृद्धं युवानं च यंयं पश्यति चक्षुषा
Whomever he saw with his eyes—child, old man, or youth—
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य तस्याश्रमसमीपतः
Then, after some time, near his hermitage—
अथ तान्सत्वरं गत्वा वंदयामास पार्थिव
Then, going quickly to them, he offered his respects, O king.
दीर्घायुर्भव तैरुक्तः स बालस्तुष्टितत्परैः
He was told by them, 'May you have a long life,' and the boy was pleased by their devotion.
तेषां मध्येंऽगिरानाम दिव्यज्ञानसमन्वितः
Among them was one named Aṅgirā, endowed with divine knowledge.
अथ तानब्रवीत्सर्वान्मुनीन्किंचित्सविस्मयः
Then, with some wonder, he addressed all the sages.
गमिष्यति कुमारोऽयं निधनं पंचमे दिने 7.3.41.
This boy will meet his end on the fifth day.
यथाऽयं चिरजीवी स्यात्तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम्
Let a means be devised so that he may live long.
बालकं तं समादाय ब्रह्मलोकं गतास्तदा
Then, taking the boy, they went to the world of Brahmā.
तेषामनंतरं तेन बालके नाभिवादितः
Immediately after them, the boy did not greet him.
ततः सप्तर्षयो हृष्टाः स्वचित्ते नृपसत्तम
Then the seven sages, delighted in their hearts, O best of kings—
अर्बुदं पर्वतं नाम तस्य तीर्थेषु वै गताः
Those who went to the holy places of the mountain called Arbuda,
अथागत्य द्रुतं दूराद्बालेनानेन वंदिताः पंचमे दिवसेऽस्यापि मृत्युर्देव भविष्यति
Then, having arrived quickly from afar, honored by this boy, on the fifth day, O god, his death will also occur.