तेषु राज्ञा कृते स्नाने तव पुत्रो भविष्यति
When the kings have bathed in those, your son will be born.
दाल्भ्यस्यैव तु वाक्येन विचित्राख्यानकेन च
By the words of Dālbhya himself and by the wondrous narrative.
स गत्वा तोषयामास शंकरं गंधमादने
He went and pleased Śaṃkara in Gandhamādana.
अवंतीं गच्छ राजेद्र पुत्रं प्राप्स्यसि शोभनम्
Go to Avanti, O king; you will obtain a splendid son.
मेरुरूपे स्थले राजन्समीपे शंकरस्य च अभ्यर्थितास्त्वया तत्र स्थास्यंति कलया सदा
On the land resembling Meru, near Śaṃkara, O king, those who are requested by you will always remain there with skill.
एवमुक्त्वा महादेवो जगामादर्शनं विभुः
Having spoken thus, the great god departed from sight.
आगतस्तु कुशस्थल्यां समुद्रांश्च ददर्श ह
Arriving at Kuśasthalī, he beheld the oceans.
स वव्रे मनसा पुत्रं सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम् तावदत्रैव स्थातव्यं राजस्थलसमीपतः
He mentally desired a son endowed with all marks; one must remain here, near the royal grounds, for that long.
भविष्यति च ते पुत्रः सर्वलक्षणसंयुतः
Your son will indeed possess all auspicious marks.
स्थले चात्र शुभे राजन्स्थास्यामः कलया सह
On this auspicious land, O king, we shall remain together with skill.
कुरुते तेषु यो यात्रां तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु
Hear the meritorious result for one who undertakes pilgrimage among them.
कुर्याच्छाद्धं ततो व्यास पितॄणां भक्तितत्परः
Then, Vyāsa, one devoted to the ancestors should offer food.
मंडकांश्च ततो दद्याद्ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे
After that, he should give Maṇḍaka cakes to a Brahmin versed in the Vedas.
सहिरण्यं च दातव्यं ब्राह्मणे वेदपारगे
Gold should also be given to a Brahmin learned in the Vedas.
सदक्षिणं फलैर्युक्तमर्घ्यं दद्यात्प्रयत्नतः
With proper gifts and fruits, one should carefully offer arghya.
क्षीरं तत्र प्रदातव्यं ताम्रपात्रेण पूरितम्
Milk should be given there, filled in a copper vessel.
इक्ष्वब्धौ च तथा कृत्वा दद्याद्विप्रे गुडं शुभम्
Similarly, at Ikṣvabdhau, he should give fine jaggery to a Brahmin.
भव्यां हि लभते लक्ष्मीं पुत्रांश्चापि मनोरमान् ।। 5.1.14.
He attains auspicious fortune and delightful sons.
मृते स्वर्गमवाप्नोति यावदिंद्राश्चतुर्दश
Upon death, he attains heaven for as long as fourteen Indras reign.
क्रीडमानेन देवेन निर्मितं तीर्थमुत्तमम्
The supreme tīrtha was created by the playful god.
प्रक्षिप्तं देवदेवेन कपालक्षालनं जलम्
The water used by the Lord of gods for washing the skull was poured out.
अर्काष्टम्यां नरः स्नात्वा दिशासु विदिशासु च
On the eighth lunar day under the Sun, a man, having bathed in all directions and intermediate directions,
हविष्यान्नयुतान्व्यास दद्याच्च करका न्नवान्
should give, O Vyasa, food suitable for offerings, accompanied by handfuls numbering nine.
परत्र चेह ये लोकाः सर्वभावसमन्विताः
The worlds here and hereafter, endowed with all good qualities,
ये नरा कीर्तयिष्यंति माहात्म्यमतिभाविकाः
those men who will recite this exceedingly glorious greatness,
तुष्टाव प्रयतो भूत्वा देवदेवं दिवाकरम्
having become intent, he praised the god of gods, the Sun.
आजगाम दिवानाथः संतुष्टः प्राह शंकरम्
The lord of the day arrived, satisfied, and spoke to Shankara.
सूर्य उवाच वरं वरय भूतेश वरदोऽस्मि ददामि ते
The Sun said: 'Choose a boon, Lord of beings; I am the giver of boons, I shall grant it to you.'
अंशेन स्थीयतामत्र हितार्थं सर्वदेहिनाम् 5.1.15.
'May a portion of you remain here for the welfare of all embodied beings.'
ततो देवाधिदेवस्य शंकरस्य महौजसः
Then from Shankara, the god of gods, of great splendor,