नान्यो मामनुकम्पार्थं प्रयच्छेत्प्रवरं वरम्
No one else would grant me the supreme boon for the sake of compassion.
हेतुः स्वामी महेशानो दयालुर्भक्तवत्सलः
The reason is that the great lord Maheśa is compassionate and devoted to his devotees.
तपसा क्षीणपापस्य ब्रह्मत्वे भावितात्मनः
Through austerity, when sin is exhausted, and the mind is purified, one attains Brahmanhood.
मया त्वं वर्णिता देवि स्नेहाक्षरपदैः शुभैः 5.2.36.
O goddess, I have described you with affectionate, auspicious words.
स्कंदमातः कलापूर्णचंद्रबिम्बनिभानने
O mother of Skanda, whose face resembles a full moon adorned with beauty.
त्वयोक्तं प्रकरिष्यामि वाक्यं द्विरदगामिनि
O elephant-gaited one, you said, 'I will accomplish what you have spoken.'
त्वं माया श्रीर्द्युतिः श्रीमच्छ्रद्धारुचिरसंततिः
You are illusion, fortune, radiance, the glorious one, the stream of faith and beauty.
भ्राजसे विविधाकारा मोहयित्वाखिलं जगत्
You shine forth in many forms, having bewildered the entire world.
मुनयेऽस्मै तपःक्षीणसर्वगात्राय सांप्रतम्
To this sage, whose body is now exhausted by austerities,
मयाप्युक्तं विशालाक्षि श्रूयतां वचनं मम
I too have spoken, O wide-eyed one; listen to my words.
पत्तनेश्वरपूर्वे तु तत्रास्ते लिंगमुत्तमम्
In the east of Pattaneśvara, there stands a supreme liṅga.
मदीयं वचनं श्रुत्वा त्वयाप्युक्तो द्विजोत्तमः तत्र लिंगं समाराध्य लप्स्यसे पुत्रमुत्तमम्
Hearing my words, you also told the best of twice-born: 'By worshipping the liṅga there, you will obtain an excellent son.'
त्वया संप्रेरितो विप्रस्तथेति कृतनिश्चयः
Thus prompted by you, the brāhmaṇa, having resolved, acted accordingly.
तत्र दृष्ट्वा महालिंगं पुत्रदं पापनाशनम् 5.2.36.
There, seeing the great liṅga, bestower of sons and destroyer of sins,
अथ केनापि कालेन निःसृतोऽहं त्वया सह
Then, after some time, I emerged together with you.
शर्वोऽहमिति जानीहि ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते
Know that I am Śarva; tell me, what shall I do for you?
यमिच्छसि वरं ब्रह्मंस्तदद्य प्रददामि ते
Whatever boon you desire, O Brahman, that I shall grant you today.
प्रह्वः प्राह सुहृदये स हृष्टो मुनि सत्तमः
With devotion, that best of sages joyfully spoke from his heart.
मया प्रोक्तस्तदा देवि मृकण्डो मुनिसत्तमः ऐश्वर्यज्ञानसंपन्नो दीर्घायुः सर्ववित्सुधीः
Then, O goddess, I said: 'Mṛkaṇḍa, the best of sages, endowed with prosperity and knowledge, long-lived, all-knowing, and wise.'
एतस्मिन्नंतरे देवि प्रादुर्भूतो महातपाः
Meanwhile, O goddess, the great ascetic appeared.
स जातमात्रो धर्मात्मा तत्रैव तपसि स्थितः
He, righteous by nature, remained there in austerity from the moment of his birth.
त्वयाहं जातमात्रेण तपसा तोषितो यतः
By you, I was satisfied with his austerity from the very moment of his birth.
ये मां पश्यंति विप्रेंद्र भक्त्या परमया युताः
O best of brāhmaṇas, those who see me with supreme devotion,
प्रसंगाद्ये गमिष्यंति ते सदा दुःखवर्जिताः 5.2.36.
By that connection, wherever they go, they will always be free from sorrow.
त्र्यक्षा गणेश्वराः सिद्धाः सिद्धगंधर्वसेविताः
The three-eyed one, the lord of the hosts, the perfected beings, attended by accomplished Gandharvas—
ये मां संपूजयिष्यंति हृद्यैः पुष्पैः सुगंधिभिः
Those who will worship me with heartfelt, fragrant flowers—
इत्युक्ते तेन लिंगेन मार्कण्डेयो महातपाः
Thus spoken, with that liṅga, the great ascetic Mārkaṇḍeya—
प्रभावः कथितो देवि मार्कंडेयेश्वरस्य च
O goddess, the power of Mārkaṇḍeya and of the Lord has been described.
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण जायंते सर्वसंपदः
By whose mere sight all prosperity arises—
राजा रिपुंजयोनाम ब्रह्मकल्पे पुराभवत्
There was once a king named Ripuṃjaya in the age of Brahmā—