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—
देवपूजां व्रतं दानं ध्यानं स्वाध्यायसत्क्रियाम्
He performed worship of the gods, vows, charity, meditation, and the noble act of self-study—
स प्रजाः पालयामास पुत्रवत्परिपालिताः
He protected his subjects as if they were his own children, caring for them completely—
पुत्रिणो धनधान्याढ्याः सर्वकामसमन्विताः
They had children, were rich in wealth and grain, and possessed every desire—
एतस्मिन्नंतरे पृथ्वीं तस्मिञ्छासति पार्वति विना चोज्जयिनीं गंतुं न रतिं प्राप कुत्रचित्
Meanwhile, as he ruled the earth, O Pārvatī, he found no pleasure anywhere except in going to Ujjayinī—
तदा मया गणेशस्तु शिवसंज्ञो गणाग्रणीः
Then by me, Gaṇeśa, known as Śiva, the chief of the hosts—
मयाप्युक्तो गणेशो हि गच्छ पुत्र मम प्रियम्
I also said to Gaṇeśa: 'Go, my son, to my beloved—'
इत्युक्तः स मया देवि तथेत्युक्ता कृतांजलिः
Thus addressed by me, O goddess, he replied, 'So be it,' with joined palms—
गते शिवगणे देवि संतुष्टोऽहं शुचिस्मिते 5.2.37.
When the host of Śiva departed, O fair-smiling one, I was satisfied—
ततः स भिक्षु रूपेण बह्वोषधिपरिग्रहः
Then, in the form of a mendicant, possessing many herbs—
कश्च भूतविषग्रस्तो नानादोषैः समाश्रितः
Someone afflicted by spirits and poison, beset by various ailments—