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—
कोऽपुत्रः पुत्रवानस्तु मन्मंत्रबलमाश्रितः
Whoever was childless became one with children, relying on the power of my mantra—
तस्य वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य कौतूहलसमन्वितः
Hearing his words, filled with curiosity—
तेषां स नाशयामास व्याधिं दुर्जयमप्यति हेमरत्नांबरधनैर्धान्यग्रामपुरादिभिः
He dispelled their most formidable disease by means of gold, jewels, fine garments, and with gifts of grain, villages, towns, and the like.
एवं स न्यवसत्तत्र वर्षाणि च चतुर्द्दश
In this way, he dwelled there for fourteen years.
अहोऽतिदुष्करो राजा अहो लोकपरायणः
Ah, what a supremely difficult task for a king! Ah, how devoted he is to the welfare of his people!
एवं स चिंतयंस्तत्र भिक्षु रूपी शिवो गणः
Thus, as he was reflecting there, Śiva, in the form of a mendicant, together with his attendants, appeared.
अत्रांतरे तु नृपतेस्तस्य लोकव्रतस्य तु
Meanwhile, concerning that king who was devoted to the people's welfare,
रूपेणाप्रतिमा लोके सा चापुत्रा सुतार्थिनी 5.2.37.
A woman of incomparable beauty, yet childless and longing for a son, was present in the world.
सर्वकामप्रदं ज्ञात्वा नाग राणां सकौतुकम्
Knowing that he was able to grant all desires, the nāga women approached with curiosity.
भिक्षोरायतने गुप्तमंतःपुरमतंद्रिता उवाच चिंतापरमं भिक्षुं भिक्षासमन्वितम्
Within the mendicant’s dwelling, the queen, attentive and undistracted, spoke to the mendicant, who was absorbed in thought and engaged in alms.