स च लब्धः प्रसादेन मदीयेन वरानने
And he was obtained by my favor, O beautiful-faced one.
अथ षष्ठे गते वर्षे मौंजीबंधमचिंतयत् नमस्कृत्य ऋषीन्सर्वान्पूजयामास भक्तितः
Then, when the sixth year had passed, he thought of the sacred thread ceremony; having bowed to all the sages, he worshipped them with devotion.
फलैर्वित्तानुसारेण मौंजी तस्याप्यबंधत
According to his means, he performed the sacred thread ceremony for him with fruits.
दीयतामाशिषो ह्यस्मै पुत्राय मुनिसत्तमाः
O best of sages, let blessings be given to this son.
तूष्णींभूयः स्थिताः सर्वे तच्छ्रुत्वा नोत्तरं ददुः ध्यानेन चिंतयामास नूनमल्पायुषं सुतम् ।। 5.2.34.
Hearing this, all remained silent and gave no answer; by meditation, he thought, 'Surely my son has little lifespan.'
इति ज्ञात्वा तु संमोहमगमत्सहसा मुनिः
Realizing this, the sage suddenly fell into confusion.
रुद्रेण च वरो दत्तः प्रसन्नेन पुरा मम
Long ago, Rudra, being pleased, granted me a boon.
मत्तुल्यवीर्यः पुत्रस्ते कंथामध्याद्भ विष्यति
Your son, equal to me in strength, will emerge from the center of the Kaṃthā.
पितरं दुःखितं दृष्ट्वा तूष्णींभूतो मुनिस्तदा
Seeing his father distressed, the sage then became silent.
त्यजत भयमिदानीं यन्ममार्थे विषण्णा विनिहतनिजयत्नं प्रेतराजं करोमि
Abandon your fear now; for your sake, though you are sorrowful and your efforts have failed, I will subdue Yama, the lord of the dead.
अतिविषमतपोभिः शंकरं तोषयित्वा स्वपितुरपि च भक्त्या हन्मि मृत्योर्जयाशाम्
By severe austerities I will please Śaṃkara, and with devotion to my father, I will destroy Death's hope of victory.
प्रयामि रुद्रं शरणं महेश्वरं देवं वरं चाप्युमयाऽविहीनम्
I go for refuge to Rudra, the great Lord, the god who is never separated from Umā, to obtain a boon.
तपोभिरुग्रैः शितिकंठपादौ प्रसाद्य मृत्युं न चिराद्विनेष्ये
By fierce austerities I will propitiate the feet of the blue-throated one and soon banish Death.
पप्रच्छुरेनं मुनयः शिशुं तं जानासि रुद्रं परमं कथं त्वम्
The sages questioned him: 'Child, how do you know Rudra, the supreme one?'
तथापि विद्मो न वयं महेशं ज्ञातस्त्वयासौ कथमर्भकेण 5.2.34.
Even so, we do not know the great Lord; how have you, a mere child, come to know him?
ज्ञातस्त्वया कुत्र कथं महेशो महेश्वरो वै भुवनैकनाथः
Where and how have you known Maheśa, the great Lord, the sole master of the worlds?
इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम्
Hearing these words of the sages, whose minds were intent on the divine,
ममात्र क्रीडतः सिद्धः सिद्धिदः समुपागतः
As I was playing here, the giver of success, who grants accomplishments, appeared before me.
गच्छ पुत्र ममादेशान्महाकालवनोत्तमे
Go, my son, at my command, to the most excellent Mahākālavana.
तमाराधय शीघ्रं त्वं चिरजीवी भविष्यसि
Quickly worship him; you will become long-lived.
नान्यो देवोस्ति लोकेषु सत्यं सत्यं मुनीश्वराः
There is no other god in the worlds—truly, truly, O best of sages.
लिंगमाराधयिष्यामि विषादस्त्यज्यतामिह
I will worship the liṅga; let your sorrow be abandoned here.
पिता च विस्मितो देवि सर्व एव समागताः
And the father was astonished, O goddess, as were all those assembled.
लिंगमध्यात्ततो वाणी निःसृता पर्वतात्मजे
Then, from the center of the liṅga, a voice issued forth, O daughter of the Mountain.
पापकंथाविनिर्मुक्तास्ते संतु चिरजीविनः ।। 5.2.34.
Freed from the bondage of sin, may they live long.
बालस्य भाषितं श्रुत्वा लिंगे नोक्तं यशस्विनि ते भविष्यंति सततं जरामरणवर्जिताः
O illustrious one, those who, having heard the words of the child, do not speak in the presence of the liṅga, will always be free from old age and death.
लप्स्यंते परमान्कामान्भविष्यंति गणोत्तम
They will obtain the highest desires and become foremost among the gaṇas.
एवं लब्धवरः कंथः प्रांजलिः समुपस्थितः
Thus, having received the boon, Kaṃtha approached with joined palms.
वरो वै दुर्लभो लोके देवदानवगुह्यकैः
Such a boon is indeed rare in the world, even among gods, demons, and yakṣas.
बालेनोक्तो महादेव यदि देयो वरः पुनः
The child said to Mahādeva, 'If another boon is to be granted—'