दृष्ट्वा तथाविधं शक्रमाशीर्भिरभिनंद्य च
Seeing Indra in such a state, and greeting him with blessings,
अनुकूलो न कालोयं सुरेशस्य तवाधुना दृष्टा हि प्रवराः सर्वे मया तत्र महासुराः
"This is not a favorable time for you, lord of the gods. I have seen all the foremost great demons there."
एकैकोपि विजेतुं त्वां शक्तः स्यादिति मे मतिः दृष्टो वापि श्रुतो वापि यादृशो ह्यवलोकितः
"Each one alone could be capable of defeating you, so I think. Whether seen or heard of, such is their might as I have observed."
बृहस्पतिवचः श्रुत्वा शक्रः संभ्रममागमत
Hearing Bṛhaspati's words, Indra became anxious.
किमत्र प्रतिकर्त्तव्यं वद तावद्बृहस्पते मत्सकाशं समेष्यंति स च वृत्रो महा बलः ।। 5.2.35.
"What should be done here, tell me, O Bṛhaspati? They will come to me, and Vṛtra is exceedingly strong."
इति शक्रवचः श्रुत्वा बृहस्पतिरुवाच तम्
Hearing Indra's words, Bṛhaspati spoke to him:
महाकालवने रम्ये खंडेश्वरस्य दक्षिणे
"In the beautiful great Kāla forest, to the south of Khaṇḍeśvara—"
तदाराधय यत्नेन तत्ते कामं प्रदास्यति
"Worship him there with effort; he will grant you your desire."
महाकालवने देवि दृष्ट्वा लिंगमनुत्तमम्
"In the great Kāla forest, O goddess, seeing the supreme liṅga—"
नमो देवाधिदेवाय शंकराय वृषाय च वरेण्याय नमो नित्यं नमस्ते सर्वकामद
"Salutation to the god of gods, to Śaṅkara, to the bull-bannered one, to the most excellent; salutation always to you, who grants all desires."
आद्यः प्रजा सृष्टिकरस्त्वमेव कालः प्रजाः संहरसि त्वमेव
You alone are the primal creator of beings; you alone, as Time, destroy all creatures.
चंद्रश्च सूर्यः पवन स्त्वमेव धाता विधाता परमः पुराणः डिंडिर्महाकाल वृषस्त्वमेव विनायको गुह्यवरस्त्वमेव
You alone are the moon, the sun, the wind; you are the sustainer, the creator, the supreme ancient one; you are Mahākāla, the bull, the remover of obstacles, and the bestower of secret boons.
इतीरितां स्तुतिं श्रुत्वा लिंगेनोक्तः शतक्रतुः हनिष्यसि न संदेहो वृत्रं रिपुविदारण
Hearing this praise thus spoken, Śatakratu was addressed by the liṅga: 'You will slay Vṛtra, the destroyer of foes—there is no doubt.'
तस्य लिंगस्य माहात्म्यादपां फेनेन पार्वति
By the greatness of that liṅga, O Pārvatī, from the foam of the waters—
निहत्य दानवान्पश्चाल्लीलया रणकर्कशः 5.2.35.
After slaying the Dānavas, the fierce one in battle, with ease—
त्रैलोक्याध्यक्षतां प्राप्ता भवंतो मत्पराक्रमात्
Through my power, you all attained lordship over the three worlds.
अस्य देवस्य माहात्म्याद्धतो वृत्रो महासुरः
By the greatness of this god, the great demon Vṛtra was slain.
इन्द्रेणाराधितो यस्माद्देवदेवो महेश्वरः
Because Indra worshipped the great god Maheśvara—
दर्शनादस्य लिंगस्य पुरीमिंद्रस्य शोभनाम्
By seeing this liṅga, the splendid city of Indra—
यः पश्यति नरो नित्यं श्रीइन्द्रेश्वरसंज्ञकम्
Whoever sees daily the liṅga named Śrī Indreśvara—
इंद्रेणाराधितं लिंगं भक्त्या यः पूजयिष्यति
Whoever worships with devotion the liṅga adored by Indra—
येन चेंद्रेश्वरो देवो भक्त्या सम्यक्प्रपूजितः मुनयो लोकपालाश्च पूजिताः स्युर्न संशयः
By whom the god Indreśvara is properly worshipped with devotion, the sages and guardians of the worlds are also worshipped—there is no doubt.
इत्युक्तः स सुरैः शक्रो वैकुण्ठाद्यैः समंततः
Thus addressed by the gods, Śakra, together with those from Vaikuṇṭha and others, (was satisfied).
इंद्रेश्वरस्य देवस्य प्रभावः कथितस्त्वयम्
Thus has the power of the god Indreśvara been recounted.
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण पुत्रवाञ्जायते नरः
By merely seeing him, a man obtains a son.
ब्रह्मवंशसमुत्पन्नो मृकण्डोनाम तापसः
Born in the lineage of Brahmā was a sage named Mṛkaṇḍu.
पुत्रार्थं चिन्तयामाम कथं पुत्रो भवेदिति
Desiring a son, he pondered, 'How might I obtain a son?'
तस्मात्तपः करिष्यामि येन मे तनयो भवेत्
Therefore, I shall undertake austerity by which I may obtain a son.
चकार वसतिं चापि तपसे भावितात्मवान्
He established his dwelling there for the purpose of austerity, his mind purified.
शाकमूलफलाहारः पर्णाश्येकद्विपर्णभुक्
He subsisted on vegetables, roots, and fruits, eating only leaves—sometimes one, sometimes two.