तस्योपरि सुमुख्यानि तीर्थान्यायतनानि च
Above it are the most auspicious tīrthas and shrines.
आनर्त्ताधिपतिर्भूपश्चमत्कार इति स्मृतः ॥। स ददर्श मृगीं दूरान्निश्चलांगीं तरोरधः
The king of Ānarta, remembered as Camatkāra, saw a doe from afar, motionless beneath a tree.
अथ तां पार्थिवस्तूर्णं शरेणानतपर्वणा
Then the king swiftly struck her with an arrow whose tip was unbarbed.
सहसा सा हता तेन गार्द्ध्रपत्रेण पत्रिणा
Suddenly, she was killed by that arrow, feathered with vulture's wings.
अथ दृष्ट्वा महीपालं नातिदूरे धनुर्धरम्
Then, seeing the king, not far away, armed with a bow,
हताऽहं बालवत्साऽद्य शरेणानतपर्वणा
She said: I have been killed today, though I have a young calf, by an arrow whose tip was unbarbed.
नाऽहं शोचामि भूपाल मरणं स्वशरीरगम्
O king, I do not grieve for my death, which has come to my own body.
यस्मात्त्वयेदृशं कर्म निर्दयं समनुष्ठितम्
But because you have performed such a merciless act.
तस्मात्स्वधर्मसंयुक्तं न मां त्वं शप्तुमर्हसि
Therefore, you should not curse me, for I acted in accordance with my own duty.
क्षत्त्रियाणां वधार्थाय मृगाः सृष्टाः स्वयंभुवा ॥ ६.१०.
Animals were created by the Self-born for the purpose of being slain by kṣatriyas.
परं तेन विधिस्तेषांकृतो यस्तं महीपते
Thus, this rule was established for them, O king, by him who made them.
सुप्तं मैथुनसंयुक्तं स्तनपानक्रियोद्यतम्
Whether sleeping, engaged in mating, or occupied with suckling, or about to drink milk,
एतस्मात्कारणाच्छापस्तव दत्तो मया नृप
For this reason, O king, I have pronounced this curse upon you.
एवमुक्त्वा मृगी प्राणान्सा मुमोच व्यथान्विता
Having spoken thus, the deer, afflicted with pain, released her life.
स दृष्ट्वा कुष्ठसंयुक्तं पार्थिवः स्वं कलेवरम्
The king, seeing his own body afflicted with leprosy,
अहं तपश्चरिष्यामि पूजयिष्यामि शंकरम्
I will undertake austerities and worship Śaṅkara.
यत्किंचित्त्रिषु लोकेषु प्रार्थयंति नराः सुखम्
Whatever happiness people desire in the three worlds,
समः शत्रुषु मित्रेषु समलोष्टाश्मकांचनः ६.१०.
He is equal toward enemies and friends, and regards earth, stone, and gold alike.
एवं तान्सेवकान्भूपः सोऽभिधाय विसृज्य च
Thus, having spoken to his attendants, the king dismissed them.
ततः कालेन महता प्राप्य विप्रसमुद्भवम्
Then, after a long time, he attained birth as a brāhmaṇa.
हाटकेश्वरजे क्षेत्रे सर्वव्याधिविनाशकम्
In the field at Hāṭakeśvara, which destroys all diseases,
तत्राऽसौ स्नानमात्रेण तत्क्षणात्पार्थिवोतमः
There, by merely bathing, that foremost king was instantly cured.
ऋषय ऊचुः चमत्कारः कथं राजा मुक्तः कुष्ठेन सूतज
The sages said: How was King Camatkāra freed from leprosy, O son of Sūta?
कतमे ब्राह्मणास्ते वै शंखतीर्थं प्रदर्शितम्
Which brāhmaṇas showed him the Śaṅkhatīrtha?
कतमं शंखतीर्थं तत्कस्मिन्स्थाने व्यवस्थितम्
Which is that Śaṅkhatīrtha, and in what place is it situated?
सर्वपापहरां विप्राश्चमत्कारनृपोद्भवाम्
O brāhmaṇas, tell us about the Śaṅkhatīrtha, which removes all sins and was revealed by King Camatkāra.
स भ्रांतः सर्वतीर्थानि प्रभासाद्यानि कृत्स्नशः
He wandered, visiting all the sacred places, beginning with Prabhāsa, in their entirety.
पृच्छमानो भिषग्मुख्यानौषधानि मुहुर्मुहुः
Constantly, he questioned the foremost physicians about medicines.
न लेभे किंचिदिष्टं वा स मंत्रं भेषजं च वा
He did not obtain anything desired, whether a mantra or a remedy.
ततश्च पार्थिवश्रेष्ठो वैराग्यं परमं गतः
Then that best of kings attained supreme detachment.