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.
निवासमकरोत्तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे पुण्यतमे चिरम् अन्य स्याऽन्यस्य वृक्षस्य मदाहंकारवर्जितः
He dwelled for a long time in that most sacred field, free from pride and arrogance toward any other person or tree.
ततः कतिपयाहस्य भ्रममाणो महीपतिः 6.11.
After a few days, the king continued to wander.
अस्ति कश्चिदुपायोऽत्र दैवो वा मानुषोऽपि वा
Is there any means here, whether divine or human?
अथवा वित्थ नो यूयं त्यक्ष्यामीह कलेवरम्
Or, if you do not know, I will abandon this body here.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वे ते द्विजसत्तमाः
Hearing those words of his, all those excellent twice-born men—
अस्ति पार्थिवशार्दूल स्थानादस्माददूरतः
O tiger among kings, not far from this place—
ये नरा व्याधिना ग्रस्ताः काणाश्चांधास्तथा जडाः
Those men afflicted by disease, as well as the lame, the blind, and the dull-witted—
तेऽपि चैत्रस्य कृष्णादौ स्नातास्तत्राकृताशनाः
Even they, having bathed there at the beginning of the dark fortnight of Caitra, and having fasted—
अस्माभिः शतशो दृष्टा द्वादशार्कसमप्रभाः 6.11.
By us, hundreds have been seen there, shining like twelve suns.
राजोवाच शंखतीर्थं कथं ज्ञेयं मया ब्राह्मणसत्तमाः
The king said: O best of Brāhmaṇas, how should I recognize Śaṃkhatīrtha?