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?
शांडिल्यस्य मुनेः पुत्रस्तपोवीर्यसमन्वितः
The son of the sage Śāṇḍilya, endowed with the power of austerity—
अथ तस्यानुजो जज्ञे शंखाख्यो धर्मशास्त्रवित्
Then his younger brother was born, named Śaṃkha, learned in the Dharmaśāstra.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य लिखितस्याऽऽश्रमं ययौ
After some time, Likita went to the hermitage.
स शून्यमाश्रमं प्राप्य लिखितस्य महात्मनः
He reached the empty hermitage of the great-souled Likita.
भक्षयामास भूरीणि पक्वानि मधुराणि च
He ate many ripe and sweet fruits.
स गृहीतफलं दृष्ट्वा शंखं प्रोवाच कोपतः
Seeing him holding the fruit, he angrily spoke to Shankha.
अदत्तानि मया पाप फलानि हृतवानसि
You have taken fruits that were not given by me, O sinner.
फलानि प्रगृहीतानि विजनेऽत्र तवाश्रमे
You have seized the fruits here in this secluded place, at my hermitage.
तस्मात्कुरु यथार्हं मे निग्रहं चौर्यसंभवम् ॥। इह लोकः परश्चैव येन मे स्यात्सुखावहः ॥ 6.11.
Therefore, inflict upon me the punishment for theft as is proper, so that both in this world and the next I may attain happiness.
ततः स हस्तमादाय हस्ते शंखस्य तत्क्षणात्
Then, at that moment, he took Shankha's hand in his own hand.
छिन्नहस्तोऽपि शंखस्तु तपश्चक्रे सुदारुणम्
Even with his hand cut off, Shankha performed severe austerities.
ततस्तुष्टो महादेवस्तस्य कालेन केन चित्
Then, after some time, the great god was pleased with him.
वरं गृहाण मत्तस्त्वं मनसा समभीप्सितम्
Choose a boon from me, whatever you desire in your heart.
स्यातां मे तादृशौ हस्तौ भूयोऽपि सुरसत्तम
May I have such hands again, O best of the gods.
तथेदं मम नामांकं तीर्थं स्यात्सुरसत्तम
And may this holy place, bearing my name, exist, O best of the gods.
हीनांगो वाधिकांगो वा व्याधिना ग्रस्त एव च
Whether one is missing a limb, has an extra limb, or is afflicted by disease,
अद्यप्रभृति विप्रेन्द्र देहिनां पापनाशनम्
From today onward, O best of Brahmins, it shall destroy the sins of embodied beings.
हीनांगो वाधिकांगो वा योऽत्र स्नानं करिष्यति सुवर्णांगः स तेजस्वी भविष्यति न संशयः
Whoever, being deficient or excessive in limbs, bathes here will become golden-limbed and radiant—there is no doubt.
सकामो यदि विप्रेंद्र ध्यायमानः सुरूपताम् 6.11.
If, O best of Brahmins, someone bathes here with desire, meditating on a beautiful form,
अत्र श्राद्धे कृते ब्रह्मंश्चतुर्दश्यां निशाकरे
If a śrāddha is performed here on the fourteenth day under the full moon,