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,
अद्यैव विप्रशार्दूल चैत्रशुक्लांत उत्तमः
Today itself, O tiger among Brahmins, is the best at the end of the bright half of Chaitra.
तत्रोपवासयुक्तस्य सम्यक्स्नातस्य तत्क्षणात्
There, for one who is fasting and has bathed properly, at that very moment—
एवमुक्त्वा स भगवांस्ततश्चादर्शनं गतः
Having spoken thus, the Blessed Lord then became invisible.
ततश्च तत्क्षणाज्जातौ हस्तौ तस्य यथा पुरा
Then, in that very moment, his hands were restored just as before.
एवं तद्धरणीपृष्ठे तीर्थं जातं नृपोत्तम
In this way, O best of kings, a sacred place arose there on the earth.
तस्मात्त्वमपि राजेंद्र तत्र स्नानं समाचर
Therefore, O king of kings, you too should perform bathing there.
भविष्यसि न संदेहः सर्वरोगविवर्जितः
You shall, without doubt, become free from all diseases.
चित्रासंस्थे निशानाथे संप्राप्ता च चतुर्दशी
When the fourteenth day arrived, with the moon in Citrā and night at its height,
ततस्ते ब्राह्मणा भूपं समादाय च तत्क्षणात् 6.11.
Then those brāhmaṇas, at that very moment, brought the king.
ततः स मनसि ध्यात्वा कुष्ठव्याधिपरिक्षयम्
Thereupon, he meditated in his mind on the destruction of his leprosy.