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.
ततः कुष्ठविनिर्मुक्तो द्वादशार्कसमप्रभः । निष्क्रांतः सलिलात्तस्माद्धर्षेण महतान्वितः
Then, freed from leprosy and shining like twelve suns, he emerged from that water, filled with great joy.
ततः प्रणम्य तान्सर्वान्ब्राह्मणान्वेदपारगान्
Then, bowing to all those brāhmaṇas, masters of the Vedas,
प्रसादेन हि युष्माकं मुक्तोऽहं ब्राह्मणोत्तमाः
He said, 'By your grace, O foremost brāhmaṇas, I am freed.'
तस्मान्नाहं करिष्यामि राज्यं ब्राह्मणसत्तमाः
Therefore, O excellent brāhmaṇas, I will not rule the kingdom.
एतद्राज्यं च देशं च हस्त्यश्वादि तथापरम्
This kingdom, this land, and all else—elephants, horses, and more—
ममैवानुग्रहार्थाय दयां कृत्वा बृहत्तराम्
All this, for the sake of my own welfare, I entrust to you with even greater compassion.
ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः न वयं रक्षितुं शक्ता राज्यं पार्थिवसत्तम
The brāhmaṇas said: 'O best of kings, we are not able to protect the kingdom.'
जामदग्न्येन रामेण पुरा दत्ता वसुन्धरा
'Once, the earth was given by Rāma, son of Jamadagni.'
सा भूयोपि हृताऽस्माकं क्षत्रियैर्बलवत्तरैः 6.11.
'But again, it was taken from us by powerful kṣatriyas.'
तपस्थितोऽपि कार्येऽत्र न भीः कार्या कथंचन
'Though engaged in austerity, one should not fear in this matter under any circumstance.'