ततः संचिंतयामास भूपालः किं महेश्वरः
Then the king began to ponder, 'What is the will of Maheśvara?'
एतस्मिन्नंतरे जाता वाणी गगनगोचरा ६.१३.
At that very moment, a voice arose in the sky.
मा त्वं भूमिपशार्दूल कार्यचिन्तां करिष्यसि
O tiger among kings, do not trouble yourself with anxious thoughts.
तथान्यदपि ते वच्मि प्रत्ययार्थं वचो नृप
I will tell you something else as well, O king, for your assurance.
सदा मे निश्चला छाया लिंगस्यास्य भविष्यति
The shadow of this liṅga of mine will always remain steady.
तद्रूपां निश्चलां नित्यं तद्दिक्संस्थे दिवाकरे
In that same form, unmoving and constant, in the direction where the sun stands.
ततो हर्षं परं गत्वा प्रणिपत्य च तं भुवि
Then, filled with great joy, he bowed down to him on the ground.
अद्यापि दृश्यते छाया तादृग्रूपा सदा हि सा
Even today, that very form of the shadow is always seen.
षण्मासाभ्यंतरे मृत्युर्यस्य स्याद्भुवि भो द्विजाः
Within six months, O twice-born ones, whoever's death is destined on earth—
अचलेश्वररूपेण चमत्कारपुरांतिके
In the form of Acaleśvara, near the city of wonder—
निश्चलत्वेन देवेशोह्यष्टषष्टिषु मध्यमः
By its immovability, the Lord of gods is considered the middle one among the sixty-eight.
तेन तत्पावनं क्षेत्रं सर्वेषामिह कीर्तितम् ६.१३.
Therefore, this field is proclaimed as purifying for all.
तथान्यदपि यद्वृत्तं वृत्तांतं तत्प्रभावजम्
Now, I will tell you another event, an episode arising from its glory.
अचलेश्वरमाहात्म्यात्तस्मिन्क्षेत्रे नरा द्रुतम्
Because of the greatness of Acaleśvara, in that field, people quickly—
स्वर्गमेके परे मोक्षं धनधान्यसुतांस्तथा तंतं स लभते मर्त्यः स्वल्पायासेन च द्रुतम्
Some seek heaven, others liberation, or wealth, grain, and children; each mortal attains what he desires, swiftly and with little effort.
अथ दृष्ट्वा सहस्राक्षः सर्वे पापनरा भुवि
Then, seeing this, Indra, the thousand-eyed, observed all the sinful people on earth.
ततः क्रोधं च कामं च लोभं द्वेषं भयं रतिम्
He summoned anger, desire, greed, hatred, fear, and pleasure.
सर्वान्मूर्तान्समाहूय ततः प्रोवाच सादरम्
Having called all these embodied forms, he spoke to them respectfully.
नरो वा यदि वा नारी चमत्कारपुरं प्रति
Whether a man or a woman, whoever approaches the city of Camatkāra,
तत्रैव वसमानोऽपि यो गच्छेदचलेश्वरम्
Even while residing there, if one goes to the Lord of Acala,
ते तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय गत्वा शक्रस्य शासनात्
They agreed, saying 'so be it,' and went forth by Indra's command.
एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातमाख्यानं पापनाशनम् ६.१३.
All this has been told to you—the story that destroys sin.
तदहं कीर्तयिष्यामि रहस्यं हृदि संस्थितम्
Now I shall recount the secret, established in the heart.
चमत्कारपुरे कश्चिद्वैश्यजातिसमुद्भवः
In the city of Camatkāra, there was someone born in the Vaiśya caste.
यो दौःस्थ्यात्सर्वलोकानां करोति पशुरक्षणम्
Out of hardship, he tended the cattle of all the people.
कदाचिद्रक्षतस्तस्य पशूंस्तान्वनभूमिषु
Once, while guarding those cattle in the forest lands,
कृष्ण पक्षे चतुर्दश्यां चैत्रमासे द्विजोत्तमाः
On the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Caitra, O best of twice-born,
अथ यावद्गृहं प्राप्तः स मूकः पशुपालकः
When he returned home, that mute cattle-herder,
किं पाप न समायातः पशुरेकोऽद्य नो यथा तस्मा दानय मे क्षिप्रं निराहारोऽपि गां त्वरात्
Why has sin not come today, as one of our cattle is missing? Therefore, quickly give me a cow, even if you are fasting.
तच्छ्रुत्वा भयसंत्रस्तः स मूकः पशुपालकः
Hearing this, the mute cattle-herder was seized by fear.