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.
ततोऽरण्यं समासाद्य वीक्षांचक्रे समंततः ॥ सूक्ष्मदृष्ट्या स दुर्गाणि गहनानि वनानि च
Then, reaching the forest, he searched everywhere; with keen sight, he examined the difficult and dense woods.
अथ तेन क्वचिद्दृष्टं पदं तस्य पशोः स्फुटम् ६.१४.
Then, somewhere, he saw the clear footprint of that cow.
ततश्च तत्पदान्वेषी स जगाम वनाद्वनम्
Then, seeking those tracks, he went from forest to forest.
एवं प्रदक्षिणा तस्य जाता पशुदिदृक्षया
Thus, out of desire to see the animal, he made a circumambulation.
प्रदक्षिणावसाने च पशुर्लब्धो हि तेन सः
At the end of the circumambulation, he indeed found the animal.
चैत्रे पुण्यतमे मासि कृष्णपक्षे चतुर्दशीम्
In the most auspicious month of Caitra, on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight,
एवमज्ञानभावेन कृता ताभ्यां प्रदक्षिणा
In this way, through ignorance, that circumambulation was performed by both of them.
निराहारस्य मूकस्य साहारस्य पशोस्तथा
By the one who was fasting and mute, and likewise by the animal who was not fasting,
विना स्नानेन भक्षाच्च दैवाद्द्विजवरोत्तमाः उभौ पंचत्वमापन्नौ पृथक्त्वेनायुषः क्षये
Without bathing and without food, O best of twice-born, by fate both met their end separately as their lifespans expired.
ततश्च पशुपालस्तु दशार्णाधिपतेः सुतः
Then the herdsman, who was the son of the lord of Daśārṇa,