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,
अथागत्य स राजेंद्रस्तेनैव सह मंत्रिणा ६.१४.
Then, having arrived, the king together with that very minister,
चक्रे संवत्सरस्यांते श्रद्धया परया युतः
At the end of the year, filled with supreme faith, he performed (the rite).
एकदा तत्र चाऽऽयाता मुनयः शंसितव्रताः
Once, ascetics devoted to vows came there.
याज्ञवल्क्यो भरद्वाजः शुनःशेपोऽथ गालवः
Yājñavalkya, Bharadvāja, Śunaḥśepa, and Gālava,
तथान्ये शंसिताऽऽत्मानो ब्रह्मचर्यपरायणाः
And others, self-controlled, devoted to celibacy,
तान्दृष्ट्वा स महीपालः प्रणिपत्य कृतांजलिः
Seeing them, the king bowed with joined palms.
ततस्तेषां स मध्ये च संनिविष्टो महीपतिः
Then, among them, the king sat down.
ततश्चक्रुः कथा दिव्या मुनयस्ते महीपतेः । पुरतो मुनिमुख्यानां चरितानि महात्मनाम्
Then those sages recited divine tales before the king, the deeds of great souls, foremost among sages.
राजर्षीणां पुराणानां धर्मशास्त्रसमुद्भवाः
Of royal sages of old, arising from the Dharmaśāstras.
अथ क्वाऽपि कथांते स पार्थिवस्तैर्महर्षिभिः
Then, at some point at the end of the tale, that king (was addressed) by those great sages.