न च वंशकरः पुत्रस्तस्याजायत कश्चन। मङ्गलैर्बभिर्होमैः पुत्रकामाभिरिष्टिभिः
Yet no son was born to him to continue his lineage, though he performed auspicious rites, sacrifices, and ceremonies desiring a child.
नाससाद नृपश्रेष्ठः पुत्रं कुलविवर्धनम्। स भार्याभ्यां च सहितो निर्वेदमगमद्धृशम्
The best of kings did not obtain a son to increase his family; together with his wives, he fell into deep despair.
राज्यं चापि परित्यज्य तपोवनमथाश्रयत्। ' वार्यमाणः प्रकृतिभिर्नृपभक्त्या विशाम्पते
He renounced his kingdom and then took refuge in the forest of ascetics, though his subjects tried to dissuade him out of loyalty.
अथ काक्षीवतः पुत्रं गौतमस्य महात्मनः।। शुश्राव तपसि श्रेष्ठमुदारं चण्डकौशिकम्
Then he heard of the noble Canda Kaushika, the illustrious son of Kakshivat and Gautama, foremost in asceticism.
यदृच्छयाऽऽगतं तं तु वृक्षमूलमुपाश्रितम्। पत्नीभ्यां सहितो राजा सर्वयत्नैरतोषयत्
That sage, who had arrived there by chance and was dwelling at the foot of a tree, the king, accompanied by his wives, sought to please by every means.
बृहद्रथं च स ऋषिर्यथावच्चाभ्यनन्दत। ' उपविष्टः स तेनाथ अनुज्ञातो महात्मना
And that sage duly welcomed Brihadratha; seated with him, the great-souled one gave his permission.
तमपृच्छत्तदा विप्रः किमागमनमित्यथ। विप्रैरनुगतस्यैव पत्नीभ्यां सहितस्य च
Then the sage asked him, 'What is the reason for your coming?' as the king, accompanied by his wives and followed by brahmins, sat before him.
स उवाच मुनिं राजा भगवन्नास्ति मे सुतः। अपुत्रस्य तु राज्येन वृद्धत्वे किं प्रयोजनम्
The king said to the sage, 'Revered one, I have no son; what use is a kingdom in old age to one without a child?'
सोऽहं तपश्चरिष्यामि पत्नीभ्यां सहितो वने। नाप्रजस्य मुने किर्तिः स्वधा चैवाक्षया भवेत्। एवमुक्तः स राज्ञा तु मुनिः कारुण्यमागतः
'Therefore, I shall undertake asceticism in the forest with my wives; for one without a son, O sage, neither fame nor lasting offerings remain.' Thus addressed by the king, the sage was moved to compassion.
तमब्रवीत्सत्यधृतिः सत्यवागृषिसत्तमः। परितुष्टोऽस्मि राजेन्द्र वरं वरय सुव्रत
The truthful and steadfast sage, best among rishis, said to him, 'I am pleased with you, O king of kings; choose a boon, O virtuous one.'
ततः सभार्यः प्रणतस्तमुवाच बृहद्रथः। पुत्रदर्शननैराश्याद्बाष्पसन्दिग्धया गिरा
Then Brihadratha, together with his wives, bowed and spoke to him, his voice choked with tears from the hopelessness of seeing a son.
भगवन् राज्यमुत्सृज्य प्रस्थितस्य तपोवनम्। किं वरेणाल्पभाग्यस्य किं राज्येनाप्रजस्य मे
'Revered one, having abandoned my kingdom and set out for the forest of ascetics, what use is a boon to one so unfortunate, or a kingdom to one without a son?'
एतच्छ्रुत्वा मुनिर्ध्यानमगमन्क्षुभितेन्द्रियः। तस्यैव चाम्रवृक्षस्य छायायां समुपाविशत
Hearing this, the sage entered into meditation, his senses disturbed, and sat down in the shade of that very mango tree.
तस्योपविष्टस्य मुनेरुत्सङ्गे निपपात ह। अवानमशुकादष्टमेकमाम्रफलं किल
As the sage sat there, a single ripe mango fruit, stung by a wasp, fell down onto his lap.
तत्प्रगृह्य मुनिश्रेष्ठो हृदयेनाभिमन्त्र्य च। राज्ञे ददावप्रतिमं पुत्रसम्प्राप्तिकारणम्
Taking it up, the foremost of sages, after consecrating it with his heart, gave it to the king as an incomparable means for obtaining a son.
उवाच च महाप्राज्ञस्तं राजानं महामुनिः। गच्छ राजन्कृतार्थोऽसि निवर्तस्व नराधिप
And the great sage, full of wisdom, said to the king, 'Go, O king, your desire is fulfilled; return, O ruler of men.'
एष ते तनयो राजन्मा तपेह तपोवने। प्रजाः पालय धर्मेण एव धर्मो महीक्षिताम्
'This will be your son, O king; do not perform austerities here in the forest. Rule your people with righteousness, for that is the true duty of kings.'
यजस्व विविधैर्यज्ञैरिन्द्रं तर्पय चेन्दुना। पुत्रं राज्ये प्रतिष्ठाप्य तत आश्रममाव्रज
'Perform various sacrifices and satisfy Indra with offerings; after establishing your son in the kingdom, then come to the hermitage.'
अष्टौ वरान्प्रयच्छामि तव पुत्रस्य पार्थिव। ब्रह्मण्यत्वमजेयत्वं युद्धेषु च तथा मतिः
O king, I grant eight boons to your son: devotion to Brahmins, invincibility, wisdom in battle,
प्रियातिथेयतां चैव दीनानामन्ववेक्षणम्। तथा बलं च सुभहल्लोके कीर्ति च शाश्वतीम्
also hospitality to guests, compassion for the distressed, great strength, lasting fame in the world,
अनुरागं प्रजानां चेत्येवमष्टौ वरान्नृप। गच्छ त्वं कृतकृत्योऽसि निवर्तस्व जनाधिप
and the affection of the people—thus, these are the eight boons, O king. Go now, your purpose is fulfilled; return, lord of men.
अनुज्ञातः स ऋषिणा पत्नीभ्यां सहितो नृपः। पौरैरनुगतश्चापि विवेश स्वपुरं ततः
Permitted by the sage, the king entered his own city together with his wives, accompanied also by the citizens.
यथासमयमाज्ञाय तदा स नृपसत्तमः। द्वाभ्यामेकं फलं प्रादात्पत्नीभ्यां भरतर्षभ
Then, understanding the proper time, that best of kings gave one fruit to his two wives, O bull of the Bharatas.
मुनेश्च बहुमानेन कालस्य च विपर्ययात्। ते तदाम्रं द्विधा कृत्वा भक्षयामासतुः शुभे
Out of great respect for the sage and due to the change of time, the two noble women divided the mango and ate it.
तयोः समभवद्गर्भः फलप्राशनसम्भवः। ते च दृष्ट्वा स नृपतिः परां मुदमवाप ह
From their eating of the fruit, a pregnancy arose in both; seeing this, the king experienced great joy.
अथ काले महाप्राज्ञ यथासमयमागते। जायेतामुभे राजञ्शरीरशकले तदा
Then, O wise one, when the proper time came, both queens gave birth, O king, to two bodily halves.
एकाक्षिबाहुचरणे अर्धोदरमुखस्फिचे। दृष्ट्वा शरीरशकले प्रवेपतुरुभे भृशम्
Each half had one eye, one arm, one leg, half a belly, mouth, and buttock; seeing these body halves, both women trembled greatly.
उद्विग्रे सह संमन्त्र्य ते भगित्यौ तदाऽबले। सजीवे प्राणिशकले तत्यजाते सुदुःखिते
Distressed, the two helpless women consulted together, and in deep sorrow abandoned the living body halves.
तयोर्धात्र्यौ सुसंवीते कृत्वा ते गर्भसम्प्लवे। निर्गम्यान्तः पुरद्वारात्समुत्सृज्याभिजग्मतुः
The two nurses, after carefully wrapping the twins, took them out through the inner city gate and left them there.
दुकूलाभ्यां सुसञ्छन्ने पाण्डराभ्यामुभे तदा। अज्ञाते कस्यचित्ते तु जहतुस्ते चतुष्पथे
Then, both halves, well covered with white cloths, were left at the crossroads, unknown to anyone.