ताभ्यस्त्वमात्मना पुत्रमीदृशं जनयिष्यसि। विधास्यामो वयं तत्र तवेष्टिं परमाद्भुताम्
From those waters, you yourself will beget such a son; we will perform for you a most wondrous sacrifice in that regard.
यथा शक्रसमं पुत्रं जनयिष्यसि वीर्यवान्। `न च प्राणैर्महाराज वियोगस्ते भविष्यति
So that you may beget a son equal in might to Indra; and, O great king, you will not be separated from your life.
मा खिदस्त्वं हि राजेनद्र दैवं हि बलवत्तरम्'। गर्भधारणजं वाऽपि न खेदं समवाप्स्यसि
Do not be distressed, O king, for destiny is most powerful; nor will you suffer any hardship from bearing the child.
ततो वर्षशते पूर्णे तस्य राज्ञो महात्मनः। वामं पार्श्वं विनिर्भिद्य सुतः सूर्य इव स्थितः
Then, at the completion of a hundred years, from the left side of that great-souled king, a son emerged, radiant like the sun.
निश्चक्राम महातेजा न च तं मृत्युराविशत्। युवनाश्वं नरपतिं तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
That mighty and radiant child came forth, and death did not touch him; for King Yuvanāśva, it was as if a marvel had occurred.
ततः शक्रो महातेजास्तं दिदृक्षुरुपागमत्। ततो देवा महेन्द्रं तमपृच्छन्धास्यतीति किम्
Then mighty Indra approached, desiring to see him; and the gods asked Indra, 'How will he be sustained?'
प्रदेशिनीं ततोऽस्यास्ये शक्रः समभिसंदधे। मामयं धास्यतीत्येवं भाषिते चैव वज्रिणा। मांधातेति च नामास्य चक्रुः सेन्द्रा दिवौकसः
Then Indra placed his index finger in the child's mouth, saying, 'He will be sustained by me'; and at Indra's words, the gods together named him Māndhātṛ.
प्रदेशिनीं शक्रदत्तामाखाद्य स शिशुस्तदा। अवर्धत महातेजाः किष्कून्राजंस्त्र्योदश
The child then sucked the index finger given by Indra, and that mighty one grew to rule the three Kiṣkindha realms.
वेदास्तं सधनुर्वेदा दिव्यान्स्त्राणि चेश्वरम्। उपतस्थुर्महाराजं ध्यातमात्राणि सर्वशः
The Vedas, along with the science of archery and divine weapons, attended upon that royal sage, manifesting to him at the mere act of contemplation.
धनुराजगवं नाम शराः शृङ्गोद्भवाश्च ये। अभेद्यं कवचं चैव सद्यस्तमुपशिश्रियुः
The bow named Ājagava, arrows born of horns, and an impenetrable armor immediately came to him.
सोऽभिषिक्तो भगवता स्वयं शक्रेण भारत। धर्मेण व्यजयल्लोकांस्त्रीन्विष्णुरिव विक्रमैः
He was anointed by the Blessed One, Indra himself, O Bhārata; and by righteousness, he conquered the three worlds with strides like Viṣṇu.
तस्याप्रतिहतं चक्रं प्रावर्तत महात्मनः। रत्नानि चैव राजर्षिं स्वयमेवोपतस्थिरे
His invincible discus began to turn, O great-souled one, and precious gems themselves approached the royal sage.
तस्येयं वसुसंपूर्णा वसुधा वसुधाधिप। तेनेष्टं विविधैर्यज्ञैर्बहुभिः स्वाप्तदक्षिणैः
This earth, filled with treasures, belonged to him, the lord of the earth; he performed many sacrifices with abundant gifts.
चितचैत्यो महातेजा धर्मान्प्राप्य च पुष्कलान्। शक्रस्यार्धासनं राजँल्लब्धवानमितद्युतिः
That mighty one, having built sacred shrines and attained abundant virtues, O king, obtained a seat beside Indra, shining with immeasurable splendor.
एकाह्ना पृथिवी तेन धर्मनित्येन धीमता। विजिता शासनादेव सरत्नाकरपत्तना
In a single day, that ever-righteous and wise one conquered the earth, with all its gem-filled cities, by his command.
तस्य चैत्यैर्महाराज क्रतूनां दक्षिणावताम्। चतुरन्ता मही व्याप्ता नासीत्किंचिदनावृतम्
By his shrines and the gifts of his sacrifices, O great king, the earth to its four ends was encompassed; nothing remained uncovered.
तेन पद्मसहस्राणि गवां दश महात्मना। ब्राह्मणेभ्यो महाराज दत्तानीति प्रचक्षते
By him, O great king, a thousand lotuses and ten cows were given to the Brahmins, so it is said.
तेन द्वादशवार्षिक्यामनावृष्ट्यां महात्मना। वृष्टं सस्यविवृद्ध्यर्थं मिषतो वज्रपाणिनः
During the twelve-year drought, that great soul caused rain to fall for the growth of crops, even as Vajrapani looked on.
तेन सोमकुलोत्पन्नो गान्धाराधिपतिर्महान्। शर्जन्निव महामेघः प्रमथ्य निहतः शरैः
From him was born the mighty lord of Gandhara, of the Soma lineage, who, like a roaring great cloud, was struck down by arrows after being overpowered.
प्रजाश्चतुर्विधास्तेन त्राता राजन्कृतात्मना। तेनात्मतपसा लोकास्तापिताश्चातितेजसा
By him, O king, the fourfold subjects were protected, for he was self-controlled; by his ascetic power, the worlds were sustained, for his energy was immense.
तस्यैतद्देवयजनं स्थानमादित्यवर्चसः। यस्य पुण्यतमे देशे कुरुक्षेत्रेस्य मध्यतः
This is the site of his divine sacrifice, radiant as the sun, in the most sacred region at the very center of Kurukshetra.
तथा त्वमपि राजेन्द्र मान्धातेव महीपतिः। धर्मं कृत्वा महीं रक्ष स्वर्गलोकं गमिष्यसि
So too, O king of kings, you should, like Mandhata, uphold righteousness and protect the earth; you will attain the heavenly realms.
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं मान्धातुश्चरितं महत्। जन्म चाग्र्यं महीपाल यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि
Thus all the great deeds and noble birth of Mandhata have been told to you, O protector of the earth, as you asked me.
एवमुक्तः स कौन्तेयो लोमशेन महर्षिणा। पप्रच्छानन्तरं भूयः सोमकं प्रति भारत
When addressed thus by the great sage Lomasha, the son of Kunti again questioned him further about Somaka, O Bharata.
कथंवीर्यः स राजाऽभूत्सोमको ददतांवरः। कर्माण्यस्य प्रभावं च श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः
What was the valor of that king Somaka, foremost of givers? I wish to hear in detail about his deeds and power.
युधिष्ठिरासीन्नृपतिः सोमको नाम धार्मिकः। तस्य भार्याशतं राजन्सदृशीनामभूत्तदा
There was a righteous king named Somaka, O king, and at that time he had a hundred wives, all of equal rank.
स वै यत्नेन महता तासु पुत्रं महीपतिः। कंचिन्नासादयामास कालेन महता ह्यपि
Despite great effort, that lord of the earth could not obtain a son from any of them, even after a long time.
कदाचित्तस् वृद्धस्य यतमानस्य धीमतः। जन्तुर्नाम सुतस्तस्य ज्येष्ठायां समजायत
At some point, after much striving and in his old age, a son named Jantu was born to his eldest wife.
तं जातं मातरः सर्वाः परिवार्य समासते। सततं पृष्ठतः कृत्वा कामभोगान्विशांपते
When he was born, all the mothers gathered around him, always keeping him close behind them, O lord of men, indulging him in every pleasure.
ततः पिपीलिका जन्तुं कदाचिददशत्स्फिचि। स दष्टो ह्यरुदद्राजंस्तेन दुःखेन बालकः
Then, once, an ant bit Jantu on his hip; bitten, the boy cried out in pain.