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.
ततस्ता मातरः सर्वाः प्राक्रोशन्भृशदुःखिताः। प्रवार्य जनतुं सहसा स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत्
Then all the mothers, deeply distressed, began to weep, wailing loudly for Jantu, and a tumultuous sound arose.
तमार्तनादं सहसा शुश्राव स महीपतिः। अमात्यपर्षदो मध्ये उपविष्टः सहर्त्विजा
Suddenly, the king heard that cry of distress as he sat among his ministers and priests.
ततः प्रस्थापयामास किमेतदिति पार्थिवः। तस्मै क्षत्ता यथावृत्तमाचचक्षे सुतं प्रति
Then the king sent someone to find out what had happened, and the attendant reported to him exactly what had occurred with his son.
त्वरमाणः स चोत्थाय सोमकः सह मन्त्रिभिः। प्रविश्यान्तःपुरं पुत्रमाश्वासयदरिंदमः
Hastily rising, Somaka, along with his counselors, entered the inner chambers and comforted his son, the subduer of foes.
सान्त्वयित्वा तु तं पुत्रं निष्क्रम्यान्तःपुरान्नृपः। ऋत्विजा सहितो राजन्सहामात्य उपाविशत्
After consoling his son, the king departed from the inner chambers and, together with the priests and ministers, sat down.
धिगस्त्विहैकपुत्रत्वमपुत्रत्वं वरं भवेत्। नित्यातुरत्वाद्भूतानां शोक एवैकपुत्रता
Alas, to have only one son is lamentable; it is better to have none. The constant anxiety of living beings arises solely from having a single son.
इदं भार्याशतं ब्रह्मन्परीक्ष्यसदृशं प्रभो। पुत्रार्थिना मया वोढं न तासां विद्यते प्रजा
O Brahman, I have examined this hundred wives, O lord, and married them in pursuit of a son; yet none of them has borne offspring.
एकः कथंचिदुत्पन्नः पुत्रो जन्तुरयं मम। यतमानासु सर्वासु किंनु दुःखमतः परम्
Somehow, this living being, my son, was born from among all of them despite my efforts; what greater sorrow could there be than this?
वयश्च समतीतं मे सभार्यस्यं द्विजोत्तम। आसां प्राणाः समायत्ता मम चात्रैकपुत्रके
My youth has passed, O best of twice-born, along with my wives; their lives and mine are now bound up in this single son.
स्यात्तु कर्म तथा युक्तं येन पुत्रशतं भवेत्। महता लघुना वाऽपि कर्मणा दुष्करेण वा
Is there any rite or action, whether great or small, difficult or easy, by which one might obtain a hundred sons?