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?
अस्ति चैतादृशं कर्म येन पुत्रशतं भवेत्। यदि शक्नोषि तत्कर्तुमथ वक्ष्यामि सोमक
There does exist such a rite by which one may obtain a hundred sons. If you are able to perform it, O Somaka, I will tell you.
कार्यं वा यदि वाऽकार्यं येन पुत्रशतं भवेत्। कृतमेवेति तद्विद्धि भगवान्प्रब्रवीतु मे
Whether it is proper or improper, whatever brings about a hundred sons, let it be considered as already done; let the revered one declare it to me.
यजस्व जन्तुना राजंस्त्वं मया वितते क्रतौ। ततः पुत्रशतं श्रीमद्भविष्यत्यचिरेण ते
Sacrifice your son, O king, in the ritual I will arrange; then, before long, you will have a hundred illustrious sons.
वपार्या हूयमानायां धूममाघ्राय मातरः। ततस्ताः सुमहावीर्याञ्जनयिष्यन्ति ते सुतान्
When the offering of the entrails is made and the mothers inhale the smoke, then those women, endowed with great vigor, will bear sons for you.
तस्यामेव तु ते जन्तुर्भविता पुनरात्मजः। उत्तरे चास्य सौवर्णं लक्ष्म पार्श्वे भविष्यति
In that very woman, your son will be born again; and on his side there will be a golden mark.
ब्रह्मन्यद्यद्यथा कार्यं तत्कुरुष्व तथातथा। पुत्रकामतया सर्वंकरिष्यामि वचस्तव
Whatever is to be done according to the Brahman's instruction, do it accordingly; out of desire for sons, I will carry out all your words.
ततः स याजयामास सोमकं तेन जन्तुना। मातरस्तु बलातपुत्रमपाकार्षुः कृपान्विताः
Then, with that son, Somaka was made to perform the sacrifice; but the mothers, overcome with compassion, forcibly pulled their son away.
हा हताः स्मेति वाशन्त्यस्तीव्रशोकसमाहताः। तं मातरः प्त्यकर्षन्गृहीत्वा दक्षिणे करे
Crying out, 'We are ruined!' and overwhelmed by intense grief, the mothers seized him by his right hand and dragged him.
सव्ये पाणौ गृहीत्वा तु याजकोपि स्म कर्षति। कुररीणामिवार्तानामपाकृष्य तु तं सुतम्
The officiating priest, taking hold of his left hand, also pulled him, as distressed as the cries of grieving curlews, dragging the son away.
विशस्य चैनं विधिवद्वपामस्य जुहाव सः। वपायां हूयमानायां गन्धमाघ्राय मातरः
Then, according to the rite, he killed him and offered his entrails; as the offering was made, the mothers inhaled the fragrance.