स चेदिविषयं रम्यं वसुः पौरवनन्दनः। इन्द्रोपदेशाज्जग्राह रमणीयं महीपतिः
That king Vasu, joy of the Paurava line, by Indra's instruction, took possession of the beautiful land of Cedi.
तमाश्रमे न्यस्तशस्त्रं निवसन्तं तपोनिधिम्। देवाः शक्रपुरोगा वै राजानमुपतस्थिरे
While he was living in an ashram, having set aside his weapons, the gods led by Shakra approached that ascetic king.
इन्द्रत्वमर्हो राजायं तपसेत्यनुचिन्त्य वै। तं सान्त्वेन नृपं साक्षात्तपसः संन्यवर्तयन्
Thinking, 'This king is worthy of Indrahood through his austerity,' they gently turned him away from asceticism directly.
न संकीर्येत धर्मोऽयं पृथिव्यां पृथिवीपते। त्वया हि धर्मो विधृतः कृत्स्नं धारयते जगत्
Let not this righteousness be mixed upon the earth, O king; for you uphold righteousness, and it sustains the whole world.
देवानहं पालयिता पालय त्वं हि मानुषान्।' लोके धर्मं पालय त्वं नित्ययुक्तः समाहितः। धर्मयुक्तस्ततो लोकान्पुण्यान्प्राप्स्यसि शाश्वतान्
We gods are the protectors; you, protect humanity. Always steadfast, uphold righteousness in the world. Thus, endowed with righteousness, you will attain the eternal blessed worlds.
दिविष्ठस्य भुविष्ठस्त्वं सखाभूतो मम प्रियः। ऊधः पृथिव्या यो देशस्तमावस नराधिप
Dwelling on earth, you are my dear friend as I am in heaven; O king, reside in that region of the earth called Udha.
पशव्यश्चैव पुण्यश्च प्रभूतधनधान्यवान्। स्वारक्ष्यश्चैव सौम्यश्च भोग्यैर्भूमिगुणैर्युतः
That land is blessed, abundant in cattle, rich in wealth and grain, secure, gentle, and endowed with all the enjoyments and virtues of the earth.
अर्थवानेष देशो हि धनरत्नादिभिर्युतः। वसुपूर्णा च वसुधा वस चेदिषु चेदिप
This land is prosperous, filled with wealth, jewels, and the like; the earth is full of treasures—dwell among the Cedis, O lord of the Cedis.
धर्मशीला जनपदाः सुसंतोषाश्च साधवः। न च मिथ्या प्रलापोऽत्र स्वैरेष्वपि कुतोऽन्यथा
The people there are righteous and content, and even among the free there is no false speech, much less otherwise.
न च पित्रा विभज्यन्ते पुत्रा गुरुहिते रताः। युञ्जते धुरि नो गाश्च कृशान्संधुक्षयन्ति च
Fathers do not divide their sons, who are devoted to their elders' welfare; they yoke the oxen to the plough and urge on the lean ones.
सर्वे वर्णाः स्वधर्मस्थाः सदा चेदिषु मानद। न तेऽस्त्यविदितं किंचित्त्रिषु लोकेषु यद्भवेत्
All the classes always abide in their own duties among the Cedis, O giver of honor; there is nothing unknown to them in all the three worlds.
दैवोपभोग्यं दिव्यं त्वामाकाशे स्फाटिकं महत्। आकाशगं त्वां मद्दत्तं विमानमुपपत्स्यते
A great, celestial, crystal-like aerial chariot, fit for the enjoyment of the gods, will come to you in the sky, given by me.
त्वमेकः सर्वमर्त्येषु विमानवरमास्थितः। चरिष्यस्युपरिस्थो हि देवो विग्रहवानिव
You alone among all mortals, seated in the foremost celestial chariot, shall move above, indeed, like a god in embodied form.
ददामि ते वैजयन्तीं मालामम्लानपङ्कजाम्। धारयिष्यति सङ्ग्रामे या त्वां शस्त्रैरविक्षतम्
I give you the Vaijayanti garland, made of unfading lotuses; you shall wear it in battle, and weapons will not wound you.
लक्षणं चैतदेवेह भविता ते नराधिप। इन्द्रमालेति विख्यातं धन्यमप्रतिमं महत्
This, too, shall be your mark here, O lord of men: renowned as 'Indra among men,' blessed, incomparable, and great.
यष्टिं च वैणवीं तस्मै ददौ वृत्रनिषूदनः। इष्टप्रदानमुद्दिश्य शिष्टानां प्रतिपालिनीम्
And to him, the slayer of Vritra gave a staff of bamboo, bestower of desired objects, protector of the worthy.
एवं संसान्त्व्य नृपतिं तपसः संन्यवर्तयत्। प्रययौ दैवतैः सार्धं कृत्वा कार्यं दिवौकसाम्
Thus consoling the king, he turned him away from austerities, and, having accomplished the task of the gods, departed with the deities.
ततस्तु राजा चेदीनामिन्द्राभरणभूषितः। इन्द्रदत्तं विमानं तदास्थाय प्रययौ पुरीम्
Then the king of the Cedis, adorned with Indra's ornaments, mounted the celestial chariot given by Indra and went to his city.
तस्याः शक्रस्य पूजार्थं भूमौ भूमिपतिस्तदा। प्रवेशं कारयामास सर्वोत्सववरं तदा
For the worship of that Indra, the lord of the earth then arranged a grand entry on the ground, the foremost of all festivals.
मार्गशीर्षे महाराज पूर्वपक्षे महामखम्। ततःप्रभृति चाद्यापि यष्टेः क्षितिपसत्तमैः
In the month of Margashirsha, during the waxing fortnight, a great sacrifice was performed; and from then until today, the best of kings have continued the staff ceremony.
प्रवेशः क्रियते राजन्यथा तेन प्रवर्तितः। अपरेद्युस्ततस्तस्याः क्रियतेऽत्युच्छ्रयो नृपैः
The entry is performed by kings as established by him; and on the next day, a great elevation of the staff is carried out by the rulers.
अलङ्कृताया पिटकैर्गन्धमाल्यैश्च भूषणैः। `माल्यदामपरिक्षिप्तां द्वात्रिंशत्किष्कुसंमिताम्
Adorned with platforms, fragrant garlands, and ornaments, encircled with garlands and bands, measuring thirty-two cubits in height.
उद्धृत्य पिटके चापि द्वादशारत्निकोच्छ्रये। महारजनवासांसि परिक्षिप्य ध्वजोत्तमम्
Raising it on a platform twelve cubits high, and surrounding the excellent banner with splendid cloths of various colors.
वासोभिरन्नपानैश्च पूजितैर्ब्राह्मणर्षभैः। पुण्याहं वाचयित्वाथ ध्वज उच्छ्रियते तदा
Honored by foremost Brahmins with garments, food, and drink, after reciting auspicious hymns, the banner is then raised.
शङ्खभेरीमृदङ्गैश्च संनादः क्रियते तदा'। भगवान्पूज्यते चात्र यष्टिरूपेण वासवः
At that time, the sound of conches, kettledrums, and mridangas is made; and the blessed Vasava is worshipped there in the form of the staff.
स्वयमेव गृहीतेन वसोः प्रीत्या महात्मनः। `माणिभद्रादयो यक्षाः पूज्यन्ते दैवतैः सह
With devotion, the Yakshas beginning with Manibhadra are worshipped together with the gods, out of love for the great-souled Vasava who himself accepted it.
नानाविधानि दानानि दत्त्वार्थिभ्यः सुहृज्जनैः। अलङ्कृत्वा माल्यदामैर्वस्त्रैर्नानाविधैस्तथा
Various kinds of gifts are given to supplicants and friends; and the staff is adorned with garlands, bands, and diverse garments.
दृतिभिः सजलैः सर्वैः क्रीडित्वा नृपशासनात्। सभाजयित्वा राजानं कृत्वा नर्माश्रयाः कथाः
All, with water-filled vessels, play by the king's command; honoring the king, they engage in conversations filled with humor.
रमन्ते नागराः सर्वे तथा जानपदैः सह। सूताश्च मागधाश्चैव रमन्ते नटनर्तकाः
All the townspeople, together with the country folk, rejoice; and bards, minstrels, dancers, and actors delight as well.
प्रीत्या तु नृपशार्दूल सर्वे चक्रुर्महोत्सवम्। सान्तःपुरः सहामात्यः सर्वाभरणभूषितः
Out of joy, O tiger among kings, all celebrated the great festival, with their households, with ministers, adorned with all ornaments.