इन्द्रपीत्या चेदिपतिश्चकारेन्द्रमहं वसुः। पुत्राश्चास्य महावीर्याः पञ्चासन्नमितौजसः
By Indra's favor, Vasu, the king of the Cedis, performed the Indra festival; and his sons were five in number, mighty and equal in energy.
नानाराज्येषु च सुतान्स सम्राडभ्यषेचयत्। महारथो मागधानां विश्रुतो यो बृहद्रथः
He, the emperor, installed his sons in various kingdoms: the renowned Bṛhadratha, a great chariot-warrior, among the Magadhas;
प्रत्यग्रहः कुशाम्बश्च यमाहुर्मणिवाहनम्। मत्सिल्लश्च यदुश्चैव राजन्यश्चापराजितः
Pratyagraha, Kuśāmba—whom they call Maṇivāhana—Matsyilla, Yadu, and the royal Aparājita.
एते तस्य सुता राजन्राजर्षेर्भूरितेजसः। न्यवेशयन्नामभिः स्वैस्ते देशांश्च पुराणि च
These, O king, were the sons of that royal sage of great splendor; they established their own names over regions and ancient cities.
वासवाः पञ्च राजानः पृथग्वंशाश्च शास्वताः। वसन्तमिन्द्रप्रासादे आकाशे स्फाटिके च तम्
These five Vasava kings, each of a separate and enduring lineage, dwelled in Indra's crystal palace in the sky.
उपतस्थुर्महात्मानं गन्धर्वाप्सरसो नृपम्। राजोपरिचरेत्येवं नाम तस्याथ विश्रुतम्
The Gandharvas and Apsarases attended upon that great-souled king; thus, his renowned name became Rājoparicara.
पुरोपवाहिनीं तस्य नदीं शुक्तमतीं गिरिः। अरौत्सीच्चेतनायुक्तः कामात्कोलाहलः किल
Near his city flowed the river Śuktimatī, and the mountain Kolāhala, endowed with consciousness, is said to have moved by desire.
गिरिं कोलाहलं तं तु पदा वसुरताडयत्। निश्चक्राम ततस्तेन प्रहारविवरेण सा
Vasu struck that mountain Kolāhala with his foot, and through the opening made by that blow, the river then emerged.
तस्यां नद्यां स जनयन्मिथुनं पर्वतः स्वयम्। तस्माद्विमोक्षणात्प्रीता नदी राज्ञे न्यवेदयत्
On that river, Parvata himself produced a pair; and because of this release, the pleased river reported it to the king.
महिषी भविता कन्या पुमान्सेनापतिर्भवेत्। शुक्तिमत्या वचःश्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा तौ राजसत्तमः
The girl will become the queen, and the boy will be the commander of the army; hearing the words of Shuktimati and seeing them, the foremost among kings—
यः पुमानभवत्तत्र तं स राजर्षिसत्तमः। वसुर्वसुप्रदश्चक्रे सेनापतिमरिन्दमः
The boy born there, the eminent royal sage Vasur, generous Vasuprada, made him the commander of the army, destroyer of enemies.
चकार पत्नीं कन्यां तु तथा तां गिरिकां नृपः। वसोः पत्नी तु गिरिका कामकालं न्यवेदयत्
The king made the girl his wife, thus Girika became Vasur's spouse; and Girika, Vasur's wife, informed him at the time of desire.
ऋतुकालमनुप्राप्ता स्नाता पुंसवने शुचिः। तदहः पितरश्चैनपूचुर्जहि मृगानिति
When her fertile period arrived, she bathed and was purified for conception; on that day, her fathers told him, 'Go hunt animals.'
तं राजसत्तमं प्रीतास्तदा मतिमतां वरः। स पितॄणां नियोगेन तामतिक्रम्य पार्थिवः
The king, pleased and foremost among the wise, by the command of his ancestors, departed, leaving her behind.
चकार मृगयां कामी गिरिकामेव संस्मरन्। अतीव रूपसंपन्नां साक्षाच्छ्रियमिवापराम्
Desiring pleasure, he went hunting, remembering Girika, who was exceedingly beautiful, like another embodiment of fortune.
अशोकैश्चम्पकैश्चूतैरनेकैरतिमुक्तकैः। पुन्नागैः कर्णिकारैश्च बकुलैर्दिव्यपाटलैः
With ashokas, champakas, mango trees, many atimuktas, punnagas, karnikaras, bakulas, and divine patalas—
पनसैर्नारिकेलैश्च चन्दनैश्चार्जुनैस्तथा। एतै रम्यैर्महावृक्षैः पुण्यैः स्वादुफलैर्युतम्
With jackfruit, coconut, sandalwood, and arjuna trees as well, those delightful, great, auspicious trees, laden with sweet fruits—
कोकिलाकुलसन्नादं मत्तभ्रमरनादितम्। वसन्तकाले तत्पश्यन्वनं चैत्ररथोपमम्
Filled with the calls of cuckoos and the buzzing of intoxicated bees, he saw that forest in spring, resembling Chaitraratha.
मन्मथाभिपरीतात्मा नापश्यद्गिरिकां तदा। अपश्यन्कामसंतप्तश्चरमाणो यदृच्छया
Overwhelmed by love, he did not see Girika then; wandering, burning with desire, he moved about aimlessly.
पुष्पसंछन्नशाखाग्रं पल्लवैरुपशोभितम्। अशोकस्तबकैश्छन्नं रमणीयमपश्यत
He saw a branch covered with flowers, adorned with fresh leaves, hidden by clusters of ashokas, delightful to behold.
अधस्यात्तस्य छायायां सुखासीनो नराधिपः। मधुगन्धैश्च संयुक्तं पुष्पगन्धमनोहरम्
Seated comfortably beneath its shade, the king enjoyed the sweet fragrance of flowers mixed with the scent of honey.
वायुना प्रेर्यमाणस्तु धूम्राय मुदमन्वगात्। `भार्यां चिन्तयमानस्य मन्मथाग्निरवर्धत।' तस्य रेतः प्रचस्कन्द चरतो गहने वने
Stirred by the wind, he felt joy; as he thought of his wife, the fire of love grew within him, and his seed spilled as he wandered in the dense forest.
स्कन्नमात्रं च तद्रेतो वृक्षपत्रेण भूमिपः। प्रतिजग्राह मिथ्या मे न पतेद्रेत इत्युत
As soon as the seed spilled, the king caught it with a leaf, saying, 'Let my seed not fall in vain.'
अङ्गुलीयेन शुक्लस्य रक्षां च विदधे नृपः। अशोकस्तबकै रक्तैः पल्लवैश्चाप्यबन्धयत्
With his ring, the king protected the white seed and tied it with red ashokas and tender leaves.
इदं मिथ्या परिस्कन्नं रेतो मे न भवेदिति। ऋतुश्च तस्याः पत्न्या मे न मोघः स्यादिति प्रभुः
Saying, 'Let this spilled seed not be wasted,' and, 'Let my wife's fertile period not be fruitless,' the lord—
संचिन्त्यैवं तदा राजा विचार्य च पुनःपुनः। अमोघत्वं च विज्ञाय रेतसो राजसत्तमः
Thus reflecting, the king considered again and again, and, realizing the seed would not be wasted, the foremost among kings—
शुक्रप्रस्थापने कालं महिष्या प्रसमीक्ष्य वै। अभिमन्त्र्याथ तच्छुक्रमारात्तिष्ठन्तमाशुगम्
Observing the proper time for the emission of seed by his wife, he consecrated that seed, which was ready to depart swiftly.
सूक्ष्मधर्मार्थतत्त्वज्ञो गत्वा श्येनं ततोऽब्रवीत्। मत्प्रियार्थमिदं सौम्य शुक्रं मम गृहं नय
Knowing the subtle truth of righteousness and purpose, he approached the hawk and said: 'For my beloved's sake, gentle one, carry this seed to my house.'
गृहीत्वा तत्तदा श्येनस्तूर्णमुत्पत्य वेगवान्
Then the hawk, taking it, swiftly soared up with great speed.
जवं परममास्थाय प्रदुद्राव विहंगमः। तमपश्यदथायान्तं श्येनं श्येनस्तथाऽपरः
Assuming utmost swiftness, the bird flew rapidly; but then, another hawk saw him approaching.