तस्मिन्बहुमृगेऽरण्ये अटमाना महारथाः। काम्यके भरतश्रेष्ठा विजह्वुस्ते यथामराः
In that forest, rich with many beasts, the great chariot-warriors, foremost among the Bharatas, roamed in Kāmyaka like the immortals.
प्रेक्षमाणा बहुविधान्वनोद्देशान्समन्ततः। यथर्तुकालरम्याश्चवनराजीः सुषुष्पिताः
Observing the various regions of the forest all around, they saw groves blooming beautifully, delightful in accordance with the season.
पाण्डवा मृगयाशीलाश्चरन्तस्तन्महद्वनम्। विजह्नरिन्द्रप्रिमाः कंचित्कालमरिंदमाः
The Pāṇḍavas, fond of hunting, wandered through that great forest, enjoying themselves like Indra among kings, for some time, O subduers of foes.
ततस्ते यौगपद्येन ययुः सर्वे चतुर्दिशम्। मृगयां पुरुषव्याघ्रा ब्राह्मणार्थे परतपाः
Then, all together, those tiger-like men went in four directions to hunt, striving for the sake of the Brāhmaṇas.
द्रौपदीमाश्रमे न्यस् तृणबिन्दोरनुज्ञया। महर्षेर्दीप्ततपसो घौम्यस्य च पुरोधसः
They left Draupadī at the hermitage, with the permission of Ṛṣi Tṛṇabindu, the great ascetic, and Ghaumya, the priest.
तस्तु राजा सिंधूनां वार्धक्षत्रिर्महायशाः। विवाहकामः साल्वेयान्प्रयातः सोऽभवत्तदा
At that time, the renowned king of the Sindhus, Vārdhakṣatri, desiring marriage, set out for the land of the Sālveyas.
महता परिबर्हेण राजयोग्येन संवृतः। राजभिर्बहुभिः सार्धमुपायात्काम्यकं च सः
Surrounded by a great retinue, befitting a king, accompanied by many kings, he arrived at Kāmyaka.
तत्रापश्यत्प्रियां भार्यां पाण्डवानां यशस्विनीम्। तिष्ठन्तीमाश्रमद्वारि द्रौपदीं निर्जने वने
There he saw the illustrious wife of the Pāṇḍavas, Draupadī, standing at the entrance of the hermitage, alone in the desolate forest.
विभ्राजमानां वपुषा बिभ्रतीं रूपमुत्तमम्। भ्राजयन्तीं वनोद्देशं नीलाभ्रमिव विद्युतम्
Radiant in form, possessing supreme beauty, she illumined the forest region like lightning in a dark cloud.
अप्सरा देवकन्या वा माया वा देवनिर्मिता। इतिकृत्वाञ्जलिं सर्वे ददृशृस्तामनिन्दिताम्
Thinking, 'Is she an apsaras, a divine maiden, or an illusion created by the gods?' all of them, with hands joined in reverence, gazed upon her, faultless.
तः स राजा सिन्धूनां वार्धक्षत्रिर्जयद्रथः। विस्मितस्त्वनवद्याङ्गीं दृष्ट्वा तां दुष्टमानसः
Then that king of the Sindhus, Vārdhakṣatri Jayadratha, astonished at her flawless form, became filled with wicked intent.
स कोटिकाश्यं राजानमब्रवीत्काममोहितः। कस्य त्वेषाऽनवद्याङ्गी यदिवाऽपिन मानुषी
Overcome by desire, he spoke to the king Koṭikāśya, saying, 'Whose is this flawless woman? Or is she not even human?'
विवाहार्थो न मे कश्चिदिमां दृष्ट्वाऽतिमुन्दरीम्। एतामेवाहमादाय गमिष्यामि स्वमालयम्
No one has come to marry me after seeing this exceedingly beautiful woman; I will take her alone and return to my own house.
गच्छ जानीहि सौम्येमां कस्य वाऽत्र कुतोपि वा। किमर्थमागता सुभ्रूरिदं कष्टकितं वनम्
Go, gentle one, and find out whose she is, or where she is from, and for what purpose this fair-browed woman has come to this harsh and thorny forest.
अपि नाम वरारोहा मामेषा लोकसुन्दरी। भजेदद्यायतापाङ्गी सुदती तनुमध्यमा
Perhaps this lovely-hipped, world-beautiful woman with sidelong glances, charming teeth, and slender waist might choose me today.
अप्यहं कृतकामः स्यामिमां प्राप्य वरस्रियम्। गच्छजानीहि कोन्वस्या नाथ इत्येव कोटिक
Perhaps, having obtained this splendid woman, I might have my desire fulfilled; go and find out, Kotika, who her protector is.
स कोटिकाश्यस्तच्छ्रुत्वा रथात्प्रस्कन्द्य कुण्डली। उपेत्यपप्रच्छ तदा क्रोष्टा व्याघ्रवधूमिव
Then Kotikashya, hearing this, leapt down from the chariot, earrings shining, and approached to question her, like a jackal approaching a tigress.
का त्वं कदम्बस्य विनम्य शाखां किमाश्रमे तिष्ठसि शोभमाना। देदीप्यमानाऽग्निशिखेव नक्तं व्याधूयमाना पवनेन सूभ्रूः
Who are you, bending the branch of the kadamba tree, standing here in this hermitage, shining like a tongue of fire at night, your fair brows tossed by the wind?
अतीव रूपेण समन्विता त्वं न चाप्यरण्येषु बिभेषि किंनु। देवी नु यक्षी यदिदानवी वा वराप्सरा दैत्यवराङ्गना वा
You are endowed with extraordinary beauty, and yet you do not fear the forest—who are you? Are you a goddess, a yakshi, a danavi, a celestial nymph, or a noble lady of the daityas?
वपुष्मती वोरगराजकन्या वनेचरी वा क्षणदाचरस्त्री। त्वं देवराज्ञो वरुणस्य पत्नी यमस्य सोमस्य धनेश्वरस्य
Are you a radiant naga princess, a forest-dwelling woman, or a night-roaming spirit? Are you the wife of Indra, Varuna, Yama, Soma, or Kubera?
धातुर्विधातुः सवितुर्विभोर्वा शक्रस्य वा त्वं सदनात्प्रपन्ना। न ह्येव नः पृच्छसि ये वयं स्म न चापि जानीम तवेह नाथम्
Are you from the house of Dhatu, Vidhatu, Savitar, the mighty one, or Indra? For you do not ask us who we are, nor do we know your protector here.
वयं हि मानं तव वर्धयन्तः पृच्छाम भद्रेप्रभवं प्रभुं च। आचक्ष्व बन्धूंश्च पतिं कुलं च जातिं च यच्चेगह करोषि कार्यम्
We, wishing to honor you, ask you, O noble lady, about your origin and lord; tell us your relatives, husband, family, caste, and what work you do here.
अहं तु राज्ञः सुरथस्य पुत्रो यं कोटिकाश्येति विदुर्मनुष्याः। `वश्येन्द्रियः सत्यरतिर्वरोरु वृद्धोपसेवी गुरुपूजकश्च
As for me, I am the son of King Suratha, known among men as Kotikashya—one who controls his senses, delights in truth, serves elders, and honors teachers, O lovely-waisted one.
असौ तु यस्तिष्ठतिकाञ्चनाङ्गे तथे हुतोऽग्निश्चयने यथैव। तरिगर्तराजः कमलायताक्षः क्षेमंकरो नाम स एष वीरः
That one standing there with golden limbs, like fire on the altar, is King Kshemankara, lotus-eyed, a hero among kings.
अस्मात्परस्त्वेष महाधनुष्मा- न्पुत्रः कुलिन्दाधिपतेर्वरिष्ठः। निरीक्षते त्वां विपुलायताक्षः सुपुष्पितः पर्वतवासनित्यः
Beyond him is the mighty archer, the distinguished son of the lord of the Kulindas, with broad, long eyes, ever dwelling on the flowery mountain, watching you.
असौ तु यः पुष्करिणीसमीपे श्यामो युवा तिष्ठति दर्शनीयः। इक्ष्वाकुराजः सुबलस्य पुत्रः स एव हन्ता द्विषतां सुगात्रि
That handsome, dark-skinned youth standing near the lotus pond is the son of King Subala of the Ikshvaku line, the slayer of his enemies, O graceful one.
यस्यानुयात्रं ध्वजिनः प्रयान्ति सौवीरका द्वादशराजपुत्राः। शोणाश्वयुक्तेषु रथेषु सर्वे मस्वेषु दीप्ता इव इव्यवाहाः
His retinue includes the sons of twelve kings of Sauvira, all riding in chariots drawn by red horses, shining like blazing fires.
अङ्गारकः कुञ्जरो गुप्तकश्च श्रुंजयः संजयसुप्रवृद्धौ। प्रभंकरोऽथ भ्रमरो रविश्च शूरः प्रतापःकुहनश्च नाम
Angaraka, Kunjara, Guptaka, Shrunjaya, Sanjaya, Supravriddha, Prabhankara, Bhramara, Ravi, Shura, Pratapa, and Kuhana by name.
यं षट्सहस्रा रथिनोऽनुयान्ति नागा हयाश्चैव पदातिनश्च। जयद्रथो नाम यदि श्रुतस्ते सौवीरराजः सुभगे स एषः
Six thousand chariot warriors, as well as elephants, horses, and foot soldiers, follow him; if you have heard of Jayadratha, O fortunate one, he is the king of the Sauviras.
तस्यापरे भ्रातरोऽदीनसत्वा बलाहकानीकविदारणाद्याः। सौवीरवीराः प्रवरा युवानो राजानमेते बलिनोऽनुयान्ति
His other brothers, of undaunted spirit, such as Balahaka and Anikavidarana, are foremost among the young heroes of Sauvira, and these mighty ones follow the king.