पौरवाणां वंशकरो दुष्यन्तो नाम वीर्यवान्। पृथिव्याश्चतुरन्ताया गोप्ता भरतसत्तम
Among the Pauravas, there was a mighty one named Duṣyanta, the protector of the earth with its four quarters, O best of the Bharatas.
चतुर्भागं भुवः कृत्स्नं यो भुङ्क्ते मनुजेश्वरः। समुद्रावरणांश्चापि देशान्स समितिंजयः
This lord of men enjoyed a fourth part of the entire earth, and also those lands surrounded by the ocean, O conqueror in battle.
आम्लेच्छावधिकान्सर्वान्स भुङ्क्ते रिपुमर्दनः। रत्नाकरसमुद्रान्तांश्चातुर्वर्ण्यजनावृतान्
He ruled over all lands up to the borders of the Mlecchas, subduing his enemies, and over territories extending to the ocean, inhabited by people of the four varṇas.
न वर्णसङ्करकरो न कृष्याकरकृज्जनः। न पापकृत्कश्चिदासीत्तस्मिन्राजनि शासति
Under his rule, there was no mixing of castes, no one neglected agriculture, and no one committed evil deeds.
धर्मे रतिं सेवमाना धर्मार्थावभिपेदिरे। तदा नरा नरव्याघ्र तस्मिञ्जनपदेश्वरे
People delighted in righteousness and, devoted to duty, attained both virtue and wealth, O tiger among men, in that realm under his rule.
नासीच्चोरभयं तात न क्षुधाभयमण्वपि। नासीद्व्याधिभयं चापि तस्मिञ्जनपदेश्वरे
There was no fear of thieves, O dear one, nor even the slightest fear of hunger; nor was there any fear of disease in that realm under his rule.
स्वधर्मै रेमिरे वर्णा दैवे कर्मणि निःस्पृहाः। तमाश्रित्य महीपालमासंश्चैवाकुतोभयाः
The classes rejoiced in their own duties, unattached in their actions ordained by fate; and, taking refuge in that great king, they lived without fear from any quarter.
कालवर्षी च पर्जन्यः सस्यानि रसवन्ति च। सर्वरत्नसमृद्धा च मही पशुमती तथा
The clouds rained in due season, the crops were full of flavor, the earth was abundant in all gems, and rich in cattle as well.
स्वकर्मनिरता विप्रा नानृतं तेषु विद्यते। स चाद्भुतमहावीर्यो वज्रसंहननो युवा
The brahmins were devoted to their own duties; among them there was no falsehood. And he himself was of wondrous and great might, youthful, with a body hard as a thunderbolt.
उद्यम्य मन्दरं दोर्भ्यां वहेत्सवनकाननम्। चतुष्पथगदायुद्धे सर्वप्रहरणेषु च
He could lift Mount Mandara with his arms and carry it through forests and groves; in battle at the crossroads, he was skilled with every weapon.
नागपृष्ठेऽश्वपृष्ठे च बभूव परिनिष्ठतः। बले विष्णुसमश्चासीत्तेजसा भास्करोपमः
He was accomplished both on the backs of elephants and horses; in strength he was equal to Viṣṇu, and in brilliance, like the sun.
अक्षोभ्यत्वेऽर्णवसमः सहिष्णुत्वे धरासमः। संमतः स महीपालः प्रसन्नपुरराष्ट्रवान्
In steadfastness he was like the ocean, in forbearance like the earth; that king was esteemed, possessing prosperous cities and realms.
भूयो धर्मपरैर्भावैर्मुदितं जनमादिशत्
He further directed his joyful people towards conduct rooted in righteousness.
संभवं भरतस्याहं चरितं च महामतेः। शकुन्तलायाश्चोत्पत्तिं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः
I wish to hear of the birth and deeds of the wise Bharata, and also the origin of Śakuntalā, in truth.
दुष्यन्तेन च वीरेण यथा प्राप्ता शकुन्तला। तं वै पुरुषसिंहस्य भगवन्विस्तरं त्वहम्
And how Śakuntalā was obtained by the heroic Duṣyanta—O venerable one, I wish to hear that account in detail of the lion among men.
श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वज्ञ सर्वं मतिमतां वर
I wish to hear all of this, O knower of truth, best among the wise.
वनं जगाम गहनं हयनागशतैर्वृतः। बलेन चतुरङ्गेण वृतः परमवल्गुना
He entered the dense forest, surrounded by hundreds of horses and elephants, and accompanied by a splendid fourfold army.
खड्गशक्तिधरैर्वीरैर्गदामुसलपाणिभिः। प्रासतोमरहस्तैश्च ययौ योधशतैर्वृतः
He was attended by heroic warriors bearing swords and spears, wielding maces and clubs, and carrying lances and javelins, surrounded by hundreds of fighters.
सिंहनादैश्च योधानां शङ्खदुनदुभिनिःस्वनैः। रथनेमिस्वनैश्चैव सनागवरबृंहितैः
With lion-like shouts from the warriors, the sounds of conches and drums, the rumble of chariot wheels, and the trumpeting of noble elephants,
नानायुधधरैश्चापि नानावेषधरैस्तथा। ह्रेषितस्वनमिश्रैश्च क्ष्वेडितास्फोटितस्वनैः
And with men bearing various weapons and dressed in diverse attire, mingled with the neighing of horses and the sounds of whistling and clapping,
आसीत्किलकिलाशब्दस्तस्मिन्गच्छति पार्थिवे। प्रासादवरशृङ्गस्थाः परया नृपशोभया
There arose a clattering noise as the king proceeded, from those standing on the lofty palace towers, resplendent in their royal glory.
ददृशुस्तं स्त्रियस्तत्र शूरमात्मयशस्करम्। शक्रोपमममित्रघ्नं परवारणवारणम्
There, the women beheld him—valiant, famed for his own glory, equal to Indra, destroyer of foes, restrainer of hostile elephants.
पश्यन्तः स्त्रीगणास्तत्र वज्रपाणिं स्म मेनिरे। अयं स पुरुषव्याघ्रो रणे वसुपराक्रमः
Gazing upon him, the groups of women thought him to be the wielder of the thunderbolt; 'This is that tiger among men, mighty as Vasu in battle.'
यस्य बाहुबलं प्राप्य न भवन्त्यसुहृद्गणाः। इति वाचो ब्रुवन्त्यस्ताः स्त्रियः प्रेम्णा नराधिपं
'Those who encounter the strength of his arms do not remain enemies,' thus spoke those women with affection for the lord of men.
तुष्टुवुः पुष्पवृष्टीश्च ससृजुस्तस्य मूर्धनि। तत्रतत्र च विप्रेन्द्रैः स्तूयमानः समन्ततः
They praised him and showered flowers upon his head; and everywhere, he was extolled on all sides by the foremost of Brahmins.
निर्ययौ परमप्रीत्या वनं मृगजिघांसया। तं देवराजप्रतिमं मत्तवारणधूर्गतम्
He set out with supreme joy for the forest, intent on hunting; that king, equal to the lord of the gods, riding a rutting elephant.
द्विजक्षत्रियविट्शूद्रा निर्यान्तमनुजग्मिरे। ददृशुर्वर्धमानास्ते आशीर्भिश्च जयेन च
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras followed him as he departed; they watched him, wishing him well and granting him victory.
सुदूरमनुजग्मुस्तं पौरजानपदास्तथा। न्यवर्तन्त ततः पश्चादनुज्ञाता नृपेण ह
The townspeople and countryfolk followed him for a great distance; then, permitted by the king, they turned back.
सुपर्णप्रतिमेनाथ रथेन वसुधाधिपः। महीमापूरयामास घोषेण त्रिदिवं तथा
Then the lord of the earth, in a chariot like Garuda, filled the land—and even the heavens—with his resounding noise.
स गच्छन्ददृशे धीमान्नन्दनप्रतिमं वनम्। बिल्वार्कखदिराकीर्णं कपित्थधवसंकुलम्
As he journeyed, the wise king beheld a forest like Nandana, filled with bilva, arka, and khadira trees, and crowded with kapittha and dhava trees.