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.
विषमं पर्वतस्रस्तै रश्मभिश्च समावृतम्। निर्जलं निर्मनुष्यं च बहुयोजनमायतम्
It was rugged, covered with mountain slopes and rays of sunlight, waterless and devoid of people, stretching for many yojanas.
मृगसिंहैर्वृतं घोरैरन्यैश्चापि वनेचरैः। तद्वनं मनुजव्याघ्रः सभृत्यबलवाहनः
That forest, filled with fierce deer and lions and other wild creatures, was entered by the tiger among men, with his servants, troops, and vehicles.
लोडयामास दुष्यन्तः सूदयन्विविधान्मृगान्। बाणगोचरसंप्राप्तांस्तत्र व्याघ्रगणान्बहून्
Duṣyanta began to roam there, slaying various beasts; and many tigers that came within range of his arrows,
पातयामास दुष्यन्तो निर्बिभेद च सायकैः। दूरस्थान्सायकैः कांश्चिदभिनत्स नराधिपः
Duṣyanta brought them down and pierced them with his shafts; and the lord of men struck some who were far away with his arrows.
अभ्याशमागतांश्चान्यान्खड्गेन निरकृन्तत। कांश्चिदेणान्समाजघ्ने शक्त्या शक्तिमतां वरः
He struck down others who approached with his sword, and, being foremost among those skilled with the spear, he felled some deer with his weapon.
गदामण्डलतत्त्वज्ञश्चचारामितविक्रमः। तोमरैरसिभिश्चापि गदामुसलकम्पनैः
Well-versed in the true art of the mace, he moved about with tireless valor, wielding javelins, swords, and also shaking maces and clubs.
चचार स विनिघ्नन्वै वन्यांस्तत्र मृगद्विजान्। राज्ञा चाद्भुतवीर्येण योधैश्च समरप्रियैः
There he moved about, striking down wild animals and birds, along with warriors who delighted in battle and the king of wondrous strength.
लोड्यमानं महारण्यं तत्यजुः स्म मृगाधिपाः। तत्र विद्रुतयूथानि हतयूथपतीनि च
As the great forest was thrown into turmoil, the lords of beasts abandoned it; there, herds scattered in flight, their leaders slain.
मृगयूथान्यथौत्सुक्याच्छब्दं चक्रुस्ततस्ततः। शुष्काश्चापि नदीर्गत्वा जलनैराश्यकर्शिताः
Out of agitation, the herds of deer made sounds here and there; having gone to dried-up rivers, they were emaciated by the lack of water.
व्यायामक्लान्तहृदयाः पतन्ति स्म विचेतसः। क्षुत्पिपासापरीताश्च श्रान्ताश्च पतिता भुवि
Their hearts exhausted from exertion, they fell down senseless; afflicted by hunger and thirst, weary, they collapsed on the ground.