सामात्यो राजलिङ्गानि सोपनीय नराधिपः। पुरोहितसहायश्च जगामाश्रममुत्तमम्
Accompanied by his ministers, bearing royal insignia, and with his priest as companion, the king went to the excellent hermitage.
दिदृक्षुस्तत्र तमृषिं तपोराशिमथाव्ययम्। ब्रह्मलोकप्रतीकाशमाश्रमं सोऽभिवीक्ष्य ह। षट्पदोद्गीतसंघुष्टं नानाद्विजगणायुतम्
Desiring to see that sage, the inexhaustible store of austerity, he beheld the hermitage, resembling the world of Brahma, resounding with the hum of bees and filled with various groups of twice-born.
विस्मयोत्फुल्लनयनो राजा प्रीतो बभूवह। ऋचो बह्वृचमुख्यैश्च प्रेर्यमाणाः पदक्रमैः। शुश्राव मनुजव्याघ्रो विततेष्विह कर्मसु
With eyes wide in wonder, the king was delighted; he heard the tiger among men recitations of Rig verses by the foremost Bahvrichas, performed in proper sequence, as the rituals were underway.
यज्ञविद्याङ्गविद्भिश्च यजुर्विद्भिश्च शोभितम्। मधुरैः सामगीतैश्च ऋषिभिर्नियतव्रतैः
The hermitage was adorned by those skilled in sacrificial rites and the limbs of Vedic knowledge, by knowers of the Yajurveda, and by sages of disciplined vows singing sweet Sama hymns.
भारुण्डसामगीताभिरथर्वशिरसोद्गतैः। यतात्मभिः सुनियतैः शुशुभे स तदाश्रमः
That hermitage shone with those of controlled selves, well-disciplined, singing the Bharunda Sama and Atharva hymns.
अथर्ववेदप्रवराः पूगयज्ञियसामगाः। संहितामीरयन्ति स्म पदक्रमयुतां तु ते
Foremost Atharva Veda reciters, singers of the Puga and Yajniya Samans, chanted the Samhitas accompanied by the proper sequence of words.
शब्दसंस्कारसंयुक्तर्ब्रुवद्भिश्चापरैर्द्विजैः। नादितः स बभौ श्रीमान्ब्रह्मलोक इवापरः
With other twice-born ones uttering words adorned with proper sound and intonation, that glorious place resounded, appearing like another world of Brahma.
यज्ञसंस्तरविद्भिश्च क्रमशिक्षाविशारदैः। न्यायतत्त्वात्मविज्ञानसंपन्नैर्वेदपारगैः
With those skilled in sacrificial bedding, well-versed in the order of ritual, and endowed with knowledge of the essence of logic and the self, accomplished in the Vedas.
नानावाक्यसमाहारसमवायविशारदैः। विशेषकार्यविद्भिश्च मोक्षधर्मपरायणैः
By those skilled in the assembly of diverse arguments, by those who know the specifics of actions, and who are devoted to the doctrines of liberation and righteousness,
स्तापनाक्षेपसिद्धान्तपरमार्थज्ञतां गतैः। शब्दच्छन्दोनिरुक्तज्ञैः कालज्ञानविशारदैः
By those who have attained knowledge of the ultimate truth through establishing, refuting, and concluding doctrines, by those versed in grammar, metrics, etymology, and by those expert in the science of time,
द्रव्यकर्मगुणज्ञैश्च कार्यकारणवेदिभिः। पक्षिवानररुतज्ञैश्च व्यासग्रन्थसमाश्रितैः
By those who know substances, actions, and qualities, who discern causes and effects, who understand the cries of birds and monkeys, and who rely upon Vyāsa’s treatises,
नानाशास्त्रेषु मुख्यैश्च शुश्राव स्वनमीरितम्। लोकायतिकमुख्यैश्च समन्तादनुनादितम्
He heard his own fame proclaimed in various principal scriptures, and echoed all around by the foremost of materialist philosophers.
तत्रतत्र च विप्रेन्द्रान्नियतान्संशितव्रतान्। जपहोमपरान्विप्रान्ददर्श परवीरहा
Here and there he saw eminent Brāhmaṇas, steadfast in their vows, devoted to recitation and offering, O destroyer of enemy heroes.
आसनानि विचित्राणि रुचिराणि महीपतिः। प्रयत्नोपहितानि स्म दृष्ट्वा विस्मयमागमत्
The king saw seats of wondrous and pleasing design, carefully arranged, and was filled with amazement.
देवतायतनानां च प्रेक्ष्य पूजां कृतां द्विजैः। ब्रह्मलोकस्थमात्मानं मेने स नृपसत्तमः
Observing the worship performed by the twice-born at the shrines of the gods, that best of kings considered himself as if dwelling in the world of Brahmā.
स काश्यपतपोगुप्तमाश्रमप्रवरं शुभम्। नातृप्यत्प्रेक्षमाणो वै तपोवनगुणैर्युतम्
He could not be satisfied gazing upon that excellent and auspicious hermitage, protected by Kāśyapa’s austerities and endowed with the virtues of the forest of penance.
स काश्यपस्यायतनं महाव्रतै- र्वृतं समान्तादृषिभिस्तपोधनैः। विवेश सामात्यपुरोहितोऽरिहा विविक्तमत्यर्थमनोहरं शुभम्
He entered Kāśyapa’s abode, surrounded on all sides by great sages rich in austerity, together with his ministers and priests, O subduer of foes, a secluded, exceedingly charming, and auspicious place.
ततो गच्छन्महाबाहुरेकोऽमात्यान्विसृज्य तान्। नापश्यच्चाश्रमे तस्मिंस्तमृषिं संशितव्रतम्
Then, as he went on, the mighty-armed one, having sent away his ministers, did not see that sage of firm vows in the hermitage.
सोऽपश्यमानस्तमृषिं शून्यं दृष्ट्वा तथाऽऽश्रमम्। उवाच क इहेत्युच्चैर्वनं सन्नादयन्निव
Not seeing the sage and finding the hermitage empty, he called out loudly, as if making the forest resound, 'Who is here?'
श्रुत्वाऽथ तस्य तं शब्दं कन्या श्रीरिव रूपिणी। निश्चक्रामाश्रमात्तस्मात्तापसीवेषधारिणी
Hearing his voice, a maiden, radiant as the goddess of fortune herself, emerged from the hermitage, dressed in the garb of an ascetic.
सा तं दृष्ट्वैव राजानं दुष्यन्तमसितेक्षणा। `सुप्रीताऽभ्यागतं तं तु पूज्यं प्राप्तमथेश्वरम्
Seeing King Duṣyanta, that dark-eyed maiden was greatly pleased, for a worthy and venerable guest had arrived.
रूपयौवनसंपन्ना शीलाचारवती शुभा। सा तमायतपद्माक्षं व्यूढोरस्कं महाभुजम्
Endowed with beauty and youth, virtuous and well-conducted, she beheld him—broad-eyed as a lotus, broad-chested, and mighty-armed.
सिंहस्कन्धं दीर्घबाहुं सर्वलक्षणपूजितम्। स्पृष्टं मधुरया वाचा साऽब्रवीज्जनमेजया
With lion-like shoulders, long arms, and honored with all auspicious marks, she addressed him, having touched him with sweet words.
स्वागतं त इति क्षिप्रमुवाच प्रतिपूज्य च। आसनेनार्चयित्वा च पाद्येनार्घ्येण चैव हि
She quickly welcomed him, honored him, and offered him a seat, as well as water for washing the feet and for hospitality.
पप्रच्छानामयं राजन्कुशलं च नराधिपम्। यथावदर्चयित्वाऽथ पृष्ट्वा चानामयं तदा
After properly honoring him and inquiring about his well-being, she asked the king about his health.
उवाच स्मयमानेव किं कार्यं क्रियतामिति। `आश्रमस्याभिगमने किं त्वं कार्यं चिकीर्षसि
Smiling, she said, 'What business is to be done? What purpose brings you to this hermitage, and what do you wish to accomplish?'
कस्त्वमद्येह संप्राप्तो महर्षेराश्रमं शुभम्।' तामब्रवीत्ततो राजा कन्यां मधुरभाषिणीम्
Who are you, who has now arrived at this auspicious hermitage of the great sage?' Thus the king spoke to the maiden with sweet words.
दृष्ट्वा सर्वानवद्याङ्गीं यथावत्प्रतिपूजितः। `राजर्षेस्तस्य पुत्रोऽहमिलिनस्य महात्मनः
Seeing her, flawless in every limb, and having been duly honored, he said, 'I am the son of that royal sage, the great-souled Ilina.'
दुष्यन्त इति मे नाम सत्यं पुष्करलोचने। आगतोऽहं महाभागमृषिं कण्वमुपासितुम्
'My name is Duṣyanta, O lotus-eyed one, and I have come to pay respects to the illustrious sage Kaṇva.'
गतः पिता मे भगवान्फलान्याहर्तुमाश्रमात्। मुहूर्तं संप्रतीक्षस्व द्रष्टास्येनमुपागतम्
'My revered father has gone from the hermitage to gather fruits; please wait a moment, you will see him when he returns.'