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.'
अपश्यमानस्तमृषिं तथा चोक्तस्तया च सः। तां दृष्ट्वा च वरारोहां श्रीमतीं चारुहासिनीम्
Not seeing the sage, and having been told thus by her, the king beheld that noble maiden, radiant and lovely in her smile.
विभ्राजमानां वपुषा तपसा च दमेन च। रूपयौवनसंपन्नामित्युवाच महीपतिः
Shining with beauty, with her austerity and self-restraint, endowed with form and youth, the king spoke to her.
का त्वं कस्यासि सुश्रोणि किमर्थं चागता वनम्। एवंरूपगुणोपेता कुतस्त्वमसि शोभने
'Who are you, O fair-hipped one? Whose daughter are you, and for what purpose have you come to the forest? From where have you come, O lovely one, adorned with such beauty and virtues?'
दर्शनादेव हि शुभे त्वया मेऽपहृतं मनः। इच्छामि त्वामहं ज्ञातुं तन्ममाचक्ष्व शोभने
'For at the very sight of you, O auspicious one, my heart has been carried away. I wish to know you—tell me, O beautiful one.'
स्थितोस्म्यमितसौभाग्ये विवक्षुश्चास्मि किंचन। शृणु मे नागनासोरु वचनं मत्तकाशिनि
'I stand here, O slender-waisted one, desiring to speak something; listen to my words, O one with serpent-shaped thighs, shining like an intoxicated elephant.'
राजर्षेरन्वये जातः पूरोरस्मि विशेषतः। वृण्वे त्वामद्य सुश्रोणि दुष्यन्तो वरवर्णिनि
'Born in the line of royal sages, I am especially of the race of Puru. Today, O fair-hipped and radiant one, Duṣyanta chooses you.'
न मेऽन्यत्र क्षत्रियाया मनो जातु प्रवर्तते। ऋषिपुत्रीषु चान्यासु नावरासु परासु च
'My heart does not incline toward any other Kṣatriya woman, nor toward any other sage’s daughter, whether inferior or superior.'
तस्मात्प्रणिहितात्मानं विद्दि मां कलभाषिणि। यस्यां मे त्वयि भावोऽस्ति क्षत्रिया ह्यसि का वदा
'Therefore, know me as one whose mind is fixed upon you, O sweet-voiced one, in whom I have this feeling. You are a Kṣatriya—tell me, who are you?'
न हि मे भीरु विप्रायां मनः प्रसहते गतिम्। भजे त्वामायतापाङ्गे भक्तं भजितुमर्हसि। भुङ्क्ष राज्यं विशालाक्षि बुद्धिं मात्वन्यथा कृथाः
'Indeed, O timid one, my heart does not move toward a Brāhmaṇa maiden. I seek you, O wide-eyed one; you should accept one who is devoted. Enjoy the kingdom, O large-eyed one, and do not think otherwise.'
एवमुक्ता तु सा कन्या तेन राज्ञा तमाश्रमे। उवाच हसती वाक्यमिदं सुमधुराक्षरम्
Thus addressed by the king in that hermitage, the maiden replied with a smile, her words sweet and gentle.