सूतिकाले प्रसूष्वेति भगवांस्ते पिताऽब्रवीत्। करिष्यामीति कर्तव्यं तदा ते सुकृतं भवेत्
"At the time of childbirth, your father, the venerable one, said: 'Do as I say.' That should be done; then you will have acted rightly."
पत्नीनां वचनं श्रुत्वा साधु साध्वित्यचिन्तयत्।' गर्भं सुषाव वामोरूः कुमारममितौजसम्
Hearing the words of the wives, she thought, 'Well, so be it,' and the slender-thighed lady gave birth to a son of boundless energy.
त्रिषु वर्षेषु पूर्णेषु प्राजायत शकुन्तला। रूपौदार्यगुणोपेतं दौष्यन्तिं जनमेजय
When three years had passed, Śakuntalā gave birth to a son endowed with beauty, generosity, and virtue, O Janamejaya, son of Duṣyanta.
जाते' तस्मिन्नन्तरिक्षात्पुष्पवृष्टिः पपात ह। देवदुन्दुभयो नेदुर्ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः
When he was born, a shower of flowers fell from the sky; divine drums resounded, and the hosts of Apsarases danced.
गायद्भिर्मधुरं तत्र देवैः शक्रोऽभ्युवाच ह। शकुन्तले तव सुतश्चक्रवर्ती भविष्यति
As the gods sang sweetly there, Indra spoke: 'O Śakuntalā, your son will become a universal emperor.'
बलं तेजश्च रूपं च न समं भुवि केनचित्। आहर्ता वाजिमेधस्य शतसङ्ख्यस्य पौरवः
His strength, energy, and beauty will be unmatched on earth; he, the Paurava, will perform a hundred horse sacrifices.
अनेकारपि साहस्रै राजसूयादिभिर्मखैः। स्वार्थं ब्राह्मणसात्कृत्वा दक्षिणाममितां ददत्
With countless royal sacrifices such as the Rājasūya, he will fulfill his purpose, giving immense gifts to brāhmaṇas as offerings.
देवतानां वचः श्रुत्वा कण्वाश्रमनिवासिनः। सभाजयन्तः कण्वस्य सुतां सर्वे महर्षयः
Hearing the words of the gods, all the great sages dwelling in Kaṇva's hermitage honored Kaṇva's daughter.
शकुन्तला च तच्छ्रुत्वा परं हर्षमवाप सा। द्विजानाहूय मुनिभिः सत्कृत्य च महायशाः
When Shakuntala heard this, she felt great joy; she called the Brahmins, and the illustrious sages honored them.
जातकर्मादिसंस्कारं कण्वः पुण्यवतां वरः। तस्याथ कारयामास वर्धमानस्य चासकृत्
Then Kanva, foremost among the virtuous, performed for the child all the rites beginning with the birth ceremony, and repeated them as the boy grew.
यथाविधि यथान्यायं क्रियाः सर्वास्त्वकारयत्। दन्तैः शुक्लैः शिखरिभिःसिंहसंहननोऽभवत्
He performed all the prescribed rituals properly and justly; the boy grew with teeth white as ivory, and a frame like a lion’s.
चक्राङ्कितकरः श्रीमान्स्वयं विष्णुरिवापरः। `चतुष्किष्कुर्महातेजा महामूर्धा महाबलः
He bore the mark of the discus on his hand, was radiant, and seemed another Vishnu himself—broad-chested, mighty, and powerful.
कुमारो देवगर्भाभः स तत्राशु व्यवर्धत। `ऋषेर्भयात्तु दुष्यन्तः स्मरन्नैवाह्वयत्तदा
That boy, resembling a son of the gods, quickly grew there; but out of fear of the sage, Dushyanta did not summon him, though he remembered.
गते काले तु महति न सस्मार तपोधनाम्।' षड्वर्षेषु ततो बालः कण्वाश्रमपदं प्रति
As much time passed, the king did not recall the ascetic; after six years, the boy turned toward Kanva’s hermitage.
व्याघ्रान्सिंहान्वराहांश्च वृकांश्च महिषांस्तथा। `ऋक्षांश्चाभ्यहनद्व्यालान्पद्भ्यामाश्रमपीडकान्
He struck down tigers, lions, boars, wolves, buffaloes, and bears—those wild beasts that troubled the hermitage—with his feet.
बलाद्भुजाभ्यां संगृह्य बलवान्संनियम्य च।' बद्ध्वा वृक्षेषु दौष्यन्तिराश्रमस्य समन्ततः
With his strength, he seized and subdued them with his arms, and bound them to trees all around the hermitage.
आरुरोह द्रुमांश्चैव क्रीडन्स्म परिधावति। `वनं च लोडयामास सिंहव्याघ्रगणैर्वृतम्
He climbed trees, played, and ran about; he roamed the forest, filled with groups of lions and tigers.
ततश्च राक्षसान्सर्वान्पिशाचांश्च रिपून्रणे। मुष्टियुद्धेन तान्हत्वा ऋषीनाराधयत्तदा
Then, in battle, he slew all the Rakshasas and Pisachas, his enemies, with his fists, and thereby pleased the sages.
कश्चिद्दितिसुतस्तं तु हन्तुकामो महाबलः। वध्यमानांस्तु दैतेयानमर्षी तं समभ्ययात्
A certain mighty son of Diti, enraged at the slaughter of the Daityas, approached him, desiring to kill him.
तमागतं प्रहस्यैव बाहुभ्यां परिगृह्य च। दृढं चाबध्य बाहुभ्यां पीडयामास तं तदा
When that being approached, the boy laughed, seized him with his arms, bound him tightly, and began to crush him.
मर्दितो न शशाकास्मान्मोचितुं बलवत्तया। प्राक्रोशद्भैरवं तत्र द्वारेभ्यो निःसृतं त्वसृक्
Crushed by the boy’s strength, he could not free himself; blood flowed from his mouth as he cried out fearfully at the gates.
तेन शब्देन वित्रस्ता मृगाः सिंहादयो गणाः। सुस्रुवुश्च शकृन्मूत्रमाश्रमस्थाश्च सुस्रुवुः
Frightened by that sound, herds of deer, lions, and other animals fled, and those in the hermitage lost control of their bowels and bladders.
निरसुं जानुभिः कृत्वा विससर्ज च सोऽपतत्। तद्दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं जग्मुः कुमारस्य विचेष्टितम्
He dragged himself on his knees, escaped, and fell down; seeing this, all were amazed at the boy’s actions.
नित्यकालं वध्यमाना दैतेया राक्षसैः सह। कुमारस्य भयादेव नैव जग्मुस्तदाश्रमम्
Constantly being slain by the boy, the Daityas and Rakshasas, out of fear of him, no longer approached the hermitage.
ततोऽस्य नाम चक्रुस्ते कण्वाश्रमनिवासिनः। कण्वेन सहिताः सर्वे दृष्ट्वा कर्मातिमानुषम्
Then all the dwellers of Kanva’s hermitage, together with Kanva, seeing his superhuman deeds, gave him a name.
अस्त्वयं सर्वदमनः सर्वं हि दमयत्यसौ। स सर्वदमनो नाम कुमारः समपद्यत
"Let him be called Sarvadamana, for he subdues all things." Thus, the boy came to be known as Sarvadamana.
विक्रमेणौजसा चैव बलेन च समन्वितः। `अप्रेषयति दुष्यन्ते महिष्यास्तनयस्य च
Endowed with valor, strength, and might, he does not send away those who are afflicted—neither the queen nor the son.
पाण्डुभावपरीताङ्गीं चिन्तया समभिप्लुताम्। लम्बालकां कृशां दीनां तथा मलिनवाससम्
Her body pale like the moon, overwhelmed by worry, with loose hair, emaciated, sorrowful, and clad in soiled garments—
शकुन्तलां च संप्रेक्ष्य प्रदध्यौ स मुनिस्तदा। शास्त्राणि सर्ववेदाश्च द्वादशाब्दस्य चाभवन्
Seeing Shakuntala in that state, the sage then reflected on all the scriptures, the Vedas, and the twelve years that had passed.
तं कुमारमृषिर्दृष्ट्वा कर्म चास्यातिमानुषम्। समयो यौवराज्याय इत्यनुध्याय स द्विजः
The sage, seeing the boy and his superhuman deeds, considered the time had come for his investiture as crown prince.