कन्दराणि नितम्बांश्च राष्ट्राणि नगराणि च। आश्रमाणि च पुण्यानि गत्वा चैव गतश्रमाः
Having traversed mountain valleys, riverbanks, kingdoms, cities, and sacred hermitages, they continued on, their fatigue dispelled.
शनैर्मध्याह्नवेलायां प्रतिष्ठानं समाययुः। तां पुरीं पुरुहूतेन ऐलस्यार्थे विनिर्मिताम्
Gradually, at midday, they reached Pratishthana, the city built by Puruhuta for the sake of the son of Ila.
परिघाट्टालकैर्मुख्यैरुपकल्पशतैरपि। शतघ्नीचक्रयन्त्रैश्च गुप्तामन्यैर्दुरासदाम्
Guarded by strong gates, battlements, and hundreds of arrangements, with engines for hurling stones and machines for defense, it was difficult for enemies to approach.
हर्म्यप्रसादसंबाधां नानापण्यविभूषिताम्। मण्टपैः ससभै रम्यैः प्रपाभिश्च समावृताम्
Crowded with mansions and palaces, adorned with various goods, surrounded by beautiful halls with pavilions and delightful assembly places, and encircled by water-houses.
राजमार्गेण महता सुविभक्तेन शोभिताम्। कैलासशिखराकारैर्गोपुरैः समलङ्कृताम्
Graced by a great royal road, well laid out and splendid, decorated with gateways resembling the peaks of Kailasa.
द्वारतोरणनिर्यूहैर्मङ्गलैरुपशोभिताम्। उद्यानाम्रवणोपेतां महतीं सालमेखलाम्
Adorned with auspicious gateways, arches, and exits, and surrounded by gardens and mango groves, it was a vast city girdled by sala trees.
सर्वपुष्करिणीभिश्च उद्यानैश्च समावृताम्। वर्णाश्रमैः स्वधर्मस्थैर्नित्योत्सवसमाहितैः
Encircled by all kinds of lotus ponds and gardens, inhabited by people of all classes and stages of life, steadfast in their own duties and ever engaged in festivals.
धनधान्यसमृद्धैश्च संतुष्टै रत्नपूजितैः। कृतयज्ञैश्च विद्वद्भिरग्निहोत्रपरैः सदा
Prosperous with wealth and grain, content, honored with jewels, and always filled with learned men who had performed sacrifices and were devoted to fire rituals.
वर्जिता कार्यकरणैर्दानशीलैर्दयापरैः। अधर्मभीरुभिः सर्वैः स्वर्गलोकजिगीषुभिः
Free from those who act wrongly, generous and compassionate, all were averse to unrighteousness and desirous of attaining the heavenly worlds.
एवंविधजनोपेतमिन्द्रलोकमिवापरम्। तस्मिन्नगरमध्ये तु राजवेश्म प्रतिष्ठितम्
Filled with such people, it resembled another world of Indra; in the midst of that city stood the royal palace.
इन्द्रसद्मप्रतीकाशं संपूर्णं वित्तसंचयैः। तस्य मध्ये सभा दिव्या नानारत्नविभूषिता
Resembling Indra's own mansion, filled with heaps of wealth, and at its center was a divine assembly hall adorned with various jewels.
तस्यां सभायां राजर्षिः सर्वालङ्कारभूषितः। ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्रियैश्चापि मन्त्रिभिश्चापि संवृतः
In that assembly hall, the royal sage, adorned with all ornaments, was surrounded by Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, and counselors.
संस्तूयमानो राजेन्द्रः सूतमागधबन्दिभिः। कार्यार्थिषु तदाऽभ्येत्य कृत्वा कार्यं गतेषु सः
Praised by bards, genealogists, and minstrels, the king attended to those who came with requests, and when their business was done, he dismissed them.
सुखासीनोऽभवद्राजा तस्मिन्काले महर्षयः। शकुन्तानां स्वनं श्रुत्वा निमित्तज्ञास्त्वलक्षयन्
Then the king sat at ease; at that moment, the great sages, hearing the cries of the birds, who were skilled in omens, observed the signs.
शकुन्तले निमित्तानि शोभनानि भवन्ति नः। कार्यसिद्धिं वदन्त्येते ध्रुवं राज्ञी भविष्यसि। अस्मिंस्तु दिवसे पुत्रो युवराजो भविष्यति
For Shakuntala, the omens are auspicious for us; these signs indicate the success of our purpose. Surely, you will become queen, and on this very day, your son will be made crown prince.
वर्धमानपुरद्वारं तूर्यघोषनिनादितम्। शकुन्तलां पुरस्कृत्य विविशुस्ते महर्षयः
With the sound of instruments resounding at the gate of Vardhamanapura, the great sages entered, placing Shakuntala at the forefront.
प्रविशन्तं नृपसुतं प्रशशंसुश्च वीक्षकाः। वर्धमानपुरद्वारं प्रविशन्नेव पौरवः
As the prince entered, the onlookers praised him; the descendant of Puru entered through the gate of Vardhamanapura.
इन्द्रलोकस्थमात्मानं मेने हर्षसमन्वितः
Filled with joy, he considered himself as if dwelling in Indra's own realm.
ततो वै नागराः सर्वे समाहूय परस्परम्। द्रष्टुकामा नृपसुतं समपद्यन्त भारत
Then all the townspeople, gathering together, desired to see the prince, O Bharata.
देवतेव जनस्याग्रे भ्राजते श्रीरिवागता। जयन्तेनेव पौलोमी इन्द्रलोकादिहागता
She shone before the people like a goddess, as if fortune itself had arrived, like Paulomī returning from Indra’s realm with Jayanta.
इति ब्रुवन्तस्ते सर्वे महर्षीनिदमब्रुवन्। अभिवादयन्तः सहिता महर्षीन्देववर्चसः
Thus speaking, they all approached the great sages, greeting them together—those sages radiant with divine splendor.
अद्य नः सफलं जन्म कृतार्थाश्च ततो वयम्। एवं ये स्म प्रपश्यामो महर्षीन्सूर्यवर्चसः
Today our birth is fruitful, and we are fulfilled, for we behold these great sages, radiant as the sun.
इत्युक्त्वा सहिताः केचिदन्वगच्छन्त पौरवम्। हैमवत्याः सुतमिव कुमारं पुष्करेक्षणम्
Having spoken thus, some of them together followed the Paurava prince, lotus-eyed like the son of Himavat.
ये केचिदब्रुवन्मूढाः शाकुन्तलदिदृक्षवः। कृष्णाजिनेन संछन्नाननिच्छन्तो ह्यवेक्षितुम्
But some, deluded and eager to see Shakuntalā, said they did not wish to look upon her, as she was covered with a black antelope skin.
पिशाचा इव दृश्यन्ते नागराणां विरूपिणः। विना सन्ध्यां पिशाचास्ते प्रविशन्ति पुरोत्तमम्
They appeared like fiends, those deformed townsfolk; like spirits entering the great city without the twilight hour.
क्षुत्पिपासार्दितान्दीनान्वल्कलाजिनवाससः। त्वगस्थिभूतान्निर्मांसान्धमनीसन्ततानपि
Emaciated by hunger and thirst, clad in bark and animal skins, reduced to skin and bone, without flesh, with veins exposed—
पिङ्गलाक्षान्पिङ्गजटान्दीर्घदन्तान्निरूदरान्। विशीर्षकानूर्ध्वहस्तान्दृष्ट्वा हास्यन्ति नागराः
With tawny eyes, matted tawny hair, long teeth, gaunt faces, shattered heads, and upraised arms—seeing them, the townspeople laughed.
एवमुक्तवतां तेषां गिरं श्रुत्वा महर्षयः। अन्योन्यं ते समाहूय इदं वचनमब्रुवन्
Hearing such words from them, the great sages called to one another and spoke this speech:
उक्तं भगवता वाक्यं न कृतं सत्यवादिना। पुरप्रवेशनं नात्र कर्तव्यमिति शासनम्
The command spoken by the venerable one, who speaks the truth, has not been followed: 'Entry into the city must not be made'—such was the instruction.
किं कारणं प्रवेक्ष्यामो नगरं दुर्जनैर्वृतम्। त्यक्तसङ्गस्य च मुनेर्नगरे किं प्रयोजनम्
Why should we enter a city filled with wicked people? What purpose does a city serve for an ascetic who has abandoned attachment?