विक्रमाख्यानकालांतेऽवतारः कलया हरेः
At the end of the tale of Vikrama, there is the descent of Hari in the form of Kala.
तत्कथां भगवान्सूतो नैमिषारण्यमास्थितः
That story, the venerable Suta, having settled in Naimisharanya, will narrate.
यत्तन्मया च कथितं हषीकोत्तम ते मुदा
What has been narrated by me, O Hrishika, brings you joy.
सूतपार्श्वं गमिष्यंति नैमिषारण्यवासिनः 3.4.1.
The residents of Naimisharanya will approach Suta's side.
इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामि राज्ञां तेषां क्रमात्कुलम्
Now I wish to hear, in order, the lineage of those kings.
चतुर्णां वह्निजातानां परं कौतूहलं हि नः
We have great curiosity regarding the four born from fire.
अग्निवंशनृपाणां च चरित्रं शृणु विस्तरात्
Hear in detail the conduct of the kings of the fire lineage.
प्रमरश्च महीपालो दक्षिणां दिशमास्थितः
Pramara, the great king, took up the southern direction.
निवासं कृतवान्राजा सामवेदपरो बली
The king, devoted to the Sama Veda and mighty in strength, established his residence.
त्रिवर्षं च कृतं राज्यं देवापिस्तनयोऽभवत् पितुस्तुल्यं कृतं राज्यं शृणु तत्कारणं मुने
He ruled for three years, and became the son of Devapi; he governed just as his father had—listen, sage, to the reason for this.
अशोके निहते तस्मिन्बौद्धभूपे महाबले
When Ashoka, the powerful Buddhist king, was slain—
पंचवर्षान्तरे सूर्यस्तस्मै च कलये मुदा
Within five years, the Sun joyfully imparted his rays to him.
तदा प्रसन्नः स कलिः शकाय च महात्मने
At that time, Kali became pleased with Shaka, the great-souled one.
तत्र गोपान्दस्युगणान्वशीकृत्य महाबली हतवान्भूपतीन्बाणैस्तस्मात्ते स्वल्पजीविनः ।। 3.4.1.
There, the mighty one subdued the groups of cowherds and, with arrows, slew the kings; thus, their lives were short.
गंधर्वसेनश्च नृपो देवदूतात्मजो बली
And Gandharvasena, the king, was the powerful son of a divine messenger.
शिवाज्ञया च नृपतिर्विक्रमस्तनयस्ततः दशवर्षं कृतं राज्यं शकैर्दुष्टैर्लयं गतः
By Shiva's command, Vikrama, his son, ruled for ten years, but was destroyed by the wicked Shakas.
शालिवाहन एवापि देवभक्तस्य चात्मजः
Shalivahana too, the son of the devotee of the gods—
शालिहोत्रस्तस्य सुतो राज्यं कृत्वा शतार्द्धकम्
His son was Shalihotra, who ruled for one and a half centuries.
पितुस्तुल्यं कृतं राज्यं शकहन्ता ततोऽभवत्
He ruled just as his father had, and then became the destroyer of the Shakas.
पितुस्तुल्यं कृतं राज्यं हविर्होत्रस्ततोऽभवत्
He ruled just as his father had, and then Havirhotra succeeded him.
पुरीमिंद्रावतीं कृत्वा तत्र राज्यमकारयत् पुरीं माल्यवतीं कृत्वा पितुस्तुल्यं कृतं पदम्
He established the city of Indravati and ruled there; he also founded the city of Malyavati, attaining a position equal to his father's.
अनावृष्टिस्ततश्चासीन्महती चतुरब्दिका
Then there was a great drought lasting four years.
संस्कृत्य मंदिरे राजा शालग्रामाय चार्पयत्
After performing rites in the temple, the king offered (the kingdom) to Shalagrama.
कृत्वा ददौ वरं तस्मै शृणु तन्मुनिसत्तम अनावृष्टिर्न भविता तावत्ते राष्ट्र उत्तमे।।3.4.1.
Having done so, he granted a boon—listen, O best of sages: 'There shall be no drought as long as your kingdom endures.'
सुतो माल्यवतश्चासीच्छंभुदत्तो हरप्रियः
Malyavata's son was Shambhudatta, beloved of Hara (Shiva).
पितुस्तुल्यं कृतं राज्यं वत्सराजस्ततोऽभवत्
He ruled just as his father had, and then Vatsaraja succeeded him.
पितुस्तुल्यं कृतं राज्यं शंभुदत्तस्ततोऽभवत्
Shambhudatta then became king, establishing a rule equal to his father's.
शंभुदत्तस्य तनयो बिंदुपालस्ततोऽभवत् तेन राज्यं पितुस्तुल्यं कृतं वेदविदा मुने
Shambhudatta's son was Bindupala, O sage learned in the Vedas, and he too governed the kingdom just as his father had.
बिंदुपालस्य तनयो राजपालस्ततोऽभवत्
Bindupala's son was Rajapala.
पितुस्तुल्यं कृतं राज्यं सोमवर्मा नृपोऽभवत्
Somavarma became king, ruling the kingdom as his father had.