समुत्पन्नेन भो विप्राः सत्पुत्रेण महात्मना त्रातः स पुरुषव्याघ्रः पुंनाम्नो नरकात् तदा
O Brahmins, by the birth of this noble son, that tiger among men was saved from the hell named Put.
तं समुद्राश् च नद्यश् च रत्नान्य् आदाय सर्वशः तोयानि चाभिषेकार्थं सर्व एवोपतस्थिरे
Then the oceans and rivers, bringing all kinds of jewels and waters for the consecration, all approached him.
पितामहश् च भगवान् देवैर् आङ्गिरसैः सह स्थावराणि च भूतानि जङ्गमानि च सर्वशः
The blessed Grandfather, together with the gods, the Angirases, all stationary and moving beings, were present.
समागम्य तदा वैण्यम् अभ्यषिञ्चन् नराधिपम् महता राजराजेन प्रजास् तेनानुरञ्जिताः
Having assembled, they anointed the son of Vena as king of men with the great royal consecration, and the people were pleased by him.
सो ऽभिषिक्तो महातेजा विधिवद् धर्मकोविदैः आधिराज्ये तदा राज्ञां पृथुर् वैण्यः प्रतापवान्
Thus consecrated with proper rites by those skilled in dharma, the mighty Pṛthu, son of Vena, became the sovereign of kings.
पित्रापरञ्जितास् तस्य प्रजास् तेनानुरञ्जिताः अनुरागात् ततस् तस्य नाम राजाभ्यजायत
His subjects, formerly displeased with his father, were won over by him; from their affection, he became known as 'the king'.
आपस् तस्तम्भिरे तस्य समुद्रम् अभियास्यतः पर्वताश् च ददुर् मार्गं ध्वजभङ्गश् च नाभवत्
As he approached the ocean, the waters held back for him, the mountains made a path, and no banners were broken.
अकृष्टपच्या पृथिवी सिध्यन्त्य् अन्नानि चिन्तनात् सर्वकामदुघा गावः पुटके पुटके मधु
The earth yielded crops without plowing, food was produced by mere thought, cows granted every wish, and honey was found in every hollow.
एतस्मिन्न् एव काले तु यज्ञे पैतामहे शुभे सूतः सूत्यां समुत्पन्नः सौत्ये ऽहनि महामतिः
At that very time, during the auspicious ancestral sacrifice, a wise Sūta was born on the day of the Sūti rite.
तस्मिन्न् एव महायज्ञे जज्ञे प्राज्ञो ऽथ मागधः पृथोः स्तवार्थं तौ तत्र समाहूतौ महर्षिभिः
In that great sacrifice, a learned Māgadha was also born, and both were summoned by the great sages to praise Pṛthu.
ताव् ऊचुर् ऋषयः सर्वे स्तूयताम् एष पार्थिवः कर्मैतद् अनुरूपं वां पात्रं चायं नराधिपः
All the sages said to them, 'Let this king be praised; this deed suits you both, and this lord of men is worthy.'
ताव् ऊचतुस् तदा सर्वांस् तान् ऋषीन् सूतमागधौ आवां देवान् ऋषींश् चैव प्रीणयावः स्वकर्मभिः
Then the Sūta and Māgadha replied to all those sages, 'We please the gods and seers with our own deeds.'
न चास्य विद्मो वै कर्म नाम वा लक्षणं यशः स्तोत्रं येनास्य कुर्याव राज्ञस् तेजस्विनो द्विजाः
But we do not know his deeds, his name, or his qualities, O Brahmins, by which we might compose a praise for this glorious king.
ऋषिभिस् तौ नियुक्तौ तु भविष्यैः स्तूयताम् इति यानि कर्माणि कृतवान् पृथुः पश्चान् महाबलः
The sages instructed them, 'Let him be praised for future deeds—whatever great acts Pṛthu will later accomplish.'
ततः प्रभृति वै लोके स्तवेषु मुनिसत्तमाः आशीर्वादाः प्रयुज्यन्ते सूतमागधबन्दिभिः
From that time onward, O best of sages, blessings are pronounced in praises by Sūtas, Māgadhas, and bards.
तयोः स्तवान्ते सुप्रीतः पृथुः प्रादात् प्रजेश्वरः अनूपदेशं सूताय मगधं मागधाय च
At the end of their praise, well pleased, Pṛthu, lord of the people, granted the Sūta the land of Anūpa and the Māgadha the land of Magadha.
तं दृष्ट्वा परमप्रीताः प्रजाः प्रोचुर् मनीषिणः वृत्तीनाम् एष वो दाता भविष्यति नराधिपः
Seeing him, the wise among the people, filled with utmost joy, said: 'This king will be the giver of your livelihoods.'
ततो वैण्यं महात्मानं प्रजाः समभिदुद्रुवुः त्वं नो वृत्तिं विधत्स्वेति महर्षिवचनात् तदा
Then the people approached the great-souled son of Vena and said, in accordance with the words of the great sages: 'You must provide for our sustenance.'
सो ऽभिद्रुतः प्रजाभिस् तु प्रजाहितचिकीर्षया धनुर् गृह्य पृषत्कांश् च पृथिवीम् आद्रवद् बली
Thus urged by the people, desiring their welfare, the mighty one took up his bow and arrows and set out upon the earth.
ततो वैण्यभयत्रस्ता गौर् भूत्वा प्राद्रवन् मही तां पृथुर् धनुर् आदाय द्रवन्तीम् अन्वधावत
Then, terrified by Vena's son, the earth assumed the form of a cow and fled; Pṛthu, seizing his bow, pursued her as she ran.
सा लोकान् ब्रह्मलोकादीन् गत्वा वैण्यभयात् तदा प्रददर्शाग्रतो वैण्यं प्रगृहीतशरासनम्
She, out of fear of Vena's son, fled to all the worlds, even to Brahmā's realm, but everywhere saw Vena's son before her, armed with a drawn bow.
ज्वलद्भिर् निशितैर् बाणैर् दीप्ततेजसम् अन्ततः महायोगं महात्मानं दुर्धर्षम् अमरैर् अपि
With blazing, sharp arrows, radiant in his splendor, he appeared everywhere—a great yogin, a great soul, unconquerable even by the immortals.
अलभन्ती तु सा त्राणं वैण्यम् एवान्वपद्यत कृताञ्जलिपुटा भूत्वा पूज्या लोकैस् त्रिभिस् तदा
Finding no refuge, she turned back to Vena's son, joining her palms in reverence, honored then by the three worlds.
उवाच वैण्यं नाधर्मं स्त्रीवधे परिपश्यसि कथं धारयिता चासि प्रजा राजन् विना मया
She said to Vena's son: 'You do not see unrighteousness in slaying a woman; how will you sustain the people, O king, without me?
मयि लोकाः स्थिता राजन् मयेदं धार्यते जगत् मद्विनाशे विनश्येयुः प्रजाः पार्थिव विद्धि तत्
O king, the worlds exist in me; by me this universe is supported. Know, O ruler of men, that if I perish, the people would also perish.'
न माम् अर्हसि हन्तुं वै श्रेयश् चेत् त्वं चिकीर्षसि प्रजानां पृथिवीपाल शृणु चेदं वचो मम
You ought not to kill me; if you wish for the welfare of the people, O protector of the earth, listen to these words of mine.
उपायतः समारब्धाः सर्वे सिध्यन्त्य् उपक्रमाः उपायं पश्य येन त्वं धारयेथाः प्रजाम् इमाम्
All undertakings succeed when begun with proper means; find a way by which you may sustain these people.
हत्वापि मां न शक्तस् त्वं प्रजानां पोषणे नृप अनुकूला भविष्यामि यच्छ कोपं महामते
Even if you kill me, you will not be able to nourish the people, O king. I will be favorable to you; restrain your anger, O great-minded one.
अवध्यां च स्त्रियं प्राहुस् तिर्यग्योनिगतेष्व् अपि यद्य् एवं पृथिवीपाल न धर्मं त्यक्तुम् अर्हसि
It is said that a woman must not be slain, even among animals. If this is so, O protector of the earth, you should not abandon righteousness.
एवं बहुविधं वाक्यं श्रुत्वा राजा महामनाः कोपं निगृह्य धर्मात्मा वसुधाम् इदम् अब्रवीत्
Hearing these many words, the great-minded king, self-controlled and righteous, restrained his anger and spoke to the earth.