अवन्ती नाम नगरी मालवे भुवि विश्रुता बभूव तस्य नृपतेः पृथिवी ककुदोपमा
There was a city named Avanti, famed in the land of Malava, whose king was as eminent as the summit of the earth.
हृष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णा दृढप्राकारतोरणा दृढयन्त्रार्गलद्वारा परिखाभिर् अलंकृता
Filled with joyful and prosperous people, with strong ramparts and gateways, sturdy locks and doors, adorned with moats.
नानावणिक्समाकीर्णा नानाभाण्डसुविक्रिया रथ्यापणवती रम्या सुविभक्तचतुष्पथा
Crowded with merchants of many kinds, offering various fine wares, delightful with streets and shops, and well-divided crossroads.
गृहगोपुरसंबाधा वीथीभिः समलंकृता राजहंसनिभैः शुभ्रैश् चित्रग्रीवैर् मनोहरैः
Adorned with houses and towers, its avenues beautified, with royal swans—white, splendid, and charming with variegated necks.
अनेकशतसाहस्रैः प्रासादैः समलंकृता यज्ञोत्सवप्रमुदिता गीतवादित्रनिस्वना
Adorned with hundreds of thousands of mansions, joyful with sacrificial festivals, resounding with songs and musical instruments.
नानावर्णपताकाभिर् ध्वजैश् च समलंकृता हस्त्यश्वरथसंकीर्णा पदातिगणसंकुला
Decorated with flags of many colors and banners, crowded with elephants, horses, chariots, and throngs of foot soldiers.
नानायोधसमाकीर्णा नानाजनपदैर् युता ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्रियैर् वैश्यैः शूद्रैश् चैव द्विजातिभिः
Filled with warriors of all kinds, joined by people from various regions, with Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and twice-born.
समृद्धा सा मुनिश्रेष्ठा विद्वद्भिः समलंकृता न तत्र मलिनाः सन्ति न मूर्खा नापि निर्धनाः
That city, O best of sages, was prosperous and adorned with learned people; there were no dirty, ignorant, or poor persons there.
न रोगिणो न हीनाङ्गा न द्यूतव्यसनान्विताः सदा हृष्टाः सुमनसो दृश्यन्ते पुरुषाः स्त्रियः
There were no sick, no disabled, none addicted to gambling; always joyful and good-natured men and women were seen.
क्रीडन्ति स्म दिवा रात्रौ हृष्टास् तत्र पृथक् पृथक् सुवेषाः पुरुषास् तत्र दृश्यन्ते मृष्टकुण्डलाः
They played day and night, joyful in various ways; well-dressed men with polished earrings were seen there.
सुरूपाः सुगुणाश् चैव दिव्यालंकारभूषिताः कामदेवप्रतीकाशाः सर्वलक्षणलक्षिताः
They are beautiful in form, endowed with virtues, adorned with divine ornaments, resembling the god of love, and marked by all auspicious features.
सुकेशाः सुकपोलाश् च सुमुखाः श्मश्रुधारिणः ज्ञातारः सर्वशास्त्राणां भेत्तारः शत्रुवाहिनीम्
With lovely hair and cheeks, pleasant faces, and bearing mustaches, they are learned in all scriptures and breakers of enemy armies.
दातारः सर्वरत्नानां भोक्तारः सर्वसंपदाम् स्त्रियस् तत्र मुनिश्रेष्ठा दृश्यन्ते सुमनोहराः
They are givers of all jewels, enjoyers of every wealth; and there, O best of sages, women of enchanting beauty are seen.
हंसवारणगामिन्यः प्रफुल्लाम्भोजलोचनाः सुमध्यमाः सुजघनाः पीनोन्नतपयोधराः
They walk with the grace of swans and elephants, their eyes blooming like lotuses, with slender waists, shapely hips, and full, high breasts.
सुकेशाश् चारुवदनाः सुकपोलाः स्थिरालकाः हावभावानतग्रीवाः कर्णाभरणभूषिताः
With beautiful hair, charming faces, lovely cheeks, steady locks, graceful necks expressive in movement, and adorned with ear ornaments.
बिम्बौष्ठ्यो रञ्जितमुखास् ताम्बूलेन विराजिताः सुवर्णाभरणोपेताः सर्वालंकारभूषिताः
With lips like bimba fruit, faces brightened by betel, adorned with golden jewelry, and embellished with every ornament.
श्यामावदाताः सुश्रोण्यः काञ्चीनूपुरनादिताः दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरा दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनाः
Dark and fair, with lovely hips, their girdles and anklets resound; they wear divine garlands and garments, and are anointed with heavenly fragrances.
विदग्धाः सुभगाः कान्ताश् चार्वङ्ग्यः प्रियदर्शनाः रूपलावण्यसंयुक्ताः सर्वाः प्रहसिताननाः
Skilled, fortunate, lovely, with graceful forms and pleasing to behold, all of them radiant with beauty and charm, their faces always smiling.
क्रीडन्त्यश् च मदोन्मत्ताः सभासु चत्वरेषु च गीतवाद्यकथालापै रमयन्त्यश् च ताः स्त्रियः
Playful and intoxicated with delight, in assemblies and courtyards, these women enchant with song, music, stories, and conversation.
वारमुख्याश् च दृश्यन्ते नृत्यगीतविशारदाः प्रेक्षणालापकुशलाः सर्वयोषिद्गुणान्विताः
There are also chief courtesans, skilled in dance and song, adept in glances and conversation, possessing all the virtues of women.
अन्याश् च तत्र दृश्यन्ते गुणाचार्याः कुलस्त्रियः पतिव्रताश् च सुभगा गुणैः सर्वैर् अलंकृताः
Others are seen there as teachers of virtue, noble women of good families, devoted to their husbands, adorned with every excellence.
वनैश् चोपवनैः पुण्यैर् उद्यानैश् च मनोरमैः देवतायतनैर् दिव्यैर् नानाकुसुमशोभितैः
There are sacred forests and groves, delightful gardens, and divine temples, all adorned with various kinds of flowers.
शालैस् तालैस् तमालैश् च बकुलैर् नागकेसरैः पिप्पलैः कर्णिकारैश् च चन्दनागुरुचम्पकैः
With shala, tala, tamala, bakula, nagakesara, pippala, karnikara, sandalwood, aguru, and champaka trees.
पुंनागैर् नारिकेरैश् च पनसैः सरलद्रुमैः नारङ्गैर् लकुचैर् लोध्रैः सप्तपर्णैः शुभाञ्जनैः
With puṇnāga, coconut, jackfruit, and pine trees, orange, lakucha, lodhra, saptaparṇa, and auspicious anjana trees.
चूतबिल्वकदम्बैश् च शिंशपैर् धवखादिरैः पाटलाशोकतगरैः करवीरैः सितेतरैः
With mango, bilva, kadamba, shimshapa, dhava, khadira, patala, ashoka, tagara, and white and other kinds of karavira trees.
पीतार्जुनकभल्लातैः सिद्धैर् आम्रातकैस् तथा न्यग्रोधाश्वत्थकाश्मर्यैः पलाशैर् देवदारुभिः
With yellow arjuna, bhallataka, siddha, amrataka, as well as banyan, sacred fig, kashmarya, palasha, and deodar trees.
मन्दारैः पारिजातैश् च तिन्तिडीकविभीतकैः प्राचीनामलकैः प्लक्षैर् जम्बूशिरीषपादपैः
With mandara, parijata, tamarind, vibhitaka, prachina amalaki, plaksha, jambu, and shirisha trees.
कालेयैः काञ्चनारैश् च मधुजम्बीरतिन्दुकैः खर्जूरागस्त्यबकुलैः शाखोटकहरीतकैः
With kaleya, kanchanara, madhu-jambira, tinduka, date, agastya, bakula, shakotaka, and haritaka trees.
कङ्कोलैर् मुचुकुन्दैश् च हिन्तालैर् बीजपूरकैः केतकीवनखण्डैश् च अतिमुक्तैः सकुब्जकैः
With kankola, mucukunda, hintala, bijapura, and clusters of ketaki groves, along with atimukta and kubjaka trees,
मल्लिकाकुन्दबाणैश् च कदलीखण्डमण्डितैः मातुलुङ्गैः पूगफलैः करुणैः सिन्धुवारकैः
With jasmine, kundabana, and adorned with clusters of banana trees, with matulunga, areca nuts, karuna, and sindhuvara fruits,