प्रकुर्वंस्तद्विधेयात्मा भ्रातॄणां चाविशेषतः
He, devoted to duty, did the same for his brothers without distinction.
इत्येष मृगयां गान्तुं चतुरङ्गबलान्वितः
Thus, he set out for the hunt, accompanied by a fourfold army.
ताराजालद्युतिहरैः समन्तादरुणांशुभिः
Surrounded on all sides by reddish rays that outshone the brilliance of the stars' network,
प्राभातिके गन्धवहे कुमुदाकरसंस्पृशि
In the fragrant morning, touching the pools of lotuses,
व्याहरन्स्वाकुला वाचो मनःश्रोत्रसुखावहाः
Uttering words, sweet to the mind and ears, though confused by excitement,
तत्तोये मुनिवृन्देषु गृणात्सुब्रह्म शाश्वतम्
In those waters, among the groups of sages, he praised the eternal Supreme Brahman.
आशमं प्रति गच्छत्सु मुनिमुख्येषु कर्मिषु
As the foremost sages, engaged in ritual actions, proceed towards their hermitages,
होमार्थं मुनिकल्पाभिर्दुह्यमानासु धेनुषु
and as cows, resembling ascetics, are milked for the purpose of sacrificial offerings,
अग्निहोत्राकुले जाते सर्वभूतसुखावहे
when a lineage devoted to the Agnihotra arises, bringing happiness to all beings,
वाशत्सु नीडान्निष्पत्य पतत्रिषु समन्ततः
as birds, having left their nests, call out everywhere,
गात्राल्हादविवर्द्धन्यां वेलायां मन्दवायुना
at the time when gentle breezes increase bodily delight,
स्वाध्या यदक्षैर्बहुभिरजिनांबरधारिभिः
when many, wearing garments of antelope skin, recite the sacred texts with unspent dice,
प्रैषेषूच्चार्यमाणेषु हूयमानेषु वह्निषु
as the prescribed mantras are uttered and the fires are kindled,
ज्वलदग्निशिखाकारे तमस्तपनतेजसि
in the brilliance that dispels darkness, resembling blazing tongues of fire,
सवितर्युदयं याति नैशे तमसि नश्यति
the sun rises, and the night’s darkness vanishes.
कृतमैत्रादिको राजा मृगयां हैहयेश्वरः
The king, renowned for his alliances, the lord of the Haihayas, goes hunting,
बलैः सर्वैः समुदितैः सवाजिरथकुञ्जरैः
accompanied by all his assembled forces, with horses, chariots, and elephants,
महता बलभारेण नमयन्वसुधातलम्
with the immense weight of his army, he bows down the surface of the earth,
स्वबलौघपदक्षेपप्रक्षुण्णावनिरेणुभिः
the dust of the ground is scattered by the strides of his multitude of troops,
संप्रवश्य वनं घोरं विन्ध्योद्रेर्बलसंचयैः
having entered the dreadful forest of the Vindhya mountain with his gathered forces,
परिवार्य वनं तत्तु स राजा निजसैनिकैः
that king surrounds the forest with his own soldiers,
आकर्णकृष्टकोदण्डयोधमुक्तैः शितेषुभिः
with sharp arrows released from bows drawn to the ear,
उदग्रवेगपादातखड्गखण्डितविग्रहाः
warriors, their bodies shattered by swords of those with swift-moving feet,
प्रचण्डशाक्तिकोन्मुक्तशक्तिनिर्भिन्नमस्तकाः
their heads split open by powerful spears hurled with fierce strength.
नाराचा विद्धसर्वाङ्गाः सिंहर्क्षशरभादयः
Lions, bears, sarabhas, and others, their bodies pierced all over by arrows,
एवं सवागुरैः कैश्चित्पतद्भिः पतितैरपि
In this way, some with nets, some with falling or fallen weapons,
आत्तैर्विक्रोशमानैश्च भीतैः प्राणभयातुरैः
And with those who, having taken up arms, cried out, terrified and distressed for their lives,
वराहसिंहशार्दूलश्वाविच्छशकुलानि च
Boars, lions, tigers, wolves, and jackals,
कृष्णसारान्द्वीपिमृगान्रक्तखड्गमृगानवि
Blackbucks, island-deer, blood-red sword-deer, and others,
बालान्स्तनन्धयान्यूनः स्थविरान्मिथुनान्गणान्
The young, the suckling, the incomplete, the old, and groups of pairs,