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,
एवं हत्वा मृगान् घोरान्हिंस्रप्रायानशेषतः
Thus, having slain the fierce and mostly violent beasts almost entirely,
मध्ये दिनकरे प्राप्ते ससैन्यः स तदा नृपः
When midday arrived, that king with his army,
अवतीय ततस्तस्यास्तोये सबलवाहनः
Then descended with his troops and vehicles into those waters,
स्नात्वा पीत्वा च सलिलं स तस्याः सुखशीतलम्
Having bathed and drunk the cool, pleasant water,
विक्रीड्य तोये सुचिरमुत्तीर्य सबलो नृपः
The king, with his forces, played in the water for a long time and then emerged,
आलंबपाने तिग्मांशौ ससैन्यः सानुगो नृपः
When the sun was fierce, the king, with his army and followers, drank while standing,
स गच्छन्नेव ददृशे नर्मदा तीरमाश्रितम्
As he was going, he saw the bank of the Narmada river,
ततो निवृत्य सैन्यानि दूरे ऽवस्थाप्य पार्थिवः
Then, withdrawing, the king stationed his armies at a distance,
गत्वा तदाश्रमं रम्यं पुरोहितसमन्वितः
Then, accompanied by his priest, he went to that beautiful hermitage,
अभिनं द्याशषा तं वै जमदग्निर्नृपोत्तमम्
There, Jamadagni saw that best of kings,