और्वाश्रमे विवृद्धश्च भवांस्तेनानुकंपितः
You grew up in Aurva's hermitage, and were shown compassion by him.
एवं प्रभावो नृपतिः कार्त्तवीर्यो ऽभवद्भुवि
Thus, King Kārtavīrya became renowned upon the earth.
यद्वंशजैर्जितो युद्धे पिता ते वनमादिशत्
When your father was defeated in battle by the descendants of that lineage, he directed you to the forest.
एतच्च सर्वमाख्यातं व्रतानामुत्तमं तव
All this has been related to you, the supreme vow.
न ह्यस्य कर्त्तुर्नृपतेः पुरुषार्थचतुष्टये
For the performer, O King, there is nothing lacking in the four aims of human life.
जामदग्न्यस्य च मुने किमन्यत्कथयामि ते
O sage, what else shall I tell you about Jamadagni?
ततः स सगरो राजा कृताञ्जलिपुटो मुनिम्
Then King Sagara, with hands joined in reverence, approached the sage.
सम्यक्तमुपदेशेन तत्रानुज्ञां प्रयच्छ मे
With proper instruction, grant me permission here.
इत्युक्तस्तेन राज्ञातु तथेत्युक्त्वा महामुनिः
Thus addressed by the king, the great sage replied, 'So be it.'
स दीक्षितो वसिष्ठेन सगरो राजसत्तमः
King Sagara, the best of kings, was initiated by Vasiṣṭha.
पूजयित्वा जगन्नाथं विधिना तेन पार्थिवः
Having worshipped Jagannatha according to the prescribed rite, the king—
प्रतिज्ञामकरोद्राजा व्रतमेतदनुत्तमम्
The king made a solemn vow, undertaking this supreme observance.
अथानुज्ञाप्य राजानं वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः
Then, having taken leave of the king, the venerable sage Vasishtha—
सन्निवर्त्यानुगच्छन्तं प्रजगाम निजाश्रमम्
Turned back from following him and returned to his own hermitage.
अयोध्यायामधिवस्न्पालयामास मेदिनीम्
He resided in Ayodhya and governed the land.
वयसैव स बालो ऽभूत्कर्मणा वृद्धसंमतः
Though still a youth in years, by his deeds he was esteemed as mature.
सुदीर्घं निःश्वसित्युष्णमुद्विग्नहृदयो ऽनिशम्
He would often sigh deeply and hotly, his heart troubled night and day.
शोकाविष्टः सरोषं सकलरिपुकुलोच्छित्तये सत्प्रतिज्ञश्चके सद्यः प्रतिज्ञां परिभवमनलं सोढुमिक्ष्वाकुवंश्यः
Overcome by grief and anger, intent on destroying all his enemies, the Ikshvaku scion, steadfast in his vow, at once endured the burning insult to his pledge.
रिपुं जेतुं मनश्चक्रे दिशश्च सकलाः क्रमात्
He resolved in his mind to conquer his foe, and gradually set his sights on all directions.
सर्वतः संवृतो राजा निश्चक्राम पुरोत्तमात्
Surrounded on all sides, the king departed from the great city.
मत्तैर्मातङ्गयूथैः सकुलगिरिकुलेनैव भूमण्डलेन श्वेतच्छत्रध्वजौघैरपि शशिसुकराभातखेनैव सार्द्धम्
With intoxicated elephant troops, with the earth itself as his family and mountain-clan, and with masses of white parasols and banners shining like the moon and its rays, he set forth.
प्रत्येकं चतुरङ्गसैन्यनिकरप्रक्षोदसंभूतभूरेणुप्रावृतिरुत्स्थली समभवद्भूमिस्तु तत्रानिशम्
Everywhere, the ground was constantly covered by clouds of dust raised by the advancing fourfold army divisions.
दूरादेवाभिशंसन्नरिनगरनिरोधेषु कर्माभिषङ्गे तेषां शीघ्रापयानक्षणमभिदिशति प्राणिधैर्यं विधत्ते
From afar, he would predict the enemy’s city blockades and military actions; at the moment of swift attack, he would direct his spies and display his courage.
विजिगीषुर्दिशो राजा राज्ञो यस्याभियास्यति
The king, desiring victory, advanced toward the realms of those kings whom he intended to subdue.
विजित्य नृपतीन्सर्वान्कृत्वा च स्वपदानुगान्
Having conquered all the kings, he made them his followers.
एवं स विसरन्दिक्षु दक्षिणाभिमुखो नृपः
Thus, as he moved through the regions, the king proceeded southward.
ततस्तस्य नृपैः सार्द्धं समग्ररथकुञ्जरैः
Then, together with those kings, with all their chariots and elephants—
राज्ञां यत्र सहस्राणि स बलानि महाहवे
Where thousands of kings and their armies gathered for the great battle.
जित्वा हैहयभूपालान्भङ्क्त्वा दग्ध्वा च तत्पुरीम्
Having conquered the Haihaya kings and having destroyed and burned their city,
समग्रबलसंमर्द्दप्रमृष्टाशेषभूतलः
the entire earth was trampled and crushed by the force of his army.