सूत उवाच एकदन्तस्य चरितं प्रवक्तुमुपचक्रमे
The Suta said: He began to narrate the story of Ekadanta.
नारायण उवाच एकदन्तस्य चरितं सर्वमंगलमंगलम्
Narayana said: The story of Ekadanta is the most auspicious of all.
एकदा कार्त्तवीर्य्यश्च जगाम मृगयां मुने
Once, O sage, Kartavirya went hunting.
निशामुखे दिनेऽतीते तत्र तस्थौ वने नृपः
When night had passed, the king stayed in the forest.
प्रातः सरोवरे राजा स्नातः शुचिरलंकृतः
In the morning, the king bathed in the lake, pure and well-adorned.
मुनिर्ददर्श राजानं शुष्ककण्ठौष्ठतालुकम्
The sage saw the king, his throat, lips, and palate parched.
ननाम सम्भमाद्राजा मुनिं सूर्य्यसमप्रभम्
With respect, the king bowed to the sage, radiant as the sun.
वृत्तान्तं कथयामास राजा चानशनादिकम्
The king told the sage the story, including his hunger and fasting.
विज्ञाप्य तं मुनिश्रेष्ठः प्रययौ स्वालयं मुदा
Having informed him, the best of sages joyfully returned to his own abode.
उवाच सा मुनिं भीतं भयं किं ते मम स्थितौ
She said to the frightened sage, 'Why do you fear while I am present?'
राजभोजनयोग्यार्हं यद्यद्द्रव्यं प्रयाचसे
Whatever goods you offer that are suitable for a royal feast,
सौवर्णानि च रौप्याणि पात्राणि विविधानि च
Gold and silver vessels, and various kinds of containers,
पात्राणि स्वादुपूर्णानि प्रददौ मुनये च सा
She gave vessels filled with sweet foods to the sage,
पनसाम्रश्रीफलानि नारिकेलादिकानि च
Jackfruit, mangoes, bilva fruits, coconuts, and others,
यवगोधूमचूर्णानां भक्ष्याणि विविधानि च
Various delicacies made from barley and wheat flour,
दुग्धानां च घृतानां च नदीर्दध्नां ददौ मुदा
With joy she gave rivers of milk, ghee, and curds,
पृथुकानां सुशालीनां पर्वतान्प्रददौ मुदा
With delight she gave mountains of fine, well-cooked rice flakes,
नृपयोग्यं कौतुकाच्च सुन्दरं वस्त्रभूषणम्
Out of joy, she gave beautiful garments and ornaments fit for a king,
भोजयामास राजानं ससैन्यमपि लीलया जगाम विस्मयं राजा दृष्ट्वा पात्राण्युवाच ह
She playfully fed the king along with his army; the king was amazed upon seeing the vessels and spoke,
राजोवाच ममासाध्यानि सहसा क्वागतान्यवलोकय
The king said: 'Behold, things unattainable for me have suddenly appeared—where did they come from?'
नृपाज्ञया च सचिवः सर्वं दृष्ट्वा मुनेर्गृहे
By the king’s command, the minister, after seeing everything in the sage’s house,
सचिव उवाच वह्निकुण्डं यज्ञकाष्ठकुशपुष्पफलान्वितम्
The minister said: 'A fire altar, with sacrificial wood, kusa grass, flowers, and fruits,'
कृष्णचर्मस्रुवस्रुग्भिः शिष्यसंघैश्च संकुलम्
Crowded with disciples, with black antelope skins and ladles,
वृक्षचर्मपरीधाना दृष्टाः सर्वे जटाधराः
All were seen wearing tree-bark garments, with matted hair,
चार्वंगी रुद्रवर्णाभा रक्तपङ्कजलोचना
A woman of beautiful form, with the complexion of Rudra, and eyes like red lotuses,
सर्वसम्पद्गुणाधारा साक्षादिव हरिप्रिया
The abode of all virtues and wealth, as if she were Hari’s beloved in person,
मुनिं ययाचे तां धेनुं निबद्धः कालपाशतः
Bound by the noose of time, he asked the sage for that cow,
पुण्यवान्बुद्धिमान्दैवाद्राजेन्द्रो ऽयाचत द्विजम्
Blessed and wise by destiny, the king asked the twice-born sage.
पापात्प्रजायते कर्म पापरूपं भयावहम्
From sin is born action of sinful nature, bringing fear.
पापाद्भुक्त्वा च नरकं कुत्सितं जन्म जीविनाम्
From sin, after experiencing hell, a wretched birth is obtained by living beings.