तस्य पुत्रस्तथेक्ष्वाकुः सूर्यवंशविवर्धनः । नवाभवन्सुतास्तस्य मनोरिक्ष्वाकुपूर्वजाः
His son was Ikshvaku, the increaser of the solar dynasty; Manu had nine sons, with Ikshvaku as the eldest.
तेषां नामानि राजेन्द्र शृणुष्वैकमनाः पुनः । इक्ष्वाकुरथ नाभागो धृष्टः शर्यातिरेव च
Hear again, O king, with focused mind, the names of those sons: Ikshvaku, then Nabhaga, Dhrishta, and also Sharyati;
नरिष्यन्तस्तथा प्रांशुर्नृगो दिष्टश्च सप्तमः । करूषश्च पृषध्रश्च नवैते मानवाः स्मृताः
Narisyanta, Pramshu, Nriga, Dishta as the seventh, Karusha, and Prishadhra—these nine are known as the sons of Manu.
इक्ष्वाकुस्तु मनोः पुत्रः प्रथमः समजायत । तस्य पुत्रशतं चासीज्ज्येष्ठो विकुक्षिरात्मवान्
Ikshvaku, the first son of Manu, was born; he had a hundred sons, the eldest being the virtuous Vikukshi.
नवानां वंशविस्तारं संक्षेपेण निशामय । शूराणां मनुपुत्राणां मनोरन्तरजन्मनाम्
Now hear in brief the expansion of the lineages of the nine, the heroic sons of Manu, born in different ages.
नाभागस्य तु पुत्रोऽभूदम्बरीषः प्रतापवान् । धर्मज्ञः सत्यसन्धश्च प्रजापालनतत्परः
Nabhaga's son was Ambarisha, renowned for his prowess, knower of righteousness, truthful, and devoted to the protection of his subjects.
धृष्टात्तु धार्ष्टकं क्षत्रं ब्रह्मभूतमजायत । संग्रामकातरं सम्यग्ब्रह्मकर्मरतं तथा
From Dhrishta was born the Dhrishtaka kshatriya line, which became brahminical, averse to battle, and devoted to the duties of the brahmins.
शर्यातेस्तनयश्चाभूदानर्तो नाम विश्रुतः । सुकन्या च तथा पुत्री रूपलावण्यसंयुता
Sharyati's son was Anarta, famed by name; and his daughter was Sukanya, endowed with beauty and charm.
च्यवनाय सुता दत्ता राज्ञाप्यन्धाय सुन्दरी । मुनिः सुलोचनो जातस्तस्याः शीलगुणेन ह
The beautiful daughter was given in marriage by the king to the sage Chyavana, though he was blind; from her was born a son, Sulocana, due to her virtuous conduct.
विहितो रविपुत्राभ्यामश्विभ्यामिति नः श्रुतम् । जनमेजय उवाच सन्देहोऽयं महान् ब्रह्मन् कथायां कथितस्त्वया
It is heard by us that he was endowed with sight by the Ashvins, sons of the Sun. Janamejaya said: O Brahmin, you have told a great doubt in this story.
यद्राजा मुनयेऽन्धाय दत्ता पुत्री सुलोचना । कुरूपा गुणहीना वा नारी लक्षणवर्जिता
When a king gives his daughter Sulocana to a blind sage, whether she is unattractive, lacking in virtues, or a woman without auspicious marks—
पुत्री यदा भवेद्राजा तदान्धाय प्रयच्छति । ज्ञात्वान्धं सुमुखीं कस्माद्दत्तवान्नृपसत्तमः
If the king has a daughter, he gives her to the blind man; knowing he is blind, why did the noble king give him a beautiful girl?
कारणं ब्रूहि मे ब्रह्मन्ननुग्राह्योऽस्मि सर्वदा । सूत उवाच - इति राज्ञो वचः श्रुत्वा परीक्षितसुतस्य वै
Tell me the reason, O Brahman; I am always eager for your kindness. Sūta said:— Upon hearing the king’s words, Parīkṣit’s son—
द्वैपायनः प्रसन्नात्मा तमुवाच हसन्निव । व्यास उवाच - वैवस्वतसुतः श्रीमाञ्छर्यातिर्नाम पार्थिवः
Dvaipāyana, with a cheerful heart, spoke to him as if smiling. Vyāsa said:— The illustrious son of Vaivasvata, named Śaryāti, was a king.
तस्य स्त्रीणां सहस्राणि चत्वार्यासन्परिग्रहाः । राजपुत्र्यः सरूपाश्च सर्वलक्षणसंयुताः
He had four thousand wives, all princesses, beautiful and endowed with every auspicious mark.
पत्न्यः प्रेमयुताः सर्वाः प्रिया राज्ञः सुसम्मताः । एका पुत्री तु तासां वै सुकन्या नाम सुन्दरी
All his wives were loving, dear to the king, and highly esteemed; among them was one daughter, named Sukanyā, who was beautiful.
पितुः प्रिया च मातॄणां सर्वासां चारुहासिनी । नगरान्नातिदूरेऽभूत्सरो मानससन्निभम्
She was beloved by her father and all her mothers, with a lovely smile; not far from the city was a lake resembling Mānas.
बद्धसोपानमार्गं च स्वच्छपानीयपूरितम् । हंसकारण्डवाकीर्णं चक्रवाकोपशोभितम्
It had steps leading down, was filled with clear drinking water, scattered with swans and cranes, and adorned by chakravāka ducks.
दात्यूहसारसाकीर्णं सर्वपक्षिगणावृतम् । पञ्चधाकमलोपेतं चञ्चरीकसुसेवितम्
It was filled with dātyūha and sāras birds, surrounded by all kinds of birds, adorned with five kinds of lotuses, and frequented by bees.
पार्श्वतश्च द्रुमाकीर्णं वेष्टितं पादपैः शुभैः । सालैस्तमालैः सरलैः पुन्नागाशोकमण्डितम्
Its sides were crowded with trees, encircled by auspicious plants—decorated with sāla, tamāla, sarala, punnāga, and aśoka trees.
वटाश्वत्थकदम्बैश्च कदलीखण्डराजितम् । जम्बीरैर्बीजपूरैश्च खर्जूरैः पनसैस्तथा
Adorned with banyan, fig, kadamba, and clusters of banana trees, with jambīra, bījapūra, date palms, and jackfruit trees as well.
क्रमुकैर्नारिकेलैश्च केतकैः काञ्चनद्रुमैः । यूथिकाजालकैः शुभ्रैः संवृतं मल्लिकागणैः
With betel, coconut, ketaka, and golden trees; covered by pure jasmine clusters and surrounded by groups of mallikā flowers.
जम्ब्वाम्रतिन्तिणीभिश्च करञ्जकुटजावृतम् । पलाशनिम्बखदिरबिल्वामलकमण्डितम्
Filled with jambū, mango, tamarind, karañja, and kuṭaja trees; adorned with palāśa, nimba, khadira, bilva, and āmalaka trees.
बभूव कोकिलारावः केकास्वनविराजितम् । तत्समीपे शुभे देशे पादपानां गणावृते
The calls of cuckoos and peacocks resounded there; in that beautiful place, surrounded by groups of trees—
भार्गवश्च्यवनः शान्तस्तापसः संस्थितो मुनिः । ज्ञात्वासौ विजनं स्थानं तपस्तेपे समाहितः
Bhārgava Cyavana, the peaceful ascetic, was established there; knowing it was a deserted spot, he practiced austerities with concentration.
कृत्वा दृढासनं मौनमाधाय जितमारुतः । इन्द्रियाणि च संयम्य त्यक्ताहारस्तपोनिधिः
He made a firm seat, adopted silence, controlled his breath, restrained his senses, abandoned food, and was dedicated to austerity.
जलपानादिरहितो ध्यायन्नास्ते पराम्बिकाम् । सवल्मीकोऽभवद्राजल्लँताभिः परिवेष्टितः
Without drinking water or anything else, he sat meditating on the Supreme Mother; O king, he became covered with creepers.
कालेन महता राजन् समाकीर्णः पिपीलिकैः । तथा स संवृतो धीमान्मृत्पिण्ड इव सर्वतः
Over a long period, O king, he was surrounded by ants; thus, the wise one became encased like a lump of clay on all sides.
कदाचित्स महीपालः कामिनीगणसंवृतः । आजगाम सरो राजन् विहर्तुमिदमुत्तमम्
Once, O King, a ruler surrounded by a company of women came to this excellent lake to enjoy himself.
शर्यातिः सुन्दरीवृन्दसंयुतः सलिलेऽमले । क्रीडासक्तो महीपालो बभूव कमलाकरे
King Śaryāti, accompanied by a group of beautiful women, became absorbed in play in the pure waters of the lotus-filled lake.