शृङ्गवान् पर्वतश्रेष्ठः पितॄणां प्रतिसंचरः इत्येतानि मयोक्तानि नववर्षाणि भारते
Śṛṅgavān, the foremost of mountains, is the path of return for the ancestors; thus have I described the nine regions of Bhārata.
भूतैरपि निविष्टानि गतिमन्ति ध्रुवाणि च तेषां वृद्धिर्बहुविधा दृश्यते देवमानुषैः अशक्या परिसंख्यातुं श्रद्धेया च बुभूषता
These are inhabited even by spirits, possessing movement and stability; their growth is seen in many forms by gods and humans, impossible to enumerate and worthy of faith for the seeker.
चरितं बुधपुत्रस्य जनार्दन मया श्रुतम् श्रुतः श्राद्धविधिः पुण्यः सर्वपापप्रणाशनः
O Janārdana, I have heard the deeds of Budha’s son, and the sacred rite of Śrāddha, which destroys all sins.
धेन्वाः प्रसूयमानायाः फलं दानस्य मे श्रुतम् कृष्णाजिनप्रदानं च वृषोत्सर्गस्तथैव च
I have heard of the fruit of giving a cow at the time of her calving, the gift of a black antelope skin, and likewise the release of a bull.
श्रुत्वा रूपं नरेन्द्रस्य बुधपुत्रस्य केशव कौतूहलं समुत्पन्नं तन्ममाचक्ष्व पृच्छतः
Having heard of the form of the king, Budha’s son, O Keśava, curiosity has arisen in me; tell me of it as I ask.
केन कर्मविपाकेन स तु राजा पुरूरवाः अवाप तादृशं रूपं सौभाग्यमपि चोत्तमम्
By what action and its result did that king, Purūravas, obtain such a form and also supreme good fortune?
देवांस्त्रिभुवनश्रेष्ठान् गन्धर्वांश्च मनोरमान् उर्वशी संमता त्यक्त्वा सर्वभावेन तं नृपम्
Urvaśī, esteemed among the gods, the best of the three worlds, and the enchanting Gandharvas, abandoned all for that king with her whole being.
शृणु कर्मविपाकेन येन राजा पुरूरवाः अवाप तादृशं रूपं सौभाग्यमपि चोत्तमम्
Hear by what action and its result King Purūravas obtained such a form and also supreme good fortune.
अतीते जन्मनि पुरा यो ऽयं राजा पुरूरवाः पुरूरवा इति ख्यातो मद्रदेशाधिपो हि सः
In a former birth, that king Purūravas, famed as Purūravas, was the lord of the Madra land.
चाक्षुषस्यान्वये राजा चाक्षुषस्यान्तरे मनोः स वै नृपगुणैर्युक्तः केवलं रूपवर्जितः
In the lineage of Cākṣuṣa, during the interval of Cākṣuṣa Manu, that king was endowed with royal virtues, but was lacking in beauty.
पुरूरवा मद्रपतिः कर्मणा केन पार्थिवः बभूव कर्मणा केन रूपवांश्चैव सूतज
By what deed did Purūravas, lord of Madra, become a king, and by what deed, O son of a charioteer, did he become handsome?
द्विजग्रामे द्विजश्रेष्ठो नाम्ना चासीत्पुरूरवाः नद्याः कूले महाराजः पूर्वजन्मनि पार्थिवः
In a village of twice-borns, there was a foremost Brāhmaṇa named Purūravas, who, in a previous birth, was a great king on the riverbank.
स तु मद्रपती राजा यस्तु नाम्ना पुरूरवाः तस्मिञ्जन्मन्यसौ विप्रो द्वादश्यां तु सदानघ
That king of Madra, named Purūravas, in that birth was a Brāhmaṇa, O sinless one, on the twelfth day.
उपोष्य पूजयामास राज्यकामो जनार्दनम् चकार सोपवासश्च स्नानम् अभ्यङ्गपूर्वकम्
Desiring sovereignty, he fasted and worshipped Janārdana, performing the vow with bathing and anointing as prescribed.
उपवासफलात्प्राप्तं राज्यं मद्रेष्वकण्टकम् उपोषितस् तथाभ्यङ्गाद् रूपहीनो व्यजायत
From the fruit of his fasting, he obtained a kingdom in Madra without obstacles; but because of bathing with anointing while fasting, he was born lacking beauty.
उपोषितैर्नरैस् तस्मात् स्नानम् अभ्यङ्गपूर्वकम् वर्जनीयं प्रयत्नेन रूपघ्नं तत्परं नृप
Therefore, O king, one who fasts should carefully avoid bathing with anointing, for it destroys beauty.
एतद्वः कथितं सर्वं यद्वृत्तं पूर्वजन्मनि मद्रेश्वरत्वचरितं शृणु तस्य महीपतेः
All this has been told to you, what transpired in a former birth—the deeds of the lord of Madra; listen to the story of that king.
तस्य राजगुणैः सर्वैः समुपेतस्य भूपतेः जनानुरागो नैवासीद् रूपहीनस्य तस्य वै
Though that ruler possessed every royal virtue, he did not win the people's affection, for he lacked beauty.
रूपकामः स मद्रेशस् तपसे कृतनिश्चयः राज्यं मन्त्रिगतं कृत्वा जगाम हिमपर्वतम्
Desiring beauty, the lord of Madra resolved upon austerity; entrusting his kingdom to his ministers, he departed for the snowy mountain.
व्यवसायद्वितीयस्तु पद्भ्यम् एव महायशाः द्रष्टुं स तीर्थसदनं विषयान्ते स्वके नदीम्
With steadfast determination, renowned for his greatness, he went on foot to see the sacred abode at the edge of his realm, his own river.
ऐरावतीति विख्यातां ददर्शातिमनोरमाम्
He beheld the river named Airavati, exceedingly charming.
तुहिनगिरिभवां महौघवेगां तुहिनगभस्तिसमानशीतलोदाम्
Born of the snowy mountain, with mighty currents, its waters as cool as the rays of the snowy peak.
तुहिनसदृशहैमवर्णपुञ्जां तुहिनयशाः सरितं ददर्श राजा
The king saw the river, radiant with golden hues like snow, its brilliance rivaling the snowy mountain.
स ददर्श नदीं पुण्यां दिव्यां हैमवतीं शुभाम् गन्धर्वैश्च समाकीर्णां नित्यं शक्रेण सेविताम्
He saw the sacred river, divine and auspicious, the Haemavati, always frequented by Gandharvas and served by Indra.
सुरेभमदसंसिक्तां समन्तात्तु विराजिताम् मध्येन शक्रचापाभां तस्मिन्नहनि सर्वदा
Splendid all around, sprinkled with the intoxication of celestial elephants, in its midst always shining with the colors of Indra's bow.
तपस्विशरणोपेतां महाब्राह्मणसेविताम् ददर्श तपनीयाभां महाराजः पुरूरवाः
The great king Pururavas saw it, a refuge for ascetics, served by eminent Brahmins, glowing like gold.
सितहंसावलिच्छन्नां काशचामरराजिताम् साभिषिक्तामिव सतां पश्यन्प्रीतिं परां ययौ
Covered with rows of white swans, adorned with Kashmiri fans, appearing as if consecrated by the virtuous; seeing it, he felt supreme delight.
पुण्यां सुशीतलां हृद्यां मनसः प्रीतिवर्धिनीम् क्षयवृद्धियुतां रम्यां सोममूर्तिमिवापराम्
Sacred, pleasantly cool, delightful, increasing joy in the mind, possessing waxing and waning beauty, charming like another form of Soma.
सुशीतशीघ्रपानीयां द्विजसंघनिषेविताम् सुतां हिमवतः श्रेष्ठां चञ्चद्वीचिविराजिताम्
With cool, swift waters, served by groups of twice-born, the best daughter of Himavat, splendid with dancing waves.
अमृतस्वादुसलिलां तापसैरुपशोभिताम् स्वर्गारोहणनिःश्रेणीं सर्वकल्मषनाशिनीम्
Its water tasted like nectar, beautified by ascetics, a stairway to heaven, destroying all sins.