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.
अग्र्यां समुद्रमहिषीं महर्षिगणसेविताम् सर्वलोकस्य चौत्सुक्यकारिणीं सुमनोहराम्
Foremost, queen of the ocean, served by hosts of great sages, enchanting, stirring curiosity in all the worlds.
हितां सर्वस्य लोकस्य नाकमार्गप्रदायिकाम् गोकुलाकुलतीरान्तां रम्यां शैवालवर्जिताम्
Beneficial to all beings, granting the path to heaven, with banks crowded by herds of cows, lovely and free from Shaivala grass.
हंससारससंघुष्टां जलजैरुपशोभिताम् आवर्तनाभिगम्भीरां द्वीपोरुजघनस्थलीम्
Resounding with flocks of swans and cranes, adorned with water flowers, deep with swirling eddies, its banks broad like the hips of an island.
नीलनीरजनेत्राभाम् उत्फुल्लकमलाननाम् हिमाभफेनवसनां चक्रवाकाधरां शुभाम् बलाकापङ्क्तिदशनां चलन्मत्स्यावलिभ्रुवम्
With eyes like blue water, faces like blooming lotuses, clothed in snowy foam, beautiful, bearing Chakravaka birds, lined with cranes, its moving fish forming arched brows.
स्वजलोद्भूतमातंगरम्यकुम्भपयोधराम् हंसनूपुरसंघुष्टां मृणालवलयावलीम्
With breasts like the swelling temples of elephants born from its own waters, resounding with the jingling of swan anklets, adorned with garlands of lotus-stalk bangles.
तस्यां रूपमदोन्मत्ता गन्धर्वानुगताः सदा मध्याह्नसमये राजन् क्रीडन्त्यप्सरसां गणाः
There, always intoxicated by their own beauty, the hosts of Apsarases, accompanied by Gandharvas, play at midday, O King.
ताम् अप्सरोविनिर्मुक्तं वहन्तीं कुङ्कुमं शुभम् स्वतीरद्रुमसम्भूतनानावर्णसुगन्धिनीम्
Carrying away the pure saffron washed from the bodies of Apsarases, fragrant with the diverse scents of flowers growing on its own banks.
तरंगव्रातसंक्रान्तसूर्यमण्डलदुर्दृशम् सुरेभजनिताघातविकूलद्वयभूषिताम्
Its surface, crowded with waves, makes the sun's disk hard to see, and is adorned with the tumult of the gods' festive gatherings.
शक्रेभगण्डसलिलैर् देवस्त्रीकुचचन्दनैः संयुतं सलिलं तस्याः षट्पदैर् उपसेव्यते
Its waters, mingled with the sandal paste from the breasts of divine women and the water from Indra's cheeks, are served by bees.
तस्यास्तीरभवा वृक्षाः सुगन्धकुसुमाञ्चिताः तथापकृष्टसंभ्रान्तभ्रमरस्तनिताकुलाः
On its banks grow trees adorned with fragrant blossoms, and the air is filled with the restless buzzing of bees, disturbed and excited.