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.
यस्यास्तीरे रतिं यान्ति सदा कामवशा मृगाः तपोवनाश्च ऋषयस् तथा देवाः सहाप्सराः
On its shore, always compelled by desire, animals, ascetics from forest hermitages, and even gods with Apsarases, find delight.
लभन्ते यत्र पूताङ्गा देवेभ्यः प्रतिमानिताः स्त्रियश्च नाकबहुलाः पद्मेन्दुप्रतिमाननाः
There, women of pure bodies, honored even by the gods, and celestial maidens with faces like lotuses and the moon, are found in abundance.
या बिभर्ति सदा तोयं देवसंघैरपीडितम् पुलिन्दैर्नृपसंघैश्च व्याघ्रवृन्दैरपीडितम्
She always bears water, pressed by hosts of gods, as well as by Pulindas, groups of kings, and bands of tigers.
सतामरसपानीयां सतारगगनामलाम् स तां पश्यन्ययौ राजा सतामीप्सितकामदाम्
With water fit for the drinking of gods, pure as the sky with stars, the king beheld her—she who grants the wishes of the virtuous.
यस्यास्तीररुहैः काशैः पूर्णैश्चन्द्रांशुसंनिभैः राजते विविधाकारै रम्यतीरं महाद्रुमैः या सदा विविधैर्विप्रैर् देवैश्चापि निषेव्यते
Her banks shine with tall kāśa grass, full and bright as moonbeams, and with great trees of many forms; her lovely shore is always frequented by various sages and gods.
या च सदा सकलौघविनाशं भक्तजनस्य करोत्यचिरेण यानुगता सरितां हि कदम्बैर् यानुगता सततं हि मुनीन्द्रैः
She always swiftly destroys all the troubles of her devoted people; she is followed by flocks of rivers and constantly by great sages.
या हि सुतानिव पाति मनुष्यान् या च युता सततं हिमसंघैः या च युता सततं सुरवृन्दैर् या च जनैः स्वहिताय श्रिता वै
She protects humans as if they were her own children, is always joined by bands of snow, always accompanied by hosts of gods, and is sought by people for their own welfare.
प्रयुक्ता च केसरिगणैः करिवृन्दजुष्टा संतानयुक्तसलिलापि सुवर्णयुक्ता सूर्यांशुतापपरिवृद्धिविवृद्धशीता शीतांशुतुल्ययशसा ददृशे नृपेण
Enjoyed by groups of lions and elephants, her waters are full of offspring, adorned with gold, cooled and warmed by the sun's rays, and her fame equals that of the moon, as seen by the king.
आलोकयन्नदीं पुण्यां तत्समीरहृतश्रमः स गच्छन्नेव ददृशे हिमवन्तं महागिरिम्
Beholding that sacred river, his fatigue swept away by its breeze, as he went on, the king saw the great mountain Himavat.
खमुल्लिखद्भिर्बहुभिर् वृतं शृङ्गैस्तु पाण्डुरैः पक्षिणामपि संचारैर् विना सिद्धगतिं शुभाम्
Covered with many pale peaks that seemed to scratch the sky, and where even birds could not move freely, lacking the auspicious paths of the Siddhas.