गङ्गां भगीरथायाः चिन्तयामा स धारणे
Bhagiratha concentrated his mind on bringing the Ganga.
आनीय तज्जलैः स्पृष्ट्वा पूतान्निन्ये दिवं पितॄन्
Having brought her, he touched the ancestors with her waters, purified them, and led them to heaven.
यस्य पुत्रो मित्रसहः सर्वलोकेषु विश्रुतः
His son was Mitrasaha, renowned in all the worlds.
गङ्गाबिन्दुनिषेवेणंपुनर्मुक्तो नृपो ऽभवत्
By worshipping with drops of Ganga, the king was once more liberated.
गङ्गाबिन्दूभिषेकेण पुनः शुद्धो ऽबयत्कथम्
How was he purified again by the bathing with drops of Ganga?
शृण्वतां वदतां चैव गङ्गाख्यानं शुभावहम्
Hearing and reciting the story of Ganga brings auspiciousness.
बुभुजे पृथिवीं सर्वां पितृवद्रञ्जयन्प्रजाः
He enjoyed the entire earth, pleasing his subjects like a father.
रक्षिता तद्वदमुना सर्वधर्माविरोधिना
He protected it just as his father did, without violating any dharma.
त्रिंशदष्टसहस्राणि बुभुजे पृथिवीं युवा
As a young man, he ruled the earth for thirty-eight thousand years.
विवेश्व सबलः सम्यक् शोधितं ह्यासमन्त्रिभिः
He entered, with his army, the well-cleansed assembly hall together with his ministers.
आससाद नदीं रेवां धर्मज्ञः स पिपासितः
That righteous one, being thirsty, approached the river Reva.
भुक्त्वा च मन्त्रिभिः सार्ध्दं तां निशां तत्र चावसत्
Having eaten with his ministers, he spent that night there.
बभ्राम मन्त्रिसहितो नर्मदातीरजे वने
He wandered in the forest on the banks of the Narmada, accompanied by his minister.
आकर्णकृष्टबाणः सत् कृष्णसारं समन्वगात्
With his arrow drawn to his ear, he pursued a black antelope.
व्याघ्रद्वयं गुहासंस्थमपश्थमपश्यत्सुरते रतम्
He saw two tigers in a cave, engaged in sexual union.
धनुःसंहितबाणेन तेनासौ शरशास्त्रवित्
That master of the science of arrows, with his bow readied and arrow set, confronted them.
पतमाना तु साव्याघ्री षट्रत्रिंशद्योजनायता
But the tigress, measuring thirty-six yojanas in length, leapt forth.
पतितां स्वप्रियां वीक्ष्य द्विषन्स व्याघ्रराक्षसः
Seeing his beloved fallen, the tiger-demon, his enemy, became enraged.
राजा तु भयसंविग्नो वनेसैन्यं समेत्य च
The king, greatly alarmed, gathered his army in the forest.
शङ्कमानस्तु तद्रक्षःकृत्या द्राजा सुदासजः
King Sudāsaja, suspecting that demon's deeds, became apprehensive.
गते बहुतिथे काले हयमेधमखं नृपः
After a long time had passed, the king performed an Aśvamedha sacrifice.
तत्र ब्रह्मादिदेवेभ्यो हविर्दत्त्वा यथाविधि
There, he offered oblations to Brahmā and the other gods, according to the prescribed rites.
कर्तुं प्रतिक्रियां राज्ञे समायातोरुषान्वितः
Then, filled with anger, he came to the king to demand recompense.
राजानमभ्येत्य जगाद भोक्ष्ये मांसं समिच्छाम्यहमित्युवाच
Approaching the king, he said: 'I wish to eat meat.'
स्थितश्च राजापि हरि यपात्रे धृत्वा गुरोरागमनं प्रतीक्षन्
The king stood holding the offering vessel for Hari, awaiting the arrival of his guru.
समागताय गुरुवे ददौ तस्मौ ससादरम्
When the guru arrived, he respectfully gave it to him.
तं दृष्ट्वा चिन्तयामास गुरुः किमिति विस्मितः
Seeing that, the guru wondered, astonished: 'Why is this so?'
अहो ऽस्य राज्ञो दौःशील्यमभक्ष्यं दत्तवान्मम
Alas, this king has acted wickedly—he has given me what is unfit to eat.
अभो ऽज्यं मद्विघाताय दत्त हि पृथिवीपते
O lord of the earth, you have given me impure food to harm me.
नृमांसं रक्षसामेव भोज्यं दत्तं मम त्वया
You have given me human flesh, which is food only for demons.