विस्फुरंतं तदा वेनं बलाद्गृह्य ततो रुषा । वेनस्य तस्य सव्योरुं ममंथुर्जातमन्यवः
Then, seizing Vena by force as he struggled, they, enraged, churned his left thigh.
कृष्णांजनचयोपेतमतिह्रस्वं विलक्षणम् । दीर्घास्यं च विरूपाक्षं नीलकंचुकवर्चसम्
What emerged was short, peculiar, covered in black soot, with a long face, deformed eyes, and clad in a dark garment.
लंबोदरं व्यूढकर्णमतिभीतं दुरोदरम् । ददृशुस्ते महात्मानो निषीदेत्यब्रुवंस्ततः
It had a pot belly, prominent ears, was extremely frightened, and had a sunken abdomen; the great sages saw it and said, 'Sit.'
तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा निषसाद भयातुरः । पर्वतेषु वनेष्वेव तस्य वंशः प्रतिष्ठितः
Hearing their words, terrified, it sat down; in the mountains and forests, its lineage was established.
निषादाश्च किराताश्च भिल्लानाहलकास्तथा । भ्रमराश्च पुलिंदाश्च ये चान्ये म्लेच्छजातयः
The Niṣādas, Kirātas, Bhillas, Āhalakas, Bhramaras, Pulindas, and other foreign tribes were born from him.
पापाचारास्तु ते सर्वे तस्मादंगात्प्रजज्ञिरे । अथ ते ऋषयः सर्वे प्रसन्नमनसस्ततः
All these, practicing wicked conduct, were born from that limb; then all the sages became pleased in mind.
गतकल्मषमेवं तं जातं वेनं नृपोत्तमम् । ममंथुर्दक्षिणं पाणिं तस्यैव च महात्मनः
Having thus removed impurity, they churned the right hand of that noble Vena, the eminent king.
मथिते तस्य पाणौ तु संजातं स्वेदमेव हि । पुनर्ममंथुस्ते विप्रा दक्षिणं पाणिमेव च
When his hand was churned, sweat appeared; again the Brahmins churned his right hand.
सुकरात्पुरुषो जज्ञे द्वादशादित्यसन्निभः । तप्तकांचनवर्णांगो दिव्यमाल्यांबरावृतः
From the right hand a man was born, resembling the twelve suns, with limbs of molten gold, adorned with divine garlands and garments.
दिव्याभरणशोभांगो दिव्यगंधानुलेपनः । मुकुटेनार्कवर्णेन कुंडलाभ्यां विराजते
His body shone with divine ornaments, anointed with celestial fragrance; he was radiant with a crown like the sun and with earrings.
महाकायो महाबाहू रूपेणाप्रतिमो भुवि । खड्गबाणधरो धन्वी कवची च महाप्रभुः
He was large-bodied, broad-armed, unmatched in form on earth, bearing sword and arrows, a bow, and armor, a mighty lord.
सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नः सर्वालंकारभूषणः । तेजसा रूपभावेन सुवर्णैश्च महामतिः
Endowed with all marks, adorned with every ornament, his brilliance and beauty, and golden intellect, were supreme.
दिवि इंद्रो यथा भाति भुवि वेनात्मजस्तथा । तस्मिञ्जाते महाभागे देवाश्च ऋषयोमलाः
Just as Indra shines in heaven, so did Vena's son shine on earth; when this great one was born, the gods and pure sages rejoiced.
उत्सवं चक्रिरे सर्वे वेनस्य तनयं प्रति । दीप्यमानः स्ववपुषा साक्षादग्निरिवोज्ज्वलः
All celebrated the birth of Vena's son; glowing with his own form, he was radiant like fire itself.
आद्यमाजगवं नाम धनुर्गृह्य महावरम् । शरान्दिव्यांश्च रक्षार्थे कवचं च महाप्रभम्
He took up the foremost bow named Ājagava, divine arrows for protection, and splendid armor.
जाते सति महाभागे पृथौ वीरे महात्मनि । संप्रह्रष्टानि भूतानि समस्तानि द्विजोत्तम
When the great and heroic Pṛthu was born, all beings, O best of twice-born, were filled with joy.
सर्वतीर्थानि तोयानि पुण्यानि विविधानि च । तस्याभिषेके विप्रेंद्राः सर्व एव प्रतस्थिरे
All sacred waters and various holy places were gathered; for his consecration, all the chief Brahmins assembled.
पितामहाद्या देवास्तु भूतानि विविधानि च । स्थावराणि चराण्येव अभ्यषिंचन्नराधिपम्
The gods beginning with the Pitāmahas, and all kinds of beings, both stationary and moving, anointed the king.
महावीरं प्रजापालं पृथुमेव द्विजोत्तम । पृथुर्वैन्यो राजराज्ये अभिगम्य चराचरैः
The great hero, protector of the people, Pṛthu, son of Vena, was approached by all beings, moving and unmoving, at the very moment of his sovereignty, O best of twice-born.
देवैर्विप्रैस्तथा सर्वैरभिषिक्तो महामनाः । राज्ञां समधिराज्ये वै पृथुर्वैन्यः प्रतापवान्
By the gods, by the brahmins, and by all others, the high-minded and glorious Pṛthu, son of Vena, was consecrated as the supreme king among kings.
तस्य पित्रा प्रजाः सर्वाः कदा नैवानुरंजिताः । तेनानुरंजिताः सर्वा मुमुदिरे सुखेन वै
All the subjects had never been won over by his father; but by him, all were won over and rejoiced in happiness.
अनुरागात्तस्य वीरस्य नाम राजेत्यजायत । प्रयातस्य सुवीरस्य समुद्रस्य द्विजोत्तम
Because of the affection for that heroic one, the name 'king' arose; when that excellent hero set out for the ocean, O best of twice-born.
आपस्तस्तंभिरे सर्वा भयात्तस्य महात्मनः । दुर्गं मार्गं विलोप्यैव सुमार्गं पर्वता ददुः
All the waters stood still out of fear of that great-souled one; the mountains, removing difficult paths, gave easy ways.
ध्वजभंगं न चक्रुस्ते गिरयः सर्व एव ते । अकृष्टपच्या पृथिवी सर्वत्र कामधेनवः
The mountains did not cause the breaking of banners at all; the earth, yielding crops without ploughing, was everywhere like wish-fulfilling cows.
पर्जन्यः कामवर्षी च वेदयज्ञान्महोत्सवान् । कुर्वंति ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे क्षत्रियाश्च तथा परे
The rain-cloud poured as desired, and great festivals of Vedic sacrifices were performed by all the brahmins and likewise by the kṣatriyas and others.
सर्वकामफला वृक्षास्तस्मिञ्छासति पार्थिवे । न दुर्भिक्षं न च व्याधिर्नाकालमरणं नृणाम्
The trees, yielding all desired fruits, flourished while that king ruled; there was no famine, no disease, nor untimely death among men.
सर्वे सुखेन जीवंति लोका धर्मपरायणाः । तस्मिञ्छासति दुर्धर्षे राजराजे महात्मनि
All people lived happily, devoted to righteousness, while that unconquerable, great-souled king of kings ruled.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु यज्ञे पैतामहे शुभे । सूत सूत्यां समुत्पन्नः सौम्येहनि महात्मनि
At that very time, during the auspicious ancestral sacrifice, Sūta was born at the Sūtyā ceremony, on an auspicious day, O great-souled one.
तस्मिन्नेव महायज्ञे जज्ञे प्राज्ञोऽथ मागधः । पृथोःस्तवार्थं तौ तत्र समाहूतौ महर्षिभिः
In that very great sacrifice, the wise Māgadha was also born; both were summoned there by the great sages for the praise of Pṛthu.
सूतस्य लक्षणं वक्ष्ये महापुण्यं द्विजोत्तमाः । शिखासूत्रेण संयुक्तो वेदाध्ययनतत्परः
I shall describe the characteristics of the Sūta, O best of twice-born; adorned with a topknot and sacred thread, devoted to Vedic study.