सर्वशास्त्रार्थवेत्तासावग्निहोत्रमुपासते । दानाध्ययनसंपन्नो ब्रह्माचारपरायणः
He knows the meaning of all scriptures, worships the sacred fire, is accomplished in giving and study, and is devoted to the conduct of brahmins.
देवानां ब्राह्मणानां च पूजनाभिरतः सदा । याचकस्तावकैः पुण्यैर्वेदमंत्रैर्यजेत्किल
Always engaged in honoring the gods and brahmins, he is a supplicant, and with auspicious hymns, he is said to worship with Vedic mantras.
ब्रह्माचारपरो नित्यं संबंधं ब्राह्मणैः सह । एवं स मागधो जज्ञे वेदाध्ययनवर्जितः
Constantly devoted to the conduct of brahmins, he maintains association with brahmins; thus the Māgadha was born, though without Vedic study.
बंदिनश्चारणाः सर्वे ब्रह्माचारविवर्जिताः । ज्ञेयास्ते च महाभागाः स्तावकाः प्रभवंति ते
All the bards and chāraṇas, lacking the conduct of brahmins, are to be known as highly fortunate; they become praisers.
स्तवनार्थमुभौ सृष्टौ निपुणौ सूतमागधौ । तावूचुर्ऋषयः सर्वे स्तूयतामेष पार्थिवः
For the purpose of praise, both the skilled Sūta and Māgadha were created; all the sages said to them, 'Let this king be praised.'
कर्मैतदनुरूपं च यादृशोयं नराधिपः । तावूचतुस्तदा सर्वांस्तानृषीन्बंदिमागधौ
Such is the fitting act for this lord of men; then the bard and Māgadha spoke to all those sages.
आवां देवानृषींश्चैव प्रीणयावः स्वकर्मभिः । न चास्य विद्वो वै कर्म न तथा लक्षणं यशः
We please the gods and sages through our own actions; but the wise do not consider action alone to be the true mark of fame.
कर्मणा येन कुर्यावः स्तोत्रमस्य महात्मनः । जानीवस्तन्न विप्रेंद्रा अविज्ञातगुणस्य हि
By our deeds, we compose a hymn in praise of this great soul; yet, O best of Brahmins, we do not fully know the virtues of one whose qualities are still hidden.
भविष्यैस्तैर्गुणैः पुण्यैः स्तोतव्योयं नरोत्तमः । कृतवान्यानि कर्माणि पृथुरेव महायशाः
With those future virtues and merits, this best of men will be worthy of praise; Pṛthu alone, famed for his great deeds, has accomplished many actions.
ऊचुस्ते मुनयः सर्वे गुणान्दिव्यान्महात्मनः । सत्यवाञ्ज्ञानसंपन्नो बुद्धिमान्ख्यातविक्रमः
All the sages spoke of the divine qualities of this great soul: truthful, endowed with knowledge, wise, and renowned for his valor.
सदा शूरो गुणग्राही पुण्यवांस्त्यागवान्गुणी । धार्मिकः सत्यवादी च यज्ञानां याजकोत्तमः
Always courageous, a discerner of virtues, possessed of merit, generous, virtuous, righteous, a speaker of truth, and the foremost among those who perform sacrifices.
प्रियवाक्सत्यवादी च धान्यवान्धनवान्गुणी । गुणज्ञः सगुणग्राही धर्मज्ञः सत्यवत्सलः
Pleasant in speech, a speaker of truth, wealthy in grain and riches, virtuous, a knower and appreciator of virtues, learned in righteousness, and devoted to truth.
सर्वगः सर्ववेत्ता च ब्रह्मण्यो वेदवित्सुधीः । प्रज्ञावान्सुस्वरश्चैव वेदवेदांगपारगः
All-knowing, knower of all things, devoted to Brahman, learned in the Vedas, wise, possessing a melodious voice, and accomplished in the Vedas and their branches.
धाता गोप्ता प्रजानां स विजयी समरांगणे । राजसूयादिकानां तु यज्ञानां राजसत्तमः
He is the creator and protector of the people, victorious on the battlefield; among kings, he is the best performer of sacrifices such as the Rājasūya.
आहर्ता भूतले चैकः सर्वधर्मसमन्वितः । एते गुणा अस्य चांगे भविष्यंति महात्मनः
He alone on earth is the gatherer of all, endowed with every virtue; these qualities will manifest in the limbs of this great soul.
ऋषिभिस्तौ नियुक्तौ तु कुर्वाणौ सूतमागधौ । गुणैश्चैव भविष्यैश्च स्तोत्रं तस्य महात्मनः
Appointed by the sages, the Sūta and Māgadha sang his praise with present and future virtues, composing a hymn for this great soul.
तदा प्रभृति वै लोकास्तवैस्तुष्टा महामते । पुरतश्च भविष्यंति दातारः स्तावनैर्गुणैः
From that time forward, O wise one, the people were pleased by those praises; and in the future, givers will be honored with hymns of their virtues.
ततः प्रभृति लोकेस्मिन्स्तवेषु द्विजसत्तमाः । आशीर्वादाः प्रयुज्यंते तेषां द्रविणमुत्तमम्
From then on, O best of Brahmins, in this world, blessings are bestowed during praises, and the best wealth is given to those who are praised.
सूताय मागधायैव बंदिने च महोदयम् । चारणाय ततः प्रादात्तैलंगं देशमुत्तमम्
To the Sūta, the Māgadha, the bard, and the Cāraṇa, he then gave the excellent land of Tailaṅga.
पृथुः प्रसादाद्धर्मात्मा हैहयं देशमेव च । रेवातीरे पुरं कृत्वा स्वनाम्ना नृपनंदनः
By the favor of Pṛthu, the righteous soul, the land of the Haihayas was also granted; on the banks of the Revā, the son of the king established a city bearing his own name.
ब्राह्मणेभ्यो द्विजश्रेष्ठ यजन्दाता पृथुः पुरा । सर्वज्ञं सर्वदातारं धर्मवीर्यं नरोत्तमम्
In ancient times, Pṛthu, the best of men, performed sacrifices and gave gifts to the foremost Brahmins—he was all-knowing, the giver of all, righteous and valiant.
तं ददृशुः प्रजाः सर्वा मुनयश्च तपोमलाः । ऊचुः परस्परं पुण्या एष राजा महामतिः
All the people and the ascetic sages, free from impurity, beheld him; they said to one another, 'This king, of great wisdom, is truly virtuous.'
देवादीनां वृत्तिदाता अस्माकं च विशेषतः । प्रजानां पालकश्चैव वृत्तिदो हि भविष्यति
He is the provider of livelihood for the gods and others, and especially for us; he will be the protector of the people and the giver of sustenance.
इयं धात्री महाप्राज्ञा उप्तं बीजं पुरा किल । जीवनार्थं प्रजाभिस्तु ग्रासयित्वा स्थिराभवत्
This earth, O greatly wise one, once had a seed sown in ancient times; for the sake of the people's survival, after being consumed, she became stable.
ततः पृथुं द्विजश्रेष्ठ प्रजाः समभिदुद्रुवुः । विधत्स्वेति सुवृत्तिं नो मुनीनां वचनं तदा
Then, O best of twice-born, the people fled to Pṛthu, saying, 'Establish for us a proper livelihood, for the words of the sages are not being fulfilled.'
ग्रासयित्वा तदान्नानि पृथ्वी जाता सुनिश्चला । भयं प्रजानां सुमहत्स दृष्ट्वा राजसत्तमः
Having consumed their food, the earth became immovable; seeing the great fear of the people, the best of kings—
महर्षिवचनात्सोपि प्रगृह्य सशरं धनुः । अभ्यधावत वेगेन पृथ्वीं क्रुद्धो नराधिपः
—by the command of the great sages, seized his bow and arrows, and, enraged, the lord of men rushed swiftly at the earth.
कौंजरं रूपमास्थाय भयात्तस्य तु मेदिनी । वनेषु दुर्गदेशेषु गुप्ता भूत्वा चचार सा
Assuming the form of an elephant out of fear, the earth wandered, concealed, in forests and difficult regions.
न पश्यति महाप्राज्ञः कुरूपं द्विजसत्तमाः । आचचक्षुर्महाप्राज्ञं कुंजरं रूपमास्थिता
The wise king did not see her, O best of twice-born; but the wise ones told him she had taken the form of an elephant.
ततः कुंजररूपांतामभिदुद्राव पार्थिवः । ताड्यमाना च सा तेन निशितैर्मार्गणैस्ततः
Then the king pursued her in her elephant form; and as she was struck by his sharp arrows—