भांडारेण तुरंगैश्च भटैर्वीररसोद्भवैः । समान एव भूपालदुर्गैरत्यंतदुर्गमैः
With his treasury, horses, and warriors inspired by heroic valor, he was equal to the king in fortresses, even those most difficult to conquer.
स कदाचित्स्वयं राज्यं कर्तुं पापो दधे मनः । निहत्य वसुधापालं बलात्साकं कुमारकैः
Once, desiring to rule the kingdom himself, the sinful one resolved to kill the king by force, along with his sons.
कर्तुं व्यवस्य दिवसैः स्वल्पैरित्थं चिकीर्षया । विषूचिकामयादाशु परासुः समजायत
Determined to do this within a few days, he was suddenly struck down by cholera and died.
कालेनाल्पीयसा प्रेत्य पापात्मा तेन कर्मणा । तेजस्वी तुरगो जातः सिंधुदेशे कृशोदरिः
After a short time, because of that sinful deed, he was reborn as a spirited horse in the land of Sindhu, with a slender belly.
मूलेन बहुना क्रीत्वा हयतत्वविदा ततः । बहुयत्नवता नीतः केनचिद्वैश्यसूनुना
Having purchased it at great cost from one knowledgeable in the nature of horses, it was then brought with much effort by a certain merchant's son.
राजापि पौत्रनप्त्त्राद्यैस्तस्यैव मरणात्परम् । कालेन वृद्धतां प्राप्तः स्वराज्यं चापि पालयन्
After that man's death, the king, through his grandsons and descendants, grew old over time, continuing to govern his own realm.
स वैश्यसूनुस्तं चाश्वं राज्ञे दातुं समागतः । राज्ञोद्वारिस्थितस्तत्र प्रतीक्षंस्तत्समागमम्
That merchant's son came to present the horse to the king, standing at the king's door, awaiting their meeting.
ज्ञातपूर्वोऽपि वैश्योऽसौ प्रतीहारेण दर्शितः । किमर्थं ब्रूहि राज्ञेति पृष्टः स्पष्टमभाषत
Though already known, the merchant was shown in by the doorkeeper; when asked, 'Speak, for what purpose?' he answered clearly.
देव त्रिजगतीरत्नमिति मत्वा तुरंगमः । मया नियुतमूल्येन बहुना साधुलक्षणः
O Lord, considering this horse as the jewel of the three worlds, I acquired it for a vast price, for its noble qualities.
ततोऽवलोक्य वक्त्राणि भूपालः पार्श्ववर्तिनाम् । समादिदेश वणिजमश्वोऽत्र नीयतामिति
Then, looking at the faces of those nearby, the king ordered, 'Let the merchant's horse be brought here.'
शिरांसि धूनयन्नृणामश्वलक्षणवेदिनाम् । शूराणामपि चेतांसि मुहुरुत्साहयन्महान्
Shaking the heads of those who knew the marks of horses, and repeatedly inspiring even the minds of the brave, the great horse stirred them.
अखंडमेदिनीवेगबहुसंक्रमणार्जितम् । लालाफेनछलेनासौ वमन्शुभ्रतरं यशः
Having earned its fame through many swift crossings of the unbroken earth, it emitted a pure glory with the play of its saliva and foam.
उच्चैःश्रवस्तुलां भेजे गुणसाम्येन तत्त्वतः । विवृण्वन्नति तेजस्वी ह्रियेव नतकंधरः
It matched Uccaiḥśravas in qualities and essence, displaying its nobility like a radiant, modest one with a bowed neck.
चामरैरिंदुधवलैर्वीज्यमानो निरंतरम् । दुग्धांभोनिधिलोलैस्तैः श्वासैरुच्चैःश्रवा इव
Fanned constantly by white yak-tail fans, its breath moved like the waves of the milk ocean, just as Uccaiḥśravas.
नीलातपत्रयुगलं घनच्छायतुलश्रिया । बिभ्राणो वारिदालीढ हिमाद्रि शिखरश्रियम्
Bearing a pair of blue parasols with shade equal to dense clouds, it shone like a Himalayan peak touched by a mass of rain clouds.
मेदिनीमंडलस्पर्श संक्रांतमिव पावकम् । मुहुरुद्धरयन्धुन्वन्बंधुरं कंधरातटम्
Touching the circle of the earth like fire, it repeatedly raised and shook its beautiful neck.
दारयन्वैरिणः सर्वान्व्याहरंश्च जयश्रियम् । हेषारवेण गुरुणा दिक्षुप्रख्यापयन्यशः
Tearing apart all enemies and proclaiming the glory of victory, it announced its fame in all directions with a mighty neigh.
सत्त्वस्य राशिरत्युच्चैर्गतीनामिव शेवधिः । रूपस्य निलयं साक्षाल्लक्षणानां पयोनिधिः
A heap of spirit, like a treasure of those who have attained lofty paths; the very abode of beauty, the ocean of marks.
आनीतो वणिजा वाजी राज्ञा च समदृश्यत । बहुधा वर्णितोऽमात्यैरश्वलक्षणवेदिभिः
The horse was brought by the merchant and shown to the king, who was surrounded by ministers expert in horse marks, and it was described in many ways.
यथेच्छं वणिजोदीर्णं स्वर्णं दत्त्वा महीपतिः । जग्राह तुरगं वेगादसीमानंदनिर्भरः
As the merchant wished, the king gave gold and eagerly took the swift horse, overflowing with boundless joy.
ततोऽश्वपालमाहूय यत्नतस्तं निरूप्य च । विसर्जितसभालोको गृहांतरमगान्नृपः
Then, summoning the horse keeper and carefully examining it, the king dismissed the assembly and went to his inner chambers.
अनेकधा समापृष्टो महीपालं रंणांगणे । शस्त्रव्रणकिणश्रेणीभूषणं सत्वसन्निभम्
Asked many times in the royal arena, the king was adorned with a series of sword-wound scars, resembling courage itself.
एकदा मृगयां खेलन्कुतूहलरसात्मना । तमारुह्य महीपालो वनं प्रति विवेश ह
Once, while enjoying the hunt, filled with curiosity and excitement, the king mounted his horse and entered the forest.
विसृज्य सैनिकान्पृष्टे धावतः परितोऽखिलान् । आकृष्यमाणो हरिणैः पिपासाकुलितोऽभवत्
Leaving his soldiers behind, who were running all around, he was drawn after the deer and became overwhelmed by thirst.
तत उत्तीर्य तुरगाज्जलमन्वेषयन् नृपः । बध्वाश्वं तरुशाखायामारुरोह शिलां नृपः
Then, crossing over, the king sought water for his horse; tying the horse to a tree branch, the king climbed up onto a rock.
गीतापंचदशाध्यायश्लोकार्द्धलिखितं ततः । पातितं मरुता तत्र यत्र खंडे विलोकयत्
There, he saw a half-verse from the fifteenth chapter of the Gītā, written and dropped by the wind, lying on a fragment.
पत्रं वाचयतो राज्ञः श्रुत्वा गीताक्षरावलीम् । ततो मुक्तिपदं लेभे तुरगस्त्वरयाऽपतत्
As the king read the leaf and heard the string of Gītā's words, the horse, in that very moment, attained liberation and fell down swiftly.
ततो ग्रंथिं समाच्छिद्य पल्याणवतार्य च । उत्थापमानस्तुरगो राज्ञा नोत्थितवान्मृतः
Then, untying the knot and lowering him to the ground, though the king tried to raise the horse, he did not rise, for he was dead.
ततः सरभभेरुंडो नृपमाभाष्य सुस्वरम् । दिव्यं विमानमारुह्य जगाम त्रिदशालयम्
Then, a celestial being named Sarabhabheruṇḍa addressed the king in a sweet voice, boarded a divine chariot, and went to the abode of the gods.
ततो गिरिं समारुह्य ददर्शाश्रममुत्तमम् । पुन्नागकदलीचूतनारिकेलसमन्वितम्
Then, ascending the mountain, the king saw an excellent hermitage, adorned with punnāga, banana, mango, and coconut trees.