अथैकस्मिन्दिने राजा जगाम गहनं वनम्
Then, on a certain day, the king entered the dense forest.
स तत्र विविधान्वन्यान्विव्याध परवीरहा
There, the slayer of enemy heroes struck various wild animals.
लोडितं तद्वनं सर्वं पशुपक्षिमृगाकुलम्
That entire forest, teeming with beasts, birds, and animals, was disturbed.
यदा न श्वापदास्तस्मिन्दृश्यते गहने वने
When no wild beasts were seen in that thick forest,
स चापि करभो देवि बाणमादाय सत्वरम् स च राजा बली तूर्णं ससार करभं प्रति
O Devi, the buffalo quickly seized an arrow, and the powerful king swiftly pursued the buffalo.
ततो निम्नस्थलं चैव स चोष्ट्रोऽद्रवदाशुगः
Then, both the buffalo and the king ran rapidly toward the low ground.
ततः स राजा तारुण्या दौरसेन बलेन च 5.2.73.
Thereupon, the king, with youthful vigor and strength,
ततो नदान्नदीश्चैव पल्वलानि वनानि च
Then, rivers, streams, marshes, and forests appeared.
स चापि करभो देवि आसाद्यासाद्य तं नृपम्
And again, O Devi, the buffalo repeatedly approached the king.
स तस्य बाणैर्बहुभिः करभो विह्वलीकृतः पुनश्च जवमास्याय पार्श्वे चाग्रे च दृश्यते
Struck by many arrows from him, the buffalo became agitated, and again sped forth, appearing at his side and in front.
अथारण्यं महारौद्रं प्रविष्टः करभस्तदा
Then, at that moment, the buffalo entered a fierce wilderness.
प्रविश्य च महारण्यं तापसानामथाश्रमम्
Entering the great forest, he reached the hermitage of ascetics.
तं कार्मुककरं दृष्ट्वा श्रमार्त्तं क्षुधितं तदा
Seeing him, bow in hand, weary and hungry,
स पूजामृषिभिर्दत्तां प्रतिगृह्य यथाविधि
He received the worship offered by the sages, as prescribed.
ते तस्य राज्ञो वचनं प्रतिगृह्य तपोधनाः
Those ascetics, rich in austerity, accepted the king's words.
केन भद्र सुखार्थेन संप्राप्तोऽसि तपोवनम्
O noble one, for what purpose of happiness have you come to this hermitage?
एतदिच्छामहे श्रोतुं कुतः प्राप्तोऽसि मानद 5.2.73.
We wish to hear this: from where have you arrived, O giver of honor?
ततः स राजा सर्वेभ्यो द्विजेभ्यः पुरुषर्षभः
Then the king, foremost among men, spoke to all the twice-born.
इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले जातो वीरकेतुर्द्विजर्षभाः
O best of twice-born, Vīraketu was born in the lineage of Ikṣvāku.
बलेन महता युक्तः सामात्यः सपरिच्छदः
He was endowed with great strength, accompanied by ministers and attendants.
महिषश्चित्तलो वापि शशो वा शंबरो वने
Whether it was a buffalo, a deer, or a hare, or even Śambara in the forest—
स प्रणष्टः क्षणेनैव सबाणो मम पश्यतः
That one vanished in a moment, along with the arrow, before my very eyes.
भवत्सकाशं नष्टश्रीर्हताशः श्रमकर्शितः भवंतः सुमहाभागास्तस्मात्पृच्छाभि संशयम्
Deprived of fortune, his hopes destroyed, worn out by fatigue, he came to you; you are supremely fortunate, so I ask you this question out of doubt.
क्व गतः करभो विद्धो मया बाणेन सांप्रतम्
Where has the karabha, struck by my arrow, gone now?
ततस्तेषां समस्तानामृषीणामृषिसत्तमः
Then, among all those sages, the foremost sage spoke—
गतः स करभो भूप महाकालवने शुभे
O king, that karabha has gone to the auspicious Mahākāla forest.
यत्र देवो महादेवः कारभं रूपमास्थितः 5.2.73.
There, the great god Mahādeva assumed the form of a karabha.
पश्चिमे क्षेत्रपालस्य कैलासस्य महीपते
In the western part of Kailāsa, O king, at the domain of the guardian of the field,
ब्रह्मणा पूजितो राजन्देवानामर्थसिद्धये
He was worshipped by Brahmā, O king, for the accomplishment of the gods' purposes.
तुरगेण कदाचित्तु नीतो बदरिकाश्रमम्
Once, he was taken on a horse to the hermitage of Badarikā.