यत्र मन्दाकिनी पुण्या सरस्वत्या समागता
There, the sacred Mandākinī joins with Sarasvatī.
शृणु राजन्यथावृत्तमितिहास पुरातनम्
Hear, O King, the ancient story as it truly happened.
अजपालो नृपश्रेष्ठः सूर्यवंशसमुद्भवः
Ajapāla, best of kings, was born of the Solar dynasty.
न हस्तिनो न पादाता न चाश्वास्तस्य भूपतेः
That king had neither elephants nor infantry nor cavalry.
न गृह्णाति करं राजन्प्रजाभ्योथाधिकं नृप
O King, he did not levy taxes upon his subjects.
जातापराधो भूपृष्ठे जायते चेत्कथंचन
If by any chance an offense arose among his people,
एवमस्य नरेन्द्रस्य वर्त्तमानस्य भूतले
Thus, while this king ruled upon the earth,
कामं वर्षति पर्जन्यः सस्यानि रसवंति च
The clouds rained as desired, and the crops were full of flavor.
केनचित्त्वथ कालेन वसिष्ठो भगवान्मुनिः 7.3.9.
Then, after some time, the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha—
तं दृष्ट्वा पूजयामास शास्त्रदृष्टेन वर्त्मना
Seeing him, he honored him according to the path prescribed by scripture.
एवं संपूजितस्तेन भक्त्या परमया नृप राजर्षीणां कथाश्चक्रे देवर्षीणां तथैव च
Thus honored with supreme devotion by him, O King, he recounted the stories of royal sages and likewise of divine sages.
ततः कथावसाने तु कस्मिंश्चिन्नृपसत्तम
Then, at the end of the stories, O best of kings,
त्वं वेत्सि सकलं ब्रह्मंस्तपश्चर्याप्रभावतः
You know all, O Brahman, through the power of your austerities.
कौतुकं हृदि मे जातं वर्त्तते मुनिपुंगव
A curiosity has arisen in my heart, O foremost of sages.
कथयिष्यामि तत्सर्वं यद्यपि स्यात्सुदुर्ल्लभम्
I shall tell you all of that, even though it may be very difficult to obtain.
निष्कण्टकं सदा क्षेमं सर्वकामसमन्वितम्
It is always free from thorns, secure, and endowed with every desired object.
न दीनो न च दुःखार्त्तो व्याधिग्रस्तो न कोऽपि च
No one is miserable, afflicted by sorrow, or suffering from disease.
नारीयं मम साध्वी च प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी अनया चिंतितं ब्रह्मन्सर्वं विस्तरतो वद
My wife is virtuous and dearer to me than life itself; O Brahmin, tell me in detail all that she has pondered.
किं दानस्य प्रभावेन व्रतयागस्य वा मुने 7.3.9.
Is it by the power of charity, or by the observance of vows and sacrifices, O sage?
जन्मान्तरकृतं पुण्यं परं कौतूहलं हि मे
The merit accumulated in a previous birth arouses great curiosity in me.
वसिष्ठ उवाच शृणु सर्वं महीपाल विस्तरेण च कथ्यते
Vasiṣṭha said: Hear everything, O king, as it is explained in detail.
अन्यदेहांतरे राजञ्छूद्रजातिसमुद्भवः
In another body, O king, you were born in the Śūdra caste.
केनचित्त्वथ कालेन दुर्भिक्षे समुपस्थिते
Then, after some time, when a famine arose,
ततस्त्वं भार्यया सार्द्धमन्यदेशांतरे गतः
You went, together with your wife, to another land.
त्वया दृष्टं मनोहारि शुभं पंकजकाननम्
There you saw a beautiful and delightful lotus forest.
मनसा चिंतितं ह्येतत्पद्मान्यादाय करोम्यहम्
You thought in your mind: 'I will gather these lotuses.'
ततः पद्मानि भूरीणि गृहीत्वा भार्यया सह
Then, taking many lotuses together with your wife,
न केऽपि प्रति गृह्णंति लोका दुर्भिक्षपीडिताः
No one among the people, afflicted by famine, would accept them.
ततो दिनावसाने तु गुहामेकां समाश्रितः 7.3.9.
Then, at the end of the day, you took refuge in a solitary cave.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु कर्णयोस्ते समागतः
At that very moment, a sound reached your ears.