तादृशं तम् उपाजग्मुः परिवारसमन्विताः । सर्वाः प्रकृतयः फुल्लं मार्गद्रुमम् इवाध्वगाः
All the attendants, accompanied by their retinues, approached him in that state, like travelers gathering around a blossoming tree along the road.
ता एनम् आसने सैंहे प्राप्याभिषिषिचुः क्रमात् । तस्मिन्न् एव गजे शक्रम् ऐरावण इवामराः
They, having reached him seated on the lion throne, anointed him in turn, as the immortals anoint Indra on Airavata.
एवं स श्वपचो राज्यं प्राप कीरपुरान्तरे । अरण्ये हरिणं पुष्टम् अप्राणम् इव वायसः
Thus, that outcaste attained the kingdom in the midst of Kirapura, like a crow obtaining a well-nourished deer in the forest, lifeless.
कीरीकरतलाम्भोजप्रमृष्टचरणाम्बुजः । सर्वाङ्गकुङ्कुमालेपैस् सन्ध्याम्बुधरशोभनः
With feet cleansed by the touch of the lotus in the hand of the crown-bearer, his whole body adorned with the application of saffron, he shone like a cloud at sunset.
जज्वाल कीरनगरे नागरीजनवान् असौ । सिंहीगणयुतस् सिंहो यथा कुसुमिते वने
He blazed forth in the city of Kira, surrounded by its citizens, like a lion accompanied by a pride of lions in a blossoming forest.
हरिहतमदनागोत्तारमुक्ताकलापप्रविचरितशरीरश् शान्तचिन्ताविषादः । अरमत स महद्भिस् तत्र भोगैस् सरस्यां रविकरमदतप्तो वारिपूरैर् इवेभः
His body was adorned with garlands of pearls rescued from elephants intoxicated by the gods, his mind free from anxious thoughts; there, he enjoyed great pleasures, like an elephant refreshed by abundant waters after the sun's heat.
परिविसृतनृपौजास् सर्वदिक्संस्थिताज्ञः कतिपयदिवसेहासिद्धदेशव्यवस्थः । प्रकृतिभिर् अलम् ऊढाशेषराजत्वभारस् स गवल इति नाम्ना तत्र राजा बभूव
Having spread his royal power, established authority in all directions, and settled the land in a few days, he bore the full weight of kingship by nature; thus, in that place, he became king under the name Gavala.
विलासिनीभिर् वलितो मन्त्रिमण्डलपूजितः । वन्दितस् सर्वसामन्तैश् छत्त्रचामरमालितः
Surrounded by beautiful women, honored by his circle of ministers, praised by all neighboring rulers, he was attended with parasols, fans, and garlands.
सिद्धानुशासनः कान्तो ज्ञातराज्यगुणक्रमः । वीतशोकभयायासस् तत्र प्राप्तमहापदः
He governed according to the instructions of the accomplished, was charming, knew the order of royal virtues, and, free from sorrow, fear, and fatigue, attained the highest position there.
विस्मृतात्मप्रभावो ऽभूद् अनिशं स्तवमङ्गलैः । आनन्दापूर्णया वृत्त्या भृशं क्षीव इवासवैः
He forgot his own inner brilliance, constantly absorbed in hymns and auspicious rites, and, filled with joy, became greatly exhausted, as if drained by intoxicating drinks.
कीरेषु श्वपचो राज्यं वर्षाण्य् अष्टौ चकार ह । आर्यवृत्तम् अशेषेण तावत्कालं बभार ह
Among the Kiras, the outcaste ruled the kingdom for eight years, and throughout that time, he upheld noble conduct completely.
यदृच्छयैकदाथासाव् अतिष्ठत् त्यक्तभूषणः । अतमस्तारकेन्द्वर्कतेजोऽम्बुदम् इवाम्बरम्
Once, by chance, he stood there, having abandoned his ornaments, like the sky that has cast off the radiance of darkness, stars, moon, and sun, and is covered by clouds.
बह्व् अमन्यत नो हारकेयूरवसनाद्य् असौ । प्रभुताबृंहितं चेतो नाहार्यम् अभिनन्दति
He no longer valued necklaces, armlets, garments, and the like; his mind, expanded by sovereignty, did not delight in things that could be acquired.
एक एवाजिरं बाह्यं तादृग्वेषस् स निर्ययौ । मुख्याङ्गनान् नभोभागाद् अन्तं गच्छन्न् इवांशुमान्
Wearing only a single outer garment, he went out in such attire, like the sun passing from the sky into the interior, accompanied by chief maidens.
तत्रापश्यद् घनश्यामं पीनं श्वपचपेटकम् । गायन् मृदु वसन्तोत्थं कोकिलानाम् इव व्रजम्
There he saw a dark, stout outcaste, singing softly a melody born of spring, like a flock of cuckoos.
धुनानं झल्लरीतन्त्रीं करपल्लवलीलया । मधुरेहं रणद्रेफाम् अलिश्रेणीम् इव द्रुमः
With the playful movement of his tender hands, he was shaking a small cymbal and stringed instrument, sweetly producing a sound like a swarm of bees humming around a tree in bloom.
अथ तस्मात् समुत्तस्थौ जरावान् रक्तलोचनः । काचशृङ्गं हिमापूर्णम् इव श्वपचनायकः
Then from among them arose an aged man, red-eyed, the leader of the outcastes, like a glassy mountain peak filled with snow.
ज्यो कटञ्जेति सहसा वदन् कीरमहीपतेः । वल्ल्यां काकम् इवानन्दाज् जान्वग्रे ऽयोजयत् करम्
Suddenly exclaiming 'Kaṭañja!', he placed his hand on the knee of the king of birds, just as one might set a crow on a vine out of delight.
उवाचेदं च कीरेशं हे बन्धो भोः कटञ्जक । क्व नु स्थितो ऽसि दिष्ट्याद्य दृष्टो ऽसि चिरबान्धव
And he said to the lord of the parrots: 'O friend, O Kaṭañjaka, where have you been? By good fortune, today I see you, my long-lost companion.'
क्वासि विश्रान्तवान् कालम् एतावन्तं वनान्तरे । बन्धुवृन्दपरित्यक्तः परपुष्ट इवैककः
Where have you spent all this time resting in the depths of the forest, abandoned by your circle of kin, solitary like one sustained by others?
इह राजा भवन्तं वा कच्चिद् गेयकलाविदम् । रक्तकण्ठं मानयति रागवान् इव कोकिलम्
Here, does the king honor you, who are skilled in the art of song, with a voice tinged with passion, as a lover honors the cuckoo?
आपूरयति वा कच्चिद् गृहवस्त्राशनार्पणैः । मधुस् तमालविटपं फलपत्त्ररसैर् इव
Or does anyone here fill you with offerings of household clothes and food, as bees fill the tamala tree with the essence of its fruits and leaves?
दर्शनेन तवाद्याहं परां निर्वृतिम् आगतः । पद्मस् सूर्योदयेनेव चन्द्रोदय इवोदधिः
Today, by seeing you, I have attained supreme contentment—like a lotus at sunrise, or the ocean at the rising of the moon.
आनन्दानाम् अशेषाणां लाभानां महताम् अपि । विश्रामाणाम् अनन्तानां सीमान्तो बन्धुदर्शनम्
The sight of a friend marks the boundary of all joys, of all great gains, and of all endless rests.
श्वपचे प्रवदत्य् एवं राजा तावत् तया तया । चकार तत्कालजया चेष्टयैवावधीरणम्
While the king was speaking thus to the outcaste, she, by her immediate gestures, expressed her disregard.
तावद् वातायनगताः कान्ताः प्रकृतयस् तथा । श्वपचो ऽयम् इति ज्ञात्वा म्लानताम् अलम् आययुः
Meanwhile, the ladies and attendants at the windows, realizing 'this is an outcaste,' became thoroughly dispirited.
पद्मास् तुषारवृष्ट्येव ग्रामास् सावग्रहा इव । दाववन्त इवाद्रीन्द्रा नागरा न विरेजिरे
The lotuses, like villages struck by frost, the towns, as if seized by calamity, and the mountains, as if scorched by wildfire, lost their splendor.
नृपो ऽवधीरयाम् आस स तां स्वजनसङ्कथाम् । वृक्षाग्रगतमार्जारफेक्कारं मृगराड् इव
The king disregarded that talk among his people, like a lion ignores the hissing of a cat perched atop a tree.
सत्वरं प्रविवेशान्तःपुरम् आम्लानमानवम् । राजहंस इवावर्षसीदत्सरसिजं सरः
He quickly entered the inner chambers, his pride withered, like a royal swan approaching a lotus pond parched by drought.
सर्वावयवविश्रान्तां म्लानताम् अलम् आययौ । जानुस्तम्भान्तरमहारन्ध्रस्थाग्निर् इव द्रुमः
He was utterly exhausted in all his limbs, overtaken by dejection, like a tree whose inner fire is lodged deep within the hollow of its knee-like root.