तत्रावलोकयाम् आस स्थानानि सदनानि च । कल्पक्षोभविवृत्तानि जगन्तीवाम्बुजोद्भवः
There he observed the places and houses, disturbed by the upheaval of the aeon, as if he were the lotus-born (Brahma) beholding worlds arising from the cosmic waters.
उवाच स्वात्मनैवेदम् अरण्ये लुठितालये । शुष्कास्थिमालावलिते पिशाचक इव भ्रमन्
He said to himself, wandering in that ruined abode in the forest, strewn with garlands of dry bones, like a goblin:
इमास् ता मृतमातङ्गदन्तमाला वृतौ कृताः । अद्यापि संस्थिताः कल्पं प्रति मेरुशिखा इव
These garlands of dead elephant tusks, arranged in heaps, still remain today, enduring through an aeon like the peaks of Mount Meru.
इह तद् वानरीमांसं पक्वं वंशाङ्कुरैस् सह । भुक्तं सुरासवोन्मत्तैस् सह श्वपचबन्धुभिः
Here, cooked monkey meat together with bamboo shoots was eaten, along with companions intoxicated by liquor, among friends who were outcastes.
आलिङ्ग्य श्वपचीं श्यामाम् इह केसरिचर्मणि । सुप्तम् आपीय मैरेयं तिक्तं गजमदैर् नवैः
Here, embracing a dark-skinned outcaste woman upon a lion's hide, having drunk bitter mead mixed with fresh elephant musk, one slept.
कौलेयककुटुम्बिन्यः पिण्याकपरिवर्धिताः । इह बद्धा वरत्राभिर् मृतेभरदकाष्ठके
Here, the wives of the outcaste families, nourished by coarse grain, were bound with cords at the funeral pyre of a dead elephant.
इह वारणमुक्तानां तद् आसीत् पिठिरत्रयम् । पिनद्धं माहिषेणोग्रचर्मणाम्बुदशोभिना
Here, three seats of elephant pearls were arranged, bound with fierce buffalo hide shining like a rain cloud.
स्थलीष्व् एतासु तास्व् अत्र सह श्वपचबालकैः । चिरं विलुलितं चूतपत्त्रपुञ्जे पिकैर् इव
On these grounds, together with the children of outcastes, for a long time, mango leaves were scattered and tossed about, like cuckoos playing.
रूढतद्बालनिश्श्वासरणद्वंशानुवृत्तिमत् । गीतं पीतं शुनीरक्तसाधितासवतोषितैः
Songs were sung, drinks consumed, and satisfaction found in liquor prepared with dog’s blood, accompanied by the breath and cries of those children.
अत्र सार्धं कुटुम्बेन जन्यत्रेषु कुटुम्बिना । नृत्तं तत् कृतम् उन्नादं कल्लोलैर् जलधाव् इव
Here, together with the family and among relatives, the householder performed dances, loud and tumultuous like waves in the ocean.
अत्रोड्डयनलोलानां काकभासपतत्रिणाम् । धृतानाम् अन्यघातार्थं ग्रथितं वंशपञ्जरम्
Here, for the restless crows, cranes, and birds, a bamboo cage was constructed, woven for the purpose of holding them or killing others.
एवम्प्रायास् स्मरन् गाधिः प्राक्तनीश् श्वपचक्रियाः । विस्मयोत्कम्पितशिरा धातुश् चेष्टाः परामृशन्
Thus reflecting in this way, Gādhi recalled his previous actions as a dog-eater; his head trembled with wonder as he considered those bodily activities.
चचाल तस्माद् दीर्घेण देशात् कालेन कार्यवित् । हूनमण्डलम् उत्सृज्य प्राप देशान्तरं क्रमात्
Then, after a long time, the wise one departed from that region, leaving behind the land of the outcastes, and gradually reached another country.
समुल्लङ्घ्य नदीशैलमण्डलारण्यसन्ततिम् । आससाद तुषाराद्रिलग्नं कीरजनास्पदम्
Crossing over rivers, mountains, clusters of forests, and wilderness, he arrived at a settlement of Kīra people situated near the snowy mountain.
तत्र प्राप महीपालनगरं नगसन्निभम् । जगद्भ्रमणखिन्नात्मा स्वर्लोकम् इव नारदः
There he reached a city ruled by a king, grand as a mountain, and, his mind weary from wandering the world, he entered it like Nārada entering heaven.
अथात्मनानुभूतानि दृष्टान्य् आसेवितानि च । स्थानानि नगरे पश्यन् पप्रच्छ जनम् आदृतः
There, seeing the places in the city that he had experienced, seen, and frequented before, he respectfully questioned the people.
साधो स्मरसि कच्चित् त्वम् इह श्वपचम् ईश्वरम् । यदि जानासि तत् तन् मे कथयाशु यथाविधि
Good sir, do you by chance remember here a dog-eater who was a ruler? If you know, please tell me everything properly and without delay.
अभूद् इहाष्टौ वर्षाणि श्वपचो भूमिपो द्विज । राजत्वम् अर्पितं यस्य नवमङ्गलहस्तिना
O twice-born, there was here for eight years a dog-eater who became king, to whom the royal power was given by the elephant named Navamaṅgala.
अन्ते स सम्परिज्ञातस् सम्प्रविष्टो हुताशनम् । अत्र द्वादशवर्षाणि समतीतानि तापस
In the end, when he was recognized, he entered the fire; twelve years have passed here since then, O ascetic.
यं यं पृच्छत्य् असौ गाधिर् जनं जातकुतूहलः । तस्य तस्य मुखाद् एवं शृणोत्य् अनुभवत्य् अपि
Whatever person Gādhi, filled with curiosity, questions, from each one's mouth he hears and even experiences accordingly.
अथापश्यत् पुरे तस्मिन् नृपं सबलवाहनम् । देवं चक्रधरं द्रष्टुं मन्दिरान् निर्गतं बहिः
Then, in that city, he saw a king with his army and vehicles, who had come out from his palace to see the god bearing the discus.
तं दृष्ट्वा स्थगिताकाशं बलरेणुपयोधरैः । प्राक्तनीं राजताम् स्मृत्वा स्वाम् उवाचातिविस्मितः
Seeing him, with the sky obscured by clouds of dust raised by the troops, he remembered his former sovereignty and, greatly astonished, spoke to himself.
इमास् ताः कीरकामिन्यः पद्मगर्भोपमत्वचः । कनकद्रववर्णिन्यो लोलनीलोत्पलेक्षणाः
These are the royal courtesans, their skin like the inside of a lotus, golden in hue, with restless blue-lotus eyes.
चामरौघा इमे चन्द्रकरसम्पिण्डपाण्डुराः । स्थिरनिर्झरसङ्काशाः काशपुष्पचया इव
These are clusters of fly-whisks, pale as clumps of moonbeams, steady and resembling streams, like heaps of kāśa flowers.
कान्ताभिर् अवधूयन्ते वालव्यजनराशयः । इमास् ता नववल्लीभिः कुसुमानाम् इवर्द्धयः
These masses of yak-tail fans are being waved by lovely women, just as new creepers bear clusters of flowers.
इमास् ता मत्तमातङ्गघटा घटितमन्दिराः । सकल्पपादपा मेरोर् इव श्र्ङ्गपरम्पराः
These are the intoxicated elephants, their groups like constructed mansions, resembling the rows of peaks on Mount Meru with wish-fulfilling trees.
एते ते यमशर्वेन्द्रकुबेरप्रतिमौजसः । सामन्ता वासवस्येव लोकपाला महीभृतः
These are the vassal kings, whose might equals Yama, Śakra, and Kubera, like the guardians of the worlds for Indra, the lord of the earth.
इमास् तास् सर्वरत्नाढ्यास् सर्वाभिमतदास् तताः । कल्पवृक्षलताकुञ्जसुन्दर्यो गृहपङ्क्तयः
Here are those rows of houses, adorned with every kind of jewel, fulfilling every desire, lovely as bowers of wish-fulfilling trees and creepers.
इदं तत् कीरजनताराज्यं प्राग् भुक्तम् अद्य मे । आत्मजन्मान्तराचार इव प्रत्यक्षतां गतम्
This is that very kingdom of the parrots, once enjoyed by me; now it appears before me as vividly as the experiences of my own past lives.
सत्यस्वप्न इवेदं मे जाग्रतो ऽपि पुरस् स्थितम् । न जाने किं कृतोत्थाना मायेयं प्रविजृम्भते
This stands before me, even while awake, like a true dream; I do not know by what cause this illusion is unfolding.