एताम् अवष्टभ्य दृशं भगीरथधिया वृताम् । समस् स्वस्थो यथाप्राप्तं कार्यम् आहर शान्तधीः
With this vision, inspired by the resolve of Bhagiratha, remain calm and composed, and, with a tranquil mind, accomplish whatever task comes to you.
इदं पूर्वं परित्यज्य क्रोडीकृत्य ततस् स्वयम् । शान्तम् आत्मनि तिष्ठ त्वं शिखिध्वज इवाचलः
Having abandoned what came before and gathered it within yourself, remain peaceful in your own being, like Shikhidhvaja, unmoving as a mountain.
को ऽसौ शिखिध्वजो नाम कथं वा लब्धवान् पदम् । एतत् कथय मे ब्रह्मन् भूयो बोधाभिवृद्धये
Who is this Shikhidhvaja by name, and how did he attain that state? Tell me this, O Brahman, once again, for the further increase of my understanding.
द्वापरे ऽभवतां पूर्वम् इदानीं च भविष्यतः । तेनैव सन्निवेशेन दम्पती स्निग्धनागरौ
In the Dvapara age, they were before, and now they will be again—those same two, as husband and wife, affectionate and skilled in the ways of love.
यत् पूर्वम् आसीद् भगवंस् तद् इदानीं तथैव हि । भविष्यति किमर्थं वै वद मे वदतां वर
O venerable one, that which was before is exactly the same now; why should it be otherwise in the future? Tell me, best of speakers.
जगन्निर्माणनियतेर् अस्या ब्राह्म्यास् स्वसंविदः । ईदृश्य् एव स्थितिर् नित्यम् अनिवार्या स्वभावजा
This is the unchanging order of creation of the universe, arising from the divine self-awareness; such is its perpetual, inevitable, and natural state.
यद् अन्यद् बहुशो भूत्वा पुनर् भवति भूरिशः । अभूत्वैव भवत्य् अन्यत् पुनश् च न भवत्य् अलम्
That which, having existed many times, arises again and again, also ceases to exist and becomes something else, and then again ceases—enough of this.
अन्यत् प्राक्सन्निवेशस्य सादृश्येन स्फुरत्य् अलम् । अन्यत् प्राक्सन्निवेशार्धसादृश्येन विवल्गति
Something else appears with a resemblance to a previous arrangement; another arises with only a partial similarity to a former state.
सदृश्यो विषमाश् चैव यथा सरसि वीचयः । ता एवान्याश् च दृश्यन्ते व्यवस्थास् संसृतौ तथा
Just as waves in a lake are both similar and dissimilar, so too are the patterns seen in the cycle of existence.
तस्माद् राघव भूयो ऽपि वक्ष्यमाणो नरेश्वरः । भविष्यति महातेजास् तद्वृत्तान्तम् इमं शृणु
Therefore, Raghava, the king who will be described again will arise, endowed with great brilliance; listen to this account.
द्वापरे पूर्वम् अभवद् अतीते सप्तमे मनौ । चतुर्युगे चतुर्थे तु सर्गे ऽस्मिन् वारणाकुले
In the past Dvapara age, during the seventh Manu, and in the fourth age of fourfold cycles, in this creation filled with elephants,
जम्बुद्वीपे प्रशान्तस्य विन्ध्यस्यादूरसंस्थिते । मालवानां पुरे श्रीमाञ् शिखिध्वज इतीश्वरः
On Jambudvipa, near the peaceful Vindhya mountains, in the city of the Malavas, there was a glorious king named Shikhidhvaja.
धैर्यौदार्यदयायुक्तः क्षमाशमदमान्वितः । शूरश् शुभसमाचारो मानी गुणगणाकरः
He was endowed with courage, generosity, and compassion; possessed of forbearance, self-restraint, and control of the senses; heroic, of virtuous conduct, proud, and a repository of all noble qualities.
आहर्ता सर्वयज्ञानां जेता सर्वधनुष्मताम् । कर्ता सकलकार्याणां भर्तापूर्ववपुर् भुवः
He was the performer of all sacrifices, the conqueror of all warriors, the accomplisher of every task, and the first sovereign of the earth.
पेशलस् स्निग्धमधुरो विदग्धः प्रीतनागरः । सुन्दरश् शीलसुभगः प्रतापी धर्मवत्सलः
He was charming, gentle, and sweet-spoken; clever and beloved in the city; handsome, blessed with good character, radiant, and devoted to righteousness.
वेदिता विदितार्थानां दाता सकलसम्पदाम् । भोक्ता संसङ्गरहितस् सुश्रोता सकलश्रुतेः
He was the knower of all meanings, the giver of every wealth, the enjoyer free from attachment, and an excellent listener to all teachings.
स भोगौघान् अनादृत्य स्त्रैणं तृणवद् उत्सृजन् । पितरि स्वर्गम् आपन्ने बाल एवोत्तमौजसा
He disregarded all pleasures, casting aside sensuality as straw; when his father attained heaven, even as a boy, he possessed supreme vigor.
कृत्वा षोडशवर्षात्मा कृत्वा दिग्विजयं वशी । नूनं सौराज्यसम्पत्त्या भूमण्डलम् अयोजयत्
Having reached sixteen years of age and subdued the quarters, he surely united the whole earth under his imperial sovereignty.
अतिष्ठद् विगताशङ्कं पालयन् धर्मतः प्रजाः । धीमान् स मन्त्रिभिस् सार्धं यशसा शुक्लयन् दिशः
He ruled without fear, protecting his subjects righteously; wise, together with his ministers, he spread his fame in all directions.
अथ गच्छत्सु वर्षेषु वसन्ते प्रोल्लसत्य् अलम् । पुष्पेषु जृम्भमाणेषु स्फुरत्सु शशिरश्मिषु
Then, as the years passed, in spring, when the flowers blossomed abundantly and the moonbeams shimmered brightly—
मञ्जरीजालदोलासु विटपान्तःपुरान्तरे । रजःकर्पूरधवले चलद्दलकवाटके
Within the inner chambers at the ends of the branches, where clusters of blossoms sway, the doors of leaves gently move, white with the dust of pollen like camphor.
आमोदिनि लसत्पुष्पगुलुच्छकवितानके । गायत्सु गहनेषूच्चैर् मिथुनेष्व् अलिनां मिथः
In bowers adorned with fragrant, shining flowers, where bees sing loudly together in the dense groves,
आयाति मधुरे वायौ शशिशीकरशीतले । कदलीकन्दलीकच्छतलपल्लवलासिनि
There comes a gentle breeze, cool with the moon’s nectar, playing among the sprouting shoots and fresh leaves at the base of the banana plants.
कान्तां प्रति बभूवास्य नवं चेतस् समुत्सुकम् । क्षीवं कुसुमसम्भारसौगन्धिमधुरासवैः
For his beloved, his heart became newly eager, intoxicated by the sweet essence and fragrance of gathered blossoms.
मनोराज्यम् इदं चक्रे स वसन्तमदैधितः । उद्यानवनदोलासु लीलाकमलिनीषु च
Enflamed by the passion of spring, he made this his kingdom of delight, among the garden groves, swinging bowers, and playful lotus ponds.
कदा प्रणयिनीं मुग्धां बालाब्जमुकुलस्तनीम् । करिष्ये कामिनीम् अङ्के पर्यङ्के कुसुमाङ्किताम्
When will I place my innocent beloved, whose budding breasts resemble lotus buds, as my lover on my lap, on a couch adorned with flowers?
कदा कमलवल्लीनां दोलास्व् अलिर् इवालिनीम् । आलोलतां विनेष्यामि बालां भुजलतानुगाम्
When, like a bee with a vine of lotuses, will I bring my tender beloved to sway with me on a swing, her arms entwined like delicate creepers?
मृणालहारकुन्देन्दुवृन्दतल्पाभिलाषिणी । मत्कृते मदनातप्ता कदा स्याद् इन्दुसुन्दरी
When will the moon-faced beauty, burning with love for me, long for a bed of lotus stalks, jasmine, and clusters of white lilies?
इति चिन्तापरो भूत्वा कुसुमावलनोन्मुखः । विजहार वनान्तेषु कुसुमोपवनेषु च
Thus, absorbed in thought and eager for garlands of flowers, he wandered in the forest groves and among gardens filled with blossoms.
वेलोपवनदोलासु लीलाकमलिनीषु च । वल्लीवलयगेहेषु विविधोद्यानभूमिषु
He delighted in the swings of the seaside gardens, in playful lotus ponds, in the vine-entwined bowers, and in various pleasure grounds.