सारसारवसंरम्भरणत्कमलकाननः । तमालपटलानीलगिरिग्रामककुण्डलः
Resounding with the cries of cranes and sarus birds, filled with blooming lotus groves, and encircled by clusters of dark tamāla trees and blue mountain villages.
विचित्रविहगव्यूहविरावाहितकाकलिः । नदीपरिसरोन्निद्रपारिभद्रद्रुमारुणः
Echoing with the calls of various flocks of wondrous birds, and reddened by pārihadraka trees drowsing on the riverbanks.
गायत्कलमकेदारदारिकाहूतमन्मथः । पुष्पस्थलवलद्वातव्याधूतकुसुमाम्बुदः
Where the sweet singing of girls in the millet fields summons the god of love, and the wind scatters clouds of blossoms from the flower-laden meadows.
दरीगृहविनिष्क्रान्तसिद्धचारणवन्दितः । स्वर्गाद् इव समाहूय लावण्यम् अभिनिर्मितः
Honored by perfected beings and celestial wanderers emerging from their homes, as if beauty itself had been summoned from heaven and fashioned there.
गायत्किन्नरपर्यन्तकदलीषण्डमण्डितः । मन्दानिलबलोद्धूतपुष्पोपवनपाण्डुरः
Adorned with groves of banana trees at whose edges kinnara couples sing, and pale with flower gardens stirred by the gentle force of the wind.
तत्रास्ति लवणो नाम राजा परमधार्मिकः । हरिश्चन्द्रकुलोद्भूतो भूमाव् इव दिवाकरः
There reigns a king named Lavaṇa, supremely righteous, born of the lineage of Hariścandra, shining on earth like the sun.
यद्यशःकुसुमोत्तंसपाण्डुरस्कन्धमण्डलाः । तत्र शैला विराजन्ते हराः प्रोद्धूलिता इव
There the mountains stand out, their shoulders pale with the garlands of his renowned glory, as if the peaks of Hara had been shaken and adorned.
कृपाणशकलोत्कृत्तनिश्शेषारातिमण्डलात् । अरातिलोकः प्राप्नोति यदनुस्मरणाज् ज्वरम्
When all his enemies have been utterly destroyed, cut down like bits of straw, even those who are not his foes are seized by fever at the mere recollection of him.
यस्योदारसमारम्भम् आर्यलोकानुपालनम् । चरितं संस्मरिष्यन्ति हरेर् इव चिरं जनाः
People will long remember the noble deeds of one whose undertakings are generous and who protects the virtuous, just as they remember the acts of Hari.
यस्याप्सरोभिर् अद्रीन्द्रमूर्धस्व् अमरसद्मसु । विकासिपुलकोल्लासं गीयन्ते गुणगीतयः
In the celestial abodes, on the peaks of the mountains of the gods, the Apsaras sing songs of his virtues, their bodies blossoming with delight.
यस्य स्वस्सुन्दरीगीता लोकपालचिरश्रुताः । विरिञ्चहंसैर् ध्वन्यन्ते स्वाभ्यासाद् गुणगीतयः
The songs sung by his own beautiful consorts, renowned among the guardians of the worlds, are echoed by Brahma’s swans, who repeat these songs of virtue out of habit.
स्वप्नेष्व् अपि न सामान्या यस्योदारचमत्कृतेः । राम दृष्टाश् श्रुता वापि दैन्यदोषमरीचयः
O Rama, even in dreams, no trace of the taint of misery is ever seen or heard in one whose noble marvels are extraordinary.
जिह्मतां यो न जानाति न दृष्टा येन गृध्नुता । उदारता येन धृता ब्रह्मणेवाक्षमालिका
He knows nothing of crookedness, nor has he ever seen greed; his magnanimity is steadfast, like the rosary held by Brahma.
दिनाष्टभाग आकाश आगते दिवसाधिपे । कदाचित् स सभास्थाने सिंहासनगतो ऽभवत्
When the lord of day arrives in the eighth part of the day, he would sometimes be seated in the assembly hall, enthroned upon the lion-seat.
सुखोपविष्टे तत्रास्मिन् राजनीन्दाव् इवाम्बरे । प्रविशन्तीषु सामन्तसेनासु च ससम्भ्रमम्
As he sat there comfortably, like the moon among the stars in the sky, the vassal armies would enter the hall with great excitement.
गायन्तीष्व् अथ कान्तासु सूपविष्टेषु राजसु । मनोहरति साह्लादे वीणावंशकलारवे
As the beloved women sang and the kings sat at ease, the sweet and delightful sounds of the lute and flute captivated the mind.
चारुचामरहस्तासु सविलासासु राजनि । देवासुरगुरुप्रख्ये विश्रान्ते मन्त्रिमण्डले
While the queens, graceful and charming, waved beautiful fans, and the assembly of ministers, equal to the teachers of gods and demons, rested nearby.
प्रस्तुतेषु प्रकृष्टेषु राजकार्येषु मन्त्रिभिः । प्रोक्तासु देशवार्तासु निपुणैश् चारतन्त्रिभिः
As the ministers skillfully discussed important royal affairs, and the expert spies reported news from the regions.
इतिहासमये पुण्ये वाच्यमाने च पुस्तके । पठत्सु च स्तुतीः पुण्याः पुरःप्रह्वेषु वन्दिषु
When, at an auspicious time for reciting histories, sacred texts were being read, and the bards, bowing before the king, sang holy praises.
सभां विवेश साटोपः कश्चित् ताम् ऐन्द्रजालिकः । वर्षणाहितसंरम्भो वसुधाम् इव वारिदः
Then, with pride, a certain magician entered the assembly, like a rain cloud eager to pour upon the earth.
स ननाम महीपालं शिखरोदारकन्धरम् । पादोपान्तगतः कान्तं शैलं फलतरुर् यथा
He bowed to the king, whose neck was noble as a mountain peak, standing at his feet like a fruit-laden tree before a lovely mountain.
सच्छायस्योन्नतांसस्य फलिनः पुष्पधारिणः । संविवेश पुरो राज्ञस् तरोर् अग्रे कपिर् यथा
Like a monkey before a tree bearing shade, high branches, fruit, and flowers, he took his place before the king.
चपलो लम्पटो ऽर्थानां सामोदसुखमारुतम् । उवाचोत्कन्धरं भूपं स पद्मम् इव षट्पदः
Restless and greedy for rewards, he addressed the king, whose neck was raised, like a bee speaking to a lotus in the gentle, joyful breeze.
विलोकय विभो तावद् एकाम् इह खरोलिकाम् । पीठस्थ एव साश्चर्यां व्योम्नश् चन्द्र इवावनिम्
Then, O Lord, behold here a single dice, wondrous even while resting on the board, like the moon upon the earth from the sky.
इत्य् उक्त्वा भ्रमिता तेन पिञ्छिका भ्रमदायिनी । नानाविरचनाबीजं मायेव परमात्मना
Having said this, he spun the dice-spindle that causes the dice to whirl, as if the Supreme Self itself were spinning the seed of manifold creations, like Māyā.
तां ददर्श महीपालस् तेजोरेखाविराजिताम् । शक्रस् सुरविमानस्थस् स्वकार्मुकलताम् इव
The king beheld it, radiant with a streak of light, like Indra standing in his celestial chariot, holding his own bow.
सभां सैन्धवसामन्तो विवेशास्मिन् क्षणे तदा । तारापतिकराकीर्णां व्योमवीथीम् इवाम्बुदः
At that very moment, the king, with his Sindhu vassals, entered the assembly, like a cloud entering a sky-road crowded with stars and planets.
तं चैवानुजगामाश्वश् शस्यः परमवेगवान् । देवलोकोन्मुखस् त्व् अब्धेश् शक्रम् उच्चैश्श्रवा इव
And that swift and excellent horse followed him, as if intent on reaching the world of the gods, like Uccaiḥśravas following Indra, lord of the ocean.
स तम् अश्वम् उपादाय पार्थिवं समुवाच ह । सोच्चैश्श्रवा इव क्षीरसागरो मरुतां पतिम्
Taking that horse, he addressed the king, just as the ocean, possessing Uccaiḥśravas, would speak to Indra, lord of the winds.
इदम् उच्चैश्श्रवःप्रख्यं हयरत्नं महीपते । जवे जयनशीले तु मूर्तिमान् इव मारुतः
O king, this jewel among horses, resembling Uccaiḥśravas, is swift and victorious in speed, as if the wind itself had taken form.