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.
अश्वो ऽयम् अस्मत्प्रभुणा प्रभो सम्प्रहितस् त्वयि । राजते हि पदार्थश्रीर् महताम् अर्पणाच् छुभा
This horse, O Lord, has been sent to you by my master; indeed, the splendor of objects shines brightly when offered by the great.
इत्य् उक्तवति तस्मिंस् तु प्रत्युवाचैन्द्रजालिकः । जलदस्तनिते शान्ते चातको भूधरं यथा
When he had spoken thus, the magician replied, like a chataka bird turning to the mountain after the thunder of clouds has ceased.
सदश्वम् एनम् आरुह्य भुवनं विहर प्रभो । स्वप्रतापाहितानल्पशोभाम् उर्वीं रविर् यथा
Mount this excellent horse and roam the world, O Lord, as the sun graces the earth with its own radiant splendor.
अश्वम् आलोकयाम् आस तेनोक्त इति पार्थिवः । निर्ह्रादसूचितं मेघं स मयूर इवोत्सुकः
The king gazed at the horse, thinking on the magician’s words, like an eager peacock watching a cloud signaled by its rumble.
अथानिमेषया दृष्ट्या राजा चित्रोपमाकृतिः । बभूवालोकयन्न् अश्वं लिपिकर्मार्पितोपमम्
Then, with unblinking eyes, the king—whose form was as wondrous as a painting—stood looking at the horse, as if he were a figure set in a painted scene.
क्षणम् आलोक्य पिञ्छाश्वौ तस्थौ स स्थगितेक्षणः । दृष्टक्षुब्धसमुद्राद्रिर् भीरुर् एकतरो यथा
After gazing for a moment at the horse with its plume-like tail, he stood motionless, his eyes concealed, like a timid mountain before a stormy sea.
तस्थौ मुहूर्तयुग्मं तु ध्यानासक्त इवात्मनि । वीतरागो मुनिर् बुद्धः परानन्द इव स्थितः
He stood there for two moments, absorbed as if in meditation on his own self, like a sage free from passion, or the awakened one abiding in supreme bliss.
बोधितः केनचिन् नासौ स्वप्रतापजितोर्जितः । भयात् काम् अप्य् अयं भूपश् चिन्तां चिन्तयतीति ह
No one roused him, for he was subdued by his own majesty; yet perhaps, out of fear, this king was lost in anxious thought.
बभूवुः केवलं तत्र निस्स्पन्दसितचामराः । चामरिण्यो हि शर्वर्यस् स्तम्भितेन्दुकरा इव
There, only the yak-tail whisks remained utterly still, as if the night itself had become motionless, like the hands of the moon frozen in place.
विरेजुर् विस्मयापूर्णा निस्स्पन्दास् ते सभासदः । निस्स्पन्दकिञ्जल्कदलाः पद्माः पङ्ककृता इव
Those assembled in the hall shone, filled with astonishment and motionless, like lotuses whose petals are still, made so by the mud.