कदाचिद् अथ मार्गेण तेन कैलासवाहिनीम् । अहं स्नातुम् अदृश्यात्मा व्योमवीथिगतो ऽगमम्
Once, traveling along that path, I—myself unseen, moving along the skyway—came to the river that flows from Kailāsa to bathe.
निर्गत्य नभसस् सप्तमुनिमण्डलकोटरात् । रात्रौ प्राप्तो ऽस्मि सुमते दाशूरतरुपृष्ठखम्
Emerging from the hollow of the sphere of the Seven Sages in the sky, I arrived at night, O wise one, at the open space atop a Dāśūra tree.
यावच् छृणोमि विटपकुहरात् कानने वचः । कुट्मलाम्भोजबद्धस्य षट्पदस्येव निस्स्वनम्
As I listened, I heard from the hollow of a tree in the forest a voice, faint as the hum of a bee enclosed in a lotus bud.
शृणु पुत्र महाबुद्धे वस्तुनो ऽस्य समाम् इमाम् । वर्णयामि महाश्चर्याम् एकाम् आख्यायिकां तव
Listen, O son of great wisdom, I shall describe to you this remarkable story concerning this matter, a tale of wondrous marvels.
अस्ति राजा महावीर्यो विख्यातो भुवनत्रये । नाम्ना स्वोत्थ इति श्रीमाञ् जगदाक्रमणे क्षमः
There is a king of immense valor, renowned throughout the three worlds, named Svottha, prosperous and capable of conquering the universe.
यस्यानुशासनं सर्वे भुवनेष्व् अपि नायकाः । शिरोभिर् धारयन्त्य् उच्चैश् चूडामणिम् इवोत्तमम्
All the leaders in every realm uphold his commands with reverence, as if bearing the finest crest jewel upon their heads.
यस् साहसैकरसिको नानाश्चर्यविहारवान् । केनचित् त्रिषु लोकेषु न महात्मा वशीकृतः
He delights in daring exploits and wondrous adventures, and in all three worlds, no one has ever subdued this great soul.
यस्यारम्भसहस्राणि सुखदुःखप्रदान्य् अलम् । सङ्ख्यातुं नैव शक्यन्ते कल्लोला जलधेर् इव
The thousands of undertakings he initiates, bringing both joy and sorrow, cannot be counted, like the waves of the ocean.
यस्य वीर्यं सुवीर्यस्य न शस्त्रास्त्रैर् न पावकैः । केनचिद् भुवने क्रान्तम् आकाशम् इव मुष्टिना
His strength, surpassing even the strongest, has never been overcome by weapons, missiles, or fire, just as the sky cannot be grasped with a fist.
यदीयां विततारम्भां लीलां निर्माणभासुराम् । न मनाग् अनुकुर्वन्ति शक्रोपेन्द्रहरा अपि
Even Indra, Upendra, and Hara do not attempt to imitate his expansive, radiant play of creation, not even in the slightest.
त्रयस् तस्य महाबाहो देहा दिग्भरणक्षमाः । जगद् आकृष्य तिष्ठन्ति उत्तमाधममध्यमाः
Three bodies of his, mighty-armed and capable of bearing the directions, stand drawing in the worlds, distinguished as superior, inferior, and intermediate.
व्योमन्य् एवातिवितते जातो ऽसौ त्रिशरीरकः । तत्रैव च स्थितिं यातश् शब्दवातखपक्षिवत्
He was born in the vast expanse of the sky, possessing three bodies; and there itself he remained, like sound, wind, and wings.
तत्रैवापारगगने नगरं तेन निर्मितम् । चतुर्दशमहारथ्यं विभागत्रयभूषितम्
In that limitless sky, he constructed a city, adorned with fourteen grand avenues and embellished with threefold divisions.
वनोपवनमालाढ्यं क्रीडाशिखरिसुन्दरम् । मुक्तालताविवलितं वापीसप्तकभूषितम्
Rich with garlands of forests and gardens, beautiful with playful peaks, entwined with strings of pearls, and decorated with seven pools.
शीतलोष्णात्मकाक्षीणदीपद्वयविराजितम् । ऊर्ध्वाधोगतिरूपेण वणिङ्मार्गेण सङ्कुलम्
Radiant with twin lamps of coolness and warmth, teeming with paths moving upward and downward, and bustling with merchants.
तस्मिन्न् एवातिविपुले पत्तने तेन भूभृता । सञ्चारिणो विरचिता मुग्धाववरका गणाः
In that exceedingly vast city, the ruler created groups of inhabitants, charming and sheltered.
ऊर्ध्वे केचिद् अधः केचिन् मध्ये केचिन् नियोजिताः । केचिच् चिरेण नश्यन्तः केचिच् छीघ्रविनाशिनः
Some were placed above, some below, some in the middle; some perished slowly, others vanished quickly.
असितच्छादनाच्छन्ना नवद्वारविभूषिताः । अनारतवहद्वाता बहुवातायनान्विताः
Covered by dark coverings, adorned with nine gates, constantly swept by strong winds, and furnished with many windows.
दीपपञ्चकसालोकास् त्रिस्थूणाश् शुक्लदारवः । मसृणालेपमृदवः प्रतोलीकुलसङ्कुलाः
Illuminated by five lamps, supported by three pillars of white wood, smooth and soft with polished surfaces, crowded with bustling streets.
मायया रचितास् तेन राज्ञा तेषु महामते । रक्षितारो महायक्षा नित्यम् आलोकभीरवः
By means of illusion, that king, O wise one, created mighty yakshas as guardians among them, who are always terrifying in appearance.
अथाववरकौघेषु चलत्सु स महीपतिः । करोति विविधाः क्रीडा नीडेष्व् इव विहङ्गमः
Then, as the waves of enclosure move, that ruler engages in various amusements within the nests, like a bird.
त्रिशरीरस् स तेष्व् अन्तस् तैर् यक्षैस् सह पुत्रक । लीलालसम् उषित्वाशु पुनर् निष्क्रम्य गच्छति
With three bodies, he dwells among them, together with those yakshas, O child, delighting in play, and then swiftly departs again.
तस्येच्छा जायते वत्स कदाचिच् चलचेतसः । पुरं भविष्यन्निर्माणं किञ्चिद् यामीति निश्चला
Sometimes, O child, when his mind is unsettled, he has the desire: 'Let me go to some city yet to be created,' and this wish is unwavering.
भूताविष्ट इवावेगात् तत उत्थाय धावति । पुरं तद् अप्य् अवाप्नोति गन्धर्वैर् इव निर्मितम्
As if possessed by a spirit, impelled by force, he rises and runs forth; he attains that city, as if fashioned by gandharvas.
तस्येच्छा जायते नाम कदाचिज् जडचेतसः । विनाशं सम्प्रयामीति तेनाशु स विनश्यति
Sometimes, when his mind is dull, he has the desire: 'Let me go to destruction,' and by that, he perishes at once.
पुनर् उत्पद्यते तूर्णं खान् महोर्मिर् इवाम्भसः । व्यवहारं तनोत्य् उच्चैः पुनर् आरम्भमन्थरम्
He arises again swiftly, like a great wave from water, and acts vigorously, then again begins with sluggishness.
स्वयैव व्यवहृत्याथ कदाचित् परिदूयते । किं करोमीदम् अज्ञो ऽस्मि दुःखितो ऽस्मीति शोचति
By his own actions, at times he becomes distressed, lamenting: 'What shall I do? I am ignorant, I am unhappy,' and grieves.
मुदम् एत्य कदाचिच् च स्वयम् आयाति पीनताम् । प्रावृड्वर्षजलोल्लासपूराद् इव नदीरयः
Sometimes, joy arises and itself grows abundant, just as a river swells with the delight of monsoon rains.
पिबति वल्गति गच्छति जृम्भते स्फुरति भाति न भाति च भासुरः । सुत महामहिमा स महीपतिः पतिर् अपाम् इव वातरयाकुलः
He drinks, he frolics, he moves, he stretches, he quivers, he shines and does not shine—this radiant one, O son, of great glory, is like a king, lord of the earth, stirred by the wind as the lord of waters.
अथापृच्छत् सुतस् तत्र जम्बुद्वीपे महानिशि । कदम्बाग्रावचूलस्थं पितरं पावनाशयः
Then, on a great night in Jambudvīpa, the son asked his father, who was seated at the tip of a kadamba branch and whose heart was pure.