01.063
Library: Dushyanta’s hunting expedition described, that results in large-scale destruction of animals.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
स कदाचिन्महाबाहुः प्रभूतबलवाहनः। वनं जगाम गहनं हयनागशतैर्वृतः ॥१-६३-१॥
Once, the mighty-armed hero, with a great force and many vehicles, went into the dense forest surrounded by hundreds of horses and elephants.
खड्गशक्तिधरैर्वीरैर्गदामुसलपाणिभिः। प्रासतोमरहस्तैश्च ययौ योधशतैर्वृतः ॥१-६३-२॥
He proceeded, surrounded by hundreds of warriors, bearing swords, spears, maces, clubs, javelins, and lances in their hands.
सिंहनादैश्च योधानां शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिस्वनैः। रथनेमिस्वनैश्चापि सनागवरबृंहितैः ॥१-६३-३॥
The battlefield resounded with the roars of lions, the blaring of conches and drums by the warriors, the rumbling of chariot wheels, and the trumpeting of noble elephants.
हेषितस्वनमिश्रैश्च क्ष्वेडितास्फोटितस्वनैः। आसीत्किलकिलाशब्दस्तस्मिन्गच्छति पार्थिवे ॥१-६३-४॥
As the king proceeded, there was a loud clamor of mixed neighing, shouting, and bursting sounds.
प्रासादवरशृङ्गस्थाः परया नृपशोभया। ददृशुस्तं स्त्रियस्तत्र शूरमात्मयशस्करम् ॥१-६३-५॥
The women standing on the grand peaks of the palace, adorned with the great splendor of the king, saw the hero who was the source of his own glory.
शक्रोपमममित्रघ्नं परवारणवारणम्। पश्यन्तः स्त्रीगणास्तत्र शस्त्रपाणिं स्म मेनिरे ॥१-६३-६॥
The groups of women there thought of the armed one as being like Indra, a destroyer of enemies and protector of others.
अयं स पुरुषव्याघ्रो रणेऽद्भुतपराक्रमः। यस्य बाहुबलं प्राप्य न भवन्त्यसुहृद्गणाः ॥१-६३-७॥
He is a formidable warrior, a tiger among men, whose incredible strength in battle ensures that he has no enemies.
इति वाचो ब्रुवन्त्यस्ताः स्त्रियः प्रेम्णा नराधिपम्। तुष्टुवुः पुष्पवृष्टीश्च ससृजुस्तस्य मूर्धनि ॥१-६३-८॥
Thus, those women lovingly spoke to the king, praised him, and showered flowers upon his head.
तत्र तत्र च विप्रेन्द्रैः स्तूयमानः समन्ततः। निर्ययौ परया प्रीत्या वनं मृगजिघांसया ॥१-६३-९॥
In various places, being praised by the foremost of the Brahmins from all sides, he left with great affection for the forest, driven by the desire to hunt deer.
सुदूरमनुजग्मुस्तं पौरजानपदास्तदा। न्यवर्तन्त ततः पश्चादनुज्ञाता नृपेण ह ॥१-६३-१०॥
The citizens and villagers followed him to a far distance, and then, having been permitted by the king, they returned afterwards.
सुपर्णप्रतिमेनाथ रथेन वसुधाधिपः। महीमापूरयामास घोषेण त्रिदिवं तथा ॥१-६३-११॥
The king, riding a chariot like Garuda, filled the earth and the heavens with his sound.
स गच्छन्ददृशे धीमान्नन्दनप्रतिमं वनम्। बिल्वार्कखदिराकीर्णं कपित्थधवसङ्कुलम् ॥१-६३-१२॥
The wise man, while traveling, saw a forest resembling the celestial Nandana, abundant with Bilva, Arka, and Khadira trees, and teeming with Kapittha and Dhava trees.
विषमं पर्वतप्रस्थैरश्मभिश्च समावृतम्। निर्जलं निर्मनुष्यं च बहुयोजनमायतम् ॥ मृगसङ्घैर्वृतं घोरैरन्यैश्चापि वनेचरैः ॥१-६३-१३॥
The terrain was uneven, covered with mountain plateaus and rocks, devoid of water and humans, stretching over many yojanas, and inhabited by herds of deer and other fierce forest creatures.
तद्वनं मनुजव्याघ्रः सभृत्यबलवाहनः। लोडयामास दुःषन्तः सूदयन्विविधान्मृगान् ॥१-६३-१४॥
Duṣyanta, the tiger among men, along with his servants, army, and vehicles, shook the forest, hunting various animals.
बाणगोचरसम्प्राप्तांस्तत्र व्याघ्रगणान्बहून्। पातयामास दुःषन्तो निर्बिभेद च सायकैः ॥१-६३-१५॥
Duḥṣanta, with his arrows, brought down many groups of tigers that had come within range, piercing them skillfully.
दूरस्थान्सायकैः कांश्चिदभिनत्स नरर्षभः। अभ्याशमागतांश्चान्यान्खड्गेन निरकृन्तत ॥१-६३-१६॥
The valiant warrior, like a bull among men, shot arrows at those who were far away and cut down those who approached him with his sword.
कांश्चिदेणान्स निर्जघ्ने शक्त्या शक्तिमतां वरः। गदामण्डलतत्त्वज्ञश्चचारामितविक्रमः ॥१-६३-१७॥
He, the best among the powerful, killed some antelopes with his power; being knowledgeable in the principles of mace combat, he moved with immense prowess.
तोमरैरसिभिश्चापि गदामुसलकर्पणैः। चचार स विनिघ्नन्वै वन्यांस्तत्र मृगद्विजान् ॥१-६३-१८॥
Armed with spears, swords, maces, clubs, and daggers, he roamed there, indeed killing the wild animals and birds.
राज्ञा चाद्भुतवीर्येण योधैश्च समरप्रियैः। लोड्यमानं महारण्यं तत्यजुश्च महामृगाः ॥१-६३-१९॥
The great beasts abandoned the great forest, which was being shaken by the king with wonderful strength and warriors fond of battle.
तत्र विद्रुतसङ्घानि हतयूथपतीनि च। मृगयूथान्यथौत्सुक्याच्छब्दं चक्रुस्ततस्ततः ॥१-६३-२०॥
There, scattered groups and slain leaders of herds of deer, then out of curiosity, made sounds from here to there.
शुष्कां चापि नदीं गत्वा जलनैराश्यकर्शिताः। व्यायामक्लान्तहृदयाः पतन्ति स्म विचेतसः ॥१-६३-२१॥
They went to the dry river, weakened by the lack of water, and with hearts wearied by exertion, they fell unconscious.
क्षुत्पिपासापरीताश्च श्रान्ताश्च पतिता भुवि। केचित्तत्र नरव्याघ्रैरभक्ष्यन्त बुभुक्षितैः ॥१-६३-२२॥
Overcome by hunger and thirst, exhausted, they collapsed on the ground. There, some of them were devoured by ravenous men who were like tigers.
केचिदग्निमथोत्पाद्य समिध्य च वनेचराः। भक्षयन्ति स्म मांसानि प्रकुट्य विधिवत्तदा ॥१-६३-२३॥
Some forest-dwellers, after producing fire and kindling it, properly cooked and ate the meat at that time.
तत्र केचिद्गजा मत्ता बलिनः शस्त्रविक्षताः। सङ्कोच्याग्रकरान्भीताः प्रद्रवन्ति स्म वेगिताः ॥१-६३-२४॥
There, some strong and intoxicated elephants, wounded by weapons, contracted their forelimbs in fear and swiftly ran away.
शकृन्मूत्रं सृजन्तश्च क्षरन्तः शोणितं बहु। वन्या गजवरास्तत्र ममृदुर्मनुजान्बहून् ॥१-६३-२५॥
The wild elephants, producing excrement and urine, and flowing much blood, crushed many humans there.
तद्वनं बलमेघेन शरधारेण संवृतम्। व्यरोचन्महिषाकीर्णं राज्ञा हतमहामृगम् ॥१-६३-२६॥
The forest, enveloped by dense clouds and showers of arrows, appeared resplendent, teeming with buffaloes, where the king had slain a great beast.
