न जहौ पुत्रशोकार्ता जरिता खाण्डवे सुतान्। बभार चैतान्संजातान्स्ववृत्त्या स्नेहविक्लवा
Jarita, stricken with grief for her sons, did not abandon them in the Khandava forest; overwhelmed by love, she cared for them as they were born.
ततोऽग्निं खाण्डवं दग्धुमायान्तं दृष्टवानृषिः। मन्दपालश्चरंस्तस्मिन्वने लपितया सह
Then the sage Mandapala, together with Lapita, saw Agni coming to burn the Khandava forest as he wandered there.
तं संकल्पं विदित्वाग्नेर्ज्ञात्वा पुत्रांश्च बालकान्। सोऽभितुष्टाव विप्रर्षिब्रार्ह्मणो जातवेदसम्
Knowing Agni's intention and aware of his young sons, the Brahman sage then praised Jatavedas.
त्वमग्ने सर्वलोकानां मुखं त्वमसि हव्यवाट्
You, Agni, are the mouth of all the worlds; you are the carrier of offerings.
त्वमन्तः सर्वभूतानां गूढश्चरसि पावक। त्वामेकमाहुः कवयस्त्वामाहुस्त्रिविधं पुनः
You, O Purifier, move hidden within all beings; the wise call you one, and again, they call you threefold.
त्वामष्टधा कल्पयित्वा यज्ञवाहमकल्पयन्। त्वया विश्वमिदं सृष्टं वदन्ति परमर्षयः
Having conceived you in eight forms, they made you the bearer of sacrifice; the great sages say that this universe was created by you.
त्वदृते हि जगत्कृत्स्नं सद्यो नश्येद्धुताशन। तुभ्यं कृत्वा नमो विप्राः स्वकर्मविजितां गतिम्
For without you, O Eater of Offerings, the whole world would instantly perish; having paid homage to you, the Brahmans attain the state won by their own actions.
गच्छन्ति सह पत्नीभिः सुतैरपि च शाश्वतीम्। त्वामग्ने जलदानाहुः खेविषक्तान्सविद्युतः
Together with their wives and sons, they attain the eternal state; you, Agni, are called the cloud among the gods, moving in the sky with lightning.
दहन्ति सर्वभूतानि त्वत्तो निष्क्रम्य हेतयः। जातवेदस्त्वयैवेदं विश्वं सृष्टं महाद्युते
The forces that emerge from you consume all beings; O Jātavedas, with your great brilliance, this entire universe has been created by you alone.
तवैव कर्मविहितं भूतं सर्वं चराचरम्। त्वयापो विहिताः पूर्वं त्वयि सर्वमिदं जगत्
All that exists, moving and unmoving, is established by your actions; the waters were ordained by you in the beginning, and in you this whole world abides.
त्वयि हव्यं च कव्यं च यथावत्संप्रतिष्ठितम्। त्वमेव दहनो देव त्वं धाता त्वं बृहस्पतिः
Both the offerings to the gods and to the ancestors are properly established in you; you alone are the fire, the creator, and Bṛhaspati.
त्वमश्विनौ यमौ मित्रः सोमस्त्वमसि चानिलः
You are the Aśvins, the Yamas, Mitra, Soma, and also the wind.
तुतोष तस्य नृपते मुनेरमिततेजसः। उवाच चैनं प्रीतात्मा किमिष्टं करवाणि ते
He was pleased with that sage of boundless energy, and spoke to him with a joyful heart: 'What do you desire? What shall I do for you?'
तमब्रवीन्मन्दपालः प्राञ्जलिर्हव्यवाहनम्। प्रदहन्खाण्डवं दावं मम पुत्रान्विसर्जय
Mandapāla, with joined palms, addressed the fire-god: 'As you burn the Khāṇḍava forest, spare my sons from the blaze.'
तथेति तत्प्रतिश्रुत्य भगवान्हव्यवाहनः। खाण्डवे तेन काले न प्रजज्वाल दिदक्षया
The blessed fire-god, having promised thus, did not ignite the Khāṇḍava forest at that time with the intent to burn.
ततः प्रज्वलिते वह्नौ शार्ङ्गकास्ते सुदुःखिताः। व्यथिताः परमोद्विग्ना नाधिजग्मुः परायणम्
Then, as the fire blazed, the Śārṅgaka birds were greatly distressed, agitated, and deeply anxious, unable to find any refuge.
निशाम्य पुत्रकान्बालान्माता तेषां तपस्विनी। जरिता शोकदुःखार्ता विललाप सुदुःखिता
Hearing her young sons, their ascetic mother Jaritā, overwhelmed by grief and sorrow, lamented in deep distress.
अयमग्निर्दहन्कक्षमित आयाति भीषणः। जगत्संदीपयन्भीमो मम दुःखविवर्धनः
This fire, fierce and ready to burn, approaches, terrifying and igniting the world, increasing my suffering.
इमे च मां कर्षयन्ति शिशवो मन्दचेतसः। अबर्हाश्चरणैर्हीनाः पूर्वेषां नः परायणाः
And these children, weak-minded, torment me; they are helpless, lacking strength in their feet, and have no refuge from our ancestors.
त्रासयंश्चायमायाति लेलिहानो महीरुहान्। अजातपक्षाश्च सुता न शक्ताः सरणे मम
He comes, frightening and licking the trees; my sons, not yet fledged, are unable to escape with me.
आदाय च न शक्नोमि पुत्रांस्तरितुमात्मना। न च त्यक्तुमहं शक्ता हृदयं दूयतीव मे
I am unable to carry my sons and save myself; nor am I able to abandon them—my heart is torn.
कं तु जह्यामहं पुत्रं कमादाय व्रजाम्यहम्। किंनु मे स्यात्कृतं कृत्वा मन्यध्वं पुत्रकाः कथम्
Which son should I leave behind, and which should I take with me? What would be accomplished by doing so? Tell me, sons, what should I do?
चिन्तयाना विमोक्षं वो नाधिगच्छामि किंचन। छादयिष्यामि वो गात्रैः करिष्ये मरणं सह
Thinking about your rescue, I find no solution; I will cover you with my body and die together with you.
जरितारौ कुलं ह्येतज्ज्येष्ठत्वेन प्रतिष्ठितम्। सारिसृक्कः प्रजायेत पितॄणां कुलवर्धनः
The Jaritā birds' lineage is established as the eldest; Sārisṛkka is born to increase the family of the ancestors.
स्तम्बमित्रस्तपः कुर्याद्द्रोणो ब्रह्मविदां वरः। इत्येवमुक्त्वा प्रययौ पिता वो निर्घृणः पुरा
Stambamitra should practice austerity; Droṇa, the foremost among those who know Brahman. Having spoken thus, your father, long ago, departed without compassion.
कमुपादाय शक्येयं गन्तुं कष्टाऽऽपदुत्तमा। किं नु कृत्वा कृतं कार्यं भवेदिति च विह्वला। नापश्यत्स्वधिया मोक्षं स्वसुतानां तदानलात्
Taking one, I could escape this dire calamity; but what action would fulfill my duty? Distraught, she could not see any way to save her sons from the fire.
एवं ब्रुवाणां शार्ङ्गास्ते प्रत्यूचुरथ मातरम्। स्नेहमुत्सृज्य मातस्त्वं पत यत्र न हव्यवाट्
Hearing her speak thus, the Sharngas replied to their mother: 'Abandon your affection, mother, and go where the fire does not reach.'
अस्मास्विह विनष्टेषु भवितारः सुतास्तव। त्वयि मातर्विनष्टायां न नः स्यात्कुलसन्ततिः
If we are destroyed here, you will still have sons; but if you, mother, are lost, our family line will not continue.
अन्ववेक्ष्यैतदुभयं क्षेमं स्याद्यत्कुलस्य नः। तद्वै कर्तुं परः कालो मातरेष भवेत्तव
Considering both these outcomes, the welfare of our family would be secured if you, mother, survive; now is the time for you to act accordingly.
मा त्वं सर्वविनाशाय स्नेहं कार्षीः सुतेषु नः। न हीदं कर्म मोघं स्याल्लोककामस्य नः पितुः
Do not, out of affection for us, bring about the destruction of all; this act of our father, who wished for the good of the world, must not be in vain.