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.
इदमाखोर्बिलं भूमौ वृक्षस्यास्य समीपतः। तदाविशध्वं त्वरिता वह्नेरत्र न वो भयम्
Near this tree, on the ground, there is a mouse hole; quickly enter it, for here you will have no fear of the fire.
ततोऽहं पांसुना छिद्रमपिधास्यामि पुत्रकाः। एवं प्रतिकृतं मन्ये ज्वलतः कृष्णवर्त्मनः
Then I will cover the entrance with earth, my children; in this way, I believe, you will be protected from the blazing fire.
तत एष्याम्यतीतेऽग्नौ विहन्तुं पांसुशंचयम्। रोचतामेष वो वादो मोक्षार्थं च हुताशनात्
After the fire has passed, I will return to remove the pile of earth; let this plan be agreeable to you, for it is to save you from the consuming flames.
अबर्हान्मांसभूतान्नः क्रव्यादाखुर्विनाशयेत्। पश्यमाना भयमिदं प्रवेष्टुं नात्र शक्नुमः
But a flesh-eating mouse might destroy us inside, devouring our bodies; seeing this danger, we are unable to enter.
कथमग्निर्न नो धक्ष्येत्कथमाखुर्न नाशयेत्। कथं न स्यात्पिता मोघः कथं माता ध्रियेत नः
How will the fire not burn us? How will the mouse not destroy us? How will our father not be disappointed? How will our mother be preserved?
बिल आखोर्विनाशः स्यादग्नेराकाशचारिणाम्। अन्ववेक्ष्यैतदुभयं श्रेयान्दाहो न भक्षणम्
If we enter the hole, the mouse will destroy us; if we stay, the fire that moves through the air will consume us. Considering both, burning is preferable to being eaten.
गर्हितं मरणं नः स्यादाखुना भक्षिते बिले। शिष्टादिष्टः परित्यागः शरीरस्य हुताशनात्
To be eaten by a mouse in a hole would be a disgraceful death for us; but to surrender the body to fire is prescribed by the wise.
अग्निदाहे तु नियतं ब्रह्मलोके ध्रुवा गतिः
Indeed, by dying in fire, one certainly attains the eternal realm of Brahma.
अस्माद्बिलान्निष्पतितमाखुं श्येनो जहार तम्। क्षुद्रं पद्भ्यां गृहीत्वा च यातो नात्र भयं हि वः
As the mouse emerged from the hole, an eagle seized it; grasping the small creature with its claws, it flew off—there is no danger for you now.
न हृतं तं वयं विद्मः श्येनेनाखुं कथंचन। अन्येऽपि भितारोऽत्र तेभ्योऽपि भमेव नः
We do not know how the eagle took the mouse; others here are also afraid, but for us, there is no more fear from them.