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.
संशयो वह्निरागच्छेद्दृष्टं वायोर्निवर्तनम्। मृत्युर्नो बिलवासिभ्यो बिले स्यान्नात्र संशयः
If the fire comes, there is uncertainty; but we have seen the wind change direction. For those dwelling in the hole, death is certain—there is no doubt about this.
निःसंशयात्संशयितो मृत्युर्मातर्विशिष्यते। चर खे त्वं यथान्यायं पुत्रानाप्स्यसि शोभनान्
Mother, when death is certain, doubt is dispelled; go forth as is proper, and you will obtain worthy sons.
अहं वेगेन तं यान्तमद्राक्षं पततां वरम्। बिलादाखुं समादाय श्येनं पुत्रा महाबलम्
With speed, I saw the mighty eagle, best of fliers, seize the mouse from the hole and depart, my sons.
तं पतन्तं महावेगा त्वरिता पृष्ठतोऽन्वगाम्। आशिषोऽस्य प्रयुञ्जाना हरतो मूषिकं बिलात्
As it flew swiftly, I hurried after it, offering blessings as it carried the mouse away from the hole.
यो नो द्वेष्टारमादाय श्येनराज प्रधावसि। भव त्वं दिवमास्थाय निरमित्रो हिरण्मयः
You, who carry our enemy away, O king of hawks, you rush forth; ascend to heaven, and be without adversary, golden one.
स यदा भक्षितस्तेन श्येनेनाखुः पतत्रिणा। तदाहं तमनुज्ञाप्य प्रत्युपायां पुनर्गृहम्
When the mouse was eaten by the hawk, the winged one, I permitted him, and then returned again to my home.
प्रविशध्वं बिलं पुत्रा विश्रब्धा नास्ति वो भयम्। श्येनेन मम पश्यन्त्या हृत आखुर्महात्मना
Enter the burrow, children, confidently; there is no danger for you. The mouse has been taken by the great-hearted hawk, as I have seen.
न विद्महे हृतं मातः श्येनैनाखुं कथंचन। अविज्ञाय न शक्यामः प्रवेष्टं विवरं भुवः
Mother, we do not know that the mouse has been taken by the hawk in any way; without knowing, we cannot enter the hole in the earth.
अहं तमभिजानामि हृतं श्येनेन मूषिकम्। नास्ति वोऽत्र भयं पुत्राः क्रियतां वचनं मम
I recognize that the mouse has been taken by the hawk; there is no danger for you here, children. Let my words be followed.
न त्वं मिथ्योपचारेण मोक्षयेथा भयाद्धि नः। समाकुलेषु ज्ञानेषु न बुद्धिकृतमेव तत्
You would not release us from fear by false assurance; when knowledge is confused, that is not the work of intelligence.
न चोपकृतमस्माभिर्न चास्मान्वेत्थ ये वयम्। पीड्यमाना बिभर्ष्यस्मान्का सती के वयं तव
Nor have we benefited you, nor do you know who we are; oppressed, you bear us—what good are we to you, who are virtuous?
तरुणी दर्शीयाऽसि समर्था भर्तुरेषणे। अनुगच्छ पतिं मातुः पुत्रानाप्स्यसि शोमनान्
You are young, beautiful, capable of seeking a husband; follow your spouse, mother, you will obtain sons who bring joy.
वयमस्निं समाविश्य लोकानाप्स्याम शोभनान्। अथास्मान्न दहेदग्निरायास्त्वं पुनरेव नः
We will enter this burrow and obtain beautiful worlds; then the fire will not burn us, and you may come to us again.
एवमुक्ता ततः शार्ङ्गी पुत्रानुत्सृज्य खाण्डवे। जगाम त्वरिता देशं क्षेममग्नेरनामयम्
Thus addressed, the female bird, leaving her children in the Khandava forest, quickly went to the safe place of Agni, free from illness.
ततस्तीक्ष्णार्चिरभ्यागात्त्वरितो हव्यवाहनः। यत्र शार्ङ्गा वभूवुस्ते मन्दपालस्य पुत्रकाः
Then Agni, with sharp flames, hastened to the place where the Sharnga birds, Mandapala's sons, were.
ततस्तं ज्वलितं दृष्ट्वा ज्वलनं ते विहङ्गमाः। `व्यथिताः करुणा वाचः श्रावयामासुरन्तिकात्।' जरितारिस्ततो वाक्यं श्रावयामास पावकम्
Then, seeing the blazing fire, those birds were distressed and uttered pitiful words nearby; Jaritari then spoke to the fire.
पुरतः कृच्छ्रकालस्य धीमाञ्जागर्ति पुरुषः। स कृच्छ्रकालं संप्राप्य व्यथां नैवैति कर्हिचित्
Before a time of hardship, the wise man is vigilant; when hardship arrives, he never experiences distress.
यस्तु कृच्छ्रमनुप्राप्तं विचेता नावबुध्यते। सकृच्छ्रकाले व्यथितो न श्रेयो विन्दते महत्
But he who, when hardship comes, is confused and does not understand, is afflicted in times of difficulty and does not attain great good.
धीरस्त्वमसि मेधावी प्राणकृच्छ्रमिदं च नः। प्राज्ञः शूरो बहूनां हि भवत्येको न संशयः
You are steadfast and intelligent; this hardship of life is ours. The wise and courageous one among many is indeed unique, without doubt.
ज्येष्ठस्तातो भवति वै ज्येष्ठो मुञ्चति कृच्छ्रतः। ज्येष्ठश्चेन्न प्रजानाति नीयान्किं करिष्यति
The eldest, father, is indeed the eldest; the eldest releases from hardship. If the eldest does not know, what will the younger do?