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?
हिरण्यरेतास्त्वरितो जलन्नायाति नः क्षयम्। सप्तजिह्वाननः क्रूरो लिहानो विसर्पति
Hiranyareta, swift and blazing, comes toward our abode; fierce, with seven tongues, he licks and spreads.
एवं संभाष्य तेऽन्योन्यं मन्दपालस्य पुत्रकाः। तुष्टुवुः प्रयता भूत्वा यथाऽग्निं शृणु पार्थिव
Thus, speaking to each other, Mandapala's sons became devoted and praised Agni; hear, O king, as they addressed the fire.
आत्माऽसि वायोर्ज्वलन शरीरमसि वीरुधाम्। योनिरापश्च ते शुक्रं योनिस्त्वमसि चाम्भसः
You are the soul of the wind, O blazing one, you are the body of plants; water is your source, and you are the seed of water.
ऊर्ध्वं चाधश्च सर्पन्ति पृष्ठतः पार्श्वतस्तथा। अर्चिषस्ते महावीर्य रश्यमः सवितुर्यथा
Your flames, O mighty one, move upward and downward, behind and to the sides, just like the rays of the sun.
माता प्रणष्टा पितरं न विद्मः पक्षा जाता नै नो धूमकेतो। न नस्त्राता विद्यते वै त्वदन्य- स्तस्मादस्मांस्त्राहि बालांस्त्वमग्ने
Our mother is lost, we do not know our father; our wings have grown, O smokebanner, but you are not our destroyer. There is no protector for us but you—therefore, O Agni, protect us children.
यदग्ने ते शिवं रूपं ये च ते सप्त हेतयः। तेन नः परिपाहि त्वमार्तान्नः शरणैषिणः
Whatever auspicious form is yours, O Agni, and your seven sources—by that, protect us who are afflicted and seek your refuge.
त्वमेवैकस्तपसे जप्तवेदो नान्यस्तप्ता विद्यते गोषु देव। ऋषीनस्मान्बालकान्पालयस्व परेणास्मान्प्रेहि वै हव्यवाह
You alone, O knower of sacrifice, are heated by austerity; no other is heated among the cows, O god. Protect us sages and children; carry us across, O bearer of offerings.
सर्वमग्ने त्वमेवैकस्त्वयि सर्वमिदं जगत्। त्वं धारयसि भूतानि भुवनं त्वं बिभर्षि च
You alone are everything, O Agni; in you is this entire world. You support all beings, you bear the universe.
त्वमग्निर्हव्यवाहस्त्वं त्वमेव परमं हविः। मनीषिणस्त्वां जानन्ति बहुधा चैकधापि च
You are Agni, the bearer of offerings; you are indeed the supreme oblation. The wise know you as manifold and also as one.
सृष्ट्वा लोकांस्त्रीनिमान्हव्यवाह काले प्राप्ते पचसि पुनः समिद्धः। त्वं सर्वस्य भुवनस्य प्रसूति- स्त्वमेवाग्ने भवसि पुनः प्रतिष्ठा
Having created these three worlds, O bearer of offerings, when the time comes, you burn them again, blazing forth. You are the origin of all the worlds; you alone, O Agni, are again their foundation.