पलो न तां वाचमुक्त्वा मिथ्या करिष्यति। न्धुकृत्ये न तेन ते स्वस्थ मानसम्
Mandapala will not act falsely after speaking those words; by his deed, your mind should be at ease.
तामेव तु ममामित्रां चिन्तयन्परितप्यसे। ध्रुवं मयि न ते स्नेहो यथा तपयं पुराऽभवत्
You are troubled, thinking only of my enemies; surely, you do not love me as you once did.
नहि पक्षवता न्याय्यं निः हेन सुहृज्जने। पीड्यमान उपद्रष्टुं शक्तेना मा कथंचन
It is not proper for one with wings to abandon a friend in distress; one who is able should never neglect the suffering.
गच्छ त्वं जरितामेव यदर्थं परितप्यसे। चरिष्याम्यहमप्येका यथा पुरुषाश्रिता
Go to Jarita, for whom you are troubled; I too will live alone, as women rely on men.
नाहमेवं चरे लोके यथा त्वमभिमन्यसे। अपत्यहेतोर्विचरे तच्च कृच्छ्रगतं मम
I do not act in the world as you imagine; I wander for the sake of my children, and it is difficult for me.
भूतं हित्वा च भाव्यर्थे योऽवलम्बेत्स मन्दधीः। अवमन्येत तं लोको यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु
He who abandons what is present for what is yet to come is foolish; the world will scorn him—do as you wish.
एष हि प्रज्वलन्नग्निर्लेलिहानी महीरुहान्। आविग्ने हृदि सन्तापं जनयत्यशिवं मम
This fire, blazing and licking the trees, brings distress and misfortune to my troubled heart.
भर्तुर्हि वाक्यं सा श्रुत्वा लपिता दुःखिताऽभवत्। सान्त्वयामास च पुनः पति पतिपरायणा
Hearing her husband's words, Lapita became sorrowful; yet, devoted to her husband, she again sought to console him.
तस्माद्देशादतिक्रान्ते ज्वलने जरिता पुनः। जगाम पुत्रकानेन जरिता पुत्रगृद्धिनी
Having crossed beyond that region, Jaritā, scorched by fire, again went forth, longing for her sons.
सा तान्कुशलिनः सर्वान्विमुक्ताञ्जातवेदसः। रोरूयमाणान्ददृशे वने पुत्रान्निरामयान्
She saw all her sons in the forest, unharmed and freed from the flames, crying out but healthy.
अश्रूणि मुमुचे तेषां दर्शनात्सा पुनःपुनः। `न श्रद्धेयं ततस्तेषांर्शनं वै पुनःपुनः
At the sight of them, she shed tears again and again; yet their repeated lament seemed unbelievable to her.
इति मत्वाऽब्रवीद्वाकजरिता पुत्रगृद्धिनी।' एकाकशश्च पुत्रांस्तन्त्र्शमानान्वपद्यत
Thinking thus, Jaritā, yearning for her sons, spoke these words, and alone approached her sons, trembling.
जरिता तु परिष्वज्युत्रस्नेहाच्चुचुम्ब ह
Jaritā, out of maternal affection, embraced and kissed her sons.
ततोऽभ्यगच्छत्सहसमन्दपालोऽपि भारत। अथ ते सर्व एवैनं भ्यनन्दंस्तदा सुताः
Then Mandapāla also arrived swiftly, O Bhārata; and at that moment, all his sons rejoiced at his coming.
गुरुत्वान्मन्दपालस्तपसश्च विशेषतः। अभिवादामहे सर्वे तपक्षाः प्रसादतः
Because of Mandapāla's seniority and especially his asceticism, all the ascetics respectfully greeted him.
एवमुक्तवतां तेषां तनन्द्य महातपाः। परिष्वज्य ततो मू उपाघ्राय च बलकान्। पुत्रान्स्वयं समाहूयतः प्रोवाच गौतमः
Having spoken thus, the great ascetic, delighted, embraced and smelled his sons, and Gautama himself called his sons and spoke.
लालप्यमानमेकैकंरितां च पुनःपुनः। न चैवोचुस्तदा किंतमृषिं साध्वसाधु वा
As each child was fondled again and again, neither did they say anything to the sage, whether good or bad.
ज्येष्ठः सुतस्ते कत कतमस्तस्य चानुजः। मध्यमः कतमश्चैव यान्कतमश्च ते
Which one is your eldest son, which is his younger, which is the middle one, and which among them is yours?
एवं ब्रुवन्तं दुःखाकं मा न प्रतिभाषसे। कृतवानस्मि हव्यानैव शान्तिमितो लभे। `एवमुक्त्वा तु तां मन्दपालस्तदाऽस्पृशत्
Why do you not answer, though you are sorrowful and speak thus? I have performed the offerings and thereby attained peace; having said this, Mandapāla touched her.
किं नु ज्येष्ठेन ते किमनन्तरजेन ते। किं वा मध्यमजातेन किं कनिष्ठेन वा पुनः
What is there for you in the eldest, or in the next-born, or in the middle-born, or again in the youngest?
यां त्वं मां सर्वतो हीनामुत्सृज्यासि गतः पुरा। तामेव लपितां गच्छ तरुणीं चारुहासिनीम्
You once abandoned me, who was inferior in every way, and departed; now go to that young, beautiful one whom you praised.
न स्त्रीणां विद्यते किंचिदमुत्र पुरुषान्तरात्। सापत्नकमृते लोके नान्यदर्थविनाशनम्
There is nothing among women that differs from men, except rivalry with co-wives; in this world, nothing else destroys purpose.
वैराग्निदीपनं चैव भृशुद्वेगकारि च। सुव्रता चापि कल्याणी सर्वभूतेषु विश्रुता
It kindles the fire of enmity and causes great distress; yet she is virtuous and auspicious, renowned among all beings.
अरुन्धती महात्मानं वसिष्ठं पर्यशङ्कत। विशुद्धभावमत्यन्तं सदा प्रियहिते रतम्
Arundhatī suspected the great-souled Vasiṣṭha, though he was always pure in intent and devoted to her welfare.
सप्तर्षिमध्यगं वीरमवमेने च तं मुनिम्। अपध्यानेन सा तेन धूमारुणसमप्रभा। लक्ष्याऽलक्ष्या नाभिरूपा निमित्तमिव पश्यति
She regarded that sage, radiant as smoke and fire, among the seven sages, with suspicion; she saw him as both visible and invisible, like a sign.
अपत्यहेतोः संप्राप्तं तथा त्वमपि मामिह। इष्टमेवं गते हि त्वं सा तथैवाद्य वर्तते
Just as you came to me for the sake of offspring, so she too acts thus even now, as things have turned out.
न हि भार्येति विश्वासः कार्यः पुंसा कथंचन। न हि कार्यमनुध्याति नारी पुत्रवती सती
A man should never place his trust in a wife; for a woman, even if she is chaste and has sons, does not keep her mind fixed on her duties.
ततस्ते सर्व एवैनं पुत्राः सम्यगुपासते। स च तानात्मजान्सर्वानाश्वासयितुमुद्यतः
Then all his sons gathered around him and served him well, and he, in turn, endeavored to comfort each of his sons.
युष्माकमपवर्गार्थं ती ज्वलनो मया। अग्निना च तथेत्येतिज्ञातं महात्मना
For your liberation, I entered the fire; and by the fire, so it was ordained by the great-souled one.
अग्नेर्वचनमाज्ञाय धर्मज्ञतां च वः। भवतां च परं वीर्यं नाहमिहागतः
Knowing the command of Agni, your knowledge of righteousness, and your extraordinary strength, I have come here.