तान्पुनर्जीवयामास काव्यो विद्याबलाश्रयात्। ततस्ते पुनरुत्थाय योधयांचक्रिरे सुरान्
But Kāvya, relying on the power of his knowledge, revived those dānavas; rising again, they fought the gods anew.
असुरास्तु निजघ्नुर्यान्सुरान्समरमूर्धनि। न तान्सञ्जीवयामास बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः
The asuras, in turn, slew the gods on the battlefield; but Bṛhaspati, wise of mind, did not revive them.
न हि वेद स तां विद्यां यां काव्योवेत्ति वीर्यवान्। सञ्जीविनीं ततो देवा विषादमगमन्परम्
For he does not know that science which the mighty Kāvya knows—the art of reviving; therefore, the gods fell into great despair.
ते तु देवा भयोद्विग्नाः काव्यादुशनसस्तदा। ऊचुः कचमुपागम्य ज्येष्ठं पुत्रं बृहस्पतेः
Then the gods, seized by fear, approached Kaca, the eldest son of Bṛhaspati, and spoke to him.
भजमानान्भजस्वास्मान्कुरु नः साह्यमुत्तमम्। या सा विद्या निवसति ब्राह्मणेऽमिततेजसि
Support us, who seek your aid; grant us your utmost help. That knowledge resides in the brāhmaṇa of immeasurable brilliance.
शुक्रे तामाहर क्षिप्रं भागभाङ्गो भविष्यसि। वृषपर्वसमीपे हि शक्यो द्रष्टुं त्वया द्विजः
Bring that knowledge swiftly from Śukra; you shall receive a share of the offerings. Near Vṛṣaparvan, O brāhmaṇa, you can see him.
रक्षते दानवांस्तत्र न स रक्षत्यदानवान्। तमाराधयितुं शक्तो भवान्पूर्ववयाः कविम्
He protects the dānavas there, but does not protect the non-dānavas. You alone, being young, are able to win over the sage.
देवयानीं च दयितां सुतां तस्य महात्मनः। त्वमाराधयितुं शक्तो नान्यः कश्चन विद्यते
And his beloved daughter Devayānī—you alone are able to win her favor; no one else can do so.
शीलदाक्षिण्यमाधुर्यैराचारेण दमेन च। देवयान्यां हि तुष्टायां विद्यां तां प्राप्स्यसि ध्रुवम्
By virtue, generosity, sweetness, proper conduct, and self-control—if you please Devayānī, you will surely obtain that knowledge.
तथेत्युक्त्वा ततः प्रायाद्बृहस्पतिसुतः कचः। तदाऽभिपूजितो देवैः समीपे वृषपर्वणः
Saying 'so be it,' Kaca, son of Bṛhaspati, then departed, honored by the gods, to the abode of Vṛṣaparvan.
स गत्वा त्वरितो राजन्देवैः संप्रेषितः कचः। असुरेन्द्रपुरे शुक्रं दृष्ट्वा वाक्यमुवाच ह
He, urged by the gods, quickly went, O King, and upon seeing Shukra in the city of the lord of the Asuras, Kacha spoke these words.
ऋषेरङ्गिरसः पौत्रं पुत्रं साक्षाद्बृहस्पतेः। नाम्ना कच इति ख्यातं शिष्यं गृह्णात् मां भवान्
I am known as Kacha, the grandson of the sage Angiras, the direct son of Brihaspati; O revered one, please accept me as your disciple.
ब्रह्मचर्यं चरिष्यामि त्वय्यहं परमं गुरौ। अनुमन्यस्व मां ब्रह्मन्सहस्रं परिवत्सरान्
I wish to observe strict celibacy under you, O supreme teacher; grant me permission, O Brahmin, to serve for a thousand years.
कच सुस्वागतं तेऽस्तु प्रतिगृह्णामि ते वचः। अर्चयिष्येऽहमर्च्यं त्वामर्चितोऽस्तु बृहस्पतिः
Kacha, you are most welcome; I accept your words. I shall honor you, worthy of honor, as Brihaspati himself has been honored.
कचस्तु तं तथेत्युक्त्वा प्रतिजग्राह तद्व्रतम्। आदिष्टं कविपुत्रेण शुक्रेणोशनसा स्वयम्
Kacha, having replied 'So be it,' accepted that vow, as instructed personally by Shukra, the son of the sage Ushanas.
व्रतस्य प्राप्तकालं स यथोक्तं प्रत्यगृह्णत। आराधयन्नुपाध्यायं देवयानीं च भारत
When the time for the vow arrived, he accepted it as prescribed, serving his teacher and also Devayani, O Bharata.
नित्यमाराधयिष्यंस्तां युवा यौवनगां मुनिः। गायन्नृत्यन्वादयंश्च देवयानीमतोषयत्
That young sage, always seeking to please her, delighted Devayani, who had come of age, by singing, dancing, and playing music.
स शीलयन्देवयानीं कन्यां संप्राप्तयौवनाम्। पुष्पैः फलैः प्रेषणैश्च तोषयामास भारत
He won over Devayani, the maiden who had reached youth, by offering her flowers, fruits, and various services, O Bharata.
देवयान्यपि तं विप्रं नियमव्रतधारिणम्। गायन्ती च ललन्ती च रहः पर्यचरत्तथा
Devayani too, serving that Brahmin who observed strict vows, would sing and play with him in private.
गायन्तं चैव शुल्कं च दातारं प्रियवादिनम्। नार्यो नरं कामयन्ते रूपिणं स्रग्विणं तथा
Women desire a man who sings, gives gifts, speaks kindly, is handsome, and adorned with garlands.
पञ्चवर्षशतान्येवं कचस्य चरतो व्रतम्। तत्रातीयुरथो बुद्ध्वा दानवास्तं ततः कचम्
Thus, as Kacha observed his vow for five hundred years, the Danavas, realizing this, then...
गा रक्षन्तं वने दृष्ट्वा रहस्येकममर्षिताः। जघ्नुर्बृहस्पतेर्द्वेषाद्विद्यारक्षार्थमेव च
Seeing him alone in the forest guarding the cows, the enraged Danavas killed him out of hatred for Brihaspati and to protect their knowledge.
हत्वा शालावृकेभ्यश्च प्रायच्छँल्लवशः कृतम्। ततो गावो निवृत्तास्ता अगोपाः स्वं निवेशनम्
After killing him, they fed his remains to wolves; then the cows, now without a herdsman, returned to their abode.
सा दृष्ट्वा रहिता गाश्च कचेनाभ्यागता वनात्। उवाच वचनं काले देवयान्यथ भारत
Seeing the cows return from the forest without Kacha, Devayani spoke timely words, O Bharata.
आहुतं चाग्निहोत्रं ते सूर्यश्चास्तं गतः प्रभो। अगोपाश्चागता गावः कचस्तात न दृश्यते
Your fire sacrifice has been performed, the sun has set, the cows have returned without a herdsman, but Kacha, father, is nowhere to be seen.
व्यक्तं हतो मृतो वापि कचस्तात भविष्यति। तं विना न च जीवेयमिति सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते
Surely, father, Kacha must be dead or slain; without him, I cannot live—this is the truth I tell you.
ततः संजीविनीं विद्यां प्रयुज्य कचमाह्वयत्
Then, employing the knowledge of reviving the dead, he called for Kacha.
भित्त्वा भित्त्वा शरीराणि वृकाणां स विनिर्गतः। आहूतः प्रादुरभवत्कचो हृष्टोऽथ विद्यया
Breaking through the bodies of the wolves, Kacha emerged, having been summoned, rejoicing because of the knowledge.
कस्माच्चिरायितोऽसीति पृष्टस्तामाह भार्गवीम्
When asked, 'Why have you been delayed so long?' he spoke to the daughter of Bhrigu.
गृहीत्वा श्रमभारार्तो वटवृक्षं समाश्रितः। गावश्च सहिताः सर्वा वृक्षच्छायामुपाश्रिताः
Weighed down by fatigue, he took shelter under a banyan tree, and all the cows together also sought the shade of the tree.