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.
असुरास्तत्र मां दृष्ट्वा कस्त्वमित्यभ्यचोदयन्। बृहस्पतिसुतश्चाहं कच इत्यभिविश्रुतः
There, seeing me, the Asuras questioned, 'Who are you?' I am the son of Brihaspati, known as Kacha, I replied.
इत्युक्तमात्रे मां हत्वा पेषीकृत्वा तु दानवाः। दत्त्वा शालावृकेभ्यस्तु सुखं जग्मुः स्वमालयं
As soon as I had spoken thus, the Danavas killed me, crushed me to pieces, and, giving my remains to the jackals and wolves, returned happily to their own abode.
आहूतो विद्यया भद्रे भार्गवेण महात्मना। त्वत्समीपमिहायातः कथंचित्प्राप्तजीवितः
Then, called back by the great-souled Bhargava with his knowledge, O gentle one, I came to your side, somehow regaining my life.
हतोऽहमिति चाचख्यौ पृष्टो ब्राह्मणकन्यया। स पुनर्देवयान्योक्तः पुष्पाण्याहर मे द्विज
When asked by the Brahmin maiden, he declared, 'I was killed.' Again, Devayani said to him, 'Bring me flowers, O Brahmin.'
वनं ययौ कचो विप्रो ददृशुर्दानवाश्च तम्। पुनस्तं पेषयित्वा तु समुद्राम्भस्यमिश्रयन्
The Brahmin Kacha went to the forest, and the Danavas saw him there; once more, after killing and crushing him, they scattered him in the waters of the ocean.
चिरं गतं पुनः कन्या पित्रे तं संन्यवेदयत्। विप्रेण पुनराहूतो विद्यया गुरुदेहजः। पुनरावृत्य तद्वृत्तं न्यवेदयत तद्यथा
When he was gone for a long time, the maiden again informed her father; the Brahmin was again called back by the knowledge born of the teacher's body, and returning, he related all that had happened, just as it was.
ततस्तृतीयं हत्वा तं दग्ध्वा कृत्वा च चूर्णशः। प्रायच्छन्ब्राह्मणायैव सुरायामसुरास्तथा
Then, for the third time, after killing him, burning him, and reducing him to ashes, the Asuras gave those ashes to the Brahmin to drink, as well as to themselves.
अपिबत्सुरया सार्धं कचभस्म भृगूद्वहः। सा सायन्तनवेलायामगोपा गाः समागताः
The illustrious descendant of Bhrigu drank Kacha's ashes mixed in wine together with the Asuras; at sunset, the cowherds brought the cows back.
देवयानी शङ्कमाना दृष्ट्वा पितरमब्रवीत्।' पुष्पाहारः प्रेषणकृत्कचस्तात न दृश्यते
Devayani, suspecting something, said to her father, 'Father, Kacha, whom you sent to gather flowers, is not to be seen.'
व्यक्तं हतो मृतो वापि कचस्तात भविष्यति। तं विना न च जीवेयं कचं सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते
'Surely, father, Kacha has been killed or has died; without him, I cannot live. I speak the truth to you.'
श्रुत्वा पुत्रीवचः काव्यो मन्त्रेणाहूतवान्कचम्। ज्ञात्वा बहिष्ठमज्ञात्वा स्वकुक्षिस्थं कचं नृप
Hearing his daughter's words, Kavya summoned Kacha with a mantra, not knowing he was outside, nor that Kacha was within his own belly, O King.
बृहस्पतेः सुतः पुत्रि कचः प्रेतगतिं गतः। विद्यया जीवितोऽप्येवं हन्यते करवाम किम्
'O daughter, Kacha, son of Brihaspati, has gone to the realm of the dead; though revived by knowledge, he is killed again and again—what should we do?'
मैवं शुचो मा रुद देवयानि न त्वादृशी मर्त्यमनुप्रशोचते। यस्यास्तव ब्रह्म च ब्राह्मणाश्च सेन्द्रा देवा वसवोऽथाश्विनौ च
'Do not grieve so, do not weep, Devayani. No mortal like you grieves thus, for you are cherished by Brahma, the Brahmins, Indra, the Vasus, and the Ashvins.'
सुरद्विषश्चैव जगच्च सर्व- मुपस्थाने सन्नमन्ति प्रभावात्। अशक्योऽसौ जीवयितुं द्विजातिः संजीवितो वध्यते चैव भूयः
'Even the enemies of the gods and all the world bow before you in attendance, out of respect. That twice-born one cannot be revived; though restored to life, he is killed again.'
यस्याङ्गिरा वृद्धतमः पितामहो बृहस्पतिश्चापि पिता तपोनिधिः। ऋषेः पुत्रं तमथो वापि पौत्रं कथं न शोचेयमहं न रुद्याम्
'Angiras, the eldest, is his great-grandfather, and Brihaspati, the treasure of austerity, is his father. How could I not grieve or weep for the son or even the grandson of such a sage?'
स ब्रह्मचारी च तपोधनश्च सदोत्थितः कर्मसु चैव दक्षः। कचस्य मार्गं प्रतिपत्स्ये न भोक्ष्ये प्रियो हि मे तात कचोऽभिरूपः
'He is a celibate, rich in austerity, ever diligent and skilled in his duties. I will follow the path of Kacha and will not eat, for Kacha, handsome and dear to me, is gone, father.'
कं ब्रह्महत्या न दहेदपीन्द्रम्
What sin, even the slaying of a Brahmin, would not burn Indra?
संचोदितो देवयान्या महर्षिः पुनराह्वयत्। संरम्भेणैव काव्यो हि बृहस्पतिसुतं कचम्
Urged by Devayani, the great sage again summoned Kacha, the son of Brihaspati, with fierce intent.
कचोऽपि राजन्स महानुभावो विद्याबलाल्लब्धमतिर्महात्मा।' गुरोर्हि भीतो विद्यया चोपहूतः। शनैर्वाक्यं जठरे व्याजहार
Kacha too, O King, a man of great power, wise through the strength of his knowledge, and fearful of his teacher, when called by the power of knowledge, slowly spoke from within the belly.
प्रसीद भगवन्मह्यं कचोऽहमभिवादये। यथा बहुमतः पुत्रस्तथा मन्यतु मां भवान्
"Be gracious, O venerable one, I am Kacha, I salute you; may you regard me as you would a beloved son."