आरक्षस्य विधिं कृत्वा योधानां तत्र भारत । कर्णं दुःशासनं चैव शकुनिं चापि सौबलम्
Having established the rules for security of the warriors there, O Bharata, he assigned Karna, Duhshasana, and also Shakuni, son of Subala.
आनाय्य नृपतिस्तत्र मन्त्रयामास भारत। तत्र दुर्योधनो राजा कर्णेन सह भारत
Then the king summoned them there and took counsel, O Bharata; there King Duryodhana deliberated together with Karna.
सौबलेन च राजेन्द्र मन्त्रयित्वा नरर्षभ । आहूयोपह्वरे राजन्नुलूकमिदमब्रवीत्
And after conferring with Saubala, O bull among men, the king called for Uluka in private and spoke these words to him.
उलूक गच्छ कैतव्य पाण्डवान्सहसोमकान्। गत्वा मम वचो ब्रूहि वासुदेवस्य श्रृण्वतः
Uluka, go, O son of Saubala, to the Pandavas and the Somakas; having gone, speak my words in the hearing of Vasudeva.
इदं तत्समनुप्राप्तं वर्षपूगाभिचिन्तितम् । पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च युद्धं लोकभयङ्करम्
This is that long-contemplated war, dreadful to the world, which has now come upon both the Pandavas and the Kurus.
यदेतत्कत्थनावाक्यं सञ्जयो महदब्रवीत्। वासुदेवसहायस्य गर्जतः सानुजस्य ते
That boastful speech which Sanjaya spoke, great in import, on behalf of you, who roar with Vasudeva and your brothers—
मध्ये करूणां कौन्तेय तस्य कालोयमागतः । यथावत्संप्रतिज्ञातं तत्सर्वं क्रियतामिति
O son of Kunti, in the midst of the Kurus, the time has now come for all that was promised to be carried out exactly as declared.
ज्येष्ठं तथैव कौन्तेयं ब्रूयास्त्यं वचनान्मम
In the same way, speak these words of mine to the eldest son of Kunti.
भ्रातृभिः सहितः सर्वैः सोमकैश्च सकेकयैः। कथं वा धार्मिको भूत्वा त्वमधर्मे मनः कृथाः। य इच्छसि जगत्सर्वं नश्यमानं नृशंसवत्
Surrounded by all your brothers, the Somakas, and the Kekayas, how can you, claiming to be righteous, set your mind on unrighteousness, wishing for the destruction of the whole world like a cruel man?
अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो पाता त्वमिति मे मतिः
It is my opinion that you should grant safety to all beings and desist.
श्रूयते हि पुरा गीतः श्लोकोऽयं भरतर्षभ । प्रह्लादेनाथ भद्रं ते हृते राज्ये तु दैवतैः
It is heard that in ancient times, O best of the Bharatas, this verse was sung by Prahlada when his kingdom was taken by the gods—may good befall you.
यस्य धर्मध्वजो नित्यं सुरा ध्वज इवोच्छ्रितः। प्रच्छन्नानि च पापानि बैडालं नाम तद्ब्रतम्
He whose banner is always that of righteousness, raised high like the banner of the gods, but whose sins are hidden—such conduct is called the cat's vow.
अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि आख्यानमिदमुत्तमम् । कथितं नारदेनेह पितुर्मम नराधिप
Now I shall tell you this excellent tale, as it was narrated here by Narada to my father, O king of men.
मार्जारः किल दुष्टात्मा निश्चेष्टः सर्वकर्मसु। ऊर्ध्वबाहुः स्थितो राजन् गङ्गातीर कदाचन
Once, a cat of wicked nature, inactive in all deeds, stood with raised arms on the bank of the Ganga, O king.
स वै कृत्वा मनःशुद्धिं प्रत्ययार्थं शरीरिणाम् । करोमि धर्ममित्याह सर्वानेव शरीरिणः
Having purified his mind to win the trust of living beings, he declared, 'I practice righteousness,' addressing all creatures.
तस्य कालेन महता विस्त्रम्यं जग्मुरण्डजाः। समेत्य च प्रशंसन्ति मार्जारं तं विशांपते
In time, many birds gathered there, and coming together, they praised that cat, O lord of the people.
पूज्यमानस्तु तैः सर्वैः पक्षिभिः पक्षिभोजनः। आत्मकार्यं कृतं मेने चार्यायाश्च कृतं फलम्
Honored by all those birds, he, the eater of birds, considered his own purpose fulfilled, as well as the fruit of his vow.
अथ दीर्घस्य कालस्य तं देशं मूषिका ययुः। ददृशुस्तं च ते तत्र धार्मिकं व्रतचारिणम्
Then, after a long time, mice came to that place and saw him there, appearing righteous and devoted to his vow.
कार्येण महता युक्तं दम्भयुक्तेन भारत । तेषां मतिरियं राजन्नासीत्तत्र विनिश्चये
Perceiving him engaged in a great task, but full of deceit, O Bharata, the mice formed this conclusion among themselves.
बहुमित्रा वयं सर्वे तेषां नो मातुलो ह्ययम् । रक्षां करोतु सततं वृद्धबालस्य सर्वशः
'We are all close friends, and he is our maternal uncle; let him always protect us all, young and old, in every way.'
उपगम्य तु ते सर्वे बिडालमिदमब्रुवन् । भवत्प्रसादादिच्छामश्चर्तुं चैव यथासुखम्
So all of them approached the cat and said, 'By your favor, we wish to roam about as we please.'
भवान्नो गतिरव्यग्रा भवान्नः परमः सुहृत्। ते वयं सहिताः सर्वे भवन्तं शरणं गताः
'You are our undisturbed refuge, you are our supreme friend; therefore, united, we all take shelter in you.'
भवान्धर्मपरो नित्यं भवान्धर्मे व्यवस्थितः। स नो रक्ष महाप्रज्ञ त्रिदशानिव वज्रभृत्
'You are always devoted to righteousness, you are established in dharma; so protect us, O greatly wise one, as Indra protects the gods.'
एवमुक्तस्तु तैः सर्वैर्मूषिकैः स विशांपते। प्रत्युवाच ततः सर्वान्मूषिकान्मूषिकान्तकृत्
Thus addressed by all the mice, O lord of the people, the cat, destroyer of mice, then replied to them all.
द्वयोर्योगं न पश्यामि तपसो रक्षणस्य च। अवश्यं तु मया कार्यं वचनं भवतां हितम्
'I do not see how asceticism and protection can be combined; but I must certainly speak words for your welfare.'
युष्माभिरपि कर्तव्यं वचनं मम नित्यशः। तपसास्मि परिश्रान्तो दृढं नियमामास्थितः
'You too must always follow my words; I am exhausted by asceticism and firmly established in discipline.'
न चापि गमने शक्तिं कांचित्पश्यामि चिन्तयन्। सोस्मि नेयः सदा ताता नदीकूलमितःपरम्
'Nor do I see any strength left in me for movement, as I reflect; so, my friends, I must always be led across the riverbank.'
तथेति तं प्रतिज्ञाय मूषिका भरतर्षभ । वृद्धबालमथो सर्वं मार्जाराय न्यवेदयन्
Agreeing to this, O best of the Bharatas, the mice pledged themselves and then reported everything, young and old, to the cat.
ततः स पापो दुष्टात्मा मूषिकानथ भक्षयन्। पीवरश्च सुवर्णश्च दृढबन्धश्च जायते
Then that wicked-souled sinner, O lord of mice, eating the mice, becomes fat, golden-hued, and firmly bound.
मूषिकाणां गणश्चात्र भृशं संक्षीयतेऽथ सः। मार्जारो वर्धते चापि तेजोबलसमन्वितः
There, the group of mice is greatly diminished, while that cat grows, endowed with energy and strength.