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.
ततस्ते मूषिकाः सर्वे समेत्यान्योन्यमब्रुवन् । मातुलो वर्धते नित्यं वयं क्षीयामहे भृशम्
Then all the mice, gathering together, said to each other: 'Our uncle grows ever stronger, while we are greatly reduced.'
ततः प्राज्ञतमः कश्चिड्डिण्डिको नाम मूषिकः। अब्रवीद्वचनं राजन्मूषिकाणां महागणम्
Then, the wisest among them, a mouse named Dindika, spoke these words, O king, to the great assembly of mice.
गच्छतां वो नदीतीरं सहितानां विशेषतः। पृष्ठतोऽहं गमिष्यामि सहैव मातुलेन तु
'Let us all especially go together to the riverbank; I will follow behind, along with our uncle.'
साधु साध्विति ते सर्वे पूजयाञ्चक्रिरे तदा। चक्रुश्चैव यथान्यायं डिण्डिकस्य वचोऽर्थवत्
All of them then praised this as good, saying, 'Well said, well said,' and carried out Dindika's meaningful advice as was proper.
अविज्ञानात्ततः सोऽथ डिण्डिकं ह्युपभुक्तवान्। ततस्ते सहिताः सर्वे मन्त्रयामासुरञ्जसा
But due to ignorance, that cat then devoured Dindika; so all the others together quickly held a council.
तत्र वृद्धतमः कश्चित्कोलिको नाम मूषिकः । अब्रवीद्वचनं राजञ्ज्ञातिमध्ये यथातथम्
There, the oldest among them, a mouse named Kolika, spoke these words, O king, truthfully among the kin.
न मातुलो धर्मकामश्छद्ममात्रं कृता शिखा। न मूलफलभक्षस्य विष्ठा भवति लोमशा
'Our uncle does not desire righteousness; his tuft is only for show. The droppings of one who eats roots and fruits are not hairy.'
अस्य गात्राणि वर्धन्ते गणश्च परिहीयते । अद्य सप्ताष्टदिवसान्डिण्डिकोपि न दृश्यते
His body grows while our group diminishes; today it has been seven or eight days, and Dindika too is not seen.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचः सर्वे मूषिका विप्रदुद्रुवुः। बिडालोपि स दुष्टात्मा जगामैव यथागतम्
Hearing these words, all the mice fled in different directions; and that wicked-souled cat departed the way he had come.
तथा त्वमपि दुष्टात्मन्बैडालं व्रतमास्थितः। चरसि ज्ञातिषु सदा बिडालोमूषिकेष्विव
Just so, you too, wicked-souled, having adopted the vow of a cat, behave among your kin always like the cat among the mice.