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.
अन्यथा किल ते वाक्यमन्यथा कर्म दृश्यते। दम्भनार्थाय लोकस्य वेदाश्चोपशमश्च ते
Your words are one thing, but your actions are seen to be another; for the sake of deceiving people, you use the Vedas and self-restraint.
त्यक्त्वा छद्म त्विदं राजन्क्षत्रधर्मं समाश्रितः । कुरु कार्याणि सर्वाणि धर्मिष्ठोऽसि नरर्षभ
Abandon this disguise, O king, and take up the duty of a kshatriya; perform all your tasks, for you are righteous, O best of men.
बाहुवीर्येण पृथिवीं लब्ध्वा भरतसत्तम। देहि दानं द्विजातिभ्यः पितृभ्यश्चयथोचितम्
Having won the earth by the strength of your arms, O best of the Bharatas, give gifts to the twice-born and to the ancestors as is proper.
क्लिष्टाया वर्षपूगांश्च मातुर्मातृहिते स्थितः। प्रमार्जाश्रु रणे जित्वा संमानं परमावह
Having endured many years of hardship for your mother’s sake, wipe away her tears by conquering in battle and bring her the highest honor.
पञ्चग्रामा वृता यत्नात्रास्माभिरपवर्जिताः। युध्यामहे कथं सङ्ख्ये कोपयेम च पाण्डवान्
The five villages we earnestly requested have been refused by you; how then shall we fight in battle, and how shall we provoke the Pandavas?
त्वत्कृते दुष्टभावस्य संत्यागो विदुरस्य च। जातुषे च गृहे दाहं स्मर तं पुरुषो भव
Because of your wickedness, Vidura has departed; remember also the burning of the house of lac—be a true man.
यच्च कृष्णमवोचस्त्वमायान्तं कुरुसंसदि। अयमस्मि स्थितो राजञ्शमायसमराय च
And what you said to Krishna, as he entered the Kuru assembly: 'Here I stand, O King, ready for peace or war.'
तस्यायमागतः कालः समरस्य नराधिप। एतदर्थं मया सर्वं कृतमेतद्युधिष्ठिर
Now that very time has come for battle, O ruler of men; for this purpose, Yudhishthira, I have done all this.
किं नु युद्धात्परं लाभं क्षत्रियो बहु मन्यते। किंच त्वं क्षत्रियकुले जातः संप्रथितो भुवि
What greater gain than battle does a Kshatriya consider? And you, born in a Kshatriya line, are renowned on earth.
द्रोणादस्त्राणि संप्राप्य कृपाच्च भरतर्षभ । तुल्ययोनौ समबले वासुदेवं समाश्रितः
Having obtained weapons from Drona and Kripa, O bull of Bharata's race, with equal birth and equal strength, you have taken refuge with Vasudeva.
ब्रूयास्त्वं वासुदेवं च पाण्डवानां समीपतः। आत्मार्थं पाण्डवार्थं च यत्तो मां प्रतियोधय
You should tell Vasudeva, in the presence of the Pandavas: 'For your own sake and for the Pandavas' sake, strive to oppose me.'
सभामध्ये च यद्रूपं मायया कृतवानसि। तत्तथैव पुनः कृत्वा सार्जुनो मामभिद्रव
And just as you performed that illusion in the middle of the assembly, do the same again, and let Arjuna attack me.
इन्द्रजालं च मायां वै कुहका वापि भीषणा । आत्तशस्त्रस्य सङ्ग्रमे वहन्ति प्रतिगर्जनाः
Whether it is magic, illusion, or even dreadful sorcery, the roars of those who have taken up arms in battle will overcome them.
वयमप्युत्सहेम द्यां खं च गच्छेम मायया । रसातलं विशामोपि ऐन्द्रं वा पुरमेव तु
We too could ascend to the sky, or enter the ether by illusion, or even go to the netherworlds, or to Indra's city.
दर्शयेम च रूपाणि स्वशरीरे बहून्यपि। न तु पर्यायतः सिद्धिर्बुद्धिमाप्नोति मानुषीम्
We could display many forms in our own bodies; but in the end, success does not come to one whose mind is not steady.
मनसैव हि भूतानि धातैव कुरुते वशे। यद्ब्रवीषि च वार्ष्णेय धार्तराष्ट्रानहं रणे
For by mind alone, the Creator brings all beings under control; and what you say, O descendant of Vrishni, that I will slay the sons of Dhritarashtra in battle—
घातयित्वा प्रदास्यामि पार्थेभ्यो राज्यमुत्तमम् । आचचक्षे च मे सर्वं सञ्जयस्तव भाषितम्। मद्द्वितीयेन पार्थेन वैरं वः सव्यसाचिना
Having killed them, I will give the excellent kingdom to the sons of Pritha. And Sanjaya has reported to me all that you have said, and that you and Arjuna together bear enmity against us.
स सत्यसङ्गरो भूत्वा पाण्डवार्थे पराक्रमी । युद्ध्यस्वाद्य रणे यत्तः पश्यामः पुरुषो भव
So, being true to your vow, and valiant for the sake of the Pandavas, fight now in battle with all your might; let us see, be a man.
यस्तु शत्रुमभिज्ञाय शुद्धं पौरुषमास्थितः। करोति द्विषतां शोकं स जीवति सुजीवितम्
He who, recognizing his enemy, acts with pure courage and brings grief to his foes—he lives well and truly lives.
अकस्माच्चैव ते कृष्ण ख्यातं लोके महद्यशः। अद्येदानीं विजानीमः सन्ति षण्डाः शश्रृङ्गकाः
And suddenly, Krishna, you have become famous in the world; now we know that there are impotent men with hare's horns.