इतः प्रदाने देवाश्च पितरश्चेति नः श्रुतम्। त्वया दत्तेन तोयेन भविष्यति हिताय वै
It is heard among us that, in this offering, the gods and ancestors are satisfied; by the water you give, there will indeed be benefit.
इत्येतदुभयं तात निशाम्य तव यद्धितम्। तद्व्यवस्य तथाम्बाया हितं स्वस्य सुतस्य च
Thus, having heard both sides, dear one, do what is for your good; so decide what is beneficial for your mother, yourself, and your son.
मातापित्रोश्च पुत्रास्तु भवितारो गुणान्विताः। न तु पुत्रस्य पितरो पुनर्जातु भविष्यतः
Sons will be born to mother and father, endowed with virtues; but parents will never again be born to a son.
एवं बहुविधं तस्या निशम्य परिदेवितम्। पिता माता च सा चैव कन्या प्ररुरुदुस्त्रयः
Hearing her many lamentations in this way, the father, the mother, and the maiden herself—all three began to weep.
ततः प्ररुदितान्सर्वान्निशम्याथ सुतस्तदा। उत्फुल्लनयनो बालः कलमव्यक्तमब्रवीत्
Then, hearing all of them weeping, the boy, his eyes wide with wonder, spoke indistinct words in a childish voice.
मा पिता रुद मा मातर्मा स्वसस्त्विति चाब्रवीत्। प्रहसन्निव सर्वांस्तानेकैकमनुसर्पति
"Do not weep, father; do not weep, mother; do not weep, sister," he said, smiling as if in play, addressing each one in turn.
ततः स तृणमादाय प्रहृष्टः पुनरब्रवीत्। अनेनाहं हनिष्यामि राक्षसं पुरुषादकम्
Then, taking a blade of grass, delighted, he said again, "With this I will slay the man-eating rakshasa."
तथापि तेषां दुःखेन परीतानां निशम्य तत्। बालस्य वाक्यमव्यक्तं हर्षः समभवन्महान्
Yet, hearing the indistinct words of the boy, those overwhelmed by grief felt a great joy.
अयं काल इति ज्ञात्वा कुन्ती समुपसृत्य तान्। गतासूनमृतेनेव जीवयन्तीदमब्रवीत्
Recognizing that this was the time, Kunti approached them and, as if reviving the lifeless with nectar, spoke these words:
कुतोमूलमिदं दुःखं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः। विदित्वाप्यपकर्षेयं शक्यं चेदपकर्षितुम्
From where does this suffering arise? I wish to know the truth; for, knowing it, I might remove it, if it is possible to remove.
उपपन्नं सतामेतद्यद्ब्रवीपि तपोधने। न तु दुःखमिदं शक्यं मानुषेण व्यपोहितुम्
What you say, O ascetic, is fitting for the virtuous; but this suffering cannot be dispelled by a human being.
तथापि तत्त्वमाख्यास्ये दुःखस्यैतस्य संभवम्। शक्यं वा यदि वाऽशक्यं शृणु भद्रे यथातथम्
Still, I will tell you the truth of the origin of this suffering, whether it can be remedied or not; listen, good lady, as it truly is.
समीपे नगरस्यास्य वको वसति राक्षसः। इतो गव्यूतिमात्रे।ञस्ति यमुनागह्वरे गुहा
Near this city dwells a rakshasa named Vaka; at a distance of a cow's walk from here, in a cave by the Yamuna, he resides.
तस्यां घोरः स वसति जिघांसुः पुरुषादकः। बकाभिधानो दुष्टात्मा राक्षसानां कुलाधमः
In that cave dwells that terrible, man-eating rakshasa, named Baka, wicked in soul, the lowest of the rakshasa race.
ईशो जनपदस्यास्य पुरस्य च महाबलः। पुष्टो मानुषमांसेन दुर्बुद्धिः पुरुषादकः
He is the lord of this land and of the city, mighty in strength, nourished by human flesh, evil-minded, a man-eater.
प्रबलः कामरूपी च राक्षसस्तु महाबलः। तेनोपसृष्टा नगरी वर्षमद्य त्रयोदशम्
That powerful rakshasa, able to assume any form at will, has beset the city, and now thirteen years have passed.
तत्कृते परचक्राच्च भूतेभ्यश्च न नो भयम्। पुरुषादेन रौद्रेण भक्ष्यमाणा दुरात्मना
Because of him, we have no fear from foreign armies or spirits; it is this cruel, wicked man-eater who devours us.
अनाथा नगरी नाथं त्रातारं नाधिगच्छति। गुहायां च वसंस्तत्र बाधते सततं जनम्
The city, bereft of a protector, finds no savior; and he, dwelling in a cave, constantly torments the people there.
स्त्रियो बालांश्च वृद्धांश्च यूनश्चापि दुरात्मवान्। अत्र मन्त्रैश्च होमैश्च भोजनैश्च स राक्षसः
That evil-minded rakshasa seizes women, children, the old, and the young; here, with rituals, offerings, and food—
ईडितो द्विजमुख्यैश्च पूजितश्च दुरात्मवान्। यदा च सकलानेवं प्रसूदयति राक्षसः
He is invoked and worshipped by the foremost brahmins, yet whenever the rakshasa desires, he slaughters them all.
अथैनं ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे समये समयोजयन्। मा स्म कामाद्वधी रक्षो दास्यामस्ते सदा वयं
Then all the brahmins together made an agreement with him: 'Do not kill out of desire; we will always give you.'
पर्यायेण यथाकाममिह मांसोदनं प्रभो। अन्नं मांससमायुक्तं तिलचूर्णसमन्वितम्
'In turn, as you wish, here is food with meat, O lord—rice mixed with meat and sesame flour.'
सर्पिषा च समायुक्तं व्यञ्जनैश्च समन्वितम्। सूपांस्त्रीन्सतिलान्पिण्डाँल्लाजापूपसुरासवान्
'Mixed with ghee and various seasonings—soups, sesame balls, puffed rice cakes, and liquor.'
शृताशृतान्पानकुम्भान्स्थूलमांसं शृताशृतम्। वनमाहिषवाराहभाल्लूकं च शृताशृतम्
'Cooked and uncooked jars of drink, large pieces of meat, cooked and uncooked—of forest animals, buffalo, boar, and bear.'
सर्पिःकुम्भांश्च विविधान्दधिकुम्भांस्तथा बहून्। सद्यःसिद्धसमायुक्तं तिलचूर्णैः समाकुलम्
'Various jars of ghee, and many jars of curds, freshly prepared and mixed with sesame flour.'
कुलाच्च पुरुषं चैकं बलीवर्दौ च कालकौ। प्राप्स्यसि त्वमसंक्रुद्धो रक्षोभागं प्रकल्पितम्
'From each family, one man, and two bullocks of black color—you shall receive, if you are not enraged, the portion set aside for the rakshasa.'
तिष्ठेह समयेऽस्माकमित्ययाचन्त तं द्विजाः। बाढमित्येव तद्रक्षस्तद्वचः प्रत्यगृह्णत
‘Stay here according to our agreement,’ the brahmins requested him; ‘Very well,’ said the rakshasa, accepting their words.
परचक्राटवीकेभ्यो रक्षणं स करोति च। तस्मिन्भागे सुनिर्दिष्टे स्थितः स समये बली
He protects them from foreign armies and forest dangers; in that well-defined portion, he abides by the agreement, powerful as he is.
एकैकं चैव पुरुषं संप्रयच्छन्ति वेतनम्। स वारो बहुभिर्वर्षैर्भवत्यसुकरो नरैः
Each time, they give him one man as his due; but that turn comes only after many years, and is hard for men to bear.
तद्विमोक्षाय ये केचिद्यतन्ते पुरुषाः क्वचित्। सपुत्रदारांस्तान्हत्वा तद्रक्षो भक्षयत्युत
Those who sometimes try to escape this fate—the rakshasa kills them, along with their wives and children, and devours them.