सहस्रं भरते कश्चिच् छतम् अन्यो दशापरः आत्मानं च सुखेनान्यो वयं कष्टोदरंभराः
Some carry a thousand, others a hundred, and yet others ten; some easily support themselves, while we bear the burden of a difficult belly.
गर्तधान्यधनाः केचित् कुशूलधनिनो ऽपरे घटक्षिप्तधनाः केचिच् चञ्चुक्षिप्तधना वयम्
Some have grain and wealth in pits, others have wealth in sheaves; some have wealth stored in pots, and we have wealth stored in our beaks.
पूजयामि कथं श्रान्तम् अभ्यागतम् इमं शुभे
How shall I honor this weary guest who has arrived, O auspicious one?
अग्निर् आपः शुभा वाणी तृणकाष्ठादिकं च यत् एतद् अप्य् अर्थिने देयं शीतार्तो लुब्धकस् त्व् अयम्
Fire, water, auspicious words, grass, wood, and the like—these too should be given to one who asks; this hunter is afflicted by cold.
एतच् छ्रुत्वा प्रियावाक्यं वृक्षम् आरुह्य पक्षिराट् आलोकयाम् आस तदा वह्निं दूरं ददर्श ह
Hearing these loving words, the king of birds climbed the tree, looked around, and then saw fire at a distance.
स तु गत्वा वह्निदेशं चञ्चुनोल्मुकम् आहरत् पुरो ऽग्निं ज्वालयाम् आस लुब्धकस्य कपोतकः
He went to the place of fire, brought a burning stick with his beak, and kindled a fire before the hunter, the little pigeon.
शुष्ककाष्ठानि पर्णानि तृणानि च पुनः पुनः अग्नौ निक्षेपयाम् आस निशीथे स कपोतराट्
Again and again, the king of pigeons placed dry wood, leaves, and grass upon the fire at midnight.
तम् अग्निं ज्वलितं दृष्ट्वा लुब्धकः शीतदुःखितः अवशानि स्वकाङ्गानि प्रताप्य सुखम् आप्तवान्
Seeing the fire blazing, the hunter, suffering from cold, warmed his exhausted limbs and attained comfort.
क्षुधाग्निना दह्यमानं व्याधं दृष्ट्वा कपोतकी मा मुञ्चस्व महाभाग इति भर्तारम् अब्रवीत्
Seeing the hunter tormented by the fire of hunger, the female pigeon said to her husband, 'Do not release me, O noble one.'
स्वशरीरेण दुःखार्तं लुब्धकं प्रीणयामि तम् इष्टातिथीनां ये लोकास् तांस् त्वं प्राप्नुहि सुव्रत
With my own body, I shall please the suffering hunter; may you, O virtuous one, attain those worlds reserved for honored guests.
मयि तिष्ठति नैवायं तव धर्मो विधीयते इष्टातिथिर् भवामीह अनुजानीहि मां शुभे
As long as I remain, your duty is not fulfilled; here I become the honored guest—permit me, O auspicious one.
इत्य् उक्त्वाग्निं त्रिर् आवर्त्य स्मरन् देवं चतुर्भुजम् विश्वात्मकं महाविष्णुं शरण्यं भक्तवत्सलम्
Having spoken thus, she circumambulated the fire three times, remembering the four-armed Lord, the soul of all, the great Vishnu, the refuge, the lover of devotees.
यथासुखं जुषस्वेति वदन्न् अग्निं तथाविशत् तं दृष्ट्वाग्नौ क्षिप्तजीवं लुब्धको वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
Saying, 'Enjoy as you please,' she entered the fire; seeing her cast her life into the flames, the hunter spoke.
अहो मानुषदेहस्य धिग् जीवितम् इदं मम यद् इदं पक्षिराजेन मदर्थे साहसं कृतम्
Alas, shame upon the life of a human body—since the king of birds has performed such a heroic act for my sake.
एवं ब्रुवन्तं तं लुब्धं पक्षिणी वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
As the hunter spoke thus, the female bird addressed him.
मां त्वं मुञ्च महाभाग दूरं यात्य् एष मे पतिः
Release me, O noble one; my husband is departing far away.
तस्यास् तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा पञ्जरस्थां कपोतकीम् लुब्धको मोचयाम् आस तरसा भीतवत् तदा
Hearing her words, the hunter swiftly released the female pigeon from the cage, trembling with fear.
सापि प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा पतिम् अग्निं तदा जगौ
She then circled her husband and sang to him by the fire.
स्त्रीणाम् अयं परो धर्मो यद् भर्तुर् अनुवेशनम् वेदे च विहितो मार्गः सर्वलोकेषु पूजितः
This is the highest duty of women: to follow the husband; this path is prescribed in the Vedas and honored in all worlds.
व्यालग्राही यथा व्यालं बिलाद् उद्धरते बलात् एवं त्व् अनुगता नारी सह भर्त्रा दिवं व्रजेत्
Just as one who grasps a snake forcibly pulls it from its hole, so a devoted wife follows her husband and ascends to heaven with him.
तिस्रः कोट्यो ऽर्धकोटी च यानि रोमाणि मानुषे तावत्कालं वसेत् स्वर्गे भर्तारं यानुगच्छति
For as many years as there are three and a half crore hairs on a human body, a wife who follows her husband dwells in heaven.
नमस्कृत्वा भुवं देवान् गङ्गां चापि वनस्पतीन् आश्वास्य तान्य् अपत्यानि लुब्धकं वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
Having bowed to the earth, the gods, the Ganges, and the trees, comforting her offspring, she spoke to the hunter.
त्वत्प्रसादान् महाभाग उपपन्नं ममेदृशम् अपत्यानां क्षमस्वेह भर्त्रा यामि त्रिविष्टपम्
Through your grace, O noble one, I have attained this; forgive me regarding my offspring, for I go with my husband to heaven.
इत्य् उक्त्वा पक्षिणी साध्वी प्रविवेश हुताशनम् प्रविष्टायां हुतवहे जयशब्दो न्यवर्तत
Having spoken thus, the virtuous bird entered the sacrificial fire; as she entered the flames, cries of victory arose.
गगने सूर्यसंकाशं विमानम् अतिशोभनम् तदारूढौ सुरनिभौ दंपती ददृशे ततः
In the sky, a radiant palace, shining like the sun, appeared; upon it, the divine couple, resembling the gods, were seen seated.
हर्षेण प्रोचतुर् उभौ लुब्धकं विस्मयान्वितम्
Filled with joy, both spoke to the hunter, who was struck with wonder.
गच्छावस् त्रिदशस्थानम् आपृष्टो ऽसि महामते आवयोः स्वर्गसोपानम् अतिथिस् त्वं नमो ऽस्तु ते
Come, let us go to the realm of the gods; you have been invited, O wise one. You are the guest who is the stairway to our heaven; salutations to you.
विमानवरम् आरूढौ तौ दृष्ट्वा लुब्धको ऽपि सः सधनुः पञ्जरं त्यक्त्वा कृताञ्जलिर् अभाषत
Seeing them ascend the splendid palace, the hunter too, with his bow set aside and hands joined in reverence, spoke.
न त्यक्तव्यो महाभागौ देयं किंचिद् अजानते अहम् अत्रातिथिर् मान्यो निष्कृतिं वक्तुम् अर्हथः
Do not abandon me, O greatly fortunate ones; do not give anything to one who does not understand. I am your honored guest here; you should tell me the means of atonement.
गौतमीं गच्छ भद्रं ते तस्याः पापं निवेदय तत्रैवाप्लवनात् पक्षं सर्वपापैर् विमोक्ष्यसे
Go to the Gautami river, may you fare well; confess your sin to her. By bathing there, you will be freed from all sins.