दत्त्वा मूल्यं गवाश्वाद्यमृषेर्थेनुः प्रगृह्यताम्
Having given the price—whether cows, horses, or other wealth—let the sage's cow be taken.
तपोधनानां हि कुतो रत्नसंग्रहणादरः
For those rich in austerity, where is the desire for collecting jewels?
तस्मात्ते सर्वथा धेनुं याचितः संप्रदास्यति
Therefore, when asked, he will certainly give you the cow.
संगृह्य वित्तं विपुलं धेनुं तां प्रतिदास्यति
Having received abundant wealth, he will return that cow.
इति मे वर्त्तते बुद्धिः कथं वा मन्यते भवान्
Such is my judgment; but what does Your Majesty think?
दत्त्वा चाभीप्सितं तस्मै तां गामानय मन्त्रिक
Having given him what he desires, bring that cow, O minister.
निवृत्य प्रययौ शीघ्रं जमदग्नेरथाश्रमम्
Then, having departed, he quickly went to Jamadagni’s hermitage.
समिदानयनार्थाय रामो ऽपि प्रययौ वनम्
Rama also went to the forest to fetch sacred firewood.
प्रणम्य मुनिशार्दूलमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Having bowed to the foremost among sages, he spoke these words.
रत्नभूता च धेनुः सा भुवि दोग्ध्रीष्वनुत्तमा
That cow, which was like a jewel, was the best among milkers on earth.
आदाय गोरत्नभूतां धेनुं मे दातुमर्हसि
You ought to give me that cow, the jewel among cows, after taking her.
राजा वदान्यः स कथं ब्रह्मस्वमभिवाञ्छति
How can that generous king desire the property of a Brahmin?
गवायुतेन तस्मात्त्वं तस्मै तां दातुमर्हसि
Therefore, you should give her to him in exchange for ten thousand cows.
हविर्धानीं च वै तस्मान्नोत्सहे दातुमञ्जसा
I am not able to give him the sacrificial cow directly.
देहि धेनुमिमामेकां तत्ते श्रेयो भविष्यति
Give this one cow; that will be for your own good.
गुरुणा याचितं किं ते वचसा नृपतेः पुनः
What need have you for the king's words, when your teacher has requested it?
यथा बलेन नीतायां तस्यां त्वं किं करिष्यसि
What will you do if she is taken away by force?
विप्रो ऽहं किं करिष्यामि स्वेच्छावितरणं विना
I am a Brahmin; what can I do without voluntary giving?
प्रसह्य नेतुमारेभे मुनेस्तस्य पयस्विनीम्
He began to seize the sage's milch cow by force.
उपोद्धातपादे ऽष्टाविंशतितमो ऽध्यायः
The twenty-eighth chapter, in the section of introductory verses.
ब्रह्मस्वं नापहर्त्तव्यं पुरुषेण विजानता
A wise person must not take away the property of a Brahmin.
आयुर्जाने परिक्षीणं न चेदेतत्करिष्यति
If he does not act thus, his lifespan will be diminished.
स्वयं वा यदि सायुच्येद्विनशिष्यति पार्थिवः
If he himself gives it back, the king will perish.
शतायुषोर्ऽजुनादन्यः को न्विच्छति जिजीविषुः
Who, other than Arjuna of a hundred years, desires to live?
बद्ध्वा तां गां दृढैः पाशैर्विचकर्ष बलान्वितः
He tied that cow with strong ropes and dragged her with force.
रुरोध तं यथाशक्ति विकर्षन्तं पायस्विनीम्
He resisted, as best he could, the one dragging the milch cow.
जग्राह सुदृढं कण्ठे वाहुभ्यां तां महामुनिः
The great sage firmly seized her by the neck with both arms.
उत्सारयध्वमित्येनमादिदेश स्वसैनिकान्
He ordered his own soldiers, saying, 'Drive her away!'
भर्त्राज्ञया प्रसह्यैनं परिवव्रुः समन्ततः
By the king's command, they forcefully surrounded him on all sides.
ते समुत्सारयन् धेनोः सुदूरतरमन्तिकात्
They drove the cow far away from that place.