पपात मूर्च्छिता भूमौ छिन्नेव कदली यथा । अथ तां ब्राह्मणो रुष्टः पानीयेनाभ्यषिञ्चत
She collapsed unconscious to the ground, like a severed plantain tree; then the angry Brahmin sprinkled her with water.
मुहूर्ताच्चेतनां प्राप्ता ब्राह्मणस्तामथाब्रवीत् । ब्राह्मण उवाच - अलक्ष्मीकारकं निन्द्यं जानती त्वं निशामुखे
After a moment she regained consciousness, and the Brahmin said to her: 'You know that crying at night is blameworthy and brings misfortune.'
रोदनं कुरुषे दुष्टे लज्जा ते हृदये न किम् । ब्राह्मणेनैवमुक्ता सा न किञ्चिद्वाक्यमब्रवीत्
'Wicked woman, why do you weep? Is there no shame in your heart?' Thus addressed by the Brahmin, she said nothing.
रुरोद करुणं दीना पुत्रशोकेन पीडिता । अश्रुपूर्णमुखी दीना धूसरा मुक्तमूर्धजा
Afflicted by grief for her son, she wept bitterly, her face full of tears, wretched, her hair disheveled and dusty.
अथ तां कुपितो विप्रो राजपत्नीमभाषत । धिक्त्वां दुष्टे क्रयं गृह्य मम कार्यं विलुम्पसि
Then the angry Brahmin spoke to the queen: 'Shame on you, wicked woman! You have taken my wages but neglect my work.'
अशक्ता चेत्कथं तर्हि गृहीतं मम तद्धनम् । एवं निर्भर्त्सिता तेन क्रूरवाक्यैः पुनः पुनः
'If you are unable, then why did you accept my payment?' Thus, repeatedly rebuked by his harsh words,
रुदिता कारणं प्राह विप्रं गद्गदया गिरा । स्वामिन् मम सुतो बालः सर्पदष्टो मृतो बहिः
She, weeping, explained the reason to the Brahmin in a choked voice: 'Master, my young son was bitten by a snake and has died outside.'
अनुज्ञां मे प्रयच्छस्व द्रष्टुं यास्यामि बालकम् । दुर्लभं दर्शनं तेन सञ्जातं मम सुव्रत
'Please grant me permission to go see the boy; O virtuous one, it has become difficult for me to see him.'
इत्युक्त्वा करुणं बाला पुनरेव रुरोद ह । पुनस्तां कुपितो विप्रो राजपत्नीमभाषत
Saying this, the grieving woman wept again; once more, the angry Brahmin spoke to the queen.
ब्राह्मण उवाच - शठे दुष्टसमाचारे किं न जानासि पातकम् । यः स्वामिवेतनं गृह्य तस्य कार्यं विलुम्पति
The Brahmin said: 'Deceitful, wicked woman of evil conduct, do you not know the sin? Whoever takes the master's wages and neglects his work—'
नरके पच्यते सोऽथ महारौरवपूर्वके । उषित्वा नरके कल्पं ततोऽसौ कुक्कुटो भवेत्
He is cooked in hell, first in Mahāraurava; after dwelling in hell for a kalpa, he becomes a rooster.
किमनेनाथवा कार्यं धर्मसंकीर्तनेन मे । यस्तु पापरतो मूर्खः क्रूरो नीचोऽनृतः शठः
What use is there for me in recounting righteousness? One who is addicted to sin, foolish, cruel, base, false, and deceitful—
तद्वाक्यं निष्फलं तस्मिन्भवेद् बीजमिवोषरे । एहि ते विद्यते किञ्चित्परलोकभयं यदि
His words are fruitless, like a seed in barren ground. Come, if you have any fear of the next world.
एवमुक्ताथ सा विप्रं वेपमानाब्रवीद्वचः । कारुण्यं कुरु मे नाथ प्रसीद सुमुखो भव
Thus addressed, she, trembling, spoke to the Brahmin: 'Show me compassion, O lord; be gracious and kindly toward me.'
प्रस्थापय मुहूर्तं मां यावद् द्रक्ष्यामि बालकम् । एवमुक्त्वाथ सा मूर्ध्ना निपत्य द्विजपादयोः
'Send me for a moment, so I may see my child.' Having spoken thus, she fell at the Brahmin’s feet with her head.
रुरोद करुणं बाला पुत्रशोकेन पीडिता । अथाह कुपितो विप्रः क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः
Afflicted by grief for her son, the girl wept bitterly. Then the Brahmin, enraged, his eyes reddened with anger, spoke.
विप्र उवाच - किं ते पुत्रेण मे कार्यं गृहकर्म कुरुष्व मे । किं न जानासि मे क्रोधं कशाघातफलप्रदम्
The Brahmin said: 'What concern have I with your son? Do my household work. Do you not know my anger yields the result of a whip’s blow?'
एवमुक्ता स्थिता धैर्याद् गृहकर्म चकार ह । अर्धरात्रो गतस्तस्याः पादाभ्यङ्गादिकर्मणा
Thus addressed, she stood firm and performed the household tasks. At midnight, after her foot-massage and other duties,
ब्राह्मणेनाथ सा प्रोक्ता पुत्रपार्श्वं व्रजाधुना । तस्य दाहादिकं कृत्वा पुनरागच्छ सत्वरम्
The Brahmin then said to her: 'Go now to your son’s side. After performing his cremation and related rites, return quickly.'
न लुप्येत यथा प्रातर्गृहकर्म ममेति च । ततस्त्वेकाकिनी रात्रौ विलपन्ती जगाम ह
'Do not neglect my morning household work.' Then, alone at night, lamenting, she went.
दृष्ट्वा मृतं निजं पुत्रं भृशं शोकेन पीडिता । यूथभ्रष्टा कुरङ्गीव विवत्सा सौरभी यथा
Seeing her own son dead, she was overwhelmed with grief, like a deer separated from its herd, or a cow bereft of its calf.
वाराणस्या बहिर्गत्वा क्षणाद् दृष्ट्वा निजं सुतम् । शयानं रङ्कवद्भूमौ काष्ठदर्भतृणोपरि
Going outside Vārāṇasī, she saw her own son lying on the ground like a pauper, upon wood, grass, and straw.
विललापातिदुःखार्ता शब्दं कृत्वा सुनिष्ठुरम् । एहि मे सम्मुखं कस्माद्रोषितोऽसि वदाधुना
Tormented by intense sorrow, she wailed harshly: 'Come before me; why are you angry? Speak now.'
आयास्यभिमुखो नित्यमम्बेत्युक्त्वा पुनः पुनः । गत्वा स्खलत्पदा तस्य पपातोपरि मूर्छिता
Repeatedly saying, 'Come toward me, mother,' she went, stumbling, and fell upon him, fainting.
पुनः सा चेतनां प्राप्य दोर्भ्यामालिङ्ग्य बालकम् । तन्मुखे वदनं न्यस्य रुरोदार्तस्वनैस्तदा
Regaining consciousness, she embraced the boy with her arms, placed her face upon his, and cried out in distress.
कराभ्यां ताडनं चक्रे मस्तकस्योदरस्य च । हा बाल हा शिशो वत्स हा कुमारक सुन्दर
She struck his head and belly with her hands, crying: 'O child, O infant, O dear one, O beautiful boy!'
हा राजन् क्व गतोऽसि त्वं पश्येमं बालकं निजम् । प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयांसं भूतले पतितं मृतम्
'O prince, where have you gone? Look at your own child, fallen dead upon the earth, more precious than life itself.'
तथापश्यन्मुखं तस्य भूयो जीवितशङ्कया । निर्जीववदनं ज्ञात्वा मूर्छिता निपपात ह
Looking at his face, again with hope for life, realizing his face was lifeless, she fainted and fell.
हस्तेन वदनं गृह्य पुनरेवमभाषत । शयनं त्यज हे बाल शीघ्रं जागृहि भीषणम्
Taking his face in her hand, she again spoke thus: 'Child, leave your bed, quickly wake up, it is dreadful.'
निशार्धं वर्धते चेदं शिवाशतनिनादितम् । भूतप्रेतपिशाचादिडाकिनीयूथनादितम्
Midnight is advancing, resounding with the cries of jackals, and filled with the howls of ghosts, spirits, fiends, and bands of witches.