देवयान्यपि तं विप्रं नियमव्रतचारिणम् अनुगायन्ती ललना रहः पर्यचरत्तदा
Devayānī too, pleased with the self-restrained and vow-observing Brahmin, sang along and attended to him in private.
पञ्च वर्षशतान्येवं कचस्य चरतो भृशम् तत्तत्तीव्रं व्रतं बुद्ध्वा दानवास्तं ततः कचम्
Thus, as Kaca diligently observed his vow for five hundred years, the Dānavas, perceiving his severe austerity, then targeted him.
गा रक्षन्तं वने दृष्ट्वा रहस्येनममर्षिताः जघ्नुर् बृहस्पतेर् द्वेषान् निजरक्षार्थम् एव च
Seeing him guarding the cows in the forest, the Dānavas, enraged and secretly, killed him out of hatred for Bṛhaspati and for their own protection.
हत्वा सालावृकेभ्यश्च प्रायच्छंस्तिलशः कृतम् ततो गावो निवृत्तास्ता अगोपाः स्वनिवेशनम्
Having killed him, they fed his remains, ground to bits, to the wolves and jackals; then the cowherds returned home without the cows.
ता दृष्ट्वा रहिता गास्तु कचेनाभ्यागता वनात् उवाच वचनं काले देवयान्यथ भार्गवम्
When the cows returned from the forest without Kaca, Devayānī spoke at the proper time to Bhārgava.
हुतं चैवाग्निहोत्रं ते सूर्यश्चास्तं गतः प्रभो अगोपाश्चागता गावः कचस्तात न दृश्यते
Your fire-offering has been made, the sun has set, master; the cowherds have returned, but Kaca, father, is not to be seen.
व्यक्तं हतो धृतो वापि कचस्तात भविष्यति तं विना नैव जीवामि वचः सत्यं ब्रवीम्यहम्
Surely, father, Kaca has either been killed or captured; without him, I cannot live—I speak the truth.
अथेह्येहीति शब्देन मृतं संजीवयाम्यहम् ततः संजीवनीं विद्यां प्रयुक्त्वा कचमाह्वयत्
Then, with the words 'Come, come,' I shall revive the dead; thus, applying the knowledge of resurrection, he called for Kaca.
आहूतः प्रादुरभवत् कचः शुक्रं ननाम स हतो ऽहमिति चाचख्यौ राक्षसैर् धिषणात्मजः
Summoned, Kaca appeared and bowed to Śukra, saying, 'I was killed by the Rākṣasas, O son of Dhiṣaṇa.'
स पुनर्देवयान्युक्तः पुष्पाहारे यदृच्छया वनं ययौ कचो विप्रः पठन्ब्रह्म च शाश्वतम्
Again, at Devayānī's request to gather flowers, Kaca, the Brahmin, went to the forest, reciting the eternal Veda.
वने पुष्पाणि चिन्वन्तं ददृशुर् दानवाश्च तम् ततो ऽद्वितीयं तं हत्वा दग्धं कृत्वा च चूर्णवत् प्रायच्छन् ब्राह्मणायैव सुरायामसुरास्तदा
While he was gathering flowers in the forest, the Dānavas saw him; then, killing him again, they burned him to ashes, ground him to powder, and mixed him into the drink of the Brāhmaṇa for the gods.
देवयान्यथ भूयो ऽपि पितरं वाक्यमब्रवीत् पुष्पाहारप्रेषणकृत् कचस्तात न दृश्यते
Then Devayānī again spoke to her father: 'Kaca, who was sent to gather flowers, father, is not to be seen.'
व्यक्तं हतो मृतो वापि कचस्तात भविष्यति तं विना नैव जीवामि वचः सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते
Surely, father, whether Kacha is slain or dead, he will be so; without him, I cannot live—this is the truth I tell you.
बृहस्पतेः सुतः पुत्रि कचः प्रेतगतिं गतः विद्यया जीवितो ऽप्येवं हन्यते करवाणि किम्
O daughter, Kacha, the son of Brihaspati, has gone to the realm of the dead; even if revived by knowledge, he is thus slain—what can I do?
मैनं शुचो मा रुद देवयानि न त्वादृशी मर्त्यमनु प्रशोचेत् यस्यास्तव ब्रह्म च ब्राह्मणाश्च सेन्द्राश्च देवा वसवो ऽश्विनौ च
Do not grieve for him, do not weep, Devayani; one such as you should not mourn a mortal, for whom Brahma, the Brahmins, Indra, the gods, the Vasus, and the Ashvins all exist.
सुरद्विषश्चैव जगच्च सर्वम् उपस्थितं मत्तपसः प्रभावात् अशक्यो ऽयं जीवयितुं द्विजातिः संजीवितो यो वध्यते चैव भूयः
The enemies of the gods, and indeed the whole world, are present because of my ascetic power; this twice-born cannot be revived—one who has been restored to life and then killed again.
यस्याङ्गिरा वृद्धतमः पितामहो बृहस्पतिश्चापि पिता तपोनिधिः ऋषेः सुपुत्रं तमथापि पौत्रं कथं न शोचे यमहं न रुद्याम्
His great-grandfather is Angiras, the eldest; his father is Brihaspati, a treasury of austerity—how could I not grieve or weep for such a sage's excellent son and grandson?
स ब्रह्मचारी च तपोधनश्च सदोत्थितः कर्मसु चैव दक्षः कचस्य मार्गं प्रतिपत्स्ये न भोक्ष्ये प्रियो हि मे तात कचो ऽभिरूपः
He is a celibate, rich in austerity, ever diligent, and skilled in duties; I shall follow Kacha's path and will not eat, for dear Kacha, handsome and beloved, is gone.
स त्व् एवमुक्तो देवयान्या महर्षिः संरम्भेण व्याजहाराथ काव्यः असंशयं मामसुरा द्विषन्ति ये मे शिष्यानागतान्सूदयन्ति
Thus addressed by Devayani, the great sage Kavya spoke with anger: 'Without doubt, the Asuras hate me, for they slay my disciples who come to me.'
अब्राह्मणं कर्तुमिच्छन्ति रौद्रा एभिर् व्यर्थं प्रस्तुतो दानवैर्हि तत्कर्मणाप्यस्य भवेदिहान्तः कं ब्रह्महत्या न दहेदपीन्द्रम्
These fierce Danavas wish to make me unbrahminical; this act of theirs is in vain. Even by such a deed, there would be an end here—whom would the sin of Brahmin-murder not burn, even Indra?
स तेनापृष्टो विद्यया चोपहूतः शनैर्वाचं जठरे व्याजहार तमब्रवीत्केन चेहोपनीतो ममोदरे तिष्ठसि ब्रूहि वत्स
Then, though unasked, and summoned by knowledge, he slowly spoke from within the belly; and he said to him, 'By whom have you been initiated, and why do you remain in my belly? Speak, my child.'
भवत्प्रसादान्न जहाति मां स्मृतिः सर्वं स्मरेयं यच्च यथा च वृत्तम् न त्व् एवं स्यात्तपसः क्षयो मे तत क्लेशं घोरतरं स्मरामि
By your grace, memory does not leave me; I remember everything, what happened and how. Yet, let not my ascetic merit be diminished in this way—therefore, I recall a greater suffering.
असुरैः सुरायां भवतो ऽस्मि दत्तो हत्वा दग्ध्वा चूर्णयित्वा च काव्य ब्राह्मीं मायां त्व् आसुरी त्व् अत्र माया त्वयि स्थिते कथम् एवाभिबाधते
By the Asuras, I was given to you in the drink, having been killed, burned, and crushed, O Kavya. The Brahmin's magic is in you, but here the Asuric magic prevails—how can it overpower you while you remain?
किं ते प्रियं करवाण्यद्य वत्से विनैव मे जीवितं स्यात्कचस्य नान्यत्र कुक्षेर्मम भेदनाच्च दृश्येत् कचो मद्गतो देवयानि
What dear thing shall I do for you today, child? Without you, my life would not remain; Kacha would be seen only by splitting open my belly, for he is within me, O Devayani.
द्वौ मां शोकाव् अग्निकल्पौ दहेतां कचस्य नाशस्तव चैवोपघातः कचस्य नाशे मम नास्ति शर्म तवोपघाते जीवितुं नास्मि शक्ता
Two griefs, like fire, would consume me: the loss of Kacha and your own harm. With Kacha's loss, I have no peace; with your harm, I am unable to live.
संसिद्धरूपो ऽसि बृहस्पतेः सुत यत्त्वां भक्तं भजते देवयानी विद्यामिमां प्राप्नुहि जीवनीं त्वं न चेदिन्द्रः कचरूपी त्वमद्य
You are perfected, O son of Brihaspati, since Devayani, devoted, cherishes you. Attain this knowledge that grants life; otherwise, today you will become Indra in Kacha's form.
न निवर्तेत्पुनर्जीवन् कश्चिदन्यो ममोदरात् ब्राह्मणं वर्जयित्वैकं तस्माद्विद्याम् अवाप्नुहि
No one else, except a Brahmin, can return to life from my belly; therefore, attain the knowledge.
पुत्रो भूत्वा निष्क्रमस्वोदरान्मे भित्त्वा कुक्षिं जीवय मां च तात अवेक्षेथा धर्मवतीमवेक्षां गुरोः सकाशात्प्राप्य विद्यां सविद्यः
Become my son and emerge from my belly, breaking it open; revive me, dear one, and observe proper conduct. Having obtained knowledge from the teacher, be learned.
गुरोः सकाशात्समवाप्य विद्यां भित्त्वा कुक्षिं निर्विचक्राम विप्रः प्रालेयाद्रेः शुक्लमुद्भिद्य शृङ्गं रात्र्यागमे पौर्णमास्यामिवेन्दुः
Having fully obtained knowledge from the teacher, the Brahmin broke open the belly and came forth, like the moon emerging from the peak of the snowy mountain at nightfall on the full moon.
दृष्ट्वा च तं पतितं वेदराशिम् उत्थापयामास ततः कचो ऽपि विद्यां सिद्धां तामवाप्याभिवाद्य ततः कचस्तं गुरुमित्युवाच
Seeing him fallen, the collection of Vedas was raised up; then Kacha, having attained that perfected knowledge, paid homage and spoke to his teacher.