सदा शूरो गुणग्राही पुण्यवांस्त्यागवान्गुणी । धार्मिकः सत्यवादी च यज्ञानां याजकोत्तमः
Always courageous, a discerner of virtues, possessed of merit, generous, virtuous, righteous, a speaker of truth, and the foremost among those who perform sacrifices.
प्रियवाक्सत्यवादी च धान्यवान्धनवान्गुणी । गुणज्ञः सगुणग्राही धर्मज्ञः सत्यवत्सलः
Pleasant in speech, a speaker of truth, wealthy in grain and riches, virtuous, a knower and appreciator of virtues, learned in righteousness, and devoted to truth.
सर्वगः सर्ववेत्ता च ब्रह्मण्यो वेदवित्सुधीः । प्रज्ञावान्सुस्वरश्चैव वेदवेदांगपारगः
All-knowing, knower of all things, devoted to Brahman, learned in the Vedas, wise, possessing a melodious voice, and accomplished in the Vedas and their branches.
धाता गोप्ता प्रजानां स विजयी समरांगणे । राजसूयादिकानां तु यज्ञानां राजसत्तमः
He is the creator and protector of the people, victorious on the battlefield; among kings, he is the best performer of sacrifices such as the Rājasūya.
आहर्ता भूतले चैकः सर्वधर्मसमन्वितः । एते गुणा अस्य चांगे भविष्यंति महात्मनः
He alone on earth is the gatherer of all, endowed with every virtue; these qualities will manifest in the limbs of this great soul.
ऋषिभिस्तौ नियुक्तौ तु कुर्वाणौ सूतमागधौ । गुणैश्चैव भविष्यैश्च स्तोत्रं तस्य महात्मनः
Appointed by the sages, the Sūta and Māgadha sang his praise with present and future virtues, composing a hymn for this great soul.
तदा प्रभृति वै लोकास्तवैस्तुष्टा महामते । पुरतश्च भविष्यंति दातारः स्तावनैर्गुणैः
From that time forward, O wise one, the people were pleased by those praises; and in the future, givers will be honored with hymns of their virtues.
ततः प्रभृति लोकेस्मिन्स्तवेषु द्विजसत्तमाः । आशीर्वादाः प्रयुज्यंते तेषां द्रविणमुत्तमम्
From then on, O best of Brahmins, in this world, blessings are bestowed during praises, and the best wealth is given to those who are praised.
सूताय मागधायैव बंदिने च महोदयम् । चारणाय ततः प्रादात्तैलंगं देशमुत्तमम्
To the Sūta, the Māgadha, the bard, and the Cāraṇa, he then gave the excellent land of Tailaṅga.
पृथुः प्रसादाद्धर्मात्मा हैहयं देशमेव च । रेवातीरे पुरं कृत्वा स्वनाम्ना नृपनंदनः
By the favor of Pṛthu, the righteous soul, the land of the Haihayas was also granted; on the banks of the Revā, the son of the king established a city bearing his own name.
ब्राह्मणेभ्यो द्विजश्रेष्ठ यजन्दाता पृथुः पुरा । सर्वज्ञं सर्वदातारं धर्मवीर्यं नरोत्तमम्
In ancient times, Pṛthu, the best of men, performed sacrifices and gave gifts to the foremost Brahmins—he was all-knowing, the giver of all, righteous and valiant.
तं ददृशुः प्रजाः सर्वा मुनयश्च तपोमलाः । ऊचुः परस्परं पुण्या एष राजा महामतिः
All the people and the ascetic sages, free from impurity, beheld him; they said to one another, 'This king, of great wisdom, is truly virtuous.'
देवादीनां वृत्तिदाता अस्माकं च विशेषतः । प्रजानां पालकश्चैव वृत्तिदो हि भविष्यति
He is the provider of livelihood for the gods and others, and especially for us; he will be the protector of the people and the giver of sustenance.
इयं धात्री महाप्राज्ञा उप्तं बीजं पुरा किल । जीवनार्थं प्रजाभिस्तु ग्रासयित्वा स्थिराभवत्
This earth, O greatly wise one, once had a seed sown in ancient times; for the sake of the people's survival, after being consumed, she became stable.
ततः पृथुं द्विजश्रेष्ठ प्रजाः समभिदुद्रुवुः । विधत्स्वेति सुवृत्तिं नो मुनीनां वचनं तदा
Then, O best of twice-born, the people fled to Pṛthu, saying, 'Establish for us a proper livelihood, for the words of the sages are not being fulfilled.'
ग्रासयित्वा तदान्नानि पृथ्वी जाता सुनिश्चला । भयं प्रजानां सुमहत्स दृष्ट्वा राजसत्तमः
Having consumed their food, the earth became immovable; seeing the great fear of the people, the best of kings—
महर्षिवचनात्सोपि प्रगृह्य सशरं धनुः । अभ्यधावत वेगेन पृथ्वीं क्रुद्धो नराधिपः
—by the command of the great sages, seized his bow and arrows, and, enraged, the lord of men rushed swiftly at the earth.
कौंजरं रूपमास्थाय भयात्तस्य तु मेदिनी । वनेषु दुर्गदेशेषु गुप्ता भूत्वा चचार सा
Assuming the form of an elephant out of fear, the earth wandered, concealed, in forests and difficult regions.
न पश्यति महाप्राज्ञः कुरूपं द्विजसत्तमाः । आचचक्षुर्महाप्राज्ञं कुंजरं रूपमास्थिता
The wise king did not see her, O best of twice-born; but the wise ones told him she had taken the form of an elephant.
ततः कुंजररूपांतामभिदुद्राव पार्थिवः । ताड्यमाना च सा तेन निशितैर्मार्गणैस्ततः
Then the king pursued her in her elephant form; and as she was struck by his sharp arrows—
हरिरूपं समास्थाय पलायनपराभवत् । हरेरूपं समास्थाय अभिदुद्राव पार्थिवः
—she assumed the form of a deer and fled in panic; and the king, taking on the form of a lion, pursued her.
सोतिक्रुद्धो महाप्राज्ञो रोषारुणसुलोचनः । सुबाणैर्निशितैस्तीक्ष्णैराजघान स मेदिनीम्
Greatly enraged, the wise king, his eyes red with anger, struck the earth with sharp, keen arrows.
आकुलव्याकुला जाता बाणाघातहता तदा । माहिषं रूपमास्थाय पलायनपराभवत्
Struck by the arrows, she became agitated and distressed; then, taking the form of a buffalo, she tried to escape.
अभ्यधावत वेगेन बाणपाणिर्धनुर्धरः । सा गौर्भूत्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठा स्वर्गमेव गता ध्रुवम्
The archer, bow in hand, pursued her swiftly; she became a cow, O best of twice-born, and certainly went to heaven.
ब्रह्मणः शरणं प्राप्ता विष्णोश्चैव महात्मनः । रुद्रादीनां च देवानां त्राणस्थानं न विंदति
She sought refuge with Brahmā and the great soul Viṣṇu; but among the gods, including Rudra, she found no place of protection.
अलभंती भृशं त्राणं वैन्यमेवान्वविंदत । तस्य पार्श्वं पुनः प्राप्ता बाणघातसमाकुला
Unable to find true refuge, she turned again to Vainya; wounded by arrows, she returned to his side.
बद्धांजलिपुटाभूत्वा तं पृथुं वाक्यमब्रवीत् । त्राहित्राहीति राजेंद्र सा राजानमभाषत
With hands joined in supplication, she spoke these words to Pṛthu: 'Protect me, protect me!'—thus she addressed the king.
अहं धात्री महाभाग सर्वाधारा वसुंधरा । निहतायां मयि नृप निहतं लोकसप्तकम्
'I am the earth, O greatly fortunate one, the support of all; if I am destroyed, O king, the seven worlds are destroyed.'
कृतांजलिपुटा भूत्वा पूज्या लोकैस्त्रिभिः सदा । उवाच चैनं राजानमवध्या स्त्री सदा नृप
With hands joined in reverence, always to be honored by the three worlds, she said to the king, 'A woman is always not to be slain, O king.'
स्त्रीणां वधे महत्पापं दृष्टमस्ति द्विजोत्तमैः । गवां वधे महत्पापं दृष्टमस्ति द्विजोत्तमैः
The best of twice-born have declared that to kill a woman is a great sin; the best of twice-born have declared that to kill a cow is a great sin.