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.
मया विना महाराज कथं धारयसे प्रजाः । अहं यदास्थिरा राजंस्तदा लोकाश्चराचराः
Without me, O great king, how will you sustain the people? When I am unstable, O king, then the worlds, both moving and unmoving, are unstable.
स्थिरत्वं यांति ते सर्वे स्थिरीभूता यदा ह्यहम् । मां विना तु इमे लोका विनश्येयुश्चराचराः
When I become stable, all these become stable; but without me, these worlds, both moving and unmoving, would perish.
ततः प्रजा विनश्येयुर्मम नाशे समागते । कथं धारयिता चासि प्रजा राजन्मया विना
Then, when I am destroyed, the people will perish; how will you sustain the subjects, O King, without me?
मयि लोकाः स्थिरा राजन्मयेदं धार्यते जगत् । मद्विनाशे विनश्येयुः प्रजाः सर्वा न संशयः
O King, the worlds are stable because of me; by me this universe is upheld. If I am destroyed, all beings will perish—of this there is no doubt.
न मामर्हसि वै हंतुं श्रेयश्चेत्त्वं चिकीर्षसि । प्रजानां पृथिवीपाल शृणु देव वचो मम
You ought not to kill me, if you desire the welfare of the people, O protector of the earth; listen, O King, to my words.
उपायैश्च महाभाग सुसिद्धिं यांत्युपक्रमाः । समालोक्य ह्युपायं त्वं प्रजा येन धरिष्यति
By various means, O greatly fortunate one, undertakings attain success; consider carefully by what means the people may be sustained.
मां हत्वा त्वं महाराज धारणे पालने सदा । पोषणे च महाप्राज्ञ मद्विना हि कथं नृप
Having killed me, O great King, how will you always support, protect, and nourish the people, O wise ruler, without me?
धरिष्यसि प्रजां चेमां कोपं यच्छ त्वमात्मनः । अन्नमयी भविष्यामि धरिष्यामि प्रजामिमाम्
Restrain your anger, O King; I will become composed of food and will sustain these people.
अहं नारी अवध्या च प्रायश्चित्ती भविष्यसि । अवध्यां तु स्त्रियं प्राहुस्तिर्यग्योनिगतामपि
I am a woman and not to be slain; you will incur expiation. Even those who enter animal wombs are said to be unfit for killing if they are women.
विचार्यैवं महाराज न धर्मं त्यक्तुमर्हसि । एवं नानाविधैर्वाक्यैरुक्तो धात्र्या नराधिपः
Having considered thus, O great King, you should not abandon righteousness. Thus addressed by the nurse with various words, the lord of men—