आचारेण विना मर्त्यो ज्ञानहीनो यतिर्यथा । मंत्रहीनो यथा राजा तथायं नैव शोभते
Just as a mortal without good conduct, or an ascetic without knowledge, or a king without counsel does not shine, so too is this the case.
कैवर्तेन विना नौर्वा संपूर्णा परिसागरे । न भात्येवं यथा सार्थः सार्थवाहेन वै विना
Just as a boat without a boatman, though full, cannot cross the ocean, so too a caravan without a leader does not prosper.
सेनाध्यक्षेण च विना यथा सैन्यं न भाति च । त्वां विना वै तथा सैन्यं शूकराणां महामते
Just as an army without a commander does not shine, so too, O wise one, does the army of boars without you.
दीनो भविष्यति तथा वेदहीनो यथा द्विजः । मयि भारं कुटुंबस्य विनिवेश्य प्रगच्छसि
It will become destitute, just as a twice-born without the Veda; you wish to depart, placing the burden of the family upon me.
मरणं सुलभं ज्ञात्वा का प्रतिज्ञा तवेदृशी । त्वां विनाहं न शक्नोमि धर्तुं प्राणान्प्रियेश्वर
Knowing that death is easy to attain, what kind of vow is this of yours? Without you, O beloved lord, I am unable to sustain my life.
त्वयैव सहिता स्वर्गं भूमिं वाथ महामते । नरकं वापि भोक्ष्यामि सत्यंसत्यं वदाम्यहम्
With you, O wise one, I will enjoy heaven, earth, or even hell; truly, truly I speak this.
त्वं वा पुत्रांस्तुपौत्रांस्तु गृहीत्वा यूथमुत्तमम् । आवां व्रजाव यूथेश दुर्गमेवं सुकंदरम्
Take your sons and grandsons, and the best of the herd; let us go, O lord of the herd, to that difficult and beautiful ravine.
जीवितव्यं परित्यज्य रणाय परिगम्यते । तत्र को दृश्यते लाभो मरणे वद सांप्रतम्
Life must be abandoned; let us go forth to battle. What gain is seen in death? Tell me now.
वाराह उवाच- वीराणां त्वं न जानासि सुधर्मं शृणु सांप्रतम् । युद्धार्थिना हि वीरेण वीरं गत्वा प्रयाचितम्
Vārāha said: You do not know the true duty of heroes; listen now. When a hero desiring battle approaches another hero and requests it,
देहि मे योधनं संख्ये युद्धार्थ्यहं समागतः । परेण याचितं युद्धं न ददाति यदा नरः
"Grant me combat in the field; I have come seeking battle." If a man, when thus asked for battle by another, does not grant it,
कामाल्लोभाद्भयाद्वापि मोहाद्वा शृणु वल्लभे । कुंभीपाके तु नरके वसेद्युगसहस्रकम्
Whether from desire, greed, fear, or delusion—listen, beloved—he dwells in the hell called Kuṃbhīpāka for a thousand ages.
क्षत्रियाणां परो धर्मो युद्धं देयं न संशयः । तद्युद्धं दीयमानेन रणभूमिगतेन वै
For kṣatriyas, the supreme duty is to grant battle—of this there is no doubt. Therefore, when one is challenged on the battlefield, he must accept the fight.
निर्जितं तु परं तत्र यशःकीर्त्तिं प्रभुंजते । स वा हतो युध्यमानः पौरुषेणातिनिर्भयः
There, the one who is defeated gains fame and renown; or, if he fights bravely and is slain, fearless in his valor,
वीरलोकमवाप्नोति दिव्यान्भोगान्प्रभुंजते । यावद्वर्षसहस्राणां विंशत्येकां प्रिये शृणु
He attains the world of heroes and enjoys divine pleasures, beloved, for twenty-one thousand years—listen.
वीरलोके वसेत्तावद्देवाचारैर्महीयते । मनुपुत्रः समायात अयं वीरो न संशयः
He dwells in the world of heroes for that time, honored by the ways of the gods. This man who has come is truly a hero, a son of Manu—there is no doubt.
संग्रामं याचमानस्तु युद्धं देयं मया ध्रुवम् । युद्धातिथिः समायातो विष्णुरूपः सनातनः
Since he has come seeking battle, I must surely grant him combat. The guest who comes seeking battle is the eternal Viṣṇu in form.
सत्कारो युद्धरूपेण कर्तव्यश्च मया शुभे । शूकर्युवाच- यदा युद्धं त्वया देयं राज्ञे चैव महात्मने
Therefore, I must honor him in the form of battle, O auspicious one. Śūkarī said: Since you must grant battle to the king, the great-souled one,
ततोऽहं पौरुषं कांत पश्यामि तव कीदृशम् । एवमुक्त्वा प्रियान्पुत्रान्समाहूय त्वरान्विता
Then, beloved, I will see what kind of valor you possess. Having spoken thus, she quickly summoned her dear sons.
उवाच पुत्रका यूयं शृणुध्वं वचनं मम । युद्धातिथिः समायातो विष्णुरूपः सनातनः
She said: "My sons, listen to my words. The guest who comes seeking battle is the eternal Viṣṇu in form.
मया तत्र प्रगंतव्यं यत्रायं हि गमिष्यति । यावत्तिष्ठति वै नाथो भवतां प्रतिपालकः
I must go wherever he goes; as long as your protector remains,
यूयं गच्छत वै दूरं दुर्गं गिरिगुहामुखम् । सुखं जीवत मे वत्सा वर्जयित्वा सुलुब्धकान्
You all go far away, to a secure mountain cave. Live happily, my children, avoiding the greedy hunters.
मया तत्रैव गंतव्यं यत्रैष हि गमिष्यति । भवतां श्रेष्ठोऽयं भ्राता यूथरक्षां करिष्यति
I must go wherever he goes; your eldest brother will protect the herd.
एते पितृव्यकाः सर्वे भवतां त्राणकारकाः । दूरं प्रयात वै सर्वे मां विहाय सुपुत्रकाः
All these uncles of yours will act as your protectors. Go far away, all of you, leaving me, my good sons.
पुत्रा ऊचुः- अयं हि पर्वतश्रेष्ठो बहुमूलफलोदकः । भयं तु कस्य वै नास्ति सुखं जीवनमस्ति वै
The sons said: This is the best of mountains, rich in roots, fruits, and water. But who is without fear? Is there truly a happy life here?
युवाभ्यां हि अकस्माद्वै इदमुक्तं भयंकरम् । तन्नो हि कारणं मातर्वद सत्यमिहैव हि
For you two have suddenly spoken of this fearful thing. Tell us the reason, mother, speak truly right here.
शूकर्युवाच-। अयं राजा महारौद्रः कालरूपः समागतः । क्रीडते मृगया लुब्धो मृगान्हत्वा बहून्वने
Śūkarī said: This king, terrible and death-like, has arrived. Addicted to hunting, he slays many animals in the forest for sport.
इक्ष्वाकुर्नाम दुर्धर्षो मनुपुत्रो महाबलः । संहरिष्यति कालोऽयं दूरं यात सुपुत्रकाः
Ikshvaku, the indomitable son of Manu, endowed with great strength—this time will bring destruction; go far, O good sons.
पुत्रा ऊचुः-। मातरं पितरं त्यक्त्वा यः प्रयाति स पापधीः । महारौद्रं सुघोरं तु नरकं प्रतिपद्यते
The sons said: One who departs, abandoning mother and father, is wicked-minded; he attains a hell that is fierce and extremely dreadful.
मातुः पुण्यं पयः पीत्वा पुष्टो भवति निर्घृणः । मातरं पितरं त्यक्त्वा यः प्रयाति सुदुर्बलः
Having drunk the sacred milk of the mother, one becomes nourished yet heartless; whoever leaves mother and father departs as one exceedingly weak.
पूयं नरकमेतीह कृमिदुर्गंधसंकुलम् । मातुस्तस्मान्न यास्यामो गुरुं त्यक्त्वा इहैव च
He enters a foul hell here, filled with worms and a stench; therefore, we shall not leave our mother nor abandon our teacher, but remain here.