तदागत्याहनद्गां वै पंचास्यः काननांतरात् । क्रोशंतीं बहुधा दीनां सिंहभारेणदुःखिताम्
Then, from within the forest, a five-headed being came and struck the cow, who cried out in many ways, distressed and suffering under the weight of a lion.
तदा नृपः समागत्य विलोक्य निजमातरम् । सिंहेन निहतां पश्यन्रुरोदातीव विह्वलः
Then the king came and, seeing his own mother—the cow—slain by the lion, was overwhelmed and wept bitterly.
स दुःखितः समागत्य जाबालिमुनिसत्तमम् । निष्कृतिं तस्य पप्रच्छ गोवधस्य प्रमादतः
He, afflicted with sorrow, approached the eminent sage Jabali and asked him about atonement for the killing of a cow committed out of heedlessness.
ऋतंभर उवाच। स्वामिंस्त्वदाज्ञया धेनुं पालयन्वनमास्थितः । कुतोप्यागत्य तां सिंहो जघानादृष्टिगोचरः
Ṛtambhara said: 'Master, by your command, I was guarding the cow while staying in the forest; unexpectedly, a lion came and killed her, beyond my sight.'
तस्य पापस्य निष्कृत्यै किं करोमि त्वदाज्ञया । कथं वा व्रतसंपूर्तिर्मम पुत्रप्रदायिनी
For the expiation of that sin, what should I do by your instruction? And how will the completion of my vow, which grants me a son, be fulfilled?
इत्युक्तवंतं तं भूपं जगाद मुनिसत्तमः । संत्युपाया महीपाल पापस्यास्यापनुत्तये
Having spoken thus, the king was addressed by the eminent sage: 'There are indeed means, O ruler of the earth, for the removal of this sin.'
ब्रह्मघ्नस्य कृतघ्नस्य सुरापस्य महामते । प्रायश्चित्तानि वर्तंते सर्वपापहराणि च
For the killer of a Brahmin, the ungrateful, and the drinker of liquor, O wise one, there exist rites of atonement that remove all sins.
कृच्छ्रैश्चांद्रायणैर्दानैर्व्रतैः सनियमैर्यमैः । पापानि प्रलयं यांति नियमादनुतिष्ठतः
Through austerities, lunar fasts, gifts, vows with discipline and restraints, sins are dissolved for one who observes the prescribed rules.
द्वयोश्च निष्कृतिर्नास्ति पापपुंजकृतोस्तयोः । मत्या गोवधकर्तुश्च नारायणविनिंदितुः
But for two, there is no atonement: for one who heaps up sins by killing a cow, and for one who reviles Nārāyaṇa.
गवां यो मनसा दुःखं वांच्छत्यधमसत्तमः । स याति निरयस्थानं यावदिंद्राश्चतुर्दश
Whoever, with evil intent, wishes suffering upon cows, O lowest among men, goes to the realm of hell for as long as the fourteen Indras reign.
योऽपि देवं हरिं निंदेत्सकृद्दुर्भाग्यवान्नरः । स चापि नरकं पश्येत्पुत्रपौत्रपरीवृतः
Even a man who, by misfortune, once reviles Hari, will see hell, surrounded by his sons and grandsons.
तस्माज्ज्ञात्वा हरिं निंदन्गोषु दुःखं समाचरन् । कदापि नरकान्मुक्तिं न प्राप्नोति नरेश्वर
Therefore, knowing this, O king, one who reviles Hari or causes suffering to cows never attains liberation from hell.
अज्ञानप्राप्तगोहत्या प्रायश्चित्तं तु विद्यते । रामभक्तं तु धीमंतं याहि त्वमृतुपर्णकम्
But for the killing of a cow committed in ignorance, atonement is indeed prescribed; go to Ṛtuparṇa, the wise devotee of Rāma.
स वै समदृशः सर्वाञ्छत्रून्मित्राणि पश्यति । तुभ्यं कथिष्यति क्षिप्रं गोवधस्यास्य निष्कृतिम्
He regards all equally, seeing enemies and friends alike; he will quickly tell you the atonement for this killing of a cow.
तस्य देशांस्त्वमाक्रामंस्तेन निर्वासितः पुरा । वैरिभावं परित्यज्य गच्छ त्वमृतुपर्णकम्
Go to his land, which you once left, having been banished by him; abandon hostility and approach Ṛtuparṇa.
स यद्वदिष्यति क्षिप्रं तत्कुरुष्व समाहितः । यथा त्वत्कृतपापस्य निष्कृतिर्हि भविष्यति
Whatever he instructs you swiftly, do it with concentration, so that atonement for your committed sin will indeed be accomplished.
स तु तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा जगाम ऋतुपर्णकम् । रामभक्तं रिपौ मित्रे समदृष्ट्या समंजसम्
He, hearing that advice, went to Ṛtuparṇa, the devotee of Rāma, who regards friend and foe with equal vision and is upright.
स तस्मै कथयामास यज्जातं गोवधादिकम् । तस्य पापस्य निष्कृत्यै ह्युपायं सोऽप्यचिंतयत्
He told him everything that had happened, including the killing of the cow; and Ṛtuparṇa considered a means for the expiation of that sin.
क्षणं ध्यात्वाथ तं राजा ऋतुपर्ण ऋतंभरम् । उवाच प्रहसन्वाक्यं बुद्धिमान्धर्मकोविदः
After meditating for a moment, King Ṛtuparṇa, wise and versed in dharma, spoke to Ṛtambhara with a smile.
कोऽहं राजन्मुनीनां वै पुरतः शास्त्रवेदिनाम् । तान्हित्वा किं तु मां प्राप्तो मूर्खंपंडितमानिनम्
Who am I, O king, before the sages who know the scriptures? Leaving them aside, why have you come to me, a fool who imagines himself wise?
तव मय्यस्ति चेच्छ्रद्धा तदा किंचिद्ब्रवीम्यहम् । शृणुष्व नरशार्दूल गदितं मम सादरः
If you have faith in me, then I will say something; listen attentively, O tiger among men, to my words.
भज श्रीरघुनाथं त्वं कर्मणा मनसा गिरा । नैष्कापट्येन लोकेशं तोषयस्व महामते
Worship Lord Raghunātha with your actions, mind, and speech; please the Lord of the world sincerely, O wise one.
स तुष्टो दास्यते सर्वं त्वद्धृदिस्थं मनोरथम् । अज्ञानकृत गोहत्यापापनाशं करिष्यति
When he is pleased, he will grant all the desires that dwell in your heart; he will remove the sin of cow-killing committed out of ignorance.
रामं स्मरंस्त्वं धर्मात्मन्धेनुं पालय सत्तम । दत्त्वा द्विजाय कनकं पापनिष्कृतिमाप्स्यसि
Remember Rāma, O virtuous one, protect the cow with righteousness; by giving gold to a brāhmaṇa, you will obtain expiation from sin.
सुमतिरुवाच। एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु तद्वाक्यमृतंभरनृपस्तदा । विधाय रामस्मरणं पूतात्मा व्रतमाचरत्
Sumati said: Hearing these nectar-like words, the king, having purified his mind by remembering Rāma, undertook a vow.
पूर्ववत्पालयन्धेनुं जगाम विपिनं महत् । रामनामस्मरन्नित्यं सर्वभूतहिते रतः
As before, protecting the cow, he went to the great forest, always remembering the name of Rāma, devoted to the welfare of all beings.
तस्मै तुष्टा तु सुरभिः प्रोवाच परितोषिता । राजन्वरय मत्तो वै वरं हृत्स्थं मनोरथम्
Then Surabhi, being pleased, spoke to him with satisfaction: 'O king, ask from me the boon that is the desire of your heart.'
तदा प्रोवाच वै राजा पुत्रं देहि मनोरमम् । रामभक्तं पितृरतं स्वधर्मप्रतिपालकम्
Then the king said: 'Grant me a delightful son, devoted to Rāma, devoted to his father, and upholding his own duty.'
तुष्टा दत्त्वा वरं सापि तस्मै राज्ञे सुतार्थिने । जगामादर्शनं देवी कामधेनुः कृपावती
Pleased, the compassionate goddess Kāmadhenu granted that boon to the king who sought a son, and then became invisible.
स काले प्राप्तवान्पुत्रं वैष्णवं रामसेवकम् । सत्यवत्संज्ञयायुक्तमकरोत्तत्र तत्पिता
In due time he obtained a son, a servant of Rāma and a devotee of Viṣṇu; his father named him Satyavatsa.