कुत्सितं न करिष्यामि वियोनिकरणं महत्। कुर्वता मांसलोभेन मृगयां परिधावता
'I will not commit such a vile act again, nor inflict great suffering; driven by greed for flesh, I pursued the hunt.'
आपदासहितं प्राप्तं मानुषाणां भयावहम्। दर्शनं दुःखदं मह्यं मृगाणां मानुषैः सह
'I have encountered calamity, bringing fear to humans; the sight of deer together with humans brings me great sorrow.'
पापेन पापतां नीतो ह्यपापेऽपि सतां कुले। उत्पन्नो विकृतिं नीतः पश्य कालस्य पर्ययम्
'By sin I have been led to sinfulness, though born in a blameless family of the virtuous; born as a man, I have been brought to this state—behold the turn of fate.'
तस्मान्मे सुकृतं नास्ति हिंसाप्येका विगर्हिता। तया तु प्राप्यते दुःखं न च मोक्षो भविष्यति
'Therefore, I have no merit; even a single act of violence is condemned. By it, suffering is obtained, and there will be no liberation.'
कथं मे भविता मोक्षः कथं सत्या मृगी भवेत्। गते वर्षशते तस्य वसतस्तद्वने तदा
How will I attain liberation? How will the doe become true? When a hundred years have passed as he dwells in that forest, then—
आयातं गोकुलं काले यवसोदककारणात्। गोवाटवाटीसंस्थानं तत्तत्र समवस्थितम्
At that time, for the sake of barley and water, he came to Gokula, to the place where the cow-pens and enclosures were established, and remained there.
वनोपकण्ठे मंथानरवेणापूरितं च यत्। क्षीबैर्गोपैः समाकीर्णं पादपैरपितद्वनम्
At the edge of the forest, filled with the sound of churning, crowded with intoxicated cowherds, and shaded by trees, was that forest.
निशिवंशरवोपेतं गोपीनां च शुभप्रदम्। एवं तु वसतस्तस्य खर्जूरवनसंसदि
Resounding with the calls of night birds, auspicious for the cowherd women, thus, as he dwelled there in the kharjūra grove—
हृष्टा तुष्टा च पुष्टा च नंदा वै नाम नामतः। गोमंडलस्य सामुख्या हंसवर्णा घटस्रवा
There was one named Nandā, joyful, content, and well-nourished, chief among the herd, swan-colored, with a flowing gait.
दीर्घघोणा विभक्तांगी बंधुरांगी तनुत्वचा। नीलकंठा शुभग्रीवा घंटाली मधुरस्वना
With a long nose, well-proportioned limbs, slender-bodied, blue-throated, with a beautiful neck, adorned with a bell, and sweet-voiced.
सा च यूथस्य सर्वस्य पुरश्चरति निर्भया। घासस्थानं चरेच्छन्नं गत्वैका च यथासुखम्
She moved fearlessly at the front of the whole herd, going as she pleased to the grazing grounds, sometimes wandering alone as she wished.
यथेष्टकामा सुरभी छन्नं चरति वै तृणम्। रोहितो नाम तत्रान्यः पर्वतः सरितस्तटे
As Surabhi, desiring as she wished, grazed secretly on the grass, there was another mountain named Rohita on the riverbank.
अनेककंदरदरी गुहासत्व निषेवितः। तस्य पूर्वोत्तरेभागे घोरे तृणसमाकुले
Frequented by many animals in its caves and hollows, in its northeastern part, terrible and thick with grass—
संकटे विषमे दुर्गे भैरवे लोमहर्षणे। मृगसिंहसमाकीर्णे बहु श्वापद सेविते
In a narrow, uneven, difficult, and frightening place, filled with deer and lions, and frequented by many wild beasts.
वल्लीवृक्षादिगहने शिवाशत निनादिते। दुर्गेस्मिन्वसते रौद्रः कामरूपी भयंकरः
In a dense thicket of creepers and trees, resounding with the cries of hundreds of jackals, in this stronghold dwelled a fierce, terrifying being of changing form.
द्वीपी शोणित दिग्धांसो घोरदंष्ट्रानखायुधः। नंदो नाम स धर्मात्मा स च गोपीहिते रतः
A leopard, with blood-smeared jaws, terrible fangs and claws as weapons; his name was Nanda, righteous and devoted to the welfare of the cowherd women.
अच्छिन्नाग्रैस्तृणैर्दीर्घैर्गोधनं परिरक्षति। तस्य यूथपरिभ्रष्टा सानंदा तृणलिप्सया
He protected the herd with long, unbroken blades of grass; from his herd, Nandā, separated by her desire for grass, wandered away.
चरंती व्याघ्रपुरतः सा धेनुः प्रत्युपस्थिता। अभ्यद्रवच्च तां द्वीपी तिष्ठतिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत्
As she grazed before the tiger, that cow came near; the leopard rushed at her and said, 'Stay, stay!'
त्वमद्य विहितो भक्षः स्वयं प्राप्तासि धेनुके। द्वीपिनश्च वचः श्रुत्वा निष्ठुरं रोमहर्षणं
'Today you are destined as food, O cow, you have come of your own accord!' Hearing the leopard's harsh and chilling words—
शुक्लरूपान्वितं बालं भद्रमिंदुसमप्रभम्। वत्सं स्मरति सा धेनुः स्नेहाक्ता गद्गदाक्षरम्
She remembered her calf, white in form, auspicious, radiant as the moon, and, filled with affection, the cow spoke in a choked voice.
दह्यंती पुत्रशोकेन नंदा सा पुत्रवत्सला। रुदंती करुणं चैव निराशा पुत्रदर्शने
Burning with grief for her son, Nandā, fond of her calf, wept pitifully, hopeless of seeing her child.
द्वीपी दृष्ट्वा तु तां धेनुं क्रंदमानां सुदुःखिताम्। उवाच वचनं घोरं धेनुके किं प्ररुद्यते
Seeing that cow crying out in great sorrow, the leopard spoke these terrible words: 'O cow, why do you weep?'
दैवात्सुखोपपन्नासि भक्षस्त्वं मे यदृच्छया। रुदंत्या वा हसंत्या वा तवात्तं जीवितं भवेत्
By fate you have come to me, an easy meal by chance; whether you cry or laugh, your life will be taken by me.
विहितं भुज्यते लोके स्वयंप्राप्तासि धेनुके। मृत्युस्ते विहितोद्यैव वृथा किमनुशोचसि
What is destined is eaten in this world; you have come to me of your own accord, little cow. Your death is ordained today—why do you grieve in vain?
पप्रच्छ तां पुनर्द्वीपी किमर्थं रुदितं त्वया। कौतुकं चात्र मे जातं महन्मे कथयस्व वै
Again the tiger asked her: Why are you weeping? I am curious about this—tell me the reason, for it is great to me.
व्याघ्रस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा नंदा वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्। क्षंतुमर्हसि मे नाथ कामरूपिन्नमोस्तु ते
Hearing the words of the tiger, Nandā then spoke: Forgive me, lord, master of forms at will—obeisance to you.
त्वां समासाद्य लोकस्य परित्राणं न विद्यते। जीवितार्थं न शोचामि प्राप्तव्यं मरणं मया
Having encountered you, there is no rescue for anyone; I do not grieve for my life—death is destined for me.
जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च। तस्मादपरिहार्येर्थे न शोचामि मृगाधिप
For one who is born, death is certain, and for one who has died, birth is certain; therefore, for what cannot be avoided, I do not grieve, O lord of beasts.
देवैरपि यथा सर्वैर्मर्त्तव्यमवशैर्ध्रुवम्। तस्मात्तु नाहमेवैका व्याघ्र शोचामि जीवितम्
Even all the gods, though unwilling, must surely die; therefore, O tiger, I am not the only one who grieves for life.
किंतु स्नेहेन वै साधो दुःखेन रुदितं मया। अस्ति मे हृदि संतापस्तं च त्वं श्रोतुमर्हसि
But, O noble one, I have wept out of affection and sorrow; there is pain in my heart, and you ought to hear it.