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.
प्रथमे वयसि प्राप्ते प्रसूताहं मृगाधिप। इष्टः प्रथमजातश्च सुतस्तु मम बालकः
When I reached my first youth, O lord of beasts, I gave birth; my firstborn son is dear to me, a little calf.
क्षीरपायी च मे वत्सस्तृणं नाद्यापि जिघ्रति। स च गोपकुले बद्धः क्षुधार्तो मामवेक्षते३०० 1.18.
My calf still drinks milk and does not even sniff grass; he is tied up in the cowherds' pen, hungry, looking for me.
तमहं चानुशोचामि कथं जीविष्यते सुतः। तस्येच्छामि स्तनं दातुं पुत्रस्नेहवशं गता
It is for him that I grieve—how will my son live? I wish to give him my milk, overcome by motherly affection.
पाययित्वा स्तनं वत्समवलिह्य च मूर्द्धनि। सखीनामर्पयित्वा तु संदिश्य च हिताहितम्
After feeding my calf at my breast and licking his head, entrusting him to my companions and instructing them in what is good and bad,
पुनः प्रत्यागमिष्यामि यथेष्टं भक्षयिष्यसि। स नंदाया वचः श्रुत्वा मृगेंद्रः पुनरब्रवीत्
I will return again, and you may eat me as you wish; hearing Nandā’s words, the lord of beasts spoke again.
किं ते पुत्रेण कर्त्तव्यं मरणं किं न बुध्यसे। त्रस्यंति सर्वभूतानि म्रियंते मां निरीक्ष्य च
What will you do with your son? Do you not understand death? All creatures tremble and die when they see me.
त्वं पुनः कृपयाविष्टा पुत्रपुत्रेति भाषसे। न पुत्रा न तपो दानं न माता न पिता गुरुः
Yet you, filled with compassion, keep speaking of your son; neither sons, nor penance, nor charity, nor mother, nor father, nor teacher
शक्नुवंति परित्रातुं नरं कालप्रपीडितम्। कथं त्वं गोकुलं गत्वा गोपीजनसमाकुलम्
Are able to save a man afflicted by time; how will you, going to the cowherds’ settlement, crowded with cowherd women,
वृषभैर्नादितं दिव्यं बालवत्सविभूषितम्। भूषणं देवलोकस्य स्वर्गतुल्यं न संशयः
Resounding with bulls, divine, adorned with calves and children, an ornament of the world of the gods, doubtless equal to heaven,
नित्यं प्रमुदितं दिव्यं सर्वदेवप्रपूजितम्। यत्पवित्रं पवित्राणां मंगलानां च मंगलम्
Ever joyful, divine, worshipped by all the gods, purest of the pure, and most auspicious among the auspicious.