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.
यत्तीर्थं सर्वतीर्थानां धन्यानां धन्यमुत्तमम्। समस्तगुणसंपन्नमीश्वरायतनं महत्
That holy place, the most blessed among all sacred sites, endowed with every virtue, is a great abode of the Lord.
यत्ख्यातं सर्वतीर्थानां भूमिस्वर्गमनुत्तमम्। गोपीमंथनशब्देन बालवत्सरवेण च
It is renowned among all holy places as the highest on earth and in heaven, known by the name 'Gopīmaṇthana' and also as 'Bālavatsaraveṇa.'
गवां हुंकारशब्देन अलक्ष्मीः प्रतिहन्यते। यत्र वत्साश्च हुंकारं करुणं मातृकांक्षया
By the sound of the cows' lowing, misfortune is driven away; there, the calves cry out with longing for their mothers, making a plaintive sound.
यद्गोपैः पालितं शूरैर्बाहुयुद्धकृतश्रमैः। प्रगीतनृत्यसंलापं नंदितास्फोटनादितम्
It is protected by valiant cowherds, weary from wrestling with their arms, filled with singing, dancing, conversation, and the joyful clapping of hands.
इतस्ततः स्थितैर्वत्सैर्नर्द्यमानं समंततः। सरोवद्राजते गोष्टं चलद्भिरिव पंकजैः
With calves standing here and there, lowing all around, the cow-pen shines like a lake adorned with moving lotuses.
तं श्रीनिकेतनं सौम्यं हृष्टपुष्टजनाकुलम्। गोलोकप्रतिमं दृष्ट्वा कथं प्रत्यागमिष्यसि
Having seen that gentle abode of Śrī, crowded with joyful and healthy people, resembling Goloka itself, how could you wish to return?
पंचभूतानि मे भद्रे पिबंतु रुधिरं तव। न निर्विण्णानि भूतानि वाङ्मात्रेण करोम्यहम्
Let the five elements, O blessed one, drink your blood; I do not cause the elements to be dissatisfied merely by words.
नंदोवाच। एवं प्रथमवत्साया मृगेंद्र शृणु मे वचः। दृष्ट्वा सखीः सुतं बालं गोपांश्च प्रतिपालकान्
Nanda said: Thus, O lord of beasts, listen to my words: having seen my friends, my young son, and the cowherds who are his guardians,
गोपीजनमुपामंत्र्य जननीं च विशेषतः। शपथैरागमिष्यामि मन्यसे यदि मुंच मां
Having taken leave of the cowherd women, and especially my mother, I will return, swearing oaths—if you believe me, release me.
यत्पापं ब्रह्मवध्यायां मातृपितृवधेषु च। तेन पापेन लिप्येहं यद्यहं नागमे पुनः
If I do not return again, may I be stained by the sin incurred in killing a Brahmin or in slaying mother or father.
यत्पापं लुब्धकानां तु म्लेच्छानां गरदायिनाम्। तेन पापेन लिप्येहं यद्यहं नागमे पुनः
If I do not return again, may I be stained by the sin of hunters, outcastes, or poisoners.
गोषु विघ्नांश्च ये कुर्युः स्वपंतीं ताडयंति च। तेन पापे नलिप्येहं यद्यहं नागमे पुनः
If I do not return again, may I be stained by the sin of those who harm cows or beat those who are sleeping.
सकृद्दत्वा तु यः कन्यां द्वितीये दातुमिच्छति। तस्य पापेन लिप्येहं यद्यहं नागमे पुनः
If I do not return again, may I be stained by the sin of one who, having given a girl in marriage once, wishes to give her again to another.
यस्त्वनर्हान्बलीवर्दान्विषमे वाहयेत्पुमान्। कथायां कथ्यमानायां विघ्नं कारयते तु यः
Or if a man makes unfit bullocks pull a load, or causes an obstacle when a story is being told,
तेन पापेन लिप्येहं यद्यहं नागमे पुनः। गृहे यस्यागतं मित्रं निराशं प्रतिगच्छति
If I do not return again, may I be stained by that sin; or if a guest comes to one's house and departs disappointed.
तस्य पापेन लिप्येहं यद्यहं नागमे पुनः। इत्येतैः पातकैर्घोरैरागमिष्याम्यहं पुनः
If I do not return again, may I be stained by that sin; by these terrible sins, I swear, I will return again.
बुध्वा संप्रत्ययं द्वीपी पुनर्वचनमब्रवीत्। व्याघ्र उवाच। संजातः प्रत्ययोस्माकं शपथैर्धेनुके तव
Hearing this assurance, the tiger then spoke again: The tiger said: By these oaths, Dhenuka, our trust in you is established.
कदाचिन्मन्यसे गत्वा मूर्खोयं वंचितो मया। अत्रापि केचिद्वक्ष्यंति शपथे नास्ति पातकम्
If ever you think, 'Having gone, this fool has deceived me,' even then, some will say there is no sin in an oath.
कामिनीषु विवाहेषु गवां मुक्तौ तथैव च। प्राणत्यागे समुत्पन्ने श्रद्धातव्यं न च त्वया
In matters of women, in marriages, in the release of cows, and likewise at the time of giving up life, you should not place your trust.
लोकेस्मिन्नास्तिकाः केचिन्मूर्खाः पंडितमानिनः। भ्रामयिष्यंति ते चित्तं चक्रारूढमिव क्षणात्
In this world, there are some atheists, fools who consider themselves wise; they will confound your mind in an instant, as if mounting it on a wheel.