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.
कुतर्कहेतुवृत्तांतैरज्ञानावृतचेतसः। मोहयंति नराः क्षुद्रा आगमानविशारदाः
With arguments based on false logic and stories, their minds veiled by ignorance, these petty men, unskilled in the scriptures, lead others astray.
अतथ्यान्यपि तथ्यानि दर्शयंत्यतिपेशलाः। समे निम्नोन्नतानीव चित्रकर्मविदो जनाः
Very clever people present what is untrue as true, just as those skilled in painting make level things appear raised or lowered.
प्रायः कृतार्थो लोकोयं मन्यते नोपकारिणम्। वत्सः क्षीरक्षयं दृष्ट्वा परित्यजति मातरम्
Generally, when people have achieved their purpose, they do not consider their benefactor; just as a calf, seeing the milk exhausted, abandons its mother.
न तं पश्यामि लोकेस्मिन्कृते प्रतिकरोति यः। सर्वस्य हि कृतार्थस्य मतिरन्या प्रवर्तते
I do not see anyone in this world who repays a favor; for when a person has obtained his aim, his mind turns elsewhere.
ऋषिदेवासुरनरैः शपथाः कार्यसिद्धये। कृताः परस्परं पूर्वं तान्न मन्यामहे वयम्
Oaths were formerly made by sages, gods, demons, and men to accomplish their aims, but we do not regard them now.
सत्येनापि शपेद्यस्तु देवाग्निगुरुसन्निधौ। तस्य वैवस्वतो राजा धर्मस्यार्द्धं निकृंतति
If someone swears even truthfully in the presence of gods, fire, or a guru, King Yama cuts away half of his merit.
मा ते बुद्धिर्भवेदेवं शपथैरेष वंचितः। त्वयैव दर्शितं सर्वं यथेष्टं कुरु सांप्रतं
Let your mind not be deceived by such oaths; you yourself have shown everything—now act as you wish.
नंदोवाच। एवमेव महासाधो कस्त्वां वंचयितुं क्षमः। आत्मैव वंचितस्तेन यः परं वंचयिष्यति
Nanda said: So it is, O great sage! Who is able to deceive you? Whoever tries to deceive another deceives only himself.
द्वीप्युवाच। धेनुके पश्य गच्छ त्वं पुत्रकं पुत्रवत्सले। पाययित्वा स्तनं वत्समवलिह्य च मूर्द्धनि
The tiger said: O cow, go and see your calf, you who are fond of your child; let him suckle your udder, and lick him on the head.
मातरं भ्रातरं दृष्ट्वा सखीस्वजनबांधवान्। सत्यमेवाग्रतः कृत्वा शीघ्रमागमनं कुरु
Having seen your mother, brother, friends, and relatives, and placing truth foremost, quickly return.