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.
एवं सा शपथं कृत्वा धेनुर्वै सत्यवादिनी। अनुज्ञाता मृगेंद्रेण प्रयाता पुत्रवत्सला
Thus, having taken the oath, the cow, who spoke the truth, was permitted by the lord of beasts and, full of love for her calf, departed.
अश्रुपूर्णमुखीदीना वेपमाना सुदुःखिता। हंभारवं प्रमुंचंती पतिता शोकसागरे
Her face filled with tears, wretched, trembling, and greatly distressed, she let out a deep lowing, fallen into an ocean of sorrow.
करीव चरणग्राहं गृहीतः सलिलाशये। अशक्ता स्वपरित्राणे विलपंती मुहुर्मुहुः
Like an elephant seized by the foot in a watery pit, unable to save herself, she lamented again and again.
सा तत्र गोकुलं प्राप्ता हरिन्नद्यास्तटे स्थितम्। श्रुत्वा वत्सं तु क्रोशंतं पर्यधावत संमुखी
She reached the cow-pen situated on the bank of the golden river; hearing her calf crying, she ran straight toward him.
उपसृप्य च तं बालं बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणम्। संप्राप्य मातरं वत्सः शंकितः परिपृच्छति
Approaching that child, whose eyes were filled with tears, the calf, having reached his mother, anxiously questioned her.
न ते पश्याम्यहं स्वास्थ्यं धैर्यं नैवाद्य लक्षये। उद्विग्ना चापि ते दृष्टिर्भीता चातीव लक्ष्यसे
I do not see you at ease, nor do I perceive any steadiness in you today; your gaze is anxious, and you appear very frightened.
नन्दोवाच। पिब पुत्र स्तनं मेद्य कारणं यदि पृच्छसि। अशक्ताहं तवाख्यातुं कुरु तृप्तिं यथेप्सिताम्
Nanda said: Drink, my son, the nourishing milk; if you ask the reason, I am unable to tell you. Satisfy yourself as you wish.
अपश्चिमं तु ते पुत्र दुर्लभं मातृदर्शनम्। एकाहमद्य मे पीत्वा प्रभाते कस्य पास्यसि
But, my son, this is your last and rare chance to see your mother. After drinking today, in the morning, whose milk will you drink?
त्वां त्यक्त्वा पुत्र गंतव्यं शपथैरागता ह्यहम्। क्षुत्क्षामस्य च व्याघ्रस्य दातव्यमात्मजीवितम्
My son, I must leave you, for I am bound by oaths. I must give my own life to the hungry and thirsty tiger.
नंदायाश्च वचः श्रुत्वा वत्सो वचनमब्रवीत्। वत्स उवाच। अहं तत्र गमिष्यामि यत्र त्वं गंतुमिच्छसि
Hearing Nanda's words, the calf spoke: Calf said: I will go wherever you wish to go.