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.
श्लाघ्यं ममापि मरणं त्वया सह न संशयः। एकाकिनापि मर्तव्यं मयार्तेन त्वया विना
It would be praiseworthy for me to die with you, without doubt. Even alone, suffering, I would have to die without you.
यदि मां संहितं मातर्वने व्याघ्रो हनिष्यति। या गतिर्मातृभक्तानां ध्रुवं सा मे भविष्यति३५० 1.18.
If, mother, the tiger kills me along with you in the forest, surely I will attain the destiny reserved for those devoted to their mothers.
तस्मादवश्यं यास्यामि त्वया सह न संशयः। अथवा तिष्ठ मातस्त्वं शपथाः संतु ते मम
Therefore, I will certainly go with you, without doubt. Or else, mother, you stay; let those oaths be mine instead.
जनन्या च वियुक्तस्य जीविते किं प्रयोजनम्। अनाथस्य वने नित्यं को मे नाथो भविष्यति
What is the use of life for one separated from his mother? In the forest, who will be my protector, always orphaned?
नास्ति मातृसमो बंधुर्बालानां क्षीरजीविनाम्। नास्ति मातृसमो नाथो नास्ति मातृसमा गतिः
There is no relative like a mother for young ones who live on milk. There is no protector like a mother, no refuge like a mother.
नास्ति मातृसमः स्नेहो नास्ति मातृसमं मुखम्। नास्ति मातृसमो देव इहलोके परत्र च
There is no affection like a mother's, no face like a mother's. There is no god like a mother in this world or the next.
एवं वै परमो धर्मः प्रजापतिविनिर्मितः। ये तिष्ठंति सदा पुत्रास्ते यांति परमां गतिम्
Thus, this is the supreme duty established by the Lord of Creatures: those sons who remain always with their mothers attain the highest state.
नंदोवाच। ममैव विहितो मृत्युर्न त्वं पुत्रागमिष्यसि। न चायमन्यजीवानां मृत्युः स्यादन्यमृत्युना
Nanda said: My death alone is ordained; you, my son, will not go. Nor does the death of one living being occur by the death meant for another.
अपश्चिममिमं पुत्र मातृसंदेशमुत्तमम्। अत्रातिष्ठस्व मद्वाक्यात्ततः शुशूषणं पुनः
This is your last and highest message from your mother, my son. Remain here, following my words; later, serve me again.
जलेस्थले च विचरन्प्रमादं तात मा कुरु। प्रमादात्सर्वभूतानि विनश्यंति न संशयः
Whether in water or on land, do not be careless, my child. All beings perish from carelessness, without doubt.