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.
न च लोभेन चर्तव्यं विषमस्थं तॄणं क्वचित्। लोभाद्विनाशः सर्वेषामिहलोके परत्र च
And never, out of greed, should you reach for grass in a dangerous place. From greed comes destruction for all, in this world and the next.
समुद्रमटवीं पुत्र विशंति लोभमोहिताः। लोभादकार्यमत्युग्रं विद्वानपि समाचरेत्
Deluded by greed, people enter the ocean or the forest. Even a wise person may commit terrible acts out of greed.
लोभात्प्रमादाद्विस्रंभात्त्रिभिर्नाशो भवेन्नॄणाम्। तस्माल्लोभं न कुर्वीत न प्रमादं न विश्वसेत्
From greed, carelessness, and overconfidence, destruction comes to people. Therefore, one should not be greedy, careless, or overly trusting.
आत्मा हि सततं पुत्र रक्षितव्यः प्रयत्नः। सर्वेभ्यः श्वापदेभ्यश्च म्लेच्छचोरादिसंकटात्
One must always protect oneself, my son, with effort—from all wild beasts, and from the dangers of foreigners, thieves, and the like.
तिरश्चां पापयोनीनामेकत्र वसतामपि। विपरीतानि चित्तानि विज्ञायंते न पुत्रक
Even when animals, those of sinful birth, dwell together, their minds are known to be contrary, my child.
नखिनां च नदीनां च शृंगिणां शस्त्रधारिणाम्। न विश्वासस्त्वया कार्यः स्त्रीणां प्रेष्यजनस्य च
You should not place trust in those with claws, in rivers, in those with horns, in those who bear weapons, in women, or in servants.
न विश्वसेदविश्वस्ते विश्वस्तेनाति विश्वसेत्। विश्वासाद्भयमुत्पन्नं मूलान्यपि निकृंतति
Do not trust one who is untrustworthy, nor trust excessively one who is trustworthy; fear arises from trust, and it can cut even the roots.
न विश्वसेत्स्वदेहेपि बलिष्ठे भीतचेतसि। वक्ष्यंति गूढमत्यर्थं सुप्तं मत्तं प्रमादतः
One should not trust even one's own body, though strong, when the mind is fearful; people reveal secrets when asleep, intoxicated, or careless.
गंधः सर्वत्र सततमाघ्रातव्यः प्रयत्नतः। गावः पश्यंति गंधेन राजानश्चारचक्षुषा
Scent should always be carefully examined everywhere; cows perceive by scent, and kings by the eyes of their spies.
नैकस्तिष्ठेद्वनेघोरे धर्ममेकं च चिंतयेत्। नचोद्वेगस्त्वयाकार्यः सर्वस्य मरणं ध्रुवं
No one should remain alone in a dreadful forest; one should contemplate only righteousness, and you should not be disturbed, for death is certain for all.