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.
यथा हि पथिकः कश्चिच्छायामाश्रित्य तिष्ठति। विश्रम्य च पुनर्याति तद्वद्भूतसमागमः
Just as a traveler, taking shelter in the shade, rests and then departs again, so too is the meeting of beings.
पुत्र नित्यं जगत्सर्वं तत्रैकः शोचसे कथं। तावत्त्वं शोकमुत्सृज्य मद्वाक्यमनुपालय
My son, since the whole world is always like this, why do you grieve alone? Therefore, abandoning sorrow, follow my words.
शिरस्याघ्राय तं पुत्रमवलिह्य च मूर्द्धनि। शोकेन महताविष्टा बाष्पव्याकुललोचना
Smelling her son's head and licking his crown, overwhelmed by great grief, her eyes filled with tears.
विनिःश्वसंती नागीव दीर्घमुष्णं मुहुर्मुहुः। पुत्रहीनं जगच्छून्यं प्रपश्यंतीव साऽभवत्
Sighing again and again, like a serpent, with long, hot breaths, she seemed to see the world as empty, bereft of her son.
महापंकनिमग्नेव तिष्ठंती चावसीदती। विलप्य नंदिनी पुत्रमुवाचेदं पुनर्वचः
Standing as if sunk in deep mud, sinking down, Nandini, lamenting, spoke these words again to her son.
नास्ति पुत्रसमः स्नेहो नास्तिपुत्रसमं सुखं। नास्ति पुत्रसमा प्रीतिर्नास्ति पुत्रसमा गतिः
There is no affection like that for a son, no happiness like that of a son; there is no joy like that of a son, nor any destiny like that of a son.
अपुत्रस्य जगच्छून्यमपुत्रस्य गृहेऽसुखम्। पुत्रेण लभते लोकमपुत्रो नरकं व्रजेत्
For one without a son, the world is empty; for one without a son, there is no happiness at home; by a son one attains the world, but the sonless goes to hell.
लोको वदति वाक्यानि चंदनं किल शीतलं। पुत्रगात्रपरिष्वंगश्चंदनादतिशीतलः
People say that sandalwood is cool, but the embrace of a son's body is cooler than sandalwood.
इति पुत्रगुणानुक्त्वा निरीक्ष्य च पुनःपुनः। स्वमातरं सखीर्गोपीस्त्वरमाणा च पृच्छति
Thus, having spoken of her son's virtues and gazing again and again at her mother, her friends, and the cowherd women, she asked hurriedly.
यूथस्याग्रे चरंतीं मामाससाद मृगाधिपः। मुक्ताहं तेन शपथैः पुनर्यास्यामि तत्र वै
The lord of the beasts approached me as I walked at the front of the herd; I was released by him through oaths, and I will return there again.
सुतं च मातरं चैव सखीर्द्रष्टुं च गोकुलं। आगता सत्यवाक्येन पुनर्यास्यामि तत्र वै
I have come, by the truth of my words, to see my son, my mother, my friends, and the cowherd village; I will return there again.
मातः क्षमस्व तत्सर्वं दौःशील्यादि कृतं मम। बालस्तवायं दौहित्रः किमत्रान्यद्ब्रवीम्यहं
Mother, forgive all the faults and misdeeds I have committed; this boy is your grandson—what more can I say?
विपुले चंपके मातर्भद्रे सुरभि मानिनि। वसुधारे प्रियानंदे महानंदे घटस्रवे
O noble mothers—Vipula, Campaka, Mātarbhadrā, Surabhi, Mānini, Vasudhārā, Priyānandā, Mahānandā, Ghaṭasravā—
अज्ञानाज्ज्ञानतो वापि यदुक्तं किंचिदप्रियं। तत्क्षमध्वं महाभागा यच्चान्यच्च कृतं मया
Whether through ignorance or knowingly, if I have spoken anything unpleasant, O greatly fortunate ones, please forgive me, and also whatever else I have done.
सर्वाः सर्वगुणोपेताः सर्वा लोकस्य मातरः। सर्वाः सर्वप्रदा नित्यं रक्षध्वं मम बालकं
All of you, endowed with every virtue, mothers of the world, always bestowers of all, protect my child.
अनाथं विकलं दीनं रक्षध्वं मम पुत्रकं। मातृशोकाभिसंतप्तं भगिन्यः पालयिष्यथ
Protect my son, who is helpless, afflicted, and miserable, scorched by the sorrow of his mother, O sisters, you must care for him.
यस्मादनाथमबलं पुत्रवत्पालयिष्यथ। क्षमध्वं च महाभागा यास्यामि सत्यसंश्रयात्
Because you will care for this helpless and powerless one as your own son, O greatly fortunate ones, forgive me, for I am about to depart, relying on truth.
न चिंता महती कार्या सखीभिश्च कथंचन। प्रथमस्यास्य जातस्य स्थितं मरणमग्रतः
No great anxiety should be felt by my friends in any way; for death stands before this firstborn.
श्रुत्वा तु नंदावचनं माता सख्यश्च दुःखिताः। विषादं परमं जग्मुरिदमूचुश्च विस्मिताः
Hearing Nandā’s words, the mother and her friends became distressed; they fell into deep sorrow and, astonished, spoke as follows:
अहोऽत्र महदाश्चर्यं यद्व्याघ्रवचनं त्वया। प्रकर्तुमुद्यतं भीमं नंदा त्वं सत्यवादिनी
Ah, this is a great wonder—that you, Nandā, truthful in speech, are prepared to carry out the dreadful words of the tiger.