भवेदवश्यं तद्भावि यथा पुंभिः पुरा कृतम् ७.
What is destined must certainly happen, just as men have acted in the past.
शिष्योऽहं भवता पाठ्यं कर्णधारं महामुनिम् ७.
I am your disciple, O great sage, the one who should be taught and guided.
नमस्ये चेतनं ब्रह्मा प्रत्यक्षं गालवाख्यया ७.
I bow to the conscious Brahman, manifest as the sage named Galava.
उपदेशमहामंत्रैर्मां जांगुलिक जीवय ७.
Revive me, O healer, with the great mantras of instruction.
त्वद्वाक्यतीक्ष्णधारेण कुठारेण क्षयं व्रजेत् ७.
By the sharp edge of your words, like an axe, let destruction come.
छिद्यतां सूत्रधारेण विद्यापरशुनाधुना ७.
Let it be cut now by the carpenter’s thread, by the axe of knowledge.
समिद्दर्भान्मूलफलं दारूणि जलमेव च ७.
Kindled darbha grass, roots, fruits, wood, and water as well—
इत्थं पुरा बकाभिख्यं बकवृत्तिमुपाश्रितम् ७.
Thus, in ancient times, I adopted the conduct of a crane, known as 'the crane.'
ततोऽतीव विनीतोऽहं भूत्वा तं ब्राह्मणीयुतम् ७.
Then, having become extremely humble, I stayed with that Brahmin and his wife.
स च जानन्मुनिः पत्नीं पात्रभूतामविश्वसन् ७.
But the sage, though knowing his wife was worthy, did not trust her.
अथान्यस्मिन्दिने साभूद्ब्राह्मण्यथ रजस्वला ७.
Then, on another day, that Brahmin woman became menstruous.
इदमन्तरमित्यंतर्विचिंत्याहं प्रहर्षितः ७.
Thinking, 'Now is the opportunity,' I became delighted within.
विललाप तदा बाला ह्रियमाणा मयोच्चकैः ७.
Then the young woman cried out loudly as I was carrying her away.
बकवृत्तिरयं दुष्टो धर्मकंचुकमाश्रितः ७.
This wicked one, with the conduct of a crane, has taken on the cloak of righteousness.
तव शिष्यः पुरा भूत्वा कोप्वेषोद्य मलिम्लुचः ७.
Once, having been your disciple, I became Malimluca, filled with anger and arrogance.
तद्वाक्यसमकालं स प्रबुद्धो गालवो मुनिः ७.
At that very moment, the sage Galava awoke upon hearing those words.
ततश्चित्राकृतिरहं स्तम्भितो मुनिनाऽभवम् ७.
Then, with a strange form, I was immobilized by the sage.
ततः प्रकुपितः प्राह मामभ्येत्याथ गालवः ७.
After that, Galava, enraged, approached and addressed me.
बकवृत्तिमुपाश्रित्य वंचितोऽहं यतस्त्वया ७.
Assuming the conduct of a heron, I was deceived by you.
इति शप्तोऽहमभवं मुनिनाऽधर्ममाश्रितः ७.
Thus, cursed by the sage for unrighteousness, I became so.
न हीदृशमनायुष्यं लोके किंचन विद्यते ७.
Indeed, nothing in this world is as short-lived as this.
ततः सती सा मत्स्पर्शदूषितांगी तपस्विनी ७.
Then, that devoted woman, her body defiled by my touch, became ascetic.
एवं ताभ्यामहं शप्तो ह्यश्वत्थपर्णवद्भयात् ७.
Thus, I was cursed by both of them, out of fear, like the leaf of an ashvattha tree.
गणोऽहमीश्वरस्यैव दुर्विनीततरो युवाम् ७.
I am a follower of the Lord, but you two are exceedingly ill-behaved.
वाचि क्षुरो नावनीतं हृदयं हि द्विजन्मनाम् ७.
Speech is like a razor, not butter; but the heart of twice-born men is.
त्वयि विप्रतिपन्नस्य त्वमेव शरणं मम ७.
Though I have acted against you, you alone are my refuge.
गणाधिपत्यमपि मे जातं परिभवास्पदम् ७.
Even my position as leader of the attendants has become a source of humiliation.
विदुरेष्यद्धियाऽपायं परतोऽन्ये विवेकिनः ७.
Those with discernment, seeing danger from afar, avoid it.
दुर्वीनीतः श्रियं प्राप्य विद्यामैश्वर्यमेव वा ७.
One who is ill-behaved, upon gaining wealth, prosperity, or even knowledge, becomes arrogant.
विद्यामदो धनमदस्तृतीयोऽभिजनो मदः ७.
There is pride in knowledge, pride in wealth, and a third pride in noble birth.