तप एव हि चेन्मातः कारणं सर्वसंपदाम्
If, mother, austerity is truly the cause of all prosperity—
एकमेव हि साहाय्यं कुरु मातरतंद्रिता
Then, mother, give me just one help: do not be negligent.
सापि ज्ञात्वा महावीर्यं कुमारं कुक्षिसंभवम्
She too, knowing the great valor of the son born from her womb,
अनुज्ञातुं न शक्ताऽहं त्वामुत्तानशयांगज
I am not able to give you permission, O child lying on your back,
सपत्नीवाक्यभल्लीभिर्भिन्ने महति मे हृदि
My heart is deeply wounded by the sharp words of co-wives,
तानि मन्येऽत्र मार्गेण स्रवंत्यविरतं शिशो
I think those wounds flow unceasingly along this path, O child.
त्वदेकतनया तात त्वदाधारैकजीविता 4.1.19.
You are my only son, dear one, my life depends solely on you.
लब्धोसि कतिभिः कष्टैरिष्टाः संप्रार्थ्य देवताः
You have been obtained after many hardships, having earnestly worshipped the gods.
आनन्दपयसापूर्य कुचावुद्वेलितो भवेत्
May my breasts overflow with the milk of joy for you.
सुखंशये सुशयने प्रावृत्य पुलकांबरम्
May you sleep happily on a soft bed, wrapped in a garment that thrills with delight.
त्वदास्यस्यौष्ठपुटक दुग्धवार्धि विवर्धिताम्
May my breasts, filled with milk, be nourished by the touch of your lips.
त्वदीयः शीतलालापः प्राप श्रुतिपथं यदा
When your cool, gentle speech reaches my ears,
यदंग निद्रासिचिरं ध्यायंत्यस्मि तदेत्यहम्
Whenever you, my dear, sleep for a long time, I keep thinking of you.
यदोपेया गृहान्वत्स खेलित्वा बालखेलनैः
Whenever you return home, child, after playing with your toys,
यदा सौधाद्विनिर्यायाः पद्मरेखांकितं पदम्
Whenever you come down from the terrace, your feet marked with lotus lines,
यदायदा बहिर्यासि पुत्र त्रिचतुरं पदम्
Whenever you go outside, son, taking three or four steps,
चित्रं पुत्र त्वरयति यातुं मे मानसांडजः 4.1.19.
It is strange, son, how my mind, born of the heart, urges you to go.
अथ तिष्ठंतु कठिनाः प्राणाः कंठाटवीतटे
So let my hard breaths remain at the edge of the throat's forest,
इत्यनुज्ञामनुप्राप्य जननी चरणांबुजौ
Thus, having received permission, the mother touched his lotus feet.
तयापि धैर्यसूत्रेण सुनीत्या परिगुंफ्य च
She too, with the thread of courage and good conduct, composed herself.
मात्रातन्मार्गरक्षार्थं तदा तदनुगीकृताः
For the purpose of protecting the path to his mother, they were then accepted.
स्वसौधात्स विनिर्गत्य बालोऽबालपराक्रमः
Leaving his own palace, the child, though young, possessed extraordinary courage.
समरुत्तरुशाखाग्र प्रसारणमिषेण सः
He, with the intention of advancing, extended himself to the tip of the highest tree branch.
समातृदैवतोभिज्ञः केवलं राजवर्त्मनि
Fully aware of his mother and the divine, he proceeded solely along the royal path.
यावदुन्मील्य नयने पुरः पश्यति स ध्रुवः
As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw clearly before him that steadfast one.
वालिशेष्वसहायेषु भवेद्भाग्यं सहायकृत्
When there are no helpers among the remaining children, fortune itself becomes a helper.
क्व राजतनयो बालो गहनं क्व च तद्वनम् 4.1.19.
Where is the king’s young son, and where is that dense forest?
यत्र यस्य हि यद्भाव्यं शुभं वाऽशुभमेव च
Wherever and whatever is destined for someone, whether auspicious or inauspicious,
अन्यथा विदधात्येष मानवो बुद्धिवैभवात्
Otherwise, this person acts according to the excellence of his intellect.
नवयो न च वै चित्र्यं न चित्रं विदधेहितम्
For the young, there is nothing remarkable; nor is anything extraordinary accomplished.