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.
अथ दृष्ट्वा स सप्तर्षीन्सप्तसप्त्यतितेजसः
Then, seeing the seven sages, whose brilliance surpassed that of seven suns,
तिलकांकित सद्भालान्कुशोपग्रहितांगुलीन्
Distinguished by tilaka marks, noble children, with fingers adorned by elephant goads,
साक्षसूत्रकरान्किंचिद्विनिमीलितलो चनान्
Some holding rosaries, others with slightly closed eyes,
अकांडेपि महाभागान्मिलितान्सप्तनीरधीन्
Even without a staff, those greatly fortunate ones, gathered together like seven oceans,
उपगम्य विनम्रः स प्रबद्धकरसंपुटः
Approaching them, he bowed, with hands joined in reverence.
उत्तानपादतनयं ध्रुवं निर्विण्णमानसम्
He, Dhruva, son of Uttānapāda, his mind distressed,
इदं वनमनुप्राप्तं सनाथं युष्मदंघ्रिभिः 4.1.19.
I have entered this forest, now blessed by your feet, with a protector.
ते दृष्ट्वोर्जस्वलं बालं स्वभाव मधुराकृतिम्
They saw the radiant child, whose nature and appearance were sweet.
उपोपवेश्य शिशुकं प्रोचुर्वै विस्मिता भृशम्
They seated the child nearby and, greatly astonished, spoke to him.
विचार्यापि न जानीमो वद निर्वेदकारणम्
Even after considering, we do not know—tell us the reason for your dispassion.