मध्ये दुर्गप्रविष्टौ च ममवश्याविमौ न यत्
Having entered the fortress in the midst, these two are not subject to me,
अहो दुर्गबलं प्राज्ञाः शंसंत्येवेति हेतुतः 4.2.76.
Ah, the wise always declare the strength of a fortress, and rightly so.
करिणां तु सहस्रेण वराश्वानां न लक्षतः
Even with a thousand elephants, and countless excellent horses,
दुर्गस्थो नाभिभूयेत विपक्षः केनचित्क्वचित्
One stationed in a fortress cannot be overcome by any adversary anywhere,
इति दुर्गबलं शंसञ्श्येनो रोषारुणेक्षणः
Thus, proclaiming the strength of the fortress, the hawk, his eyes red with anger,
अथ पारावतीदक्षा विपक्षं प्रेक्ष्य पक्षिणम्
Then, the clever female pigeon, seeing the enemy bird,
तव दृग्विषयं प्राप्तः श्येनोय प्रबलो रिपुः
Your field of vision has been reached, O beloved, by the hawk, a powerful foe,
सावज्ञं वाक्यमाकर्ण्य पारावत्याः स तत्पतिः
Hearing the contemptuous words, the husband of the pigeon,
कति देवालयेष्वेषु खगा नोपविशंति हि
How many birds do not sit in these temples,
कति चैव न पश्यंति नौ सुखस्थाविह प्रिये
And how many do not see us, happy here, my dear,
रमस्व त्वं मया सार्धं त्यज चिंतामिमां शुभे
Rest here with me, let go of these worries, O auspicious one.
इत्थं पारावतवचः श्रुत्वा पारावती ततः 4.2.76.
Hearing thus the words of the pigeon, the female pigeon then—
हितवर्त्मोपदिश्यापि प्रिय प्रियचिकीर्षया
Though he showed her the path of benefit, out of love and the wish to please her—
अन्येद्युरप्यथायातः श्येनो पश्यत्स दंपती
The next day, the hawk returned and saw that pair.
अथ मंडलगत्या स प्रासादं परितो भ्रमन्
Then, circling the palace in a circular path—
गतेऽथ नभसि श्येने पुनः पारावतांगना
When the hawk had gone into the sky, again the pigeon’s wife—
तस्या वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य पुनः कलरवोब्रवीत्
Hearing her words, he again spoke with a sweet, warbling voice.
दुर्गं च स्वर्गतुल्यं मे यत्र नास्त्यरितो भयम्
This fortress is like heaven to me, where there is no fear from here.
प्रडीनोड्डीन संडीन कांडव्याडकपाटिकाः
With ditches, moats, and thorny barriers, and bamboo palisades—
यथैतास्विह कौशल्यं मयि पारावति प्रिये
Just as you have shown skill here, O beloved pigeon, towards me—
सुखेन तिष्ठ का चिंता मयि जीवति ते प्रिये
Live happily, have no worry while I am alive, my dear.
अपरेद्युरपि श्येनस्तत्र भारशिलातले 4.2.76.
On another day, too, the hawk came there, to the rocky ledge.
आयामं तत्र संस्थित्वा तत्कुलायं विलोक्य च
Standing there for a while, he looked at their nest.
प्रियस्थानमिदं त्याज्यं दुष्टदृष्टिविदूषितम्
This beloved place must be abandoned, defiled by the gaze of the wicked.
सावज्ञं स पुनः प्राह किं करिष्यत्यसौ प्रिये
With disdain, she again said: What will he do, dear?
इतरेद्युरपि प्राप्तः स च श्येनो महाबलः
On another day, too, that mighty hawk arrived.
पुनर्विलोक्य तद्वर्त्म शीघ्रं यातो यथागतम्
Looking again at that path, he quickly departed as he had come.
नाथ स्थानांतरं यावो मृत्युर्नौ निकटोत्र यत्
Lord, let us go elsewhere, for death is near us here.
प्रिय यस्य सपक्षस्य गतिः सर्वत्र सिद्धिदा
For one whose ally is dear, progress everywhere brings success.
सोपसर्गं निजं देशं त्यक्त्वा योन्यत्र न व्रजेत्
One should not abandon one's own land, even if afflicted, to go elsewhere.