एतत्पुनर्वयं विद्मः सदा सत्यवतां नृणाम्
This, again, we always know of men devoted to truth.
प्रस्थिता व्याघ्रमुद्दिश्य पुत्रशोकेन पीडिता ॥ ६.५१.
She set out, aiming for the tiger, afflicted by grief for her son.
शोकाग्निनापि संतप्ता निराशा पुत्रदर्शने
Tormented even by the fire of sorrow, hopeless of seeing her son,
अंधेव दृष्टिनिर्मुक्ता प्रस्खलंती पदेपदे
Like one blind, deprived of sight, stumbling at every step,
प्रसुप्तं भ्रममाणं वा मम पुत्रं सुबालकम्
My son, whether sleeping or wandering, so young,
एवं प्रलप्य मनसा संप्राप्ता तत्र यत्र सः
Thinking thus in her mind, she arrived there, where he was.
व्याघ्रः क्षुत्क्षामकण्ठश्च तस्या मार्गावलोककः
A tiger, its throat parched with hunger, watched her path.
कुरु तृप्तिं यथाकामं मम मांसेन सांप्रतम्
Now satisfy your hunger as you wish with my flesh.
तां दृष्ट्वा सोऽपि दुष्टात्मा वैराग्यं परमं गतः
Seeing her, that wicked-hearted one too attained supreme detachment.
न हि सत्यवतां किंचिदशुभं विद्यते क्वचित्
Indeed, nothing inauspicious ever befalls those who are truthful.
त्वयोक्तं शपथैर्भद्रे आगमिष्याम्यहं पुनः
O good lady, you declared with oaths, 'I shall return again.'
सोऽहं भद्रे दुराचारो नृशंसो जीवघातकः ६.५१.
But I, O good lady, am wicked, cruel, and a destroyer of life.
तस्मात्त्वं मे महाभागे पापास्यातिदुरात्मनः
Therefore, O greatly fortunate one, from me, a sinner of exceedingly evil mind—
येन मे स्यात्परं श्रेय इह लोके परत्र च
—by which means might I obtain the highest good in this world and the next?
तस्मात्त्वं धर्मसर्वस्वं संक्षेपान्मम कीर्तय
Therefore, briefly declare to me the essence of all dharma.
द्वापरे यज्ञयोगं च दानमेकं कलौ युगे
In Dvāpara, sacrifice and yoga; in Kali Yuga, charity alone.
चराचराणां भूतानामभयं यः प्रयच्छति
Whoever grants safety to all living beings, moving and unmoving—
अहिंसया भवेद्येषां प्राणयात्रान्नपूर्वकम्
—for those whose sustenance does not depend on violence, their livelihood is through non-harming.
न हिंसया विनाऽस्माकं यतः स्यात्प्राणधारणम् उपदेशं सुधर्माय हिंसकस्यापि देहिनाम्
For us, life cannot be sustained without harm; yet, even to those who harm, instruction in true dharma should be given.
गहने यत्प्रभावेन त्वया मुक्तास्म्यहं ध्रुवम्
By the power of that (dharma) in the forest, I am certainly freed by you.
तस्य त्वं प्रातरुत्थाय कुरु नित्यं प्रदक्षिणाम्
Each morning, rise and always circumambulate it.
नान्यस्य कर्मणः शक्तिर्विद्यते ते नखायुध ६.५१.
No other deed is possible for you, O one with clawed weapons.
एवमुक्त्वाथ सा धेनुर्व्याघ्रस्याथ वनांतिके
Having spoken thus, the cow then, at the forest's edge, to the tiger—
सोऽपि संदर्शनात्तस्य तत्क्षणान्मुक्तिमाप्तवान्
He too, at that very moment, attained liberation upon seeing her.
शापं दुर्वाससा दत्तं राज्यं स्वं सहितैः सुतैः
The curse given by Durvasa caused me to lose my kingdom along with my sons.
नृपः कलशनामाहं हैहयान्वयसंभवः
I am the king named Kalasha, born in the lineage of the Haihayas.
ततः प्रसादितेनोक्तस्तेनाहं नंदिनी यदा
Then, when I had pleased her, she told me, 'I am Nandini.'
सा नूनं नन्दिनी त्वं हि ज्ञाता शापान्ततो मया
Indeed, you are Nandini, recognized by me after the end of the curse.
येन गच्छाम्यहं भूयः स्वगृहं प्रति सत्वरम्
By whom I now quickly return again to my own home.
नंदिन्युवाच चमत्कारपुरक्षेत्रमेतत्पातकनाशनम्
Nandini said: This field of Camatkāra destroys all sins.