न तथा स्त्रीषु नो भोगे नाश्वयाने न वारणे
Not so much in women, nor in pleasures, nor in riding horses or elephants—
स कदाचिन्नृपश्रेष्ठ मृगासक्तोऽर्बुदं गतः
Once, O best of kings, he, fond of hunting, went to Arbuda.
स्तनं धयन्तीं सुस्निग्धां शिशोः क्षीरानुरागिणः
He saw a gentle creature suckling her young, who was attached to her milk.
अथ सा पार्थिवं दृष्ट्वा प्रगृहीतशरासनम्
Then, seeing the king with his bow drawn,
ततः सा कोपसन्तप्ता भूपालं प्रत्यभाषत
She, burning with anger, spoke to the king.
शयानो मैथुनासक्तः स्तनपो व्याधिपीडितः
Lying down, engaged in union, suckling, or afflicted by disease—
तदद्य मरणं जातं मम सर्वं नृपाधम
Today, O lowest of kings, my death has come in every way.
यस्मादहमधर्मेण हता भूमिपते त्वया 7.3.29.
Because, O lord of the earth, I have been slain by you unrighteously.
तां वै प्रसादयामास प्राणशेषां तदा मृगीम्
He then tried to appease that deer, whose life was barely remaining.
अविवेकान्मया भद्रे हता त्वं निर्घृणेन च
Out of ignorance and cruelty, O gentle one, I have slain you.
धेनुं तया समालापात्प्रकृतिं यास्यसे पुनः
From conversing with her, you will return to your natural state as a cow.
एवमुक्त्वा मृगी राजाग्रतः प्राणैर्व्ययुज्यत
Having spoken thus, the doe before the king departed from life.
अथाऽसौ पार्थिवः सद्यो रौद्रास्यः समजायत भक्षयामास तां सेनामात्मीयां क्रोधमूर्च्छितः
Then that king at once became fierce-faced; enraged, he devoured his own army.
ततस्ते सैनिका राजन्हतशेषाः सुदुःखिताः
Then, O king, the remaining soldiers, struck down and deeply distressed,
निवेदयन्तो वृत्तांतं चत्वरेषु त्रिकेषु च
reported the events in the crossroads and at the three-way junctions.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य पुत्रं भूरिपराक्रमम्
Hearing those words, his son, of great valor,
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य तस्मिन्सानौ नृपोत्तम
Then, after some time, O best of kings, in that lineage,
तत्रैका गौः परिभ्रष्टा स्वयूथात्तृणतृष्णया ॥ 7.3.29.
There, a cow, separated from her herd by thirst for grass,
अच्छिन्नाग्रतृणं या तु सदा भक्षयते नृप
O king, she who always eats grass with unbroken tips,
तत्राससाद तां व्याघ्रो दंष्ट्रोत्कटमुखावहः
There, a tiger approached her, bearing a mouth fierce with fangs.
स्मरंती गोकुले बद्धं स्वसुतं क्षीरपायिनम्
Remembering her calf bound in the cowshed, drinking milk,
विद्यते कस्यचिन्मूर्खे स्मरेष्टां देवतां ततः
Among fools, some worship a beloved deity in memory.
कपिलोवाच स्वजीवितभयाद्व्याघ्र न रोदिमि कथंचन
Kapila said: Out of fear for my own life, O tiger, I do not cry at all.
नाद्यापि स तृणा न्यत्ति तेनाहं शोकविक्लवा
He has not yet eaten the grass; because of this, I am distressed with sorrow.
पाययित्वा सुतं बालं दृष्ट्वा पृष्ट्वा जनं स्वकम्
Having made my young son drink, having seen and questioned my own people,
पुनरागमनं यत्ते न च तच्छ्रद्दधाम्यहम्
You speak of his return, but I do not believe it.
भयान्मां भाषसे चैवं नास्ति प्राणसमं भयम्
You speak to me thus out of fear; there is no fear equal to that for one's life.
प्रत्ययो यदि ते भूयान्मां मुञ्च त्वं मृगाधिप ॥ 7.3.29.
If you have faith, release me, O lord of beasts.
ततोऽहं प्रत्ययं गत्वा मोचयिष्यामि वा न वा
Then, having gained certainty, I will release him—or perhaps not.
तेन पापेन लिप्यामि यद्यहं नागमे पुनः
By that sin I am tainted, if I do not return again.