या गतिर्मातृभक्तानां ध्रुवं सा मे भविष्यति
The destiny of those devoted to their mothers will surely be mine.
अथवाऽत्रैव तिष्ठ त्वं शपथाः संतु मे तव
Or else, remain here; let your vows be mine.
जनन्या विप्रयुक्तस्य जीवितं न हि मे प्रियम्
Life is not dear to me when separated from my mother.
नास्ति मातृसमो नाथो नास्ति मातृसमा गतिः
There is no protector like a mother, nor any path equal to that of a mother.
न चायमन्यभूतानां मृत्युः स्यादन्यमृत्युतः
Nor is this death of beings something different from other deaths.
अपश्चिममिदं पुत्र मातुः सन्देशमुत्तमम्
O son, this is the final and highest message from your mother.
वने चर सदा वत्स अप्रमादपरो भव
Always dwell in the forest, my child, intent on vigilance.
न च लोभेन चर्तव्यं विषमस्थं तृणं क्वचित् 7.3.29.
And never, out of greed, should one seize even a blade of grass in a dangerous place.
समुद्रमटवीं युद्धं विशंते लोभमोहिताः
Deluded by greed, they enter the ocean, the wilderness, and battle.
लोभात्प्रमादादाश्वासात्पुरुषो बाध्यते त्रिभिः
A person is afflicted by three things: greed, carelessness, and misplaced trust.
आत्मा च सततं पुत्र रक्षितव्यः प्रयत्नतः
And, O son, one must always protect oneself with great effort.
तिर्यग्भ्यः पापयोनिभ्यः सदा विचरता वने
While roaming the forest, always beware of animals and those born in evil wombs.
अस्माकं प्रतिवाचं च शृणु शोकविनाशिनीम् विश्रान्तश्च पुनर्याति तद्वद्भूतसमागमः
Hear our reply, which destroys sorrow; just as one who rests returns, so too is the meeting of beings.
स्वमातरं सखीवर्गं ततो द्रष्टुं समागता
They gathered there to see their mother and their circle of friends.
अब्रवीच्च ततो वाक्यं पुत्रशोकेन दुःखिता
Then, afflicted by grief for her son, she spoke these words.
अनाथमबलं दीनं फेनपं मम पुत्रकम्
My little son Phenapa is helpless, weak, and miserable.
भाविनीनामयं पुत्रः सांप्रतं च विशेषतः
This son is destined for the future, and especially so now.
चरंतं विषमे स्थाने चरंतं परगोकुले 7.3.29.
He wanders in dangerous places, he wanders in another’s herd.
क्षमध्वं च महाभागा यास्येऽहं सत्यसंश्रयात्
Forgive me, O noble ones; I will go, relying on truth.
सर्वास्ता वचनं श्रुत्वा तस्याः शोकसमन्विताः
Hearing her words, all those women, filled with sorrow—
कपिले नैव गंतव्यं न ते दोषो भविष्यति
You must not go to Kapila; you will not incur any fault.
अत्र गाथा पुरा गीता मुनिभिर्धर्मवादिभिः
Here, a verse was formerly sung by sages who speak of dharma.
कपिलोवाच नात्मार्थमुपयुञ्जामि स्वल्पमप्यनृतं क्वचित्
Kapila said: I do not use even the slightest falsehood for my own sake, ever.
अश्वमेधसहस्रं तु सत्यं च तुलया धृतम्
A thousand horse sacrifices and truth, when weighed on a scale,
तस्मान्नानृतमात्मानं करिष्ये जीविताशया
Therefore, I will not speak falsehood for the sake of preserving my life.
यत्त्वं परमसत्येन प्राणांस्त्यजसि दुस्त्यजान्
That you abandon your life, so difficult to give up, for the sake of supreme truth—
अवश्यं न च ते भावी मृत्युः सत्यात्कथंचन
Certainly, death will never come to you because of truth, under any circumstance.
अथासौ कपिलां दृष्ट्वा विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनः 7.3.29.
Then, seeing Kapila, his eyes widened in astonishment.
नहि सत्यवतां किंचिदशुभं विद्यते क्वचित्
For those devoted to truth, nothing inauspicious ever occurs.
त्वयोक्तं कपिले पूर्वं शपथैरागमाय च
You have spoken before, Kapila, with oaths and for the sake of the vow.