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.
तस्माद्गच्छ मया मुक्ता यत्राऽसौ तनयस्तव
Therefore, go—freed by me—to where your son is.
पुलस्त्य उवाच एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु स राजा प्रकृतिं गतः ततोऽब्रवीत्प्रहृष्टात्मा कपिलां सत्यवादिनीम्
Pulastya said: At that very moment, the king returned to his natural state; then, with a joyful heart, he spoke to Kapila, who speaks the truth.
किं ते प्रियं करोम्यद्य धेनुके ब्रूहि सत्वरम्
What favor shall I do for you today, O cow? Speak quickly.
पिपासा बाधतेत्यर्थं सांप्रतं जलमानयम्
She replied, 'Thirst troubles me; therefore, bring water at once.'
नैवानृतं विजानीहि सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्
Know that I do not speak falsehood; what I have said is true.
सज्यं कृत्वा शरं गृह्य जघान धरणीतलम्
He set an arrow to the bow, took aim, and struck the earth.
ततः सलिलमुत्तस्थौ निर्मलं शीतलं शुभम्
Then pure, cool, and auspicious water sprang forth.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे धर्मः स्वयं तत्र समागतः 7.3.29.
At that moment, Dharma himself appeared there.
तव सत्येन तुष्टोऽहं नास्ति ते सदृशी क्वचित्
Pleased by your truthfulness, I say: there is none equal to you anywhere.
सुप्रभेण पदं दिव्यं जरामरणवर्जितम्
By your radiance, you shall attain a divine realm, free from old age and death.