विद्धि पापहरं पुण्यं सर्वसंपत्करं सदा
Know it to be sin-destroying, meritorious, and always bestowing all prosperity.
पुरा राथंतरे कल्पे बभूव पृथिवीपतिः
Long ago, in the Rāthantara Kalpa, there was a lord of the earth.
धर्मात्मा महात्मा च पराक्रमधनो नृपः
The king was righteous, noble-hearted, and endowed with great valor.
समः शत्रौ च पुत्रे च मित्रे च परधर्म्मवित्
He was impartial toward enemy, son, and friend, and understood the duties of others.
अतीव वल्लभा सा च प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी
She was exceedingly dear, more precious even than life itself.
जातमात्रो निजोत्संगे स्थिरमुल्लाप्य वै पुनः
As soon as he was born, she firmly embraced him in her own lap.
स जातिस्मरणो जातो मातुरुत्संगमास्थितः
He, endowed with memory of previous births, remained in his mother's embrace.
भीतास्मि किमिदं वत्स हासो यद्वदने तव
I am afraid—what is this, my child, this smile upon your face?
इत्युक्तो मातरं प्राह सर्वोऽपि स्वार्थमीहते अंतर्धानगता चेयं द्वितीया जातहारिणी
Thus addressed, he spoke to his mother: 'Everyone pursues their own interest; this one, having become invisible, is the second to steal a newborn.'
पुत्रप्रीत्या च मातस्त्वमतः स्वार्थं समीहसे 5.2.33.
Out of love for your son, mother, you too now seek your own advantage.
उद्भूते बालके स्नेहात्संभ्रमात्स्त्रीजनोऽप्ययम्
When a child is born, even women, out of affection and confusion, become agitated.
स्वार्थे प्रसक्ता मार्जारी लोलुपा मामवेक्षते
The greedy cat, intent on her own gain, watches me closely.
त्वं तु क्रमेणोपभोग्यं मत्तः फलमभीप्ससि
But you, in due course, desire to enjoy the fruit that comes from me.
संगतिर्नाति बालानां पंचसप्तदिनात्मकम्
The bond with children does not last beyond five or seven days.
ततेति वत्स भो भद्र इत्यलीकं ब्रवीषि माम्
'Thus, O dear child, you say to me, but your words are false.'
नाहं त्वामुपकारार्थं वत्स प्रीत्या परिष्वजे
I do not embrace you, my child, out of affection for the sake of some benefit.
इत्युक्त्वा सा तमुत्सृज्य निष्क्रांता सूतिकागृहात्
Having spoken thus, she left him and departed from the birthing chamber.
सा हृत्वा तं तदा बालं पूर्वजातिस्मरं प्रिये
Then she took that child, who remembered his former birth, my dear.
मत्वा स्वकीयं पुत्रं तु विक्रांतेन महीभृता
Thinking him to be her own son, she was taken by the mighty king.
विक्रांतस्य सुतो नीतो बोधस्य च द्विजन्मनः 5.2.33.
The son of Vikranta was taken away, as was the son of the twice-born Bodha.
तृतीयं भक्षयामास बोधपुत्रं निशाचरी
The night-wandering demoness devoured the third, the son of Bodha.
गुरुणा समनुज्ञातं क्रियतामभिवादनम्
With the teacher’s permission, let the salutation be performed.
वंद्या मे कतमा माता जनित्री पालिनी च वा
Which mother of mine is to be honored—she who gave birth or she who raised me?
नन्वियं ते महाभाग जनित्री जनकात्मजा
Is not this noble lady, daughter of Janaka, your birth mother?
आनंद उवाच चैत्रस्य प्रसवित्रीयं चैत्रोऽयं द्विजवेश्मनि
Ānanda said: She is the mother who gave birth in the month of Caitra, and this is Caitra, in the house of a twice-born.
गुरुराह ततः कस्त्वं चैत्रः को वा त्वयोच्यते
The teacher then said: Who are you, and who is this Caitra of whom you speak?
न वेद्मि किंचिन्मोहेन भ्रमंति मम बुद्धयः
I know nothing due to confusion; my thoughts are bewildered.
कः कस्य पुत्रो विप्रर्षे को वा कस्य न बांधवः
Who is whose son, O sage among brāhmaṇas, and who is not related to whom?
अतः संसारता हंति संसारं प्राणिनामिह
Thus, the state of worldly existence destroys, and worldly existence is for living beings here.
ब्रह्मपुत्रस्य दुष्टस्य दुःसहस्य सुता भुवि 5.2.33.
On earth, she is the daughter of the wicked, unbearable son of Brahmā.