The Boar-Wife's Last Stand

Verse 1 (padma.2.45.1)

सुकलोवाच- अथ ते लुब्धकाः सर्वे शूकरीं प्रति जग्मिरे । शूराश्च दारुणाः प्राप्ताः पाशहस्ताश्च भीषणाः

sukalovāca- atha te lubdhakāḥ sarve śūkarīṁ prati jagmire śūrāśca dāruṇāḥ prāptāḥ pāśahastāśca bhīṣaṇāḥ

Sukala said: Then all those hunters advanced toward the boar-wife — fierce, terrible heroes, snares in hand, dreadful to behold.

Verse 2 (padma.2.45.2)

चतुरश्च ततो डिंभान्कृत्वा स्थित्वा च शूकरी । कुटुंबेन समं कांतं हतं दृष्ट्वा महाहवे

caturaśca tato ḍiṁbhānkṛtvā sthitvā ca śūkarī kuṭuṁbena samaṁ kāṁtaṁ hataṁ dṛṣṭvā mahāhave

Then, having gathered her four young ones, the boar-wife stood firm; seeing her beloved slain in that great battle, together with his kin —

Verse 3 (padma.2.45.3)

भर्तुर्मे चिंतितं प्राप्तमृषिदेवैश्च पूजितः । गतः स्वर्गं महात्मासौ वीर्येणानेन कर्मणा

bharturme ciṁtitaṁ prāptamṛṣidevaiśca pūjitaḥ gataḥ svargaṁ mahātmāsau vīryeṇānena karmaṇā

'My husband has attained what he sought; honored by sages and gods, that great soul has gone to heaven through this very deed of valor.'

Verse 4 (padma.2.45.4)

अनेनापि पथा यास्ये स्वर्गं भर्त्ता स तिष्ठति । तया सुनिश्चितं कृत्वा पुत्रान्प्रतिविचिंतितम्

anenāpi pathā yāsye svargaṁ bharttā sa tiṣṭhati tayā suniścitaṁ kṛtvā putrānprativiciṁtitam

'By this same path I too shall go to the heaven where my husband abides.' Having thus firmly resolved, she turned her thoughts to her sons.

Verse 5 (padma.2.45.5)

यदा जीवंति मे बालाश्चत्वारो वंशधारकाः । भवत्यस्य सुवीरस्य कोलस्यापि महात्मनः

yadā jīvaṁti me bālāścatvāro vaṁśadhārakāḥ bhavatyasya suvīrasya kolasyāpi mahātmanaḥ

'If my four children live on, they will carry forward the lineage of this great-souled and truly valiant boar.'

Verse 6 (padma.2.45.6)

केनोपायेन पुत्रान्वै रक्षायुक्तान्करोम्यहम् । इति चिंतापरा भूत्वा दृष्ट्वा पर्वतसंकटम्

kenopāyena putrānvai rakṣāyuktānkaromyaham iti ciṁtāparā bhūtvā dṛṣṭvā parvatasaṁkaṭam

'By what means may I keep my sons safe?' Thus lost in thought, she saw a narrow mountain pass.

Verse 7 (padma.2.45.7)

तत्र मार्गं सुविस्तीर्णं निष्कासाय प्रयास्यते । तया सुनिश्चितं कृत्वा पुत्रान्प्रति विचिंतितम्

tatra mārgaṁ suvistīrṇaṁ niṣkāsāya prayāsyate tayā suniścitaṁ kṛtvā putrānprati viciṁtitam

There a broad way led out to safety; having firmly resolved on this, she thought further about her sons.

Verse 8 (padma.2.45.8)

तानुवाच महाराज पुत्रान्प्रति सुमोहितान् । यावत्तिष्ठाम्यहं पुत्रास्तावद्गच्छत शीघ्रगाः

tānuvāca mahārāja putrānprati sumohitān yāvattiṣṭhāmyahaṁ putrāstāvadgacchata śīghragāḥ

O great king, she said to her sons, overwhelmed with affection: 'While I still stand here, my sons, go quickly, swift ones.'

Verse 9 (padma.2.45.9)

तेषां मध्ये सुतो ज्येष्ठः कथं यास्यामि मातरम् । संत्यज्य जीवलोभाच्च धिङ्मे मातः सुजीवितम्

teṣāṁ madhye suto jyeṣṭhaḥ kathaṁ yāsyāmi mātaram saṁtyajya jīvalobhācca dhiṁme mātaḥ sujīvitam

Among them the eldest son said: 'Mother, how shall I go, abandoning you out of mere love of life? Shame on this life of mine, O mother!'

Verse 10 (padma.2.45.10)

पितृवैरं करिष्यामि साधयिष्ये रणे रिपून् । गृहीत्वा त्वं कनीयसोभ्रातॄन्स्त्रीन्दुर्गकंदरम्

pitṛvairaṁ kariṣyāmi sādhayiṣye raṇe ripūn gṛhītvā tvaṁ kanīyasobhrātṝnstrīndurgakaṁdaram

'I shall avenge my father; I shall vanquish the enemies in battle. You take my younger brothers and go to the mountain fastness.'

Verse 11 (padma.2.45.11)

पितरं मातरं त्यक्त्वा यो याति हि स पापधीः । नरकं च प्रयात्येव कृमिकोटिसमाकुलम्

pitaraṁ mātaraṁ tyaktvā yo yāti hi sa pāpadhīḥ narakaṁ ca prayātyeva kṛmikoṭisamākulam

'Whoever abandons father and mother and flees, that sinful-minded one, goes indeed to the hell teeming with millions of worms.'

Verse 12 (padma.2.45.12)

तमुवाच सुदुःखार्ता त्वां त्यक्त्वाहं कथं सुत । संयास्यामि महापापा त्रयो गच्छंतु मे सुताः

tamuvāca suduḥkhārtā tvāṁ tyaktvāhaṁ kathaṁ suta saṁyāsyāmi mahāpāpā trayo gacchaṁtu me sutāḥ

The grief-stricken mother said to him: 'How, my son, could I abandon you and go? Sinful as it may be, I alone shall stay — let my other three sons go.'

Verse 13 (padma.2.45.13)

कनीयसस्त्रयस्त्वेव गता गिरिवनांतरम् । तौ जग्मतू रणभुवं तेषामेव सुपश्यताम्

kanīyasastrayastveva gatā girivanāṁtaram tau jagmatū raṇabhuvaṁ teṣāmeva supaśyatām

So the three younger sons went into the mountain forest; while those two, mother and eldest son, advanced toward the battlefield in full sight of the departing ones.

Verse 14 (padma.2.45.14)

तेजसा सुबलेनापि गर्जंतौ च पुनःपुनः । अथ ते लुब्धकाः शूराः संप्राप्ता वातरंहसः

tejasā subalenāpi garjaṁtau ca punaḥpunaḥ atha te lubdhakāḥ śūrāḥ saṁprāptā vātaraṁhasaḥ

Roaring again and again, full of splendor and great strength, the two advanced; and then those valiant hunters arrived with the speed of wind.

Verse 15 (padma.2.45.15)

पथा तेनापि दुर्गेण त्रयस्ते प्रेषिता नृप । तिष्ठतः स्म पथं रुद्ध्वा द्वावेतौ जननीसुतौ

pathā tenāpi durgeṇa trayaste preṣitā nṛpa tiṣṭhataḥ sma pathaṁ ruddhvā dvāvetau jananīsutau

O king, the three younger sons were sent along that difficult path; and these two, mother and son, stood blocking the way.

Verse 16 (padma.2.45.16)

लुब्धकाश्च ततः प्राप्ताः खड्गबाणधनुर्धराः । प्रजघ्नुस्तोमरैस्तीक्ष्णैश्चक्रैश्च मुशलैस्ततः

lubdhakāśca tataḥ prāptāḥ khaḍgabāṇadhanurdharāḥ prajaghnustomaraistīkṣṇaiścakraiśca muśalaistataḥ

Then the hunters arrived, bearing swords, arrows, and bows; they struck with sharp lances, discuses, and clubs.

Verse 17 (padma.2.45.17)

मातरं पृष्ठतः कृत्वा तनयो युध्यते स तैः । दंष्ट्रया निहताः केचित्केचित्तुंडेन घातिताः

mātaraṁ pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā tanayo yudhyate sa taiḥ daṁṣṭrayā nihatāḥ kecitkecittuṁḍena ghātitāḥ

Placing his mother behind him, the son fought with them; some he slew with his tusks, others he struck down with his snout.

Verse 18 (padma.2.45.18)

संजघान खुराग्रैश्च शूराश्च पतिता रणे । युयुधे शूकरः संख्ये दृष्टो राज्ञा महात्मना

saṁjaghāna khurāgraiśca śūrāśca patitā raṇe yuyudhe śūkaraḥ saṁkhye dṛṣṭo rājñā mahātmanā

He struck also with the tips of his hooves, and heroes fell in that battle; the boar's fight was beheld by the great-souled king himself.

Verse 19 (padma.2.45.19)

पितुः सकाशाच्छूरोयमिति ज्ञात्वा ससम्मुखः । बाणपाणिर्महातेजा मनुसूनुः प्रतापवान्

pituḥ sakāśācchūroyamiti jñātvā sasammukhaḥ bāṇapāṇirmahātejā manusūnuḥ pratāpavān

Knowing him to be even more heroic than his father, that greatly resplendent, mighty son of Manu, bow and arrow in hand, came face to face with him.

Verse 20 (padma.2.45.20)

निशितेनापि बाणेन अर्द्धचंद्रानुकारिणा । राज्ञा हतः पपातोर्व्यां विद्धोरस्को महात्मना

niśitenāpi bāṇena arddhacaṁdrānukāriṇā rājñā hataḥ papātorvyāṁ viddhorasko mahātmanā

Struck by that great-souled king with a sharp, crescent-shaped arrow, pierced through the chest, he fell to the earth.

Verse 21 (padma.2.45.21)

ममार सहसा भूमौ पपात स हि शूकरः । पुत्रमोहं परं प्राप्ता तस्योपरि गता स्वयम्

mamāra sahasā bhūmau papāta sa hi śūkaraḥ putramohaṁ paraṁ prāptā tasyopari gatā svayam

He died suddenly, that boar fell upon the ground; and overcome with the deepest mother-love, she herself went and fell upon him.

Verse 22 (padma.2.45.22)

तया च निहताः शूरास्तुंडघातैर्महीतले । निपेतुर्लुब्धकाः शूराः कतिनष्टा मृता नृप

tayā ca nihatāḥ śūrāstuṁḍaghātairmahītale nipeturlubdhakāḥ śūrāḥ katinaṣṭā mṛtā nṛpa

By her too, many heroes were struck down upon the ground by blows of her snout; the valiant hunters fell — how many perished and died, O king!

Verse 23 (padma.2.45.23)

द्रावयंती महत्सैन्यं दंष्ट्रया सूकरी ततः । यथा कृत्या समुद्भूता महाभयविधायिका

drāvayaṁtī mahatsainyaṁ daṁṣṭrayā sūkarī tataḥ yathā kṛtyā samudbhūtā mahābhayavidhāyikā

Then the boar-wife, routing the great army with her tusks, seemed like some sorceress-spirit risen up, a bringer of great terror.

Verse 24 (padma.2.45.24)

तमुवाच ततो राज्ञी देवराजसुतोपमम् । अनया निहतं राजन्महत्सैन्यं तवैव हि

tamuvāca tato rājñī devarājasutopamam anayā nihataṁ rājanmahatsainyaṁ tavaiva hi

Then the queen said to him who resembled the son of Indra: 'O king, your own great army has been struck down by her.'

Verse 25 (padma.2.45.25)

कस्मादुपेक्षसे कांत तन्मे त्वं कारणं वद । तामुवाच महाराजो नाहं हन्मि इमां स्त्रियम्

kasmādupekṣase kāṁta tanme tvaṁ kāraṇaṁ vada tāmuvāca mahārājo nāhaṁ hanmi imāṁ striyam

'Why, my love, do you hold back? Tell me the reason.' The great king replied to her: 'I will not slay this female.'

Verse 26 (padma.2.45.26)

महादोषं प्रिये दृष्टं स्त्रीवधे दैवतैः किल । तस्मान्न घातयेन्नारीं प्रेषयेहं न कंचन

mahādoṣaṁ priye dṛṣṭaṁ strīvadhe daivataiḥ kila tasmānna ghātayennārīṁ preṣayehaṁ na kaṁcana

'A great sin, my dear, has been declared by the gods themselves in the killing of a female. Therefore I shall have no woman slain, nor send anyone against her.'

Verse 27 (padma.2.45.27)

अस्या वधनिमित्तार्थे पापाद्बिभेमि सुंदरि । एवमुक्त्वा तदा राजा विरराम महीपतिः

asyā vadhanimittārthe pāpādbibhemi suṁdari evamuktvā tadā rājā virarāma mahīpatiḥ

'For the sake of her killing I fear the sin, O beautiful one.' Having thus spoken, the king, lord of the earth, fell silent.

Verse 28 (padma.2.45.28)

लुब्धको झार्झरो नाम ददृशे स तु सूकरीम् । कुर्वंतीं कदनं तेषां दुःसहां सुभटैरपि

lubdhako jhārjharo nāma dadṛśe sa tu sūkarīm kurvaṁtīṁ kadanaṁ teṣāṁ duḥsahāṁ subhaṭairapi

A hunter named Jharjhara saw that boar-wife wreaking such havoc among them, unbearable even to fine warriors.

Verse 29 (padma.2.45.29)

आविव्याध सुवेगेन बाणेन निशितेन हि । संलग्नेन तु बाणेन शोणितेन परिप्लुता

āvivyādha suvegena bāṇena niśitena hi saṁlagnena tu bāṇena śoṇitena pariplutā

He pierced her with great force with a sharp arrow; and struck by that fixed arrow, she was drenched in blood.

Verse 30 (padma.2.45.30)

शोभमाना त्वरां प्राप्ता वीरश्रिया समाकुला । तुंडेनापि हतः संख्ये झार्झरः स तया पुनः

śobhamānā tvarāṁ prāptā vīraśriyā samākulā tuṁḍenāpi hataḥ saṁkhye jhārjharaḥ sa tayā punaḥ

Yet, splendid still, filled with a hero's swiftness and glory, she rushed forward; and Jharjhara himself was struck down again in that battle by her snout.

Verse 31 (padma.2.45.31)

पतमानेन तेनापि झार्झरेण तदा हता । खड्गेन निशितेनापि पपात विदलीकृता

patamānena tenāpi jhārjhareṇa tadā hatā khaḍgena niśitenāpi papāta vidalīkṛtā

But even as he fell, Jharjhara struck her too with his sharp sword; and she fell, cut through.

Verse 32 (padma.2.45.32)

श्वसमाना रणेनापि मूर्च्छनाभि परिप्लुता । दुःखेन महताविष्टा जीवमाना महीतले

śvasamānā raṇenāpi mūrcchanābhi pariplutā duḥkhena mahatāviṣṭā jīvamānā mahītale

Panting from the exhaustion of battle, overcome again and again by fainting, seized with great pain, she yet lived, lying upon the ground.