How can I, a lowly one, describe Your greatness? You are the ocean of mercy, the embodiment of grace. No one else possesses compassion like Yours; this is Your singular marvel, O Hrishikeshi. On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, birds had nested in the grass. Suddenly, war pillars were set up there, and the place was marked for combat. Kauravas and Pandavas, two mighty armies, arrived to fight. At that moment the birds remembered You, crying, 'Save us, O Lord.' Elephants, horses, and chariots would rush across that ground, and stones would be crushed to powder. In such a catastrophe, how could we survive? Rush to us, O Hari, without delay. How could we abandon our young and fly away? Come quickly, O Lord of the universe. At that moment compassion arose in Your chitta, O protector of the helpless, O Narayana. A bell hung from an elephant's neck; it fell upon the birds by chance. For eighteen days the great battle raged, yet neither wind nor sun touched them. After the war ended, You showed Arjuna: 'Look how I have sheltered these birds. See how I protected My own in the midst of battle.' Such is Your love for Your devotees. Says Tuka, You are our mother.

What greatness of yours can I, a lowly man, describe? You are the giver of mercy, the ocean of grace. No one else has compassion like yours; this is your one great wonder, Hrishikesha. On the field of Kurukshetra birds had hatched their young in the grass. Suddenly the war posts were planted there; the place was fixed for battle. Kauravas and Pandavas, both great armies, came there to fight. In that hour the birds remembered you, crying, 'Come, O Lord of Lakshmi.' Elephants, horses, chariots would charge across this ground; stones would be crushed to powder. In such terror, how could we live? Run to us, O Hari, quickly. How can we leave our chicks and fly away now? Come quickly, Lord of the world. In that hour mercy rose in your heart, O protector of the helpless, Narayana. A bell hung from an elephant's neck; by chance it fell down over the chicks. For eighteen days the great battle raged there, yet no wind, no sun touched them. When the fighting was over you showed Arjuna the birds. 'Look, I sheltered my own. See how I saved them alive in the midst of the battle.' Such is your love for your devotees. Tuka says: you are our mother.