ajāḥ - the goats; gāvaḥ - the cows; mahiṣyaḥ - the buffalo; ca - and; nirviśantyaḥ - entering; vanāt - from one forest; vanam - to another forest; īṣīkā-aṭavīm - a forest of canes; nirviviśuḥ - they entered; krandantyaḥ - crying out; dāva - because of a forest fire; tarṣitāḥ - thirsty .

Passing from one part of the great forest to another, the goats, cows and buffalo eventually entered an area overgrown with sharp canes. The heat of a nearby forest fire made them thirsty, and they cried out in distress.