Sloka & Translation

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[Vasishta entertains Viswamitra and his army--Viswamitra asks Vasishta for Kamadhenu-- Vasishta declines.]

ēvamuktā vasiṣṭhēna śabalā śatrusūdana.

vidadhē kāmadhukkāmānyasya yasya yathēpsitam৷৷1.53.1৷৷


śatrusūdana O! Destroyer of foes, Rama, vasiṣṭhēna by Vasishta, ēvam in this manner, uktā spoken, kāmadhuk wish-fulfilling (cow), śabalā Sabala, yasya yasya to whomsoever, yathā in whatever manner, īpsitam desired, kāmān desires, vidadhē arranged (fulfilled).

"O Destroyer of foes (Rama)"! addressed thus by Vasishta the wish-fulfilling Sabala satisfied each one's desires.
ikṣūnmadhūṅ stathā lājānmairēyāṅśca varāsanān.

pānāni ca mahārhāṇi bhakṣyāṅścōccāvacāṅ stathā৷৷1.53.2৷৷


ikṣūn sugar-cane, madhūn honey, tathā and, lājān fried grain, (varāsavān quality liquor,) varāsanān in good containers, mairēyān invigorating liquors, mahārhāṇi excellent, pānāni ca syrups, uccāvacān with different kinds of, bhakṣyāṅśca of food.

Sugarcane, honey and fried grain, invigorating liquors in good containers, excellent drinks and varieties of food (were served).
uṣṇāḍhyasyōdanasyātra rāśaya: parvatōpamā:.

mṛṣṭānnāni ca sūpāśca dadhikulyāstathaiva ca৷৷1.53.3৷৷

nānāsvādurasānāṅ ca ṣāḍabānāṅ tathaiva ca.

bhājanāni supūrṇāni gauḍāni ca sahasraśa:৷৷1.53.4৷৷


atra here, uṣṇāḍhyasya hot, ōdanasya of rice, parvatōpamā: resembling mountains, rāśaya: heaps, mṛṣṭānnāni ca savoury (delicious) foods, sūpāśca pulses, tathaiva and, dadhikulyā: rivers of milk-curds, nānāsvādurasānām of various kinds of tastes, ṣāḍabānām edibles with all six tastes, supūrṇāni completely filled, bhājanāni containers, gauḍāni ca preparations made of Jaggery, sahasraśa: in thousands, (distributed).

Heaps of hot rice as high as mountains, savoury food, condiments and on abundance of curd, various kinds of soups, containers in their thousands completely filled with edibles with all six tastes and preparations made of jaggery (were distributed).
sarvamāsītsusantuṣṭhaṅ hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanāyutam.

viśvāmitrabalaṅ rāma vasiṣṭhēnābhitarpitam৷৷1.53.5৷৷


rāma O! Rama, viśvāmitrabalam army of Visvamitra, sarvam (ēva) whole of it, vasiṣṭhēna by Vasishta, abhitarpitam having been satisfied, susantuṣṭham highly pleased, hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanāyutaṅ āsīt was filled with well-fed and rejoiced people.

"O Rama, Vasistha entertained everybody in Viswamitra's army to their full satisfaction. They were all well-fed and happy.
viśvāmitrō.pi rājarṣirhṛṣṭa: puṣṭastadābhavat .

sānta:puravarō rājā sabrāhmaṇapurōhita:৷৷1.53.6৷৷


tadā then, sānta:puravara: with excellent from female apartments, sabrāhmaṇapurōhita: together with priests and brahmins, rājarṣi: royal sage, viśvāmitra: rājāpi king Viswamitra also, hṛṣṭa: delighted, puṣṭa: abhavat became satisfied.

King Viswamitra along with ladies, priests and brahmins including the royal sage were fully satisfied and delighted.
sāmātyō mantrisahitassabhṛtya: pūjitastadā.

yukta: paramaharṣēṇa vasiṣṭhamidamabravīt৷৷1.53.7৷৷


tadā then, pūjita: honoured, sāmātya: with counsellors, mantrisahita: together with ministers, sabhṛtya: with attendants, paramaharṣēṇa with great delight, yukta: filled with, vasiṣṭham addressing Vasishta, idam this word, abravīt spoke.

Having received the hospitality along with his counsellors, ministers and attendants, Viswamitra, filled with great delight, said to Vasishta":
pūjitō.haṅ tvayā brahman pūjārhēṇa susatkṛta:.

śrūyatāmabhidhāsyāmi vākyaṅ vākyaviśārada!৷৷1.53.8৷৷


brahman O! Brahman, pūjārhēṇa by (one) worthy of being worshipped, tvayā by you, aham I, pūjita: was received with warmth and respect, susatkṛta: well honoured, vākyaviśārada! O! One conversant with speech, vākyam these words, abhidhāsyāmi I shall tell you, śrūyatām let it be heard.

"O Brahman! you are worthy of worship. I was received with reverence and well-entertained by you. O Sage conversant with speech! listen.
gavāṅ śatasahasrēṇa dīyatāṅ śabalā mama.

ratnaṅ hi bhagavannētadratnahārī ca prārthiva:৷৷1.53.9৷৷

tasmānmē śabalāṅ dēhi mamaiṣā dharmatō dvija!.


gavām of cows, śatasahasrēṇa one hundred thousands, śabalā Sabala, mama to me, dīyatām let it be given, bhagavan,O! Respectable one, ētat this, ratnaṅ hi indeed gem, pārthiva: king, ratnahārī acquirer of jewels, dvija! O! Brahmin, tasmāt for that reason, śabalām Sabala, mē to me, dēhi give, ēṣā this, dharmata: by right, mama is mine.

"I shall give you a hundred thousand cows in exchange for Sabala. O! Respectable one! this cow is a gem. A king (along) has a right on jewels, O Brahmin, for that reason, Sabala rightfully belongs to me. Therefore, give this cow".
ēvamuktastu bhagavānvasiṣṭhō munisattama:.

viśvāmitrēṇa dharmātmā pratyuvāca mahīpatim৷৷1.53.10৷৷


viśvāmitrēṇa by Visvamitra, ēvam in this manner, ukta: addressed, bhagavān the revered one, dharmātmā virtuous, munisattama: eminent among ascetics, vasiṣṭha: Vasishta, mahīpatim addressing the king, pratyuvāca replied.

Addressed the by Viswamitra venerable and righteous Vasishta who was of the earth ascetic replied:
nāhaṅ śatasahasrēṇa nāpi kōṭiśatairgavām.

rājan! dāsyāmi śabalāṅ rāśibhī rajatasya ca ৷৷1.53.11৷৷


rājan O! King, aham I, gavām of cows, śatasahasrēṇa in hundreds of thousands, śabalām Sabala, na dāsyāmi shall not give, kōṭi śatai: api by hundreds of crores also, na shall not, rajatasya of silver, rāśibhi: ca heaps of (shall not give).

"O King! I shall not exchange Sabala for a hundred thousand for even or a hundred crore cows or heaps of silver.
na parityāgamarhēyaṅ matsakāśādarindama !.

śāśvatī śabalā mahyaṅ kīrtirātmavatō yathā৷৷1.53.12৷৷


arindama O! Tormentor of enemies, Visvamitra, iyam this cow, matsakāśāt from my proximity, parityāgam separation, na arhā not proper, ātmavata: for righteous man, kīrtiḥ yathā like fame, śabalā Sabala, mahyam for me, śāśvatī is permanent.

O Suppressor of enemies Viswamitra it is not proper to separate this cow from me. The relationship between Sabala and me is permanent like the relationship between a righteous man and his fame.
asyāṅ havyaṅ ca kavyaṅ ca prāṇayātrā tathaiva ca.

āyattamagnihōtraṅ ca balirhōmastathaiva ca৷৷1.53.13৷৷


havyaṅ ca Havyam (oblations to be given to gods), kavyaṅ ca Kavyam ( to be given to pitris), tathaiva ca and, prāṇayātrā carrying out necessities of life, agnihōtraṅ ca maintenance of the sacred fire and offering oblations, bali: offerings to spirits of all created beings, tathaiva ca and also, hōma: offerings, asyām in this cow, āyattam are dependant.

For havyam (oblations to gods) and kavyam (oblations to ancestors), for fulfilling the necessities of life, maintenance of the sacred fire and offering oblations to all spirits of created beings, and for offerings made to the Fire-god I depend on this cow.
svāhākāravaṣaṭkārau vidyāśca vividhā stathā.

āyattamatra rājarṣē sarvamētanna saṅśaya:৷৷1.53.14৷৷


rājarṣē O! Royal saint, svāhākāravaṣaṭkārau Swaha and Vashat, tathā and, vividhā: various branches of, vidyā: learning, ētat sarvam all these things, atra in this cow, āyattam are dependant, saṅśaya: na no doubt.

O Royal saint! swaha and vashat and various branches of learning are all dependent on this cow. No doubt about it.
sarvasvamētatsatyēna mama tuṣṭikarī sadā.

kāraṇairbahubhī rājanna dāsyē śabalāṅ tava৷৷1.53.15৷৷


ētat this one, satyēna truly, mama my, sarvasvam whole possession, sadā always, tuṣṭikarī causes contentment, rājan O! King, bahubhi: by various, kāraṇai: reasons, śabalām Sabala, tava to you, na dāsyē will not give.

This one is truly my whole possession, it always gives me contentment. O King! for various reasons, I will not give Sabala to you".
vasiṣṭhēnaivamuktastu viśvāmitrō.bravīttata:.

saṅrabdhataramatyarthaṅ vākyaṅ vākyaviśārada:৷৷1.53.16৷৷


vākyaviśārada: (the king) skilled in conversation, viśvāmitra: Visvamitra, vasiṣṭhēna through Vasishta, ēvam in this manner, ukta: spoken, atyartham extreme, saṅrabdhataram more excited, vākyam words, abravīt spoke.

To there words of Vasishta, Viswamitra who is skilful in conversation reacted with extreme excitement:
hairaṇyakakṣyāgraivēyān suvarṇāṅkuśabhūṣitān.

dadāmi kuñjarāṅstēṣāṅ sahasrāṇi caturdaśa৷৷1.53.17৷৷


hairaṇyakakṣyāgraivēyān with gold trappings around the neck and girth (of an elephant), suvarṇāṅkuśabhūṣitān adorned with (elephant) goads made of gold, kuñjarān elephants, tēṣām such elephants, caturdaśasahasrāṇi fourteen thousands, dadāmi I shall give.

"I shall give fourteen thousand elephants with gold trappings around the neck and girth, and with goads made of gold.
hairaṇyānāṅ rathānāṅ ca śvētāśvānāṅ caturyujām.

dadāmi tē śatānyaṣṭau kiṅkiṇīkavibhūṣitān৷৷1.53.18৷৷


śvētāśvānāma of white horses, caturyujām capable of being yoked with four (horses), hairaṇyānām made of gold, rathānām chariots, kiṅkiṇīkavibhūṣitān decorated with small tinkling bells, aṣṭau śatān eight hundred, tē to you, dadāmi shall give.

I shall give you eight hundred chariots made of gold and decorated with small tinkling bells, each chariot yoked with four white horses.
hayānāṅ dēśajātānāṅ kulajānāṅ mahaujasām.

sahasramēkaṅ daśa ca dadāmi tava suvrata!৷৷1.53.19৷৷


suvrata! O! Maharshi of auspicious vows (religious practices ), dēśajātānām born in good country, kulajānām born of noble (good) breeds, mahaujasām mighty, hayānām horses, ēkaṅ daśa ca eleven, sahasram thousands, tava to you, dadāmi shall give.

O Maharshi of auspicious vows! I shall give you eleven thousand mighty horses of good breed born in good countries.
nānāvarṇavibhaktānāṅ vayassthānāṅ tathaiva ca .

dadāmyēkāṅ gavāṅ kōṭiṅ śabalā dīyatāṅ mama৷৷1.53.20৷৷


nānāvarṇavibhaktānām distinctly separated by colours, tathaiva and, vayassthānām of youthful, gavām cows, ēkām one, kōṭim crore, dadāmi I shall give, mama for me, śabalā Sabala, dīyatām be given.

I shall give one crore young cows of various colours. Give me Sabala.
yāvadicchasi ratnaṅ vā hiraṇyaṅ vā dvijōttama!.

tāvaddadāmi tatsarvaṅ śabalā dīyatāṅ mama৷৷1.53.21৷৷


dvijōttama O! Best of brahmins, ratnaṅ vā either jewels, hiraṇyaṅ vā or gold, yāvat as much, icchasi you desire, tatsarvaṅ all that, tāvat that much, dadāmi shall give, śabalā Sabala, mama to me, dīyatām be given.

O Best of brahmins! I shall offer you jewels or gold as much as you desire. I shall give you everything. Give this Sabala to me".
ēvamuktastu bhagavān viśvāmitrēṇa dhīmatā.

na dāsyāmīti śabalāṅ prāha rājan kathañcana৷৷1.53.22৷৷


dhīmatā by the sagacious, viśvāmitrēṇa by Visvamitra, ēvam in this way, ukta: spoken, bhagavān the adorable one, rājan O! King, kathañcana by any means, śabalām Sabala, na dāsyāmi I shall not give, iti thus, prāha replied.

To these words of sagacious Viswamitra the adorable Vasishta replied: "O King! I shall not give Sabala."
ētadēva hi mē ratnamētadēva hi mē dhanam.

ētadēva hi sarvasvamētadēva hi jīvitam৷৷1.53.23৷৷


ētadēva this is verily, mē my, ratnaṅ hi jewel indeed, ētadēva this is verily, mē my, dhanam wealth, ētadēva hi this is verily, sarvasvaṅ all-in-all, ētadēva this is verily, jīvitam my very life.

"This is verily my jewel, my wealth my very life. This is all-in-all for me.
darśaśca pūrṇamāsaśca yajñāścaivāptadakṣiṇā:.

ētadēva hi mē rājan vividhāśca kriyāstathā৷৷1.53.24৷৷


rājan O! King, mē for me, darśaśca Darsa sacrifice, pūrṇamāsaśca Purnamasa sacrifice, āptadakṣiṇā: with appropriate gifts, yajñāśca sacrifices, tathā and, vividhā: various, kriyāśca rites, ētadēva hi verily is this(cow).

O King! verily this Sabala is useful for my darsa and purnamasa sacrifices, for appropriate gifts and various rites.
adōmūlā: kriyāssarvā mama rājanna saṅśaya:.

bahunā kiṅ pralāpēna na dāsyē kāmadōhinīm৷৷1.53.25৷৷


rājan O! King, mama my, sarvā: all, kriyā: actions, adōmūlā: are rooted here (in her), saṅśaya: na no doubt, bahunā with many, pralāpēna useless words, kim what is the use, kāmadōhinīm desire fulfilling cow, na dāsyē I shall not give.

O King! this (cow) is undoubtedly the source of all my actions. Why these useless
words? I will never give this wish-fulfilling cow".
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē tripañcāśassarga:৷৷
Thus ends the fiftythird sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.