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

एवमुक्ता वसिष्ठेन शबला शत्रुसूदन।

विदधे कामधुक्कामान्यस्य यस्य यथेप्सितम्।।1.53.1।।


शत्रुसूदन O Destroyer of foes, Rama, वसिष्ठेन by Vasishta, एवम् in this manner, उक्ता spoken, कामधुक् wishfulfilling (cow), शबला Sabala, यस्य यस्य to whomsoever, यथा in whatever manner, ईप्सितम् desired, कामान् desires, विदधे arranged (fulfilled).

"O Destroyer of foes (Rama)" addressed thus by Vasishta the wishfulfilling Sabala satisfied each one's desires.
इक्षून्मधूं स्तथा लाजान्मैरेयांश्च वरासनान्।

पानानि च महार्हाणि भक्ष्यांश्चोच्चावचां स्तथा।।1.53.2।।


इक्षून् sugarcane, मधून् honey, तथा and, लाजान् fried grain, (वरासवान् quality liquor,) वरासनान् in good containers, मैरेयान् invigorating liquors, महार्हाणि excellent, पानानि च syrups, उच्चावचान् with different kinds of, भक्ष्यांश्च of food.

Sugarcane, honey and fried grain, invigorating liquors in good containers, excellent drinks and varieties of food (were served).
उष्णाढ्यस्योदनस्यात्र राशय: पर्वतोपमा:।

मृष्टान्नानि च सूपाश्च दधिकुल्यास्तथैव च।।1.53.3।।

नानास्वादुरसानां च षाडबानां तथैव च।

भाजनानि सुपूर्णानि गौडानि च सहस्रश:।।1.53.4।।


अत्र here, उष्णाढ्यस्य hot, ओदनस्य of rice, पर्वतोपमा: resembling mountains, राशय: heaps, मृष्टान्नानि च savoury (delicious) foods, सूपाश्च pulses, तथैव and, दधिकुल्या: rivers of milkcurds, नानास्वादुरसानाम् of various kinds of tastes, षाडबानाम् edibles with all six tastes, सुपूर्णानि completely filled, भाजनानि containers, गौडानि च preparations made of Jaggery, सहस्रश: 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).
सर्वमासीत्सुसन्तुष्ठं हृष्टपुष्टजनायुतम्।

विश्वामित्रबलं राम वसिष्ठेनाभितर्पितम्।।1.53.5।।


राम O Rama, विश्वामित्रबलम् army of Visvamitra, सर्वम् (एव) whole of it, वसिष्ठेन by Vasishta, अभितर्पितम् having been satisfied, सुसन्तुष्ठम् highly pleased, हृष्टपुष्टजनायुतं आसीत् was filled with wellfed and rejoiced people.

"O Rama, Vasistha entertained everybody in Viswamitra's army to their full satisfaction. They were all wellfed and happy.
विश्वामित्रोऽपि राजर्षिर्हृष्ट: पुष्टस्तदाभवत् ।

सान्त:पुरवरो राजा सब्राह्मणपुरोहित:।।1.53.6।।


तदा then, सान्त:पुरवर: with excellent from female apartments, सब्राह्मणपुरोहित: together with priests and brahmins, राजर्षि: royal sage, विश्वामित्र: राजापि king Viswamitra also, हृष्ट: delighted, पुष्ट: अभवत् became satisfied.

King Viswamitra along with ladies, priests and brahmins including the royal sage were fully satisfied and delighted.
सामात्यो मन्त्रिसहितस्सभृत्य: पूजितस्तदा।

युक्त: परमहर्षेण वसिष्ठमिदमब्रवीत्।।1.53.7।।


तदा then, पूजित: honoured, सामात्य: with counsellors, मन्त्रिसहित: together with ministers, सभृत्य: with attendants, परमहर्षेण with great delight, युक्त: filled with, वसिष्ठम् addressing Vasishta, इदम् this word, अब्रवीत् spoke.

Having received the hospitality along with his counsellors, ministers and attendants, Viswamitra, filled with great delight, said to Vasishta":
पूजितोऽहं त्वया ब्रह्मन् पूजार्हेण सुसत्कृत:।

श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि वाक्यं वाक्यविशारद।।1.53.8।।


ब्रह्मन् O Brahman, पूजार्हेण by (one) worthy of being worshipped, त्वया by you, अहम् I, पूजित: was received with warmth and respect, सुसत्कृत: well honoured, वाक्यविशारद O One conversant with speech, वाक्यम् these words, अभिधास्यामि I shall tell you, श्रूयताम् let it be heard.

"O Brahman you are worthy of worship. I was received with reverence and wellentertained by you. O Sage conversant with speech listen.
गवां शतसहस्रेण दीयतां शबला मम।

रत्नं हि भगवन्नेतद्रत्नहारी च प्रार्थिव:।।1.53.9।।

तस्मान्मे शबलां देहि ममैषा धर्मतो द्विज।


गवाम् of cows, शतसहस्रेण one hundred thousands, शबला Sabala, मम to me, दीयताम् let it be given, भगवन्,O Respectable one, एतत् this, रत्नं हि indeed gem, पार्थिव: king, रत्नहारी acquirer of jewels, द्विज O Brahmin, तस्मात् for that reason, शबलाम् Sabala, मे to me, देहि give, एषा this, धर्मत: by right, मम 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".
एवमुक्तस्तु भगवान्वसिष्ठो मुनिसत्तम:।

विश्वामित्रेण धर्मात्मा प्रत्युवाच महीपतिम्।।1.53.10।।


विश्वामित्रेण by Visvamitra, एवम् in this manner, उक्त: addressed, भगवान् the revered one, धर्मात्मा virtuous, मुनिसत्तम: eminent among ascetics, वसिष्ठ: Vasishta, महीपतिम् addressing the king, प्रत्युवाच replied.

Addressed the by Viswamitra venerable and righteous Vasishta who was of the earth ascetic replied:
नाहं शतसहस्रेण नापि कोटिशतैर्गवाम्।

राजन् दास्यामि शबलां राशिभी रजतस्य च ।।1.53.11।।


राजन् O King, अहम् I, गवाम् of cows, शतसहस्रेण in hundreds of thousands, शबलाम् Sabala, न दास्यामि shall not give, कोटि शतै: अपि by hundreds of crores also, न shall not, रजतस्य of silver, राशिभि: च 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.
न परित्यागमर्हेयं मत्सकाशादरिन्दम ।

शाश्वती शबला मह्यं कीर्तिरात्मवतो यथा।।1.53.12।।


अरिन्दम O Tormentor of enemies, Visvamitra, इयम् this cow, मत्सकाशात् from my proximity, परित्यागम् separation, न अर्हा not proper, आत्मवत: for righteous man, कीर्तिः यथा like fame, शबला Sabala, मह्यम् for me, शाश्वती 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.
अस्यां हव्यं च कव्यं च प्राणयात्रा तथैव च।

आयत्तमग्निहोत्रं च बलिर्होमस्तथैव च।।1.53.13।।


हव्यं च Havyam (oblations to be given to gods), कव्यं च Kavyam ( to be given to pitris), तथैव च and, प्राणयात्रा carrying out necessities of life, अग्निहोत्रं च maintenance of the sacred fire and offering oblations, बलि: offerings to spirits of all created beings, तथैव च and also, होम: offerings, अस्याम् in this cow, आयत्तम् 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 Firegod I depend on this cow.
स्वाहाकारवषट्कारौ विद्याश्च विविधा स्तथा।

आयत्तमत्र राजर्षे सर्वमेतन्न संशय:।।1.53.14।।


राजर्षे O Royal saint, स्वाहाकारवषट्कारौ Swaha and Vashat, तथा and, विविधा: various branches of, विद्या: learning, एतत् सर्वम् all these things, अत्र in this cow, आयत्तम् are dependant, संशय: न no doubt.

O Royal saint swaha and vashat and various branches of learning are all dependent on this cow. No doubt about it.
सर्वस्वमेतत्सत्येन मम तुष्टिकरी सदा।

कारणैर्बहुभी राजन्न दास्ये शबलां तव।।1.53.15।।


एतत् this one, सत्येन truly, मम my, सर्वस्वम् whole possession, सदा always, तुष्टिकरी causes contentment, राजन् O King, बहुभि: by various, कारणै: reasons, शबलाम् Sabala, तव to you, न दास्ये 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".
वसिष्ठेनैवमुक्तस्तु विश्वामित्रोऽब्रवीत्तत:।

संरब्धतरमत्यर्थं वाक्यं वाक्यविशारद:।।1.53.16।।


वाक्यविशारद: (the king) skilled in conversation, विश्वामित्र: Visvamitra, वसिष्ठेन through Vasishta, एवम् in this manner, उक्त: spoken, अत्यर्थम् extreme, संरब्धतरम् more excited, वाक्यम् words, अब्रवीत् spoke.

To there words of Vasishta, Viswamitra who is skilful in conversation reacted with extreme excitement:
हैरण्यकक्ष्याग्रैवेयान् सुवर्णाङ्कुशभूषितान्।

ददामि कुञ्जरांस्तेषां सहस्राणि चतुर्दश।।1.53.17।।


हैरण्यकक्ष्याग्रैवेयान् with gold trappings around the neck and girth (of an elephant), सुवर्णाङ्कुशभूषितान् adorned with (elephant) goads made of gold, कुञ्जरान् elephants, तेषाम् such elephants, चतुर्दशसहस्राणि fourteen thousands, ददामि I shall give.

"I shall give fourteen thousand elephants with gold trappings around the neck and girth, and with goads made of gold.
हैरण्यानां रथानां च श्वेताश्वानां चतुर्युजाम्।

ददामि ते शतान्यष्टौ किङ्किणीकविभूषितान्।।1.53.18।।


श्वेताश्वानाम of white horses, चतुर्युजाम् capable of being yoked with four (horses), हैरण्यानाम् made of gold, रथानाम् chariots, किङ्किणीकविभूषितान् decorated with small tinkling bells, अष्टौ शतान् eight hundred, ते to you, ददामि 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.
हयानां देशजातानां कुलजानां महौजसाम्।

सहस्रमेकं दश च ददामि तव सुव्रत।।1.53.19।।


सुव्रत O Maharshi of auspicious vows (religious practices ), देशजातानाम् born in good country, कुलजानाम् born of noble (good) breeds, महौजसाम् mighty, हयानाम् horses, एकं दश च eleven, सहस्रम् thousands, तव to you, ददामि shall give.

O Maharshi of auspicious vows I shall give you eleven thousand mighty horses of good breed born in good countries.
नानावर्णविभक्तानां वयस्स्थानां तथैव च ।

ददाम्येकां गवां कोटिं शबला दीयतां मम।।1.53.20।।


नानावर्णविभक्तानाम् distinctly separated by colours, तथैव and, वयस्स्थानाम् of youthful, गवाम् cows, एकाम् one, कोटिम् crore, ददामि I shall give, मम for me, शबला Sabala, दीयताम् be given.

I shall give one crore young cows of various colours. Give me Sabala.
यावदिच्छसि रत्नं वा हिरण्यं वा द्विजोत्तम।

तावद्ददामि तत्सर्वं शबला दीयतां मम।।1.53.21।।


द्विजोत्तम O Best of brahmins, रत्नं वा either jewels, हिरण्यं वा or gold, यावत् as much, इच्छसि you desire, तत्सर्वं all that, तावत् that much, ददामि shall give, शबला Sabala, मम to me, दीयताम् 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".
एवमुक्तस्तु भगवान् विश्वामित्रेण धीमता।

न दास्यामीति शबलां प्राह राजन् कथञ्चन।।1.53.22।।


धीमता by the sagacious, विश्वामित्रेण by Visvamitra, एवम् in this way, उक्त: spoken, भगवान् the adorable one, राजन् O King, कथञ्चन by any means, शबलाम् Sabala, न दास्यामि I shall not give, इति thus, प्राह replied.

To these words of sagacious Viswamitra the adorable Vasishta replied: "O King I shall not give Sabala."
एतदेव हि मे रत्नमेतदेव हि मे धनम्।

एतदेव हि सर्वस्वमेतदेव हि जीवितम्।।1.53.23।।


एतदेव this is verily, मे my, रत्नं हि jewel indeed, एतदेव this is verily, मे my, धनम् wealth, एतदेव हि this is verily, सर्वस्वं allinall, एतदेव this is verily, जीवितम् my very life.

"This is verily my jewel, my wealth my very life. This is allinall for me.
दर्शश्च पूर्णमासश्च यज्ञाश्चैवाप्तदक्षिणा:।

एतदेव हि मे राजन् विविधाश्च क्रियास्तथा।।1.53.24।।


राजन् O King, मे for me, दर्शश्च Darsa sacrifice, पूर्णमासश्च Purnamasa sacrifice, आप्तदक्षिणा: with appropriate gifts, यज्ञाश्च sacrifices, तथा and, विविधा: various, क्रियाश्च rites, एतदेव हि verily is this(cow).

O King verily this Sabala is useful for my darsa and purnamasa sacrifices, for appropriate gifts and various rites.
अदोमूला: क्रियास्सर्वा मम राजन्न संशय:।

बहुना किं प्रलापेन न दास्ये कामदोहिनीम्।।1.53.25।।


राजन् O King, मम my, सर्वा: all, क्रिया: actions, अदोमूला: are rooted here (in her), संशय: न no doubt, बहुना with many, प्रलापेन useless words, किम् what is the use, कामदोहिनीम् desire fulfilling cow, न दास्ये 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 wishfulfilling cow".
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशस्सर्ग:।।
Thus ends the fiftythird sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.