Bala Kanda, Sarga 53

एवमुक्ता वसिष्ठेन शबला शत्रुसूदन। विदधे कामधुक्कामान्यस्य यस्य यथेप्सितम्।।1.53.1।।

evamuktā vasiṣṭhena śabalā śatrusūdana| vidadhe kāmadhukkāmānyasya yasya yathepsitam

"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।।

ikṣūnmadhūṃ stathā lājānmaireyāṃśca varāsanān| pānāni ca mahārhāṇi bhakṣyāṃścoccāvacāṃ stathā

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।।

uṣṇāḍhyasyodanasyātra rāśaya: parvatopamā:| mṛṣṭānnāni ca sūpāśca dadhikulyāstathaiva ca nānāsvādurasānāṃ ca ṣāḍabānāṃ tathaiva ca| bhājanāni supūrṇāni gauḍāni ca sahasraśa:

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).

उष्णाढ्यस्योदनस्यात्र राशय: पर्वतोपमा:। मृष्टान्नानि च सूपाश्च दधिकुल्यास्तथैव च।।1.53.3।। नानास्वादुरसानां च षाडबानां तथैव च। भाजनानि सुपूर्णानि गौडानि च सहस्रश:।।1.53.4।।

uṣṇāḍhyasyodanasyātra rāśaya: parvatopamā:| mṛṣṭānnāni ca sūpāśca dadhikulyāstathaiva ca nānāsvādurasānāṃ ca ṣāḍabānāṃ tathaiva ca| bhājanāni supūrṇāni gauḍāni ca sahasraśa:

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।।

sarvamāsītsusantuṣṭhaṃ hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanāyutam| viśvāmitrabalaṃ rāma vasiṣṭhenābhitarpitam

"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।।

viśvāmitro'pi rājarṣirhṛṣṭa: puṣṭastadābhavat | sānta:puravaro rājā sabrāhmaṇapurohita:

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।।

sāmātyo mantrisahitassabhṛtya: pūjitastadā| yukta: paramaharṣeṇa vasiṣṭhamidamabravīt

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।।

pūjito'haṃ tvayā brahman pūjārheṇa susatkṛta:| śrūyatāmabhidhāsyāmi vākyaṃ vākyaviśārada

"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।

gavāṃ śatasahasreṇa dīyatāṃ śabalā mama| ratnaṃ hi bhagavannetadratnahārī ca prārthiva: tasmānme śabalāṃ dehi mamaiṣā dharmato dvija|

"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।।

evamuktastu bhagavānvasiṣṭho munisattama:| viśvāmitreṇa dharmātmā pratyuvāca mahīpatim

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।।

nāhaṃ śatasahasreṇa nāpi koṭiśatairgavām| rājan dāsyāmi śabalāṃ rāśibhī rajatasya ca

"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।।

na parityāgamarheyaṃ matsakāśādarindama | śāśvatī śabalā mahyaṃ kīrtirātmavato yathā

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।।

asyāṃ havyaṃ ca kavyaṃ ca prāṇayātrā tathaiva ca| āyattamagnihotraṃ ca balirhomastathaiva ca

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।।

svāhākāravaṣaṭkārau vidyāśca vividhā stathā| āyattamatra rājarṣe sarvametanna saṃśaya:

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।।

sarvasvametatsatyena mama tuṣṭikarī sadā| kāraṇairbahubhī rājanna dāsye śabalāṃ tava

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।।

vasiṣṭhenaivamuktastu viśvāmitro'bravīttata:| saṃrabdhataramatyarthaṃ vākyaṃ vākyaviśārada:

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

हैरण्यकक्ष्याग्रैवेयान् सुवर्णाङ्कुशभूषितान्। ददामि कुञ्जरांस्तेषां सहस्राणि चतुर्दश।।1.53.17।।

hairaṇyakakṣyāgraiveyān suvarṇāṅkuśabhūṣitān| dadāmi kuñjarāṃsteṣāṃ sahasrāṇi caturdaśa

"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।।

hairaṇyānāṃ rathānāṃ ca śvetāśvānāṃ caturyujām| dadāmi te śatānyaṣṭau kiṅkiṇīkavibhūṣitān

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।।

hayānāṃ deśajātānāṃ kulajānāṃ mahaujasām| sahasramekaṃ daśa ca dadāmi tava suvrata

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।।

nānāvarṇavibhaktānāṃ vayassthānāṃ tathaiva ca | dadāmyekāṃ gavāṃ koṭiṃ śabalā dīyatāṃ mama

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।।

yāvadicchasi ratnaṃ vā hiraṇyaṃ vā dvijottama| tāvaddadāmi tatsarvaṃ śabalā dīyatāṃ mama

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।।

evamuktastu bhagavān viśvāmitreṇa dhīmatā| na dāsyāmīti śabalāṃ prāha rājan kathañcana

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।।

etadeva hi me ratnametadeva hi me dhanam| etadeva hi sarvasvametadeva hi jīvitam

"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।।

darśaśca pūrṇamāsaśca yajñāścaivāptadakṣiṇā:| etadeva hi me rājan vividhāśca kriyāstathā

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।।

adomūlā: kriyāssarvā mama rājanna saṃśaya:| bahunā kiṃ pralāpena na dāsye kāmadohinīm

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.