Uttara Kanda, Sarga 53

लक्ष्मणस्य तु तद्वाक्यं निशम्य परमाद्भुतम् । सुप्रीतश्चाभवद्रामो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। 7.53.1 ।।

lakṣmaṇasya tu tadvākyaṃ niśamya paramādbhutam | suprītaścābhavadrāmo vākyametaduvāca ha || 7.53.1 ||

Having heard that exceedingly wonderful speech of Lakshmana, Rama became very pleased and indeed spoke these words.

दुर्लभस्त्वीदृशो बन्धुरस्मिन्काले विशेषतः । यादृशस्त्वं महाबुद्धेर्मम सौम्य मनो ऽनुगः ।। 7.53.2 ।।

durlabhastvīdṛśo bandhurasminkāle viśeṣataḥ | yādṛśastvaṃ mahābuddhermama saumya mano 'nugaḥ || 7.53.2 ||

Indeed, such a kinsman as you, O greatly intelligent and gentle one, who follows my mind, is rare to find, especially in these times.

यच्च मे हृदये किञ्चिद्वर्तते शुभलक्षण । तन्निशामय च श्रुत्वा कुरुष्व वचनं मम ।। 7.53.3 ।।

yacca me hṛdaye kiñcidvartate śubhalakṣaṇa | tanniśāmaya ca śrutvā kuruṣva vacanaṃ mama || 7.53.3 ||

O one with auspicious marks, listen carefully to what is in my heart, and having heard it, carry out my command.

चत्वारो दिवसाः सौम्य कार्यं पौरजनस्य वै । अकुर्वाणस्य सौमित्रे तन्मे मर्माणि कृन्तति ।। 7.53.4 ।।

catvāro divasāḥ saumya kāryaṃ paurajanasya vai | akurvāṇasya saumitre tanme marmāṇi kṛntati || 7.53.4 ||

O gentle Lakshmana, the neglect of the citizens' work for four days indeed pierces my vital parts.

आहूयन्तां प्रकृतयः पुरोधा मन्त्रिणस्तथा । कार्यार्थिनश्च पुरुषाः स्त्रियश्च पुरुषर्षभ ।। 7.53.5 ।।

āhūyantāṃ prakṛtayaḥ purodhā mantriṇastathā | kāryārthinaśca puruṣāḥ striyaśca puruṣarṣabha || 7.53.5 ||

O best among men, let the principal officers, the chief priest, the ministers, and also the men and women seeking justice be summoned.

पौरकार्याणि यो राजा न करोति दिने दिने । संवृते नरके घोरे पतितो नात्र संशयः ।। 7.53.6 ।।

paurakāryāṇi yo rājā na karoti dine dine | saṃvṛte narake ghore patito nātra saṃśayaḥ || 7.53.6 ||

There is no doubt that a king who does not attend to the affairs of his citizens daily falls into a terrible, enclosed hell.

श्रूयते हि पुरा राजा नृगो नाम महायशाः । बभूव पृथिवीपालो ब्रह्मण्यः सत्यवाक् शुचिः ।। 7.53.7 ।।

śrūyate hi purā rājā nṛgo nāma mahāyaśāḥ | babhūva pṛthivīpālo brahmaṇyaḥ satyavāk śuciḥ || 7.53.7 ||

Indeed, it is heard that formerly there was a very famous king named Nṛga, a protector of the earth, who was devoted to Brahmins, truthful, and pure.

स कदाचिद्गवां कोटीः सवत्साः स्वर्णभूषिताः । नृदेवो भूमिदेवेभ्यः पुष्करेषु ददौ नृपः ।। 7.53.8 ।।

sa kadācidgavāṃ koṭīḥ savatsāḥ svarṇabhūṣitāḥ | nṛdevo bhūmidevebhyaḥ puṣkareṣu dadau nṛpaḥ || 7.53.8 ||

That king, Nṛga, once at Pushkara, gave crores of cows, along with their calves and adorned with gold, to the Brahmins.

ततः सङ्गाद्गता धेनुः सवत्सा स्पर्शिता ऽनघ । ब्राह्मणस्याहिताग्नेश्च दरिद्रस्योञ्छवर्तिनः ।। 7.53.9 ।।

tataḥ saṅgādgatā dhenuḥ savatsā sparśitā 'nagha | brāhmaṇasyāhitāgneśca daridrasyoñchavartinaḥ || 7.53.9 ||

O sinless one, then that cow with its calf, having come into contact, was taken by a poor Brahmana who maintained sacred fires and lived by gleaning.

स नष्टां गां क्षुधार्तो वै अन्विषंस्तत्र तत्र च । नापश्यत्सर्वराज्येषु संवत्सरगणान्बहून् ।। 7.53.10 ।।

sa naṣṭāṃ gāṃ kṣudhārto vai anviṣaṃstatra tatra ca | nāpaśyatsarvarājyeṣu saṃvatsaragaṇānbahūn || 7.53.10 ||

Afflicted by hunger, he searched for his lost cow here and there in all kingdoms for many years but could not find it.

ततः कनखलं गत्वा जीर्णवत्सां निरामयाम् । ददर्श गां स्वकां धेनुं ब्राह्मणस्य निवेशने ।। 7.53.11 ।।

tataḥ kanakhalaṃ gatvā jīrṇavatsāṃ nirāmayām | dadarśa gāṃ svakāṃ dhenuṃ brāhmaṇasya niveśane || 7.53.11 ||

Then, having gone to Kanakhala, he saw his own cow, whose calf had grown old and was healthy, in the dwelling of the Brahmana.

अथ तां नामधेयेन स्वकेनोवाच स द्विजः । आगच्छ शबलेत्येवं सा तु शुश्राव गौः स्वरम् ।। 7.53.12 ।।

atha tāṃ nāmadheyena svakenovāca sa dvijaḥ | āgaccha śabaletyevaṃ sā tu śuśrāva gauḥ svaram || 7.53.12 ||

Then that Brahmana called her by her own name, saying, "Come, Shabala!" and the cow indeed heard his voice.

तस्य तं स्वरमाज्ञाय क्षुधार्तस्य द्विजस्य वै । अन्वगात्पृष्ठतः सा गौर्गच्छन्तं पावकोपमम् ।। 7.53.13 ।।

tasya taṃ svaramājñāya kṣudhārtasya dvijasya vai | anvagātpṛṣṭhataḥ sā gaurgacchantaṃ pāvakopamam || 7.53.13 ||

Having recognized the voice of that hungry Brahmana, the cow indeed followed him from behind as he, radiant like fire, walked away.

यो ऽपि पालयते विप्रः सो ऽपि गामन्वगाद्द्रुतम् । गत्वा तमृषिमाचष्ट मम गौरिति सत्वरम् ।। 7.53.14 ।।

yo 'pi pālayate vipraḥ so 'pi gāmanvagāddrutam | gatvā tamṛṣimācaṣṭa mama gauriti satvaram || 7.53.14 ||

The brahmin who was tending the cow also quickly followed it, and having gone, swiftly told that sage, "This is my cow."

स्पर्शिता राजसिंहेन मम दत्ता नृगेण ह । तयोर्ब्राह्मणयोर्वादो महानासीद्विपश्चितोः ।। 7.53.15 ।।

sparśitā rājasiṃhena mama dattā nṛgeṇa ha | tayorbrāhmaṇayorvādo mahānāsīdvipaścitoḥ || 7.53.15 ||

One brahmin claimed the cow was touched by the king, while the other insisted it was given to him by Nṛga, leading to a great dispute between the two learned brahmins.

विवदन्तौ ततो ऽन्योन्यं दातारमभिजग्मतुः । तौ राजभवनद्वारि न प्राप्तौ नृगशासनम् ।। 7.53.16 ।।

vivadantau tato 'nyonyaṃ dātāramabhijagmatuḥ | tau rājabhavanadvāri na prāptau nṛgaśāsanam || 7.53.16 ||

Then, disputing with each other, they approached the giver (King Nṛga), but those two did not meet King Nṛga at the palace gate.

अहोरात्राण्यनेकानि वसन्तौ क्रोधमीयतुः । ऊचतुश्च महात्मानौ तावुभौ द्विजसत्तमौ ।। क्रुद्धौ परमसम्प्राप्तौ वाक्यं घोराभिसंहितम् ।। 7.53.17 ।।

ahorātrāṇyanekāni vasantau krodhamīyatuḥ | ūcatuśca mahātmānau tāvubhau dvijasattamau || kruddhau paramasamprāptau vākyaṃ ghorābhisaṃhitam || 7.53.17 ||

After staying for many days and nights, those two great-souled and best among brahmins became exceedingly angry and spoke terrible words filled with a curse.

अर्थिनां कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थं यस्मात्त्वं नैषि दर्शनम् । अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां कृकलासो भविष्यसि ।। 7.53.18 ।।

arthināṃ kāryasiddhyarthaṃ yasmāttvaṃ naiṣi darśanam | adṛśyaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ kṛkalāso bhaviṣyasi || 7.53.18 ||

Because you do not grant an audience to petitioners for the accomplishment of their purpose, you shall become a chameleon, invisible to all beings.

बहुवर्षसहस्राणि बहुवर्षशतानि च । श्वभ्रे ऽस्मिन् कृकलासो वै दीर्घकालं वसिष्यसि ।। 7.53.19 ।।

bahuvarṣasahasrāṇi bahuvarṣaśatāni ca | śvabhre 'smin kṛkalāso vai dīrghakālaṃ vasiṣyasi || 7.53.19 ||

For many thousands and hundreds of years, you will indeed reside in this pit as a chameleon for a long duration.

उत्पत्स्यते हि लोके ऽस्मिन्यदूनां कीर्तिवर्धनः । वासुदेव इति ख्यातो विष्णुः पुरुषविग्रहः ।। 7.53.20 ।।

utpatsyate hi loke 'sminyadūnāṃ kīrtivardhanaḥ | vāsudeva iti khyāto viṣṇuḥ puruṣavigrahaḥ || 7.53.20 ||

Indeed, in this world, Vishnu, renowned as Vasudeva, the increaser of the Yadus' glory and having a human form, will be born.

स ते मोक्षयिता राजंस्तस्माच्छापाद्भविष्यसि । कृता च तेन कालेन निष्कृतिस्ते भविष्यति ।। 7.53.21 ।।

sa te mokṣayitā rājaṃstasmācchāpādbhaviṣyasi | kṛtā ca tena kālena niṣkṛtiste bhaviṣyati || 7.53.21 ||

O King, he will be your liberator from that curse, and by him, your expiation will be accomplished in due course.

भारावतरणार्थं हि नरनारायणावुभौ । उत्पत्स्येते महावीर्यौ कलौ युग उपस्थिते ।। 7.53.22 ।।

bhārāvataraṇārthaṃ hi naranārāyaṇāvubhau | utpatsyete mahāvīryau kalau yuga upasthite || 7.53.22 ||

Indeed, both Nara and Narayana, greatly powerful, will be born for the purpose of alleviating the earth's burden when the Kali Yuga has arrived.

एवं तौ शापमुत्सृज्य ब्राह्मणौ विगतज्वरौ । तां गां हि दुर्बलां वृद्धां ददतुर्ब्राह्मणाय वै ।। 7.53.23 ।।

evaṃ tau śāpamutsṛjya brāhmaṇau vigatajvarau | tāṃ gāṃ hi durbalāṃ vṛddhāṃ dadaturbrāhmaṇāya vai || 7.53.23 ||

Thus, having pronounced the curse, those two Brahmins, now free from distress, indeed gave that weak, old cow to a Brahmin.

एवं स राजा तं शापमुपभुङ्क्ते सुदारुणम् ।। 7.53.24 ।।

evaṃ sa rājā taṃ śāpamupabhuṅkte sudāruṇam || 7.53.24 ||

In this manner, that king experiences that very terrible curse.

कार्यार्थिनां विमर्दो हि राज्ञां दोषाय कल्पते । तच्छीघ्रं दर्शनं मह्यमभिवर्तन्तु कार्यिणः ।। 7.53.25 ।।

kāryārthināṃ vimardo hi rājñāṃ doṣāya kalpate | tacchīghraṃ darśanaṃ mahyamabhivartantu kāryiṇaḥ || 7.53.25 ||

Indeed, the crowding of petitioners leads to harm for kings; therefore, let the petitioners quickly approach me for an audience.

सुकृतस्य हि कार्यस्य फलं नापैति पार्थिवः । तस्माद्गच्छ प्रतीक्षस्व सौमित्रे कार्यवाञ्जनः ।। 7.53.26 ।।

sukṛtasya hi kāryasya phalaṃ nāpaiti pārthivaḥ | tasmādgaccha pratīkṣasva saumitre kāryavāñjanaḥ || 7.53.26 ||

Indeed, the fruit of a well-done work is not lost, O king; therefore, O son of Sumitra, go and wait for any person who has business. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः ।। 53 ।। Thus ends the fifty-third sarga of Uttara Kanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.