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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 52: Story of Viśvāmitra: Śabalā’s feast and the rejected purchase

Summary. Śabalā feeds the entire company, Viśvāmitra offers escalating wealth to purchase her and Vasiṣṭha refuses to surrender the source of his ritual sustenance

Sequence

  1. Śabalā produces sugarcane, sweet drinks and liquors, parched grain, steaming mountains of rice, broths, curds, sweets, and countless filled vessels → the entire army is satisfied, along with the King, his Queens, priests, ministers, and servants (1.52.1–7)
  2. Viśvāmitra praises the hospitality and offers a hundred thousand cows for Śabalā → he argues that such a treasure properly belongs to a King (1.52.8–9)
  3. Vasiṣṭha refuses any price, explaining that she sustains his life, havya (offerings to Devas), kavya (offerings to pitṛs), agnihotra, bali, homa and sacred learning (1.52.10–15)
  4. Viśvāmitra raises the offer to fourteen thousand richly equipped elephants, eight hundred golden chariots, eleven thousand fine horses, and a crore of cows (1.52.16–20)
  5. Vasiṣṭha again refuses: Śabalā is his wealth, life, and the foundation of all his rites. (1.52.21–24)

Verses 1.52.1–24

1.52.1

evam uktā vasiṣṭhena śabalā śatrusūdana
vidadhe kāmadhuk kāmān yasya yasya yathepsitam

Thus addressed by Vasiṣṭha, O slayer of foes, Śabalā the wish-yielder produced the desired objects of each and every one, according to their wish.

Words: evam uktā — thus addressed; vasiṣṭhena — by Vasiṣṭha; śabalā — Śabalā; śatrusūdana — O slayer of foes; vidadhe — produced, provided; kāmadhuk — the wish-yielding cow; kāmān — the desired objects; yasya yasya — of each and every one; yathepsitam — as desired

1.52.2

ikṣūn madhūṃs tathā lājān maireyāṃś ca varāsavān
pānāni ca mahārhāṇi bhakṣyāṃś coccāvacāṃs tathā

Sugarcanes, meads, and parched grain, maireya-liquors and the finest spirits, most costly drinks, and edibles of every kind—

Words: ikṣūn — sugarcanes; madhūṃs — meads, honeys; tathā — and; lājān — parched grain; maireyāṃś ca — and maireya-liquor; varāsavān — the finest spirits; pānāni ca — and drinks; mahārhāṇi — most costly; bhakṣyāṃś — edibles, foods; coccāvacāṃs — and of high and low (every) sort; tathā — likewise

1.52.3

uṣṇāḍhyasyaudanasyāpi rāśayaḥ parvatopamāḥ
mṛṣṭānnāni ca sūpāś ca dadhikulyās tathaiva ca

heaps of steaming, rich boiled rice like mountains, delicate foods and broths, and streams of curds as well—

Words: uṣṇāḍhyasyaudanasyāpi — of steaming rich boiled rice too; rāśayaḥ — heaps; parvatopamāḥ — like mountains; mṛṣṭānnāni ca — and delicate foods; sūpāś ca — and broths, soups; dadhikulyās — streams of curds; tathaiva ca — and likewise too

1.52.4

nānāsvādurasānāṃ ca ṣāḍavānāṃ tathaiva ca
bhājanāni supūrṇāni gauḍāni ca sahasraśaḥ

and thousands of well-filled vessels of various sweet-flavoured dishes, of ṣāḍava confections likewise, and of preparations made from raw sugar.

Words: nānāsvādurasānāṃ — of various sweet-flavoured (dishes); ca — and; ṣāḍavānāṃ — of ṣāḍavas (sweet-and-sour confections); tathaiva ca — and likewise too; bhājanāni — vessels; supūrṇāni — well-filled; gauḍāni ca — and preparations of raw sugar; sahasraśaḥ — by the thousands

1.52.5

sarvam āsīt susaṃtuṣṭaṃ hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanākulam
viśvāmitrabalaṃ rāma vasiṣṭhenābhitarpitam

Viśvāmitra's whole army, O Rāma, gratified by Vasiṣṭha, was thoroughly content and thronged with joyful, well-fed people.

Words: sarvam — all, whole; āsīt — was; susaṃtuṣṭaṃ — thoroughly content; hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanākulam — thronged with joyful and well-fed people; viśvāmitrabalaṃ — Viśvāmitra's army; rāma — O Rāma; vasiṣṭhenābhitarpitam — gratified by Vasiṣṭha

1.52.6

viśvāmitro 'pi rājarṣir hṛṣṭapuṣṭas tadābhavat
sāntaḥ puravaro rājā sabrāhmaṇapurohitaḥ

Viśvāmitra too, the royal seer, then became joyful and well-fed; the king, together with the chief ladies of his harem, with his brahmins and house-priest,

Words: viśvāmitro 'pi — Viśvāmitra too; rājarṣir — the royal seer; hṛṣṭapuṣṭas — joyful and well-fed; tadābhavat — then became; sāntaḥpuravaro — together with the chief (ladies) of his harem; rājā — the king; sabrāhmaṇapurohitaḥ — together with his brahmins and house-priest

1.52.7

sāmātyo mantrisahitaḥ sabhṛtyaḥ pūjitas tadā
yuktaḥ pareṇa harṣeṇa vasiṣṭham idam abravīt

with his ministers, accompanied by his counsellors and his servants, being then honoured and filled with the highest joy, said this to Vasiṣṭha:

Words: sāmātyo — together with his ministers; mantrisahitaḥ — accompanied by his counsellors; sabhṛtyaḥ — with his servants; pūjitas — honoured; tadā — then; yuktaḥ — joined, filled with; pareṇa — supreme, highest; harṣeṇa — with joy; vasiṣṭham — to Vasiṣṭha; idam — this; abravīt — said

1.52.8

pūjito 'haṃ tvayā brahman pūjārheṇa susatkṛtaḥ
śrūyatām abhidhāsyāmi vākyaṃ vākyaviśārada

'I have been honoured by you, O brahmin, worthy of honour as you are, and well entertained; let it be heard—I shall speak a word, O you skilled in speech.'

Words: pūjito 'haṃ — I have been honoured; tvayā — by you; brahman — O brahmin; pūjārheṇa — by (you who are) worthy of honour; susatkṛtaḥ — well entertained; śrūyatām — let it be heard; abhidhāsyāmi — I shall declare, speak; vākyaṃ — a word, statement; vākyaviśārada — O you skilled in speech

1.52.9

gavāṃ śatasahasreṇa dīyatāṃ śabalā mama
ratnaṃ hi bhagavann etad ratnahārī ca pārthivaḥ
tasmān me śabalāṃ dehi mamaiṣā dharmato dvija

'Let Śabalā be given to me for a hundred thousand cows; for this is a jewel, O venerable one, and a king is a taker of jewels; therefore give me Śabalā—by right she is mine, O brahmin.'

Words: gavāṃ — of cows; śatasahasreṇa — for a hundred thousand; dīyatāṃ — let (her) be given; śabalā — Śabalā; mama — to me; ratnaṃ — a jewel; hi — for, indeed; bhagavann — O venerable one; etad — this; ratnahārī — a taker of jewels; ca — and; pārthivaḥ — a king; tasmān — therefore; me — to me; śabalāṃ — Śabalā; dehi — give; mamaiṣā — she is mine; dharmato — by right, according to dharma; dvija — O brahmin (twice-born)

1.52.10

evam uktas tu bhagavān vasiṣṭho munisattamaḥ
viśvāmitreṇa dharmātmā pratyuvāca mahīpatim

Thus addressed by Viśvāmitra, the venerable, righteous-souled Vasiṣṭha, the best of sages, replied to the king:

Words: evam uktas — thus addressed; tu — but, and; bhagavān — the venerable one; vasiṣṭho — Vasiṣṭha; munisattamaḥ — the best of sages; viśvāmitreṇa — by Viśvāmitra; dharmātmā — the righteous-souled; pratyuvāca — replied; mahīpatim — to the king, lord of the earth

1.52.11

nāhaṃ śatasahasreṇa nāpi koṭiśatair gavām
rājan dāsyāmi śabalāṃ rāśibhī rajatasya vā

'Not for a hundred thousand, nor even for hundreds of crores of cows, O king, will I give Śabalā, nor for heaps of silver.'

Words: nāhaṃ — not I; śatasahasreṇa — for a hundred thousand; nāpi — nor even; koṭiśatair — for hundreds of crores; gavām — of cows; rājan — O king; dāsyāmi — I shall give; śabalāṃ — Śabalā; rāśibhī — for heaps; rajatasya — of silver; vā — or

1.52.12

na parityāgam arheyaṃ matsakāśād ariṃdama
śāśvatī śabalā mahyaṃ kīrtir ātmavato yathā

'I ought not to let her be parted from my side, O tamer of foes; Śabalā is everlasting to me, as fame is to a self-possessed man.'

Words: na — not; parityāgam — a parting, giving up; arheyaṃ — I ought (to make); matsakāśād — from my presence, side; ariṃdama — O tamer of foes; śāśvatī — everlasting; śabalā — Śabalā; mahyaṃ — to me; kīrtir — fame; ātmavato — of a self-possessed man; yathā — as

1.52.13

asyāṃ havyaṃ ca kavyaṃ ca prāṇayātrā tathaiva ca
āyattam agnihotraṃ ca balir homas tathaiva ca

'On her depend the offering to the gods and the offering to the ancestors, and likewise the sustaining of life, the fire-oblation, the bali-offering and the homa as well;'

Words: asyāṃ — on her, in her; havyaṃ ca — and the offering to the gods; kavyaṃ ca — and the offering to the ancestors; prāṇayātrā — the sustaining of life; tathaiva ca — and likewise too; āyattam — (they) rest, depend (upon); agnihotraṃ ca — and the fire-offering; balir — the bali-offering; homas — the homa (oblation); tathaiva ca — and likewise too

1.52.14

svāhākāravaṣaṭkārau vidyāś ca vividhās tathā
āyattam atra rājarṣe sarvam etan na saṃśayaḥ

'the utterances "svāhā" and "vaṣaṭ," and the manifold sciences likewise—all this rests upon her here, O royal seer, without doubt.'

Words: svāhākāravaṣaṭkārau — the cries 'svāhā' and 'vaṣaṭ'; vidyāś ca — and the sciences; vividhās — manifold, various; tathā — likewise; āyattam — rests, depends; atra — here, in this; rājarṣe — O royal seer; sarvam — all; etan — this; na saṃśayaḥ — (there is) no doubt

1.52.15

sarva svam etat satyena mama tuṣṭikarī sadā
kāraṇair bahubhī rājan na dāsye śabalāṃ tava

'Truly this is my whole wealth; she is always my giver of contentment. For many reasons, O king, I will not give you Śabalā.'

Words: sarva svam — (my) whole property, my all; etat — this; satyena — truly, in truth; mama — my, to me; tuṣṭikarī — the giver of contentment; sadā — always; kāraṇair — for reasons; bahubhī — for many; rājan — O king; na — not; dāsye — I shall give; śabalāṃ — Śabalā; tava — to you

1.52.16

vasiṣṭhenaivam uktas tu viśvāmitro 'bravīt tataḥ
saṃrabdhataram atyarthaṃ vākyaṃ vākyaviśāradaḥ

Thus addressed by Vasiṣṭha, Viśvāmitra, skilled in speech, then spoke a word yet more agitated and vehement:

Words: vasiṣṭhenaivam — by Vasiṣṭha thus; uktas — addressed; tu — but; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; 'bravīt — said; tataḥ — then; saṃrabdhataram — more agitated, more heated; atyarthaṃ — exceedingly; vākyaṃ — a word; vākyaviśāradaḥ — skilled in speech

1.52.17

hairaṇyakakṣyāgraiveyān suvarṇāṅkuśabhūṣitān
dadāmi kuñjarāṇāṃ te sahasrāṇi caturdaśa

'I will give you fourteen thousand elephants, with golden girths and neck-chains, adorned with golden goads.'

Words: hairaṇyakakṣyāgraiveyān — with golden girths and neck-chains; suvarṇāṅkuśabhūṣitān — adorned with golden goads; dadāmi — I give; kuñjarāṇāṃ — of elephants; te — to you; sahasrāṇi — thousands; caturdaśa — fourteen

1.52.18

hairaṇyānāṃ rathānāṃ ca śvetāśvānāṃ caturyujām
dadāmi te śatāny aṣṭau kiṅkiṇīkavibhūṣitān

'And I will give you eight hundred golden chariots, each yoked with four white horses and adorned with little bells.'

Words: hairaṇyānāṃ — golden; rathānāṃ ca — and of chariots; śvetāśvānāṃ — with white horses; caturyujām — yoked with four; dadāmi — I give; te — to you; śatāny — hundreds; aṣṭau — eight; kiṅkiṇīkavibhūṣitān — adorned with little bells

1.52.19

hayānāṃ deśajātānāṃ kulajānāṃ mahaujasām
sahasram ekaṃ daśa ca dadāmi tava suvrata

'And of horses born in fine lands, of noble breed and great vigour, I will give you eleven thousand, O you of firm vows.'

Words: hayānāṃ — of horses; deśajātānāṃ — born in (fine) countries; kulajānāṃ — of noble breed; mahaujasām — of great vigour; sahasram — thousand; ekaṃ — one; daśa — ten; ca — and; dadāmi — I give; tava — to you; suvrata — O you of firm vows

1.52.20

nānāvarṇavibhaktānāṃ vayaḥsthānāṃ tathaiva ca
dadāmy ekāṃ gavāṃ koṭiṃ śabalā dīyatāṃ mama

'And of cows distinguished by various colours and in the prime of age, I will give one crore; let Śabalā be given to me.'

Words: nānāvarṇavibhaktānāṃ — distinguished by various colours; vayaḥsthānāṃ — in the prime of age; tathaiva ca — and likewise too; dadāmy — I give; ekāṃ — one; gavāṃ — of cows; koṭiṃ — a crore (ten million); śabalā — Śabalā; dīyatāṃ — let (her) be given; mama — to me

1.52.21

evam uktas tu bhagavān viśvāmitreṇa dhīmatā
na dāsyāmīti śabalāṃ prāha rājan kathaṃ cana

Thus addressed by the wise Viśvāmitra, the venerable one said, 'I will not give Śabalā on any account, O king.'

Words: evam uktas — thus addressed; tu — but; bhagavān — the venerable one; viśvāmitreṇa — by Viśvāmitra; dhīmatā — by the wise one; na — not; dāsyāmīti — 'I shall give,' thus; śabalāṃ — Śabalā; prāha — said; rājan — O king; kathaṃ cana — in any way, on any account

1.52.22

etad eva hi me ratnam etad eva hi me dhanam
etad eva hi sarvasvam etad eva hi jīvitam

'For this alone is my jewel, this alone my wealth, this alone my everything, this alone my very life;'

Words: etad eva hi — this alone indeed; me — my; ratnam — jewel; etad eva hi — this alone indeed; me — my; dhanam — wealth; etad eva hi — this alone indeed; sarvasvam — whole property, everything; etad eva hi — this alone indeed; jīvitam — life

1.52.23

darśaś ca pūrṇamāsaś ca yajñāś caivāptadakṣiṇāḥ
etad eva hi me rājan vividhāś ca kriyās tathā

'the new-moon and full-moon sacrifices, and the sacrifices with their due fees, and the manifold rites—all this, O king, is (dependent) on her for me.'

Words: darśaś ca — and the new-moon sacrifice; pūrṇamāsaś ca — and the full-moon sacrifice; yajñāś — the sacrifices; caivāptadakṣiṇāḥ — and those with due fees; etad eva hi — this alone indeed; me — for me; rājan — O king; vividhāś ca — and manifold; kriyās — rites; tathā — likewise

1.52.24

adomūlāḥ kriyāḥ sarvā mama rājan na saṃśayaḥ
bahūnāṃ kiṃ pralāpena na dāsye kāmadohinīm

'All my rites have her as their root, O king, without doubt. What use is much prattle? I will not give up the wish-yielding cow.'

Words: adomūlāḥ — having her (lit. that) as their root; kriyāḥ — rites; sarvā — all; mama — my; rājan — O king; na saṃśayaḥ — (there is) no doubt; bahūnāṃ — of many (words); kiṃ — what (use); pralāpena — with prattle, idle talk; na — not; dāsye — I shall give; kāmadohinīm — the wish-yielding (cow)

← 1.51 Story of Viśvāmitra: Vasiṣṭha’s hospitality · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.53 Story of Viśvāmitra: Śabalā resists seizure →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

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