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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 53: Story of Viśvāmitra: Śabalā resists seizure

Summary. The King seizes Śabalā, she returns to Vasiṣṭha and, with his permission, produces armies to resist the royal forces

Sequence

  1. Viśvāmitra begins dragging Śabalā away (1.53.1)
  2. distressed, she wonders whether Vasiṣṭha has abandoned her and what wrong she has done (1.53.2–4)
  3. she shakes off the King's servants, races back to Vasiṣṭha, and asks him why he has let her be taken (1.53.5–8)
  4. Vasiṣṭha assures her that she is innocent and that he has not given her up, but points to the King's overwhelming military force (1.53.9–12)
  5. Śabalā insists that spiritual power is greater than royal force and asks permission to fight through his power (1.53.13–16)
  6. Vasiṣṭha commands her to produce an army (1.53.17)
  7. hundreds of Pahlavas spring from her bellow and devastate Viśvāmitra's troops → the King kills them with his weapons (1.53.18–19)
  8. she produces Śakas and Yavanas, who attack with swords and spears → Viśvāmitra answers with his missiles. (1.53.20–23)

Verses 1.53.1–23

1.53.1

kāmadhenuṃ vasiṣṭho 'pi yadā na tyajate muniḥ
tadāsya śabalāṃ rāma viśvāmitro 'nvakarṣata

When the sage Vasiṣṭha still would not give up the wish-cow, then, O Rāma, Viśvāmitra began to drag his Śabalā away.

Words: kāmadhenuṃ — the wish-cow; vasiṣṭho 'pi — Vasiṣṭha even; yadā — when; na — not; tyajate — gives up; muniḥ — the sage; tadāsya — then his; śabalāṃ — Śabalā; rāma — O Rāma; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; 'nvakarṣata — dragged away

1.53.2

nīyamānā tu śabalā rāma rājñā mahātmanā
duḥkhitā cintayām āsa rudantī śokakarśitā

But as Śabalā was being led away by the great king, O Rāma, distressed, weeping, and wasted with grief, she reflected:

Words: nīyamānā — being led away; tu — but; śabalā — Śabalā; rāma — O Rāma; rājñā — by the king; mahātmanā — the great-souled; duḥkhitā — distressed; cintayām āsa — reflected, thought; rudantī — weeping; śokakarśitā — wasted with grief

1.53.3

parityaktā vasiṣṭhena kim ahaṃ sumahātmanā
yāhaṃ rājabhṛtair dīnā hriyeyaṃ bhṛśaduḥkhitā

'Have I then been abandoned by the exceedingly great-souled Vasiṣṭha, that I, wretched and sorely afflicted, should be carried off by the king's servants?'

Words: parityaktā — abandoned; vasiṣṭhena — by Vasiṣṭha; kim — is it that? (question); ahaṃ — I; sumahātmanā — by the exceedingly great-souled one; yāhaṃ — I who; rājabhṛtair — by the king's servants; dīnā — wretched, miserable; hriyeyaṃ — should be carried off; bhṛśaduḥkhitā — sorely afflicted

1.53.4

kiṃ mayāpakṛtaṃ tasya maharṣer bhāvitātmanaḥ
yan mām anāgasaṃ bhaktām iṣṭāṃ tyajati dhārmikaḥ

'What wrong have I done to that great sage of purified soul, that the righteous one abandons me—faultless, devoted, and dear?'

Words: kiṃ — what; mayāpakṛtaṃ — wrong done by me; tasya — to that; maharṣer — great sage; bhāvitātmanaḥ — of purified soul; yan — that; mām — me; anāgasaṃ — faultless, innocent; bhaktām — devoted; iṣṭāṃ — dear, beloved; tyajati — abandons; dhārmikaḥ — the righteous one

1.53.5

iti sā cintayitvā tu niḥśvasya ca punaḥ punaḥ
jagāma vegena tadā vasiṣṭhaṃ paramaujasaṃ

Having reflected thus and sighing again and again, she then went with speed to Vasiṣṭha of supreme might.

Words: iti — thus; sā — she; cintayitvā — having reflected; tu — and; niḥśvasya — having sighed; ca — and; punaḥ punaḥ — again and again; jagāma — went; vegena — with speed; tadā — then; vasiṣṭhaṃ — to Vasiṣṭha; paramaujasaṃ — of supreme might

1.53.6

nirdhūya tāṃs tadā bhṛtyāñ śataśaḥ śatrusūdana
jagāmānilavegena pādamūlaṃ mahātmanaḥ

Shaking off those servants by the hundreds, O slayer of foes, she then sped with the swiftness of the wind to the feet of the great-souled one.

Words: nirdhūya — having shaken off; tāṃs — those; tadā — then; bhṛtyāñ — the servants; śataśaḥ — by the hundreds; śatrusūdana — O slayer of foes; jagāmānilavegena — went with the speed of the wind; pādamūlaṃ — to the feet (lit. root of the feet); mahātmanaḥ — of the great-souled one

1.53.7

śabalā sā rudantī ca krośantī cedam abravīt
vasiṣṭhasyāgrataḥ sthitvā meghadundubhirāviṇī

That Śabalā, weeping and crying out, standing before Vasiṣṭha and bellowing like a thunder-cloud and a war-drum, said this:

Words: śabalā — Śabalā; sā — she; rudantī ca — and weeping; krośantī — crying out; cedam — and this; abravīt — said; vasiṣṭhasyāgrataḥ — before Vasiṣṭha; sthitvā — having stood; meghadundubhirāviṇī — bellowing like a thunder-cloud and a drum

1.53.8

bhagavan kiṃ parityaktā tvayāhaṃ brahmaṇaḥ suta
yasmād rājabhṛtā māṃ hi nayante tvatsakāśataḥ

'O venerable one, O son of Brahmā, why have I been abandoned by you, that the king's servants are leading me away from your presence?'

Words: bhagavan — O venerable one; kiṃ — why; parityaktā — abandoned; tvayāhaṃ — I by you; brahmaṇaḥ — of Brahmā; suta — O son; yasmād — since, that; rājabhṛtā — the king's servants; māṃ — me; hi — indeed; nayante — they lead away; tvatsakāśataḥ — from your presence

1.53.9

evam uktas tu brahmarṣir idaṃ vacanam abravīt
śokasaṃtaptahṛdayāṃ svasāram iva duḥkhitām

Thus addressed, the brahmin-seer spoke these words to her, whose heart was scorched with grief and who was distressed like his own sister:

Words: evam uktas — thus addressed; tu — and; brahmarṣir — the brahmin-seer; idaṃ vacanam — these words; abravīt — spoke; śokasaṃtaptahṛdayāṃ — (to her) whose heart was scorched with grief; svasāram — sister; iva — like; duḥkhitām — distressed

1.53.10

na tvāṃ tyajāmi śabale nāpi me 'pakṛtaṃ tvayā
eṣa tvāṃ nayate rājā balān matto mahābalaḥ

'I am not abandoning you, Śabalā, nor have you done any wrong to me; this mighty king is leading you away from me by force.'

Words: na — not; tvāṃ — you; tyajāmi — I abandon; śabale — O Śabalā; nāpi — nor; me — to me; 'pakṛtaṃ — wrong done; tvayā — by you; eṣa — this; tvāṃ — you; nayate — leads away; rājā — the king; balān — by force; matto — from me; mahābalaḥ — the mighty one

1.53.11

na hi tulyaṃ balaṃ mahyaṃ rājā tv adya viśeṣataḥ
balī rājā kṣatriyaś ca pṛthivyāḥ patir eva ca

'For my strength is no match (for his); and the king, moreover, is now especially (strong): the king is mighty, a warrior, and the very lord of the earth.'

Words: na hi — for not; tulyaṃ — equal, a match; balaṃ — strength; mahyaṃ — to me, mine; rājā — the king; tv — but, moreover; adya — today, now; viśeṣataḥ — especially; balī — mighty, strong; rājā — the king; kṣatriyaś ca — and a kṣatriya (warrior); pṛthivyāḥ — of the earth; patir — lord; eva ca — and indeed

1.53.12

iyam akṣauhiṇīpūrṇā savājirathasaṃkulā
hastidhvajasamākīrṇā tenāsau balavattaraḥ

'This host is a full akṣauhiṇī, crowded with horses and chariots, thronged with elephants and banners; therefore he is the stronger.'

Words: iyam — this (host); akṣauhiṇīpūrṇā — full (the strength) of an akṣauhiṇī; savājirathasaṃkulā — crowded with horses and chariots; hastidhvajasamākīrṇā — thronged with elephants and banners; tenāsau — therefore he; balavattaraḥ — the stronger

1.53.13

evam uktā vasiṣṭhena pratyuvāca vinītavat
vacanaṃ vacanajñā sā brahmarṣim amitaprabham

Thus addressed by Vasiṣṭha, she who knew (the power of) speech replied humbly, with a word, to the brahmin-seer of measureless splendour:

Words: evam uktā — thus addressed; vasiṣṭhena — by Vasiṣṭha; pratyuvāca — replied; vinītavat — humbly; vacanaṃ — a word; vacanajñā — she who knows speech, the eloquent one; sā — she; brahmarṣim — to the brahmin-seer; amitaprabham — of measureless splendour

1.53.14

na balaṃ kṣatriyasyāhur brāhmaṇo balavattaraḥ
brahman brahmabalaṃ divyaṃ kṣatrāt tu balavattaram

'They say the strength of a kṣatriya is no (true) strength; the brahmin is the stronger. O brahmin, the power of brahman is divine, and mightier than that of the kṣatra.'

Words: na — not; balaṃ — strength; kṣatriyasyāhur — of a kṣatriya, they say; brāhmaṇo — the brahmin; balavattaraḥ — the stronger; brahman — O brahmin; brahmabalaṃ — the power of brahman; divyaṃ — divine; kṣatrāt — than the kṣatra (warrior power); tu — but; balavattaram — mightier

1.53.15

aprameyabalaṃ tubhyaṃ na tvayā balavattaraḥ
viśvāmitro mahāvīryas tejas tava durāsadam

'Yours is immeasurable strength; Viśvāmitra of great valour is not stronger than you; your energy is hard to withstand.'

Words: aprameyabalaṃ — immeasurable strength; tubhyaṃ — to you, yours; na — not; tvayā — than you; balavattaraḥ — stronger; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahāvīryas — of great valour; tejas — energy, splendour; tava — your; durāsadam — hard to withstand

1.53.16

niyuṅkṣva māṃ mahātejas tvadbrahmabalasaṃbhṛtām
tasya darpaṃ balaṃ yat tan nāśayāmi durātmanaḥ

'Set me to the task, O you of great splendour—me, sustained by the power of your brahman—and I shall destroy the pride and the strength of that evil-souled one.'

Words: niyuṅkṣva — engage, set (me) to the task; māṃ — me; mahātejas — O you of great splendour; tvadbrahmabalasaṃbhṛtām — (me) sustained by the power of your brahman; tasya — his; darpaṃ — pride, arrogance; balaṃ — strength; yat — which; tan — that; nāśayāmi — I destroy; durātmanaḥ — of the evil-souled one

1.53.17

ity uktas tu tayā rāma vasiṣṭhaḥ sumahāyaśāḥ
sṛjasveti tadovāca balaṃ parabalārujam

Thus addressed by her, O Rāma, Vasiṣṭha of very great fame then said, 'Bring forth a host that shatters the enemy's army!'

Words: ity uktas — thus addressed; tu — but; tayā — by her; rāma — O Rāma; vasiṣṭhaḥ — Vasiṣṭha; sumahāyaśāḥ — of very great fame; sṛjasveti — 'produce!' thus; tadovāca — then said; balaṃ — a host, force; parabalārujam — shattering the enemy's army

1.53.18

tasyā humbhāravotsṛṣṭāḥ pahlavāḥ śataśo nṛpa
nāśayanti balaṃ sarvaṃ viśvāmitrasya paśyataḥ

From her 'humbhā' bellow there sprang forth Pahlavas by the hundreds, O king, and they destroyed all of Viśvāmitra's army as he looked on.

Words: tasyā — from her, her; humbhāravotsṛṣṭāḥ — sent forth by her 'humbhā' bellow; pahlavāḥ — Pahlavas (a people); śataśo — by the hundreds; nṛpa — O king; nāśayanti — they destroy; balaṃ — army; sarvaṃ — whole, all; viśvāmitrasya — of Viśvāmitra; paśyataḥ — as he looks on

1.53.19

sa rājā paramakruddhaḥ krodhavisphāritekṣaṇaḥ
pahlavān nāśayām āsa śastrair uccāvacair api

That king, exceedingly enraged, his eyes wide with wrath, destroyed the Pahlavas with weapons of every sort.

Words: sa — that; rājā — king; paramakruddhaḥ — exceedingly enraged; krodhavisphāritekṣaṇaḥ — his eyes wide with wrath; pahlavān — the Pahlavas; nāśayām āsa — destroyed; śastrair — with weapons; uccāvacair — of high and low (every) kind; api — even, also

1.53.20

viśvāmitrārditān dṛṣṭvā pahlavāñ śataśas tadā
bhūya evāsṛjad ghorāñ śakān yavanamiśritān

Seeing the Pahlavas afflicted by Viśvāmitra by the hundreds, she then again brought forth terrible Śakas mingled with Yavanas.

Words: viśvāmitrārditān — afflicted by Viśvāmitra; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; pahlavāñ — the Pahlavas; śataśas — by the hundreds; tadā — then; bhūya — again; evāsṛjad — indeed brought forth; ghorāñ — terrible; śakān — Śakas; yavanamiśritān — mingled with Yavanas

1.53.21

tair āsīt saṃvṛtā bhūmiḥ śakair yavanamiśritaiḥ
prabhāvadbhir mahāvīryair hemakiñjalkasaṃnibhaiḥ

By those Śakas mingled with Yavanas—powerful, of great valour, gleaming like the golden filaments of a lotus—the earth was covered over.

Words: tair — by those; āsīt — was; saṃvṛtā — covered, filled; bhūmiḥ — the earth; śakair — by the Śakas; yavanamiśritaiḥ — mingled with Yavanas; prabhāvadbhir — powerful, mighty; mahāvīryair — of great valour; hemakiñjalkasaṃnibhaiḥ — resembling golden (lotus-)filaments

1.53.22

dīrghāsipaṭṭiśadharair hemavarṇāmbarāvṛtaiḥ
nirdagdhaṃ tad balaṃ sarvaṃ pradīptair iva pāvakaiḥ

By those bearing long swords and paṭṭiśa-spears and clad in gold-coloured garments, that whole army was burnt up as if by blazing fires.

Words: dīrghāsipaṭṭiśadharair — bearing long swords and paṭṭiśa-spears; hemavarṇāmbarāvṛtaiḥ — clad in gold-coloured garments; nirdagdhaṃ — burnt up, consumed; tad — that; balaṃ — army; sarvaṃ — whole, all; pradīptair — by blazing; iva — as if; pāvakaiḥ — by fires

1.53.23

tato 'strāṇi mahātejā viśvāmitro mumoca ha

Then Viśvāmitra of great splendour let loose his missiles.

Words: tato — then; 'strāṇi — missiles, divine weapons; mahātejā — of great splendour; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mumoca — released, let loose; ha — indeed

← 1.52 Story of Viśvāmitra: Śabalā’s feast and the rejected purchase · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.54 Story of Viśvāmitra: Defeat, Śiva’s weapons and retaliation →

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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