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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 60: Story of Viśvāmitra: Śunaḥśepa is bought for sacrifice

Summary. Indra steals Ambarīṣa’s sacrificial victim, the King purchases Śunaḥśepa after the boy’s parents reserve their eldest and youngest sons

Sequence

  1. Viśvāmitra tells the departing ṛṣis that the southern region has become a place of obstruction → he moves west to Puṣkara and resumes austerity on roots and fruit (1.60.1–4)
  2. meanwhile, during King Ambarīṣa's sacrifice in Ayodhyā, Indra steals the sacrificial victim (1.60.5–6)
  3. the priest blames the King's failure to protect it and demands immediate expiation through a human or substitute victim while the rite continues (1.60.7–8)
  4. Ambarīṣa searches widely, offering thousands of cows, until he finds Ṛcīka at Bhṛgutunda with his wife and sons (1.60.9–12)
  5. he offers a hundred thousand cows for one son (1.60.13–14)
  6. Ṛcīka refuses to sell the eldest, and the mother insists on keeping the youngest, Śunaka (1.60.15–18)
  7. the middle son, Śunaḥśepa, concludes that he has effectively been selected and tells the King to take him (1.60.19–20)
  8. Ambarīṣa pays, places the boy in his chariot, and leaves swiftly. (1.60.21–22)

Verses 1.60.1–22

1.60.1

viśvāmitro mahātmātha prasthitān prekṣya tān ṛṣīn
abravīn naraśārdūla sarvāṃs tān vanavāsinaḥ

Then the great-souled Viśvāmitra, O tiger among men, seeing those seers about to depart, said to all those forest-dwellers:

Words: viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahātmātha — the great-souled, then; prasthitān — about to depart, setting out; prekṣya — having seen, observing; tān ṛṣīn — those seers; abravīn — said; naraśārdūla — O tiger among men; sarvāṃs tān — all those; vanavāsinaḥ — the forest-dwellers

1.60.2

mahāvighnaḥ pravṛtto 'yaṃ dakṣiṇām āsthito diśam
diśam anyāṃ prapatsyāmas tatra tapsyāmahe tapaḥ

'A great obstacle has arisen here, seated in the southern quarter; we shall betake ourselves to another quarter, and there practise austerity.'

Words: mahāvighnaḥ — a great obstacle; pravṛtto — has arisen; 'yaṃ — this; dakṣiṇām — the southern; āsthito — seated in, occupying; diśam — direction, quarter; diśam anyāṃ — to another quarter; prapatsyāmas — we shall betake ourselves; tatra — there; tapsyāmahe — we shall practise (austerity); tapaḥ — austerity

1.60.3

paścimāyāṃ viśālāyāṃ puṣkareṣu mahātmanaḥ
sukhaṃ tapaś cariṣyāmaḥ paraṃ tad dhi tapovanam

'In the west, in the vast region of Puṣkara, we great-souled ones shall practise austerity in comfort; for that is a supreme penance-grove.'

Words: paścimāyāṃ — in the western (region); viśālāyāṃ — in the vast, extensive; puṣkareṣu — in the Puṣkaras (the Puṣkara region); mahātmanaḥ — the great-souled (we); sukhaṃ — comfortably, at ease; tapaś cariṣyāmaḥ — we shall practise austerity; paraṃ — supreme; tad — that; dhi — for; tapovanam — penance-grove

1.60.4

evam uktvā mahātejāḥ puṣkareṣu mahāmuniḥ
tapa ugraṃ durādharṣaṃ tepe mūlaphalāśanaḥ

Having spoken thus, the great sage of great splendour, in the Puṣkaras, practised fierce, unassailable austerity, eating only roots and fruit.

Words: evam uktvā — having spoken thus; mahātejāḥ — of great splendour; puṣkareṣu — in the Puṣkaras; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage; tapa — austerity; ugraṃ — fierce; durādharṣaṃ — unassailable, hard to withstand; tepe — practised; mūlaphalāśanaḥ — eating roots and fruit

1.60.5

etasminn eva kāle tu ayodhyādhipatir nṛpaḥ
ambarīṣa iti khyāto yaṣṭuṃ samupacakrame

At this very time, the king, lord of Ayodhyā, renowned as Ambarīṣa, set about performing a sacrifice.

Words: etasminn eva kāle — at this very time; tu — and; ayodhyādhipatir — the lord of Ayodhyā; nṛpaḥ — the king; ambarīṣa — Ambarīṣa; iti khyāto — renowned as; yaṣṭuṃ — to sacrifice; samupacakrame — set about, began

1.60.6

tasya vai yajamānasya paśum indro jahāra ha
pranaṣṭe tu paśau vipro rājānam idam abravīt

But as he was sacrificing, Indra carried off the sacrificial victim; and when the victim was lost, the brahmin said this to the king:

Words: tasya — his; vai — indeed; yajamānasya — of (him) sacrificing; paśum — the sacrificial victim; indro — Indra; jahāra — carried off, stole; ha — indeed; pranaṣṭe tu paśau — but when the victim was lost (loc. abs.); vipro — the brahmin; rājānam — to the king; idam — this; abravīt — said

1.60.7

paśur adya hṛto rājan pranaṣṭas tava durnayāt
arakṣitāraṃ rājānaṃ ghnanti doṣā nareśvara

'The victim has today been carried off, O king, lost through your negligence; sins slay a king who fails to protect his charge, O lord of men.'

Words: paśur — the victim; adya — today; hṛto — carried off; rājan — O king; pranaṣṭas — lost; tava — your; durnayāt — through negligence, misgovernment; arakṣitāraṃ — not protecting, failing to guard; rājānaṃ — the king; ghnanti — slay; doṣā — sins, faults; nareśvara — O lord of men

1.60.8

prāyaścittaṃ mahad dhy etan naraṃ vā puruṣarṣabha
ānayasva paśuṃ śīghraṃ yāvat karma pravartate

'A great expiation is required for this, O bull among men: bring quickly either a man or a (substitute) victim, while the rite is still in progress.'

Words: prāyaścittaṃ — expiation, atonement; mahad — great; dhy — indeed; etan — this; naraṃ vā — or a man; puruṣarṣabha — O bull among men; ānayasva — bring, fetch; paśuṃ — a victim; śīghraṃ — quickly; yāvat — while, as long as; karma — the rite, act; pravartate — proceeds, is in progress

1.60.9

upādhyāya vacaḥ śrutvā sa rājā puruṣarṣabha
anviyeṣa mahābuddhiḥ paśuṃ gobhiḥ sahasraśaḥ

Having heard the teacher's word, that king of great wisdom, O bull among men, sought a victim, offering cows by the thousands.

Words: upādhyāya vacaḥ — the teacher's word; śrutvā — having heard; sa rājā — that king; puruṣarṣabha — O bull among men; anviyeṣa — sought, searched for; mahābuddhiḥ — of great wisdom; paśuṃ — a victim; gobhiḥ — with cows; sahasraśaḥ — by the thousands

1.60.10

deśāñ janapadāṃs tāṃs tān nagarāṇi vanāni ca
āśramāṇi ca puṇyāni mārgamāṇo mahīpatiḥ

searching through region after region, provinces, cities, forests, and holy hermitages, the lord of the earth—

Words: deśāñ — regions; janapadāṃs — provinces, countries; tāṃs tān — those various; nagarāṇi — cities; vanāni ca — and forests; āśramāṇi ca — and hermitages; puṇyāni — holy; mārgamāṇo — searching; mahīpatiḥ — the lord of the earth

1.60.11

sa putrasahitaṃ tāta sabhāryaṃ raghunandana
bhṛgutunde samāsīnam ṛcīkaṃ saṃdadarśa ha

he, my dear, O delight of the Raghus, beheld Ṛcīka seated at Bhṛgutunda, together with his sons and his wife.

Words: sa — he; putrasahitaṃ — together with his sons; tāta — my dear (address); sabhāryaṃ — together with his wife; raghunandana — O delight of the Raghus; bhṛgutunde — at Bhṛgutunda (a place); samāsīnam — seated; ṛcīkaṃ — Ṛcīka; saṃdadarśa — beheld; ha — indeed

1.60.12

tam uvāca mahātejāḥ praṇamyābhiprasādya ca
brahmarṣiṃ tapasā dīptaṃ rājarṣir amitaprabhaḥ
pṛṣṭvā sarvatra kuśalam ṛcīkaṃ tam idaṃ vacaḥ

The royal seer of measureless splendour, having bowed and propitiated him, and having asked after his welfare in every respect, spoke this word to that brahmin-seer Ṛcīka, blazing with austerity:

Words: tam — to him; uvāca — said; mahātejāḥ — of great splendour; praṇamyābhiprasādya — having bowed and propitiated; ca — and; brahmarṣiṃ — the brahmin-seer; tapasā dīptaṃ — blazing with austerity; rājarṣir — the royal seer; amitaprabhaḥ — of measureless splendour; pṛṣṭvā — having asked; sarvatra — everywhere, in every respect; kuśalam — welfare; ṛcīkaṃ — to Ṛcīka; tam — that; idaṃ vacaḥ — this word

1.60.13

gavāṃ śatasahasreṇa vikriṇīṣe sutaṃ yadi
paśor arthe mahābhāga kṛtakṛtyo 'smi bhārgava

'If you will sell a son for a hundred thousand cows, for the sake of a sacrificial victim, O illustrious one, then I shall have accomplished my purpose, O descendant of Bhṛgu.'

Words: gavāṃ — of cows; śatasahasreṇa — for a hundred thousand; vikriṇīṣe — you (would) sell; sutaṃ — a son; yadi — if; paśor arthe — for the sake of a victim; mahābhāga — O illustrious one; kṛtakṛtyo 'smi — I have accomplished my purpose; bhārgava — O descendant of Bhṛgu

1.60.14

sarve parisṛtā deśā yajñiyaṃ na labhe paśum
dātum arhasi mūlyena sutam ekam ito mama

'All the regions have been traversed; I do not obtain a victim fit for sacrifice; you ought to give me, for a price, one son from here.'

Words: sarve — all; parisṛtā — traversed, wandered over; deśā — the regions; yajñiyaṃ — fit for sacrifice, sacrificial; na labhe — I do not obtain; paśum — a victim; dātum arhasi — you ought to give; mūlyena — for a price; sutam ekaṃ — one son; ito — from here; mama — to me

1.60.15

evam ukto mahātejā ṛcīkas tv abravīd vacaḥ
nāhaṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ naraśreṣṭhaṃ vikrīṇīyāṃ kathaṃ cana

Thus addressed, Ṛcīka of great splendour spoke these words: 'I would not on any account sell the eldest, O best of men.'

Words: evam ukto — thus addressed; mahātejā — of great splendour; ṛcīkas — Ṛcīka; tv — but; abravīd — said; vacaḥ — words; nāhaṃ — not I; jyeṣṭhaṃ — the eldest; naraśreṣṭhaṃ — O best of men; vikrīṇīyāṃ — I would sell; kathaṃ cana — on any account

1.60.16

ṛcīkasya vacaḥ śrutvā teṣāṃ mātā mahātmanām
uvāca naraśārdūlam ambarīṣaṃ tapasvinī

Hearing Ṛcīka's words, the ascetic mother of those great-souled sons said to Ambarīṣa, the tiger among men:

Words: ṛcīkasya — Ṛcīka's; vacaḥ — words; śrutvā — having heard; teṣāṃ — of those; mātā — the mother; mahātmanām — of the great-souled (sons); uvāca — said; naraśārdūlam — to the tiger among men; ambarīṣaṃ — to Ambarīṣa; tapasvinī — the ascetic (woman)

1.60.17

mamāpi dayitaṃ viddhi kaniṣṭhaṃ śunakaṃ nṛpa

'Know, O king, that the youngest, Śunaka, is dear to me too.'

Words: mamāpi — to me too; dayitaṃ — dear, beloved; viddhi — know; kaniṣṭhaṃ — the youngest; śunakaṃ — Śunaka; nṛpa — O king

1.60.18

prāyeṇa hi naraśreṣṭha jyeṣṭhāḥ pitṛṣu vallabhāḥ
mātḥṇāṃ ca kanīyāṃsas tasmād rakṣe kanīyasaṃ

'For generally, O best of men, eldest sons are dear to fathers, and the youngest to mothers; therefore I would keep the youngest.'

Words: prāyeṇa — generally, usually; hi — for; naraśreṣṭha — O best of men; jyeṣṭhāḥ — the eldest (sons); pitṛṣu — to, among fathers; vallabhāḥ — dear, beloved; mātḥṇāṃ — of mothers; ca — and; kanīyāṃsas — the younger (ones); tasmād — therefore; rakṣe — I keep, protect; kanīyasaṃ — the youngest

1.60.19

uktavākye munau tasmin munipatnyāṃ tathaiva ca
śunaḥśepaḥ svayaṃ rāma madhyamo vākyam abravīt

When that sage had spoken, and likewise the sage's wife, Śunaḥśepa, the middle son, himself spoke, O Rāma:

Words: uktavākye munau tasmin — when that sage had spoken (loc. abs.); munipatnyāṃ — the sage's wife (loc.); tathaiva ca — and likewise too; śunaḥśepaḥ — Śunaḥśepa; svayaṃ — himself; rāma — O Rāma; madhyamo — the middle one; vākyam — word; abravīt — spoke

1.60.20

pitā jyeṣṭham avikreyaṃ mātā cāha kanīyasaṃ
vikrītaṃ madhyamaṃ manye rājan putraṃ nayasva mām

'The father has declared the eldest not-to-be-sold, and the mother the youngest; I consider the middle son as good as sold. O king, take me away.'

Words: pitā — the father; jyeṣṭham — the eldest; avikreyaṃ — not to be sold; mātā — the mother; cāha — and has said; kanīyasaṃ — the youngest; vikrītaṃ — sold; madhyamaṃ — the middle one; manye — I consider; rājan — O king; putraṃ — son; nayasva — take (me) away; mām — me

1.60.21

gavāṃ śatasahasreṇa śunaḥśepaṃ nareśvaraḥ
gṛhītvā paramaprīto jagāma raghunandana

For a hundred thousand cows the lord of men, having taken Śunaḥśepa, went off highly delighted, O delight of the Raghus.

Words: gavāṃ — of cows; śatasahasreṇa — for a hundred thousand; śunaḥśepaṃ — Śunaḥśepa; nareśvaraḥ — the lord of men; gṛhītvā — having taken; paramaprīto — highly delighted; jagāma — went; raghunandana — O delight of the Raghus

1.60.22

ambarīṣas tu rājarṣī ratham āropya satvaraḥ
śunaḥśepaṃ mahātejā jagāmāśu mahāyaśāḥ

But Ambarīṣa, the royal seer of great splendour and great fame, having quickly placed Śunaḥśepa on his chariot, went swiftly on.

Words: ambarīṣas — Ambarīṣa; tu — but; rājarṣī — the royal seer; ratham — the chariot; āropya — having placed (him) upon, mounted; satvaraḥ — quick, in haste; śunaḥśepaṃ — Śunaḥśepa; mahātejā — of great splendour; jagāmāśu — went swiftly; mahāyaśāḥ — of great fame

← 1.59 Story of Viśvāmitra: Triśaṅku’s ascent and suspended heaven · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.61 Story of Viśvāmitra: Two verses save Śunaḥśepa →

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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