सर्वत्र कुशलं राजा वसिष्ठं प्रत्युदाहरत्। विश्वामित्रो महातेजा वसिष्ठं विनयान्वितम्
The king replied to Vasiṣṭha that all was well everywhere; Viśvāmitra of great splendor addressed Vasiṣṭha, who was endowed with humility.
कृत्वा तौ सुचिरं कालं धर्मिष्ठौ ताः कथास्तदा। मुदा परमया युक्तौ प्रीयेतां तौ परस्परम्
Having spent a long time in righteous conversation, those two, joined in supreme joy, delighted in each other.
ततो वसिष्ठो भगवान् कथान्ते रघुनन्दन। विश्वामित्रमिदं वाक्यमुवाच प्रहसन्निव
Then, at the end of the conversation, the venerable Vasiṣṭha, O descendant of Raghu, spoke these words to Viśvāmitra, as if smiling.
आतिथ्यं कर्तुमिच्छामि बलस्यास्य महाबल। तव चैवाप्रमेयस्य यथार्हं सम्प्रतीच्छ मे
I wish to offer hospitality to this mighty army and to you, whose greatness is immeasurable; please accept from me what is fitting.
सत्क्रियां हि भवानेतां प्रतीच्छतु मया कृताम्। राजंस्त्वमतिथिश्रेष्ठः पूजनीयः प्रयत्नतः
Please accept this honor I have prepared for you; you are the foremost of guests, O king, and worthy of worship with utmost care.
एवमुक्तो वसिष्ठेन विश्वामित्रो महामतिः। कृतमित्यब्रवीद् राजा पूजावाक्येन मे त्वया
Thus addressed by Vasiṣṭha, Viśvāmitra, of great wisdom, replied, 'It is done, O king, by your words of welcome.'
फलमूलेन भगवन् विद्यते यत् तवाश्रमे। पाद्येनाचमनीयेन भगवद्दर्शनेन च
O venerable one, whatever fruits and roots are available in your hermitage, along with water for washing feet and sipping, and the sight of your revered self—
सर्वथा च महाप्राज्ञ पूजार्हेण सुपूजितः। नमस्तेऽस्तु गमिष्यामि मैत्रेणेक्षस्व चक्षुषा
In every way, O greatly wise one, I have been properly honored with what is due; I bow to you, and I shall depart—look upon me with friendly eyes.
एवं ब्रुवन्तं राजानं वसिष्ठं पुनरेव हि। न्यमन्त्रयत धर्मात्मा पुनः पुनरुदारधीः
As the king spoke thus, Vasiṣṭha, righteous and noble-minded, repeatedly invited him again and again.
बाढमित्येव गाधेयो वसिष्ठं प्रत्युवाच ह। यथाप्रियं भगवतस्तथास्तु मुनिपुंगव
Gādhi's son replied to Vasiṣṭha, 'So be it! Let it be as the venerable one desires, O foremost of sages.'
एवमुक्तस्तथा तेन वसिष्ठो जपतां वरः। आजुहाव ततः प्रीतः कल्माषीं धूतकल्मषाम्
Thus addressed in that way, Vasiṣṭha, best among reciters, joyfully summoned Kalmāṣī, purified of sin.
एह्येहि शबले क्षिप्रं शृणु चापि वचो मम। सबलस्यास्य राजर्षेः कर्तुं व्यवसितोऽस्म्यहम्। भोजनेन महार्हेण सत्कारं संविधत्स्व मे
Come, come quickly, Śabala, and listen to my words; I am resolved to provide this royal sage with a most excellent meal and honor—arrange it for me.
यस्य यस्य यथाकामं षड्रसेष्वभिपूजितम्। तत् सर्वं कामधुग् दिव्ये अभिवर्ष कृते मम
For each and every one, according to their desire, with six flavors and full honor, let all those divine wish-fulfilling things rain down for me, O Kāmadhenu.
रसेनान्नेन पानेन लेह्यचोष्येण संयुतम्। अन्नानां निचयं सर्वं सृजस्व शबले त्वर
O Śabalā, quickly produce every kind of food—solid, liquid, to be licked, and to be sucked—rich with flavors, grains, and drinks.
thumb| त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥१-
Hear now the fifty-third sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa.
एवमुक्ता वसिष्ठेन शबला शत्रुसूदन। विदधे कामधुक् कामान् यस्य यस्येप्सितं यथा
Thus addressed by Vasiṣṭha, Śabalā, the fulfiller of desires, provided for each person whatever they wished.
इक्षून् मधूंस्तथा लाजान् मैरेयांश्च वरासवान्। पानानि च महार्हाणि भक्ष्यांश्चोच्चावचानपि
She produced sugarcanes, honey, parched grains, the finest wines and liquors, costly drinks, and all kinds of foods, both rich and simple.
उष्णाढ्यस्यौदनस्यात्र राशयः पर्वतोपमाः। मृष्टान्यन्नानि सूपांश्च दधिकुल्यास्तथैव च
There appeared heaps of hot, well-cooked rice like mountains, delicious dishes, soups, and curds in abundance.
नानास्वादुरसानां च खाण्डवानां तथैव च। भोजनानि सुपूर्णानि गौडानि च सहस्रशः
There were also plentiful foods of various tastes and flavors, sweetmeats, and thousands of well-filled dishes of jaggery.
सर्वमासीत् सुसंतुष्टं हृष्टपुष्टजनायुतम्। विश्वामित्रबलं राम वसिष्ठेन सुतर्पितम्
Everything was perfectly satisfying, filled with joyful and nourished people; O Rāma, Vasiṣṭha fully gratified Viśvāmitra’s army.
विश्वामित्रो हि राजर्षिर्हृष्टपुष्टस्तदाभवत्। सान्तःपुरवरो राजा सब्राह्मणपुरोहितः
Then Viśvāmitra, the royal sage, along with his household, priests, and attendants, became delighted and well-nourished.
सामात्यो मन्त्रिसहितः सभृत्यः पूजितस्तदा। युक्तः परमहर्षेण वसिष्ठमिदमब्रवीत्
Honored with his ministers and servants, filled with supreme joy, he spoke these words to Vasiṣṭha.
पूजितोऽहं त्वया ब्रह्मन् पूजार्हेण सुसत्कृतः। श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि वाक्यं वाक्यविशारद
O Brāhmaṇa, you have honored me with the highest hospitality; listen, O master of words, as I speak.
गवां शतसहस्रेण दीयतां शबला मम। रत्नं हि भगवन्नेतद् रत्नहारी च पार्थिवः
Give me Śabalā in exchange for a hundred thousand cows; for this cow is a jewel, and kings are collectors of jewels.
तस्मान्मे शबलां देहि ममैषा धर्मतो द्विज। एवमुक्तस्तु भगवान् वसिष्ठो मुनिपुंगवः
Therefore, O twice-born, give me Śabalā by right; thus addressed, the venerable Vasiṣṭha, foremost of sages, replied.
विश्वामित्रेण धर्मात्मा प्रत्युवाच महीपतिम्। नाहं शतसहस्रेण नापि कोटिशतैर्गवाम्
The righteous Vasiṣṭha answered the king Viśvāmitra: I will not give up Śabalā for a hundred thousand cows, nor for hundreds of millions.
राजन् दास्यामि शबलां राशिभी रजतस्य वा। न परित्यागमर्हेयं मत्सकाशादरिंदम
O king, I will not give up Śabalā for heaps of silver either; I am not fit to part with her, O subduer of foes.
शाश्वती शबला मह्यं कीर्तिरात्मवतो यथा। अस्यां हव्यं च कव्यं च प्राणयात्रा तथैव च
Śabalā has always been mine, as is the fame of a virtuous man; through her, I obtain offerings for gods and ancestors, and my very livelihood.
आयत्तमग्निहोत्रं च बलिर्होमस्तथैव च। स्वाहाकारवषट्कारौ विद्याश्च विविधास्तथा
Through her depend the sacred fire-ritual, offerings, oblations, the utterance of svāhā and vaṣaṭ, and various branches of knowledge.
आयत्तमत्र राजर्षे सर्वमेतन्न संशयः। सर्वस्वमेतत् सत्येन मम तुष्टिकरी तथा
All this, O royal sage, depends on her—there is no doubt; she is my everything, my source of satisfaction and truth.