त्रातुमर्हसि मां सौम्य धर्मेण मुनिपुंगव। त्राता त्वं हि नरश्रेष्ठ सर्वेषां त्वं हि भावनः
'O gentle one, foremost of sages, you ought to protect me by righteousness. For you, best of men, are the refuge and creator of all.'
राजा च कृतकार्यः स्यादहं दीर्घायुरव्ययः। स्वर्गलोकमुपाश्नीयां तपस्तप्त्वा ह्यनुत्तमम्
'Let the king accomplish his purpose, let me have long and unending life. Having performed supreme austerity, may I attain the heavenly world.'
स मे नाथो ह्यनाथस्य भव भव्येन चेतसा। पितेव पुत्रं धर्मात्मंस्त्रातुमर्हसि किल्बिषात्
'Be my protector, for I am without protector, with a benevolent heart. Like a father to his son, O righteous one, you ought to save me from sin.'
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रो महातपाः। सान्त्वयित्वा बहुविधं पुत्रानिदमुवाच ह
Hearing these words, the great ascetic Viśvāmitra comforted him in many ways, and then spoke to his sons.
यत्कृते पितरः पुत्राञ्जनयन्ति शुभार्थिनः। परलोकहितार्थाय तस्य कालोऽयमागतः
'For the sake of whom fathers desire sons, wishing for good, for the benefit of the next world—now is that time come.'
अयं मुनिसुतो बालो मत्तः शरणमिच्छति। अस्य जीवितमात्रेण प्रियं कुरुत पुत्रकाः
'This boy, son of a sage, seeks refuge with me. My sons, do what is pleasing by giving him your very life.'
सर्वे सुकृतकर्माणः सर्वे धर्मपरायणाः। पशुभूता नरेन्द्रस्य तृप्तिमग्नेः प्रयच्छत
'All of you, who have performed virtuous deeds and are devoted to righteousness, become the sacrificial victim for the king and satisfy the fire.'
नाथवांश्च शुनःशेपो यज्ञश्चाविघ्नतो भवेत्। देवतास्तर्पिताश्च स्युर्मम चापि कृतं वचः
'Śunaḥśepa will have a protector, the sacrifice will proceed without hindrance, the gods will be gratified, and my word will be fulfilled.'
मुनेस्तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा मधुच्छन्दादयः सुताः। साभिमानं नरश्रेष्ठ सलीलमिदमब्रुवन्
Hearing the sage's words, his sons, beginning with Madhucchandā, replied with pride and in tears, O best of men.
कथमात्मसुतान् हित्वा त्रायसेऽन्यसुतं विभो। अकार्यमिव पश्यामः श्वमांसमिव भोजने
'How can you abandon your own sons and save another's child, O lord? We see this as improper, like eating the flesh of a dog.'
तेषां तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा पुत्राणां मुनिपुंगवः। क्रोधसंरक्तनयनो व्याहर्तुमुपचक्रमे
Hearing these words of his sons, the foremost of sages, his eyes reddened with anger, began to speak.
निःसाध्वसमिदं प्रोक्तं धर्मादपि विगर्हितम्। अतिक्रम्य तु मद्वाक्यं दारुणं रोमहर्षणम्
This has been spoken without fear, yet it is condemned even by righteousness; having disregarded my words, it is harsh and hair-raising.
श्वमांसभोजिनः सर्वे वासिष्ठा इव जातिषु। पूर्णं वर्षसहस्रं तु पृथिव्यामनुवत्स्यथ
All of you, like the descendants of Vasiṣṭha, will eat dog meat by birth; for a full thousand years you shall remain on earth.
कृत्वा शापसमायुक्तान् पुत्रान् मुनिवरस्तदा। शुनःशेपमुवाचार्तं कृत्वा रक्षां निरामयाम्
Then the great sage, having pronounced the curse upon his sons, addressed the distressed Śunaḥśepa, having ensured his protection and well-being.
पवित्रपाशैराबद्धो रक्तमाल्यानुलेपनः। वैष्णवं यूपमासाद्य वाग्भिरग्निमुदाहर
Bound with sacred cords, adorned with red garlands and unguents, approach the Viṣṇu-post and, with words, invoke the fire.
इमे च गाथे द्वे दिव्ये गायेथा मुनिपुत्रक। अम्बरीषस्य यज्ञेऽस्मिंस्ततः सिद्धिमवाप्स्यसि
And, O young sage, you should sing these two divine verses at the sacrifice of Ambarīṣa; then you will attain success.
शुनःशेपो गृहीत्वा ते द्वे गाथे सुसमाहितः। त्वरया राजसिंहं तमम्बरीषमुवाच ह
Śunaḥśepa, having carefully taken those two verses, quickly addressed that lion among kings, Ambarīṣa.
राजसिंह महाबुद्धे शीघ्रं गच्छावहे वयम्। निवर्तयस्व राजेन्द्र दीक्षां च समुदाहर
"O lion among kings, great in wisdom, let us go quickly; O king of kings, end your vow and proclaim the completion of the rite."
तद् वाक्यमृषिपुत्रस्य श्रुत्वा हर्षसमन्वितः। जगाम नृपतिः शीघ्रं यज्ञवाटमतन्द्रितः
Hearing the words of the sage's son, the king, filled with joy, swiftly went to the sacrificial enclosure, unwearied.
सदस्यानुमते राजा पवित्रकृतलक्षणम्। पशुं रक्ताम्बरं कृत्वा यूपे तं समबन्धयत्
With the approval of the officiating priests, the king, marking the victim with a sacred sign, bound him to the post, clothed in red garments.
स बद्धो वाग्भिरग्र्याभिरभितुष्टाव वै सुरौ। इन्द्रमिन्द्रानुजं चैव यथावन्मुनिपुत्रकः
Thus bound, the sage's son praised Indra and Indra's younger brother with excellent words, as was proper.
ततः प्रीतः सहस्राक्षो रहस्यस्तुतितोषितः। दीर्घमायुस्तदा प्रादाच्छुनःशेपाय वासवः
Then Indra, the thousand-eyed, pleased by the secret hymn of praise, granted long life to Śunaḥśepa.
स च राजा नरश्रेष्ठ यज्ञस्य च समाप्तवान्। फलं बहुगुणं राम सहस्राक्षप्रसादजम्
And that king, best of men, completed the sacrifice and obtained abundant fruit, O Rāma, by the grace of the thousand-eyed one.
विश्वामित्रोऽपि धर्मात्मा भूयस्तेपे महातपाः। पुष्करेषु नरश्रेष्ठ दशवर्षशतानि च
Viśvāmitra, too, righteous-souled and of great austerity, performed further penance at Puṣkara, O best of men, for another hundred years.
thumb|त्रिषष्ठितमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे त्रिषष्ठितमः सर्गः ॥१-
Hear now the sixty-third chapter in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa.
पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु व्रतस्नातं महामुनिम्। अभ्यगच्छन् सुराः सर्वे तपः फलचिकीर्षवः
When the thousand years were complete, all the gods approached the great sage, who had bathed after his vow, wishing to grant the fruit of his austerity.
अब्रवीत् सुमहातेजा ब्रह्मा सुरुचिरं वचः। ऋषिस्त्वमसि भद्रं ते स्वार्जितैः कर्मभिः शुभैः
Brahmā, of immense brilliance, spoke these pleasing words: "You are a sage, blessed one, by your own virtuous deeds."
तमेवमुक्त्वा देवेशस्त्रिदिवं पुनरभ्यगात्। विश्वामित्रो महातेजा भूयस्तेपे महत् तपः
Having spoken thus, the lord of the gods returned again to heaven; Viśvāmitra, of great energy, undertook even greater austerity.
ततः कालेन महता मेनका परमाप्सराः। पुष्करेषु नरश्रेष्ठ स्नातुं समुपचक्रमे
Then, after a long time, Menakā, the foremost of apsarases, began to bathe at Puṣkara, O best of men.
तां ददर्श महातेजा मेनकां कुशिकात्मजः। रूपेणाप्रतिमां तत्र विद्युतं जलदे यथा
The mighty and radiant son of Kuśika beheld Menakā there, incomparable in beauty, like lightning in a cloud.