पुरा रामः पितुर्वाक्याद्दण्डके विजने वने । उषित्वा नव वर्षाणि पञ्च चैव महावने ।। ७.५०.
"Long ago, at his father’s command, Rāma dwelt in the lonely Daṇḍaka forest for fourteen years."
ततो दुःखतरं भूयः सीताया विप्रवासनम् । पौराणां वचनं श्रुत्वा नृशंसं प्रतिभाति मे ।। ७.५०.
Then, the exile of Sita, which is even more painful, seems cruel to me after hearing the words of the citizens.
को नु धर्माश्रयः सूत कर्मण्यस्मिन्यशोहरे । मैथिलीं प्रतिसम्प्राप्तः पौरैर्हीनार्थवादिभिः ।। ७.५०.
O charioteer, what righteousness is there in this act, so disgraceful, which has come about for Maithili because of the citizens, who speak without true reason?
एता वाचो बहुविधाः श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणभाषिताः । सुमन्त्रः श्रद्धया प्राज्ञो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। ७.५०.
Hearing these many words spoken by Lakshmana, Sumantra, wise and faithful, spoke this reply.
न सन्तापस्त्वया कार्यः सौमित्रे मैथिलीं प्रति । दृष्टमेतत्पुरा विप्रैः पितुस्ते लक्ष्मणाग्रतः ।। ७.५०.
Do not grieve, Saumitri, regarding Maithili; this was seen before by the sages, in your father's presence, O Lakshmana.
भविष्यति दृढं रामो दुःखप्रायो ऽपि सौख्यभाक् । प्राप्स्यते च महाबाहुर्विप्रयोगं प्रियैर्ध्रुवम् ।। ७.५०.
Rama will certainly remain steadfast, though afflicted by sorrow, yet he will attain happiness; and surely, the mighty-armed one will experience separation from his loved ones.
त्वां चैव मैथिलीं चैव शत्रुघ्नभरतावुभौ । सन्त्यजिष्यति धर्मात्मा कालेन महता महान् ।। ७.५०.
He, the great and righteous one, will in time abandon you, Maithili, and both Shatrughna and Bharata as well.
इदं त्वयि न वक्तव्यं सौमित्रे भरते ऽपि वा । राज्ञा वो व्याहृतं वाक्यं दुर्वासा यदुवाच ह ।। ७.५०.
But this must not be spoken by you, Saumitri, nor by Bharata; the king spoke these words, which Durvasa also uttered.
महाजनसमीपे च मम चैव नरर्षभ । ऋषिणा व्याहृतं वाक्यं वसिष्ठस्य च सन्निधौ ।। ७.५०.
In the presence of the great assembly and myself, O best of men, the sage spoke these words also before Vasistha.
ऋषेस्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा मामाह पुरुषर्षभः । सूत न क्वचिदेवं ते वक्तव्यं जनसन्निधौ ।। ७.५०.
Hearing the sage's words, the best of men said to me: 'O charioteer, never speak of this in the presence of people.'
तस्याहं लोकपालस्य वाक्यं तत्सुसमाहितः । नैव जात्वनृतं कार्यमिति मे सौम्य दर्शनम् ।। ७.५०.
I, being fully attentive, have always held the word of that lord of the world as not to be made false, O gentle one, such is my view.
सर्वथैव न वक्तव्यं मया सौम्य तवाग्रतः । यदि ते श्रवणे श्रद्धा श्रूयतां रघुनन्दन ।। ७.५०.
In any case, I should not speak of this before you, Saumitri; but if you have faith in hearing, listen, O descendant of Raghu.
यद्यप्यहं नरेन्द्रेण रहस्यं श्रावितः पुरा । तथाप्युदाहरिष्यामि दैवं हि दुरतिक्रमम् ।। ७.५०.
Although I was once told this secret by the king, still I will recount it, for fate is indeed inescapable.
येनेदमीदृशं प्राप्तं दुःखं शोकसमन्वितम् । न त्वया भरते वाच्यं शत्रुघ्नस्यापि सन्निधौ ।। ७.५०.
By whom this sorrowful and painful event has come to pass—yet you must not speak of it to Bharata or in the presence of Shatrughna.
तच्छ्रुत्वा भाषितं तस्य गम्भीरार्थपदं महत् । तथ्यं ब्रूहीति सौमित्रिः सूतं वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् ।। ७.५०.
Hearing his deep and weighty words, Saumitri then said to the charioteer: 'Speak the truth.'
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे पञ्चाशः सर्गः
Thus ends the fiftieth sarga in the glorious Uttarakanda of the ancient and revered Ramayana, composed by the sage Valmiki.
तथा सञ्चोदितः सूतो लक्ष्मणेन महात्मना । तद्वाक्यमृषिणा प्रोक्तं व्याहर्तुमुपचक्रमे ।। ७.५१.
Thus urged by the great-souled Lakshmana, the charioteer began to recount the words spoken by the sage.
पुरा नाम्ना हि दुर्वासा अत्रेः पुत्रो महामुनिः । वसिष्ठस्याश्रमे पुण्ये वार्षिक्यं समुवास ह ।। ७.५१.
Long ago, Durvasa by name, the great sage and son of Atri, stayed for the rainy season at Vasistha's holy hermitage.
तमाश्रमं महातेजाः पिता ते सुमहायशाः । पुरोहितं महात्मानं दिदृक्षुरगमस्त्वयम् ।। ७.५१.
To that hermitage, your father—of great splendor and immense fame—came, wishing to see the great-souled priest.
स दृष्ट्वा सूर्यसङ्काशं ज्वलन्तमिव तेजसा । उपविष्टं वसिष्ठस्य सव्यपार्श्वे महामुनिम् ।। ७.५१.
He saw the great sage, radiant like the sun and blazing with energy, seated at the left side of Vasiṣṭha.
तौ मुनी तापसश्रेष्ठौ विनीतो ह्यभिवादयत् । स ताभ्यां पूजितो राजा स्वागतेनासनेन च ७.५१.
That humble king respectfully greeted those two foremost ascetics; honored by them with words of welcome and a seat, he sat down.
तेषां तत्रोपविष्टानां तास्ताः सुमधुराः कथाः । बभूवुः परमर्षीणां मध्यादित्यगते ऽहनि ।। ७.५१.
As they sat together, those supremely sweet stories of the great seers were recounted until the sun had set.
ततः कथायां कस्याञ्चित्प्राञ्जलिः प्रग्रहो नृपः । उवाच तं महात्मानमत्रेः पुत्रं तपोधनम् ।। ७.५१.
Then, as one story was being told, the king, with joined palms, addressed that great soul, the ascetic son of Atri.
भगवन्किं प्रमाणेन मम वंशो भविष्यति । किमायुश्च हि मे रामः पुत्राश्चान्ये किमायुषः ।। ७.५१.
"Revered one, by what measure will my lineage endure? What will be my lifespan, and that of my son Rāma and my other sons?"
रामस्य च सुता ये स्युस्तेषामायुः कियद्भवेत् । काम्यया भगवन्बूहि वंशस्यास्य गतिं मम ।। ७.५१.
"And what will be the lifespan of Rāma's sons? Out of desire to know, revered one, tell me the destiny of my line."
तच्छ्रुत्वा व्याहृतं वाक्यं राज्ञो दशरथस्य च । दुर्वासाः सुमहातेजा व्याहर्तुमुपचक्रमे ।। ७.५१.
Hearing these words spoken by King Daśaratha, the exceedingly powerful Durvāsas began to reply.
शृणु राजन्पुरावृत्तं तदा देवासुरे युधि । दैत्याः सुरैर्भर्त्स्यमाना भृगुपत्नीं समाश्रिताः ।। ७.५१.
"Hear, O King, what happened long ago in the battle between gods and demons: the Daityas, threatened by the gods, took refuge with the wife of Bhṛgu."
तया दत्ताभयास्तत्र न्यवसन्नभयास्तदा ।। ७.५१.
Granted safety by her, they remained there, free from fear.
तया परिगृहीतांस्तान्दृष्ट्वा क्रुद्धः सुरेश्वरः । चक्रेण शितधारेण भृगुपत्न्याः शिरो ऽहरत् ।। ७.५१.
Seeing them protected by her, the enraged lord of the gods struck off Bhṛgu's wife's head with his sharp-edged discus.
ततस्तां निहतां दृष्ट्वा पत्नीं भृगुकुलोद्वहः । शशाप सहसा क्रुद्धो विष्णुं रिपुकुलार्दनम् ।। ७.५१.
Then, seeing his wife slain, the illustrious scion of Bhṛgu, suddenly enraged, cursed Viṣṇu, destroyer of enemy hosts.