यो ऽपि पालयते विप्रः सो ऽपि गामन्वगाद्द्रुतम् । गत्वा तमृषिमाचष्ट मम गौरिति सत्वरम् ।। ७.५३.
The Brahmin who was keeping the cow also quickly followed her, and, reaching the sage, promptly declared, 'This cow is mine.'
स्पर्शिता राजसिंहेन मम दत्ता नृगेण ह । तयोर्ब्राह्मणयोर्वादो महानासीद्विपश्चितोः ।। ७.५३.
'She was touched by the royal lion and given to me by Nṛga,' he said; thus a great dispute arose between the two wise Brahmins.
विवदन्तौ ततो ऽन्योन्यं दातारमभिजग्मतुः । तौ राजभवनद्वारि न प्राप्तौ नृगशासनम् ।। ७.५३.
Arguing with each other, they both went to the giver; but at the palace gate, they did not receive an audience with Nṛga.
अहोरात्राण्यनेकानि वसन्तौ क्रोधमीयतुः । ऊचतुश्च महात्मानौ तावुभौ द्विजसत्तमौ ७.५३.
Staying there for many days and nights, they grew angry; and those two great-souled, foremost Brahmins spoke together.
अर्थिनां कार्यसिद्ध्यर्थं यस्मात्त्वं नैषि दर्शनम् । अदृश्यः सर्वभूतानां कृकलासो भविष्यसि ।। ७.५३.
'Because you do not grant an audience to those seeking justice, you shall become invisible to all beings, transformed into a lizard.'
बहुवर्षसहस्राणि बहुवर्षशतानि च । श्वभ्रे ऽस्मिन् कृकलासो वै दीर्घकालं वसिष्यसि ।। ७.५३.
'For many thousands and hundreds of years, you will remain as a lizard in this pit for a long time.'
उत्पत्स्यते हि लोके ऽस्मिन्यदूनां कीर्तिवर्धनः । वासुदेव इति ख्यातो विष्णुः पुरुषविग्रहः ।। ७.५३.
'But in this world, one will be born who increases the fame of the Yadus, known as Vāsudeva, Viṣṇu in human form.'
स ते मोक्षयिता राजंस्तस्माच्छापाद्भविष्यसि । कृता च तेन कालेन निष्कृतिस्ते भविष्यति ।। ७.५३.
'He will deliver you, O king, from this curse; and by that time, your atonement will be complete.'
भारावतरणार्थं हि नरनारायणावुभौ । उत्पत्स्येते महावीर्यौ कलौ युग उपस्थिते ।। ७.५३.
'For the purpose of relieving the earth's burden, both Nara and Nārāyaṇa, of great might, will be born when the age of Kali arrives.'
एवं तौ शापमुत्सृज्य ब्राह्मणौ विगतज्वरौ । तां गां हि दुर्बलां वृद्धां ददतुर्ब्राह्मणाय वै ।। ७.५३.
Thus, having pronounced the curse, the two Brahmins, their anger gone, gave that weak and old cow to the Brahmin.
एवं स राजा तं शापमुपभुङ्क्ते सुदारुणम् ।। ७.५३.
Thus, that king endured the very terrible curse.
कार्यार्थिनां विमर्दो हि राज्ञां दोषाय कल्पते । तच्छीघ्रं दर्शनं मह्यमभिवर्तन्तु कार्यिणः ।। ७.५३.
For disputes among those seeking action are a cause of fault for kings; let those with business approach me swiftly for an audience.
सुकृतस्य हि कार्यस्य फलं नापैति पार्थिवः । तस्माद्गच्छ प्रतीक्षस्व सौमित्रे कार्यवाञ्जनः ।। ७.५३.
The fruit of a good deed does not depart from the king; therefore, go and wait, Saumitri, as one engaged in duty.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे त्रिपञ्चाशः सर्गः
Thus ends the fifty-third sarga in the glorious Uttarakanda of the venerable Ramayana, the ancient epic composed by sage Valmiki.
रामस्य भाषितं श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणः परमार्थवित् । उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं राघवं दीप्ततेजसम् ।। ७.५४.
Hearing Rama's words, Lakshmana, who understood the ultimate truth, spoke with joined palms to the radiant descendant of Raghu.
अल्पापराधे काकुत्स्थ द्विजाभ्यां शाप ईदृशः । महान्नृगस्य राजर्षेर्यमदण्ड इवापरः ।। ७.५४.
O descendant of Kakutstha, for a minor offense, such a curse was given by the two Brahmins; it was as severe as the punishment of Yama for the great royal sage Nriga.
श्रुत्वा तु पापसंयुक्तमात्मानं पुरषर्षभ । किमुवाच नृगो राजा द्विजौ क्रोधसमन्वितौ ।। ७.५४.
Having heard of his own association with sin, O foremost among men, what did King Nriga say to the two Brahmins, who were filled with anger?
लक्ष्मणेनैवमुक्तस्तु राघवः पुनरब्रवीत् । शृणु सौम्य यथा पूर्वं स राजा शापविक्षतः ।। ७.५४.
Thus addressed by Lakshmana, Rama spoke again: 'Listen, gentle one, to how that king, afflicted by the curse, acted in former times.'
अथाध्वनि गतौ विप्रौ विज्ञाय स नृगस्तदा । आहूय मन्त्रिणः सर्वान्नैगमान्सपुरोधसः ।। ७.५४.
Then, when the Brahmins had departed on their journey, Nriga summoned all his ministers, citizens, and priests.
तानुवाच नृगो राजा सर्वाश्च प्रकृतीस्तथा । दुःखेन सुसमाविष्टः श्रूयतां मे समाहितैः ।। ७.५४.
King Nriga addressed them, as well as all the people, being deeply afflicted with sorrow: 'Let those who are attentive listen to me.'
नारदः पर्वतश्चैव मम दत्त्वा महद्भयम् । गतौ त्रिभुवनं भद्रौ वायुभूतावनिन्दितौ ।। ७.५४.
Narada and Parvata, having given me great fear, departed, O noble ones, traversing the three worlds, faultless in their wind-like forms.
कुमारो ऽयं वसुर्नाम स देवो ऽद्याभिषिच्यताम् । श्वभ्रं च यत्सुखस्पर्शं क्रियतां शिल्पिभिर्मम । यत्राहं सङ्क्षयिष्यामि शापं ब्राह्मणनिःसृतम् ।। ७.५४.
This prince named Vasu is to be consecrated as king today; let an agreeable pit be made by artisans for me, where I may exhaust the curse issued by the Brahmins.
वर्षघ्नमेकं श्वभ्रं तु हिमघ्नमपरं तथा । ग्रीष्मघ्नं तु सुखस्पर्शमेकं कुर्वन्तु शिल्पिनः ।। ७.५४.
Let the artisans make one pit to ward off the rains, another to ward off the cold, and a third, pleasant to the touch, to ward off the heat.
फलवन्तश्च ये वृक्षाः पुष्पवत्यश्च या लताः । विरोप्यन्तां बहुविधाश्छायावन्तश्च गुल्मिनः ।। ७.५४.
Let trees bearing fruit and creepers bearing flowers be planted in abundance, and many shady bushes as well.
क्रियतां रमणीयं च श्वभ्राणां सर्वतोदिशम् । सुखमत्र वसिष्यामि यावत्कालस्य पर्ययः ।। ७.५४.
Let the pits be made delightful in every direction; I will dwell here comfortably until the end of the appointed time.
पुष्पाणि च सुगन्धीनि क्रियतां तेषु नित्यशः । परिवार्य यथा मे स्युरध्यर्धं योजनं तथा ।। ७.५४.
Let fragrant flowers be arranged there daily, and let them be enclosed so as to cover half a yojana.
एवं कृत्वा विधानं स सन्दिदेश वसं तदा । धर्मनित्यः प्रजाः पुत्र क्षत्रधर्मेण पालय ।। ७.५४.
Having thus made arrangements, he instructed Vasu: 'Always uphold righteousness, my son, and protect the people by the duty of a kshatriya.'
प्रत्यक्षं ते यथा शापो द्विजाभ्यां मयि पातितः । नरश्रेष्ठ सरोषाभ्यामपराधे ऽपि तादृशे ।। ७.५४.
As the curse cast upon me by the two Brahmins is evident to you, O best of men, though the offense was slight, their anger was great.
मा कृथास्तनुसन्तापं मत्कृते ऽपि नरर्षभ । कृतान्तः कुशलः पुत्र येनास्मि व्यसनीकृतः ।। ७.५४.
Do not grieve for my sake, O foremost of men; O son, fate is skilled, by which I have been brought to misfortune.
प्राप्तव्यान्येव प्राप्नोति गन्तव्यान्येव गच्छति । लब्धव्यान्येव लभते दुःखानि च सुखानि च ।। ७.५४.
One attains only what is to be attained, goes only where one is destined to go; one obtains only what is to be obtained, whether sorrow or happiness.