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.
पूर्वे जात्यन्तरे वत्स मा विषादं कुरुष्व ह ।। ७.५४.
In a previous birth, my child, do not fall into despair.
एवमुक्त्वा नृपस्तत्र सुतं राजा महायशाः । श्वभ्रं जगाम सुकृतं वासाय पुरुषर्षभ ।। ७.५४.
Having spoken thus, the illustrious king addressed his son there, and, O best of men, went to the blessed chasm to dwell.
एवं प्रविश्यैव नृपस्तदानीं श्वभ्रं महारत्नविभूषितं तत् । सम्पादयामास तदा महात्मा शापं द्विजाभ्यां हि रुषा विमुक्तम् ।। ७.५४.
Thus, the king entered that chasm, adorned with great jewels, and at that time, the great-souled one fulfilled the curse released in anger by the two Brahmins.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे चतुःपञ्चाशः सर्गः
Thus ends the fifty-fourth sarga in the glorious Uttarakāṇḍa of the ancient and revered Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki.
एष ते नृगशापस्य विस्तरो ऽभिहितो मया । यद्यस्ति श्रवणे श्रद्धा शृणुष्वेहापरां कथाम् ।। ७.५५.
This is the full account of the curse of Nṛga as told by me; if you have faith in hearing, listen now to another story here.
एवमुक्तस्तु रामेण सौमित्रिः पुनरब्रवीत् । तृप्तिराश्चर्यभूतानां कथानां नास्ति मे नृप ।। ७.५५.
Thus addressed by Rāma, Saumitri spoke again: 'O king, I never tire of wondrous tales.'
लक्ष्मणेनैवमुक्तस्तु राम इक्ष्वाकुनन्दनः । कथां परमधर्मिष्ठां व्याहर्तुमुपचक्रमे ।। ७.५५.
When Lakṣmaṇa had spoken thus, Rāma, the delight of the Ikṣvāku line, began to narrate a most righteous story.
आसीद्राजा निमिर्नाम इक्ष्वाकूणां महात्मनाम् । पुत्रो द्वादशमो वीर्ये धर्मे च परिनिष्ठितः ।। ७.५५.
There was a king named Nimi, the twelfth son among the great-souled Ikṣvākus, steadfast in strength and virtue.
स राजा वीर्यसम्पन्नः पुरं देवपुरोपमम् । निवेशयामास तदा अभ्याशे गौतमस्य तु ।। ७.५५.
That king, endowed with great prowess, established a city rivaling the city of the gods, near the hermitage of Gautama.
पुरस्य सुकृतं नाम वैजयन्तमिति श्रुतम् । निवेशं यत्र राजर्षिर्निमिश्चक्रे महायशाः ।। ७.५५.
The city was called Sukṛta, also known as Vaijayanta, where the illustrious royal sage Nimi made his abode.