एवमुक्तस्तु तेनायं श्रीमान् क्षत्रियपुङ्गवः । उवाच लक्ष्मणं वाक्यं सर्वशास्त्रविशारदम् ।। ७.५८.
Thus addressed by him, this illustrious foremost Kṣatriya spoke to Lakṣmaṇa, who was skilled in all scriptures.
रामो रमयतां श्रेष्ठो भ्रातरं दीप्ततेजसम् । न सर्वत्र क्षमा वीर पुरुषेषु प्रदृश्यते ।। ७.५८.
Rāma, best among those who delight, addressed his brother, blazing with energy: 'O hero, patience is not seen in all men everywhere.'
सौमित्रे दुःसहो रोषो यथा क्षान्तो ययातिना । सत्त्वानुगं पुरस्कृत्य तन्निबोध समाहितः ।। ७.५८.
Saumitri, unbearable anger was subdued by Yayāti, guided by virtue; understand this attentively.
नहुषस्य सुतो राजा ययातिः पौरवर्धनः । तस्य भार्याद्वयं सौम्य रूपेणाप्रतिमं भुवि ।। ७.५८.
Yayāti, son of Nahusha, king and increaser of the Paurava line, had two wives, O gentle one, unmatched in beauty on earth.
एका तु तस्य राजर्षेर्नाहुषस्य पुरस्कृता । शर्मिष्ठा नाम दैतेयी दुहिता वृषपर्वणः ।। ७.५८.
One, honored by the royal sage Nahusha, was named Śarmiṣṭhā, a Daitya, daughter of Vṛṣaparvan.
अन्या तूशनसः पत्नी ययातेः पुरुषर्षभ । न तु सा दयिता राज्ञो देवयानी सुमध्यमा ।। ७.५८.
The other was the wife of Uśanas, O foremost among men; but she was not dear to the king—Devayānī, of lovely form.
तयोः पुत्रौ तु सम्भूतौ रूपवन्तौ समाहितौ । शर्मिष्ठा ऽजनयत्पूरुं देवयानी यदुं तदा ।। ७.५८.
From these two, two sons were born, handsome and composed; Śarmiṣṭhā bore Pūru, Devayānī bore Yadu.
पूरुस्तु दयितो राज्ञो गुणैर्मातृकृतेन च । ततो दुःखसमाविष्टो यदुर्मातरमब्रवीत् ।। ७.५८.
Pūru was dear to the king, for his virtues and his mother's deeds; thus, Yadu, afflicted by sorrow, spoke to his mother.
भार्गवस्य कुले जाता देवस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः । सहसे हृद्गतं दुःखमवमानं च दुःसहम् ।। ७.५८.
Born in the lineage of Bhṛgu, of the god with flawless deeds, you endure the grief in your heart and the unbearable humiliation.
आवां च सहितौ देवि प्रविशाव हुताशनम् । राजा तु रमतां सार्धं दैत्यपुत्र्या बहुक्षपाः ।। ७.५८.
Let us both together, O lady, enter the fire; but let the king spend many nights in pleasure with the daughter of the Daitya.
यदि वा सहनीयं ते मामनुज्ञातुमर्हसि । क्षम त्वं न क्षमिष्ये ऽहं मरिष्यामि न संशयः ।। ७.५८.
Or, if you can endure it, you should permit me; forgive me, for I will not forgive—without doubt, I shall die.
पुत्रस्य भाषितं श्रुत्वा परमार्तस्य रोदतः । देवयानी तु सङ्क्रुद्धा सस्मार पितरं तदा ।। ७.५८.
Hearing her son's words, spoken in utmost distress and weeping, Devayānī, filled with anger, then remembered her father.
इङ्गितं तदभिज्ञाय दुहितुर्भार्गवस्तदा । आगतस्त्वरितं तत्र देवयानी तु यत्र सा ।। ७.५८.
Recognizing his daughter's gesture, Bhārgava at once came swiftly to the place where Devayānī was.
दृष्ट्वा चाप्रकृतिस्थां तामप्रहृष्टामचेतनाम् । पिता दुहितरं वाक्यं किमेतदिति चाब्रवीत् ।। ७.५८.
Seeing her out of her natural state, joyless and unconscious, her father spoke to his daughter, saying, 'What is this?'
पृच्छन्तमसकृत्तं वै भार्गवं दीप्ततेजसम् । देवयानी तु सङ्क्रुद्धा पितरं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ।। ७.५८.
As the radiant Bhārgava repeatedly questioned her, Devayānī, filled with anger, spoke these words to her father.
अहमग्निं विषं तीक्ष्णमपो वा मुनिसत्तम । भक्षयिष्ये प्रवेक्ष्यामि न तु शक्ष्यामि जीवितुम् ।। ७.५८.
O best of sages, I will consume fire, or deadly poison, or water; I will enter them, for I cannot bear to live.
न मां त्वमवजानीषे दुःखितामवमानिताम् । वृक्षस्यावज्ञया ब्रह्मंश्छिद्यन्ते वृक्षजीविनः ।। ७.५८.
You do not disregard me, though I am afflicted and dishonored; by the contempt of a tree, O Brāhmaṇa, those who live on trees are cut down.
अवज्ञया च राजर्षिः परिभूय च भार्गव । मय्यवज्ञां प्रयुङ्क्ते हि न च मां बहु मन्यते ।। ७.५८.
By contempt and insult, O Bhārgava, the royal sage has treated me with scorn and does not value me highly.
तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कोपेनाभिपरिप्लुतः । व्याहर्तुमुपचक्राम भार्गवो नहुषात्मजम् ।। ७.५८.
Hearing her words, filled with anger, Bhārgava began to speak to the son of Nahuṣa.
यस्मान्मामवजानीषे नाहुष त्वं दुरात्मवान् । जरया परया जीर्णः शैथिल्यमुपयास्यसि ।। ७.५८.
Because you have scorned me, O evil-minded son of Nahuṣa, you shall be worn out by extreme old age and fall into decline.
एवमुक्त्वा दुहितरं समाश्वास्य च भार्गवः । पुनर्जगाम ब्रह्मर्षिर्भवनं स्वं महायशाः ।। ७.५८.
Having thus spoken and consoled his daughter, the illustrious Brāhmaṇa sage Bhārgava returned again to his own abode.
स एवमुक्त्वा द्विजपुङ्गवाग्र्यः सुतां समाश्वास्य च देवयानीम् । पुनर्ययौ सूर्यसमानतेजा दत्त्वा च शापं नहुषात्मजाय ।। ७.५८.
Thus having spoken, the foremost of twice-born sages, radiant as the sun, comforted his daughter Devayānī and, after cursing the son of Nahuṣa, departed.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये श्रीमदुत्तरकाण्डे ऽष्टपञ्चाशः सर्गः
Thus ends the fifty-eighth sarga in the glorious Uttarakāṇḍa of the ancient and revered Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki.
श्रुत्वा तूशनसं क्रुद्धं तदा ऽ ऽर्तो नहुषात्मजः । जरां परमिकां प्राप्य यदुं वचनमब्रवीत् ।। ७.५९.
Hearing Uśanas enraged, the son of Nahuṣa, afflicted, having been overtaken by extreme old age, spoke to Yadu these words.
यदो त्वमसि धर्मज्ञो मदर्थं प्रतिगृह्यताम् । जरां परमिकां पुत्र भोगै रंस्ये महायशः ।। ७.५९.
O Yadu, you are righteous; for my sake, accept this extreme old age, my son of great fame, so that I may enjoy pleasures.
न तावत्कृतकृत्यो ऽस्मि विषयेषु नरर्षभ । अनुभूय तदा कामं ततः प्राप्स्याम्यहं जराम् ।। ७.५९.
I have not yet fulfilled my desires among pleasures, O best of men; after experiencing my wishes, then I shall accept old age.
यदुस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच नरर्षभम् । पुत्रस्ते दयितः पूरुः प्रतिगृह्णातु वै जराम् ।। ७.५९.
Hearing those words, Yadu replied to the best of men, 'Let your beloved son Pūru accept old age.'
बहिष्कृतो ऽहमर्थेषु सन्निकर्षाच्च पार्थिव । प्रतिगृह्णातु वै राजन् क सहाश्नाति भोजनम् ।। ७.५९.
O King, having been cast out from affairs and from close association, who would accept food from me, and who would eat with me?
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राजा पूरुमथाब्रवीत् । इयं जरा महाबाहो मदर्थं प्रतिगृह्यताम् ।। ७.५९.
Hearing these words, the king spoke to Puru: 'Mighty-armed one, let this old age be accepted by you for my sake.'
नाहुषेणैवमुक्तस्तु पूरुः प्राञ्जलिरब्रवीत् । धन्यो ऽस्म्यनुगृहीतो ऽस्मि शासने ऽस्मि तव स्थितः ।। ७.५९.
Thus addressed by Nahusha, Puru, with joined palms, said: 'I am blessed, I am favored, I stand under your command.'