विश्वामित्रो महातेजाः प्रस्थितान् वीक्ष्य तानृषीन् | अब्रवीन्नरशार्दूल सर्वांस्तान् वनवासिनः || १-६१-१
vishvaamitro mahaatejaaH prasthitaan viikshya taan R^iShiin | abraviit narashaarduula sarvaan taan vana vaasinaH || 1-61-1
"Oh, tigerly man Rama, on giving farewell to those sages who came at his invitation and who have started to go back after the ritual of Trishanku is over, then that great-resplendent Vishvamitra spoke to all of the sages who are forest dwellers that remained with him." Thus Shatananda continued to narrate the legend of Vishvamitra. [1-61-1]
महान् विघ्नः प्रवृत्तोऽयं दक्षिणामास्थितो दिशम् | दिशमन्यां प्रपत्स्यामस्तत्र तप्स्यामहे तपः || १-६१-२
mahaavighnaH pravR^itto ayam dakShiNaam aasthito disham | disham anyaam prapatsyaamaH tatra tapsyaamahe tapaH || 1-61-2
While depending on this southern quarter this gross hindrance has cropped up for my ascesis in the shape of Trishanku's ascent to heaven, hence we will go to another direction, and there we continue ascesis. [1-61-2]
पश्चिमायां विशालायां पुष्करेषु महात्मनः | सुखं तपश्चरिष्यामः परं तद्धि तपोवनम् || १-६१-३
pashcimaayaam vishaalaayaam puShkareShu mahaatmanaH | sukham tapaH cariShyaamaH param tat hi tapo vanam || 1-61-3
'Oh, great-souled sages, we can conveniently undertake our ascesis in the vast of westerly direction where holy lakesides are there. That would be an august ascetical forest, isn't it.' Thus Vishvamitra said to fellow sages in his camp. [1-61-3]
एवमुक्त्वा महातेजाः पुष्करेषु महामुनिः | तप उग्रं दुराधर्षं तेपे मूलफलाशनः || १-६१-४
evam uktvaa mahaatejaaH puShkareShu mahaamuniH | tapa ugram duraadharSham tepe muula phala ashanaH || 1-61-4
On saying thus that most brilliant and great saint Vishvamitra performed an unhindered and rigorous ascesis subsisting only on fruits and tubers after reaching the lakeside of holy lakes. [1-61-4]
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु अयोध्याधिपतिर्महान् | अंबरीष इति ख्यातो यष्टुं समुपचक्रमे || १-६१-५
etasmin eva kaale tu ayodhyaa adhipatiH mahaan | aMbariiSha iti khyaato yaShTum samupacakrame || 1-61-5
In the meanwhile the great king of Ayodhya, renowned as Ambariisha, embarked on to perform a Vedic-ritual. [1-61-5]
तस्य वै यजमानस्य पशुमिन्द्रो जहार ह | प्रणष्टे तु पशौ विप्रो राजानमिदमब्रवीत् || १-६१-६
tasya vai yajamaanasya pashum indro jahaara ha | praNaShTe tu pashau vipro raajaanam idam abraviit || 1-61-6
But Indra impounded the animal of the principal of that ritual, namely king Ambariisha, and when that animal is really vanished, the officiant Brahman of the ritual spoke this to that king. [1-61-6]
पशुरभ्याहृतो राजन् प्रणष्टस्तव दुर्नयात् | अरक्षितारं राजानं घ्नन्ति दोषा नरेश्वर || १-६१-७
pashuH abhyaahR^itaH raajan praNaShTaH tava dur.hnayaat | arakShitaaram raajaanam ghnanti doShaa nareshvara || 1-61-7
Oh, king, the animal you have fetched for the ritual has gone astray owing to your incautiousness. Oh, king, unguarded items of the ritual will themselves become destructive blemishes for that king who is performing the ritual. [1-61-7]
प्रायश्चित्तं महद्ध्येतन्नरं वा पुरुषर्षभ | आनयस्व पशुं शीघ्रं यावत् कर्म प्रवर्तते || १-६१-८
praayaH cittam mahat hi etat naram vaa puruSharShabha | aanayasva pashum shiighram yaavat karma pravar.htate || 1-61-8
'Oh, the best man among men, you have to make great amends for the loss of animal as that animal alone which was intended but now missing shall be used in ritual. Or, a man may be fetched as ritual-animal, and only after that the deeds of the ritual can be continued.' Thus, the priests of the ritual said to king Ambariisha. [1-61-8]
उपाध्यायवचः श्रुत्वा स राजा पुरुषर्षभ | अन्वियेष महाबुद्धिः पशुं गोभिः सहस्रशः || १-६१-९
upaadhyaaya vacaH shrutvaa sa raajaa puruSharShabha | anviyeSha mahaabuddhiH pashum gobhiH sahasrashaH || 1-61-9
On hearing the words of his teacher, oh, the best one among men, Rama, he that highly rule-obedient king tried for a human-ritual-animal for a barter of thousands of cows. [1-61-9]
देशान् जनपदांस्तांस्तान्नगराणि वनानि च | आश्रमाणि च पुण्यानि मार्गमाणो महीपतिः || १-६१-१० स पुत्रसहितं तात सभार्यं रघुनंदन | भृगुतुंगे समासीनमृचीकं संददर्श ह || १-६१-११
deshaan janapadaan taan taan nagaraaNi vanaani ca | aashramaaNi ca puNyaani maargamaaNo mahiipatiH || 1-61-10 sa putra sahitam taata sa bhaaryam raghunaMdana | bhR^igutuMge samaasiinam R^iciikam saMdadarsha ha || 1-61-11
While that king is searching those and those provinces, villages, forests, townships, and even the pious hermitages, oh, dear Rama, the legatee of Raghu's dynasty, that king has indeed seen Sage Riciika, who is well settled on Mt. Bhrigutunga along with his sons and wife. [1-61-10, 11]
तमुवाच महातेजाः प्रणम्याभिप्रसाद्य च | महर्षिं तपसा दीप्तं राजर्षिरमितप्रभः || १-६१-१२ पृष्ट्वा सर्वत्र कुशलमृचीकं तमिदं वचः |
gavaam shata sahasreNa vikriiNiiShe sutam yadi || 1-61-13 pashoH arthe mahaabhaaga kR^ita kR^ityo asmi bhaargava |
On reverencing and on obtaining the grace of ascetically brilliant great Sage Riciika, and even on asking him about his wellbeing in every aspect, that kingly sage Ambariisha, who is with great resplendence and whose brilliance is illimitable, said this word to that sage. [1-61-12, 13a]
गवां शतसहस्रेण विक्रीणीषे सुतं यदि || १-६१-१३ पशोरर्थे महाभाग कृतकृत्योऽस्मि भार्गव |
sarve parigataa deshaa yaj~niyam na labhe pashum || 1-61-14 daatum ar.hhasi muulyena sutam ekam ito mama |
Oh, godlike sage, if you bargain your son with a hundred thousand cows for the purpose of a ritual-animal, oh, the successor Sage Bhrigu, I deem my ends are achieved. [1-61-13b, 14a]
सर्वे परिगता देशा यज्ञियं न लभे पशुम् || १-६१-१४ दातुमर्हसि मूल्येन सुतमेकमितो मम |
evam ukto mahaatejaa R^iciikaH tu abraviit vacaH || 1-61-15 na aham jyeShTham nara shreShTha vikriiNiiyaam kathaMcana |
'All the provinces are went over but unobtainable is that animal of the ritual, hence it will be apt of you to give me one son from among your sons, for a value.' Thus, king Ambariisha bargained with the sage. [1-61-14b, 15a]
एवमुक्तो महातेजा ऋचीकस्त्वब्रवीद्वचः || १-६१-१५ नाहं ज्येष्ठं नरश्रेष्ठ विक्रीणीयां कथंचन |
R^iciikasya vacaH shrutvaa teShaam maataa mahaatmanaam || 1-61-16 uvaaca nara shaarduulam aMbariiSham idam vacaH |
When that great-resplendent Sage Riciika is addressed thus, he said this word, 'oh, best of men, I cannot possibly sell my eldest son, in anyway.' [1-61-15b, 16a]
ऋचीकस्य वचः श्रुत्वा तेषां माता महात्मनाम् || १-६१-१६ उवाच नरशार्दूलमंबरीषमिदं वचः |
avikreyam sutam jyeShTham bhagavaan aaha bhaargavaH || 1-61-17 mama api dayitam viddhi kaniShTham shunakam prabho | tasmaat kaniiyasam putram na daasye tava paarthiva || 1-61-18
On hearing the words of Sage Riciika the mother of those great-souled sons spoke this word to the tigerly-man Ambariisha. [1-61-16b, 17a]
अविक्रेयं सुतं ज्येष्ठं भगवानाह भार्गवः || १-६१-१७ ममापि दयितं विद्धि कनिष्ठं शुनकं प्रभो | तस्मात् कनीयसं पुत्रं न दास्ये तव पार्थिव || १-६१-१८
praayeNa hi narashreShTha jyeShThaaH pitR^iShu vallabhaaH | maatR^INaam ca kaniiyaaMsaH tasmaat rakShe kaniiyasam || 1-61-19
The most reverential sage and the one from Bhaargava dynasty, my husband, said that the eldest son is un-sellable. Thereof oh, lord, you must know that my youngest son, namely Shunaka, is a cherished one for me. Therefore oh, king, I will not give my youngest son to you, either. [1-61-17b, 18]
प्रायेण हि नरश्रेष्ठ ज्येष्ठाः पितृषु वल्लभाः | मातॄणां च कनीयांसस्तस्माद्रक्षे कनीयसम् || १-६१-१९
pitaa jyeShTham avikreyam maataa ca aaha kaniiyasam | vikretam madhyamam manye raajaputra nayasva maam || 1-61-21
'Generally eldest sons are fathers' favourites, oh, best king among men, and mothers' favourites are the youngest, isn't it! Therefor, I have to tend my youngest son.' Thus, wife Sage Ruciika said to Ambariisha. [1-61-19]
उक्तवाक्ये मुनौ तस्मिन् मुनिपत्न्यां तथैव च | शुनःशेपः स्वयं राम मध्यमो वाक्यमब्रवीत् || १-६१-२०
atha raajaa mahaabaaho vaakya ante brahma vaadinaH | hiraNyasya suvarNasya koTibhii ratna raashibhiH || 1-61-22 gavaam shata sahasreNa shunaHshepam nareshvaraH | gR^ihiitvaa parama priito jagaama raghunaMdana || 1-61-23
Oh, Rama, when that sage's sentence is so, and his wife's sentence is also in that way only, their intermediate son, namely Shunashepa, personally spoke this sentence. [1-61-20]
पिता ज्येष्ठमविक्रेयं माता चाह कनीयसम् | विक्रेतं मध्यमं मन्ये राजपुत्र नयस्व माम् || १-६१-२१
aMbariiShaH tu raajar.hShii ratham aaropya satvaraH | shunaHshepam mahaatejaa jagaama aashu mahaayashaaH || 1-61-24
Father said that the eldest son is un-sellable, mother also said the same about youngest one. Then I deem that the intermediary son is sellable. Hence, oh, prince, you may lead me forth. [1-61-21]
अथ राजा महाबाहो वाक्यान्ते ब्रह्मवादिनः | हिरण्यस्य सुवर्णस्य कोटिभी रत्नराशिभिः || १-६१-२२ गवां शतसहस्रेण शुनःशेपं नरेश्वरः | गृहीत्वा परमप्रीतो जगाम रघुनंदन || १-६१-२३
Oh, dextrous Rama, when that advocate of Veda-s, namely Shunashepa finished his speech, then the king gave gold, silver, and gemstones, each in ten million heaps, and even a hundred thousand cows, and oh, Rama, the legatee of Raghu, that king Ambariisha went away highly gladdened to take Shunashepa with him. [1-61-22, 23]
अंबरीषस्तु राजर्षी रथमारोप्य सत्वरः | शुनःशेपं महातेजा जगामाशु महायशाः || १-६१-२४
"That great resplendent and highly renowned king Ambariisha on his part proceeded hastily after ascending Shunashepa onto the chariot that hastily." Thus Sage Shataananda continued his narration. [1-61-24]
