Bala Kanda · Sarga 53 of 77 · 25 verses
Vishvamitra Asks for the Cow
At Vasishtha’s word, Shabala produces everything each guest desires: sugarcane, honey, parched grain, fine liquors and drinks, mountains of steaming rice, delicacies, soups, streams of curd, sweets and sugar dishes by the thousand. The whole army is fed to contentment, and the king, his women, priests, ministers and servants are honoured.
Delighted, Vishvamitra makes a request: “Give me Shabala in exchange for a hundred thousand cows. She is a jewel, and jewels belong to the king; by right she is mine.” Vasishtha refuses: not for a hundred thousand cows, nor a hundred crores, nor heaps of silver. Shabala is as inseparable from him as fame from a self-controlled man; his offerings to gods and ancestors, his fire rituals, his very sustenance, all depend on her. Vishvamitra, growing heated, offers fourteen thousand elephants with golden trappings, eight hundred golden chariots with four white horses each, eleven thousand thoroughbred horses, a crore of cows, and as much gold and jewels as Vasishtha wants. Vasishtha still says no: “She is my jewel, my wealth, my everything, my life. All my rites have their root in her. Why say more? I will not give the wish-cow.”
Press › to begin with verse 1.
एवमुक्ता वसिष्ठेन शबला शत्रुसूदन । विदधे कामधुक् कामान् यस्य यस्येप्सितं यथा ॥ १ ॥
So addressed by Vasishtha, the wish-giving Shabala, destroyer of enemies, produced whatever each one desired, as he desired it:
वसिष्ठ के ऐसा कहने पर शत्रुओं का नाश करने वाली कामधेनु शबला ने हर किसी के लिए वह सब, जैसा वह चाहता था, उत्पन्न कर दिया:
Commentary on the whole sarga
Vishvamitra Asks for the Cow 1 min read.
Read the commentary CommentaryNot scripture Shabala produces “whatever each one desired”. A wish-fulfilling cow does not make one meal for all; she gives each person exactly what he wants. Abundance tailored to every guest.
Scene 1 of 2 · The wish-cow Shabala pours out mountains of rice, sweets and drinks, and the king’s whole army feasts in the forest.
इक्षून् मधूंस्तथा लाजान् मैरेयांश्च वरासवान् । पानानि च महार्हाणि भक्ष्यांश्चोच्चावचानपि ॥ २ ॥
sugarcane, honey, parched grain, maireya and fine liquors, costly drinks and foods of every kind;
गन्ना, शहद, लावा (भुने धान), मैरेय और उत्तम आसव, बहुमूल्य पेय और हर प्रकार के भोजन;
CommentaryNot scripture Sugarcane, honey, parched grain, maireya (a sweet liquor) and fine drinks. The forest hermit serves a royal banquet.
Scene 1 of 2 · The wish-cow Shabala pours out mountains of rice, sweets and drinks, and the king’s whole army feasts in the forest.
उष्णाढ्यस्यौदनस्यात्र राशयः पर्वतोपमाः । मृष्टान्यन्नानि सूपांश्च दधिकुल्यास्तथैव च ॥ ३ ॥
heaps of steaming rice like mountains, fine dishes, soups and streams of curd;
पहाड़ों जैसे भाप उठते चावल के ढेर, उत्तम व्यंजन, दालें और दही की धाराएँ;
CommentaryNot scripture Mountains of steaming rice, soups, streams of curd. Valmiki enjoys describing food as much as cities and battles.
Scene 1 of 2 · The wish-cow Shabala pours out mountains of rice, sweets and drinks, and the king’s whole army feasts in the forest.
नानास्वादुरसानां च खाण्डवानां तथैव च । भोजनानि सुपूर्णानि गौडानि च सहस्रशः ॥ ४ ॥
sweets of many delicious flavours, and dishes of molasses brimming full by the thousand.
अनेक स्वादिष्ट रसों वाली मिठाइयाँ, और गुड़ से बने व्यंजनों से भरे हज़ारों पात्र।
CommentaryNot scripture Sweets and molasses dishes by the thousand. A feast beyond any palace’s.
Scene 1 of 2 · The wish-cow Shabala pours out mountains of rice, sweets and drinks, and the king’s whole army feasts in the forest.
सर्वमासीत् सुसंतुष्टं हृष्टपुष्टजनायुतम् । विश्वामित्रबलं राम वसिष्ठेन सुतर्पितम् ॥ ५ ॥
The whole of Vishvamitra’s army, Rama, full of happy, well-fed people, was thoroughly satisfied and contented by Vasishtha.
राम, विश्वामित्र की पूरी सेना, प्रसन्न और तृप्त लोगों से भरी, वसिष्ठ द्वारा भली-भाँति संतुष्ट और प्रसन्न की गई।
CommentaryNot scripture The whole army is satisfied. A single cow feeds thousands of soldiers. The king sees with his own eyes what she can do.
Scene 1 of 2 · The wish-cow Shabala pours out mountains of rice, sweets and drinks, and the king’s whole army feasts in the forest.
विश्वामित्रो हि राजर्षिर्हृष्टपुष्टस्तदाभवत् । सान्तःपुरवरो राजा सब्राह्मणपुरोहितः ॥ ६ ॥
सामात्यो मन्त्रिसहितः सभृत्यः पूजितस्तदा । युक्तः परमहर्षेण वसिष्ठमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ ७ ॥
The royal sage Vishvamitra himself was delighted and refreshed then; the king with his chief women, his brahmanas and priests, his ministers, counsellors and servants, all honoured, full of the greatest joy, said to Vasishtha:
राजर्षि विश्वामित्र स्वयं भी तब प्रसन्न और तरोताज़ा हुए; अपनी प्रमुख रानियों, ब्राह्मणों और पुरोहितों, मंत्रियों, सलाहकारों और सेवकों सहित राजा, सब सम्मानित होकर, परम आनंद से भरकर वसिष्ठ से बोले:
CommentaryNot scripture The king, his queens, priests, ministers and servants are all delighted. Everyone is grateful. And then gratitude turns into wanting.
Scene 1 of 2 · The wish-cow Shabala pours out mountains of rice, sweets and drinks, and the king’s whole army feasts in the forest.
पूजितोऽहं त्वया ब्रह्मन् पूजार्हेण सुसत्कृतः । श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि वाक्यं वाक्यविशारद ॥ ८ ॥
“I have been honoured and well treated by you, brahmana, who are worthy of honour. Listen; I will speak, master of speech.
“ब्राह्मण, सम्मान के योग्य आपने मेरा सम्मान किया और अच्छा सत्कार किया। सुनिए, वाणी के स्वामी, मैं कुछ कहूँगा।
CommentaryNot scripture “You have honoured me well. Now listen.” The courteous preface to a request that will break the friendship.
Scene 2 of 2 · King Vishvamitra offers elephants, chariots and a crore of cows for Shabala, and Vasishtha calmly refuses.
गवां शतसहस्रेण दीयतां शबला मम । रत्नं हि भगवन्नेतद् रत्नहारी च पार्थिवः ॥ ९ ॥
“Let Shabala be given to me in exchange for a hundred thousand cows. She is a jewel, lord, and the king is the taker of jewels.
“एक लाख गायों के बदले शबला मुझे दे दीजिए। भगवन, वह एक रत्न है, और राजा रत्नों का लेने वाला होता है।
CommentaryNot scripture “Give me Shabala for a hundred thousand cows. She is a jewel, and the king is the taker of jewels.” An old principle held that the finest of everything in a kingdom belonged to the king. Vishvamitra claims Shabala by royal right.
Scene 2 of 2 · King Vishvamitra offers elephants, chariots and a crore of cows for Shabala, and Vasishtha calmly refuses.
तस्मान्मे शबलां देहि ममैषा धर्मतो द्विज । एवमुक्तस्तु भगवान् वसिष्ठो मुनिपुंगवः ॥ १० ॥
विश्वामित्रेण धर्मात्मा प्रत्युवाच महीपतिम् । नाहं शतसहस्रेण नापि कोटिशतैर्गवाम् ॥ ११ ॥
“So give me Shabala; by dharma she is mine, brahmana.” So addressed by Vishvamitra, the blessed Vasishtha, the righteous foremost sage, replied to the lord of the earth: “Not for a hundred thousand cows, nor for a hundred crores,
“इसलिए शबला मुझे दीजिए; ब्राह्मण, धर्म से वह मेरी है।” विश्वामित्र के ऐसा कहने पर धर्मात्मा मुनिश्रेष्ठ भगवान वसिष्ठ ने पृथ्वीपति को उत्तर दिया: “न एक लाख गायों के बदले, न सौ करोड़ के बदले,
CommentaryNot scripture “By dharma she is mine.” He frames his desire as law. Vasishtha’s answer is immediate: not for a hundred thousand cows, not for a hundred crores.
Scene 2 of 2 · King Vishvamitra offers elephants, chariots and a crore of cows for Shabala, and Vasishtha calmly refuses.
राजन् दास्यामि शबलां राशिभी रजतस्य वा । न परित्यागमर्हेयं मत्सकाशादरिंदम ॥ १२ ॥
“nor for heaps of silver, king, will I give Shabala. She does not deserve to be cast away from my side, subduer of enemies.
“न चाँदी के ढेरों के बदले, राजन, मैं शबला दूँगा। शत्रुओं का दमन करने वाले, वह मेरे पास से हटाए जाने योग्य नहीं है।
CommentaryNot scripture “She does not deserve to be cast away from my side.” Vasishtha speaks of the cow as a companion, not property.
Scene 2 of 2 · King Vishvamitra offers elephants, chariots and a crore of cows for Shabala, and Vasishtha calmly refuses.
शाश्वती शबला मह्यं कीर्तिरात्मवतो यथा । अस्यां हव्यं च कव्यं च प्राणयात्रा तथैव च ॥ १३ ॥
“Shabala is eternally mine, as fame is to the self-controlled. On her depend my offerings to the gods and to the ancestors, and the very sustenance of my life;
“शबला सदा मेरी है, जैसे संयमी का यश। देवताओं और पितरों को मेरी आहुतियाँ, और मेरे जीवन का आधार भी उसी पर टिके हैं;
CommentaryNot scripture “She is mine as fame belongs to the self-controlled.” All his offerings to gods and ancestors depend on her. She is the source of his ability to give.
Scene 2 of 2 · King Vishvamitra offers elephants, chariots and a crore of cows for Shabala, and Vasishtha calmly refuses.
आयत्तमग्निहोत्रं च बलिर्होमस्तथैव च । स्वाहाकारवषट्कारौ विद्याश्च विविधास्तथा ॥ १४ ॥
“my fire offering depends on her, and the bali and the homa; the cries of svaha and vashat, and the various kinds of learning:
“मेरा अग्निहोत्र उसी पर टिका है, और बलि और होम; स्वाहा और वषट् के उच्चारण, और तरह-तरह की विद्याएँ:
CommentaryNot scripture His fire offering, bali, homa, the sacred cries svaha and vashat , his learning: all depend on her. For a brahmana, the cow is the basis of ritual life: milk and ghee for the fire.
Scene 2 of 2 · King Vishvamitra offers elephants, chariots and a crore of cows for Shabala, and Vasishtha calmly refuses.
आयत्तमत्र राजर्षे सर्वमेतन्न संशयः । सर्वस्वमेतत् सत्येन मम तुष्टिकरी तथा ॥ १५ ॥
“all this depends on her here, royal sage, without doubt. In truth she is my all, and she is what gives me contentment.
“यह सब यहाँ उसी पर टिका है, राजर्षि, निःसंदेह। सचमुच वही मेरा सब कुछ है, और वही मुझे संतोष देती है।
CommentaryNot scripture “She is my all.” The sage, who owns almost nothing, has one treasure, and it is not for sale.
Scene 2 of 2 · King Vishvamitra offers elephants, chariots and a crore of cows for Shabala, and Vasishtha calmly refuses.
कारणैर्बहुभी राजन् न दास्ये शबलां तव । वसिष्ठेनैवमुक्तस्तु विश्वामित्रोऽब्रवीत् तदा ॥ १६ ॥
संरब्धतरमत्यर्थं वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः । हैरण्यकक्षग्रैवेयान् सुवर्णाङ्कुशभूषितान् ॥ १७ ॥
ददामि कुञ्जराणां ते सहस्राणि चतुर्दश । हैरण्यानां रथानां च श्वेताश्वानां चतुर्युजाम् ॥ १८ ॥
“For many reasons, king, I will not give you Shabala.” So addressed by Vasishtha, Vishvamitra, master of speech, then spoke much more heatedly: “Fourteen thousand elephants with golden girths and neck ornaments, adorned with golden goads, I will give you; and of golden chariots with four white horses each
“राजन, अनेक कारणों से मैं आपको शबला नहीं दूँगा।” वसिष्ठ के ऐसा कहने पर वाणी के स्वामी विश्वामित्र ने और भी उत्तेजित होकर कहा: “सोने की पेटियों और कंठहारों वाले, सोने के अंकुशों से सजे चौदह हज़ार हाथी मैं आपको दूँगा; और चार-चार सफ़ेद घोड़ों वाले सोने के रथों में से
CommentaryNot scripture Vishvamitra raises the offer “more heatedly”: fourteen thousand elephants with golden ornaments, golden chariots. He believes that everything has a price.
Scene 2 of 2 · King Vishvamitra offers elephants, chariots and a crore of cows for Shabala, and Vasishtha calmly refuses.
ददामि ते शतान्यष्टौ किंकिणीकविभूषितान् । हयानां देशजातानां कुलजानां महौजसाम् । सहस्रमेकं दश च ददामि तव सुव्रत ॥ १९ ॥
“I will give you eight hundred, adorned with little bells; and of horses of fine breed and lineage, of great vigour, I will give you eleven thousand, you of good vows.
“छोटी घंटियों से सजे आठ सौ रथ मैं आपको दूँगा; और उत्तम जाति और कुल के, महान वेग वाले घोड़ों में से, सुव्रत, ग्यारह हज़ार मैं आपको दूँगा।
CommentaryNot scripture Eight hundred chariots with bells, eleven thousand fine horses. The list of riches grows. So does the king’s pride.
Scene 2 of 2 · King Vishvamitra offers elephants, chariots and a crore of cows for Shabala, and Vasishtha calmly refuses.
नानावर्णविभक्तानां वयःस्थानां तथैव च । ददाम्येकां गवां कोटिं शबला दीयतां मम ॥ २० ॥
“Of cows of many colours, in their prime, I will give you one crore. Let Shabala be given to me.
“अनेक रंगों की, युवावस्था वाली गायों में से एक करोड़ मैं आपको दूँगा। शबला मुझे दे दीजिए।
CommentaryNot scripture A crore of cows. Ten million cows for one. The numbers become absurd, which is Valmiki’s point.
Scene 2 of 2 · King Vishvamitra offers elephants, chariots and a crore of cows for Shabala, and Vasishtha calmly refuses.
यावदिच्छसि रत्नानि हिरण्यं वा द्विजोत्तम । तावद् ददामि ते सर्वं दीयतां शबला मम ॥ २१ ॥
“As many jewels or as much gold as you wish, best of brahmanas, I will give you all of it. Let Shabala be given to me.”
“ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ, जितने रत्न या जितना सोना आप चाहें, वह सब मैं आपको दूँगा। शबला मुझे दे दीजिए।”
CommentaryNot scripture “As many jewels or as much gold as you wish.” A king who cannot imagine refusal.
Scene 2 of 2 · King Vishvamitra offers elephants, chariots and a crore of cows for Shabala, and Vasishtha calmly refuses.
एवमुक्तस्तु भगवान् विश्वामित्रेण धीमता । न दास्यामीति शबलां प्राह राजन् कथंचन ॥ २२ ॥
So addressed by the wise Vishvamitra, the blessed one said: “I will not give Shabala in any way, king.
बुद्धिमान विश्वामित्र के ऐसा कहने पर भगवान वसिष्ठ ने कहा: “राजन, मैं किसी भी तरह शबला नहीं दूँगा।
CommentaryNot scripture “I will not give Shabala in any way.” Vasishtha does not bargain.
Scene 2 of 2 · King Vishvamitra offers elephants, chariots and a crore of cows for Shabala, and Vasishtha calmly refuses.
एतदेव हि मे रत्नमेतदेव हि मे धनम् । एतदेव हि सर्वस्वमेतदेव हि जीवितम् ॥ २३ ॥
“She alone is my jewel, she alone is my wealth; she alone is my all, she alone is my life.
“वही मेरा रत्न है, वही मेरा धन है; वही मेरा सब कुछ है, वही मेरा जीवन है।
CommentaryNot scripture “She alone is my jewel, my wealth, my all, my life.” Four times, “she alone”. Some things cannot be bought, and the sage’s love for what sustains his dharma is one of them.
Scene 2 of 2 · King Vishvamitra offers elephants, chariots and a crore of cows for Shabala, and Vasishtha calmly refuses.
दर्शश्च पौर्णमासश्च यज्ञाश्चैवाप्तदक्षिणाः । एतदेव हि मे राजन् विविधाश्च क्रियास्तथा ॥ २४ ॥
“The new-moon and full-moon rites and the sacrifices with their fees, king, and my various rituals: she is all of these to me.
“अमावस्या और पूर्णिमा के यज्ञ, दक्षिणा वाले यज्ञ, राजन, और मेरे तरह-तरह के अनुष्ठान: वह मेरे लिए ये सब है।
CommentaryNot scripture The new-moon and full-moon rites, sacrifices with their fees: she is all of these.
Scene 2 of 2 · King Vishvamitra offers elephants, chariots and a crore of cows for Shabala, and Vasishtha calmly refuses.
अतोमूलाः क्रियाः सर्वा मम राजन् न संशयः । बहुना किं प्रलापेन न दास्ये कामदोहिनीम् ॥ २५ ॥
“All my rites have their root in her, king, without doubt. What use is much talk? I will not give the wish-yielding cow.”
“राजन, मेरे सब कर्मों की जड़ उसी में है, निःसंदेह। अधिक बात करने से क्या लाभ? मैं कामधेनु नहीं दूँगा।”
CommentaryNot scripture “What use is much talk?” Vasishtha ends the negotiation. The king has met something his wealth cannot reach. In the next sarga he will try to take by force what he could not buy.
Scene 2 of 2 · King Vishvamitra offers elephants, chariots and a crore of cows for Shabala, and Vasishtha calmly refuses.
