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[Viswamitra attempts to take Kamadhenu by force--Kamadhenu creates hordes of

warriors -- the army of Viswamitra gets killed.]

कामधेनुं वसिष्ठोऽपि यदा न त्यज्यते मुनि:।

तदास्य शबलां राम विश्वामित्रोऽन्वकर्षत।।1.54.1।।


राम O Rama, वसिष्ठ: मुनि: अपि sage Vasishta also, कामधेनुम् wishfulfilling cow, यदा when, न त्यज्यते did not leave, तदा then, विश्वामित्र: Visvamitra, शबलां Sabala, अन्वकर्षत pulled.

"O Rama when sage Vasishta did not consent to part with the wishfulfilling cow, Viswamitra dragged Sabala by force.
नीयमाना तु शबला राम राज्ञा महात्मना।

दु:खिता चिन्तयामास रुदन्ती शोककर्शिता।।1.54.2।।


राम O Rama, महात्मना by the magnanimous, राज्ञा (by) king, नीयमाना being carried away, शबला Sabala, दु:खिता distressed, शोककर्शिता emaciated by sorrow, रुदन्ती weeping, चिन्तयामास reflected.

O Rama when she was being taken away by the powerful king the distressed Sabala thus reflected choked with sorrow":
परित्यक्ता वसिष्ठेन किमहं सुमहात्मना।

याहं राजभटैर्दीना ह्रियेय भृशदु:खिता।।1.54.3।।


दीना evoking pity, भृश दु:खिता greatly distressed, या अहम् I, राजभटै: by the attendants of king, ह्रियेय carried away, अहम् I, महात्मना magnanimous, वसिष्ठेन by Vasishta, परित्यक्ता किम् have been abndoned?.

"I am being carried away by attendants of the king in this greatly distressed and pitiable condition. Have I been abandoned by the magnanimous Vasishta?
किं मयाऽपकृतं तस्य महर्षेर्भावितात्मन:।

यन्मामनागसं भक्तामिष्टां त्यजति धार्मिक:।।1.54.4।।


धार्मिक: pious, अनागसम् innocent, भक्ताम् devoted, इष्टाम् beloved, माम् me, यत् त्यजति is forsaking, भावितात्मन: having purified soul, तस्य महर्षे: for that maharshi, मया by me, किम् what, अपकृतम् harm has been done?

What harm have I done to the pious maharshi, a compassionate soul? Why does he forsake me, his auspicious one, despite my innocence and devotion"?
इति सा चिन्तयित्वा तु विनिश्श्वस्य पुन:पुन:।

निर्धूय तांस्तदा भृत्यान् शतशश्शत्रुसूदन ।

जगामानिलवेगेन पादमूलं महात्मन:।।1.54.5।।


शत्रुसूदन O Destroyer of enemies, Rama, सा she, इति thus, चिन्तयित्वा thinking, पुन: पुन: frequently, विनि:श्वस्य sighing, तदा then, तान् those, शतश: in hundreds, भृत्यान् attendants, निर्धूय shaking, अनिलवेगेन with the speed of wind, महात्मन: illustrious Vasishta's, पादमूलम् towards his feet, जगाम went.

"O Destroyer of enemies thus thinking and repeatedly sighing, that cow shook off those attendants who were in hundreds and ran towards the feet of the illustrious Vasishta with the speed of the wind.
शबला सा रुदन्ती च क्रोशन्ती चेदमब्रवीत्।

वसिष्ठस्याग्रतस्स्थित्वा मेघदुन्दुभिराविणी।।1.54.6।।


सा शबला that Sabala, रुदन्ती च weeping, क्रोशन्ती च moaning, वसिष्ठस्य Vasishta's, अग्रत: in front of, स्थित्वा standing, मेघदुन्दुभिराविणी roaring like the thunder and kettle drum, इदम् this, अब्रवीत् said.

Lowing and moaning, standing before Vasishta, roaring like thunder and of kettledrum, Sabala said:
भगवन् किं परित्यक्ता त्वयाऽहं ब्रह्मणस्सुत।

यस्माद्राजभृता मां हि नयन्ते त्वत्सकाशत:।।1.54.7।।


ब्रह्मण: Brahma's, सुत son, भगवन् O Venerable one, अहम् I, त्वया by you, परित्यक्ता किम् abandoned?, यस्मात् for what reason, राजभृता: servants of king, त्वत्सकाशत: from your presence, माम् me, नयन्ते हि carrying me.

"O Brahma's son O Venerable one you have abandoned me? For what reason the servants of the king are taking me away from you"?
एवमुक्तस्तु ब्रह्मर्षिरिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।

शोकसन्तप्तहृदयां स्वसारमिव दु:खिताम्।।1.54.8।।


एवम् in this manner, उक्त: having been spoken by (Sabala), ब्रह्मर्षि: Brahmarshi, शोकसन्तप्तहृदयां (addressing Sabala whose) heart is afflicted with sorrow, दु:खिताम् distressed, स्वसारमिव like to a sister, इदम् this, वचनम् word, अब्रवीत् spoke.

Addressed thus, Bramharshi said to Sabala, like to a sister whose heart is afflicted with sorrow:
न त्वां त्यजामि शबले नापि मेऽपकृतं त्वया।

एष त्वां नयते राजा बलोन्मत्तो महाबल:।।1.54.9।।


शबले O Sabala, त्वाम् you, न त्यजामि not forsaking, त्वया by you, न अपकृतमपि no harm has been done, महाबल: highly powerful, एष: राजा king, मत्त: from me, बलात् forcibly, त्वाम् you, नयते is carrying.

"O Sabala I am not forsaking you. You have done me no harm. This highly powerful king is forcibly carrying you away from me.
न हि तुल्यं बलं मह्यं राजा त्वद्य विशेषत:।

बली राजा क्षत्रियश्च पृथिव्या: पतिरेव च।।1.54.10।।


मह्यम् for me, बलम् power, तुल्यम् equal to him, न हि not, अद्य today, विशेषत: especially, राजा तु is king, राजा being king, बली powerful, क्षत्रियश्च also warrior, पृथिव्या: for the earth, पतिरेव च is also the lord.

I am no match for his strength, especially he is a king. Being king, he is a warrior, powerful and lord of the earth.
इयमक्षौहिणी पूर्णा सवाजिरथसङ्कुला।

हस्तिध्वजसमाकीर्णा तेनासौ बलवत्तर:।।1.54.11।।


सवाजिरथसङ्कुला crowded with horses yoked to chariots, हस्तिध्वजसमाकीर्णा surrounded by elephants and banners, इयम् this, अक्षौहिणी Akshauhini, पूर्णा is filled, तेन for that reason, असौ this (king ), बलवत्तर: is mighty.

He has an entire akshauhini composed of horses, chariots, elephants and banners. Hence he is stonger".
एवमुक्ता वसिष्ठेन प्रत्युवाच विनीतवत्।

वचनं वचनज्ञा सा ब्रह्मर्षिममितप्रभम्।।1.54.12।।


वसिष्ठेन by Vasishta, एवम् in this way, उक्ता spoken, वचनज्ञा knowledgeable in words, सा that cow, अमितप्रभम् immeasurable power, ब्रह्मर्षिम् addressing brahmarshi, वचनम् words, विनीतवत् with humility, प्रत्युवाच replied.

To these words of brahmarshi Vasishta armed with immeasurable power, Sabala, who knew the use of words, replied with humility:
न बलं क्षत्रियस्याहुर्ब्राह्मणो बलवत्तर:।

ब्रह्मन् ब्रह्मबलं दिव्यं क्षत्रात्तु बलवत्तरम्।।1.54.13।।


क्षत्रियस्य the strength of a Kshatriya, बलम् strength, न आहु: do not speak (in high esteem), ब्राह्मण: Brahmin, बलवत्तर: possesses greater strength, ब्रह्मन् O Best of Brahmins, क्षत्रात् greater than the strength of a Kshatriya, ब्रह्मबलम् the strength of a Brahmin, दिव्यम् is divine, बलवत्तरम् greater.

"O Best of brahmins it is held that the strength of a kshatriya is no greater than a brahmin's. A brahmin possesses great strength his strength is divine. It is greater than that of a kshatriya.
अप्रमेयबलं तुभ्यं न त्वया बलवत्तर:।

विश्वामित्रो महावीर्यस्तेज स्तव दुरासदम्।।1.54.14।।


तुभ्यम् for you, अप्रमेयबलम् immeasurable power, महावीर्य: highly valourous, विश्वामित्र: Visvamitra, त्वया more than you, बलवत्तर: न is not great in strength, तव your, तेज: splendour, दुरासदम् cannot be reached.

Your power is immeasurable. Even though highly valiant, Viswamitra is not greater than you in strength. Your power is unequalled.
नियुङ्क्ष्व मां महाभाग त्वद्ब्रह्मबलसम्भृताम्।

तस्य दर्पबलं यत्तन्नाशयामि दुरात्मन:।।1.54.15।।


महाभाग O Highly fortunate one, त्वद्ब्रह्मबलसम्भृताम् possessed of your brahminic power, माम् me, नियुङ्क्ष्व command, दुरात्मन: of the wickedminded, तस्य his, यत् which, दर्पबलम् insolent power, तत् that one, नाशयामि I will destroy.

O Highly fortunate one I am possessed of your brahminic power. Command me. I will destroy the insolent and power of that wickedminded one.
इत्युक्तस्तु तया राम वसिष्ठ स्सुमहायशा:।

सृजस्वेति तदोवाच बलं परबलार्दनम्।।1.54.16।।


राम O Rama, तया by her, इति thus, उक्त: spoken, महायशा: highly glorious, वसिष्ठ: Vasishta, तदा then, परबलार्दनम् tormenting the power of enemies, बलम् army, सृजस्व create, इति thus, उवाच said.

O Rama to this, glorious Vasishta replied: "Create an army capable of crushing the enemy power.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सुरभिस्साऽसृजत्तदा।।1.54.17।।

तस्या हुम्भारवोत्सृष्टा: पप्लवाश्शतशो नृप।

नाशयन्ति बलं सर्वं विश्वामित्रस्य पश्यत:।।1.54.18।।


तस्य his, तत् वचनम् this word, श्रुत्वा having heard, सा that, सुरभि: Kamadhenu, तदा then, असृजत् created (army), नृप O Rama, तस्या: that Kamadhenu's, हुम्भारवोत्सृष्टा: from the sound of 'Humbha' uttered by her, पप्लवा: paplavas, शतश: in hundreds, विश्वामित्रस्य Viswamitra, पश्यत: while seeing, सर्वम् entire, बलम् army, नाशयन्ति destroyed.

Hearing his words Kamadhenu created an army. O Rama her lowing brought into being Paplavas in hundreds who destroyed the entire army of Viswamitra, while he looked on helplessly.
बलं भग्नं ततो दृष्ट्वा रथेनाक्रम्य कौशिक:।

स राजा परमक्रुद्धो रोषविस्फारितेक्षण:।

पप्लवान्नाशयामास शस्त्रैरुच्चावचैरपि।।1.54.19।।


तत: thereafter, स: राजा that king, कौशिक: Visvamitra, भग्नम् destroyed, बलम् army, दृष्ट्वा having seen, परमक्रुद्ध: exceedingly enraged, रोषविस्फारितेक्षण: his eyes expanded with anger, रथेन with chariot, आक्रम्य having occupied, उच्चावचै: अपि which were also of various kinds, शस्त्रै: with weapons, पप्लवान् Paplavas, नाशयामास destroyed.

Thereafter the king (Viswamitra), having seen his army thus routed, flew into a fury.
Wideeyed with anger, he sat in his chariot and destoyed the Paplavas with various kinds of weapons.
विश्वामित्रार्दितान् दृष्ट्वा पप्लवाञ्छतशस्तदा।

भूय एवासृजत्कोपाच्छकान् यवनमिश्रितान्।।1.54.20।।


विश्वामित्रार्दितान् afflicted by Visvamitra, शतश: hundreds of, पप्लवान् Papalavas, दृष्ट्वा having seen, तदा then, कोपात् out of anger, भूय एव again, यवनमिश्रितान् mixed with Yavanas, शकान् Sakas, असृजत् created.

Having seen hundreds of Paplavas crushed by Viswamitra, once again she created out of anger. Sakas mixed with Yavanas.
तैरासीत् संवृता भूमि श्शकैर्यवनमिश्रितै:।

प्रभावद्भिर्महावीर्यैर्हेमकिञ्जल्कसन्निभै:।।1.54.21।।


प्रभावद्भि: by those possessing splendour, महावीर्यै: supreme valour, हेमकिञ्चल्कसन्निभै: resembling golden filaments, यवनमिश्रितै: mixed with Yavanas, शकै: Sakas, भूमि: earth, संवृता आसीत् covered with.

Sakas mixed with Yavanas, resembling golden filaments possessing brilliance and supreme bravery, covered the earth.
दीर्घासिपट्टिशधरैःमवर्णाम्बरावृतै:।

निर्दग्धं तद्बलं सर्वं प्रदीप्तैरिव पावकै:।।1.54.22।।


दीर्घासिपट्टिशधरै: armed with long swords and lances, हेमवर्णाम्बरावृतै: by those clad in yellow apparel (by Sakas and Yavanass), प्रदीप्तै: flaming, पावकैरिव like fire, तत् that, सर्वम् entire, बलम् army, निर्दग्धम् was consumed.

Sakas and Yavanas, armed with swords and lances, clad in yellow apparel, looking like flaming fire destroyed the entire army.
ततोऽस्त्राणि महातेजा विश्वामित्रो मुमोच ह।

तैस्तैर्यवनकाम्भोजा: पप्लवाश्चाकुलीकृता:।।1.54.23।।


तत: thereafter, महातेजा: most brilliant, विश्वामित्र: Visvamitra, अस्त्राणि weapons, मुमोच ह released, तैस्तै: with those weapons, यवनकाम्भोजा: Yavana, Kambhojas, पप्लवाश्च Paplavas, अकुलीकृता: were tormented.

Thereafter, most brilliant Viswamitra released weapons. With these weapons, the Yavanas, Kambhojas and Paplavas were scattered".
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे चतुष्पञ्चाशस्सर्ग:।।
Thus ends the fiftyfourth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.