Summary
The Legend of Shunashepa is commenced and Sage Shataananda continues this as a part of Vishvamitra's legend. When Rama's grandparent Ambariisha undertook a ritual, Indra impounds that ritual's horse. Then Ambariisha had to fetch a human-animal in lieu [place] of that lost horse. When none is available one named Shunashepa, son of Sage Riciika, and a nephew of Vishvamitra, offers himself with a barter of riches to his parents.
Chapter [Sarga] 61 – in Detail
vishvaamitro mahaatejaah prasthitaan viikshya taan risiin |
abraviit narashaarduula sarvaan taan vana vaasinah || 1-61-1
Oh, manly-tiger 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 Shataananda continued to narrate the legend of Vishvamitra. [1-61-1]
mahaavighnah pravritto ayam daksinaam 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 asceticism in the shape of Trishanku's ascent to heaven, hence we will go to another direction, and there we continue asceticism. [1-61-2]
pashcimaayaam vishaalaayaam puskaresu mahaatmanah |
sukham tapah carisyaamah param tat hi tapo vanam || 1-61-3
Oh, great-souled sages, we can conveniently undertake our asceticism in the vast of westerly direction where holy lakesides are there. That would be an august [marked by majestic dignity or grandeur] ascetical forest, isn't it?' Thus Vishvamitra said to fellow sages in his camp. [1-61-3]
evam uktvaa mahaatejaah puskaresu mahaamunih |
tapa ugram duraadharsam tepe muula phala ashanah || 1-61-4
On saying thus that most brilliant and great saint Vishvamitra performed an unhindered and rigorous asceticism subsisting [to have existence] only on fruits and tubers after reaching the lakeside of holy lakes. [1-61-4]
etasmin eva kaale tu ayodhyaa adhipatih mahaan |
ambariisa iti khyaato yastum 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]
tasya vai yajamaanasya pashum indro jahaara ha |
pranaste 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 official Brahman of the ritual spoke this to that king. [1-61-6]
pashuh abhyaahritah raajan pranastah tava dur.hnayaat |
araksitaaram raajaanam ghnanti dosaa 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]
praayah cittam mahat hi etat naram vaa purusarsabha |
aanayasva pashum shiighram yaavat karma pravarhtate || 1-61-8
'Oh, the best man among men, you have to make great amends [compensation] 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]
upaadhyaaya vacah shrutvaa sa raajaa purusarsabha |
anviyesa 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]
deshaan janapadaan taan taan nagaraani vanaani ca |
aashramaani ca punyaani maargamaano mahiipatih || 1-61-10
sa putra sahitam taata sa bhaaryam raghuna.ndana |
bhrigutu.nge samaasiinam riciikam sa.mdadarsha 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]
tam uvaaca mahaatejaah pranamya abhiprasaadya ca |
maharsim tapasaa diiptam raajarsih amita prabhah || 1-61-12
pristvaa sarvatra kushalam riciikam tam idam vacah |
On reverencing and on obtaining the grace of ascetically brilliant great Sage Riciika, and even on asking him about his well-being in every aspect, that kingly sage Ambariisha, who is with great resplendence and whose brilliance is illimitable [measureless], said this word to that sage. [1-61-12, 13a]
gavaam shata sahasrena vikriiniise sutam yadi || 1-61-13
pashoh arthe mahaabhaaga krita krityo asmi bhaargava |
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]
sarve parigataa deshaa yajniyam na labhe pashum || 1-61-14
daatum ar.hhasi muulyena sutam ekam ito mama |
All the provinces are went over but unobtainable is that animal of the ritual, hence it will be apt [appropriate] 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]
evam ukto mahaatejaa riciikah tu abraviit vacah || 1-61-15
na aham jyestham nara shrestha vikriiniiyaam kathamcana |
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]
riciikasya vacah shrutvaa tesaam maataa mahaatmanaam || 1-61-16
uvaaca nara shaarduulam ambariisam idam vacah |
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]
avikreyam sutam jyestham bhagavaan aaha bhaargavah || 1-61-17
mama api dayitam viddhi kanistham shunakam prabho |
tasmaat kaniiyasam putram na daasye tava paarthiva || 1-61-18
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]
praayena hi narashrestha jyesthaah pitrisu vallabhaah |
maatrinaam ca kaniiyaa.msah tasmaat rakse kaniiyasam || 1-61-19
Generally eldest sons are fathers' favorites, oh, best king among men, and mothers' favorites are the youngest, isn't it! Therefore, I have to tend my youngest son.' Thus, wife Sage Ruchika said to Ambariisha. [1-61-19]
ukta vaakye munau tasmin muni patnyaam tathaiva ca |
shunahshepah svayam raama madhyamo vaakyam abraviit || 1-61-20
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]
pitaa jyestham avikreyam maataa ca aaha kaniiyasam |
vikretam madhyamam manye raajaputra nayasva maam || 1-61-21
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]
atha raajaa mahaabaaho vaakya ante brahma vaadinah |
hiranyasya suvarnasya kotibhii ratna raashibhih || 1-61-22
gavaam shata sahasrena shunahshepam nareshvarah |
gRihiitvaa parama priito jagaama raghuna.ndana || 1-61-23
Oh, dexterous 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 Ragu, that king Ambariisha went away highly gladdened to take Shunashepa with him. [1-61-22, 23]
a.mbariisah tu raajarhsii ratham aaropya satvarah |
shunahshepam mahaatejaa jagaama aashu mahaayashaah || 1-61-24
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]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye baala kaande eka sastitamah sargah
Thus, this is the 61st chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate