Uttara Kanda — Sarga 58

एवं ब्रुवति रामे तु लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा। प्रत्युवाच महात्मानं ज्वलन्तमिव तेजसा ॥

Rama having said this, Laksmana, the slayer of enemies, burning in his native effulgence, said.

Uttara Kanda 58.1

महदद्भुतमाश्चर्य विदेहस्य पुरातनम्। निर्वृत्तं राजशार्दूल वसिष्ठस्य मुनेश्च ह॥

O foremost of kings, this ancient account of the ascetic Vasiştha and the king Nimi is highly surprising and wonderful.

Uttara Kanda 58.2

निमिस्तु क्षत्रियः शूरो विशेषेण च दीक्षितः। न क्षमं कृतवानराजा वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः॥

But Nimi is a Ksatriya king and a hero besides although initiated he did not forgive the highsouled Vasiştha.

Uttara Kanda 58.3

एवमुक्तस्तु तेनायं रामः क्षत्रियपुङ्गवः। उवाच लक्ष्मणं वाक्यं सर्वशास्त्रविशारदम्॥

Being thus accosted Rāma, the Kșatriya-chief, said to the effulgent Lakşmaņa conversant with all Sastras.

Uttara Kanda 58.4

रामो रमयतां श्रेष्ठो भ्रातरं दीप्ततेजसम्। न सर्वत्र क्षमा वीर पुरुषेषु प्रदृश्यते॥ सौमित्रे दुःसरो रोषो यथा क्षान्तो ययातिना। सत्त्वानुगं पुरस्कृत्य तन्निबोध समाहितः॥

O hero, forgiveness is not to be seen in all men. O Saumitri, do you hear attentively, the unbearable anger which was you hear attentively, the unbearable anger which was forgiven by the king Yayāti resorting to the quality of goodness.

Uttara Kanda 58.5

नहुषस्य सुतो राजा ययातिः पौरवर्धनः। तस्य भार्याद्वयं सौम्य रूपेणाप्रतिमं भुवि॥ एका तु तस्य राजर्षेरनाहुषस्य पुरस्कृता। शर्मिष्ठा नाम दैतेयी दुहिता वृषपर्वणः॥

Yayāti, the enhancer of the prosperity of cities, was the son of Nahusa. He had two beautiful wives, one of whom was Sarmistha, grand daughter of Aditi, the daughter of Vrsaparvan.

Uttara Kanda 58.6

अन्या तूशनसः पत्नी ययातेः पुरुषर्षभ। न तु सा दयिता राज्ञो देवयानी सुमध्यमा।९।। तयोः पुत्रौ तु संभूतौ रूपवन्तौ समाहितौ। शर्मिष्ठाजनयत्पूरुं देवयानी यदुं तदा॥

She was the more beloved of the two; his other spouse was Devayāni, grand daughter of Ušanas. She was not liked by her husband. Both of them gave birth to a son each and both the sons were beautiful and attentive. Puru was born of Śarmisthā and Yadu of Devayāni.

Uttara Kanda 58.7

पूरुस्तु दयितो राज्ञो गुणैर्मातृकृतेन च। ततो दुःखसमाविष्टो यदुर्मातरमब्रवीत्॥

Puru was the favourite son of the king, both on account of his mother and of his personal graces, Thereat Yadu, greatly sorry, said to his mother.

Uttara Kanda 58.8

भार्गवस्य कुले जाता देवस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। सहसे हृद्गतं दुःखमवमानं च दुःसहम्॥ आवां च सहितौ देवि प्रविशाव हुताशनम्। राजा तु रमतां सार्धं दैत्यपुत्र्या बहुक्षपाः॥

Born in the race of the illustrious Bhārgava of unwearied actions, you are going tough mental afflictions and unbearable insults; therefore, O mother, let us both enter into fire. Let the king spend many nights with Śarmişthā, the daughter of a demon.

Uttara Kanda 58.9

यदि वा सहनीयं ते मामनुज्ञातुमर्हसि। क्षम त्वं न क्षमिष्येऽहं मरिष्यामि न संशयः॥

You may withstand the insults but I shall never broke them. Permit me, I shall, in sooth, renounce my life.

Uttara Kanda 58.10

पुत्रस्य भाषितं श्रुत्वा परमार्तस्य रोदतः। देवयानी तु संक्रुद्धा सस्मार पितरं तदा॥

The son having, weepingly and distressingly, said this, Devayāni was greatly engaged and thought of her father.

Uttara Kanda 58.11

इङ्गितं तदभिज्ञाय दुहितुर्भार्गवस्तदा। आगतस्त्वरितं तत्र देवयानी स्म यत्र सा॥ दृष्ट्वा चाप्रकृतिस्थां तामप्रहृष्टामचेतनाम्। पिता दुहितरं वाक्यं किमेतदिति चाब्रवीत्॥

As soon as he was thought of by his daughter Bhargava speedily came there and beholding her senseless and deprived from joy said "Daughter, what is the matter?

Uttara Kanda 58.12

पृच्छन्तमसकृत्तं वै भार्गवं दीप्तचेतसम्। देवयानी तु संक्रुद्धा पितरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥ अहमग्नि विषं तीक्ष्णमपो वा मुनिसत्तम। 'भक्षयिष्ये प्रवेक्ष्ये वा न तु शक्ष्यामि जीवितुम्॥

The effulgent father having addressed his daughter repeatedly in this wise, Devayāni, enraged, replied, O foremost of ascetics, I shall either enter into fire water or drink poison, by no means I shall preserve this life of mine.

Uttara Kanda 58.13

न मां त्वमवजानीषे दुःखितामवमानिताम्। वृक्षस्यावज्ञया ब्रह्मश्छिद्यन्ते वृक्षजीविनः॥ अवज्ञया च राजर्षिः परिभूय च भार्गव। मय्यवज्ञां प्रयुङ्क्ते हि न च मां बहु मन्यते ॥

You do not know of the miseries and insults I have been subject to. O Brāhmaṇa, when a tree is neglected, those who live thereon are also distressed. The king having disregarded me, forsooth you have also been neglected.

Uttara Kanda 58.14

तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कोपेनाभिपरिवृतः। व्याहर्तुमुपचक्राम भार्गवो नहुषात्मजम्॥

Hearing the words of his daughter, Bhārgava, being enraged said to the king Yayāti.

Uttara Kanda 58.15

यस्मान्मामवजानीषे नाहुष त्वं दुरात्मवान्। वयसा जरया जीर्णः शैथिल्यमुपयास्यसि॥

You are vicious-minded, O son of Nahusa; you have dishonoured me and therefore in your youth shall be subject to decrepitude and infirmities of age.

Uttara Kanda 58.16

एवमुक्त्वा दुहितरं समाश्वास्य स भार्गवः। पुनर्जगाम ब्रह्मर्षिर्भवनं स्वं महायशाः॥

Having thus imprecated the curse and consoled his sorrowful daughter the highly illustrious Rși Bhārgava repaired to his own habitation.

Uttara Kanda 58.17

स एवमुक्त्वा द्विजपुङ्गवावयः सुतां समाश्वास्य च देवयानीम्। पुनर्ययौ सूर्यसमानतेजा दत्त्वा च शापं नहुषात्मजाय॥

Having thus conferred solace to his daughter that leading Brahmana, effulgent as the son, returned therefrom.

Uttara Kanda 58.18