Sarga 53: Vishvamitra Covets Shabala
Shabala Prarthana
After the wish-fulfilling cow Shabala furnishes a magnificent feast, King Vishvamitra offers vast wealth and armies of elephants, chariots, and horses to obtain her, but Vashishtha refuses every bargain.
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न परित्यागमर्हेयं मत्सकाशादरिन्दम। शाश्वती शबला मह्यं कीर्तिरात्मवतो यथा।।1.53.12।।
Meaning
It is not fitting, subduer of foes, that I part with her; Shabala is to me as eternal as the fame of a self-possessed person.
अस्यां हव्यं च कव्यं च प्राणयात्रा तथैव च। आयत्तमग्निहोत्रं च बलिर्होमस्तथैव च।।1.53.13।।
Meaning
On her depend offerings to gods and ancestors, and my very sustenance of life; on her depend the fire-oblation and the sacrificial rites.
स्वाहाकारवषट्कारौ विद्याश्च विविधा स्तथा। आयत्तमत्र राजर्षे सर्वमेतन्न संशय:।।1.53.14।।
Meaning
The sacred exclamations svaha and vashat, and the various branches of learning, royal sage, all depend on her, without doubt.
सर्वस्वमेतत्सत्येन मम तुष्टिकरी सदा। कारणैर्बहुभी राजन्न दास्ये शबलां तव।।1.53.15।।
Meaning
She is truly my everything, always my source of satisfaction; for many reasons, king, I shall not give you Shabala.
वसिष्ठेनैवमुक्तस्तु विश्वामित्रोऽब्रवीत्तत:। संरब्धतरमत्यर्थं वाक्यं वाक्यविशारद:।।1.53.16।।
Meaning
Thus addressed by Vashishtha, Vishvamitra, eloquent in speech, then spoke this word with mounting insistence.
हैरण्यकक्ष्याग्रैवेयान् सुवर्णाङ्कुशभूषितान्। ददामि कुञ्जरांस्तेषां सहस्राणि चतुर्दश।।1.53.17।।
Meaning
I give you fourteen thousand elephants adorned with golden girdles, golden neck-ornaments, and golden goads.
हैरण्यानां रथानां च श्वेताश्वानां चतुर्युजाम्। ददामि ते शतान्यष्टौ किङ्किणीकविभूषितान्।।1.53.18।।
Meaning
I give you eight hundred golden chariots, each yoked with four white horses, adorned with jingling bells.
हयानां देशजातानां कुलजानां महौजसाम्। सहस्रमेकं दश च ददामि तव सुव्रत।।1.53.19।।
Meaning
I give you eleven thousand mighty horses of noble breed, born in the best countries, one of firm vows.
नानावर्णविभक्तानां वयस्स्थानां तथैव च। ददाम्येकां गवां कोटिं शबला दीयतां मम।।1.53.20।।
Meaning
I give you ten million cows of various colors and mature age; let Shabala be given to me.
यावदिच्छसि रत्नं वा हिरण्यं वा द्विजोत्तम। तावद्ददामि तत्सर्वं शबला दीयतां मम।।1.53.21।।
Meaning
As much gem or gold as you desire, foremost of brahmins, I shall give you all of it; let Shabala be given to me.