The Telling of the Curse

Verse 1 (padma.5.47.1)

शेष उवाच। हयो गतो हेमकूटं भारतांते ततो द्विज । अनेकभटसाहस्रै रक्षितो बद्धचामरः

śeṣa uvāca hayo gato hemakūṭaṁ bhāratāṁte tato dvija anekabhaṭasāhasrai rakṣito baddhacāmaraḥ

Shesha said: The horse then went to Hemakuta, O brahmin, at the edge of Bharata, guarded by many thousands of warriors, its chowries bound in place.

Verse 2 (padma.5.47.2)

यो वै विस्तरतो दैर्घ्याद्योजनानां समं ततः । अयुतेन सुशृङ्गैश्च राजतैः कांचनादिभिः

yo vai vistarato dairghyādyojanānāṁ samaṁ tataḥ ayutena suśṛṅgaiśca rājataiḥ kāṁcanādibhiḥ

That mountain, equal in breadth and length to ten thousand yojanas, was crowned with fine peaks of silver, gold, and other metals —

Verse 3 (padma.5.47.3)

तत्रोद्यानं महच्छ्रेष्ठं पादपैः परिशोभितम् । शालैस्तालैस्तमालैश्च कर्णिकारैः समन्ततः

tatrodyānaṁ mahacchreṣṭhaṁ pādapaiḥ pariśobhitam śālaistālaistamālaiśca karṇikāraiḥ samantataḥ

— and there stood a great and excellent garden, resplendent on every side with sala, tala, tamala, and karnikara trees,

Verse 4 (padma.5.47.4)

हिंतालैर्नागपुन्नागैः कोविदारैः सबिल्वकैः । चम्पकैर्बकुलैर्मेघैर्मदनैः कुटजादिभिः

hiṁtālairnāgapunnāgaiḥ kovidāraiḥ sabilvakaiḥ campakairbakulairmeghairmadanaiḥ kuṭajādibhiḥ

— hintala, naga, punnaga, kovidara, and bilva trees, champaka, bakula, megha, madana, kutaja, and their like —

Verse 5 (padma.5.47.5)

जातिकाभिर्यूथिकाभिर्नवमालिकया तथा । आम्रैर्माधवद्राक्षाभिर्दाडिमैः शोभितं वनम्

jātikābhiryūthikābhirnavamālikayā tathā āmrairmādhavadrākṣābhirdāḍimaiḥ śobhitaṁ vanam

— jasmine and navamalika flowers too, and a forest resplendent with mango, madhavi-vine grapes, and pomegranate trees.

Verse 6 (padma.5.47.6)

अनेकपक्षिसंघुष्टं भ्रमरैर्निनदीकृतम् । मयूरकेकारवितं सर्वर्तुसुखदं हयः

anekapakṣisaṁghuṣṭaṁ bhramarairninadīkṛtam mayūrakekāravitaṁ sarvartusukhadaṁ hayaḥ

Resounding with the calls of many birds, humming with bees, ringing with the cries of peacocks — that forest gave delight in every season, and into it the horse —

Verse 7 (padma.5.47.7)

प्रविवेश स शत्रुघ्नो मनोवेगसमन्वितः । स्वर्णपत्रं विशाले स्वे भाले बिभ्रन्मनोहरम्

praviveśa sa śatrughno manovegasamanvitaḥ svarṇapatraṁ viśāle sve bhāle bibhranmanoharam

— now entered, that horse of Shatrughna's, swift as thought, bearing upon its broad forehead a lovely golden plate.

Verse 8 (padma.5.47.8)

गच्छतस्तस्य वाहस्य हयमेधक्रतोस्तदा । अकस्मादभवच्चित्रं तच्छृणुष्व द्विजोत्तम

gacchatastasya vāhasya hayamedhakratostadā akasmādabhavaccitraṁ tacchṛṇuṣva dvijottama

As that horse of the sacrifice thus went along, suddenly a strange thing occurred — hear it, O foremost of brahmins.

Verse 9 (padma.5.47.9)

गात्रस्तंभोऽभवत्तस्य न चचाल पथिस्थितः । हेमकूटइवाचाल्यो बभूव हयसत्तमः

gātrastaṁbho'bhavattasya na cacāla pathisthitaḥ hemakūṭaivācālyo babhūva hayasattamaḥ

His limbs grew rigid; standing there upon the road, he would not move at all; that finest of horses became as immovable as Hemakuta itself.

Verse 10 (padma.5.47.10)

तदा तद्रक्षकाः सर्वे कशाघातान्वितेनिरे । तदाहतेऽपि न ययौ स्तब्धगात्रो हयोत्तमः

tadā tadrakṣakāḥ sarve kaśāghātānvitenire tadāhate'pi na yayau stabdhagātro hayottamaḥ

Then all his guardians rained blows of the whip upon him; but even struck thus, that finest of horses, its body frozen, would not move.

Verse 11 (padma.5.47.11)

शत्रुघ्नं सविधे गत्वा चुक्रुशुर्वाहरक्षकाः । स्वामिन्वयं न जानीमः किमभूद्धयसत्तमे

śatrughnaṁ savidhe gatvā cukruśurvāharakṣakāḥ svāminvayaṁ na jānīmaḥ kimabhūddhayasattame

Going into Shatrughna's presence, the guardians of the horse cried out: "My lord, we do not know what has befallen this finest of horses."

Verse 12 (padma.5.47.12)

गच्छतो वाहवर्यस्य मनोवेगस्य भूपते । आकस्मिकोऽभवत्तस्य गात्रस्तंभो महामते

gacchato vāhavaryasya manovegasya bhūpate ākasmiko'bhavattasya gātrastaṁbho mahāmate

"O king, O great-minded one, this finest of horses, swift as thought, was going along when suddenly its limbs turned rigid."

Verse 13 (padma.5.47.13)

कशाभिस्ताडितोऽस्माभिः परं तत्र चचाल न । एवं विचार्य यत्कर्म तत्कुरुष्व नृपोत्तम

kaśābhistāḍito'smābhiḥ paraṁ tatra cacāla na evaṁ vicārya yatkarma tatkuruṣva nṛpottama

"We struck it even with our whips, and still it did not stir there by so much as a hair's breadth. Consider this, O best of kings, and do whatever is fitting."

Verse 14 (padma.5.47.14)

तदा विस्मयमापन्नो भूपतिः सह सैनिकैः । जगाम सहितः सर्वैर्हयस्य महतोऽन्तिके

tadā vismayamāpanno bhūpatiḥ saha sainikaiḥ jagāma sahitaḥ sarvairhayasya mahato'ntike

Then the king, filled with astonishment, went together with all his soldiers to the side of that great horse.

Verse 15 (padma.5.47.15)

पुष्कलो बाहुना धृत्वा चरणौ तस्य भूतलात् । उत्पाटयामास तदा परं नो चेलतुस्ततः

puṣkalo bāhunā dhṛtvā caraṇau tasya bhūtalāt utpāṭayāmāsa tadā paraṁ no celatustataḥ

Pushkala seized its legs with his arm and tried to lift it from the ground; but even so it did not stir in the least.

Verse 16 (padma.5.47.16)

बलेन बलिनाक्रांतो नाकम्पत हयस्तदा । हनूमांस्तं समुद्धर्तुं मतिं चक्रे महामनाः

balena balinākrāṁto nākampata hayastadā hanūmāṁstaṁ samuddhartuṁ matiṁ cakre mahāmanāḥ

Assailed by the strength of that mighty one, the horse did not even tremble; the great-minded Hanuman resolved then to lift it himself.

Verse 17 (padma.5.47.17)

लांगूलेन समावेष्ट्य बलेन बलिनां वरः । आचकर्ष बलाद्वाहं न चचाल तथापि सः

lāṁgūlena samāveṣṭya balena balināṁ varaḥ ācakarṣa balādvāhaṁ na cacāla tathāpi saḥ

Winding his tail about it, that foremost of the mighty pulled the horse with all his strength — yet even then it did not move.

Verse 18 (padma.5.47.18)

तदोवाच कपिश्रेष्ठो हनूमान्विस्मयान्वितः । शत्रुघ्नं बलिनां श्रेष्ठं वीराणां परिशृण्वताम्

tadovāca kapiśreṣṭho hanūmānvismayānvitaḥ śatrughnaṁ balināṁ śreṣṭhaṁ vīrāṇāṁ pariśṛṇvatām

Then, filled with astonishment, Hanuman, foremost of monkeys, said to Shatrughna, best among the mighty, as the assembled heroes listened —

Verse 19 (padma.5.47.19)

मया द्रोणो लांगुलेन लीलयोत्पाटितोऽधुना । परमत्र महाश्चर्यं कम्पते न हयोऽल्पकः

mayā droṇo lāṁgulena līlayotpāṭito'dhunā paramatra mahāścaryaṁ kampate na hayo'lpakaḥ

"By me was Mount Drona uprooted with my very tail, in mere play — yet now, greatest wonder of all, this small horse will not even tremble."

Verse 20 (padma.5.47.20)

दृष्टमत्र निदानं हि वीरैर्बलिभिरुद्धतैः । आकृष्टोऽपि न च स्थानाच्चचाल तिलमात्रतः

dṛṣṭamatra nidānaṁ hi vīrairbalibhiruddhataiḥ ākṛṣṭo'pi na ca sthānāccacāla tilamātrataḥ

"The cause of this our mighty and valiant heroes have witnessed for themselves — even dragged, it has not moved from its place by so much as a sesame-seed's breadth."

Verse 21 (padma.5.47.21)

कपिभाषितमाकर्ण्य शत्रुघ्नो विस्मयान्वितः । सुमतिं मंत्रिणां श्रेष्ठमुवाच वदतां वरः

kapibhāṣitamākarṇya śatrughno vismayānvitaḥ sumatiṁ maṁtriṇāṁ śreṣṭhamuvāca vadatāṁ varaḥ

Hearing the monkey's words, Shatrughna, filled with astonishment, said to Sumati, foremost of counsellors and best of speakers —

Verse 22 (padma.5.47.22)

शत्रुघ्न उवाच। मंत्रिन्किमभवद्वाहे स्तंभनं वपुषोऽनघ । कोऽत्रोपायो विधेयः स्याद्येन वाहगतिर्भवेत्

śatrughna uvāca maṁtrinkimabhavadvāhe staṁbhanaṁ vapuṣo'nagha ko'tropāyo vidheyaḥ syādyena vāhagatirbhavet

Shatrughna said: "O counsellor, sinless one, what has brought this rigidity upon the horse's body? What remedy should now be applied, by which the horse might move again?"

Verse 23 (padma.5.47.23)

सुमतिरुवाच। स्वामिन्कश्चिन्मुनिर्मृग्योऽखिलज्ञानविचक्षणः । देशोद्भवमहं जाने प्रत्यक्षं न परोक्षजम्

sumatiruvāca svāminkaścinmunirmṛgyo'khilajñānavicakṣaṇaḥ deśodbhavamahaṁ jāne pratyakṣaṁ na parokṣajam

Sumati said: "My lord, some sage must be sought, one skilled in the whole of knowledge; I can perceive only what arises within my own domain, not what lies beyond it."

Verse 24 (padma.5.47.24)

शेष उवाच। इति वाक्यं समाकर्ण्य सुमतेर्धर्मकोविदः । अन्वेषयामास मुनिं सेवकैः सह शोभनम्

śeṣa uvāca iti vākyaṁ samākarṇya sumaterdharmakovidaḥ anveṣayāmāsa muniṁ sevakaiḥ saha śobhanam

Shesha said: Hearing these words of Sumati, that king, skilled in Dharma, set out together with his servants in search of a worthy sage.

Verse 25 (padma.5.47.25)

ते सर्वे सर्वतो गत्वा मुनिं धर्मविदं भटाः । व्यालोकयंतः सर्वत्र न चापश्यन्मुनीश्वरम्

te sarve sarvato gatvā muniṁ dharmavidaṁ bhaṭāḥ vyālokayaṁtaḥ sarvatra na cāpaśyanmunīśvaram

All those warriors went out in every direction, searching everywhere for a sage learned in Dharma, but nowhere could they find that lord of sages.

Verse 26 (padma.5.47.26)

एकस्त्वनुचरो विप्र गतो योजनमात्रतः । पूर्वस्यां दिशि चोद्युक्तः पश्यति स्म महाश्रमम्

ekastvanucaro vipra gato yojanamātrataḥ pūrvasyāṁ diśi codyuktaḥ paśyati sma mahāśramam

But O brahmin, one attendant, having gone a full yojana toward the eastern direction, searching diligently, came upon a great hermitage —

Verse 27 (padma.5.47.27)

यत्र निर्वैरिणः सर्वे पशवो जनतास्तथा । गंगास्नानहताशेषकिल्बिषाः सुमनोहराः

yatra nirvairiṇaḥ sarve paśavo janatāstathā gaṁgāsnānahatāśeṣakilbiṣāḥ sumanoharāḥ

— where beasts and people alike lived together without enmity, most lovely to behold, all their remaining sins washed clean by bathing in the Ganga —

Verse 28 (padma.5.47.28)

यत्र केचित्तपः श्रेष्ठं कुर्वंति स्म हुताशनैः । धूमैरधोमुखाः पत्रैर्वायुभिः स्वोदरंभराः

yatra kecittapaḥ śreṣṭhaṁ kurvaṁti sma hutāśanaiḥ dhūmairadhomukhāḥ patrairvāyubhiḥ svodaraṁbharāḥ

— where some performed the finest austerities with sacred fire, their faces bowed low amid the smoke, sustaining themselves on nothing but leaves and air —

Verse 29 (padma.5.47.29)

यत्राग्निहोत्रजो धूमः पवित्रयति सर्वदा । अनेकमुनिसंहृष्टो मुक्तपत्रलतोत्तमः

yatrāgnihotrajo dhūmaḥ pavitrayati sarvadā anekamunisaṁhṛṣṭo muktapatralatottamaḥ

— where the smoke born of the fire-offering ever purified the air, delighting the many sages there, that place adorned with the finest of vines and leaves left free.

Verse 30 (padma.5.47.30)

तमाश्रमं मुनेर्ज्ञात्वा शौनकस्य मनोहरम् । न्यवेदयन्नृपायासौ विस्मयाविष्टचेतसे

tamāśramaṁ munerjñātvā śaunakasya manoharam nyavedayannṛpāyāsau vismayāviṣṭacetase

Knowing that lovely hermitage to belong to sage Shaunaka, he brought this news back to the king, whose heart filled with wonder.

Verse 31 (padma.5.47.31)

तच्छ्रुत्वा हर्षितोऽत्यंतं शत्रुघ्नः सह सेवकैः । हनूमत्पुष्कलाद्यैश्च सयुतोऽगात्तदाश्रमम्

tacchrutvā harṣito'tyaṁtaṁ śatrughnaḥ saha sevakaiḥ hanūmatpuṣkalādyaiśca sayuto'gāttadāśramam

Hearing this, Shatrughna, greatly delighted, went to that hermitage together with his servants, and with Hanuman, Pushkala, and the rest.

Verse 32 (padma.5.47.32)

तत्र वीक्ष्य मुनिश्रेष्ठं सम्यग्घुतहुताशनम् । प्रणम्य दंडवत्तस्य चरणौ पापहारिणौ

tatra vīkṣya muniśreṣṭhaṁ samyagghutahutāśanam praṇamya daṁḍavattasya caraṇau pāpahāriṇau

There, seeing that foremost of sages, his fire-offering duly finished, they bowed full-length before his feet, which take away all sin.

Verse 33 (padma.5.47.33)

तमागतं नृपं ज्ञात्वा शत्रुघ्नं बलिनां वरम् । अर्घ्यपाद्यादिकं चक्रे प्रीतस्तद्दर्शनादभूत्

tamāgataṁ nṛpaṁ jñātvā śatrughnaṁ balināṁ varam arghyapādyādikaṁ cakre prītastaddarśanādabhūt

Knowing that King Shatrughna, foremost of the mighty, had arrived, he honored him with arghya, water for the feet, and the like, delighted at the sight of him.

Verse 34 (padma.5.47.34)

सुखोपविष्टं विश्रान्तं नृपं प्राह मुनीश्वरः । किमर्थमटनं देव महत्पर्यटनं तव

sukhopaviṣṭaṁ viśrāntaṁ nṛpaṁ prāha munīśvaraḥ kimarthamaṭanaṁ deva mahatparyaṭanaṁ tava

As the king sat comfortably at rest, that lord of sages said to him: "For what purpose, O king, is this great journeying of yours?"

Verse 35 (padma.5.47.35)

त्वादृशाः पृथिवीं सर्वां नृपा वै न भ्रमंति चेत् । तदा दुष्टजनाः साधून्बाधंते विगतज्वरान्

tvādṛśāḥ pṛthivīṁ sarvāṁ nṛpā vai na bhramaṁti cet tadā duṣṭajanāḥ sādhūnbādhaṁte vigatajvarān

"If kings such as you did not journey across the whole earth, then wicked men would come to afflict the righteous, who remain free of any wrongdoing."

Verse 36 (padma.5.47.36)

कथयस्व महीपाल शत्रुघ्न बलिनां वर । सर्वं शुभायनो भूयात्तव पर्यटनादिकम्

kathayasva mahīpāla śatrughna balināṁ vara sarvaṁ śubhāyano bhūyāttava paryaṭanādikam

"Tell me, O protector of the earth, Shatrughna, best of the mighty — may everything in this journey of yours prove auspicious."

Verse 37 (padma.5.47.37)

शेष उवाच। इत्युक्तवंतं भूदेवं प्रत्युवाच महीश्वरः । गद्गद स्वरया वाण्या हर्षित स्वीयविग्रहः

śeṣa uvāca ityuktavaṁtaṁ bhūdevaṁ pratyuvāca mahīśvaraḥ gadgada svarayā vāṇyā harṣita svīyavigrahaḥ

Shesha said: To that god on earth speaking thus, the king replied, his voice choked with feeling, his very body thrilling with delight.

Verse 38 (padma.5.47.38)

शत्रुघ्न उवाच। अकस्मादभवच्चित्रं रामाश्वस्य मनोहृतः । नातिदूरे त्वदावासात्तच्छृणुष्व विदांवर

śatrughna uvāca akasmādabhavaccitraṁ rāmāśvasya manohṛtaḥ nātidūre tvadāvāsāttacchṛṇuṣva vidāṁvara

Shatrughna said: "A strange thing has suddenly befallen the horse of Rama's sacrifice, quite close by, not far from your own dwelling — hear it, O best of the learned."

Verse 39 (padma.5.47.39)

उद्याने तव शोभाढ्ये यदृच्छातो हयो गतः । तत्प्रांते तस्य वाहस्य गात्रस्तंभोऽभवत्क्षणात्

udyāne tava śobhāḍhye yadṛcchāto hayo gataḥ tatprāṁte tasya vāhasya gātrastaṁbho'bhavatkṣaṇāt

"In your own beautiful garden the horse went of its own accord; and at its very edge, in an instant, its limbs became frozen."

Verse 40 (padma.5.47.40)

तदा मे बलिनो वीराः पुष्कलाद्या मदोत्कटाः । बलादाचकृषुर्वाहं न चचाल तथाप्यसौ

tadā me balino vīrāḥ puṣkalādyā madotkaṭāḥ balādācakṛṣurvāhaṁ na cacāla tathāpyasau

"Then my mighty heroes — Pushkala and the others, drunk on their own strength — tried with all their force to drag the horse, and still it did not move."

Verse 41 (padma.5.47.41)

अस्मानपारदुःखाब्धौ मग्नान्प्रतितरिः स्मृतः । दैवाद्दृष्टः सुभाग्यैस्त्वं कथयस्व निदानकम्

asmānapāraduḥkhābdhau magnānpratitariḥ smṛtaḥ daivāddṛṣṭaḥ subhāgyaistvaṁ kathayasva nidānakam

"You are remembered as the very boat that ferries across those sunk in an unfathomable ocean of sorrow; by great good fortune we have found you — tell us the cause of this."

Verse 42 (padma.5.47.42)

शेष उवाच। एवं पृष्टो मुनिवरः क्षणं दध्यौ महामतिः । ततः कारणसंयुक्तं विचारेण दधद्धयम्

śeṣa uvāca evaṁ pṛṣṭo munivaraḥ kṣaṇaṁ dadhyau mahāmatiḥ tataḥ kāraṇasaṁyuktaṁ vicāreṇa dadhaddhayam

Shesha said: Thus questioned, that great-minded and excellent sage fell silent in thought for a moment; then, weighing the horse's condition together with its cause —

Verse 43 (padma.5.47.43)

क्षणात्तज्ज्ञानतां प्राप्य विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनः । जगाद स महीपालं दुःखितं संशयान्वितम्

kṣaṇāttajjñānatāṁ prāpya vismayotphullalocanaḥ jagāda sa mahīpālaṁ duḥkhitaṁ saṁśayānvitam

— he grasped that knowledge in an instant, and, his eyes wide with wonder, spoke to the sorrowful, doubt-ridden king.

Verse 44 (padma.5.47.44)

शौनक उवाच। शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि हयस्तंभस्य कारणम् । यच्छ्रुत्वा मुच्यते दुःखादतिचित्रकथानकम्

śaunaka uvāca śṛṇu rājanpravakṣyāmi hayastaṁbhasya kāraṇam yacchrutvā mucyate duḥkhādaticitrakathānakam

Shaunaka said: "Listen, O king, I shall tell you the cause of this rigidity in the horse; hearing it, one is freed from sorrow — a most wondrous tale it is."

Verse 45 (padma.5.47.45)

गौडदेशे महारण्ये कावेरीतीरभूषिते । वाडवः सात्वको नाम्ना चचार परमं तपः

gauḍadeśe mahāraṇye kāverītīrabhūṣite vāḍavaḥ sātvako nāmnā cacāra paramaṁ tapaḥ

"In the land of Gauda, in a great forest graced by the banks of the Kaveri, there lived a brahmin named Satvaka, who practiced the highest austerity."

Verse 46 (padma.5.47.46)

एकाहं पयसः प्राशी दिनैकं वायुभक्षकः । दिनैकं तु निराहार एवं त्रिदिनमुन्नयेत्

ekāhaṁ payasaḥ prāśī dinaikaṁ vāyubhakṣakaḥ dinaikaṁ tu nirāhāra evaṁ tridinamunnayet

"On one day he would drink only water, on the next live on air alone, and on the third fast entirely — and so he passed his days in cycles of three."

Verse 47 (padma.5.47.47)

एवं व्रते प्रवृत्तस्य कालः सर्वक्षयंकरः । जग्राह स्वस्य दंष्ट्रायां मृतिं प्राप महाव्रती

evaṁ vrate pravṛttasya kālaḥ sarvakṣayaṁkaraḥ jagrāha svasya daṁṣṭrāyāṁ mṛtiṁ prāpa mahāvratī

"While thus engaged in that vow, all-destroying Time seized him in its jaws, and that great ascetic met his death."

Verse 48 (padma.5.47.48)

विमाने सर्वशोभाढ्ये सर्वरत्नविभूषिते । अप्सरोभिः सह क्रीडन्ययौ मेरोः शिखास्थितौ

vimāne sarvaśobhāḍhye sarvaratnavibhūṣite apsarobhiḥ saha krīḍanyayau meroḥ śikhāsthitau

"In a heavenly car resplendent with every beauty and every jewel, sporting with celestial nymphs, he went to the very peak of Mount Meru."

Verse 49 (padma.5.47.49)

जंबूनाममहावृक्षस्तत्र सेव्यरसोऽभवत् । नदी जांबवती संज्ञा स्वर्णद्रवसमन्विता

jaṁbūnāmamahāvṛkṣastatra sevyaraso'bhavat nadī jāṁbavatī saṁjñā svarṇadravasamanvitā

"There stood the great tree called Jambu, whose sap was most delightful, and a river named Jambavati, flowing with molten gold."

Verse 50 (padma.5.47.50)

तस्यां मुनयइच्छाभिः क्रीडंते कुतुकान्विताः । अनेकतपसा पुण्याः सर्वसौख्यसमन्विताः

tasyāṁ munayaicchābhiḥ krīḍaṁte kutukānvitāḥ anekatapasā puṇyāḥ sarvasaukhyasamanvitāḥ

"In that river the sages sport as they please, filled with delight, blessed by their many austerities, endowed with every happiness."

Verse 51 (padma.5.47.51)

तत्रासौ स्वेच्छया क्रीडन्नप्सरोभिर्मुदान्वितः । प्रतीपमाचरत्तेषां स्वाभिमानमदोद्धतः

tatrāsau svecchayā krīḍannapsarobhirmudānvitaḥ pratīpamācaratteṣāṁ svābhimānamadoddhataḥ

"There he too sported at will with the celestial nymphs, filled with delight, but, swollen with pride and arrogance, began to behave improperly toward them."

Verse 52 (padma.5.47.52)

ततः शप्तः स मुनिभी राक्षसो भव दुर्मुखः । ततोऽतिदुःखितः प्राह मुनीन्विद्यातपोधनान्

tataḥ śaptaḥ sa munibhī rākṣaso bhava durmukhaḥ tato'tiduḥkhitaḥ prāha munīnvidyātapodhanān

"Then the sages cursed him: 'Become a wicked-faced rakshasa!' Then, greatly grieved, he spoke to those sages, rich in learning and austerity —"

Verse 53 (padma.5.47.53)

अनुगृह्णंतु मां सर्वे विप्रा यूयं कृपालवः । तदा तैरनुगृहीतो यदा रामहयं भवान्

anugṛhṇaṁtu māṁ sarve viprā yūyaṁ kṛpālavaḥ tadā tairanugṛhīto yadā rāmahayaṁ bhavān

— 'Be gracious to me, O compassionate brahmins.' Then they showed him mercy: 'When you shall stop Rama's own horse —"

Verse 54 (padma.5.47.54)

स्तंभयिष्यति वेगेन ततो रामकथाश्रुतिः । पश्चान्मुक्तिर्भवित्री ते शापादस्मात्सुदारुणात्

staṁbhayiṣyati vegena tato rāmakathāśrutiḥ paścānmuktirbhavitrī te śāpādasmātsudāruṇāt

'— by force, then, upon hearing the story of Rama, your release from this most terrible curse shall follow.'"

Verse 55 (padma.5.47.55)

स प्रोक्तो मुनिभिर्देवो राक्षसत्वमितः प्रभो । स्तंभयामास रामाश्वं मोचयानघकीर्तनैः

sa prokto munibhirdevo rākṣasatvamitaḥ prabho staṁbhayāmāsa rāmāśvaṁ mocayānaghakīrtanaiḥ

"O lord, that being, thus addressed by the sages, has from that hour, in the form of a rakshasa, held Rama's horse fast — release him now with the telling of that sinless one's glory."