King Dilipa's Vow

Verse 1 (padma.6.202.1)

देवल उवाच- शृणुष्व भो महाप्राज्ञ दिलीपस्य महीपतेः । कथां दिव्यां विचित्रां च शृणुतां पापनाशिनीम्

devala uvāca- śṛṇuṣva bho mahāprājña dilīpasya mahīpateḥ kathāṁ divyāṁ vicitrāṁ ca śṛṇutāṁ pāpanāśinīm

Devala said: Listen, O greatly wise one, to the divine and wondrous story of King Dilipa — listen, sin-destroying as it is.

Verse 2 (padma.6.202.2)

वैवस्वतमनोर्वंशे दिलीपो भूभुजां वरः । आसीत्प्राचीनबर्हिस्तु स्वायंभुवमनोरिव

vaivasvatamanorvaṁśe dilīpo bhūbhujāṁ varaḥ āsītprācīnabarhistu svāyaṁbhuvamanoriva

In the lineage of Vaivasvata Manu, Dilipa, foremost among kings, lived — as Prachinabarhis had in the lineage of Svayambhuva Manu.

Verse 3 (padma.6.202.3)

स तु धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठो धर्मेण प्रतिपालयन् । महीं महीपतिर्लोकान्गुणैराद्धैररंजयत्

sa tu dharmabhṛtāṁ śreṣṭho dharmeṇa pratipālayan mahīṁ mahīpatirlokānguṇairāddhairaraṁjayat

He, foremost among the upholders of dharma, ruling the earth righteously, that king delighted the worlds with his tried and true virtues.

Verse 4 (padma.6.202.4)

मगधाधिपतेः पुत्री महिषी तस्य भूपतेः । सुदक्षणाख्यया ख्याता शचीवासीद्दिवस्पतेः

magadhādhipateḥ putrī mahiṣī tasya bhūpateḥ sudakṣaṇākhyayā khyātā śacīvāsīddivaspateḥ

The daughter of the lord of Magadha was that king's chief queen, known by the name Sudakshina — like Shachi to the lord of heaven.

Verse 5 (padma.6.202.5)

गते महति काले तु महिष्यां नाभवत्सुतः । दध्याविति निजस्वांते स सम्राट्कोशलाधिपः

gate mahati kāle tu mahiṣyāṁ nābhavatsutaḥ dadhyāviti nijasvāṁte sa samrāṭkośalādhipaḥ

A great length of time passed, yet no son was born to the queen; the emperor, lord of Kosala, brooded thus within his own heart:

Verse 6 (padma.6.202.6)

रत्नाकरसुमेर्वादि नगरत्नैर्विराजितम् । धृतं भूवलयं दोषो भूषायै नाप्रजस्य मे

ratnākarasumervādi nagaratnairvirājitam dhṛtaṁ bhūvalayaṁ doṣo bhūṣāyai nāprajasya me

‘This circle of the earth, adorned with jewels of oceans and mountains beginning with Sumeru, which I hold — it is but a fault for the ornament of one such as I who am childless.’

Verse 7 (padma.6.202.7)

वर्गत्रयी यथाकालं सेविता न विरोधिता । तथापि मेऽनपत्यस्य न सौख्यं विद्यते हृदि

vargatrayī yathākālaṁ sevitā na virodhitā tathāpi me'napatyasya na saukhyaṁ vidyate hṛdi

‘The three goals of life have been duly pursued in due season, without conflict; yet, being childless, no happiness exists in my heart.’

Verse 8 (padma.6.202.8)

यज्ञैराराधितो विष्णुरिंद्राद्याश्च सुरोत्तमाः । दीर्घिकारामकूपाश्च कारिताः सर्वतो भुवि

yajñairārādhito viṣṇuriṁdrādyāśca surottamāḥ dīrghikārāmakūpāśca kāritāḥ sarvato bhuvi

‘Vishnu has been worshipped with sacrifices, and Indra and other excellent gods; ponds, gardens, and wells have been made all over the earth by me.’

Verse 9 (padma.6.202.9)

गोभूहिरण्यवासोभिः षड्रसान्वितभोजनैः । विप्रा अतिथयश्चैव भक्त्या संतोषिता मया

gobhūhiraṇyavāsobhiḥ ṣaḍrasānvitabhojanaiḥ viprā atithayaścaiva bhaktyā saṁtoṣitā mayā

‘With gifts of cows, land, gold, and garments, and with meals possessing all six flavors, brahmins and guests alike have been satisfied by me with devotion.’

Verse 10 (padma.6.202.10)

वृत्यर्थं पृथिवीपालानुद्धृत्य युधि धर्मतः । धनेन महता कोशो मया हि बहुलीकृतः

vṛtyarthaṁ pṛthivīpālānuddhṛtya yudhi dharmataḥ dhanena mahatā kośo mayā hi bahulīkṛtaḥ

‘For the sake of livelihood, having subdued rival kings in battle, righteously, my treasury has indeed been much enlarged with great wealth.’

Verse 11 (padma.6.202.11)

उन्मार्गगामिनो मत्ता निजधर्मविलंघिनः । विमुखः पितृदेवेभ्यो दंड्यास्ते दंडिता मया

unmārgagāmino mattā nijadharmavilaṁghinaḥ vimukhaḥ pitṛdevebhyo daṁḍyāste daṁḍitā mayā

‘Those going astray, intoxicated, transgressing their own dharma, averse to ancestors and gods — those deserving punishment have been punished by me.’

Verse 12 (padma.6.202.12)

पंचपर्वसु वैष्णव्यां रवौ पित्र्ये च कर्मणि । दशम्यैकादशीतिथ्योर्न स्त्रीसेवा कृता मया

paṁcaparvasu vaiṣṇavyāṁ ravau pitrye ca karmaṇi daśamyaikādaśītithyorna strīsevā kṛtā mayā

‘On the five sacred days, on the eleventh lunar day, on Sunday, during ancestral rites, and on the tenth and eleventh lunar days, I have never engaged in relations with a woman.’

Verse 13 (padma.6.202.13)

ऋतुकालावधौ स्नातां स्वस्त्रियं नाहमत्यजम् । अनृतावपि तद्योग्ये काले चेत्प्रार्थितस्तया

ṛtukālāvadhau snātāṁ svastriyaṁ nāhamatyajam anṛtāvapi tadyogye kāle cetprārthitastayā

‘I have never neglected my own wife when, at the fertile time, she had bathed; and even outside the fertile season, if requested by her at a suitable time—’

Verse 14 (padma.6.202.14)

तदा तस्यां सकामिन्यां सकामं रमितं मया । एवं धर्मार्थकामा मे यथाकालं निषेविताः

tadā tasyāṁ sakāminyāṁ sakāmaṁ ramitaṁ mayā evaṁ dharmārthakāmā me yathākālaṁ niṣevitāḥ

‘—then, she being desirous, I made love to her with desire. Thus, dharma, artha, and kama have all been pursued by me, each in its proper time.’

Verse 15 (padma.6.202.15)

महिष्यां केन दोषेण जायते मे न संततिः । अतीतानागतज्ञानो वसिष्ठो गुरुरेव नः

mahiṣyāṁ kena doṣeṇa jāyate me na saṁtatiḥ atītānāgatajñāno vasiṣṭho gurureva naḥ

‘By what fault, then, is no offspring born to me from my queen? Vasishtha, our very guru, has knowledge of the past and the future—’

Verse 16 (padma.6.202.16)

कथयिष्यति तं दोषं यन्मे पुत्रो न जायते । देवल उवाच- इत्यालोच्य स भूपालो गमिष्यन्नाश्रमं गुरोः । मंत्रिष्वारोपयामास कोशलामृद्धिकोशलाम्

kathayiṣyati taṁ doṣaṁ yanme putro na jāyate devala uvāca- ityālocya sa bhūpālo gamiṣyannāśramaṁ guroḥ maṁtriṣvāropayāmāsa kośalāmṛddhikośalām

‘—he shall tell me that fault by which no son is born to me.’ Devala said: Having thus reflected, that king, about to go to his guru's hermitage, entrusted his flourishing Kosala to his ministers.

Verse 17 (padma.6.202.17)

अथ प्रजासृजं देवं पूजयित्वाश्रमं गुरोः । प्रतस्थाते पुत्रकामौ दंपती तौ शुभेऽहनि

atha prajāsṛjaṁ devaṁ pūjayitvāśramaṁ guroḥ pratasthāte putrakāmau daṁpatī tau śubhe'hani

Then, having worshipped the god who is the creator of offspring, that couple, desiring a son, set out for the hermitage of the guru on an auspicious day.

Verse 18 (padma.6.202.18)

कतिचिद्वासरैर्मार्गमुल्लंघ्यैकरथे स्थितौ । तौ दंपती गुरोः सायमाश्रमं प्रापतुः शुभम्

katicidvāsarairmārgamullaṁghyaikarathe sthitau tau daṁpatī guroḥ sāyamāśramaṁ prāpatuḥ śubham

Having covered the road over a few days, riding in a single chariot, that couple arrived in the evening at the auspicious hermitage of the guru.

Verse 19 (padma.6.202.19)

वैश्वदेवांत संप्राप्तातिथिसत्कारकृन्मुनिम् । हुताशनहुतद्रव्यप्रसरद्धूममालया

vaiśvadevāṁta saṁprāptātithisatkārakṛnmunim hutāśanahutadravyaprasaraddhūmamālayā

They found the sage, having completed the Vaishvadeva rite, in the midst of receiving arriving guests with due honor, with garlands of smoke rising from the offerings made into the sacred fire—

Verse 20 (padma.6.202.20)

पवित्रयंतमात्मस्थान्मुनीनागंतुकानपि । मृगैर्दूर्वाप्रतानौघप्रपूर्णोदरमंथरम्

pavitrayaṁtamātmasthānmunīnāgaṁtukānapi mṛgairdūrvāpratānaughaprapūrṇodaramaṁtharam

—purifying both his resident sages and newly-arrived guests, with deer, their bellies rendered slow and full from streams of durva grass—

Verse 21 (padma.6.202.21)

अभ्यागच्छद्भिरभितो मंडपं स मृगीगणैः । वासवृक्षमिलत्पक्षिकुलकोलाहलाकुलम्

abhyāgacchadbhirabhito maṁḍapaṁ sa mṛgīgaṇaiḥ vāsavṛkṣamilatpakṣikulakolāhalākulam

—herds of does approaching the pavilion from all sides, its dwelling-trees filled with the commotion of gathered flocks of birds—

Verse 22 (padma.6.202.22)

परस्परविनिर्मुक्तवैरव्याघ्रमृगादिकम् । जपध्यानपरर्षीणां क्षणश्रांतश्रुतिध्वनिम्

parasparavinirmuktavairavyāghramṛgādikam japadhyānapararṣīṇāṁ kṣaṇaśrāṁtaśrutidhvanim

—tigers, deer, and other beasts having released their mutual enmity, the sound of Vedic recitation momentarily interrupted by the sages engaged in japa and meditation—

Verse 23 (padma.6.202.23)

अनध्ययनकालोत्थ क्रीडारक्तकुमारकम् । तस्मिन्वसिष्ठमद्राष्टां दंपती तौ कृतक्रियम्

anadhyayanakālottha krīḍāraktakumārakam tasminvasiṣṭhamadrāṣṭāṁ daṁpatī tau kṛtakriyam

—young boys, in a time free from study, engaged in play; in that place that couple saw Vasishtha, his rites completed—

Verse 24 (padma.6.202.24)

बृस्यां निषणमव्यग्रमरुंधत्योपसेवितम् । स ववंदे गुरोः पादौ महिषी सा च तत्स्त्रियः

bṛsyāṁ niṣaṇamavyagramaruṁdhatyopasevitam sa vavaṁde guroḥ pādau mahiṣī sā ca tatstriyaḥ

—seated calmly upon a cushion of straw, served by Arundhati. He bowed to the guru's feet, and the queen too bowed to his wife.

Verse 25 (padma.6.202.25)

आशिषा गुरुरप्येनं युयोजारुंधती च ताम् । अतिथिं तमथाभ्यर्च्य मधुपर्कादिभिर्गुरुः

āśiṣā gururapyenaṁ yuyojāruṁdhatī ca tām atithiṁ tamathābhyarcya madhuparkādibhirguruḥ

The guru blessed him, and Arundhati blessed her; then, having honored that guest with madhuparka and other offerings, the guru—

Verse 26 (padma.6.202.26)

अर्हणैरर्हतां श्रेष्ठो वसिष्ठ इति पृष्टवान् । वसिष्ठ उवाच- भो भो भूमिभृतां श्रेष्ठ राज्ये कुशलमस्ति ते

arhaṇairarhatāṁ śreṣṭho vasiṣṭha iti pṛṣṭavān vasiṣṭha uvāca- bho bho bhūmibhṛtāṁ śreṣṭha rājye kuśalamasti te

—Vasishtha, foremost among those worthy of honor, having thus honored him, questioned him. Vasishtha said: ‘O foremost among kings, is there well-being in your kingdom?’

Verse 27 (padma.6.202.27)

कुले च कच्चिल्लोके च निजधर्मानुवर्त्तिनि । धर्मेण पालिता कच्चित्वया वीरवसुंधरा

kule ca kaccilloke ca nijadharmānuvarttini dharmeṇa pālitā kaccitvayā vīravasuṁdharā

‘And in your family, and among the people who follow their own proper duty — is this hero-bearing earth being protected righteously by you?’

Verse 28 (padma.6.202.28)

संवर्द्धयति ते कोशं धर्मधीरिव सात्विकी । तव जानपदा राजन्पौराश्च स्थितिमात्मनः

saṁvarddhayati te kośaṁ dharmadhīriva sātvikī tava jānapadā rājanpaurāśca sthitimātmanaḥ

‘Do the people of your countryside and cities, O king, like righteous thought abiding in the mode of goodness, cause your treasury to prosper?’

Verse 29 (padma.6.202.29)

सारवंतो विमुंचंति कच्चिन्नांबुधयो यथा । स्नेहेन साहचर्येण सहवासतया प्रभो

sāravaṁto vimuṁcaṁti kaccinnāṁbudhayo yathā snehena sāhacaryeṇa sahavāsatayā prabho

‘Do those of substance not abandon their own condition, just as the oceans do not overflow their bounds? O lord, through affection, companionship, and shared dwelling—’

Verse 30 (padma.6.202.30)

लक्ष्मीनारायणायेते कच्चित्ते पुरदंपती । काम्यव्रतानि राजेंद्र प्रजानां नगरे तव । फलंति वांछितं कच्चिद्धरिचंदनवद्दिवि

lakṣmīnārāyaṇāyete kaccitte puradaṁpatī kāmyavratāni rājeṁdra prajānāṁ nagare tava phalaṁti vāṁchitaṁ kacciddharicaṁdanavaddivi

‘—do the city's people regard you and your queen as Lakshmi and Narayana? O lord of kings, do the wish-fulfilling observances of your people in your city bear the desired fruit, like the celestial Hari-chandana tree in heaven?’

Verse 31 (padma.6.202.31)

देवल उवाच- पृष्ट्वैवं स मुनिश्रेष्ठो वसिष्ठो मुनिपुंगवः । योगप्रभावोपनतैर्नृपं भोज्यैरभोजयत्

devala uvāca- pṛṣṭvaivaṁ sa muniśreṣṭho vasiṣṭho munipuṁgavaḥ yogaprabhāvopanatairnṛpaṁ bhojyairabhojayat

Devala said: Having thus questioned him, that foremost of sages, Vasishtha, tiger among sages, fed the king with foods brought forth by the power of his own yoga.

Verse 32 (padma.6.202.32)

अरुंधतीच तां राज्ञीं बह्वादरसमन्विता । नानाव्यंजनपक्वान्नैरभोजयदुदारधीः

aruṁdhatīca tāṁ rājñīṁ bahvādarasamanvitā nānāvyaṁjanapakvānnairabhojayadudāradhīḥ

And Arundhati, filled with great respect, that noble-minded woman, fed the queen with various cooked dishes and delicacies.

Verse 33 (padma.6.202.33)

कृतभोजनमासीनं स्वस्थः स्वस्थं मुनिर्नृपम् । पुनः पप्रच्छ संगृह्य पाणिना पाणिमानतम्

kṛtabhojanamāsīnaṁ svasthaḥ svasthaṁ munirnṛpam punaḥ papraccha saṁgṛhya pāṇinā pāṇimānatam

The sage, at his own ease, questioned the king again, seated at ease after his meal, taking his hand as he bowed, with his own hand.

Verse 34 (padma.6.202.34)

वसिष्ठ उवाच- सप्तांग संयुतं राज्यं निजधर्मरतप्रजम् । प्रीतबंधुजनामात्यं शस्त्रास्त्रविधिवद्भटम्

vasiṣṭha uvāca- saptāṁga saṁyutaṁ rājyaṁ nijadharmarataprajam prītabaṁdhujanāmātyaṁ śastrāstravidhivadbhaṭam

Vasishtha said: ‘One whose kingdom possesses the seven limbs, whose subjects are devoted to their own duty, whose kinsmen and ministers are content, whose warriors are duly trained in weapons and arms—’

Verse 35 (padma.6.202.35)

वश्यमित्रं हृतामित्रं कृष्णार्चापरमानसम् । यस्यास्ति नृपते राज्यं स्वर्गराज्येन तस्य किम्

vaśyamitraṁ hṛtāmitraṁ kṛṣṇārcāparamānasam yasyāsti nṛpate rājyaṁ svargarājyena tasya kim

‘—whose friends are obedient, whose enemies have been vanquished, whose mind is set on the worship of Krishna — such a king, O ruler, who has such a kingdom, what need has he for the kingdom of heaven?’

Verse 36 (padma.6.202.36)

इक्ष्वाकुवंशराजानः पुत्रानुत्पाद्य धार्मिकाः । राज्यं च तेषु विन्यस्य प्रपन्नास्तपसि प्रभो

ikṣvākuvaṁśarājānaḥ putrānutpādya dhārmikāḥ rājyaṁ ca teṣu vinyasya prapannāstapasi prabho

‘The righteous kings of the Ikshvaku lineage, having begotten sons and having established the kingdom upon them, O mighty one, devoted themselves to austerity.’

Verse 37 (padma.6.202.37)

त्वं युवा दृष्टपुत्रास्यो नाधिकारी तपोविधौ । किमर्थमागतो ह्यत्र राज्यं त्यक्त्वा तथाविधम्

tvaṁ yuvā dṛṣṭaputrāsyo nādhikārī tapovidhau kimarthamāgato hyatra rājyaṁ tyaktvā tathāvidham

‘You are young, and have not yet beheld the face of a son; you have no right to the practice of austerity. For what reason, then, have you come here, having abandoned a kingdom of such a kind?’

Verse 38 (padma.6.202.38)

राजोवाच- ब्रह्मन्नाहं तपः कर्तुमागतस्तावकाश्रमे । स्वर्गकामनया त्यक्त्वा राज्यमत्र तथाविधम्

rājovāca- brahmannāhaṁ tapaḥ kartumāgatastāvakāśrame svargakāmanayā tyaktvā rājyamatra tathāvidham

The king said: ‘O brahmin, I have not come to your hermitage to perform austerity, out of desire for heaven, having abandoned such a kingdom as this.’

Verse 39 (padma.6.202.39)

ब्रह्मन्सत्यमिदं चोक्तं भवता यत्तपोवनम् । राज्यमारोप्य पुत्रेषु प्राप्ता इक्ष्वाकुवंशजाः

brahmansatyamidaṁ coktaṁ bhavatā yattapovanam rājyamāropya putreṣu prāptā ikṣvākuvaṁśajāḥ

‘O brahmin, this is true, what you have said — that the Ikshvaku-born kings attained the ascetic forest, having established the kingdom upon their sons.’

Verse 40 (padma.6.202.40)

न तैस्त्यक्तं महीराज्यमिदं स्वर्गगतैरपि । तन्मूर्तिरस्यां विमनास्तिष्ठति ह्येव संततिः

na taistyaktaṁ mahīrājyamidaṁ svargagatairapi tanmūrtirasyāṁ vimanāstiṣṭhati hyeva saṁtatiḥ

‘—yet, even those who have gone to heaven have not truly abandoned this earthly kingdom — for their very embodiment, discontented within it, remains present here, indeed, in the form of their progeny.’

Verse 41 (padma.6.202.41)

यथा बाल्यं गतं तात यौवनं च समागतम् । यास्यत्यदोपि च तथा जराप्येष्यति निश्चितम्

yathā bālyaṁ gataṁ tāta yauvanaṁ ca samāgatam yāsyatyadopi ca tathā jarāpyeṣyati niścitam

‘Just as childhood has passed, O father, and youth has come, so too shall this youth pass, and old age shall surely come.’

Verse 42 (padma.6.202.42)

जरसोऽनतरं मृत्युः पुरुषस्य न संशयः । मृत्युंगते मयि ब्रह्मन्विनातनयसंभवम्

jaraso'nataraṁ mṛtyuḥ puruṣasya na saṁśayaḥ mṛtyuṁgate mayi brahmanvinātanayasaṁbhavam

‘After old age comes death for a man — of this there is no doubt. When death has come upon me, O brahmin, and without the arising of a son—’

Verse 43 (padma.6.202.43)

कस्येदं जगतीराज्यं भविष्यति गुरो वद । तस्मादपत्यहीनस्य राज्येऽपि मम तिष्ठतः

kasyedaṁ jagatīrājyaṁ bhaviṣyati guro vada tasmādapatyahīnasya rājye'pi mama tiṣṭhataḥ

‘—whose shall this earthly kingdom become? Tell me, O guru. Therefore, though I remain in possession of my kingdom, being childless—’

Verse 44 (padma.6.202.44)

ममत्वं विद्यते नात्र पुरस्तात्तदभावतः । वर्गत्रयस्य वै सम्यक्संवेत्ता त्वं गुरो मम

mamatvaṁ vidyate nātra purastāttadabhāvataḥ vargatrayasya vai samyaksaṁvettā tvaṁ guro mama

‘—there exists in me no true sense of ownership over it, since I see nothing lasting ahead without a son. You, O guru, are the true knower of the three goals of life for me—’

Verse 45 (padma.6.202.45)

केन दोषेण मे पुत्रो जायते न तपोनिधे । ध्यानेन दोषमालोक्य तं गुरो कथयाशुमे

kena doṣeṇa me putro jāyate na taponidhe dhyānena doṣamālokya taṁ guro kathayāśume

‘—by what fault is no son born to me, O treasury of austerity? Having beheld that fault through meditation, tell it to me quickly, O guru.’

Verse 46 (padma.6.202.46)

तस्य प्रतिक्रियां कुर्यां श्रुत्वा संतानलब्धये । देवल उवाच- इत्याकर्ण्य वसिष्ठस्तु वचस्तस्य महीपतेः

tasya pratikriyāṁ kuryāṁ śrutvā saṁtānalabdhaye devala uvāca- ityākarṇya vasiṣṭhastu vacastasya mahīpateḥ

‘Hearing it, I shall perform its remedy, for the attainment of offspring.’ Devala said: Hearing these words of that king, Vasishtha—

Verse 47 (padma.6.202.47)

उवाच संततिस्तंभहेतुं वीक्ष्य समाधिना । वसिष्ठ उवाच- त्वं पुरा राजशार्दूल संसेव्य सुरनायकम्

uvāca saṁtatistaṁbhahetuṁ vīkṣya samādhinā vasiṣṭha uvāca- tvaṁ purā rājaśārdūla saṁsevya suranāyakam

—having beheld through samadhi the cause of the obstruction to his progeny, spoke. Vasishtha said: ‘O tiger among kings, formerly, having served the lord of the gods—’

Verse 48 (padma.6.202.48)

स्नातामिमां वधूं स्मृत्वा चलितो निजमंदिरम् । गच्छतस्त्वरया तात संतानोत्कंठितस्य ते

snātāmimāṁ vadhūṁ smṛtvā calito nijamaṁdiram gacchatastvarayā tāta saṁtānotkaṁṭhitasya te

‘—and remembering that your bride had bathed, you set off for your own palace. As you were going hurriedly, O child, longing for offspring—’

Verse 49 (padma.6.202.49)

आसीत्सुरतरोर्मूले कामेधनुः स्थिता पथि । उत्पादिता त्वया तस्याः पूज्यांघ्रिरजसोऽतिरुट्

āsītsuratarormūle kāmedhanuḥ sthitā pathi utpāditā tvayā tasyāḥ pūjyāṁghrirajaso'tiruṭ

‘—there was, at the foot of a wish-fulfilling tree by the roadside, the wish-cow Kamadhenu standing; by you, extreme fury was aroused in her, whose feet's dust deserves worship—’

Verse 50 (padma.6.202.50)

प्रदक्षिणनमस्कारसदाचारमकुर्वता । साऽशपत्त्वामतिक्रोधात्पुत्रो नोत्पत्स्यते तव

pradakṣiṇanamaskārasadācāramakurvatā sā'śapattvāmatikrodhātputro notpatsyate tava

‘—since you did not perform the proper conduct of circumambulation and salutation. She, out of extreme anger, cursed you: “No son shall be born to you—”’

Verse 51 (padma.6.202.51)

मम संतानशुश्रूषां यावत्त्वं न करिष्यसि । गच्छंस्त्वमृतुदानाय त्वरया सुतकामुकः

mama saṁtānaśuśrūṣāṁ yāvattvaṁ na kariṣyasi gacchaṁstvamṛtudānāya tvarayā sutakāmukaḥ

‘“—for as long as you do not perform service to my own offspring.” As you were going hastily, desiring a son, for the giving of the fertile season—’

Verse 52 (padma.6.202.52)

तन्मना नाश्रृणोः शापं नयंताक्षनिनादतः । तस्याः सुतासुतां धेनुं नंदिनीं ससुतां मम

tanmanā nāśrṛṇoḥ śāpaṁ nayaṁtākṣaninādataḥ tasyāḥ sutāsutāṁ dhenuṁ naṁdinīṁ sasutāṁ mama

‘—your mind fixed on that, you did not hear the curse, over the ringing of your chariot's wheels. Her own daughter, the cow Nandini, together with her own calf, belonging to me—’

Verse 53 (padma.6.202.53)

आराधयानया वध्वा सार्द्धं सा दास्यते सुतम् । देवल उवाच- इत्युक्तवति तत्रर्षौ वसिष्ठे सा तु नंदिनी

ārādhayānayā vadhvā sārddhaṁ sā dāsyate sutam devala uvāca- ityuktavati tatrarṣau vasiṣṭhe sā tu naṁdinī

‘—worship her, together with your bride; she shall grant you a son.’ Devala said: As the sage Vasishtha was speaking thus, that very Nandini—

Verse 54 (padma.6.202.54)

तपोवनात्समायाता वत्सस्नेहस्नुतस्तनी । तां दृष्ट्वा हृष्टहृदयो वसिष्ठो मुनिपुंगवः । उवाच भूपतिं भूयो दर्शयित्वा च नंदिनीम्

tapovanātsamāyātā vatsasnehasnutastanī tāṁ dṛṣṭvā hṛṣṭahṛdayo vasiṣṭho munipuṁgavaḥ uvāca bhūpatiṁ bhūyo darśayitvā ca naṁdinīm

—came there from the ascetic forest, her udders wet from love for her calf. Seeing her, Vasishtha, tiger among sages, his heart delighted, showing Nandini once more, spoke again to the king:

Verse 55 (padma.6.202.55)

वसिष्ठ उवाच- राजन्समागता ह्येषा स्मृतमात्रशुभाह्वया । अतो विद्धि समीपस्थां कार्यसिद्धिमिहात्मनः

vasiṣṭha uvāca- rājansamāgatā hyeṣā smṛtamātraśubhāhvayā ato viddhi samīpasthāṁ kāryasiddhimihātmanaḥ

Vasishtha said: ‘O king, she has arrived, indeed — she whose auspicious name alone, when merely remembered, brings good. Know, therefore, that the accomplishment of your own desire stands close at hand here.’

Verse 56 (padma.6.202.56)

आराधितानुगत्येयं त्वयारण्ये तथाश्रमे । वध्वा प्रसादात्ते पुत्रं दास्यते नात्र संशयः

ārādhitānugatyeyaṁ tvayāraṇye tathāśrame vadhvā prasādātte putraṁ dāsyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

‘Worshipped and attended upon by you in the forest, in this manner, together with your bride, she, by her grace, shall grant you a son — there is no doubt of this.’

Verse 57 (padma.6.202.57)

यथानाभिभवेदेनां जंतुः कश्चिद्वनोद्भवः । तथा चारय राजेंद्र वने हिंस्रो धनुर्द्धर

yathānābhibhavedenāṁ jaṁtuḥ kaścidvanodbhavaḥ tathā cāraya rājeṁdra vane hiṁsro dhanurddhara

‘So that no creature born of the forest might overpower her, tend her thus, O lord of kings, in the forest, bow in hand against the fierce beasts.’

Verse 58 (padma.6.202.58)

देवल उवाच- तथेति लघुवादिने नृपतये स्नुषायै च सक्षपाशयनहेतवे सदुटजं ददौ तापसः । स तत्र सहभार्यया समधिशय्यदर्भास्तृतां महीमगमयन्निशां नियतमानसो विश्पतिः

devala uvāca- tatheti laghuvādine nṛpataye snuṣāyai ca sakṣapāśayanahetave saduṭajaṁ dadau tāpasaḥ sa tatra sahabhāryayā samadhiśayyadarbhāstṛtāṁ mahīmagamayanniśāṁ niyatamānaso viśpatiḥ

Devala said: Saying ‘so be it’ to the readily agreeing king, that ascetic gave a good hut for his daughter-in-law and him to spend the night. There, together with his wife, that lord of men, his mind restrained, lay down upon the earth strewn with kusha grass, and passed the night.