Durvasa's Prophecy to Dasharatha

Shloka 1 (uttara.51.1)

तथा सञ्चोदितः सूतो लक्ष्मणेन महात्मना । तद्वाक्यमृषिणा प्रोक्तं व्याहर्तुमुपचक्रमे ।। 51.1 ।।

tathā sañcoditaḥ sūto lakṣmaṇena mahātmanā | tadvākyamṛṣiṇā proktaṃ vyāhartumupacakrame || 51.1 ||

Thus urged by the great-souled Lakshmana, the charioteer began to relate that word which the sage had spoken.

Shloka 2 (uttara.51.2)

पुरा नाम्ना हि दुर्वासा अत्रेः पुत्रो महामुनिः । वसिष्ठस्याश्रमे पुण्ये वार्षिक्यं समुवास ह ।। 51.2 ।।

purā nāmnā hi durvāsā atreḥ putro mahāmuniḥ | vasiṣṭhasyāśrame puṇye vārṣikyaṃ samuvāsa ha || 51.2 ||

Long ago, the great sage named Durvasa, son of Atri, dwelt through the rainy season in the holy hermitage of Vasishtha.

Shloka 3 (uttara.51.3)

तमाश्रमं महातेजाः पिता ते सुमहायशाः । पुरोहितं महात्मानं दिदृक्षुरगमस्त्वयम् ।। 51.3 ।।

tamāśramaṃ mahātejāḥ pitā te sumahāyaśāḥ | purohitaṃ mahātmānaṃ didṛkṣuragamastvayam || 51.3 ||

To that hermitage, wishing to see that great-souled priest, your own father, of great splendour and renown, went in person.

Shloka 4 (uttara.51.4)

स दृष्ट्वा सूर्यसङ्काशं ज्वलन्तमिव तेजसा । उपविष्टं वसिष्ठस्य सव्यपार्श्वे महामुनिम् ।। 51.4 ।।

sa dṛṣṭvā sūryasaṅkāśaṃ jvalantamiva tejasā | upaviṣṭaṃ vasiṣṭhasya savyapārśve mahāmunim || 51.4 ||

He saw that great sage, radiant as the sun, as if ablaze with splendour, seated at Vasishtha's left side.

Shloka 5 (uttara.51.5)

तौ मुनी तापसश्रेष्ठौ विनीतो ह्यभिवादयत् । स ताभ्यां पूजितो राजा स्वागतेनासनेन च । पाद्येन फलमूलैश्च उवास मुनिभिः सह ।। 51.5 ।।

tau munī tāpasaśreṣṭhau vinīto hyabhivādayat | sa tābhyāṃ pūjito rājā svāgatenāsanena ca | pādyena phalamūlaiśca uvāsa munibhiḥ saha || 51.5 ||

Humbly, he saluted those two, foremost of ascetic sages. They honoured the king with a welcome, a seat, water for the feet, and fruits and roots, and he stayed on there together with the sages.

Shloka 6 (uttara.51.6)

तेषां तत्रोपविष्टानां तास्ताः सुमधुराः कथाः । बभूवुः परमर्षीणां मध्यादित्यगते ऽहनि ।। 51.6 ।।

teṣāṃ tatropaviṣṭānāṃ tāstāḥ sumadhurāḥ kathāḥ | babhūvuḥ paramarṣīṇāṃ madhyādityagate 'hani || 51.6 ||

As they sat there, when the sun had reached the middle of the day, many kinds of sweet stories arose among those great seers.

Shloka 7 (uttara.51.7)

ततः कथायां कस्याञ्चित्प्राञ्जलिः प्रग्रहो नृपः । उवाच तं महात्मानमत्रेः पुत्रं तपोधनम् ।। 51.7 ।।

tataḥ kathāyāṃ kasyāñcitprāñjaliḥ pragraho nṛpaḥ | uvāca taṃ mahātmānamatreḥ putraṃ tapodhanam || 51.7 ||

Then, in the course of some story, the king, hands joined in reverence and deeply attentive, spoke to that great-souled ascetic, the son of Atri, rich in austerity.

Shloka 8 (uttara.51.8)

भगवन्किं प्रमाणेन मम वंशो भविष्यति । किमायुश्च हि मे रामः पुत्राश्चान्ये किमायुषः ।। 51.8 ।।

bhagavankiṃ pramāṇena mama vaṃśo bhaviṣyati | kimāyuśca hi me rāmaḥ putrāścānye kimāyuṣaḥ || 51.8 ||

"Holy one, to what measure shall my line endure? What shall be the lifespan of my son Rama, and what the lifespan of my other sons?

Shloka 9 (uttara.51.9)

रामस्य च सुता ये स्युस्तेषामायुः कियद्भवेत् । काम्यया भगवन्बूहि वंशस्यास्य गतिं मम ।। 51.9 ।।

rāmasya ca sutā ye syusteṣāmāyuḥ kiyadbhavet | kāmyayā bhagavanbrūhi vaṃśasyāsya gatiṃ mama || 51.9 ||

And whatever sons Rama shall have, what shall be their lifespan? Holy one, tell me, out of your grace, the course of this my lineage."

Shloka 10 (uttara.51.10)

तच्छ्रुत्वा व्याहृतं वाक्यं राज्ञो दशरथस्य च । दुर्वासाः सुमहातेजा व्याहर्तुमुपचक्रमे ।। 51.10 ।।

tacchrutvā vyāhṛtaṃ vākyaṃ rājño daśarathasya ca | durvāsāḥ sumahātejā vyāhartumupacakrame || 51.10 ||

Hearing this word spoken by King Dasharatha, the greatly splendorous Durvasa began to speak.

Shloka 11 (uttara.51.11)

शृणु राजन्पुरावृत्तं तदा देवासुरे युधि । दैत्याः सुरैर्भर्त्स्यमाना भृगुपत्नीं समाश्रिताः ।। 51.11 ।।

śṛṇu rājanpurāvṛttaṃ tadā devāsure yudhi | daityāḥ surairbhartsyamānā bhṛgupatnīṃ samāśritāḥ || 51.11 ||

"Listen, O king, to a happening of old: once, in the war between gods and demons, the demons, hard-pressed by the gods, took refuge with Bhrigu's wife.

Shloka 12 (uttara.51.12)

तया दत्ताभयास्तत्र न्यवसन्नभयास्तदा ।। 51.12 ।।

tayā dattābhayāstatra nyavasannabhayāstadā || 51.12 ||

Given refuge by her, they dwelt there then, free of fear.

Shloka 13 (uttara.51.13)

तया परिगृहीतांस्तान्दृष्ट्वा क्रुद्धः सुरेश्वरः । चक्रेण शितधारेण भृगुपत्न्याः शिरो ऽहरत् ।। 51.13 ।।

tayā parigṛhītāṃstāndṛṣṭvā kruddhaḥ sureśvaraḥ | cakreṇa śitadhāreṇa bhṛgupatnyāḥ śiro 'harat || 51.13 ||

Seeing them thus sheltered by her, the lord of the gods, enraged, cut off the head of Bhrigu's wife with his sharp-edged discus.

Shloka 14 (uttara.51.14)

ततस्तां निहतां दृष्ट्वा पत्नीं भृगुकुलोद्वहः । शशाप सहसा क्रुद्धो विष्णुं रिपुकुलार्दनम् ।। 51.14 ।।

tatastāṃ nihatāṃ dṛṣṭvā patnīṃ bhṛgukulodvahaḥ | śaśāpa sahasā kruddho viṣṇuṃ ripukulārdanam || 51.14 ||

Then, seeing his wife slain, the upholder of Bhrigu's line, suddenly enraged, cursed Vishnu, the destroyer of the race of foes.

Shloka 15 (uttara.51.15)

यस्मादवध्यां मे पत्नीमवधीः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः । तस्मात्त्वं मानुषे लोके जनिष्यसि जनार्दन ।। 51.15 ।।

yasmādavadhyāṃ me patnīmavadhīḥ krodhamūrcchitaḥ | tasmāttvaṃ mānuṣe loke janiṣyasi janārdana || 51.15 ||

"Since, overcome by wrath, you have slain my wife, who should not have been slain, therefore, Janardana, you shall be born in the world of men,

Shloka 16 (uttara.51.16)

तत्र पत्नीवियोगं त्वं प्राप्स्यसे बहुवार्षिकम् ।। 51.16 ।।

tatra patnīviyogaṃ tvaṃ prāpsyase bahuvārṣikam || 51.16 ||

and there you shall undergo separation from your wife for many years."

Shloka 17 (uttara.51.17)

शापाभिहतचेतास्स स्वात्मना भावितो ऽभवत् ।। 51.17 ।।

śāpābhihatacetāssa svātmanā bhāvito 'bhavat || 51.17 ||

Struck in mind by that curse, he became absorbed within his own self.

Shloka 18 (uttara.51.18)

अर्चयामास तं देवं भृगुः शापेन पीडितः ।। 51.18 ।।

arcayāmāsa taṃ devaṃ bhṛguḥ śāpena pīḍitaḥ || 51.18 ||

Then Bhrigu, himself troubled at having pronounced the curse, worshipped that god.

Shloka 19 (uttara.51.19)

तपसाराधितो देवो ह्यब्रवीद्भक्तवत्सलः । लोकानां संहितार्थं तु तं शापं ग्राह्यमुक्तवान् ।। 51.19 ।।

tapasārādhito devo hyabravīdbhaktavatsalaḥ | lokānāṃ saṃhitārthaṃ tu taṃ śāpaṃ grāhyamuktavān || 51.19 ||

Propitiated by that austerity, the god, ever fond of his devotees, spoke, declaring that the curse should be accepted for the good of the worlds.

Shloka 20 (uttara.51.20)

इति शप्तो महातेजा भृगुणा पूर्वजन्मनि । इहागतो हि पुत्रत्वं तव पार्थिवसत्तम ।। 51.20 ।।

iti śapto mahātejā bhṛguṇā pūrvajanmani | ihāgato hi putratvaṃ tava pārthivasattama || 51.20 ||

Thus cursed by Bhrigu in a former birth, that great-splendoured one has come here, O best of kings, to be your very son.

Shloka 21 (uttara.51.21)

राम इत्यभिविख्यातस्त्रिषु लोकेषु मानद । तत्फलं प्राप्स्यते चापि भृगुशापकृतं महत् ।। 51.21 ।।

rāma ityabhivikhyātastriṣu lokeṣu mānada | tatphalaṃ prāpsyate cāpi bhṛguśāpakṛtaṃ mahat || 51.21 ||

He shall become renowned in the three worlds by the name Rama, O giver of honour, and he too shall reap that great fruit brought about by Bhrigu's curse.

Shloka 22 (uttara.51.22)

अयोध्यायाः पती रामो दीर्घकालं भविष्यति । सुखिनश्च समृद्धाश्च भविष्यन्त्यस्य ये ऽनुगाः ।। 51.22 ।।

ayodhyāyāḥ patī rāmo dīrghakālaṃ bhaviṣyati | sukhinaśca samṛddhāśca bhaviṣyantyasya ye 'nugāḥ || 51.22 ||

Rama shall be lord of Ayodhya for a long time, and whoever are his followers shall be happy and prosperous.

Shloka 23 (uttara.51.23)

दश वर्षसहस्राणि दश वर्षशतानि च । रामो राज्यमुपासित्वा ब्रह्मलोकं गमिष्यति ।। 51.23 ।।

daśa varṣasahasrāṇi daśa varṣaśatāni ca | rāmo rājyamupāsitvā brahmalokaṃ gamiṣyati || 51.23 ||

Having ruled the kingdom for ten thousand years and ten hundred years, Rama shall go to the world of Brahma.

Shloka 24 (uttara.51.24)

समृद्धैश्चाश्वमेधैश्च इष्ट्वा परमदुर्जयः । राजवंशांश्च बहुशो बहून्संस्थापयिष्यति ।। 51.24 ।।

samṛddhaiścāśvamedhaiśca iṣṭvā paramadurjayaḥ | rājavaṃśāṃśca bahuśo bahūnsaṃsthāpayiṣyati || 51.24 ||

Utterly unconquerable, he shall perform splendid horse-sacrifices, and shall establish many royal lineages again and again.

Shloka 25 (uttara.51.25)

द्वौ पुत्रौ तु भविष्येते सीतायां राघवस्य तु । अन्यत्र न त्वयोध्यायां सत्यमेतन्नसंशयः ।। 51.25 ।।

dvau putrau tu bhaviṣyete sītāyāṃ rāghavasya tu | anyatra na tvayodhyāyāṃ satyametannasaṃśayaḥ || 51.25 ||

Two sons shall be born to Raghava through Sita — but elsewhere, not in Ayodhya; this is true, without doubt.

Shloka 26 (uttara.51.26)

सीतायाश्च ततः पुत्रावभिषेक्ष्यति राघवः ।। 51.26 ।।

sītāyāśca tataḥ putrāvabhiṣekṣyati rāghavaḥ || 51.26 ||

And thereafter Raghava shall consecrate Sita's two sons to rule.

Shloka 27 (uttara.51.27)

स सर्वमखिलं राज्ञो वंशस्याह गतागतम् । आख्याय सुमहातेजास्तूष्णीमासीन्महामुनिः ।। 51.27 ।।

sa sarvamakhilaṃ rājño vaṃśasyāha gatāgatam | ākhyāya sumahātejāstūṣṇīmāsīnmahāmuniḥ || 51.27 ||

Having thus told the entire course, coming and going, of the king's lineage, that greatly splendorous sage fell silent.

Shloka 28 (uttara.51.28)

तूष्णीम्भूते तदा तस्मिन्राजा दशरथो मुनौ । अभिवाद्य महात्मानौ पुनरायात्पुरोत्तमम् ।। 51.28 ।।

tūṣṇīmbhūte tadā tasminrājā daśaratho munau | abhivādya mahātmānau punarāyātpurottamam || 51.28 ||

When the sage fell silent, King Dasharatha, having saluted those two great souls, returned once more to that foremost city.

Shloka 29 (uttara.51.29)

एतद्वचो मया तत्र मुनिना व्याहृतं पुरा । श्रुतं हृदि च निक्षिप्तं नान्यथा तद्भविष्यति ।। 51.29 ।।

etadvaco mayā tatra muninā vyāhṛtaṃ purā | śrutaṃ hṛdi ca nikṣiptaṃ nānyathā tadbhaviṣyati || 51.29 ||

This word was spoken there by the sage in my presence long ago; I heard it and kept it stored in my heart — it shall not turn out otherwise.

Shloka 30 (uttara.51.30)

एवं गते न सन्तापं कर्तुमर्हसि राघव । सीतार्थे राघवार्थे वा दृढो भव नरोत्तम ।। 51.30 ।।

evaṃ gate na santāpaṃ kartumarhasi rāghava | sītārthe rāghavārthe vā dṛḍho bhava narottama || 51.30 ||

This being so, O Raghava, you ought not to grieve. O best of men, be firm, whether for Sita's sake or for Raghava's own.

Shloka 31 (uttara.51.31)

श्रुत्वा तु व्याहृतं वाक्यं सूतस्य परमाद्भुतम् । प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे साधु साध्विति चाब्रवीत् ।। 51.31 ।।

śrutvā tu vyāhṛtaṃ vākyaṃ sūtasya paramādbhutam | praharṣamatulaṃ lebhe sādhu sādhviti cābravīt || 51.31 ||

Hearing this most wondrous word spoken by the charioteer, Lakshmana felt matchless delight, and cried, "Well said, well said!"

Shloka 32 (uttara.51.32)

ततः संवदतोरेवं सूतलक्ष्मणयोः पथि । अस्तमर्के गते वासं केशिन्यां तावथोषतुः ।। 51.32 ।।

tataḥ saṃvadatorevaṃ sūtalakṣmaṇayoḥ pathi | astamarke gate vāsaṃ keśinyāṃ tāvathoṣatuḥ || 51.32 ||

Thus, as the charioteer and Lakshmana conversed on their way, the sun set, and the two of them halted for the night at the Keshini.