Sarga 54: The Battle of the Cow
Shabala Yuddha
Vishvamitra forcibly drags Shabala away; she pleads with Vashishtha, who empowers her to create armies of Pahlavas, Shakas, and Yavanas that overwhelm the king's forces.
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कामधेनुं वसिष्ठोऽपि यदा न त्यज्यते मुनि:। तदास्य शबलां राम विश्वामित्रोऽन्वकर्षत।।1.54.1।।
Meaning
When the sage Vashishtha would not part with the wish-fulfilling cow, Rama, Vishvamitra then dragged away Shabala.
नीयमाना तु शबला राम राज्ञा महात्मना। दु:खिता चिन्तयामास रुदन्ती शोककर्शिता।।1.54.2।।
Meaning
As she was being led away by the great-souled king, Rama, Shabala, sorrowful and wasted with grief, wept and reflected.
परित्यक्ता वसिष्ठेन किमहं सुमहात्मना। याहं राजभटैर्दीना ह्रियेय भृशदु:खिता।।1.54.3।।
Meaning
Have I been forsaken by the great-souled Vashishtha? Am I, wretched and greatly grieved, to be dragged off by the king's soldiers?
किं मयाऽपकृतं तस्य महर्षेर्भावितात्मन:। यन्मामनागसं भक्तामिष्टां त्यजति धार्मिक:।।1.54.4।।
Meaning
What wrong have I done to that great sage of purified soul, that the righteous one abandons me, innocent and devoted and beloved as I am?
इति सा चिन्तयित्वा तु विनिश्श्वस्य पुन:पुन:। निर्धूय तांस्तदा भृत्यान् शतशश्शत्रुसूदन। जगामानिलवेगेन पादमूलं महात्मन:।।1.54.5।।
Meaning
Reflecting thus, sighing again and again, scorcher of foes, she then shook off the king's attendants by the hundreds and, swift as the wind, went to the feet of the great soul.
शबला सा रुदन्ती च क्रोशन्ती चेदमब्रवीत्। वसिष्ठस्याग्रतस्स्थित्वा मेघदुन्दुभिराविणी।।1.54.6।।
Meaning
Weeping and lamenting, Shabala, standing before Vashishtha, spoke this, bellowing like thunder or a drum.
भगवन् किं परित्यक्ता त्वयाऽहं ब्रह्मणस्सुत। यस्माद्राजभृता मां हि नयन्ते त्वत्सकाशत:।।1.54.7।।
Meaning
Lord, son of Brahma, have you truly abandoned me, that the king's servants are taking me away from your presence?
एवमुक्तस्तु ब्रह्मर्षिरिदं वचनमब्रवीत्। शोकसन्तप्तहृदयां स्वसारमिव दु:खिताम्।।1.54.8।।
Meaning
Thus addressed, the sage spoke this word to her whose heart was scorched with grief, as one would speak to a sorrowing sister.
न त्वां त्यजामि शबले नापि मेऽपकृतं त्वया। एष त्वां नयते राजा बलोन्मत्तो महाबल:।।1.54.9।।
Meaning
I do not forsake you, Shabala, nor have you wronged me; this greatly mighty king, drunk with power, is taking you away.
न हि तुल्यं बलं मह्यं राजा त्वद्य विशेषत:। बली राजा क्षत्रियश्च पृथिव्या: पतिरेव च।।1.54.10।।
Meaning
My strength is not equal to the king's, especially now; he is a mighty king, a kshatriya, and lord of the earth.