---
title: "Uttara Kanda, Sarga 58"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/uttara-kanda/sarga-58"
lang: "en"
---

# Uttara Kanda, Sarga 58

> एवं ब्रुवति रामे तु लक्ष्मणः परवीरहा।  
> प्रत्युवाच महात्मानं ज्वलन्तमिव तेजसा॥ १॥  
> महदद्भुतमाश्चर्यं विदेहस्य पुरातनम्।  
> निर्वृत्तं राजशार्दूल वसिष्ठस्य मुनेश्च ह॥ २॥

Thus spoken to by Śrī Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, the destroyer of the heroes among foes, spoke thus to the noble one, Śrī Rāma, lustrous with vigour: ‘O Lion among kings, that which took place to Vasiṣṭha, Videha, who had no mortal frame in ancient times, was indeed surprising and caused great wonder. (1-2)

> निमिस्तु क्षत्रियः शूरो विशेषेण च दीक्षितः।  
> न क्षमं कृतवान् राजा वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः॥ ३॥

“The Kṣatriya king Nimi, the brave and well-initiated one, on his part did not behave properly, by not forgiving the noble Vasiṣṭha.” (3)

> एवमुक्तस्तु तेनायं रामः क्षत्रियपुङ्गवः।  
> उवाच लक्ष्मणं वाक्यं सर्वशास्त्रविशारदम्॥ ४॥

Thus addressed to by him (Lakṣmaṇa), the foremost among the Kṣatriyas, Śrī Rāma uttered the following words to Lakṣmaṇa, who was well-versed in all the Śāstras. (4)

> रामो रमयतां श्रेष्ठो भ्रातरं दीप्ततेजसम्।  
> न सर्वत्र क्षमा वीर पुरुषेषु प्रदृश्यते॥ ५॥

Śrī Rāma the best among those who cause pleasure to others, spoke to his brother illuminated with vigour: “O brave one, forgiveness is not found among all kinds of men. (5)

> सौमित्रे दुःसहो रोषो यथा क्षान्तो ययातिना।  
> सत्त्वानुगं पुरस्कृत्य तन्निबोध समाहितः॥ ६॥

“O son of Sumitrā, listen with attention as to how the unbearable rage was mitigated by Yayāti, resorting to a device, where the Sattva Guṇa was predominant. (6)

> नहुषस्य सुतो राजा ययातिः पौरवर्धनः।  
> तस्य भार्याद्वयं सौम्य रूपेणाप्रतिमं भुवि॥ ७॥

“There was a king Yayāti, the son of Nahuṣa, the bringer of prosperity to the citizens. His two spouses were paragons of unequal beauty, indeed. (7)

> एका तु तस्य राजर्षेर्नाहुषस्य पुरस्कृता।  
> शर्मिष्ठा नाम दैतेयी दुहिता वृषपर्वणः॥ ८॥

“One of these, the daughter of Vṛṣaparvā, the grand-daughter of Diti, Śarmiṣṭhā by name was held in great esteem by the Ṛṣi among Kings, Nahuṣa. (8)

> अन्या तूशनसः पत्नी ययातेः पुरुषर्षभ।  
> न तु सा दयिता राज्ञो देवयानी सुमध्यमा॥ ९॥

“The other, the daughter of Uśanā, the wife of Yayāti, Devayānī by name. O bull among men, was not loved by the King, although she possessed a beautiful form. (9)

> तयोः पुत्रौ तु सम्भूतौ रूपवन्तौ समाहितौ।  
> शर्मिष्ठाजनयत् पूरुं देवयानी यदुं तदा॥ १०॥

“Two sons were born to them, who were handsome and devoted. Śarmiṣṭhā begot Pūru; while Devayānī gave birth to Yadu. (10)

> पूरुस्तु दयितो राज्ञो गुणैर्मातृकृतेन च।  
> ततो दुःखसमाविष्टो यदुर्मातरमब्रवीत्॥ ११॥  
> भार्गवस्य कुले जाता देवस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः।  
> सहसे हृद्गतं दुःखमवमानं च दुःसहम्॥ १२॥

“Pūru was the beloved of the King, by his own merits and also due to being the progeny of his mother. Consequently, Yadu being in grief addressed his mother thus: ‘Born in the family of the Bhārgava (son of Bhṛgu), the lord of unwearied action, you bear up with mental sorrow and unbearable insult. (11-12)

> आवां च सहितौ देवि प्रविशाव हुताशनम्।  
> राजा तु रमतां सार्धं दैत्यपुत्र्या बहुक्षपाः॥ १३॥

‘O mother, we shall enter the fire together, may the King enjoy himself with the daughter of the son of Diti for many nights. (13)

> यदि वा सहनीयं ते मामनुज्ञातुमर्हसि।  
> क्षम त्वं न क्षमिष्येऽहं मरिष्यामि न संशयः॥ १४॥

‘If, however, you consider it as endurable by you, allow me to depart. You may bear up with it, but I cannot bear. I shall die without hesitation.’ (14)

> पुत्रस्य भाषितं श्रुत्वा परमार्तस्य रोदतः।  
> देवयानी तु संक्रुद्धा सस्मार पितरं तदा॥ १५॥

Hearing the words of her son, who was full in tears due to great agony, Devayānī in rage remembered her Father. (15)

> इङ्गितं तदभिज्ञाय दुहितुर्भार्गवस्तदा।  
> आगतस्त्वरितं तत्र देवयानी स्म यत्र सा॥ १६॥

Knowing the feelings of his daughter, the son of Bhṛgu (Ācārya Śukra) came in haste there where Devayānī was staying. (16)

> दृष्ट्वा चाप्रकृतिस्थां तामप्रहृष्टामचेतनाम्।  
> पिता दुहितरं वाक्यं किमेतदिति चाब्रवीत्॥ १७॥

Finding Devayānī not in her normal state and almost unconscious with pain and unhappy, the father (Bhārgava) Śukra enquired the daughter as to what had caused her such grief. (17)

> पृच्छन्तमसकृत् तं वै भार्गवं दीप्ततेजसम्।  
> देवयानी तु संक्रुद्धा पितरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥ १८॥  
> अहमग्निं विषं तीक्ष्णमपो वा मुनिसत्तम।  
> भक्षयिष्ये प्रवेक्ष्ये वा न तु शक्ष्यामि जीवितुम्॥ १९॥

Devayānī in anger said thus to her father, the son of Bhṛgu who was mentally roused and had asked her several times the cause of her anger. ‘O Best among the ascetics, I shall indeed enter fire or water or take strong poison. It is indeed not possible for me to live. (18-19)

> न मां त्वमवजानीषे दुःखितामवमानिताम्।  
> वृक्षस्यावज्ञया ब्रह्मंश्छिद्यन्ते वृक्षजीविनः॥ २०॥

‘You do not know how I am pained and insulted, O Brāhmaṇa. Having no tender feelings for the tree, its leaves and flowers are cut and destroyed. (20)

> अवज्ञया च राजर्षिः परिभूय च भार्गव।  
> मय्यवज्ञां प्रयुङ्क्ते हि न च मां बहु मन्यते॥ २१॥

‘The Ṛṣi among Kings, causing insult to me, ignores me and does not look upon me as one worthy of consideration.’ (21)

> तस्यास्तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा कोपेनाभिपरीवृतः।  
> व्याहर्तुमुपचक्राम भार्गवो नहुषात्मजम्॥ २२॥

Hearing these words of Devayānī, before himself, the son of Bhṛgu was highly enraged and he uttered curse to the son of Nahuṣa: (22)

> यस्मान्मामवजानीषे नाहुष त्वं दुरात्मवान्।  
> वयसा जरया जीर्णः शैथिल्यमुपयास्यसि॥ २३॥

‘O son of Nahuṣa, O ignoble one, as you insult me, so you shall lose all your organ power, and become weakened by old age.’ (23)

> एवमुक्त्वा दुहितरं समाश्वास्य स भार्गवः।  
> पुनर्जगाम ब्रह्मर्षिर्भवनं स्वं महायशाः॥ २४॥

Thus having uttered the curse and consoled his daughter, that son of Bhṛgu, the Brāhmaṇa Ṛṣi, the famous one, departed to his abode. (24)

> स एवमुक्त्वा द्विजपुङ्गवाग्र्यः  
> सुतां समाश्वास्य च देवयानीम्।  
> पुनर्ययौ सूर्यसमानतेजा  
> दत्त्वा च शापं नहुषात्मजाय॥ २५॥

The best among the twice-born, thus said and consoled Devayānī, he with sunlike lustre, repaired pronouncing curse on Yayāti, the son of Nahuṣa. (25)

Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana

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