रामस्य भाषितं श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणः परमार्थवित्। उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं राघवं दीप्ततेजसम्॥
Hearing the words of the highly effulgent Rama, Laksmana, conversant with discriminative knowledge, replied with folded hands, saying.
अल्पापराधे काकुत्स्थ द्विजाभ्यां शाप ईदृशः। महानृगस्य राजर्षेर्यमदण्ड इवापरः॥
"O Kakutstha, it is for a very simple folly that the two Brāhmaṇas imprecated that curse upon the king Nrga, dreadful as the rod of Yama.
श्रुत्वा तु पापसंयुक्तमात्मानं पुरुषर्षभ। किमुवाच नृगो राजा द्विजौ क्रोधसमन्वितौ॥
May I ask you, O foremost of men, what did that king say to the Brāhmaṇas when he saw thus imprecated?
लक्ष्मणेनैवमुक्तस्तु राघवः पुनरब्रवीत्। शृणु सौम्य यता पूर्व स राजा शापविक्षतः॥
Where to Rāma replied saying:-O gentle one, hear, what the king Nrga said when imprecated.
अथाध्वनि गतौ विप्रौ विज्ञाय स नृपस्तदा। आहूय मन्त्रिणः सर्वान्नैगमान्सपुरोधसः॥ तानुवाच नृगो राजा सर्वाश्च प्रकृतीस्तथा। दुःखेन सुसमाविष्टः श्रूयतां मे समाहिताः॥
Hearing of the departure of the Brāhmaṇas he sent for his priest, minister, the citizens and subjects and filled with sorrow said: "Do you all hear attentively my words.
नारदः पर्वतश्चैव मम दत्त्वा महद्भयम्। गतौ त्रिभुवनं भद्रौ वायुभूतावनिन्दितौ ॥
Having imprecated a dreadful curse upon me the jolly saint Nārada and the ascetic Parvata have speedily, like the wind, repaired to the region of Brahmă.
कुमारोऽयं वसुर्नाम स चेहाद्याभिषिच्यताम्। श्वभ्रं च यत्सुखस्पर्श क्रियतां शिल्पिभिर्मम।।।।।
Do you therefore even today, place the prince Vasu on the throne, and let the architects prepare ap leasant den for me.
यत्राहं संक्षयिष्यामि शापं ब्राह्मणनिःसृतम्। वर्षघ्नमेकं श्वभ्रं तु हिमघ्नमपरं तथा॥ ग्रीष्मघ्नं तु सुखस्पर्शमेकं कुर्वन्तु शिल्पिनः।
Living therein I shall waste the curse of the Brāhmaṇas. Let the architects dog one den to protect me against the rains, one against the affliction of the winter and one against the distresses of summer.
फलवन्तश्च ये वृक्षाः पुष्पवत्यश्च या लताः॥ विरोप्यन्तां बहुविधाश्छायावन्तश्च गुल्मिनः। क्रियतां रमणीयं च श्वभ्राणां सर्वतोदिशम्॥ सुखमत्र वसिष्यामि यावत्कालस्य पर्ययः। पुष्पाणि च सुगन्धीनि क्रियन्तां तेषु नित्यशः॥ ग्रीष्मघ्नं तु सुखस्पर्शमेकं कुर्वन्तु शिल्पिनः।
Let them enhance the picturesqueness of those dens by planting many trees having profuse branches and fruits and flowers. As long as time shall not change so long I shall spend my days happily in the den. For a half league on all sides around me let flower trees be planted.
एवं कृत्वा विधानं स संनिवेश्य वसुं तदा॥ धर्मनित्यः प्रजाः पुत्र क्षत्रधर्मेण पालय।
Having made those arrangements and placed Vasu on the throne the king Nļga said:-“Do not leave the path of morality, O my son, and do you duly govern the subjects according to the custom of the Ksatriyas.
प्रत्यक्षं ते यथा शापो द्विजाभ्यां मयि पातितः।।१४ नरश्रेष्ठ सरोषाभ्यामपराधेऽपि तादृशे।
You have seen, with your own eyes, the curse that the Brāhmaṇas have given me being enraged for a very trifling folly of mine.
मा कृथास्त्वनुसंतापं मत्कृते हि नरर्षभ॥ कृतान्तः कुशलः पुत्र येनास्मि व्यसनीकृतः।
Do you not repent for me. My son, time is the lord of happiness and sorrow; it is by the influence of time that I have fallen into such a disaster.
प्राप्तव्यान्येव प्राप्नोति गन्तव्यान्येव गच्छति॥ लब्धव्यान्येव लभते दुःखानि च सुखानि च। पूर्वे जात्यन्तरे वत्स मा विषादं कुरुष्व ह॥
Creatures must meet with what is kept in store by destiny; they must go where they are bound for and they must acquire what is set apart for them. Pristine actions are the root of all these; so, be not sorry, O my son.
एवमुक्त्वा नृपस्तत्र सुतं राजा महायशाः। श्वभ्रं जगाम सुकृतं वासाय पुरुषर्षभः॥
O foremost of men, having given this advice to his son, the highly illustrious king Nțga proceeded to live in the sweet fragrant den.
एवं प्रविश्यैव नृपस्तदानीं श्वभ्रं महद्रत्नविभूषितं तत्। संपादयामास तदा महात्मा शाप द्विजाभ्यां हि रुषा विमुक्तम्॥
Having entered the den filled with many jewels the high-souled king began to spend his days in the satisfaction of the curse imprecated by the two Brāhmaṇas.