|| om tat sat ||

एवमुक्ता वसिष्ठेन शबला शत्रुसूदन ।
विदधे कामधुक् कामान् यस्य यस्य यथेप्सितम्॥

'Oh Rama ! Having been told by Sage Vasishta , Sabala then prepared food according to the wishes and preferences of each person.

Balakanda
Fifty Third Sarga

Satananda continued the narration of Viswamitra's story.

'Oh Rama ! Having been told by Sage Vasishta , Sabala then prepared food according to the wishes and preferences of each person. The food included sugar cane preparations, honey, and other drinks. There were a variety of food preparations with mountains of hot steaming food and great variety of grain preparations. There were variety of drinks and streams of curd . There were vessels filled with variety of food items. O Rama the army of Viswamitra became full of people who were thoroughly satisfied by the hospitality of sage Vasishta'.

'Then the King Viswamitra too was very happy . The king who was honored along with the best people of his palace, the entourage of Brahmins along with priests, the ministers and the servants, then spoke with delight as follows'.

"Oh Brahman! I have been honored by one who is is himself eminently honorable. Oh learned man I have one request. Oh Bhagavan ! Take hundred thousand cows and give me Sabala. It s a gem. The king is the owner of all gems. O Brahman ! Hence by right it belongs to the King. Hence give Sabala to me".

Having been told by Viswamitra thus, the best of sages and the righteous Vasishta spoke as follows. "Oh King even with hundred thousand or hundred lakh cows or even mountains of silver I will not part with Sabala. O King! it can not be separated from me. Like the honor for honourable men, Sabala cannot be separated from me . That is the offering for gods, offering for the ancestors, it is also the life line. It is support for Homa as well as the the sacrificial fire . It is support for the entire body of rituals from Svahakara , Vashatkara and variety of other teachings. Oh Rajarshi! There is no doubt. It is everything. Truth is it is everything and the cause of bliss. O Rajan! There are many reasons. I will not give Sabala to you".

Having been told thus by Vasishta , the expert in using language Viswamitra visibly agitated spoke the following words.

" Oh Sage ! I will give you fourteen thousand elephants decorated with golden chains, jewelry and golden goads. I will give you eight hundred golden chariots decorated with jingle bells and drawn by four white horse. Oh best of sages ! I will give you eleven thousand powerful horses of best breed and from the best country. Like wise I will give you one crore cows of right age and of different varieties. Give me Sabala . Oh Best of Brahmins ! I will give gems or gold to the extent you desire. Give me Sabala".

'When that highly intelligent Viswamitra spoke thus , the reply was " Oh King under any circumstances I will not give Sabala".

'Vasishta continued'.

"Oh King this is my jewel. This is my wealth. This is my everything. This is my life. This is the source for my Darsa and Purnamaasa Yagas, and all the yagas that have an offering. This is my source for all my activities. Oh Rajan ! Without any doubt this is the source for all my activities. No need for more words. I cannot give this desire fulfilling cow".

Thus ends Sarga fifty three of Balakanda in Srimad Valmiki Ramayan.

|| om tat sat ||

अदोमूलाः क्रियास्सर्वा ममराजन् न संशयः ।
बहूना किं प्रलापेन न दास्ये कामदोहिनीम् ॥

"Oh Rajan ! Without any doubt this is the source for all my activities. No need for more words. I cannot give this desire fulfilling cow".