Book I : Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties
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After the completion of Vedic ritual all the kings and Sage Rishyasringa took leave of Dasharatha and went away to their countries. After some time Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna are born. Their virtues in childhood and rituals connected thereto are depicted here. Dasharatha then contemplates the marriages of the princes, since marrying sons after completion of education is customary. At that juncture Sage Vishvamitra arrives at the court of Dasharatha seeking help from the king. Dasharatha receives him adoring in high esteem. |
nir.hvR^itte tu kratau tasmin hayamedhe mahaatmanaH |
prati gR^ihya amaraa bhaagaan pratijagmuH yathaa aagatam || 1-18-1
1. mahaatmanaH tasmin haya medhe= of the high souled one Dasharatha's, that, horse ritual; kratau nirvR^itte sati= ritual, when completed, that is; amaraa bhaagaan pratigR^ihya= gods, their portion [of oblations,] on taking; yatha aagatam= as they came; pratijagmu= returned [to their heavens.]
On the competition of the horse ritual of high-souled Dasharatha, the golds having received their portion of sacrificial oblation returned to their abodes as they have come. [1-18-1]
samaapta diikSaa niyamaH patnii gaNa samanvitaH |
pravivesha puriim raajaa sa bhR^itya bala vaahanaH || 1-18-2
2. patnii gaNa samanvitaH= wives', company, along with; raajaa= king Dasharatha; samaapta diikshaa niyamaH= on completing, vows, rules – consecration vowed for Vedic ritual; sa bhR^itya bala vaahana= along with, servants, guards, vehicles; pravivesha puriim= entered, city [Ayodhya,].
The king completing his consecratory vows held for horse ritual, entered Ayodhya city along with the company of his queens, servants, guards and vehicles. [1-18-2]
yathaa arham puujitaaH tena raaj~naa cha pR^ithiviishvaraaH |
muditaaH prayayuH deshaan praNamya muni pu.ngavam || 1-18-3
3. pR^ithvi iishvaraaH= earthly, gods [other kings]; tena raaj~naa= by him, the king; yathaa arham puujitaaH= as, befitting, honoured; muditaaH= are gladdened; muni pungavam praNamya= sage, the eminent [Vashishta] on duly adoring; deshaan= to their countries; prayayuH= travelled – returned.
The other kings who arrived for the ritual are delighted when befittingly honoured by the king Dasharatha, and they too returned to their countries, after suitably adoring the eminent sage Vashishta. [1-18-3]
shriimataam gacChataam teSaam svagR^ihaaNi puraat tataH |
balaani raaj~naam shubhraaNi prahR^iSTaani chakaashire || 1-18-4
4. tataH puraat= from that, city; sva gR^ihaaNi= to their own, houses [own countries - homeward]; gacChataam= those who are going – set forth; shriimataam teSaam raajnaam= of those magnificent [kings,] those, kings'; shubhraaNi= clean [neat white uniforms, or in fine fettle]; pra hR^iSTaani= highly, gladdened; balani chakaashire= armies [entourages,] shone forth.
The entourages of those kings who set forth homeward from that city are highly gladdened and shone forth in fine fettle. [1-18-4]
Some commentaries said that the soldiers are given white and clean uniforms by Dasharatha by the word shubhraaNi and hence they are happy. But they may be said to be sprucely without those gifts from Dasharatha.
gateSu pR^ithiviisheSu raajaa dasharathaH punaH |
pravivesha puriim shriimaan puraskR^itya dvijottamaan || 1-18-5
5. pR^idhvi iisheSu gateshu satsu= earthly, lords [kings,] when they have gone; tadaa shriimaan raajaa dasarathaH= then, fortunate, king, Dasharatha; dvijaH uttamaan puraskR^itya= Brahmans, eminent ones, keeping ahead; puriim pravivesha= city, entered.
On the departure of visiting kings, then that fortunate king Dasharatha entered the city Ayodhya, keeping eminent Brahman priests ahead of him in the procession. [1-18-5]
shaa.ntayaa prayayau saardham R^iSyashR^i~NgaH supuujitaH |
anugamyamaano raaj~naa cha saanuyaatreNa dhiimataa || 1-18-6
6. R^iSyashR^i~NgaH= Rishyasringa; su puujita= well, adored; sa anu yaatreNa= with, co-travellers [entourage of Romapada]; dhiimataa raajnaa= with virtuous one, king [Romapaada]; anugamyamaanaH cha= followed by, king also; shantayaa saartham prayayau= with Shanta, along with, travelled.
Well adored by king Dasharatha sage Rishyasringa also travelled along with his wife Shanta, followed by his father-in-law King Romapada, and along with other co-travellers, namely the entourage of Romapada. [1-18-6]
evam visR^ijya taan sarvaan raajaa sa.mpUrNa maanasaH |
uvaasa sukhitaH tatra putra utpattim vichi.ntayan || 1-18-7
7. raajaa= king Dasharatha; evam taan sarvaan visR^ijya= thus, them, all, on dispersing; sampuurNa maanasaH= with a satiated, heart; putra utpattim vichintayan= sons, birth, dwelling upon; tatra sukhitaH uvaasa= there, gratifyingly, dwelled.
On dispersing all of them king Dasharatha gratifyingly dwelled there in Ayodhya, with a satiated heart dwelling upon the birth of his sons. [1-18-7]
tato yaj~ne samaapte tu R^itUnaam SaT samatyayuH |
tataH ca dvaadashe maase chaitre naavamike tithau || 1-18-8
nakxatre aditi daivatye sva ucCha sa.nstheShu pa.nchasu |
graheShu kar.hkaTe lagne vaakpataa i.ndunaa saha || 1-18-9
prodyamaane jagannaatham sarva loka namaskR^itam |
kausalyaa ajanayat raamam sarva lakSaNa sa.myutam || 1-18-10
viSNoH ardham mahaabhaagam putram aixvaaku na.ndanam |
lohitaaksham mahaabaahum rak{}ta oSTam du.ndubhi svanam || 1-18-11
8, 9, 10, 11. tataH yaj~ne samaapte= then, ritual, on completion; R^ituuNaam SaT sam atyayuH= seasons, six, well, passed by; tataH= then; dvaadashe maase= in twelfth, month; chaitre naavamike tithau= chaitra month [April-May], ninth, day; nakshatre aditi daivatye= star of the day [punarvasu,] [whose presiding is] Aditi; panchasu graheSu swa uccha samstheshu= of five, planets, in their own, highest, positing; karkaTe lagne= in Cancer [of Zodiac]; vaak patiH indunaa saha= when Speech's, Lord [Jupiter,] is [with] Moon, along with; pra udyamane= when raising – ascending, advancing daytime – abhijit lagna; kausalyaa= Queen Kausalya; jagat naatham= worlds', lord [Vishnu]; sarva loka namaskR^itam= by all, worlds, adored; divya lakshana samyutam= divine, attributes, along with; viSNoH= Vishnu's; artham= epitome of [not half of Vishnu]; mahaa bhaagam= greatly blessed one; ikshwaaku nandanam= Ikshvaaku dynasty, delight of; lohita aksham= lotus-red, eyes; mahaa baahum= lengthy, armed; rakta oSTam= roseate, lips; dundubhi svanam= drumbeat, voiced; raamam= Rama as; putram= the son; ajanayat= gave birth.
On completion of the ritual six seasons have passed by and then in the twelfth month, on the ninth day of chaitra month [April-May,] when the presiding deity of ruling star of the day is Aditi, where the ruling star of day is punarvasu, the asterism is in the ascendant, and when five of the nine planets viz., Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus are at their highest position, when Jupiter with Moon is ascendant in Cancer, and when day is advancing, then Queen Kausalya gave birth to a son with all the divine attributes like lotus-red eyes, lengthy arms, roseate lips, voice like drumbeat, and who took birth to delight the Ikshwaku dynasty, who is adored by all the worlds, and who is the greatly blessed epitome of Vishnu, namely Rama. [1-18-8, 9, 10, 11]
By this configuration of stars the supreme merits of Rama are indicated. atra saÕvastara mukha utt˜yaõa vasanta caitra m˜sa þukla pakÿa deva nakÿatra diva abhijit lagna puõya nakÿatr˜d utk®ÿ÷a k˜le kark˜÷aka lagne uccasya graha pañcake guru candra yoge þrŸ r˜ma utpatti× | tasya sarva utk®ÿ÷at˜m sakala kaly˜õa guõa abhiramat˜m sakala þiÿ÷a ˜draõŸya sampattim mah˜ par˜kramam ca s¨citam | dharmaakuutam.
The words viSNoH artham half of Vishnu- are to be taken as half of the fruit of ritual where Vedic ritual itself is pervaded by Vishnu. The fruit of ritual is obtained in the shape of dessert, and Kausalya consumed half of it, but it is not half of Vishnu as he is illimitable.
kausalyaa shushubhe tena putreNa amita tejasaa |
yathaa vareNa devaanaam aditiH vajra paaNinaa || 1-18-12
12. Kausalya; a+mita tejasaa= one with unlimited resplendence; tena putreNa= by that, son; devaanaam vareNa= among gods, the best one; vajra paaNinaa= by Thunderbolt, in hand [wielder - Indra]; adithiH yathaa shushubhe= Lady Aditi, as with, shone forth.
Kausalya shone forth with such a son whose resplendence is unlimited, as with lady Aditi who once stood out with her son Indra, the best one among gods. [1-18-12]
bharato naama kaikeyyaam jaj~ne satya paraakramaH |
saakSaat viSNoH caturtha bhaagaH sarvaiH samudito guNaiH || 1-18-13
13. satya paraakramaH= truthfulness, as his valour; saakshaat viSNoH= manifest, Vishnu's; chatur bhaagaH= fourth, component; sarvaiH guNaiH samuditaH= with all, merits, embodied with ; Bharata; naama kaikeyyaam jaj~ne= named, to Queen Kaikeyi, born to.
Queen Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharata, one embodied with all merits, and whose truthfulness itself is his valour and who is fourth component of manifest Vishnu, namely Rama. [1-18-13]
The fraction indicated here like 'one fourth of Vishnu' etc may be reckoned as the share of the dessert consumed by the queens, but not as a cleaved portion of Vishnu as he is an indivisible entity. Here it is half of one-fourth i.e., one-eighth of dessert given to Kaikeyi.
atha laxmaNa shatrughnau sumitraa ajanayat sutau |
viirau sarva astra kushalau viSNoH ardha samanvitau | 1-18-14
14. atha= then; Queen Sumitra; viiraau= valiant ones; sarva astra kushalau= all, weaponry, experts; viSNoH= Vishnu's; artha= essence, epitome; samanvitou= those that are embodied with; Lakshmana; Shatrughna; sutou ajanayat= to sons, gave birth.
Queen Sumitra then gave birth to two sons who are the embodied epitomes of Vishnu, namely Lakshmana, and Shatrughna, who are valiant ones and experts in all kinds of weaponry. [1-18-14]
puShye jaataH tu bharato mIna lagne prasanna dhIH |
saarpe jaatau tu saumitrI kuLIre abhyudite ravau || 1-18-15
15. prasanna dhiiH= level, headed one – guileless, fair-minded; Bharata; pushye miina lagne jaataH= under Pushyami star, in Pisces [of Zodiac,] born; saumitrii= sons of Sumitra [Lakshmana, Shatrughna]; saarpe kuliire= under star presided by serpent [aaSreSa,] in Cancer [of Zodiac]; abhyudite ravau= when rising, of Sun- when sun is rising, i.e., on next day of Rama's birth, tenth of Chaitra; jaatau= they are born.
The fair-minded Bharata is born under Pisces where puSyami is the star of day, and the sons of Sumitra, namely Lakshmana and Shatrughna are born under Cancer, where aaSreSa is the star of the day and when sun is rising. [1-18-15]
Rama is born on the ninth day of Chaitra month, and Bharata is born in the earlier part of next day the tenth of Chaitra, earlier to his younger brothers, and then Lakshmana and Shatrughna are born on the later part of the day.
'Pushya is the name of a month; but here it means the eighth mansion. The ninth is called Aslesh, or the snake. It is evident from this that Bharata, though his birth is mentioned before that of the twins, was the youngest of the four brothers and Rama's junior by eleven months' Schlegel. The eleven-month gap between Rama and Bharata is unapparent in the words of verse. This may be from some other version of Ramayana.
raaj~naH putraa mahaatmaanaH catvaaro jaj~nire pR^ithak |
guNava.ntaH anuruupaaH ca rucyaa proSTha padopamaaH || 1-18-16
16. guNavantaH anuruupaaH cha= virtuous ones, charming, also; ruchyaa= by brilliance; proSTapada upamaaH= [like puurva bhaadra, uttara bhaadra] stars, in simile; mahaatmaanaH= great souls; such; raajnaH putraa= kings', sons; chatvaaraH= four of them; jaj~nire pR^ithak= born, separately.
Thus there are four great-souled sons of Dasharatha, born on separate instances, who are virtuous, charming, and by brilliance they are in similitude with two stars of each of the asterisms called puurva bhadra and uttara bhaadra. [1-18-16]
The word proSTa is cow; pada feet; the feet of a cow. It is also the name for the asterisms puurvaa bhaadra, uttara baadra , containing stars in the wing of Pegasus, each of which will have two stars, and all the four stars make a perfect square. Like the pairs of stars the brother also move in pairs – Rama, Lakshmana – Bharata, Shatrughna.
The epithet mahaa aatmanaH high-souled ones is though negligible for peripheral reading, it is explained as: Rama is one such, as he undertakes sva dharma anuSThaana ; Lakshmana by his sheSatva j~naana ; Bharata by his bhagavat paara tantrya ; and Shatrughna by his bhaagavata paaratantrya.
Like this, each of the epithets used in Ramayana has something or the other meaning which is not generally recorded in English translations. All the English translations are story-oriented, as though there is some unknown story in Ramayana for retelling afresh. In the spate of telling story again and again these niceties are lost. The same is the position with the numerous epithets given to Seetha in Aranya Kanda. Readers may please note that each epithet conveys some meaning and if we could not incorporate them, it is our misfortune in getting a book containing their meanings. We request the readers to kindly inform us if they have come across the meanings of these seemingly useless and metre-filling-like epithets in any book, so that, that book will be brought to the notice of readers who are mistaking them as 'redundant stanza fillers'.
jaguH kalam cha ga.ndharvaa nanR^ituH cha apsaro gaNaaH |
deva du.ndubhayo neduH puSpa vR^iSTiH cha khaat patat || 1-18-17
utsavaH cha mahaan aasiit ayodhyaayaam janaakulaH |
17, 18a. gandharvaa kalam jaguH= celestial singers, melodiously, sang; apsaraa ganaH nanR^ituH= divine dancers, groups of – dancing parties, danced; deva dundubhayaH neduH= divine, drums, sounded; khaat pushpa vR^iSTi cha patat= from heavens, flowery, rain, also, fallen; ayodhyaayaam jana akulaH= in Ayodhya, with people, thronging; utsavaH cha mahaan asiit= festivity, also, great, is there.
The celestial singers sang melodiously, paradisiacal dancing parties danced, divine drums drummed and heavens rained flowers, with all this there is a great festivity in Ayodhya with thronging people. [1-18-17, 18a]
rathyaaH cha jana sa.mbaadhaa naTa nartaka sa.nkulaaH || 1-18-18
gaayanaiH cha viraaviNyo vaadanaiH cha tatha aparaiH |
virejur vipulaaH tatra sarva ratna samanvitaaH || 1-18-19
18b, 19. rathyaaH= streets; jana sambaadhaa= with people, pressurised - stampeded; nata nartaka samkulaaH= with actors, dancers, flurried by; gaayanaiH cha= singers, too; vaadanaiH cha eva= with players of musical instruments, also, thus; tathaa aparaiH= like that, by others - onlookers; viraavaNyaH well sounding – hilarity, jubilation; tatra= there – on streets; vipulaaH virejuH= widely, strewn; sarva ratna samanvitaaH= all, gems, along with.
Hilarity filled the streets with people stampeding them and with the flurry of actors, dancers, singers and instrumentalists, as well by other onlookers, and there on the streets widely strewn are all kinds of gems appreciating the artists. [1-18-18b, 19]
pradeyaa.mshcha dadau raajaa sUta maagadha va.ndinaam |
braahmaNebhyo dadau vittam go dhanaani sahasrashaH || 1-18-20
20. raajaa= king; suuta maagadha vandinaam= to eulogisers, bard singers, panegyrists; pradeyaan cha= giveable donation, also; dadou= gave; braahmaNebhyaH= to Brahmans; vittam= funds; go dhanaani sahasrashaH= cow, wealth, in thousands; dadau= gave.
The king gave worthy gifts to eulogisers, bard singers, and panegyrists, and to Brahmans he gave funds and wealth in the form of thousands of cows. [1-18-20]
atiitya ekaadasha aaham tu naama karma tathaa akarot |
jyeSTham raamam mahaatmaanam bharatam kaikayii sutam || 1-18-21
saumitrim lakSmaNam iti shatrughnam aparam tathaa |
vasiSThaH parama priito naamaani kurute tadaa || 1-18-22
21, 22. tataH= then; eka dasha aaham atiitya= one, ten, days, [eleven days,] when elapsed; naama karma akarot= naming, ceremony, performed; mahaa aatmaanaam jyeSTam raamam= high souled, elder one, as Rama; kaikeyi sutam bharatam= Kaikeyi's, son, as Bharata; soumitrim= Sumitra's [to one son]; lakshmanam iti= as Lakshmana, thus; aparam= other [son]; shatrughnam= as Shatrughna; parama priitaH vashishta tadaa= highly, gladdened, Vashishta, then; naamaani kurute= names, [made] gave.
Elapsed are eleven days and the naming ceremony is performed, then Vashishta, the chief priest, named the high-souled elder one as Rama, Kaikeyi's son as Bharata, and one son of Sumitra as Lakshmana and the other as Shatrughna [1-18-21, 22]
The word 'Rama' is defined as ramante sarve jan˜× gunai× asmin iti r˜ma× 'in whom all the people take delight for his virtuousness, thus he is Rama.' The name Rama is very old, so says padma puraaNa : þriya× kamala v˜siny˜ r˜meõa aham mah˜prabhu× | tasm˜t þrŸ r˜ma iti asya n˜ma siddhi pur˜tanam || padma pur˜õa
Bharata is defined as: bharata r˜jya bharan˜t - bibharti iti bharata Bharata is because he bears the burden of the kingdom of Rama during Rama's exile.
Lakshmana is lkÿmano aksmi sampanna× or lakÿmi asya astŸti lakÿmaõa Lakshmana is the favoured flourisher. The wealth of selfless dedication is in him, hence Lakshmana. One who is endowed with favoured dedication, kainkarya lakshana lakshita Lakshmana is a hearty dedication to Rama and he always wishes to reside by the side of his brother.
Shatrughna is þatr¨n hanta iti þatrughna or þatrughno nitya þatru ghna× Shatrughna is always an enemy destroyer.
The naming ceremony acquires a particular significance, because Vashishta, the purohita [ puraa future; hitaH well-wisher of; well wishing advisor about the future of the kingdom, named these princes with a vision into the future.
braahmaNaan bhojayaamaasa pauraan jaanapadaan api |
udadad braahmaNaanaam cha ratnaugham amalam bahu || 1-18-23
teSaam janma kriya aadIni sarva karmaaNi akaarayat |
23, 24a. brahmaNaan pauraan jaanapadaan api= Brahmans, urbanites, villagers, also; bhojayaamaasa= are fed well by king; brahaahmaNaanaam bahu ratna ogham udadat= to Brahmans, many, valuable gems, he gave - gifted; a + mitam= un, limited; teSaam janma kriya aadiini= them - the princes, birth, rites, ceremonies sequel to it; sarva karmaaNi akaarayat= all, rituals, performed.
The king feasted Brahmans, urbanites and villagers and he gifted many valuable gems to Brahmans in an unlimited way, and all the rituals of birth and ceremonies sequel to it like naming ceremony, first-food-feeding ceremony, first-hair-removal ceremony, and sacred thread ceremony are performed in respect of the princes. [1-18-23, 24a]
teSaam ketuH iva jyeSTho raamo ratikaraH pituH |1-18-24
babhuuva bhuuyo bhuutaanaam svayam bhuuH iva sammataH |
24b, 25a. tesSam jyeSThaH raamaH= among them the princes, eldest one, Rama is; ketuH iva= flagstaff like; pituH bhuyaH rati kara= to his father, very much, delightful one; svayam bhuu iva bhuutaanaam sammata babhuuva= self-emerged [god, Brahma,] like, to all beings, acceptable, he became.
Among those princes the eldest one Rama is like a flagstaff and a delight of his father Dasharatha, and he became acceptable to all beings like the self-created Brahma. [1-18-24b, 25a]
sarve veda vidaH shuuraaH sarve lokahite rataaH || 1-18-25
sarve j~naanopasa.mpannaaH sarve samuditaa guNaiH |
25b, 26a. sarve veda vidaH= all princes are, in Veda-s, scholars; shuuraaH= valiant ones; sarve loka hite rataaH= all are, in worlds', welfare, interested; sarve j~naana upa sampannaH= all are, intellectual ones; sarve samuditaa gunaiH= all are, possessors of, with merits - air of probity.
All the princes are scholars in Veda-s, valiant ones, all are interested in the welfare of the world, all are intellectuals and all of them possess an air of probity. [1-18-25b, 26a]
teSaam api mahaatejaa raamaH satya paraakramaH || 1-18-26
iSTaH sarvasya lokasya shashaa.nka iva nirmalaH |
26b, 27a. teSaam api mahaa tejaa= among them, also, great, resplendent; raaamaH satya paraakramaH= Rama, truthfulness, as his valorous one; nirmala shashaanka iva= tranquil, moon, like; sarvasya lokasya iSTaH= to all, of world, dear one.
Among them the great resplendent Rama, whose valour itself is his truthfulness, is the dear one to all the world like the tranquil moon. [1-18-26b, 27a]
gaja skandhe ashwa pR^iSTe cha ratha charyaasu sammataH || 1-18-27
dhanur.hvede cha nirataH pituH shushR^ISaNe rataH |
27b, 28a. [saH raamaH= he that Rama is]; gaja skandhe= on [riding] elephant's, shoulders; ashva pR^iSTte= on [riding] horse's, on back; cha= also; ratha charyaasu= in chariots', manoeuvring of [tactical charioting]; sammataH= admitted to be [the champion]; dhanuH vede cha nirataH= in archery, Veda, also, rejoices in; pituH shushruushaNe rataH= father's, in service, absorbed in.
Rama is admittedly a champion of riding elephants and horses, also in tactical charioting, and he rejoices in the art of archery, and absorbed in the obedient service of his father. [1-18-27b, 28a]
baalyaat prabhR^iti susnigdho lakSmaNo lakSmi vardhanaH || 1-18-28
raamasya lokaraamasya bhraatuH jyeSThasya nityashaH |
28b, 29a. lakshmi vardhana lakshmana= prosperity, enhancer of, Lakshmana; baalyaat prabhR^iti= childhood, since; loka raamasya= for world, charming Rama; jyeSTasya bhraatuH= towards elder, brother; raamasya= in respect of Rama; nityasaH su snigdhaH= always, he is very amiable.
Right from childhood Lakshmana, the enhancer of prosperity, is always amiable towards his world-charming elder brother Rama. [1-18-28b, 29a]
sarva priya karaH tasya raamasya api shariirataH || 1-18-29
lakSmaNo lakSmi sa.mpanno bahiH praaNa iva aparaH |
29b, 30a. lakshmi sampannaH lakshmanaH= wealth [of dedication], one endowed with, Lakshmana s, even; shariirataH api= bodily, even [dedicated to Rama]; sarva priya karaH= all, agreeable deeds, while peforming; tasya raamasya= to that, Rama; bahiH praana iva= external, entity, like; a+paraH= bahiH praaNa= outer, life - alter ego, [he behaved like alter ego,].
Lakshmana who is endowed with the wealth of dedication dedicated himself to Rama with bodily service, and while performing all agreeable deeds in respect of Rama, he behaved like Rama's alter ego. [1-18-29b, 30a]
na ca tena vinaa nidraam labhate puruSottamaH || 1-18-30
mR^iSTam annam upaaniitam ashnaati na hi tam vinaa |
30b, 31a. puruSa uttamaH= of men, best Rama; tena vinaaa= him – Lakshmana, without; nidraam na labhate= sleep, he does not, get; upaaniitam mR^iSTam annam ca= brought [for him,] delicious, food, also; tam vinaa= him [Lakshmana,] without; na ashnaati will not, eat.
That best one among the men Rama does not get his sleep without Lakshmana and he would not eat food brought for him, however delicious it may be, without Lakshmana. [1-18-30b, 31a]
yadaa hi hayam aaruuDho mR^igayaam yaati raaghavaH || 1-18-31
atha enam pR^iSThataH abhyeti sa dhanuH paripaalayan |
31b, 32a. raaghava= Raghava; hayam aruuDhaH= horse, on mounting; yadaa mR^igayaam yaati= when, for a hunting game, goes; tataH= then; saH= he, Lakshmana; dhanuH paripaalayan= bow, wielding [as a squire]; enam priSTataH abhyeti= him [Rama,] behind [Rama,] rushes after.
Whenever Raghava mounts a horse and goes on a hunting game Lakshmana rushes after him wielding his bow as a squire. [1-18-31b, 32a]
bharatasya api shatrughno lakSmaNa avarajo hi saH || 1-18-32
praaNaiH priyataro nityam tasya ca aasiit tathaa priyaH |
32b, 33a. lakshamaNaa varajaH= Lakshmana's, born along with – younger brother; saH shatrughnaH= he that, Shatrughna; bharatasya api= to Bharata, even; nityam praanaiH priyataraH= always, by lives, dear one; [Bharata also]; tasya cha= to him [to Shatrughna,] even; tathaa aasiit priyaH= like that, he is, a dear one.
Lakshmana's younger brother Shatrughna is a dear one to Bharata, like that Bharata too held Shatrughna dearer than his own lives. [1-18-32b, 33a]
sa caturbhiH mahaabhaagaiH putraiH dasharathaH priyaiH || 1-18-33
babhuuva parama priito devaiH iva pitaamahaH |
33. saH= he, Dasharatha, mahaa bhaagaiH chaturbhi priyaiH putraiH= with highly fortunate, four, dearest, sons; pitaamaha devaiH iva= Forefather, Brahma, with gods, as with; parama priitaH babhuuva= highly, glad, he became.
King Dasharatha is highly gladdened with four of his highly fortunate sons like the Forefather Brahma with gods in heaven. [1-18-33]
te yadaa j~naana sa.mpannaaH sarvaiH samuditaa guNaiH || 1-18-34
hriimantaH kiirtimantaH ca sarvaj~naa diirgha darshinaH |
teSaam evam prabhaavaaNaam sarveSaam diipta tejasaam || 1-18-35
pitaa dasharatho hR^iSTo brahmaa lokaadhipo yathaa |
34b, 35, 36a. te sarvaiH guNaiH samuditaa= with all, merits, having – gifted with; yadaa j~naana sampannaaH= they [four princes,] when, practical wisdom - prudence, prospering with; hriimantaH= bashful ones - self-conscious [to do wrong deeds]; kiirtimantaH cha= well-know ones [for their gentility,] also; sarva j~naa= all, knowing ones [knowers of pros and cons]; diirgha darshinaH= foresighted - conscientious; [when they have become thus, then]; evam prabhaavaaNaam= with this kind of, potentiality having; diipta tejasaam= radiantly, brilliant ones; teSaam sarveSaam= all, in respect of; pitaa= father; Dasharatha; loka adhipaH yathaa= world, presiding deity - Brahma, as with; hR^iSTaH= is contented.
When all of the four sons are thus prospering with prudence, gifted with all the merits, self-conscious to do wrong deeds, well-known for their gentility, knowers of pros and cons and even the conscientious princes, then their father Dasharatha is contented in respect of all of them who are such radiantly brilliant and potential princes, like Brahma. [1-18-34b, 35, 36a]
te cha api manuja vyaaghraa vaidika adhyayane rataaH || 1-18-36
pitR^i shushrUSaNa rataa dhanur vede cha niSTitaaH |
36. te manuja vyaaghraaH api= they, manly, tigers, even; vaidika adhyayane rataaH= Veda, studies, engrossed in; pitR^iu shushruuSaNe rataaH= in father's, service, delighted in; dhanurvede cha niSTitaaH= in art of archery, also, experts.
Even those tigerly-men, namely the princes, are engrossed in the studies of Veda-s, delighted to render service to their father and they are also the experts in art of archery. [1-18-36b, 37a]
atha raajaa dasharathaH teSaam daara kriyaam prati || 1-18-37
ci.ntayaamaasa dharmaatmaa saha upaadhyaayaH sa baandhavaH |
37b, 38a. tataH= then; dharmaatmaa raajaa= noble souled, king Dasharatha; saH upaadhyaayaH sa baandhavaa= along with, teachers, with, relatives; teSaam daara kriyaam prati= of their, matrimonial, works [alliances,] about; chintayaamaasa= contemplated.
Then the noble souled Dasharatha contemplated along with his priestly teachers and relatives about the matrimonial alliances of his sons. [1-18-37b, 38a]
tasya ci.ntayamaanasya ma.ntri madhye mahaatmanaH || 1-18-38
abhyaagacChat mahaatejaa vishvaamitro mahaamuniH |
38b, 39a. maha aatmanaH tasya= great, souled one, his Dasharatha; chintayaa maanasya= while he is thinking so [discussing so]; mantri madhye= ministers, among, mahaa tejaa= great resplendent one – highly powerful; visvaamitraH mahaa muniH= Vishvamitra great sage; abhyaagacChat [abhi aa gacChat]= arrived.
While the great souled Dasharatha is discussing the marriages of princes among his ministers, the highly powerful sage Vishvamitra arrived. [1-18-38b, 39a]
sa raaj~no darshana aakaa.nkSii dvaara adhyakSaan uvaaca ha || 1-18-39
shiighram aakhyaata maam praaptam kaushikam gaadhinaH sutam |
39b, 40a. saH= he, Vishvamitra; raaj~naH darshana aakaankshii= king, to see, desirous to; dvaara adhyakshaan uvaacha ha= to the door, keeper, said to; gaadhinaH sutaH= Gadhi's son; kaushikam= belonging to Kushi's dynasty; maam praaptam= me, as arrived; shiighram aakhyaata= quickly, inform [to king.]
Desirous to have an audience with king Vishvamitra said to the doorkeeper, "Let the king be informed quickly that I, the son of Gadhi from the dynasty of Kushi, have come" [1-18-39b, 40a]
tat shrutvaa vacanam tasya raaj~no veshma pradudruvuH || 1-18-40
sa.mbhraanta manasaH sarve tena vaakyena coditaaH |
40b, 41a. tat vachanam shrutvaa= that, words, on listening; sarve sambhraanta manasaH= all, dumbfounded, at hearts; tena vaakyena choditaa= by those, words, ushered by; raajnaH veshma pra dudruvuH= to that, king's [Dasharatha's,] palace, quickly, rushed to.
On listening those words all the doorkeepers are dumbfounded, and ushered by those words they quickly rushed to the place of Dasharatha. [1-18-40b, 41a]
te gatvaa raaja bhavanam vishvaamitram R^iSim tadaa || 1-18-41
praaptam aavedayaamaasuH nR^ipaayaiH ikSvaakave tadaa |
41b, 42a. tataH= then; te raaja bhavanam gatvaa= they, to king's, palace, having gone; tataH= then; vishwamitram R^iSim praaptam= Vishvamitra, sage, as has come; ikshwaakave nR^ipaayaiH= of Ikshwaku dynasty, to king; aavedayaamaasu= announced.
Then on their arriving at the king's palace the doorkeepers have announced to the king of Ikshvaku-s, namely Dasharatha, about the arrival of sage Vishvamitra. [1-18-41b, 42a]
teSaam tat vacanam shrutvaa sapurodhaaH samaahitaH || 1-18-42
prati ujjagaama sa.mhR^iSTo brahmaaNam iva vaasavaH |
42b, 43a. teSaam tat vachanam shrutvaa= their [doorkeepers,] that word [that message,]on hearing; samhR^iSTaH= highly pleased, Dasharatha; sa purodhaaH= with, priests; [and] samaahitaH= collecting himself, in self-possessed manner; [tam= him, Vishvamitra]; prati ujjagaama= towards, gone – gone towards welcomingly; vaasavaH brahmaaNam iva= Indra, like, towards Brahma [in a ceremonial manner.]
On hearing that message from doorkeepers Dasharatha is highly pleased and he has gone towards Vishvamitra in a self-possessed manner along with royal priests, as Indra would ceremoniously go towards Brahma. [1-18-42b, 43a]
tam dR^iSTvaa jvalitam diiptyaa tapasam sa.mshita vratam || 1-18-43
prahR^iSTa vadano raajaa tataH arghyam upahaarayat |
43b, 44a. tataH= then; raajaa= king Dasharatha; jwalitam= who is resplendent – Vishvamitra; diiptyaa tapasam= one who is radiant, by ascesis; samshita vratam= one who severe, self-discipline; tam dR^iSTva= him [Vishvamitra,] on seeing; pra hR^iSTa vadanaH= well, gladsome, face [expression, aspect]; arghyam upahaarayat= water, offered.
Then on seeing the resplendent sage Vishvamitra, whose radiance is by his own ascesis and who has severe self-discipline, the king offered water with a gladsome aspect, as first customary hospitality in receiving unexpected guest. [1-18-43b, 44a]
sa raaj~naH pratigR^ihya arghyam shaastra dR^iSTena karmaNaa ||
1-18-44
kushalam ca avyayam ca eva parya pR^icChat naraadhipam |
44b, 45a. saH= he, Vishvamitra; shaastra dR^iSTena karmaNaa= scriptural, point of view - scripturally, [also] by practice - customarily; raajnaH arghyam prati gR^ihya= rom king, water, on receiving; naraadhipam= with king; kushalam cha avyayam cha eva= well-being, also, welfare, also, thus; parya apR^icChat= enquired after.
On receiving water from the king scripturally and customarily Vishvamitra enquired after the well-being and welfare of king Dasharatha. [1-18-44b, 45a]
pure koshe janapade baandhaveSu suhR^itsu ca || 1-18-45
kushalam kaushiko raaj~naH paryapR^icChat sudhaarmikaH |
45b, 46a. su dhaarmikaH kaushikaH= highly righteous, Kushi's son - Vishvamitra; raajnaH= of king; pure koshe janapade baandhaveSu= in city, in exchequer, in rural areas, among relatives; su hR^itsu= among good, hearted-ones –friends; kushalam= well-being; paryapR^icChat asked after.
That highly righteous sage Vishvamitra asked the king after the well-being of city, exchequer, rural areas, friends and relatives. [1-18-45b, 46a]
api te sa.nnataaH sarve saama.nta ripavo jitaaH || 1-18-46
daivam ca maanuSam ca eva karma te saadhu anuSTitam |
46b, 47a. saamantaaH sarve te api sannata= provincial kings, all, to you, acquiescent; ripavaH jitaaH= enemies, conquered; te= your; daivatam karma= for propitiating gods, deeds; maanusham cha eva= humanly, also, thus – to administer humans; saadhu anuSTitham= properly, performed.
Sage Vishvamitra asked Dasharatha, "Are all of the provincial kings acquiescent to you, and all your enemies conquered? Are you properly performing the devotional and social works?" [1-18-46b, 47a]
vasiSTham ca samaagamya kushalam munipu.ngavaH || 1-18-47
R^iSiim ca taan yathaa nyaayam mahaabhaaga uvaaca ha |
47b, 48a. munipungavaH vasiSTham cha= sage, the eminent, Vashishta, also; taan= them; mahaa bhaagaa R^iSiim cha= most, exalted, sages, also; yathaa nyaayam= as per, custom; samaagamya= on meeting with; kushalam uvaacha ha= well-being, spoke [asked after,] indeed.
And on meeting the eminent sage Vashishta and with them the other exalted sages according to custom Vishvamitra asked after their well-being. [1-18-47b, 48a]
te sarve hR^iSTa manasaH tasya raaj~no niveshanam || 1-18-48
vivishuH puujitaaH tena niSeduH ca yathaa arhataH |
48b, 49a. te sarve hR^iSTta manasaH= all of them, gladdened, at heart; tasya raaj~naH niveshanam= that, king's, palace; vivishuH= entered; tathaa yathaa arhataH= then, according to, eligibility - protocol; tena puujitaaH by him, the king, adored - invited; niSeduH= took seats.
Then adoringly invited by the king Dasharatha all of them gladly entered the palace and they took their seats according to protocol. [1-18-48b, 49a]
atha hR^iSTa manaa raajaa vishvaamitram mahaamunim || 1-18-49
uvaaca parama udaaro hR^iSTaH tam abhipuujayan |
49b, 50a. atha= then; parama udaaraH= very, generous one; raajaa= king Dasharatha; hR^iSTta manaa= gladdened, at heart; tam mahaamuniH vishvamitram= him, the great sage, Vishvamitra; abhipuujayan hR^iSTaH= while adoring, feeling happy; uvaacha [idam]= spoke, [this way.]
Then the very generous king Dasharatha is gladdened at heart at the arrival of Vishvamitra, and he spoke this way feeling happy to adore that sage. [1-18-49b, 50a]
yathaa amR^itasya sa.mpraaptiH yathaa varSam anuudake || 1-18-50
yathaa sadR^isha daareSu putra janma aprajasya vai |
praNaSTasya yathaa laabho yathaa harSo mahodaye || 1-18-51
tathaa eva aagamanam manye svaagatam te mahaamune |
50b, 51, 52b. mahaa mune= oh, great saint Vishvamitra; amR^itasya sampraapti yathaa= ambrosia, attaining, as with; an + udake= without, water [in droughty land]; varSam yathaa= rain, as with a + prajasya= without, progeny [for childless ones]; sadR^isha daareSu= in deserving, wife; putra janma yathaa= son's, birth, as with; pra naSTasya laabhaH yathaa= long lost [treasures,] regaining, as with; mahaa udaye harSaH yathaa= at great happening, rejoice, as with; te aagamanam thaa eva= your, arrival, like that, only; manye= is deemed; swaagatam [te]= welcome, to you.
"I deem your arrival is in the vein of mortals attaining ambrosia, rainfall in a droughty land, a barren father begetting a son through his deserving wife, a regain of long lost treasures, and the gladness at a great happening, oh, great saint, welcome to you." [1-18-50b, 51, 52a]
kam ca te paramam kaamam karomi kimu harSitaH || 1-18-52
paatra bhuuto.asi me brahman diSTyaa praapto.asi maanada |
adya me saphalam janma jiivitam ca su jiivitam || 1-18-53
yasmaad viprendram adraaksham suprabhaataa nishaa mama |
52b, 53, 54a. brahman= Oh, Brahman; harSitaH= [I, who am, at our arrival] delighted; te paramam kam kaamam= your, choicest, what, objective; kimu= in which way; karomi= I can fulfil; me paatra bhuutaH asi= to me, recipient, eligible, you are; maana daa= oh, respect, endower of; diSTyaa praaptaH asi= fortunately, arrived, you are; adya me janma saphalam= today, my, birth, is fructified; jiivitam cha su jiivitam= life, also, best life – flourishing; yasmaat vipra indram adraaksham= for what reason, Brahman, the great, is seen by me [at my own house]; suprabhaataa nishaa mama= sun dawn, night, of mine.
"Oh, Brahman, as I am the one who is delighted for your arrival, and as you are the most eligible recipient from me, what is that choicest object of yours to be fulfilled by me, and in which way. Oh, endower of respect, for me your arrival is fortunate whereby my birth is fructified and my life flourished today, and wherefore I could see a great Brahman like you visiting my home, therefore the sun appears to have dawned in my night. [1-18-52b, 53, 54a]
puurvam raajarSi shabdena tapasaa dyotita prabhaH || 1-18-54
brahmarSitvam anupraaptaH puujyoasi bahudhaa mayaa |
54b, 55a. puurvam raaja R^ishi shabdena= earlier - originally, kingly-saint, by title; dyotitaH prabhaH= indicated - explicit, is your glory – such as you are; anu= subsequently; tapasaa= by ascesis; brahma R^iSitwam praaptaH= Absolute, sainthood, you attained; mayaa bahudhaa puujyaH asi= by me, in many ways, venerable, you are.
"Originally your glory was explicit by your title kingly-sage, and subsequently you attained the Absolute-sainthood by your ascesis, and you are venerable to me, in many ways." [1-18-54b, 55a]
tat adbhutam abhuut vipra pavitram paramam mama || 1-18-55
shubha kSetra gataH ca aham tava sa.ndarshanaat prabho |
55b, 56a. vipra= oh, Brahman; tat= thereby; [idam= this arrival of yours]; adbhutam= surprising; mama= to me; pavitram paramam= sacred, ideally; prabho= oh, adept one; tava samdarshanaat= by your, very appearance; aham= I have [become one who]; shubha kshetra gataH= to sacred, place, one who has gone – on pilgrimage; abhuut= I have become.
"Oh, Brahman, thereby your arrival at my place is surprising and ideally sacred to me, and by your very appearance I have become one who has gone on a quiet pilgrimage. [1-18-55b, 56a]
Dasharatha deems that city itself is sanctified with the arrival of Vishvamitra and thinks that he is like the one who secured the merit of pilgrimage without actually going over a sacred place.
bruuhi yat praarthitam tubhyam kaaryam aagamanam prati || 1-18-56
icChaam anugR^ihiito aham tvadartham parivR^iddhaye |
56b, 57a. aagaamanam prati= arrival, regarding [the work that made you to come]; tubhyam praarthitam= by you, entreated; yat kaaryam= which, work is there [deed]; [that] bruuhi= you tell; aham anugR^ihiitaH [vai]= I am, blessed [indeed]; tvat artha= for its, result [of your deed]; pari vR^iddhaye icChaami= to its flourish [ to make happen, for fulfilling it,] I wish to.
"You may tell me, entreating which work your arrival chanced here and I feel that I am indeed blessed and wish to make it happen to achieve results. [1-18-56b, 57a]
kaaryasya na vimarsham ca ga.ntum arhasi suvrata || 1-18-57
kartaa ca aham asheSeNa daivatam hi bhavaan mama |
57b, 58a. su vrata= [sage with] blest, vows; kaaryasya vimarshanam gantum na arhasi= about work, deliberation, to go into, not, apt of you; aham a+shesheNa kartaa cha= I am, without, remainder [of work – thoroughly,] the doer; bhavaan mama daivatam hi= you are, for me, god, indeed.
"It is unapt of you to deliberate about the feasibility of the work, oh, sage with blest vows, while I am the fulfiller of it without any reminder, since you are god to me, indeed. [1-18-57b, 58a]
mama ca ayam anupraapto mahaan abhyudayo dvija |
tava aagamana jaH kR^itsno dharmaH ca anuttamo dvija || 1-18-58
58b, c. dwija= oh, Brahman; mama ayam mahaan abhyudayaH anupraaptaH= for me, this is, great, prosperity, that bechanced; [mama= to me]; tava aagamana jaH= your, arrival, caused; kR^itsnaH dharmaH anuttamaH= entire, propriety, is the unexcelled one.
"Oh, Brahman, this is the great prosperity that bechanced on me, and this is propriety in its entirety that bechanced on me, as a result of your arrival. [1-18-58b, c]
iti hR^idaya sukham nishamya vaakyam
shruti sukham aatmavataa viniitam uk{}tam |
prathita guNa yashaa guNaiH vishiSTaH
parama R^iSiH paramam jagaama harSam || 1-18-59
59. aatmavataa= by high-minded Dasharatha; iti= this way; viniitam uktam= humbly, when said; hR^idaya sukham shruti sukham= for heart, pleasing, for ears, pleasing; vaakyam nishamya= words, on hearing; prathita guna yashaa= one who is renowned, [for his personal] attributes, and reputation; gunaiH vishiSTaH= by his qualities, exceptional one; parama R^iSiH= the sublime, sage [Vishvamitra]; paramam harSam jagaama= high, rejoice, he obtained.
On hearing the words of high-minded Dasharatha, said that way in all his humbleness, and those that are pleasant to ears as well to heart, he who is a renowned for his personal attributes and a reputed one by his exceptional qualities, that sublime sage Vishvamitra obtained high rejoice. [1-18-59]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadikaavye baala kaaNDe aSTaadashaH sargaH
Thus, this is the 18th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
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© 1999, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised: April 04]