Book I : Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties

Chapter [Sarga] 12
Verses converted to UTF_8 Sept, 09

Introduction

King Dasharatha requests the Sages to conduct the Vedic ritual for which the sages indent paraphernalia, which the ministers are ordered to supply forthwith. This chapter is almost a replication of chapter 8, excepting the inclusion of references to Sage Rishyasringa who by now is available in Ayodhya.

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tataH kaale bahu tithe kasmin cit sumanohare |
vasante samanupraapte raaj~no yaShTum mano.abhavat ||1-12-1

1. tataH = later; bahu tithe kale = after lapse of some time; kasmin chit vasante = on one, spring season; samanupraapte = on the arrival of that spring; raaj~naH = to the king; yaSTum = to perform ritual; manaH = mind; abhavat = happened, [desired].

After a lapse some time when spring season has come the king Dasharatha desired to perform the Vedic ritual. [1-12-1]

Please refer to endnote for Indian seasons and months for vasanta / spring season.

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tataH praNaMya shirasaa tam vipram deva varNinam |
yaj~naaya varayaamaasa saMtaana artham kulasya ca || 1-12-2
tatha iti ca sa raajaanam uvaaca vasudha adhipam |

2. tataH = then; deva varNinam = like deity, in glow; tam vipram = at that Brahmana - Rishyasringa; shirasaa = [by suppliantly bowing his] head; prasaadya = having convinced; kulasya santaana artham = for dynasty's, unending [progeny,] to beget; yaj~naaya = to conduct ritual; varayaamaasa = [the king] beseeched.

Then bowing his head before that Brahmana sage Rishyasringa whose is glow is like that of a deity, King Dasharatha verily beseeched that sage to conduct Vedic ritual on his behalf as he wished to beget progeny to maintaining his family line. [1-12-2]

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saMbhaaraaH saMbhriyantaam te turagashca vimucyataam || 1-12-3
saravyaaH cha uttare tiire yaj~na bhuumiH vidhiiyataam |

3. su satkritaaH = well honoured; saH = he, the Sage Rishyasringa; tatha iti cha = 'thus only'; raajaanam = to the king; uvaacha = said; sambhaaraaH = paraphernalia; sambhriyantaam = be garnered; vimuchyataam = be released; te turagaH cha = your, ritual horse, also.

Sage Rishyasringa who by now is well-honoured by the king said to the king, "So it shall be, let the paraphernalia for ritual be garnered and let your ritual horse be released as a prerogative." [1-12-3]

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tato abraviit nR^ipaH vaakyam braahmaNaan veda paaragaan || 1-12-4
sumaMtra aavaahaya kshShipram R^itvijo brahma vaadinaH |
suyaj~nam vaamadevam ca jaabaalim atha kaashyapam || 1-12-5
purohitam vasiShTham ca ye ca anye dvija sattamaaH |

4, 5. tataH = then; raaja = the king; mantri sattamam = to minister, the best; sumantram = to Sumantra; vaakyam = these words; abraviit = said; kshipram = swiftly; brahma vaadinaH = Vedic scholars; ritwijaH = Vedic ritual-conductors; suyaj~nam = Sage Suyajna; vaamadevam = Sage Vaamadeva; jaabaalim = Sage Jaabali; atha = and; kaashyapam = Sage Kaashyapa; purohitam = the priest; vashiSTham cha = Sage Vashishta, too; cha = further; ye cha = and those; anye = other; dwija sattamaaH = Brahmana, the scholars; aavaahaya = invite.

Then King Dasharatha said to his best minister Sumantra, "Let the Vedic scholars and ritual conductors like Sages Suyajna, Vaamadeva, Jaabaali, and Kaashyapa, along with the family priest Vashishta, as well as other Vedic Brahmans that are there, they all be invited swiftly..." [1-12-4, 5]

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tataH sumaMtraH tvaritam gatvaa tvarita vikramaH || 1-12-6
samaanayat sa taan sarvaan samastaan veda paaragaan |
taan pUjayitvaa dharmaatmaa raajaa dasharathaH tadaa || 1-12-7
dharma artha sahitam yuktam shlakshNam vachanam abravIt |

6, 7. tataH = then; sumantraH = Sumantra; tvaritam = quickly; gatvaa = went; tvaritaH vikramaH = a quickest person he is; taan samastaan veda paaragaan = them, all of the, Vedic scholars; sam aanayay = fetched; taan = them; puujayitvaa = having worshiped; dharmaatmaa raajaa dasharathaH = that virtuous king, Dasharatha; tada = then; dharma artha sahitam = virtue, meaning, containing; shlakshnam = soft, impressible; vachanam = sentence; abraviit = said.

Then Sumantra being a quickest person went quickly and fetched all those Vedic scholars and clerj~nmen. Then the virtuous king Dasharatha having offered due worships to all the sages and saints brought in by Sumantra, uttered these words which are with virtue and meaning, in an impressible manner. [1-12-6, 7]

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mama taatapya maanasya putraartham naasti vai sukham || 1-12-8
putraartham hayamedhena yakshayaami iti matirmama |
tat aham yaShTum icChaami hayamedhena karmaNaa || 1-12-9
R^iShiputra prabhaaveNa kaamaan praapsyaami ca api aham |

8, 9. mama = to my; laalasya = tumultuous; maanasya = mind; putra artham = for sons; na asti = not there; vai = verily; sukham = quietude; tat = hence; aham = I am; haya medhena = by Horse Ritual; yakshhyami = would like to worship; iti = thus; matiH mama = thinking, of mine; tat = therefore; shaastra dR^iSTena = scriptures, point of view; karmanaa = by strict observance; yashtum = to perform ritual; icChaami = I wish to; R^ishi putra = by Sage's son - through Rishyasringa's; prabhaaveNa = divine influence of; aham = I am; kaamam = my desire; praapyaami cha api aham = I get, even, I will.

"My mind is tumultuous without quietude for I have no sons... hence I am thinking of performing the Vedic Horse Ritual for progeny... I wish to perform the ritual as enshrined in the scriptures and by strict observances... I wish to get my desires fulfilled through the divine influence of the Sage's son, Rishyasringa... [1-12-8, 9]

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tataH saadhu iti tad vaakyam braahmaNaaH pratyapUjayan || 1-12-10
vasishhTha pramukhaaH sarve paarthivasya mukhaat chyutam |
R^iShyashR^i~Nga purogaaH ca prati uucuH nR^ipatim tadaa || 1-12-11

10, 11. tataH = then; saadhu iti = splendid, thus; tat vaakyam = this, sentence, idea; braahmaNaaH = Brahmanas; prati puujayan = blessed the king; vashishthaH = Sage Vashishta; pramukhaaH = and other important sages; sarve = all of them; paarthivasya = the king's; mukhaat = from mouth, voice; chyutam = came out; Rishyasringa; purogaaH cha = keeping at helm of affairs; tadaa = then; prati uuchuH = in return, said; nR^i patim = to peoples', lord [the king];

Then "Splendid, splendid is this idea," said the Brahmana scholars blessing the king. Then Sage Vashishta along with all other important personalities have applauded the idea that has come out of the king's voice, and all those Vedic scholars and clerj~nmen keeping Rishyasringa at helm of affairs said this to the king, in appreciation of that idea. [1-12-10, 11]

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saMbhaaraaH saMbhriyamtaam te turagaH ca vimucyataam |
saravyaaH cha uttare tiire yaj~na bhuumiH vidhiiyataam || 1-12-12
sarvathaa praapyase putraam chaturo amita vikramaan |
yasya te dharmikii buddhiH iyam putraartham aagataa || 1-12-13

12, 13. yasya te = to whom, [such as] you; putra artham = for begetting sons; iyam dhaarmikii buddhiH aagataa = this kind of, virtuous, thinking, has come; a mita = boundless; vikramaan = valiant ones; chatwaaraH = four of them; putraan = sons; sarvathaa = by all means; praapyase = you will beget; sambhaaraaH = paraphernalia; sambhriyantaam = be garnered; te = your; turagaaH cha = ritual horse, also; vimuchyataam = be released.

"Because a virtuous thinking of begetting sons through Vedic ritual has come to you, you will by all means get four sons with boundless valour... let ritual paraphernalia be garnered and let your ritual-horse be released..." The Vedic seers thus blessed Dasharatha. [1-12-12, 13]

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tataH priito.abhavat raajaa shrutvaa tu dvija bhaaShitam |
amaatyaan abraviit raajaa harshheNa idam shubha aksharam || 1-12-14

14. tataH = then; priitaH abhavat raajaa = glad, became, the king; shrutvaa = having heard; tat dvija bhaSitam = those, Brahmanas, that is said by them; [then] raajaa = the king; amaatyaan = to the ministers; cha = also; harsheNa = with happiness; idam = these; shubha aksharam = good words; abraviit = spoke to.

Then the king is gladdened to hear the blessing advises of the Vedic scholars, and he spoke to the other ministers of his court, with happiness derived from those good words. [1-12-14]

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gurUNaam vachanaat shiighram saMbhaaraaH saMbhriyantu me |
samartha adhishhTitaH cha ashvaH saH upaadhyaayo vimuchyataam || 1-12-15
sarayavyaaH cha uttare tiire yaj~na bhUmiH vidhIyataam |
shaaMtayaH cha abhivarthantaam yathaa kalpam yathaa vidhi || 1-12-16
shakyaH kartum ayam yaj~naH sarveNa api mahiikshitaa |
na aparaatho bhavet kashhTo yadya asmin kratu sattame || 1-12-17
chhidram hi mR^igayanta ete vidvaanso brahma raakshasaaH |
vidhihiinasya yaj~nasya sadyaH kartaa vinashyati || 1-12-18
tad yathaa vidhi puurvam kratuH eSha samaapyate |
tathaa vidhaanam kriyataam samarthaaH karaNeShu iha || 1-12-19

15,16,17,18, 19. guruuNaam = of teachers; vachanaat = by advise; shiighram = quickly; sambhaaraaH = paraphernalia; sambhriyantu = be procured; samartha adhishthitaH = well guarded by gallant men; saha upaadhyaayaH = also followed by teachers; me = my; asvaH = Ritual Horse; vimuchyataapm = be released; sarayavyaa = of Sarayu river; uttare tiire = on northern banks; yaj~na bhoomiH = ritual place; vidhiiyataam = be decided; shaantayaH cha = peace invocations; abhi varthantaam = be prevailing and prospering; yathaa kalpam = as per tradition; yathaa vidhi = as ordained in scriptures; shakya = if possible; praaptum = to perform; ayam yaj~naH = this, ritual; sarvena api = by all, even; mahii kshitaa = kings [would have been performed]; na = no; aparathaH = fault; bhavet = is made; kaSTaH = a difficult one; yadi = if; asmin = in that; kratu sattame = ritual, the great; Chidram = faults; hi = only; mrigayante = hunted; atra = there; vidvaamsaH = scholarly; brahma raakshasaaH = by the Brahma demons; nihatasya = killing the; cha = also; yaj~nasya = ritual's; kartaa = performer; vinasyati = ruins; tat = that is; yathaa = why; vidhi puuvam = in adherence to texts; kratuH = ritual; eSa = this one; samaapyate = be concludes; tathaa = like that; vidhaanam = procedure; kriyataam = be done; samarthaaH = efficient ones; karaNeshu iha = in affairs, here, [so said the king to Vedic scholars]

The king said to his executives, "As advised by my Vedic teachers, let the paraphernalia for my ritual be procured... let the ritual-horse be released, guarded well by gallant men in its journey... and let religious teachers follow that horse as per tradition... let the ritual place be decided on the northern banks of Sarayu River... let the peace invocations be prevailing and prospering throughout as ordained in the scriptures and tradition... all the kings on this earth would have performed this Horse Ritual, if only they can perform this without a mistake... thus, this is a great and difficult ritual... the Brahma-demons will be hunting for the faults performed in the rituals whereat they can inteject themselves in to the proceedings of the ritual in order to ruin it... further, the performer of the ritual also gets ruined if there were be to be faults... that is why this ritual shall be conducted faultlessly till its conclusion, and with absolute adherence to the scriptures... since all of you assembled here are efficient ones in conducting such rituals without faults, I hope you all will organise carefully.... [1-12-15,16,17,18, 19]

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tathaa iti cha tataH sarve maMtriNaH pratyapuujayan |
paarthiva indrasya tat vaakyam yathaa aaj~naptam akurvata || 1-12-20

20. tathaa iti = like that, only; mantriNaH = by ministers; sarve = all; cha abruvan = also, said - expressed theior consent; paarthiva indrasya = the king's, the best one; tat vaakyam = those words; prati apuujayan = in turn, appreciation; yathaa = as; aaj~naptam = ordered; akurvataH = they have done.

In appreciation of his orders all the ministers replied the king saying "it will be done accordingly..." and indeed they have faultlessly carried out works as ordered. [1-12-20]

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tato dvijaaH te dharmaj~nam astuvan paarthivarShabham |
anuj~naataaH tataH sarve punaH jagmuH yathaa aagatam || 1-12-21

21. tataH = then; dwijaaH te = Brahmans, all of them; dharmaj~nam = the virtuous knower, the king; astuvan = applauded; paarthivarSabham = among kings, the sacred bull; anuj~naataa = with his permission; tataH = from there; sarve = all of them; punaH jagmu = again, returned; yathaa aagatam = as they have come.

Then all the Brahmans applauded the virtuous king and who is like a Sacred Bull among the kings for his virtuous endeavour of undertaking the Vedic ritual, and with his permission all of them returned from there as they have come. [1-12-21]

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gateShu teShu vipreShu maMtriNaH taan naraadhipaH |
visarjayitvaa svam veshma pravivesha mahaamatiH ||1-12-22

22. dwija agreSu = Brahmans, prominent ones; gateSu = on departing of; mahaa dyuti = great, resplendent one; nara adhipaH = people's, chief [king]; taan = those; mantriNaH = the ministers too were; visharjayitwaa = on leaving them; swam = his; veshma = palace; pravivesha = entered.

On the departure of the prominent Brahmans, King Dasharatha sent off those ministers who are still available there for further orders from the king, and then he the great resplendent king has entered his own palace. [1-12-22]

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Indian seasons

The Indian yearly time-cycle is two-kind, one on northern solstice and the other southern solstice. And seasons are twelve and every two months is a season, and they are calculated by almanacs basing on the stars position every year. They roughly compare with the following Gregorian months as below:

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iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye baala kaaNDe dvaadashaH sargaH

Thus, this is the 12th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.

Verse Locator for Book I : Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties : Chapter 12

©1999, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised: August '08]