Rama requests sage Vishvamitra for endowing annulment missiles, besides projectile ones that have been accorded in the previous chapter. Sage Vishvamitra accords them, and while they are journeying further, they chance to see a picturesque forest on their way and Rama enquires about it.
प्रतिगृह्य ततः अस्त्राणि प्रहृष्ट वदनः शुचिः |
गच्छन् एव च काकुत्स्थो विश्वामित्रम् अथ अब्रवीत् || १-२८-१
1. kaakutsthaH = Kakustha = descendent, Rama; shuciH = decent one, Rama; astraaNi pratigrR^hya = missiles, on receiving; tataH prahR^iSTa vadanaH = then, with a pleasant, face; gacChann eva = while on the way, thus; atha = then - now; vishvaamitram abraviit = , to Vishvamitra, he is speaking.
On becoming personally purified Rama, the descendent of Kakutstha-s, received the missiles, and then on their way he is now speaking to Sage Vishvamitra with a pleasant face. [1-28-1]
गृहीत अस्त्रो अस्मि भगवन् दुराधर्षः सुरैः अपि |
अस्त्राणाम् तु अहम् इच्छामि संहारम् मुनिपुंगव || १-२८-२
2. bhagavan = oh god; gR^ihiita astraH asmi = taken, missiles, I have; suraiH api duraadharSaH [asmi] = to gods, even, unassailable, I have become; munipungava = oh, sage, the eminent; aham tu = I, but; astraaNaam samhaaram icChaami = for the missiles, annulment, I wish [to know.]
"Oh, godly sage, I have taken the missiles and became unassailable even for gods, but oh, eminent sage, I wish to know the annulment of missiles too." So said Rama to the sage. [1-28-2]
एवम् ब्रुवति काकुत्स्थे विश्वामित्रो महा तपाः |
संहारान् व्याजहार अथ धृतिमान् सुव्रतः शुचिः || १-२८-३
3. kaakutsthe evam bruvati = by Rama, thus, said; atha = next; dhR^itimaan su vrataH shuciH = resolute, well-averred one, purified one; vishvaamitraH mahaamuniH = Vishvamitra, great saint; samhaaram vyaajahaara = annulment, -started to say - imparted the knowledge of.
When Rama of Kakutstha said thus, next that resolute, well-averred and purified sage of eminence Vishvamitra imparted the knowledge of annulment missiles. [1-28-3]
सत्यवन्तम् सत्य कीर्तिम् धृष्टम् रभसम् एव च |
प्रतिहारतरम् नाम पराङ्मुखम् अवाङ्मुखम् || १-२८-४
लक्ष्या अलक्ष्याः इमौ चैव दृढ नाभ सुनाभकौ |
दशाक्ष शतवक्त्रौ च दश शीर्ष शत उदरौ || १-२८-५
पद्मनाभ महानाभौ दुन्दुनाभ स्वनाभकौ |
ज्योतिषम् शकुनम् चैव नैराश्य विमलौ उभौ || १-२८-६
यौगंधर विनिद्रौ च दैत्य प्रमधनौ तथा |
शुचि बाहुर् महाबाहुर् निष्कलि विरुचर् तथा
सार्चिर्माली धृतिमाली वृत्तिमान् रुचिरः तथा || १-२८-७
पित्र्यः सौमनसः चैव विधूत मकरौ उभौ |
परवीरम् रतिम् चैव धन धान्यौ च राघव || १-२८-८
कामरूपम् कामरुचिम् मोहम् आवरणम् तथा |
जृंभकम् सर्पनाथम् च पन्थान वरणौ तथा || १-२८-९
कृशाश्व तनयान् राम भास्वरान् काम रूपिणः |
प्रतीच्छ मम भद्रम् ते पात्र भूतोऽसि राघव || १-२८-१०
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Raaghava = oh, Raghava; Rama; satyavantam = Satyavanta; satyakiirtim = Satyakirti; dhR^iSTam = Dhristha; rabhasam = Rabhasa; eva ca = like that, also; pratihaarataram = Pratihaaratara; naama = named; paraanmukham = Paraanmukam; avaanmukham = Avaanmukha; lakshya = Lakshya; alakSya = Alakshya; imau ca eva = these, also, thus; dR^iDhanaabha = Dhridhanaabha; sunaabhakau = Sunaabha; dashaaksha = Dashaaksha; shatavaktrau = Shatavaktra; ca = also; dashashiirsha = dashashiirsha; shataudarau = Shatodara; padmanaabha = Padmanaabha; mahaanaabhau = Mahaanaabha; dundunaabha = Dundunaabha; svanaabhakau = Svanaabha; jyotisham = Jyotisha; shakunam = Shakuna; ubhau ca eva = the two also, thus; nairaashya = Nairaashya; vimalaa = Vimala; yaugandhara = Yungandhara; vinidrau = Vinidra; ca = also; daitya = Daitya; pramadhanau = Praamadhana; tathaa = then; shucibaahuH = Suchibaahu; mahaabaahur = Mahaabaahu; niSkali = Nishkali; virucar = Virucha; tathaa = like that; saarchirmaalii = Saarrchirmaali; dhR^itimaalii = Dhritimaali; vrittimaan = Vrittiman; ruchiraH = Ruchira; tathaa = then; pitryaH = Pitrya; saumanasam = Sumana; ca eva = also, thus; vidhuuta = Vidhoota; Makarau = Makara, ubhau = two of them; karaviirakaram = Karaveerakaram; ca eva = also; dhana = Dhana; dhaanyau = Dhaanya; kaamaruupam = Kaamaroopa; kaamarucim = Kaamaruchira; moham = Moha; tathaa = thus; aavaranam = Aavarana; jR^imbhakam = Jrimbhaka; Sarpa naabham = Sarpa naabha; ca = also; panthaana = Prathaana; varanau = Varana; bhaasvaraan = radiant ones; tathaa = thus; kaama ruupinaH = disguise-wizards; kR^ishaashva tanayaan = Krishaashva, children - the missiles; mama pratiicCha = from me, you take; te bhadram = to you, safety; paatra bhuutaH asi = eligible one, you are.
"Oh, Raghava, take these radiant missile-children of Krishaasva from me, namely Satyavanta, Satyakeerti, Dhristha, Rabhasa, Pratihaaratara, Paraanmuka, Avaanmukha, Lakshya, Alakshya, Dhridhanaabha, Sunaabha, Dashaaksha, Shatavaktra, Dashasheersha, Shatodara, Padmanaabha, Mahaanaabha, Dundunaabha, Svanaabha, Jyotisha, Shakuna, Nairaashya, Vimala, Yungandhara, Vinidra, Daitya, Pramadhana, Suchibaahu, Mahaabaahu, Nishkali, Virucha, Saarchirmaali, Dhritimaali, Vrittiman, Ruchira, Pitrya, Ssaumansa, and also thus Vidhoota, Makara, are two of them...Karaveerakara, Dhana, Dhaanya, Kaamaroopa, Kaamaruchira, Moha, Aavarana, and thus Jrimbhaka, Sarvanaabha, Varana... and these are the guise changing wizards ad you are the eligible one to handle these missiles, let safety be with you." Thus Vishvamitra gave missiles to Rama. [1-28-4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
बाढम् इति एव काकुत्स्थ प्रहृष्टेन अंतरात्मना |
दिव्य भास्वर देहाः च मूर्तिमन्तः सुखप्रदाः || १-२८-११
केचिद् अंगार सदृशाः केचिद् धूम उपमाः तथा |
चन्द्र अर्क सदृशाः केचित् प्रह्व अंजलि पुटाः तथा || १-२८-१२
रामम् प्रांजलयो भूत्वा अब्रुवन् मधुर भाषिणः |
इमे स्म नरशार्दूल शाधि किम् करवाम ते || १-२८-१३
11, 12, 13. kaakutstha = Kakustha Rama; prahR^iSTtena = gladdened; antar aatmanaa = in inner soul; baaDham iti eva = 'thus only', saying thus; received those missiles; divya bhaasvara dehaaH ca = divine, radiant, bodied, also; muurtimantaH = appealing ones; sukhapradaaH = bliss-endowers; kechit angaara sadR^ishaaH = some, fire-like; kechit dhuuma upamaH = some, smoke-like, thus; tathaa = like that; chandra arka sadR^ishaaH = moon, sun similar to; kechit = some; prahva anjali puTaaH = concave, palms, holding-out - adjoined hollow palms in reverence - as in begging; tathaa = then; praanjalayaH bhuutvaa = adjoined palms, on becoming; madhura bhaashiNaH = melodically, speaking; raamam abruvan = to Rama, said; nara shaarduula = oh, manly tiger; ime sma = here, we are; shaadhi = order us; te kim karavaama = what, for you, can we do.
Gladdening in his heart of hearts Rama of Kakutstha received the annulment missiles saying, "Agreed! Sire!" Those missiles are with radiantly divine bodies, appealing and endowing bliss. Some are fire-like, some smoke-like, and some moon-like and some sun-like, and such as they are, some of them holding out their hollowed palms, and some with palms adjoined melodiously spoke to Rama saying, "here we are, oh, manly-tiger, what can we do for you." [1-28-11, 12, 13]
गंयताम् इति तान् आह यथा इष्टम् रघुनन्दनः |
मानसाः कार्य कालेषु साहाय्यम् मे करिष्यथ || १-२८-१४
14. maanasaaH = [while remaining in] memory; kaarya kaaleshu = , in work's, time, [need of the hour]; me saahaayyam kariSyatha = to me, assistance, you render; till then; yathaa iSTam gamyataam = as you, wish, you can go; iti raghu nandanaH taan aaha = thus, Ragu's legatee, to them, said.
"While remaining in my memory you assist me as and when needed, and till then you may go away as you wish," thus that legatee of Raghu-s said to those deities of annulment missiles. [1-28-14]
अथ ते रामम् आमन्त्र्य कृत्वा च अपि प्रदक्षिणम् |
एवम् अस्तु इति काकुत्स्थम् उक्त्वा जग्मुः यथाआगतम् || १-२८-१५
15. atha te = then, they; evam astu iti = thus, it will be, thus; kaakutstham uktvaa = to Kakutstha's, legatee, on saying; pradakshinam ca api kR^itvaa = circumambulation, also, even, on performing; raamam aamantrya = by Rama, consented; jagmuH yathaaaagatam = went away, as they have come.
Saying "it will be done that way" to Rama, the legatee of Kakutstha-s, also on performing circumambulation to him and then on taking his consent those deities have gone away as they have come. [1-28-15]
स च तान् राघवो ज्ञात्वा विश्वामित्रम् महामुनिम् |
गच्छन् एव अथ मधुरम् श्लक्ष्णम् वचनम् अब्रवीत् || १-२८-१६
16. saH raaghavaH ca = he that Raghava, also; taan j~naatvaa = them - annulment missiles, on knowing - learning; atha gacChan eva = then, while going - on path, only; vishvaamitram mahaamunim = to Vishvamitra, great sage; madhuram shlakshNam vacanam abraviit = sweet, soft, words, spoke - asked.
After learning the nullifying missiles and then while proceeding on the walkway Raghava asked the great sage Vishvamitra with sweet and soft words. [1-28-16]
किम् एतन् मेघ संकाशम् पर्वतस्य अविदूरतः |
वृक्ष खण्डम् इतः भाति परम् कौतूहलम् हि मे || १-२८-१७
दर्शनीयम् मृगाअकीर्णम् मनोहरम् अतीव च |
नाना प्रकारैः शकुनैः वल्गुभाषैः अलंकृतम् || १-२८-१८
17, 18. itaH parvatasya = on this side, of mountain; a vi duurataH = not, very, far; megha sankaasham = cloud-like formation; darshaniiyam = picturesque; mR^iga aakiirNam = with animals, spread-over; atiiva manaH ramam = highly, heart, pleasing one; valgu bhaaSaiH = with pleasant; callings [of birds]; naanaa prakaaraiH shakunaiH alankR^itam = with numerous, kinds of, birds, embellished; vR^iksha khaNDam = trees, a group of - a thicket; bhaati = = is shining forth; etat kim nu = this, what, really; me paramam kautuuhalam hi = to me, very much, inquisitiveness, indeed.
"What is this cloudlike picturesque thicket shining forth not very far away on this side of mountain, with animals spreading over it, and embellished with numerous kinds of birds that have pleasant callings it is highly soul-delighting, thus, my inquisitiveness is growing very much to know it, what is this, really! [1-28-17, 18]
निःसृताः स्म मुनिश्रेष्ठ कान्तारात् रोमहर्षणात् |
अनया तु अवगच्छामि देशस्य सुखवत्तया || १-२८-१९
सर्वम् मे शंस भगवन् कस्य आश्रम पदम् तु इदम् |
19, 20a. muni shreSTha = oh, sage, the eminent; anayaa deshasya sukhavattayaa = by this, place's, happy environs; roma harSaNaat kaantaaraat = from hair-raising, forest [extremely alarming forest of Tataka]; niHsR^itaaH sma = came out, we have; thus; avagacChaami = I understand; idam kasya aashrama padam = this is, whose, hermitage's, threshold; bhagavan = oh, god; sarvam me shamsa = all, to me, you tell.
"By the nature of happy environs at this place, oh, eminent sage, I understand that we have come out of the extremely alarming forest of Tataka, but oh, god, whose hermitage's threshold is this, kindly tell me all. [1-28-19]
संप्राप्ताः यत्र ते पापाः ब्रह्मघ्नाः दुष्ट चारिणः | १-२८-२०
तव यज्ञस्य विघ्नाय दुरात्मनो महामुनेः |
भगवन् तस्य को देशः सा यत्र तव याज्ञिकी || १-२८-२१
रक्षितव्या क्रिया ब्रह्मन् मया वध्याः च राक्षसाः |
एतत् सर्वम् मुनिश्रेष्टः श्रोतुम् इच्छामि अहम् प्रभो || १-२८-२२
20b, 21, 22. mahaamuneH = oh, great saint; bhagavan = oh, venerable one; brahman = oh, Brahman; yatra = where; brahma ghnaaH = Brahman, murderers; duSTta caariNaH = evildoers; dur aatmanaH = evil-minded ones; te paapaaH = those, sinners; tava yaj~nasya vighnaaya = your, ritual, for hindrance; sam praaptaaH = they have come - are coming; tava yaaj~nakii kriyaa = your, pertaining to ritual, ceremonies; saa yatra = those [ritual works,] where; mayaa rakshitavyaa = by me, to be safeguarded; raakshasaaH ca vadhyaaH = demons, also, to be eliminated; tasya deshaH kaH = that, place, is what; munishreSTaH = oh, sage, the eminent; prabho = oh lord; aham etat sarvam = I, all, this; shrotum icChaami = to listen, wish to.
"Oh, great saint, where are those murderers of Brahmans? Oh, venerable one, at which place those evil minded sinners and evildoers will be coming to hinder your ritual? And where, oh, Brahman, I have to safeguard your ritual ceremonies, and demons too are to be eliminated? Oh, eminent sage, what is that place? I would like to hear all of it." Rama asked Vishvamitra in that way. [1-28-20b, 21, 22]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे अष्टाविंशः सर्गः
@ 2001, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : July 04]