Janaka's delegation arrives at Ayodhya and submits its message to Dasharatha. Listening to the tidings that his son Rama not only lifted the bow of Shiva, but broke it as well, Dasharatha is overjoyed and refers the matter of marriage of Seetha with Rama to his ministers and teachers. All of the ministers and sages unanimously agree to that proposal and they are set to travel to Mithila the next day.
जनकेन समादिष्टा दूतास्ते क्लान्तवाहनाः |
त्रिरात्रमुषिताः मार्गे तेऽयोध्यां प्राविशन् पुरीम् || १-६८-१
1. janakena samaadiSTaa = clearly ordered by Janaka; te duutaaH = those, envoys; maarge = en route; triraatram uSitaaH = three nights, on sojourning; klaantavaahanaaH = overtired vehicles [who have got overtired horses]; te ayodhyaam puriim praavishan = they, entered into city of Ayodhya.
Those envoys who are clearly ordered by Janaka entered the city of Ayodhya on sojourning for three nights en route, and whose horses are overtired for they are galloped so fast to loose no time. [1-68-1]
ते राजवचनाद्गत्वा राजवेश्म प्रवेशिताः |
ददृशुर्देवसंकाशं वृद्धं दशरथं नृपम् || १-६८-२
2. te = they [the envoys]; raajavacanaat gatvaa = on going [to palace] by words of king [of Dasharatha's consent] ; raajaveshma praveshitaaH = when they are entered into [given a audience] king's residence [palace-chambers] ; devasankaasham = in godly gleam; vR^iddham nR^ipam dasharatham = the elderly king, Dasharatha; dadR^ishuH = they have seen.
On going to the palace those envoys are given an audience with the consent of Dasharatha, and when they are conducted into the palace-chambers they have seen the elderly king Dasharatha gleaming like a god. [1-68-2]
बद्धाञ्जलिपुटाः सर्वे दूता विगतसाध्वसाः |
राजानं प्रश्रितं वाक्यमब्रुवन्मधुराक्षरम् || १-६८-३
3. sarve duutaaH = all, legates; baddhaanjalipuTaaH = enfolding both palms; vigatasaadhvasaaH = completely gone angst [on seeing godly Dasharatha]; raajaanam = to king; madhuraakSaram = mellowly worded; prashritam vaakyam = compliant, sentence; abruvan = said.
Completely gone is the angst of all the legates on seeing godly Dasharatha, and all of them adjoing palms in reverence said this compliant and mellowly worded sentence to the king. [1-68-3]
Because Dasharatha is caught in the tomfoolery of Kaikeyi he cannot be estimated as an inane personality. It is their domestic cold war. He is famous for his achievements and he fought wars on behalf of no lesser gods. Though Valmiki does not narrate Dasharatha's exploits, other scripts say a lot about them. Hence, whenever Rama's daring, dashing, swashbuckling is to be pictured, he will be indicated as 'Dasharatha's son...' That is the reason why the angst of envoys is said in this verse as 'vanished' just by a glimpse of that godly personality, which hitherto haunted them as to how to countenance such a powerful personality.
मैथिलो जनको राजा साग्निहोत्रपुरस्कृतः |
मुहुर्मुहुर्मधुरया स्नेहसंरक्तया गिरा || १-६८-४
कुशलं चाव्ययं चैव सोपाध्यायपुरोहितम् |
जनकस्त्वां महाराज पृच्छते सपुरःसरम् || १-६८-५
4, 5. mahaaraaja = oh exalted emperor [Dasharatha]; maithilaH = Mithila's [sovereign]; janakaH = of Janaka lineage; raajaa = Janaka, king; saagnihotrapuraskR^itaH = you who ingratiates yourself with [ever and anon] fire of roituals; sopaadhyaayapurohitam = along with that of [your] teachers', priests'; sapuraHsaram = with going before [afore you a convoys of subjects always precedes, in any event, safeguarding your interests]; tvaam = your [highness]; madhurayaa = mellowly; snehasamraktayaa giraa = with friendship instilled words; kushalam ca = wellbeing, also; avyayam ca eva = unmitigated [prosperity,] also, thus; as such; janakaH = Janaka - the present king; muhuH muhuH = again, again; pR^icChate = is asking after.
Oh, exalted emperor Dasharatha! Janaka, the lineal king of Janaka-s and the present sovereign of Mithila is asking time and time again with mellowly words instilled with friendliness, after the wellbeing and after the unmitigated prosperity of your highness, along with that of your highness' priests and teachers, also that of your highness' subjects, who always precede your highness in convoys in any event, as your highness are the one who ingratiates himself with the Ritual-fires, ever and anon... [1-68-4, 5]
पृष्ट्वा कुशलमव्यग्रं वैदेहो मिथिलाधिपः |
कौशिकानुमते वाक्यं भवन्तमिदमब्रवीत् || १-६८-६
6. mithilaadhipaH vaidehaH = Mithila's sovereign, Vaideha [Janaka]; avyagram = unruffled [at heart, sensibly]; kushalam pR^iSTvaa = having asked after wellbeing; kaushikaanumate = with the endorse of Kaushika; bhavantam = to your [highness]; idam vaakyam abraviit = said this word [to us, that which is sayable to you, his highness is saying this to your highness.]
His highness Janaka of Videha, and the sovereign of Mithila, having asked after your highness' wellbeing is sensibly saying this word to your highness, with the indorse of Kaushika... [1-68-6]
पूर्वं प्रतिज्ञा विदिता वीर्यशुल्का ममात्मजा |
राजानश्च कृतामर्षा निर्वीर्या विमुखीकृताः || १-६८-७
7. mama aatmajaa = my, soul-born [daughter Seetha]; viiryashulkaa [iti] = bounty for bravery [thus]; puurvam pratij~naa = earlier, solemnly promised [by me]; viditaa = well-known - to all; kR^itaamarSaa = turned out as rancorous [kings]; raajaanaH nirviiryaaH = kings, without valour [turned into gutless kings]; vimukhiikR^itaaH = made to turn face [turned back] ; ca [viditaa] = also, [well-known.]
Well-known is the solemn promise of mine that my daughter Seetha is a bounty for bravery... also well-know is that the kings who came to lift the bow turned out as gutless kings, and then they turned out as rancorous kings at me, and it is also well-known that I turned them back with my guts... [1-68-7]
सेयं मम सुता राजन् विश्वामित्रपुरस्कृतैः |
यदृच्छयागतैर्वीरैर्निर्जिता तव पुत्रकैः || १-६८-८
8. raajan = oh Emperor Dasharatha; saa iyam = such as she is, this - girl; mama sutaa = my, daughter; vishvaamitrapuraskR^itaiH = keeping afore Vishvamitra; yadR^icChayaa = coincidentally [serendipitously]; aagataiH = arrived [at Mithila]; tava = your; viiraiH = valorous; putrakaiH = sons / young son; nirjitaa = finally carried off.
Oh, Emperor Dasharatha, your young and valorous son who serendipitously arrived at Mithila along with his younger brother Lakshmana, keeping Vishvamitra at his fore, finally carries off this girl, the well-known daughter of mine... [1-68-8]
Usually this verse gives meaning that 'two of your valorous sons won Seetha...' because of the usage of plural number viiraiH putrakaiH But this is counted as 'royal we' sort of expression to honour Rama. Hence this ka-pratyaya, though used in the verse, will be read as singular. There is another shade of wording for this verse: seyam mama sutaa raajan vishvaamitrasya shaashanaat | puriim imaam samaagatya tava pureNa nirjitaa || which uses only singular for Rama.
तच्च रत्नं धनुर्दिव्यं मध्ये भग्नं महात्मना |
रामेण हि महाबाहो महत्यां जनसंसदि || १-६८-९
9. mahaabaaho = oh highly dextrous - king Dasharatha; divyam = divine [bow]; tat dhanuH ratnam ca = that, gem of a bow, also; mahatyaam janasamsadi = a grand assembly of people; mahaatmanaa raameNa = by noble-souled, Rama; madhye bhagnam = wrecked in central point.
Also, oh, highly dextrous king Dasharatha, noble souled Rama wrecked that divine bow, which is a gem of a bow among bows, at its central point before a grand assembly of people... [1-68-9]
अस्मै देया मया सीता वीर्यशुल्का महात्मने |
प्रतिज्ञां तर्तुमिच्छामि तदनुज्ञातुमर्हसि || १-६८-१०
10. viiryashulkaa siitaa = bounty for bravery, Seetha; asmai mahaatmane = to him, to noble souled [Rama]; mayaa deyaa = is to be given by me; pratij~naam = solemn promise; tartum = to swim over - to keep up; icChaami = I wish to; tat anuj~naatum arhasi = as suh, apt of you to give consent.
Seetha is the bounty for bravery and I shall have to afford her to the noble-souled Rama, as such it will be apt of you to give your consent as I wish to keep up my solemn promise... [1-68-10]
सोपाध्यायो महाराज पुरोहितपुरस्कृतः |
शीघ्रमागच्छ भद्रं ते द्रष्टुमर्हसि राघवौ || १-६८-११
11. mahaaraaja = oh great emperor; sopaadhyaayaH = with teachers; purohitapuraskR^itaH = keeping priest [namely Vashishta] ahead; shiighram aagacCha = you come apace; te bhadram = safe betides, you; raaghavau draSTum arhasi = apt of you to take a look at both Raghava-s [Rama and Lakshmana].
Keeping your royal priest Vashishta and other teachers ahead of you, oh, great emperor, I wish you to come apace, let safe betide you, for it will be apt of you to take a look at your ennobled son Rama, and Lakshmana, too... [1-68-11]
प्रतिज्ञां मम राजेन्द्र निर्वर्तयितुमर्हसि |
पुत्रयोरुभयोरेव प्रीतिं त्वमपि लप्स्यसे || १-६८-१२
12. raajendra = oh the best king; mama pratij~naam nirvartayitum arhasi = apt of you to make my solemn promise [make it] maintainable; tvam api = you, even; [dR^iSTvaa = on your seeing]; ubhayoH putrayoH eva = both, from sons, that way; priitim = delight; upalapsyase = you, derive.
'It will be apt of you to make my solemn promise maintainable, and that way you will derive delight on seeing both of your sons...' [1-68-12]
'by the by, you will also derive delight in seeing Seetha, for she is also a hyphenated daughter of yours, sutashcha sutaa ca tayoH ekasheSaH... with another suffix, in-law...'
एवं विदेहाधिपतिर्मधुरं वाक्यमब्रवीत् |
विश्वामित्राभ्यनुज्ञातः शतानन्दमते स्थितः || १-६८-१३
13. videhaadhipatiH = Videha's sovereign; vishvaamitraabhyanuj~naataH = Vishvamitra consentient to [the proposal]; shataaanandamate sthitaH = abiding by counsel of Sage Shataananda; evam = in this way; madhuram vaakyam abraviit = said sweet [endearing,] words - and paused.
"Thus the sovereign of Videha kingdom said these endearing words, abiding by the counsel of Sage Shataananda, and Sage Vishvamitra is also consentient to the proposal..." Thus the envoys conveyed the proposal and paused. [1-68-13]
दूतवाक्यं तु तच्छ्रुत्वा राजा परमहर्षितः |
वसिष्ठं वामदेवं च मंत्रिणश्चैवमब्रवीत् || १-६८-१४
14. raajaa = king - Dasharatha; tat duutavaakyam shrutvaa = on hearing that word of delegate [message] ; paramaharSitaH = highly gladdened; vasiSTham vaamadevam ca = to Vashishta, to Vaamadeva, also; mantriNaH ca = to [other] ministers, as well; evam abraviit = said this way.
King Dasharatha is highly gladdened on hearing that message from the delegates, and said this way to Vashishta, Vaamadeva, and to his other ministers, as well. [1-68-14]
गुप्तः कुशिकपुत्रेण कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनः |
लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा विदेहेषु वसत्यसौ || १-६८-१५
15. asau = that [boy] - Rama; kausalyaanandavardhanaH = enhancer of Kausalya's rejoice; kushikaputreNa guptaH = taken care by Kushika's, son [Vishvamitra] ; bhraatraa lakSmaNena saha = along with brother Lakshmana; videheSu vasati = he is living - he is stopping over in Videha [kingdom].
This one Rama, the enhancer of Kausalya's rejoice, is stopping over at Videha kingdom along with his brother Lakshmana, and Vishvamitra is taking care of both these boys... [1-68-15]
दृष्टवीर्यस्तु काकुत्स्थो जनकेन महात्मना |
संप्रदानं सुतायास्तु राघवे कर्तुमिच्छति || १-६८-१६
16. kaakutsthaH = of Kakutstha Rama - on his part; mahaatmanaa janakena dR^iSTaviiryaH = one whose valour has been observed [on observing Rama's valour] by noble souled Janaka; that Janaka; sutaayaaH sampradaanam = gift his daughter as bride; raaghave kartum icChati = he wishes to do in respect of Raghava.
On observing the valour of Kakutstha Rama, noble souled Janaka wishes to gift his daughter as bride to Raghava Rama... [1-68-16]
यदि वो रोचते वृत्तं जनकस्य महात्मनः |
पुरीं गच्छामहे शीघ्रं मा भूत्कालस्य पर्ययः || १-६८-१७
17. mahaatmanaH janakasya vR^ittam = what has happened to noble-souled Janaka's - surprised assent to give daughter; vaH rocate yadi = if interested to you ; shiighram puriim gacChaamahe = quickly, we proceed to city [Mithila] ; kaalasya paryayaH maa bhuut = let not happen time's lapse.
"If you all favour the tidings from the noble-souled Janaka as to what has happened in Mithila, we quickly proceed to that city, let not the time lapse..." Thus Dasharatha informed his counsel. [1-68-17]
The word vR^ittam 'happening' 'history' and it is generally translated as 'the history, legend, and the familial characteristics of Janaka...' But when Janaka already is famous through the bow of Shiva, and that bow itself is broken now, no more 'verification of antecedents' of Janaka is needed, and it is 'what has happened now' i.e., the impossible deed of breaking it.
मंत्रिणो बाढमित्याहुः सह सर्वैर्महर्षिभिः |
सुप्रीतश्चाब्रवीद्राजा श्वो यात्रेति च मंत्रिणः || १-६८-१८
18. sarvaiH maharSibhiH saha mantriNaH = with all great sages, ministers; baaDham iti aahuH = 'most welcome', thus, they said; supriitaH raajaa = highly pleased, king; shvaH yaatraa iti = tomorrow, is the travel, thus; mantriNaH abraviit = said to ministers.
The ministers along with all of the great sages said in consonance, "Most Welcome..." and then that highly pleased king Dasharatha said to the ministers, "we travel tomorrow..." [1-68-18]
मंत्रिणस्तु नरेन्द्रस्य रात्रिं परमसत्कृताः |
ऊषुः प्रमुदिताः सर्वे गुणैः सर्वैः समन्विताः || १-६८-१९
19. sarvaiH guNaiH samanvitaaH = gifted with all talents; narendrasya mantriNaH = ministers of king [Janaka] ; on their part; paramasatkR^itaaH = given grateful hospitality; pramuditaaH = over joyed; sarve raatrim uuSuH = all they dwelled - in Ayodhya that night.
The ministers of king Janaka who are gifted with all talents are given grateful hospitality by Dasharatha, and they all dwelt that night in Ayodhya, overjoyed at the successful completion of their august legatine, called sIta kalyANam... [1-68-19]
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इति वाल्मीकिरामायणे आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे अष्टषष्टितमः सर्गः
© April, 2003, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : January 05]
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