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Janaka narrates his lineage while offering his daughters as brides to Rama and Lakshmana. In doing so, he elaborates more about his brother Kushadhvaja, whose daughters are the would-be-wives of Bharata and Shatrughna. They even fix the timings for marriage. |
एवं ब्रुवाणं जनकः प्रत्युवाच कृतांजलिः |
श्रोतुमर्हसि भद्रं ते कुलं नः परिकीर्तितम् || १-७१-१
1. evam bruvaaNam = to him who is saying - to Vashishta this way; janakaH kR^itaanjaliH pratyuvaaca = Janaka, in reply said reverentially making palm-fold; te bhadram = you be safe; parikiirtitam = distinguished; naH kulam = of our, lineage; shrotum arhasi = apt of you to listen - all of you.
When sage Vashishta said that way, Janaka reverentially made palm fold and said this in reply, "oh, sage, let safeness betide you all... now, it will be apt of you all to listen to our distinguished lineage..." [1-71-1]
प्रदाने हि मुनिश्रेष्ठ कुलं निरवशेषतः |
वक्तव्यं कुलजातेन तन्निबोध महामुने || १-७१-२
2. munishreSTha = oh eminent sage; mahaamune = oh great sage; kulajaatena = born in [a particular noble] gens; pradaane = while offering [bride]; niravasheSataH = without a little remainder [completely, in entirety]; kulam vaktavyam hi = speakable about parentage - to be informed, isn't it; tat nibodha = thereby, let all be informed of our lineage.
"Oh, eminent sage Vashishta, he who is born in a particular noble gens has to inform about his parentage in its entirety, especially when he offers a bride... thereby oh, great sage, let all be informed of about our lineage..." [1-71-2]
राजाभूत् त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः स्वेन कर्मणा |
निमिः परमधर्मात्मा सर्वसत्त्ववतां वरः || १-७१-३
3. svena karmaNaa = by his own, accomplishments; triSu lokeSu vishrutaH = renowned in triad of worlds ; paramadharmaatmaa = uniquely seraphic souled one; sarvasattvavataam varaH = best among all stalwart [emperors] ; raajaa nimiH abhuut = emperor, Nimi, was there - once upon a time.
Once there was an emperor Nimi, who was renowned in the triad of worlds by his own accomplishments, and who was uniquely seraphic-souled and a best one among all stalwart emperors... [1-71-3]
तस्य पुत्रो मिथिर्नाम जनको मिथिपुत्रकः |
प्रथमो जनको नाम जनकादप्युदावसुः || १-७१-४
4. mithiH naama = Mithi, named; tasya putraH= his, son; prathamaH janakaH naama = first, Janaka, by name [designated as]; mithiputrakaH janakaH = Mithi's son, is Janaka; janakaat api udaavasuH = from Janaka, even, Udaavasu - is born.
And his son was named as Mithi, and Janaka was Mithi's son... the first one to be designated as Janaka... and even from that Janaka it is Udaavasu who took birth... [1-71-4]
उदावसोस्तु धर्मात्मा जातो वै नन्दिवर्धनः |
नन्दिवर्धनपुत्रस्तु सुकेतुर्नाम नामतः || १-७१-५
5. udaavasoH tu = from Udaavasu, on his part; dharmaatmaa nandivardhanaH jaataH = noble souled, Nandivardhana, took birth; nandivardhanaputraH tu = Nandivardhana's son, but; naamataH suketuH naama = by name, Suketu, named one.
From Udaavasu it is noble souled Nandivardhana took birth, and Nandivardhana's son is named as Suketu, by his name... [1-71-5]
सुकेतोरपि धर्मात्मा देवरातो महाबलः |
देवरातस्य राजर्षेर्बृहद्रथ इति स्मृतः || १-७१-६
6. suketoH api = from Suketu, even; dharmaatmaa = virtue-souled one; mahaabalaH = highly powerful; devaraataH = Devaraata - is born; devaraatasya raajarSeH bR^ihadratha iti smR^iutaH = from kingly sage Devaraata, Brihadratha, thus, heard - him to be his son.
From Suketu the highly powerful and virtue-souled Devaraata is born, and from that kingly sage Devaraata, it is Brihadratha who took birth, thus we have heard... [1-71-6]
बृहद्रथस्य शूरोऽभून्महावीरः प्रतापवान् |
महावीरस्य धृतिमान् सुधृतिः सत्यविक्रमः || १-७१-७
7. bR^ihadrathasya = of Brihadratha; shuuraH prataapavaan mahaaviiraH abhuut = valiant one, highly brave, courageous one, Mahaaviira, became - took birth; mahaaviirasya = of Mahaavira; dhR^itimaan = bold one; satyavikramaH = truth valiant; sudhR^itiH = Sudhriti - is the son.
From Brihadratha it is the highly braving, courageous and valiant Mahaaviira has come, and the bold and truth-valiant Sudhriti from Mahaaviira... [1-71-7]
सुधृतेरपि धर्मात्मा धृष्टकेतुः सुधार्मिकः |
धृष्टकेतोश्च राजर्षेर्हर्यश्व इति विश्रुतः || १-७१-८
8. sudhR^iteH api = from Sudhriti, even; dharmaatmaa = right-minded one; sudhaarmikaH = highly generous one; dhR^iSTaketuH = it is Dhristaketu; raajarSeH dhR^iSTaketoH = from kingly sage, Dhristakeu; haryashvaH iti vishrutaH = Haryashva, thus, renowned - son is born.
Form Sudhriti, the right-minded and highly generous Dhristaketu took birth, and from the kingly sage Dhristaketu it is highly renowned Haryashva is the son... [1-71-8]
हर्यश्वस्य मरुः पुत्रो मरोः पुत्रः प्रतीन्धकः |
प्रतीन्धकस्य धर्मात्मा राजा कीर्तिरथः सुतः || १-७१-९
9. haryashvasya putraH maruH = Haryashva's, son is, Maru; maroH putraH pratiindhakaH = Maru's, son is, Pratiindhaka; pratiindhakasya sutaH = Pratiindhaka's, son is; dharmaatmaa = noble souled one; raajaa kiirtirathaH = king, Kiiriratha.
Haryashva's son is Maru, and Maru's, son is Pratiindhaka, and the son of Pratiindhaka's is noble-souled king Kiirtiratha... [1-71-9]
पुत्रः कीर्तिरथस्यापि देवमीढ इति स्मृतः |
देवमीढस्य विबुधो विबुधस्य महीध्रकः || १-७१-१०
10. kiirtirathasya api putraH = even son of Kiirtiratha is; devamiiDhaH iti smR^itaH = Devamidha, thus, remembered; devamiiDhasya vibudho = of Devamiidha, Vibudha; vibudhasya mahiidhrakaH = Vibudha's, Mahiidraka.
The son of Kiirtiratha is remembered as Devamiidha, and the son of Devamiidha is Vibudha, and Vibudha's son is Mahiidraka... [1-71-10]
महीध्रकसुतो राजा कीर्तिरातो महाबलः |
कीर्तिरातस्य राजर्षेर्महारोमा व्यजायत || १-७१-११
11. mahaabalaH = great mighty one; raajaa kiirtiraataH = king, Kiirtiraata is; mahiidhrakasutaH = Mahiidraka's son; raajaRSeH kiirtiraatasya = to sagely king, Kiirtiraata; mahaaromaa vyajaayata = Mahaaroma, born.
Mahiidraka's son is the great mighty king Kiirtiraata, and the son born to sagely king Kiirtiraata is Mahaaroma... [1-71-11]
महारोम्णस्तु धर्मात्मा स्वर्णरोमा व्यजायत |
स्वर्णरोम्णस्तु राजर्षेर्ह्रस्वरोमा व्यजायत || १-७१-१२
12. mahaaromNaH tu = from Mahaaroma, but; dharmaatmaa = virtue-souled one; svarNaromaa vyajaayata = Swarnaroma, is born; raajarSeH svarNaromNaH tu = to kingly sage, Swarnaroma, on his part; hrasvaromaa vyajaayata = Hrasvaroma, is born.
From Mahaaroma it is the virtue-souled Swarnaroma, and from kingly sage Swarnaroma it is Hrasvaroma... [1-71-12]
तस्य पुत्रद्वयं जज्ञे धर्मज्ञस्य महात्मनः |
ज्येष्ठोऽहमनुजो भ्राता मम वीरः कुशध्वजः || १-७१-१३
13. dharmaj~nasya tasya = from that virtue knower; mahaatmanaH = noble-souled ones; putradvayam jaj~ne = a pair of sons, are born; aham jyeSThaH = I am, elder; viiraH kushadhvajaH = brave one, Kushadhvaja is; mama = my; anujaH = later born [younger]; bhraataa = brother.
Two sons are born to that knower of virtue and noble souled Hrasvaroma, I am the elder, and my younger brother is this brave Kushadhvaja... [1-71-13]
मां तु ज्येष्ठं पिता राज्ये सोऽभिषिच्य नराधिपः |
कुशध्वजं समावेश्य भारं मयि वनं गतः|| १-७१-१४
14. pitaa saH naraadhipaH = father, he, that king; jyeSTham maam = elder me; raajye abhiSicya = anointed in kingdom; kushadhvajam bhaaram = Kushadhvaja's, burden [duty to look after]; mayi samaaveshya = vesting in me; vanam gataH = departed to forests.
He that king and father of ours, Hrasvaroma, anointing me in kingdom as I am the elder, and vesting the duty of looking after Kushadhvaja in me, he departed to forests... [1-71-14]
वृद्धे पितरि स्वर्याते धर्मेण धुरमावहम् |
भ्रातरं देवसंकाशं स्नेहात् पश्यन् कुशध्वजम् || १-७१-१५
15. vR^iddhe pitari svar yaate sati = on departure of aged father to heaven; bhraataram = brother; and; devasankaasham kushadhvajam = god similar, Kushadhvaja - his upbringing; snehaat pashyan = while looking after with friendship [with brotherliness]; dharmeNa = righteously; dhuram = burden [of kingship]; aavaham = lugging around.
On the departure of our aged father to heaven, I am looking after this godlike Kushadhvaja with brotherliness and lugging around the burden of this kingship... [1-71-15]
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य सांकाश्यादगमत्पुरात् |
सुधन्वा वीर्यवान् राजा मिथिलामवरोधकः || १-७१-१६
16. atha = later; kasyacit tu kaalasya = after sometime, but; viiryavaan = valorous one; sudhanvaa raajaa = Sudhanva, a king; mithilaam avarodhakaH = beleaguering Mithila; saamkaashyaat puraat = from Saamkaasha, city; agamat = he came.
Then after sometime, a valorous king named Sudhanva came beleaguering Mithila, from his city Saamkaasha... [1-71-16]
स च मे प्रेषयामास शैवं धनुरनुत्तमम् |
सीता कन्या च पद्माक्षी मह्यं वै दीयतामिति || १-७१-१७
17. anuttamam shaivam dhanuH = unexcelled, Shiva's, bow; padmaakSii kanyaa siitaa ca = along with lotus-eyed, virgin, Seetha; mahyam diiyataam = be given to me; iti saH ca me preSayaamaasa = thus, he, even, started to urge me.
'The unexcelled bow of Shiva shall be given to me, along with the lotus-eyed virgin, Seetha...' thus he started to urge me... [1-71-17]
तस्याप्रदानाद्ब्रह्मर्षे युद्धमासीन्मया सह |
स हतोऽभिमुखो राजा सुधन्वा तु मया रणे || १-७१-१८
18. brahmarSe = oh Brahma-sage Vashishta; apradaanaat = for the reason of non bestowal; tasya = to him; mayaa saha = with me; yuddham aasiit = war, occurred; raNe abhimukhaH = he who affronted in war ; saH raajaa sudhanvaa tu = he, king, Sudhanva, on his part; mayaa hataH = put to the sword by me.
"Oh, Brahma sage Vashishta, for the reason of my non-bestowal of bow or bride he warred with me, and when he affronted me in that war I have put that Sudhanva to the sword..." [1-71-18]
निहत्य तं मुनिश्रेष्ठ सुधन्वानं नराधिपम् |
सांकाश्ये भ्रातरं शूरमभ्यषिंचं कुशध्वजम् || १-७१-१९
19. munishreSTha = oh best sage; naraadhipam tam sudhanvaanam nihatya = on eliminating him the lord of people, Sudhanva ; bhraataram shuuram kushadhvajam = brother, valiant one, Kushadhvaja; saamkaashye abhyaSincam = I have anointed in Saamkaasha.
Oh, best sage Vashishta, on eliminating king Sudhanva, I have anointed my valiant brother Kushadhvaja in the kingdom of Saamkaasha... [1-71-19]
कनीयानेष मे भ्राता अहं ज्येष्ठो महामुने |
ददामि परमप्रीतो वध्वौ ते मुनिपुंगव || १-७१-२०
सीतां रामाय भद्रं ते ऊर्मिलां लक्ष्मणाय वै |
20, 21a. mahaamune = oh best saint; eSaH me kaniiyaan bhraataa = he is, my, younger, brother; aham jyeSThaH = I am, elder; munipungava = oh eminent-saint; paramapriitaH = highly gladdened; te vadhvau dadaami = I am bestowing those brides; siitaam raamaaya = Seetha, for Rama; uurmilaam lakSmaNaaya vai = Urmila, for Lakshmana, for sure; te bhadram = to you - to all, let there be felicity.
Oh, best saint Vashishta, this is that younger brother of mine, and I am the elder. Oh, eminent-saint, I am bestowing those brides with a highly gladdened heart... Seetha for Rama, and Urmila for Lakshmana, let there be felicity for all... [1-71-20, 21a]
वीर्यशुल्कां मम सुतां सीतां सुरसुतोपमाम् || १-७१-२१
द्वितीयामूर्मिलां चैव त्रिर्वदामि न संशयः |
ददामि परमप्रीतो वध्वौ ते मुनिपुंगव || १-७१-२२
21b, 22a. viiryashulkaam = bounty for bravery; surasutopamaam = in simile is daughter of divine Providences; mama sutaam siitaam = my, daughter, Seetha; dvitiiyaam uurmilaam ca eva = second one, Urmila, also thus; munipungava = oh eminent-saint; triH vadaami = thrice, I reiterate; paramapriitaH = highly gladdened; te vadhvau dadaami = I am bestowing those brides; samshayaH na = doubt, is not there.
My daughter Seetha is the bounty for bravery and in simile she is the daughter of the divine Providence, and thus the second one Urmila too... oh, eminent-saint, with a highly gladdened heart I reiterate thrice while I bestow those brides, there is no doubt about it... [1-71-21b, 22a]
The thrice reiteration is the threefold commitment mano vaak-kaaya-karaNaaH i.e., 'the three instruments of communication, mind, voice, and body... so I endow the brides whole-heartedly, clear-articulately, and agleam-physically...' Here this verse is addressed to Vashishta, while other mms say that it is aimed at Dasharatha by placing words 'raghunandana' instead of 'munipungava.'
रामलक्ष्मणयो राजन् गोदानं कारयस्व ह |
पितृकार्यं च भद्रं ते ततो वैवाहिकं कुरु || १-७१-२३
22b, c, 23. raajan = oh king Dasharatha; raamalakSmaNayoH = for Rama, Lakshmana; godaanam = cow donation [lexically, but this is different and given in comment]; kaarayasva ha = make happen, indeed; pitR^ikaaryam ca = manes ritual, also [get it done]; tataH vaivaahikam kuru = afterwards, you make happen wedding celebrations; te bhadram = all be blest.
Oh, king Dasharatha, let the preceding ritual of samaavartana, be undertaken, and let manes be propitiated by the ritual, naandi-shraadha, and afterwards you make happen the wedding celebrations ... thus, all will be blest... [1-71-22b, 23]
The wording godaana differs from the ordinary lexical meaning 'cow donation' as the word gaavaka means body hair and daana is releasing, or let-going, i.e., shaving. When the students return home after the studentship they will be admitted into household after some rituals like shaving off unnecessary hair, taking oil bath etc. go-dvayoH tu rashmiH dR^ig- baaNa-svarja-vajraambu-lomasu - naa naa - go daanam caulavat kaaryam shoDaShe abde taducyate | In this there will be a real cow donation also to the teacher of that student, when the students sheds his hair, after the barber attends him. After shaving off the unwanted hair, then samaavartana is undertaken. The problem pointed out at this place is, that Rama or Lakshmana are born without vyanjana-kesha unwanted hair, except head-hair, as Indian mythology will not give a hairy makeup to these four brothers. 'How then Janaka asked to undertake such ceremony, when discardable hair itself is not there...' is the objection. Whether they have hair or not, the ceremony has to go on.
मघा ह्यद्य महाबाहो तृतीये दिवसे प्रभो |
फल्गुन्यामुत्तरे राजंस्तस्मिन् वैवाहिकं कुरु |
रामलक्ष्मणयोरर्थे दानं कार्यं सुखोदयम् || १-७१-२४
24. mahaabaaho = oh great dextrous Dasharatha; prabho = oh lord; adya maghaa hi = today, [ruling star is] Magha, isn't it; raajan = oh king; tR^itiiye divase = on third day from today; phalgunyaam = in Phalguni [when star Phalguni comes]; tasmin uttare = in that, later part [Uttara phalguNi]; vaivaahikam kuru = you make happen wedding; raamalakSmaNayoH = for Rama, Lakshmana; sukhodayam arthe = for purpose of invoking wellbeing [wellbeing is the only ensuing factor]; daanam kaaryam = bounties, doable [be accorded generously.]
Oh, great dextrous Dasharatha, the star ruling today is magha, isn't it... oh, lord, on the third from now, say day after tomorrow, when the star phaalguNi comes, in its later part, namely uttara-phalugNi, you may make happen this wedding, and the bounties like go-bhuu-tila-hiraNyaadi i.e., ' cows, lands, grains, gold etc., that ensue the wellbeing of Rama and Lakshmana, may be accorded to the eligible generously... [1-71-24]
These old people have meticulously calculated stars and their sidereal times for marriage, but being old, they have forgotten to print the date of wedding on wedding invitations or, at least said about it. Thereby the dating of Ramayana has become a problem, and dating with Ramayana prospered.
...
इति वाल्मीकिरामायणे आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे एकसप्ततितमः सर्गः
© May, 2003, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : January 05]
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