Chapter 13
Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties
पुनः प्राप्ते वसन्ते तु पूर्णः संवत्सरो।अभवत्
प्रसवार्थम् गतो यष्टुम् हयमेधेन वीर्यवान्
punaḥ prāpte vasante tu pūrṇaḥ saṃvatsaro|abhavat
prasavārtham gato yaṣṭum hayamedhena vīryavān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On completion of one full year another springtime arrived, and then Dasharatha a determined one to beget progeny by performing Horse Ritual entered the ritual hall. [1-13-1]
PURPORT
अभिवाद्य वसिष्ठम् च न्यायतः प्रतिपूज्य च
अब्रवीत् प्रश्रितम् वाक्यम् प्रसवार्थम् द्विजोत्तमम्
abhivādya vasiṣṭham ca nyāyataḥ pratipūjya ca
abravīt praśritam vākyam prasavārtham dvijottamam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Greeting and even adoring the Sage Vashishta customarily Dasharatha said these very humble words to him. [1-13-2]
यज्ञो मे क्रियताम् ब्रह्मन् यथोक्तम् मुनिपुङ्गव
यथा न विघ्नाः क्रियन्ते यज्ञांगेषु विधीयताम्
yajño me kriyatām brahman yathoktam munipuṅgava
yathā na vighnāḥ kriyante yajñāṃgeṣu vidhīyatām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Let my ritual be performed scripturally, oh eminent Brahman, let it be conducted in such a way that no obstacle occurs even in its ancillary functions. [1-13-3]
भवान् स्निग्धः सुहृन् मह्यम् गुरुः च परमो महान्
वोढव्यो भवता च एव भारो यज्ञस्य च उद्यतः
bhavān snigdhaḥ suhṛn mahyam guruḥ ca paramo mahān
voḍhavyo bhavatā ca eva bhāro yajñasya ca udyataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"You being my very reverent royal priest are friendly and kind-hearted to me, and you alone shall shoulder the burden of the commenced ritual in all good faith and credence. [1-13-4]
तथा इति च स राजानम् अब्रवीत् द्विजसत्तमः
करिष्ये सर्वम् एव एतत् भवता यत् समर्थितम्
tathā iti ca sa rājānam abravīt dvijasattamaḥ
kariṣye sarvam eva etat bhavatā yat samarthitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then that reverent Brahman Vashishta said to king, "Whatever that is requested or decided by you, I will see that all of them are materialised accordingly. [1-13-5]
ततो।अब्रवीत् द्विजान् वृद्धान् यज्ञ कर्मसु निष्ठितान्
स्थापत्ये निष्ठिताम् च एव वृद्धान् परम धार्मिकान्
tato|abravīt dvijān vṛddhān yajña karmasu niṣṭhitān
sthāpatye niṣṭhitām ca eva vṛddhān parama dhārmikān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then Sage Vashishta then summoned and spoke to elderly Brahman scholars, and elderly architects who are all proficient and elderly experts in conducting the construction of the ritual hall etc. Then summoned are the construction supervisors, brick-makers, carpenters, earth-diggers, accountants, and sculptors. So also the actors and dancers are summoned. Thus flawless scholars in scriptures and those men who are well read in Veda-s, are called and he addressed them saying, "Performance of the ritual be organised by the order of the king. Bricks in many thousands be brought quickly and royal palaces as temporary guesthouses be built for the kingly guests, with very many facilities included in them. [1-13-6,7,8,9]
PURPORT
ब्राह्मण आवसथाः चैव कर्तव्याः शतशः शुभाः
भक्ष्य अन्न पानैः बहुभिः समुपेताः सुनिष्ठिताः
brāhmaṇa āvasathāḥ caiva kartavyāḥ śataśaḥ śubhāḥ
bhakṣya anna pānaiḥ bahubhiḥ samupetāḥ suniṣṭhitāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Like that, for accommodating Brahmans hundreds of sanctified houses be built, well endowed and well established with very many eatables, foods, and potables. [1-13-10]
तथा पौर जनस्य अपि कर्तव्याः च सुविस्तराः
आगतानाम् सुदूरात् च पार्थिवानाम् पृथक् पृथक्
tathā paura janasya api kartavyāḥ ca suvistarāḥ
āgatānām sudūrāt ca pārthivānām pṛthak pṛthak
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"So also, accommodation is to be given for city dwellers too, in very spacious housing, and severally for the kings arriving from distant places.[1-13-11]
वाजिवारण शलाः च तथा शय्या गृहाणि च
भटानाम् महदावासम् वैदेशिक निवासिनाम्
vājivāraṇa śalāḥ ca tathā śayyā gṛhāṇi ca
bhaṭānām mahadāvāsam vaideśika nivāsinām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"For horses stables, reposing stalls for elephants, like that great billets for soldiers may be built for those foreign-country dwellers arriving in here on their horses and elephants along with their soldiers. [1-13-12]
आवासा बहु भक्ष्या वै सर्व कामैः उपस्थिताः
तथा पौरजन्स्य अपि जनस्य बहु शोभनम्
āvāsā bahu bhakṣyā vai sarva kāmaiḥ upasthitāḥ
tathā paurajansya api janasya bahu śobhanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"These lodgings are to be arranged with many foods and utilities for the people of this city and for others coming from distant countries, and a very grand food be given in all of them. [1-13-13]
दातव्यम् अन्नम् विधिवत् सत्कृत्य न तु लीलया
सर्वे वर्णा यथा पूजाम् प्राप्नुवन्ति सुसत्कृताः
dātavyam annam vidhivat satkṛtya na tu līlayā
sarve varṇā yathā pūjām prāpnuvanti susatkṛtāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Food is to be given dutifully treating all of them well but not just illusively, and the people of all the castes shall be well honoured as they would get their due respect, and no disrespect be shown, even when overcome by passion or anger at anyone. [1-13-14, 15a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Exceptionally respectable are those men and architects that are preoccupied in the works of the ritual as they deserve, and those men involved in these works shall be well-treated with funds and food. [1-13-15b, 16]
यथा सर्वम् सुविहितम् न किंचित् परिहीयते
तथा भवन्तः कुर्वन्तु प्रीति युक्तेन चेतसा
yathā sarvam suvihitam na kiṃcit parihīyate
tathā bhavantaḥ kurvantu prīti yuktena cetasā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Thus, as to how all this be well organised without least negligence, thus you all shall administer in all your cooperation and good spirit." Thus Sage Vashishta spoke to the organisers. [1-13-17]
ततः सर्वे समागंय वसिष्ठम् इदम् अब्रुवन्
यथेष्टम् तत् सुविहितम् न किंचित् परिहीयते
tataḥ sarve samāgaṃya vasiṣṭham idam abruvan
yatheṣṭam tat suvihitam na kiṃcit parihīyate
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then all of them collectively replied to Sage Vashishta "As desired, all the well ordered works will not be neglected in the least, and they will be done as ordered, and not the least of them will be slighted." So said the artisans to Sage Vashishta. [1-13-18, 19a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Then on calling for Sumantra, Sage Vashishta said these words to him, "Let all those kings of the earth that are righteous be invited, and let all the people from all the kingdoms, say Brahmans, Kshatriya-s, Vyasya-s, Shudra-s be invited in scores duly honouring them." So said Vashishta to Sumantra. [1-13-19b, 20, 21a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"You personally invite Janaka the king of Mithila, a valiant one and an advocate of truth, honouring his well and duly bearing in mind that he is a long-time associate of our King Dasharatha, hence I am telling you in the first instance. [1-13-21,22]
तथा काशी पतिम् स्निग्धम् सततम् प्रिय वादिनम्
सद् वृत्तम् देवसंकाशम् स्वयम् एव अनयस्व ह
tathā kāśī patim snigdham satatam priya vādinam
sad vṛttam devasaṃkāśam svayam eva anayasva ha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Thus that King of Kaashi who is always a friendly, affectionate and a cordial one, indeed he shall be invited by you personally. [1-13-23]
तथा केकय राजानम् वृद्धम् परम धार्मिकम्
श्वशुरम् राज सिंहस्य सपुत्रम् त्वम् इह आनय
tathā kekaya rājānam vṛddham parama dhārmikam
śvaśuram rāja siṃhasya saputram tvam iha ānaya
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Likewise, King of Kekaya, an elderly, very virtuous, and also the father-in-law of our Lion-King Dasharatha, you personally invite him along with his sons. [1-13-24]
अङ्गेश्वरम् महेष्वासम् रोमपादम् सु सत्कृतम्
वयस्यम् राज सिंहस्य सपुत्रम् तम् इह आनय
aṅgeśvaram maheṣvāsam romapādam su satkṛtam
vayasyam rāja siṃhasya saputram tam iha ānaya
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Romapada, the lord of Anga kingdom and the user of great bow, let that illustrious one be invited well honoured, for he is the friend of our lion-king Dasharatha. [1-13-25]
तथा कोसल राजानम् भानुमंतम् सुसत्कृतम्
मगध अधिपतिम् शूरम् सर्व शास्त्र विशारदम्
tathā kosala rājānam bhānumaṃtam susatkṛtam
magadha adhipatim śūram sarva śāstra viśāradam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Like that King of Kosala namely Bhanumanta, and the King of Magadha, a brave one and a profound one in all scriptural knowledge, let them be honoured well and be invited. [1-13-26]
प्राप्तिज्ञम् परमोदारम् सुसत्कृतम् पुरुषर्षभम्
राज्ञः शासनम् आदाय चोदयस्व नृपर्षभान्
प्राचीनान् सिन्धु सौवीरान् सौराष्ठ्रेयाम् च पार्थिवान्
prāptijñam paramodāram susatkṛtam puruṣarṣabham
rājñaḥ śāsanam ādāya codayasva nṛparṣabhān
prācīnān sindhu sauvīrān saurāṣṭhreyām ca pārthivān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"And Praaptijna, the king of Magadha, the kind-hearted and best one among kings, be well honoured and invited. Further, taking the orders of King Dasharatha and motivated by those orders, the kings of Sindhu, Sauviira and Sauraastra kingdoms may also be invited. [1-13-27]
दाक्षिणात्यान् नरेन्द्राम् च समस्तान् आनयस्व ह
सन्ति स्निग्धाः च ये च अन्ये राजानः पृथिवी तले
dākṣiṇātyān narendrām ca samastān ānayasva ha
santi snigdhāḥ ca ye ca anye rājānaḥ pṛthivī tale
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"All of the kings of southern kingdoms be invited, and should there be any other friends and other friendly kings on the surface of the earth, they too shall be invited as early as possible with all their followers, relatives through highly illustrious envoys, of course with the orders of our king." Thus Sage Vashishta said to minister Sumantra. [1-13-28, 29]
वसिष्ठ वाक्यम् तत् श्रुत्वा सुमंत्रः त्वरितः तदा
व्यादिशत् पुरुषान् तत्र राज्ञाम् आनयने शुभान्
vasiṣṭha vākyam tat śrutvā sumaṃtraḥ tvaritaḥ tadā
vyādiśat puruṣān tatra rājñām ānayane śubhān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On hearing that word of Vashishta, Sumantra expeditiously ordered devout envoys to invite all those kings to their kingdom. [1-13-30]
स्वयम् एव हि धर्मात्मा प्रयातो मुनि शासनात्
सुमंत्रः त्वरितो भूत्वा समानेतुम् महामतिः
svayam eva hi dharmātmā prayāto muni śāsanāt
sumaṃtraḥ tvarito bhūtvā samānetum mahāmatiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That virtuous Sumantra became brisk upon sage's words and personally journeyed to fetch all the rulers on the earth. [1-13-31]
ते च कर्मान्तिकाः सर्वे वसिष्ठाय च महर्षये
सर्वम् निवेदयन्ति स्म यज्ञे यत् उपकल्पितम्
te ca karmāntikāḥ sarve vasiṣṭhāya ca maharṣaye
sarvam nivedayanti sma yajñe yat upakalpitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
All those artisans engaged in ritual works have reported Vashishta, the details of all those ritual works that are accomplished. [1-13-32]
ततः प्रीतो द्विज श्रेष्ठः तान् सर्वान् मुनिर् अब्रवीत्
अवज्ञया न दातव्यम् कस्य चित् लीलया अपि वा
tataḥ prīto dvija śreṣṭhaḥ tān sarvān munir abravīt
avajñayā na dātavyam kasya cit līlayā api vā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, that satisfied saint and eminent Brahman Vashishta, spoke this way to all of them, "nothing is to be endowed to anyone either with disrespect or deceptively, the deeds done with disrespect will kill the donor and there is no doubt about it." [1-13-33, 34a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then in some days and nights many kings have arrived taking precious gems with them as gifts for Dasharatha. [1-13-34b, 35a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then the well pleased Sage Vashishta said this to King Dasharatha "the kings from distant kingdoms have arrived at your behest, oh, tigerly-man, and thse best kings are well honoured by me also as per their status. [1-13-35b, 36]
यज्ञीयम् च कृतम् सर्वम् पुरुषैः सुसमाहितैः
निर्यातु च भवान् यष्टुम् यज्ञ आयतनम् अन्तिकात्
yajñīyam ca kṛtam sarvam puruṣaiḥ susamāhitaiḥ
niryātu ca bhavān yaṣṭum yajña āyatanam antikāt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"All the ritual works are also completed by the well coalescent men, thus you may start towards the ritual place that is nearby, to perform your ritual." Said Sage Vashishta to King Dasharatha. [1-13-37]
सर्वकामैः उपहृतैः उपेतम् वै समन्ततः
द्रष्टुम् अर्हसि राजेन्द्र मनसेव विनिर्मितम्
sarvakāmaiḥ upahṛtaiḥ upetam vai samantataḥ
draṣṭum arhasi rājendra manaseva vinirmitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"All the desirable paraphernalia is arranged and made available everywhere, and it is apt of you see ritual hall that is as though built by your mere wish. [1-13-38]
तथा वसिष्ठ वचनात् ऋष्यशृन्गस्य च उभयोः
दिवसे शुभ नक्षत्रे निर्यातो जगतीपतिः
tathā vasiṣṭha vacanāt ṛṣyaśṛngasya ca ubhayoḥ
divase śubha nakṣatre niryāto jagatīpatiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thus, on a good day while the ruling star of the day is favourable, King Dasharatha came forth towards the ritual hall according to the advice of both the sages Vashishta and Rishyasringa. [1-13-39]
PURPORT
ततो वसिष्ठ प्रमुखाः सर्व एव द्विजोत्तमाः
ऋष्यशृन्गम् पुरस्कृत्य यज्ञ कर्म आरभन् तदा
tato vasiṣṭha pramukhāḥ sarva eva dvijottamāḥ
ṛṣyaśṛngam puraskṛtya yajña karma ārabhan tadā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then Sage Vashishta and other eminent Brahmans keeping the Sage Rishyasringa ahead of them entered the ritual hall, to commence the ritual works thus. [1-13-40]
इति श्री वाल्मिकि रामायणे बालकाण्डे त्रयोदशः सर्गः
iti śrī vālmiki rāmāyaṇe bālakāṇḍe trayodaśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
When all have entered the ritual hall as per canons and custom, that glorious king Dasharatha along with his wives undertook vow of ritual. [1-13-41]