Chapter 16
Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties
ततो नारायणो देवो विषुणुः नियुक्तः सुर सत्तमैः
जानन् अपि सुरान् एवम् श्लक्ष्णम् वचनम् अब्रवीत्
tato nārāyaṇo devo viṣuṇuḥ niyuktaḥ sura sattamaiḥ
jānan api surān evam ślakṣṇam vacanam abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Later when the Omnipresent Narayana is thus nominated by best gods, and though he knows the outcome, he gently spoke these words to gods in this way. [1-16-1]
PURPORT
उपायः को वधे तस्य राक्ष्साधिपतेः सुराः
यम् अहम् तम् समास्थाय निहन्याम् ऋषि कण्टकम्
upāyaḥ ko vadhe tasya rākṣsādhipateḥ surāḥ
yam aham tam samāsthāya nihanyām ṛṣi kaṇṭakam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"What is the idea to eliminate that demon's chief Ravana, oh, gods, adopting which strategy I will have to eliminate that thorn in the side of sages?" Thus Vishnu asked the gods. [1-16-2]
एवम् उक्ताः सुराः सर्वे प्रत्यूचुः विष्णुम् अव्ययम्
मानुषम् रूपम् आस्थाय रावणम् जहि संयुगे
evam uktāḥ surāḥ sarve pratyūcuḥ viṣṇum avyayam
mānuṣam rūpam āsthāya rāvaṇam jahi saṃyuge
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Asked thus all the gods said to that sempiternal Vishnu, "on assuming a human form, eliminate Ravana in a war." [1-16-3]
स हि तेपे तपः तीव्रम् दीर्घ कालम् अरिंदम
येन तुष्टो।अभवत् ब्रह्मा लोक कृत् लोक पूर्वजः
sa hi tepe tapaḥ tīvram dīrgha kālam ariṃdama
yena tuṣṭo|abhavat brahmā loka kṛt loka pūrvajaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, destroyer of enemies, he that Ravana undertook a vehement ascesis for a long period, thereby the creator of worlds and the first born one Brahma, felt gladsome of his ascesis. [1-16-4]
सन्तुष्टः प्रददौ तस्मै राक्षसाय वरम् प्रभुः
नानाविधेभ्यो भूतेभ्यो भयम् न अन्यत्र मानुषात्
santuṣṭaḥ pradadau tasmai rākṣasāya varam prabhuḥ
nānāvidhebhyo bhūtebhyo bhayam na anyatra mānuṣāt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Satisfied with his ascesis Brahma gave boon to that demon that he shall have no fear for his life from many kinds of beings, excepting humans, because that demon indeed slighted humans earlier at the time of bestowing boon. [1-16-5, 6a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Thus, on getting boon from the Forefather Brahma he has become arrogant and torturing the three worlds, and he is even abducting women. As such, oh, enemy destroyer Vishnu, his elimination is envisaged through humans alone." So said gods to Vishnu. [1-16-6b, 7]
इति एतत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा सुराणाम् विष्णुः आत्मवान्
पितरम् रोचयामास तदा दशरथम् नृपम्
iti etat vacanam śrutvā surāṇām viṣṇuḥ ātmavān
pitaram rocayāmāsa tadā daśaratham nṛpam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On hearing that speech of gods said that way, he that kind-hearted Vishnu then chose Dasharatha as his father in human world. [1-16-8]
स च अपि अपुत्रो नृपतिः तस्मिन् काले महाद्युतिः
अयजत् पुत्रियाम् इष्टिम् पुत्रेप्सुः अरिसूदनः
sa ca api aputro nṛpatiḥ tasmin kāle mahādyutiḥ
ayajat putriyām iṣṭim putrepsuḥ arisūdanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
During that time the great resplendent king and an enemy subduer Dasharatha is performing putrakaameSTi ritual, desiring progeny as he is sonless. [1-16-9]
स कृत्वा निश्चयम् विष्णुः आमन्त्र्य च पितामहम्
अन्तर्धानम् गतो देवैः पूज्य मानो महर्षिभिः
sa kṛtvā niścayam viṣṇuḥ āmantrya ca pitāmaham
antardhānam gato devaiḥ pūjya māno maharṣibhiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On taking a decision Vishnu took leave of Forefather Brahma, and vanished while he is still being extolled by gods and sages. [1-16-10]
ततो वै यजमानस्य पावकात् अतुल प्रभम्
प्रादुर्भूतम् महद्भूतम् महावीर्यम् महाबलम्
tato vai yajamānasya pāvakāt atula prabham
prādurbhūtam mahadbhūtam mahāvīryam mahābalam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then, from Fire of Altar Dasharatha's ritual there emerged a greatly vigorous and energetic Divine Being with an unparalleled resplendence, called yajna puruSa . [1-16-11]
कृष्णम् रक्ताम्बर धरम् रक्ताअस्यम् दुन्दुभि स्वनम्
स्निग्ध हर्यक्ष तनुज श्मश्रु प्रवरम् ऊर्धजम्
kṛṣṇam raktāmbara dharam raktāasyam dundubhi svanam
snigdha haryakṣa tanuja śmaśru pravaram ūrdhajam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
He is clad in black and red garments and his face is red and his voice resembled the drumbeat. His moustache and hairdo are soft like that of a lion's mane. [1-16-12]
शुभ लक्षण संपन्नम् दिव्य आभरण भूषितम्
शैल शृङ्ग समुत्सेधम् दृप्त शार्दूल विक्रमम्
śubha lakṣaṇa saṃpannam divya ābharaṇa bhūṣitam
śaila śṛṅga samutsedham dṛpta śārdūla vikramam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
And he is endowed with auspicious features and decorated with divine ornaments, in height he is like a mountain peak, and in valiance he is like an imperious tiger. [1-16-13]
दिवाकर समाअकारम् दीप्त अनल शिखोपमम्
तप्त जाम्बूनदमयीम् राजतान्त परिच्छदाम्
divākara samāakāram dīpta anala śikhopamam
tapta jāmbūnadamayīm rājatānta paricchadām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That great ritual being personally brought a big golden vessel carrying it with both of his hands as if he would personally handle his own wife, which vessel is made from the molten gold and covered with a silver lid, and which appeared to be crafted out of a divine illusion, since it is dazzling like sun and glowing like the tongues of flame, and that vessel is full with the divine dessert. [1-16-14, 15]
समवेक्ष्य अब्रवीत् वाक्यम् इदम् दशरथम् नृपम्
प्राजापत्यम् नरम् विद्धि माम् इह अभ्यागतम् नृप
samavekṣya abravīt vākyam idam daśaratham nṛpam
prājāpatyam naram viddhi mām iha abhyāgatam nṛpa
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
That divine person on observing king Dasharatha said these words "oh, king, you may know me as the being sent by Prajapati." [1-16-16]
ततः परम् तदा राजा प्रति उवाच कृत अंजलिः
भगवन् स्वागतम् ते।अस्तु किमहम् करवाणि ते
tataḥ param tadā rājā prati uvāca kṛta aṃjaliḥ
bhagavan svāgatam te|astu kimaham karavāṇi te
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
There after, king Dasharatha greeted that divine being with palms adjoining and said in reply, "oh, god, welcome to you, and what shall I do for you?" [1-16-17]
अथो पुनः इदम् वाक्यम् प्राजापत्यो नरो।अब्रवीत्
राजन् अर्चयता देवान् अद्य प्राप्तम् इदम् त्वया
atho punaḥ idam vākyam prājāpatyo naro|abravīt
rājan arcayatā devān adya prāptam idam tvayā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then again, that divine being sent by Prajapati said these words, "oh, king, now you have obtained this dessert in golden vessel as you have propitiated gods. [1-16-18]
इदम् तु नृप शार्दूल पायसम् देव निर्मितम्
प्रजा करम् गृहाण त्वम् धन्यम् आरोग्य वर्धनम्
idam tu nṛpa śārdūla pāyasam deva nirmitam
prajā karam gṛhāṇa tvam dhanyam ārogya vardhanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, tigerly king, take this dessert prepared by divinities, this is a blessed dessert that enriches progeny and health. [1-16-19]
भार्याणाम् अनुरूपाणाम् अश्नीत इति प्रयच्छ वै
तासु त्वम् लप्स्यसे पुत्रान् यदर्थम् यजसे नृप
bhāryāṇām anurūpāṇām aśnīta iti prayaccha vai
tāsu tvam lapsyase putrān yadartham yajase nṛpa
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, king, let this be consumed" saying so he further said, "for which purpose you have performed this ritual that childbearing will be fructified in your wives by bearing sons, hence give this among your eligible wives." So said the divine being to Dasharatha. [1-16-20]
तथा इति नृपतिः प्रीतः शिरसा प्रति गृह्य ताम्
पात्रीम् देव अन्न संपूर्णाम् देव दत्ताम् हिरण्मयीम्
tathā iti nṛpatiḥ prītaḥ śirasā prati gṛhya tām
pātrīm deva anna saṃpūrṇām deva dattām hiraṇmayīm
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Agreeing to that the king wholeheartedly took that god-given golden vessel full with divine food. [1-16-21]
अभिवाद्य च तत् भूतम् अद्भुतम् प्रिय दर्शनम्
मुदा परमया युक्तः चकार अभिप्रदक्षिणम्
abhivādya ca tat bhūtam adbhutam priya darśanam
mudā paramayā yuktaḥ cakāra abhipradakṣiṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
With high ecstasy Dasharatha revered that Ritual Being, the Prajapati Purusha or yaGYa purusha , an astonishing and delightful being in his appearance, and performed circumambulations around him. [1-16-22]
ततो दशरथः प्राप्य पायसम् देव निर्मितम्
बभूव परम प्रीतः प्राप्य वित्तम् इव अधनः
tato daśarathaḥ prāpya pāyasam deva nirmitam
babhūva parama prītaḥ prāpya vittam iva adhanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On obtaining that dessert prepared by gods then Dasharatha is highly gladdened like a pauper obtaining unforeseen wealth. [1-16-23]
ततः तत् अद्भुत प्रख्यम् भूतम् परम भास्वरम्
संवर्तयित्वा तत् कर्म तत्र एव अन्तरधीयत
tataḥ tat adbhuta prakhyam bhūtam parama bhāsvaram
saṃvartayitvā tat karma tatra eva antaradhīyata
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On completing his work of giving the golden vessel with dessert then that divine being who is astonishing by his form and highly glowing by his physique, disappeared then and there itself. [1-16-24]
हर्ष रश्मिभिः उद्द्योतम् तस्य अन्तःपुरम् आबभौ
शारदस्य अभिरामस्य चंद्रस्य इव नभः अंशुभिः
harṣa raśmibhiḥ uddyotam tasya antaḥpuram ābabhau
śāradasya abhirāmasya caṃdrasya iva nabhaḥ aṃśubhiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Lit up with beams of happiness Dasharatha's palace chambers shone forth like the autumnal sky brightened with moonbeams. [1-16-25]
सः अन्तःपुरम् प्रविश्य एव कौसल्याम् इदम् अब्रवीत्
पायसम् प्रतिगृह्णीष्व पुत्रीयम् तु इदम् आत्मनः
saḥ antaḥpuram praviśya eva kausalyām idam abravīt
pāyasam pratigṛhṇīṣva putrīyam tu idam ātmanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then Dasharatha on entering palace chambers spoke this to queen Kausalya, "Receive this dessert to beget your son." [1-16-26]
PURPORT
कौसल्यायै नरपतिः पायस अर्धम् ददौ तदा
अर्धात् अर्धम् ददौ च अपि सुमित्रायै नराधिपः
kausalyāyai narapatiḥ pāyasa ardham dadau tadā
ardhāt ardham dadau ca api sumitrāyai narādhipaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The king then gave half of the dessert to queen Kausalya, and he gave half of the half, i.e., one fourth to queen Sumitra. And to Kaikeyi he gave half of the remaining half, i.e., one eight of the dessert, with a desire to beget sons. Then thinking for a while gave the remaining, i.e., one-eighth portion again to queen Sumitra. Thus, the king distributed the dessert to his wives differently. [1-16-27, 28, 29]
PURPORT
ताः च एवम् पायसम् प्राप्य नरेन्द्रस्य उत्तमाः स्त्रियः
सम्मानम् मेनिरे सर्वाः प्रहर्ष उदित चेतसः
tāḥ ca evam pāyasam prāpya narendrasya uttamāḥ striyaḥ
sammānam menire sarvāḥ praharṣa udita cetasaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On getting the dessert all of those best ladies of the king, whose hearts are exuberant with happiness, deemed it as a reward. [1-16-30]
ततस्तु ताः प्राश्य तद् उत्तम स्त्रियो
महीपतेः उत्तम पायसम् पृथक्
हुताशन आदित्य समान तेजसः
अचिरेण गर्भान् प्रतिपेदिरे तदा
tatastu tāḥ prāśya tad uttama striyo
mahīpateḥ uttama pāyasam pṛthak
hutāśana āditya samāna tejasaḥ
acireṇa garbhān pratipedire tadā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then on consuming dessert those best ladies of the king whose resplendence then vied with that Fire and Sun became pregnant after some time. [1-16-31]
PURPORT
इति श्री वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे षोडशः सर्गः
iti śrī vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādikāvye bālakāṇḍe ṣoḍaśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then on seeing his queens with confirmed pregnancies Dasharatha regained his lost heart for sons, and he is gladdened like Vishnu, who will always be gladsome when worshipped by gods, namely Indra and others, as well as by the assemblages of great souls, sages. [1-16-32]