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Chapter 19

Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties

VERSE 1

तत् श्रुत्वा राज सिंहस्य वाक्यम् अद्भुत विस्तरम्
हृष्ट रोमा महातेजा विश्वामित्रो।अभ्यभाषत

tat śrutvā rāja siṃhasya vākyam adbhuta vistaram
hṛṣṭa romā mahātejā viśvāmitro|abhyabhāṣata

SYNONYMS

rāja simhasya: king, the lion's | tat adbhuta vistaram vākyam: shrutvaa = that, grand, detailed, sentence | śrutvā: on listening | mahā tejā: great, resplendent | hṛṣṭa romā: hair-raising [thrilled] | abhya bhaṣata: spoke. |

TRANSLATION

On listening the grand and detailed sentences of that King the lion Dasharatha, the great resplendent Sage Vishvamitra is thrilled with happiness and spoke this way. [1-19-1]

VERSE 2

सदृशम् राज शार्दूल तव एव भुवि न अन्यतः
महावंश प्रसूतस्य वसिष्ठ व्यपदेशिनः

sadṛśam rāja śārdūla tava eva bhuvi na anyataḥ
mahāvaṃśa prasūtasya vasiṣṭha vyapadeśinaḥ

SYNONYMS

rāja śārdula: oh, kingly, tiger | bhuvi: on the earth | mahā vamśa: great, dynasty | prasūtasya: born into | Vaṣṭhista vyapadeśinaḥ: by Sage Vashishta, tutored | tava: your | etat: these [promises] | sadṛśam: are befitting [to you] | anyataḥ na: none, else [can promise like this.] |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, tigerly king, to you befitting are these words and to none else, as you are born in a great dynasty and tutored by Vashishta. [1-19-2]

VERSE 3

यत् तु मे हृद् गतम् वाक्यम् तस्य कार्यस्य निश्चयम्
कुरुष्व राज शार्दूल भव सत्य प्रतिश्रवः

yat tu me hṛd gatam vākyam tasya kāryasya niścayam
kuruṣva rāja śārdūla bhava satya pratiśravaḥ

SYNONYMS

rāja śārdūla: oh, kingly, tiger | me hṛt gatam: my, heart, gone in = what I have in my heart | yat: which [work I have] | vākyam: what is going to be said | tasya kāryasya niscayam kuruṣva: of that, deed, decision, you take | satya prati śravāḥ: truthful, promise maker | bhava: you become. |

TRANSLATION

"What concerns I have in my heart I am going to say, and you take decision thereof, oh, tigerly-king, and become truthful to your promises. [1-19-3]

VERSE 4

अहम् नियमम् आतिष्ठे सिध्द्यर्थम् पुरुष^^र्षभ
तस्य विघ्नकरौ द्वौ तु राक्षसौ काम रूपिणौ

aham niyamam ātiṣṭhe sidhdyartham puruṣa^^rṣabha
tasya vighnakarau dvau tu rākṣasau kāma rūpiṇau

SYNONYMS

puruṣarṣabha: oh, best one among men | aham siddhi ārtham: I, to attain, a goal [of ascesis] | ]niyamam ātiṣṭe: under a [sacrificial] vow, I am abiding by | tu: but | kāma rūpiṇau: guise-changers | dvau rākśasau: two, demons | tasya vighna karau: its [ritual's,] obstacle, causers of. |

TRANSLATION

"These days I am abiding by a sacrificial vow to attain a spiritual goal but, oh, best one among men, two guise changing demons as causing obstacles to that ritual. [1-19-4]

VERSE 5

व्रते मे बहुशः चीर्णे समाप्त्याम् राक्षसाविमौ
मारीचः च सुबाहुः च वीर्यवन्तौ सुशिक्षितौ

vrate me bahuśaḥ cīrṇe samāptyām rākṣasāvimau
mārīcaḥ ca subāhuḥ ca vīryavantau suśikṣitau

SYNONYMS

, 6a| bahuśaḥ cīrṇe me vrāte: almost, completed, in my, ritual | samāptyām: at its completion, near end | vīryavantau: valiant ones | su sikśitau: well, trained ones | rākśasā: demons | mārīcaḥ ca: Mareecha, and | subāhuḥ ca: Subaahu, also | tau: they two | māmsa rudhira ogheṇa: with meat, blood, streams | tām vedim vimau: that, Altar of Fire, from sky | abhya varṣatāmoverall: they rain [they drench.] |

TRANSLATION

"At the near end of almost completed ritual of mine two valiant and well-trained demons, namely Mareecha and Subaahu, are drenching the Altar of Fire with streams of meat and blood, from the sky. [1-19-5, 6a]

VERSE 6

अवधूते तथा भूते तस्मिन् नियम निश्चये

avadhūte tathā bhūte tasmin niyama niścaye

SYNONYMS

b, 7a| tasmin niyama niścaye: that, ritual, vow | avadhūte = upheaved: ravaged | tathā bhūte: thus, on becoming | kṛta śramaḥ: I who made, an exertion of myself | nir utsāhaḥ = [am becoming] vithout, enthusiasm: unenthusiastic | tasmāt deśāt apākrame: from that, place, departing from. |

TRANSLATION

"When the ritual vow is thus ravaged I, as the one who exerted myself for the ritual, had to depart from that place, unenthusiastically. [1-19-6n, 7a]

VERSE 7

न च मे क्रोधम् उत्स्रष्टुम् बुद्धिः भवति पार्थिव

na ca me krodham utsraṣṭum buddhiḥ bhavati pārthiva

SYNONYMS

b, 8a| pārthiva: oh, king | krodham: anger | utsraṣṭum: to let loose | me buddhiḥ na bhavati = to me, vill, is not, becoming: I have no will | sā caryā tathā bhutā hi: that [kind of,] activity [during ritual,] like that, it will be [inoffensive,] isn't it | tatra = in there: under vow | śāpaḥ na mucyate: curses, will not be, issued. |

TRANSLATION

"And to me there is no will to let loose my anger, oh, king, as no curse shall be issued under vows, and like that the activity during rituals shall be inoffensive, isn't it. [1-19-7b, 8a]

VERSE 8

स्व पुत्रम् राज शार्दूल रामम् सत्य पराक्रमम्

sva putram rāja śārdūla rāmam satya parākramam

SYNONYMS

b, 9a| rāja śardūla: oh, king, the tiger | satya parākramam: truth, as his valour | kāka pakśa dharam = crovs, vings, vearing: whose hair locks are like crow's wings, jet black, youngster | śūram: brave one | sva putram: [your] own, son | jyeṣṭham: eldest one | ramam: Rama be | me dātum arhasi: to me, to give [to spare services,] apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"As such, oh, tigerly king, it will be apt of you spare the services of that brave one whose valour itself is his truthfulness, that youngling whose hair locks are all the more jet black like crow wings on either side of his head, spare that eldest son of yours, namely Rama. [1-19-8b, 9a]

VERSE 9

शक्तो हि येष मया गुप्तो दिव्येन स्वेन तेजसा

śakto hi yeṣa mayā gupto divyena svena tejasā

SYNONYMS

b, 10a| eṣaḥ mayā guptaḥ: he is, by me, protected | divyena svena tejasā: divinely, his own, with resplendence | ye vikartāraḥ rākśasāḥ: those, wrongdoers [thwarting,] demons | teṣām api vināśane: of them, even, in destruction | śaktaḥ hi: capable, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"Indeed, he is capable to eradicate those demons that are thwarting the ritual by his own divine resplendence, and protected by me as well. [1-19-9b, 10a]

VERSE 10

श्रेयः च अस्मै प्रदास्यामि बहुरूपम् न संशयः

śreyaḥ ca asmai pradāsyāmi bahurūpam na saṃśayaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 11a| asmai: to him [to Rama] | bahu rūpam: in many, a kind | śreyaḥ ca pradāsyāmi: benefits, also, I will accord | samśayaḥ na: doubt, is not there | yena: by which [which benefits] | trayāṇām lokānām api: three, in worlds, even | khyātim gamiṣyati: renown, he goes in [he acquires.] |

TRANSLATION

"I will also accord many kinds of benefits to him by which he acquires renown in all the three worlds, no doubt about it. [1-19-10b, 11a]

VERSE 11

न च तौ रामम् आसाद्य शक्तौ स्थातुम् कथम् च न

na ca tau rāmam āsādya śaktau sthātum katham ca na

SYNONYMS

b, 12a| tau: those two [demons] | rāmam āsādya: Rama, on getting [affronting] | katham cana: in any way | sthātum: to stand fast | na śaktau: not, capable | rāghavāt anyaḥ pumān: than Raghava, other, person | tau hantum na utsahate: them two, to eliminate, do not, have fortitude. |

TRANSLATION

"Those two demons will be rendered incapable to stand fast on affronting Rama in anywise, and none other than Raghava has the fortitude to eliminate those two. [1-19-11b, 12a]

VERSE 12

वीर्य उत्सिक्तौ हि तौ पापौ काल पाश वशम् गतौ

vīrya utsiktau hi tau pāpau kāla pāśa vaśam gatau

SYNONYMS

b, 13a| vīrya utsiktau tau pāpau: by vigour, berserk, those two, sinners | kāla pāśa vaśam gatau: Yama's [the Lord of Death,] noose's, subjugation, gone in | rāja śardūla: oh, kingly, tiger | maha atmanaḥ rāmasya na paryāptau = for great souled, ṟama, not, enough: counterbalance. |

TRANSLATION

"Those two sinners that are berserk by their vigour have gone into the subjection of death's noose, oh tigerly king, cannot counterbalance the great-souled Rama. [1-19-12b, 13a]

VERSE 13

न च पुत्र गतम् स्नेहम् कर्तुम् अर्हसि पार्थिव

na ca putra gatam sneham kartum arhasi pārthiva

SYNONYMS

b, 14a| pārthiva: oh, king | putra gatam sneham = son, oriented fondness: paternal fondness | kartum na arhasi: to do [to show,] not, apt of you | tau rākśasau hatau viddhi = those tvo, demons, eradicated, you knov: be assured | aham te pratijānāmi: I, to you, promising. |

TRANSLATION

"It will be unapt of you to show your paternal fondness, oh, king, upon my oath, be assured that those two demons are eradicated. [1-19-13b, 14a]

VERSE 14

अहम् वेद्मि महात्मानम् रामम् सत्य पराक्रमम्

aham vedmi mahātmānam rāmam satya parākramam

SYNONYMS

b, 15a| mahā ātmānam: sublime-soul | satya parākramam: truthfulness, as his valour | rāmam: of Rama | aham vedmi: I am, in the know of | mahā tejā vaśiśtaḥ api: great, resplendent one, Vashishta, even | ye tapasi sthitāḥ ime ca: those, saints, are here, also [know about Rama.] |

TRANSLATION

"I am sensible of that sublime-soul Rama, whose valour is his truthfulness, and even this great resplendent Vashishta and these saints that are here are aware. [1-19-14b, 15a]

PURPORT

These verses are commented extensively by early commentators. In 14th verse, the pronoun aham , 'I' used by Sage Vishvamitra is to announce definiteness about his own stature to know the Absolute vis-a-vis the Absolute Himself. Vishvamitra was an emperor who left off everything. He was primarily a raaja R^ishi , kingly sage, later became brahma R^ishi and performed moksha kaameSTi . That is a highest ascesis for achieving salvation. Whereas Dasharatha performed Vedic ritual called putra kaameSTi , ritual for begetting sons, as he is still involved in earthly passions. Thus he is still in karmic cycle and recently went under the veil of moha , worldly delusion, advent to the birth of sons. So Dasharatha cannot know who Rama is. All these aspects are said to qualify that expression aham , i.e., 'I am', as said by Vishvamitra. He also says aham vedmi , it is not just 'I know' but 'I am in full knowledge of Rama' and it is immediately followed by mahaa aatmaanam , about the sublime soul Rama. Rama is at present a twelve-year lad, and Dasharatha should have enquired how a boy is said to be a sublime-soul. Dasharatha did not bother to enquire about the high souled property of his son, because of his newfound fondness for sons. But, Vishvamitra is in full knowledge as to who Rama is, and says Rama is a sublime-soul, as contained in scripture puruSa suukta which says veda aham etam puruSam mahaantam , and as in yo maam pashyatiMe na praNasyati Bhagavad Gita, 6-30, as well. In next foot at 15th verse, Vishvamitra argues that he is not just extolling Rama to achieve his personal purpose, i.e., the completion of ritual. He says, vashiSTHo api even Sage Vashishta, knows Rama. Here the word api , even, is said to have been used to qualify Vashishta as an antagonist of Vishvamitra in policy differences. 'Even my opponent, this Sage Vashishta, the descendent of Goddess Saraswati and Brahma, and a brahmarSi , Absolute-knower, and at whose instance I became a brahmarSi from aajarSi , is aware of Rama...' is the argument of Vishvamitra, stressing his neutrality in seeking Rama's help. Still Vishvamitra tells that ye cha ime tapaH sthitaa , 'those sages that are here who are rooted in ascesis' as in the vein of puruSa suukta which says tasya dhiiraaH pratijaananti yonim . Vishvamitra's argument is 'Sage Vashishta may take sides with you, because he is raja guru , the royal priest, while the others like Kaashyapa, Vaamadeva will tell you clearly, as they have no leaning on your court.' All said and done, King Dasharatha is still lingering for a reply. Seeing that Vishvamitra further says, 'if you want to achieve renown, send Rama.' No father rejoices that much when a son is birthed than on his achieving reputation. Dasharatha is advised in the same way when saying yadi dharmamlaabham, yasha laabham 'if you want renown through a worthy son, who will be renowned in all three worlds by his coming with me, then you send Rama...' Now Rama's reputation is going to be enhanced by Sage Vishvamitra in eliminating demoness Tataka, in releasing Ahalya from her curse, breaking Shiva's bow, marriage with Seetha, rebuffing Parashuraama etc. And also Vishvamitra leaves the decision to Dasharatha, 'if only your ministers, clergy as well political, permit then alone you send Rama with me...'
VERSE 15

यदि ते धर्म लाभम् तु यशः च परमम् भुवि

yadi te dharma lābham tu yaśaḥ ca paramam bhuvi

SYNONYMS

b, 16a| rājendra: oh, best king | te dharma lābham icchasi yadi: to you, probity, gain in value of, desire, if you | paramam yaśaḥ ca: paramount, renown, also | bhuvi sthitam = on earth, that is abiding: long-lasting | ramam me dātum arhasi: Rama, to me, to handover, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"If you wish to gain in value of probity, a long-lasting and paramount renown on earth it will be apt of you to handover Rama to me. [1-19-15b, 16a]

VERSE 16

यदि अभ्यनुज्ञाम् काकुत्स्थ ददते तव मंत्रिणः

yadi abhyanujñām kākutstha dadate tava maṃtriṇaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 17a| kakutstha: oh, king from Kakutstha dynasty, Dasharatha | tava mantriṇaḥ: your, ministers | vasiṣṭhaḥ pramukhāḥ sarve: Vashishta, other elite, all of them | abhyanujñanām dadate yadi: assent, they give, if | tataḥ ramam visarjaya = then, ṟama be, let out: send with me. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Dasharatha, you may send Rama if only your ministers and all the other elite headed by Vashishta are going to give assent. [1-19-16b, 17a]

VERSE 17

अभिप्रेतम् असंसक्तम् आत्मजम् दातुम् अर्हसि

abhipretam asaṃsaktam ātmajam dātum arhasi

SYNONYMS

b, 18a| abhipretam: choicest one | ātma jam: your son | rāmam rajīva locanam: Rama, lotus, eyed one | a samsaktam = vithout your close attacment: without further delay | yajñasya daśa rātram hi = ritual's, ten, nights [days also included: ten days,] just for | dātum arhasi: to let out, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"It will be apt of you to send your choicest son, the lotus-eyed Rama, just for ten days of the ritual without temporising. [1-19-17b, 18a]

VERSE 18

न अत्येति कालो यज्ञस्य यथा अयम् मम राघव

na atyeti kālo yajñasya yathā ayam mama rāghava

SYNONYMS

b, 19a| rāghava = oh, ṟaghava: Dasharatha | mama yajñasya ayam kālaḥ: my, ritual's, this, time | yathā na atyeti: as to how, not, becomes lapsed | tathā kuruṣva = that vay, you do: take decision | śoke manaḥ mā kṛdhā: in grief, heart, not, be rendered | bhadram te: safety be to you. |

TRANSLATION

"I wish you to take decision as to how th my ritual's time is not lapsed, and let safety betide you, let not your heart be rendered to grieve." Thus Vishvamitra said to Dasharatha. [1-19-18b, 19a]

VERSE 19

इति एवम् उक्त्वा धर्मात्मा धर्मार्थ सहितम् वचः

iti evam uktvā dharmātmā dharmārtha sahitam vacaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 20a| dharmatmā mahā tejāḥ mahā muniḥ: virtue-souled one, great resplendent, great, saint | viśvāmitraḥ: Vishvamitra | iti evam: this way | dharma artha sahitam vacaḥ: fairness, meaning, inclusive of [meaningful,] words | uktvā: having said | vi ra rāma: paused. |

TRANSLATION

On saying those words that comprise fairness and meaningfulness that virtue-souled great saint with great resplendence paused. [1-19-19b, 20a]

VERSE 20

स तन् निशंय राजेन्द्रो विश्वामित्र वचः शुभम्

sa tan niśaṃya rājendro viśvāmitra vacaḥ śubham

SYNONYMS

b, 21| saḥ rājendraḥ: he, best king Dasharatha | śubham tat: propitious [words,] that | viśvamitra vacaḥ: Viswamitra, words | nimaśya: on hearing | mahatā śokena āviṣṭaḥ: by profound, adversity, muffled up | cacāla ca mumoha ca: shuddered, also, swooned, also | tataḥ: after that | labdha saṃjñaḥ: gaining, consciousness | utathāya: on getting up | bhaya anvitaḥ vyaṣīdata: fear, along with, sunk down. |

TRANSLATION

On hearing the propitious words of sage Vishvamitra that best king Dasharatha shuddered and swooned as he is muffled up with profound adversity, and after that on regaining consciousness he sunk down in fear. [1-19-20b, 21]

VERSE 22

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदिकाव्ये बाल काण्डे एकोनविंशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādikāvye bāla kāṇḍe ekonaviṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

iti hṛdaya manaḥ vi dāraṇam: this way, heart, mind, explicitly slitting | tat: that [word] | muni vacanam: saint's, words | śuśruvān: one who has heard, Dasharatha | mahān mahā ātmā: illustrious, noble souled one | nara pati: king Dasharatha | tadā: then | atīva vyathita manā: highly, annoyed, at heart | abhavat: he became | āsanāt pra cacāla ca: from seat [throne,] inordinately flustered, also. |

TRANSLATION

This way on hearing that word of the saint Vishvamitra which is explicitly slitting his mind and heart that illustrious and noble-souled king Dasharatha then became highly annoyed at heart, and flustered extremely in his throne. [1-19-22]