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Chapter 20

Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties

VERSE 1

तत् श्रुत्वा राज शार्दूलो विश्वामित्रस्य भाषितम्
मुहूर्तम् इव निस्सज्ञः सज्ञावान् इदम् अब्रवीत्

tat śrutvā rāja śārdūlo viśvāmitrasya bhāṣitam
muhūrtam iva nissajñaḥ sajñāvān idam abravīt

SYNONYMS

rāja śārdūlaḥ: king, the tiger | viśvamitrasya tat bhāṣitam śrutvā: Vishvamitra's, that, spoken, on hearing | muhūrtam iva nissanjñaḥ: for a time, thus, became senseless | sanjñavān idam abravīt: gaining senses, this, said. |

TRANSLATION

On hearing what is spoken by Vishvamitra the tigerly-king Dasharatha became insensate for a time, and on redeeming senses he said this. [1-20-1]

VERSE 2

ऊन षोडश वर्षो मे रामो राजीव लोचनः
न युद्ध योग्यताम् अस्य पश्यामि सह राक्षसैः

ūna ṣoḍaśa varṣo me rāmo rājīva locanaḥ
na yuddha yogyatām asya paśyāmi saha rākṣasaiḥ

SYNONYMS

rājīva locanaḥ: lotus, eyed one | me rāmaḥ: my, Rama | ūna ṣoḍaśa varṣaḥ: is less than, sixteen, years [of age] | asya rākśasaiḥ saha: his, with, demons | yuddha yogyatām: warring, aptitude | na pasyāmi: not, I see. |

TRANSLATION

""Less than sixteen years of age is my lotus-eyed Rama, and I see no warring aptitude to him with the demons. [1-20-2]

PURPORT

This particular statement uuna SoDasha varshaH less than sixteen years, has evoked a spate of commentaries in deciding the age of Rama at this juncture of going along with Sage Viswamitra, i.e., at the time of his marrying Seeta and at the time of his exile to forests etc. His age is said to be twelve years as of now. And this is confirmed by Mareecha while advising Ravana, that 'as a boy of twelve Rama, killed my mother and brother, and hit me out' as at 3-38-6, uuna dvaadasha varSaH Or, baalo dvaadasha varSo ayam as per other versions of the same verse. Ramayana has some bearing on the number twelve. The Books or Kaanda-s are 6, half of twelve. The total verses are 24 thousand, two folds of twelve thousand. Rama is born in twelfth month. Vishvamitra's arrival, or better said as Seetha kalyaNa , Seetha's marriage with Rama, is in the twelfth year. His stay in Ayodhya before crown prince ceremony and exile is for twelve years. The years of Rama's exile are twelve, plus two years stay in Panchavati, of the total fourteen years of exile. In Uttara Ramayana Seetha's exile in the hermitage of Valmiki is for twelve years. So on... Some others said that because Rama has not yet attained all the sixteen phases like full moon, he is not a full-fledged person, chaaru SoDasha kalaa sahitaH Again in saying: raajiiva lochana lotus-eyed one - petals of lotuses close down by night, so Rama's eyelids too close by night for a boyish sleep. Then how can such a boy war with night-active demons? In answer to this Sage Vishvamitra uses the same wording in previous chapter at 1-19-18, dasha raatram; raamam raajiiva locanam where the wording raajiiva locana is used by Vishvamitra in the sense that the petals of a lotus spread out on the first rays of sun. So also the very opening of the lotus-petal eyelids of Rama will eradicate the nightly menace of demons with his Omniscient Sun-Moon-Fire eyes, suurya chandra agni lochana , that can see even in night. A Kshatriya of sixteen years age is unfit to war with any one, as he is still a childhood baala aashoDashaat varSaa . But Rama is under sixteen, and he is being requisitioned for war. Can he combat even if he is under aged? Yes, he can, says Govindaraja as per the nyaya /syndrome, tejasaam hi na vayaH samiikshyate 'dextrous person's age is not to be reckoned' As such, though Rama appears to be under aged he can do wonders in eliminating the vice. This is again rounded off with Vishvamitra's wording in last chapter: aham vedmi mahaa aatmaanam raamam raajiiva locanam .
VERSE 3

इयम् अक्षौहिणी सेना यस्य अहम् पतिः ईश्वरः
अनया सहितो गत्वा योद्ध अहम् तैर् निशाचरैः

iyam akṣauhiṇī senā yasya aham patiḥ īśvaraḥ
anayā sahito gatvā yoddha aham tair niśācaraiḥ

SYNONYMS

pūrṇā iyam akśouhiṇī = full: fledged one, this one - here is, battalion [of ancient Indian warfare] | yasya aham patiḥ: for which, I am, the leader | īśvara: controller | anayā sam vṛtaḥ = by this [battalion,] surrounded: fortified by | gatvā: having gone | aham taiḥ niśā caraiḥ yoddhā: I will, with those, night, walkers [demons,] I can encounter. |

TRANSLATION

"Here is the full-fledged battalion, called akshouhiNi sena , for which I am the leader and controller, and fortified by this army I will go there to encounter those demons. [1-20-3]

PURPORT

One pankti row, is the first unit of ancient military, which consists of 1 chariot, 1 elephant, 3 cavalry, and 7-foot soldiers. Multiples of this first unit become an akshouhiNi troop, which consists of 21,870 chariots and the same number of elephants, 65,610 cavalry, and 1,09,350 of foot soldiers.
VERSE 4

इमे शूराः च विक्रान्ता भृत्याः मे अस्त्र विशारदाः
योग्या रक्षोगणैः योद्धुम् न रामम् नेतुम् अर्हसि

ime śūrāḥ ca vikrāntā bhṛtyāḥ me astra viśāradāḥ
yogyā rakṣogaṇaiḥ yoddhum na rāmam netum arhasi

SYNONYMS

me bhṛtyā = my, subordinates: soldiers | ime śūrāḥ ca: these, braves ones, also | vikrāntā: daring ones | astra viśāradāaḥ: in weaponry, experts | rakśaḥ ganaiḥ: with demon, hordes | yoddhum yogyāḥ: to combat, suitable ones | rāmam: Rama | netum: to take along | na arhasi: not, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"Brave and daring are these soldiers of mine, and as experts in weaponry they are the appropriate ones to combat the hordes of demons, but, it will be ungentle of you to take Rama with you. [1-20-4]

VERSE 5

अहम् एव धनुष्पाणिः गोप्ता समर मूर्धनि
यावत् प्राणान् धरिष्यामि तावत् योत्स्ये निशाचरैः

aham eva dhanuṣpāṇiḥ goptā samara mūrdhani
yāvat prāṇān dhariṣyāmi tāvat yotsye niśācaraiḥ

SYNONYMS

aham eva: I, alone | dhanuṣ pāṇiḥ: having bow, in hand | goptā: I can protect [ritual] | yāvat prāṇān dhariṣyāmi: as long as, lives, I bear | tāvat: so long | samara mūrdhani: in war's, forefront | niśā caraiḥ yotse: with nightwalkers [demons,] I war. |

TRANSLATION

"I alone with bow in my hand can protect your ritual, and as long as I bear my lives so long I war with those nightwalkers staying in the van of war. [1-20-5]

VERSE 6

निर्विघ्ना व्रत चर्या सा भविष्यति सुरक्षिता
अहम् तत्र आगमिष्यामि न रामम् नेतुम् अर्हसि

nirvighnā vrata caryā sā bhaviṣyati surakṣitā
aham tatra āgamiṣyāmi na rāmam netum arhasi

SYNONYMS

aham tatra āgama iṣyāmi: I am, over there, to come, I wish | sā vrata carya: that, ritual, work | su rakśitā: well, guarded | nir vighnā: without, impediments | bhaviṣyati: it will be | rāmam netum na arhasi: Rama, to take with you, inapt of you. |

TRANSLATION

" I myself wish to come over there thereby the works of ritual will be well-guarded and unimpeded, but, taking Rama with you will be ungracious of you. [1-20-6]

VERSE 7

बालो हि अकृत विद्यः च न च वेत्ति बलाबलम्
न च अस्त्र बल संयुक्तो न च युद्ध विशारदः

bālo hi akṛta vidyaḥ ca na ca vetti balābalam
na ca astra bala saṃyukto na ca yuddha viśāradaḥ

SYNONYMS

, 8a| hi: why because | [ṟama] bālaḥ: a boy | a kṛta vidyaḥ ca: not done [unschooled,] in education | bala a balam: strengths, weaknesses | na vetti ca: not, knows, also | astra bala samyuktaḥ: missiles, accumulation [- arsenal,] he is along with | na = he is not,: he has no equipage of arsenal | yuddha viśāradaḥ ca: in warfare, he is an expert, also | na: he is not | asau rākśasā yogyaḥ: to those, demons, as a match, equal | te dhruvam kūṭa yuddha hi: those, definitely, with deceitful, warfare, isn't it. |

TRANSLATION

"Why because, Rama is boy! And he is unschooled in his princely education; does he know the strengths and weaknesses of opponents - no; has he got the equipage of arsenal - no; has he any expertise in warfare - no; is he an equal to the demons - no; be that as it may, those demons definitely conduct a deceitful warfare, isn't it. [1-19-7, 8a]

VERSE 8

विप्रयुक्तो हि रामेण मुहूर्तम् अपि न उत्सहे

viprayukto hi rāmeṇa muhūrtam api na utsahe

SYNONYMS

b, 9a| rāmeṇa: with Rama | viprayuktaḥ [vi pra yuktaḥ]: [I am] alienated from | muhurtam api: for a moment, even | jīvitum na utsahe: to live, not, inclined | muni śārdūla: sage, the tiger | rāmam netum na arhasi: Rama, to take with you, not, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"Alienated from Rama I am disinclined to live even for a moment, oh, tigerly sage, hence taking Rama with you will be unjust. [1-20-8b, 9a]

VERSE 9

यदि वा राघवम् ब्रह्मन् नेतुम् इच्छसि सुव्रत

yadi vā rāghavam brahman netum icchasi suvrata

SYNONYMS

b, 10a| suvrata: oh, one with best vows | brahman: oh, Brahman | vā: otherwise | rāghavam netum icchasi yadi: Rama, to take away, you wish, if | catur anga samāyuktam: four kinds of troops, along with | mayā saha ca: me, along with, also | tam naya = him [ṟama,] you lead forth: take. |

TRANSLATION

"Otherwise, oh, Brahman with best vows, if you so wish to take Rama along with you, you lead him off along with me, and along with my four kinds of troops. [1-20-9b, 10a]

PURPORT

The four kinds of troops are: chariots, elephants, cavalry, and foot soldiers.
VERSE 10

षष्टिः वर्ष सहस्राणि जातस्य मम कौशिक

ṣaṣṭiḥ varṣa sahasrāṇi jātasya mama kauśika

SYNONYMS

b, 11a| kouśika: oh, Vishvamitra | jātasya mama: birthed, for me [from my birth] | ṣaṣṭiḥ varṣa sahasrāṇi: sixty, years, thousands [sixty thousand years passed] | ayam: this one [Rama] | kṛcchreṇa: with tribulations | utpāditaḥ ca: is produced given birth, also | rāmam netum na arhasi: Rama, to take with you, not, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"Sixty thousand years have passed from my birth, oh! Vishvamitra, and this Rama is engendered at this age, that too with tribulations, hence taking Rama with you will be inappropriate of you. [1-20-10b, 11a]

VERSE 11

चतुर्णाम् आत्मजानाम् हि प्रीतिः परमिका मम

caturṇām ātmajānām hi prītiḥ paramikā mama

SYNONYMS

b, 12a| caturṇām ātma jānām: for four, of my soul, born sons | mama paramikā prītiḥ hi: to me, exceptional, affection is there, isn't it | jyeṣṭhe: eldest one | dharma pradhāne ca = [in viev of rightness [of descent ,] significance, also: as he is the next king, do not butcher him now | rāmam netum na arhasi: Rama, to take with you, not, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"I will have exceptional affection for all of my four sons, isn't it, and among them Rama has a significance in the matter of his descent as an eldest son, hence taking Rama with you will be unjust of you. [1-20-11b, 12a]

VERSE 12

किम् वीर्याः राक्षसाः ते च कस्य पुत्राः च के च ते

kim vīryāḥ rākṣasāḥ te ca kasya putrāḥ ca ke ca te

SYNONYMS

b, 13a| muni pungava: oh, sage, the eminent | te rākśasāḥ kim vīryā: those, demons, of what, fortitude | kasya putrāḥ ca: whose, sons, also | te ke: they, who | katham pramāṇāḥ: of what, size | ke ca etān rakśanti: who, also, all of them, protecting. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, eminent sage, of what fortitude are those demons? Whose sons are they? Who are they? How is their size and shape? Also who protects all of them? [1-20-12b, 13a]

VERSE 13

कथम् च प्रति कर्तव्यम् तेषाम् रामेण रक्षसाम्

katham ca prati kartavyam teṣām rāmeṇa rakṣasām

SYNONYMS

b, 14a| brahman: oh, Brahman | kūṭa yothānām: deceitful, militants | teṣām rākśasām: in respect of those, demons | rāmeṇa: by Rama | māmakaiḥ balaiḥ vā: my own, forces, or | mayā vā: by me, or | katham prati kartavyam: how to, retaliate. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Brahman, how Rama, or my forces, or I myself have to retaliate those demons that are deceitful militants. [1-20-13b, 14a]

VERSE 14

सर्वम् मे शंस भगवन् कथम् तेषाम् मया रणे

sarvam me śaṃsa bhagavan katham teṣām mayā raṇe

SYNONYMS

b, 15| bhagavan: oh, god | duṣṭa bhāvānām: evil, minded ones | teṣām raṇe katham mayā sthātavyam = vith them, in var, hov, by me, to stand: to carry out | sarvam me śamsa: all, to me, you inform | rāakśasāḥ vīrya utsiktā hi: demons, by audacity, delirious, isn't it | tasya tat vacanam śrutvā: his [Dasharatha's,] that, words, on hearing | abhyabhaśitaḥ: spoke. |

TRANSLATION

"Tell me all that, oh, god, how I have to carry on when warring with those evil minded demons, for the demons will be delirious by their audacity, isn't it..." Thus Dasharatha asked Vishvamitra insistently. On hearing those words Sage Vishvamitra replied this way. [1-20-14b, 15]

VERSE 16

पौलस्त्य वंश प्रभवो रावणो नाम राक्षसः
स ब्रह्मणा दत्त वरः त्रैलोक्यम् बाधते भृशम्

paulastya vaṃśa prabhavo rāvaṇo nāma rākṣasaḥ
sa brahmaṇā datta varaḥ trailokyam bādhate bhṛśam

SYNONYMS

, 17a| paulastya vamśa prabhavaḥ: Pulastya, dynasty, born in | rāavaṇa nāma rākśasaḥ: Ravana, named, demon [is there] | mahā balaḥ mahā vīryaḥ: greatly, mighty, greatly, brave | saḥ: he | brahmaṇā datta varaḥ: by Brahma, given, boon | bahubhiḥ rākśasaiḥ vṛtaḥ: with many, demons, surrounded with [accompanied with] | trai lokyam bhṛśam badhate: three, worlds, highly, [contemptuously] torturing. |

TRANSLATION

"One born in Paulastya dynasty, an extremely mighty and exceedingly brave demon named Ravana is there, and he with the boon given by Brahma, and accompanied with many other demons is torturing the triad of worlds, contemptuously. [1-20-16, 17a]

VERSE 17

श्रूयते च महाराजा रावणो राक्षस अधिपः

śrūyate ca mahārājā rāvaṇo rākṣasa adhipaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 18a| mahā rājā: oh, exalted king Dasharatha | sākśāt vaiśravaṇa bhrātā: unequivocally, Kubera's, brother | visravasaḥ muneḥ putraḥ: Vishravasa, the sage's, son of | rākśasa adhipaḥ: demon's, chief | śrūyate: he is being heard so. |

TRANSLATION

"Unequivocally that chief of demons is the brother of Kubera and the son of sage Vishravasa, thus we hear. [1-20-17b, 18a]

VERSE 18

यदा न खलु यज्ञस्य विघ्न कर्ता महाबलः

yadā na khalu yajñasya vighna kartā mahābalaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 19| mahā balaḥ = great, mighty: formidable Ravana | yadā yajñasya vighna kartā na khalu = vhen, rituals, hindrances: devastation, causer, not, indeed | tena samcoditaḥ: by him, instigated | mārīcaḥ ca subāhuḥ ca: Mareecha, and, Subaahu, also | tau mahā balau rākśasau tu: those, very mighty, demons, but | yajña vighnam kariṣyataḥ: ritual, hindrance, will cause. |

TRANSLATION

"That formidable Ravana is not a devastator of rituals by himself, even so, two very mighty demons called Mareecha and Subaahu will cause devastating hindrances to rituals, instigated by him." Thus Sage Vishvamitra said to Dasharatha. [1-20-18b, 19]

VERSE 20

इति उक्तो मुनिना तेन राजा उवाच मुनिम् तदा
न हि शक्तो अस्मि संग्रामे स्थातुम् तस्य दुरात्मनः

iti ukto muninā tena rājā uvāca munim tadā
na hi śakto asmi saṃgrāme sthātum tasya durātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

iti tena muninā uktaḥ: thus, by that, sage, one who is said | rājaḥ tadā munim uvāca: king Dasharatha, then, to sage, spoke | sangrāme: in war | tasya dur ātmanaḥ: him, evil, minded one Ravana | sthātum na śaktaḥ asmi hi: to stand [against him,] not, capable, I am, in truth |

TRANSLATION

Thus when he is said so by that sage Vishvamitra, then the king Dasharatha spoke to the sage, "I myself am not capable of standing against that evil minded Ravana, in truth, where is the question of deputing my young Rama to confront him? [1-20-20]

VERSE 21

स त्वम् प्रसादम् धर्मज्ञ कुरुष्व मम पुत्रके
मम च एव अल्प भाग्यस्य दैवतम् हि भवान् गुरुः

sa tvam prasādam dharmajña kuruṣva mama putrake
mama ca eva alpa bhāgyasya daivatam hi bhavān guruḥ

SYNONYMS

dharma jña: probity, knower | saḥ: such as you are | tvam: you | mama putrake: on my, boyish son | alpa bhāgyasaya mama ca eva: less, fortunate, one me, also, thus | prasādam kuruṣva: benevolence, you bestow | guruḥ bhavān daivatam hi: mentor, you are, god, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"You are the knower of probity, such as you are, you may please bestow benevolence upon my boyish son, as well on a less fortunate one like me too, and as our mentor you are indeed a god of ours. [1-20-21]

VERSE 22

देव दानव गंधर्वा यक्षाः पतग पन्नगाः
न शक्ता रावणम् सोढुम् किम् पुनर् मानवा युधि

deva dānava gaṃdharvā yakṣāḥ pataga pannagāḥ
na śaktā rāvaṇam soḍhum kim punar mānavā yudhi

SYNONYMS

deva dānava: gods, demons | pataga: winged beings [birds] | pannagāḥ: reptile beings | yudhi: in war | rāvanam: Ravana's | soḍhum: bear [the brunt of] | na śaktā: not, capable of | kim punaḥ mānavā: why, again [tell, about] humans. |

TRANSLATION

"Gods, demons, celestial beings like gandharva-s, yaksha-s, winged and reptile beings are incapable to bear the brunt of that Ravana in fight, why tell again about humans. [1-20-22]

VERSE 23

स तु वीर्यवताम् वीर्यम् आदत्ते युधि रावणः
तेन च अहम् न शक्तो।अस्मि संयोद्धुम् तस्य वा बलैः

sa tu vīryavatām vīryam ādatte yudhi rāvaṇaḥ
tena ca aham na śakto|asmi saṃyoddhum tasya vā balaiḥ

SYNONYMS

, 24a| saḥ rāvaṇaḥ tu: he, that Ravana, but | yudhi: in battle | vīryavatām vīryam ādatte: valorous ones', valour, depletes | muni sreṣṭhaḥ: oh, sage, the eminent | sa balaḥ vā: with, my [entire] forces, either | mama ātmajaiḥ sahitaḥ vā: my, sons, along with, or | aham tena: I, with him [individually] | tasya balaiḥ vā: with his, forces, or | sam yoddhum: to grapple with | śaktaḥ na asmi = capable, not: inadequate, I am. |

TRANSLATION

"But that Ravana depletes the valour of valorous opponents in a battle, oh, eminent sage, either with my entire forces, or with all my sons I am inadequate to grapple with all his forces, or with him, individually. [1-20-23, 24a]

VERSE 24

कथम् अपि अमर प्रख्यम् संग्रामाणाम् अकोविदम्

katham api amara prakhyam saṃgrāmāṇām akovidam

SYNONYMS

b, 25a| brahman: oh, Brahman | amara prakhyam: godlike [for Rama is still a boy] | sangrāmānām: in wars | a kovidam: not, experienced | bālam: just a boy | putrakam: a son who alleviates hell of sonless fathers | me tanayam: my, son | katham api: in any wise | na eva dāsyāmi: not, thus, I handover. |

TRANSLATION

"My boyish son is godlike and unfledged in warfare, oh, Brahman, and he is the one who alleviates me from punnama naraka the hell of sonless fathers... no, I cannot spare my son in anyway. [1-20-24b, 25a]

VERSE 25

अथ काल उपमौ युद्धे सुतौ सुन्दोपसुन्दयोः

atha kāla upamau yuddhe sutau sundopasundayoḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 26a| atha: further | te yajña vighna karau = your, ritual, sabotage, causers: saboteurs | tau = those tvo: Mareecha, Subaahu | sunda upasundayoḥ sutau: demons Sunda, Upasunda, sons of [ viz., descendants of] | yuddhe kāla upmau: in war, Death-god, in simile | putrakam na eva dāsyāmi: son, not, in any way, I spare. |

TRANSLATION

"Further, those saboteurs of your ritual namely Mareecha and Subaahu, are similar to Death-god and the descendents of the earliest demons and subverters of rituals, namely Sunda and Upasunda, no, I cannot spare my son, in any case. [1-20-25b, 26a]

VERSE 26

मारीचः च सुबाहुः च वीर्यवन्तौ सुशिक्षितौ

mārīcaḥ ca subāhuḥ ca vīryavantau suśikṣitau

SYNONYMS

b, 27| mārīcaḥ ca subāhuḥ ca: Mareecha, also, Subaahu, also | vīryavantau suśikṣitau: valorous ones, well-trained ones | sa suhṛt gaṇaḥ: along with, friendly, forces | tayoḥ anyataram yoddhum: with one only [either of the two demons,] to war | yāsyāmi: I will proceed | anyathā: otherwise | saha bāndhava: with, relatives | bhavantam: your [order, in turning down] | tvam anuneṣyāmi: you, I implore upon you. |

TRANSLATION

"Mareecha and Subaahu are well-trained and valorous ones, hence I will proceed with all my friendly forces to war with either of those two demons, otherwise, I along with all my relatives implore upon you for your exoneration in my failure to comply my own promises. [1-20-26b, 27]

VERSE 28

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदिकाव्ये बाल काण्डे विंशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādikāvye bāla kāṇḍe viṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

iti: that way | nara pati jalpanāt: peoples', lord, [king's,] with incongruous talk | dvija indram = Brahman, outstanding one: Vishvamitra | kuśika sutam = to sage k͟huśi's, son: to Vishvamitra | su mahān manyuḥ viveśa: very, high, anger, overwhelmed with | maharśi vahniḥ: glorious sage, [called] the fire | makhe su huta: in ritual, well oblated | ājya siktaḥ: with ghee [clarified butter,] drenched | agniḥ iva: fire, like | ujvalithaḥ: flared up [tongues of fire] | samabhavat: has happened [flared up.] |

TRANSLATION

Thus, by the incongruous talk of Dasharatha, the outstanding Brahman and son of Sage Kushi, namely sage Vishvamitra is overwhelmed with outrageous anger by his mentation, and that fire-like glorious sage looked like the ritual fire into which many inflammable oblations are offered, and which is drenched with a lot of clarified butter, whereby it is flaring up its tongues. [1-20-28]