Chapter 22
Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties
तथा वसिष्टे ब्रुवति राजा दशरथः स्वयम्
प्रहृष्ट वदनो रामम् आजुहाव स लक्ष्मणम्
tathā vasiṣṭe bruvati rājā daśarathaḥ svayam
prahṛṣṭa vadano rāmam ājuhāva sa lakṣmaṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
When Vashishta said that way king Dasharatha with an air of satisfaction personally fetched Rama along with Lakshmana. [1-22-1]
कृतः स्वस्त्ययनम् मात्रा पित्रा दशरथेन च
पुरोधसा वसिष्ठेन मङ्गलैः अभिमंत्रितम्
kṛtaḥ svastyayanam mātrā pitrā daśarathena ca
purodhasā vasiṣṭhena maṅgalaiḥ abhimaṃtritam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama is blessed for a propitious travel firstly by his mother Kausalya and then by his father king Dasharatha, thereupon the royal priest Vashishta rendered Vedic hymns blessing the journey, then Dasharatha well pleased in his heart of hearts kissed his son Rama on forehead and entrusted him to Vishvamitra. [1-22-2, 3]
PURPORT
ततो वायुः सुख स्पर्शो नीरजस्को ववौ तदा
विश्वामित्र गतम् रामम् दृष्ट्वा राजीव लोचनम्
tato vāyuḥ sukha sparśo nīrajasko vavau tadā
viśvāmitra gatam rāmam dṛṣṭvā rājīva locanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then on seeing the lotus-eyed Rama following Vishvamitra the breeze became dustless and breezed pleasant for touch. [1-22-4]
पुष्प वृष्टिः महती आसीत् देव दुन्दुभि निःस्वनैः
शङ्ख दुन्दुभि निर्घोषः प्रयाते तु महात्मनि
puṣpa vṛṣṭiḥ mahatī āsīt deva dundubhi niḥsvanaiḥ
śaṅkha dundubhi nirghoṣaḥ prayāte tu mahātmani
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
When the great-souled Rama forged ahead there occurred an abounding downpour of flowers with the booming of divine drums, together with the boom and blare of drums and conch-shells of Ayodhya. [1-22-5]
विश्वामित्रो ययौ अग्रे ततो रामो महायशाः
काक पक्ष धरो धन्वी तम् च सौमित्रिः अन्वगात्
viśvāmitro yayau agre tato rāmo mahāyaśāḥ
kāka pakṣa dharo dhanvī tam ca saumitriḥ anvagāt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama with jet-black hair-locks handling his bow followed Vishvamitra who walked ahead, while Lakshmana handling his own bow followed Rama. [1-22-6]
कलापिनौ धनुष् पाणी शोभयानौ दिशो दश
विश्वामित्रम् महात्मानम् त्रि शीर्षौ इव पन्नगौ
अनुजग्मतुः अक्षुद्रौ पितामहम् इव अश्विनौ
kalāpinau dhanuṣ pāṇī śobhayānau diśo daśa
viśvāmitram mahātmānam tri śīrṣau iva pannagau
anujagmatuḥ akṣudrau pitāmaham iva aśvinau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama and Lakshmana, with two quivers each and two bows in their hands, and making all the ten directions of compass lambent followed Vishvamitra, as if three headed serpents followed Vishvamitra, and with their highly dynamic physiques and spiritedness they look as if like the Ashwin twin gods of unequal charm following Brahma, the Forefather. [1-22-7, 8]
PURPORT
तदा कुशिक पुत्रम् तु धनुष् पाणी स्वलंकृतौ
बद्ध गोध अंगुलि त्राणौ खड्गवन्तौ महाद्युती
tadā kuśika putram tu dhanuṣ pāṇī svalaṃkṛtau
baddha godha aṃguli trāṇau khaḍgavantau mahādyutī
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Those two youngsters with charming and bejewelled physiques are handling bows and swords and their fingers have leathern covers. Both the unreprovable brothers Rama and Lakshmana are highly resplendent and effulgent by their worth. While they are following Vishvamitra they looked like the sons of Fire-god, namely Skanda and Vishakha, following the great god with inscrutable potential, namely Shiva, and thus the brothers have made Vishvamitra to shine forth in even pose with god Shiva. [1-22-8, 9, 10a]
PURPORT
अध्यर्ध योजनम् गत्वा सरय्वा दक्षिणे तटे
१२२१०
रामा इति मधुराम् वाणीम् विश्वामित्रः अभ्यभाषत
adhyardha yojanam gatvā sarayvā dakṣiṇe taṭe
1-22-10
rāmā iti madhurām vāṇīm viśvāmitraḥ abhyabhāṣata
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
And on going one and half yojana distance Vishvamitra addressed Rama in a harmonious voice calling, 'oh, Rama', on the southern riverbank of Sarayu. [1-22-10b, 11a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" "Take water, my boy, and like that you receive a group of hymns, bala and ati bala from me, and let no time lapse. [1-22-11b, 12a]
PURPORT
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On receiving these hymns neither tiredness nor fever, nor disfiguring of personality can effect you, nor the demons can charge you either you are sleeping or unvigilant. [1-11-12b, 13a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"As it is none whosoever on earth can equal you in dexterity, Rama, and by reciting these hymns none can equal you in the three worlds. [1-22-13b, 14a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"My dear Raghava, if bala atibala hymns are practised, oh, impeccable one, none can equal you in the world by your handsomeness, calibre, erudition, by your discernment, and even in replying or rebutting you. [1-22-14b, 15]
एतत् विद्या द्वये लब्धे न भवेत् सदृशः तव
बला च अतिबला चैव सर्व ज्ञानस्य मातरौ
etat vidyā dvaye labdhe na bhavet sadṛśaḥ tava
balā ca atibalā caiva sarva jñānasya mātarau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On receiving these two teachings there will be none similar to you, for bala and atibala are the mothers of all knowledge. [1-22-16]
क्षुत् पिपासे न ते राम भविष्येते नरोत्तम
बलाम् अतिबलाम् चैव पठतः तात राघव
kṣut pipāse na te rāma bhaviṣyete narottama
balām atibalām caiva paṭhataḥ tāta rāghava
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, best one among men, Raghava, if you go on reciting bala and atiblala hymns, my dear Rama, there will be no hunger or thirst to you. [1-22-17]
गृहाण सर्व लोकस्य गुप्तये रघु नन्दन
विद्या द्वयम् अधीयाने यशः च अथ भवेत् भुवि
पितामह सुते हि एते विद्ये तेजः समन्विते
gṛhāṇa sarva lokasya guptaye raghu nandana
vidyā dvayam adhīyāne yaśaḥ ca atha bhavet bhuvi
pitāmaha sute hi ete vidye tejaḥ samanvite
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"And if these twin teachings are practised an inestimable renown will also accrue, oh, Raghu's legatee, these two hymns that possess brilliance are the daughters of Forefather Brahma, and oh, Rama of Kakutstha, I intend to impart these hymns to you, oh virtuous one, as you are the most eligible one, hence take the teachings that are kept safe from the world. [1-22-18, 19a]
कामम् बहुगुणाः सर्वे त्वयि एते न अत्र संशयः
१२२१९
तपसा संभृते च एते बहु रूपे भविष्यतः
kāmam bahuguṇāḥ sarve tvayi ete na atra saṃśayaḥ
1-22-19
tapasā saṃbhṛte ca ete bahu rūpe bhaviṣyataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Though all of these numerous qualities are undoubtedly available with you, that too in abundance, yet these hymns if ascetically nurtured will yield various results." Thus spoke Sage Vishvamitra to Rama. [1-22-19b, 20a]
ततो रामो जलम् स्पृष्ट्वा प्रहृष्ट वदनः शुचिः
१२२२०
प्रति जग्राह ते विद्ये महर्षेर् भावित
आत्मनः
tato rāmo jalam spṛṣṭvā prahṛṣṭa vadanaḥ śuciḥ
1-22-20
prati jagrāha te vidye maharṣer bhāvita
ātmanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then Rama on touching water to purify himself received those teachings from the contemplative soul Vishvamitra with gladness beaming on his face. [1-22-20b, 21a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama, the one with marvellous valiance, on obtaining those teachings performed all his duties of a student in respect of a teacher and then shone forth like the thousand rayed sun on a cloudless sky of autumn. Then those three very happily stayed on the riverbank of Sarayu for that night. [1-22-21b, 22]
PURPORT
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदिकाव्ये बाल काण्डे द्वाविंशः सर्गः
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādikāvye bāla kāṇḍe dvāviṃśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Though both Rama and Lakshmana slept on an undeserving grass bed, nestled by the comfortable words of Vishvamitra that night is as though pleasant to the noteworthy children of Dasharatha. [1-22-24] Sage Vishvamitra is the Seer for Gayatri hymn. He is the same Sage to impart bala atibala hymns to Rama and Lakshmana. For those readers that are interested to know or to practice, the Upanishad of bala atibala is included hereunder. This hymn is yet another aspect of Gayatri, and there is no hymn superior than Gayatri, na gaayatriyaaH paramam japam
PURPORT
