Valmiki Ramayana - Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties

प्रभातायाम् तु शर्वर्याम् विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः
अभ्यभाषत काकुत्स्थौ शयानौ पर्ण संस्तरे

prabhātāyām tu śarvaryām viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ
abhyabhāṣata kākutsthau śayānau parṇa saṃstare

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

At dawn after that night the great saint Vishvamitra spoke to the legatees of Kakutstha, Rama and Lakshmana, those that are sleeping on a grass bed. [1-23-1]

VERSE 2

कौसल्या सुप्रजा राम पूर्वा संध्या प्रवर्तते
उत्तिष्ठ नर शार्दूल कर्तव्यम् दैवमाह्निकम्

kausalyā suprajā rāma pūrvā saṃdhyā pravartate
uttiṣṭha nara śārdūla kartavyam daivamāhnikam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Fortunate is Kausalya to beget you as her son Rama... get up oh, tigerly-man, eastern aurora is emerging, daytime tasks towards gods are to be performed." [1-23-2]

PURPORT

This is another celebrated verse chanted even today. So far Rama is a dear prince to his parents. But here, no less than Sage Vishvamitra said to have deified Rama in asking him to 'get up' from divine trance to undertake the human duties to eliminate evil, like the dawn of the sun eliminating the evil darkness. In other ancient manuscripts the same verse obtains as: This early morning 'awakening' of Vishnu or his incarnates from divine trance is a common practice in Vaishnavaite tradition, and is followed even today, called suprabhaata seva , morning service to wake up. At the rising of the sun as well as at noon certain observances, invocations, and prayers were prescribed which might under no circumstances be omitted. One of these observances was the recitation of the sAvitri, [Gayatri, so to say,] a Vedic hymn to the Sun of wonderful beauty - Gorresio. For kausalyaa su prajaa raama Griffith says: 'High fate is hers who calls thee son: / Arise, 'tis break of day /. And Gita Press has it as: Kausalya is blessed with a worthy son [in you.]

VERSE 3

तस्य ऋषेः परम उदारम् वचः श्रुत्वा नृप नरोत्तमौ
स्नात्वा कृत उदकौ वीरौ जेपतुः परमम् जपम्

tasya ṛṣeḥ parama udāram vacaḥ śrutvā nṛpa narottamau
snātvā kṛta udakau vīrau jepatuḥ paramam japam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

On hearing the benign words of the sage those valorous and best ones among men got up, bathed, and on offering water oblation they mediated upon the supreme hymn, namely Gayatri. [1-23-3]

PURPORT

Rama and Lakshmana meditated upon Gayatri hymn as there is no hymn superior to it; na gaayatryaaH param japyam and this is also the usual hymn for water oblation at dawn or dusk: sandhyaa vandana . sandhya is the time between the day and night when the stars or the sun are not visible. aho raatrasya yaH sandhiH suurya nakShatra varjitaH Then this hymn is to be meditated placing her in ones own heart or amid the solar system. gaayatriim sam smaret dhiimaan hR^idi vaa suurya maNDale .

VERSE 4

कृत आह्निकौ महावीर्यौ विश्वामित्रम् तपोधनम्
अभिवाद्य अति संहृष्टौ गमनाय अभितस्थतुः

kṛta āhnikau mahāvīryau viśvāmitram tapodhanam
abhivādya ati saṃhṛṣṭau gamanāya abhitasthatuḥ

SYNONYMS

mahā vīrau: great, stalwarts | kṛta āhnikau: after performing, duties of dawn | ati samhṛṣṭau: very, enthusiastically | viśvamitram tapaḥ dhanam: to Vishvamitra, whose ascesis, is his wealth | abhivādya: venerated | gamanāya abhita sthatuḥ: to travel, they presented themselves [before the sage.] |

TRANSLATION

On performing their dawn time duties those two stalwarts, Rama and Lakshmana, enthusiastically presented themselves before the ascetically rich sage Vishvamitra for further journey, duly venerating him. [1-23-4]

VERSE 5

तौ प्रयान्तौ महावीर्यौ दिव्यम् त्रिपथगाम् नदीम्
ददृशा ते ततः तत्र सरय्वाः संगमे शुभे

tau prayāntau mahāvīryau divyam tripathagām nadīm
dadṛśā te tataḥ tatra sarayvāḥ saṃgame śubhe

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Then on travelling some more distance those two great valiant ones, there they have seen the divine river that courses in three ways, namely Ganga, at the auspicious confluence of River Sarayu. [1-23-5]

PURPORT

River Ganga follows three courses, firstly in heavens, second on earth, and third into nether worlds. These episodes on the descent of Ganga to earth are narrated in the later part of this book, Bala Kanda.

VERSE 6

तत्र आश्रम पदम् पुण्यम् ऋषीणाम् भाविअत आत्मानाम्
बहु वर्ष सहस्राणि तप्यताम् परमम् तपः

tatra āśrama padam puṇyam ṛṣīṇām bhāviata ātmānām
bahu varṣa sahasrāṇi tapyatām paramam tapaḥ

SYNONYMS

tatra: there | bahu varṣa sahasrāṇi: many, years, thousands of | paramam tapaḥ tapyatām: supreme, ascesis, practising | bhāvita ātmānam ṛśīṇām: contemplated, souls, of sages | puṇyam āśrama padam: merited, hermitage [they have seen.] |

TRANSLATION

There they have seen the merited hermitage of sages with contemplative souls, and who are practising supreme ascesis for many thousand years. [1-23-6]

VERSE 7

तम् दृष्ट्वा परम प्रीतौ राघवौ पुण्यम् आश्रमम्
ऊचतुः तम् महात्मानम् विश्वामित्रम् इदम् वचः

tam dṛṣṭvā parama prītau rāghavau puṇyam āśramam
ūcatuḥ tam mahātmānam viśvāmitram idam vacaḥ

SYNONYMS

tam puṇyam āśramam dṛṣṭvā: that, merited hermitage, on seeing | parama prītau: highly pleased | rāghavau: Raaghava-s [Rama and Lakshmana] | mahātmānam: great soul | tam viśvamitram idam vacaḥ: to him, Vishvamitra, this, word uchatuH = said. |

TRANSLATION

On seeing that merited hermitage Rama and Lakshmana are highly pleased and said this word to that great-soul Sage Vishvamitra. [1-23-7]

VERSE 8

कस्य अयम् आश्रमः पुण्यः को नु अस्मिन् वसते पुमान्
भगवन् श्रोतुम् इच्छावः परम् कौतूहलम् हि नौ

kasya ayam āśramaḥ puṇyaḥ ko nu asmin vasate pumān
bhagavan śrotum icchāvaḥ param kautūhalam hi nau

SYNONYMS

bhagavān: oh, god | ayam puṇyaḥ āśramam kasya: this, merited, hermitage, whose is it | asmin kaḥ nu pumān vasate: in this, who, indeed, celebrity, dwells | śrotum icchāvaḥ: to listen, we are interested | nau param kautūhalam hi: to us, much, inquisitiveness, truly. |

TRANSLATION

"Whose hermitage is this merited one? Indeed who is the celebrity that lives therein? Oh, godly sage, we are interested to listen, and we are truly inquisitive about it." Thus they asked. [1-23-8]

VERSE 9

तयोः तद् वचनम् श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य मुनिपुंगवः
अब्रवीत् श्रूयताम् राम यस्य अयम् पूर्व आश्रमः

tayoḥ tad vacanam śrutvā prahasya munipuṃgavaḥ
abravīt śrūyatām rāma yasya ayam pūrva āśramaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

On hearing their words the eminent sage Viswamitra said smilingly, " whose hermitage is this in earlier times that may be listened." Thus Vishvamitra started to narrate. [1-23-9]

VERSE 10

कन्दर्पो मूर्तिमान् आसीत् काम इति उच्यते बुधैः
तपस्यंतम् इह स्थाणुम् नियमेन समाहितम्

kandarpo mūrtimān āsīt kāma iti ucyate budhaiḥ
tapasyaṃtam iha sthāṇum niyamena samāhitam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"When Love-god was with his body wise men used to call him Kama, the passion. At this place, that Love-god with his naughty intent braved god of gods Shiva who had been practising ascesis and who concentrated observantly, and who was returning after his marriage along with his followers, namely the Wind-gods, and that great soul Shiva disapprovingly roared at Love-god. [1-23-10, 11]

PURPORT

The meaning of kan darpa is one who is carnally, prideful, i.e., he who takes pride in arousing lecherousness. And kaama is 'desire' the natural basic instinct of any animal, and the one which the sages and saints want to overcome, so they named Love-god from their point of view. In these verses the two words kR^ita udvaaham , and their meaning as on marrying Parvati and going this way with his coterie etc., is held incongruous to other mythological episodes of Shiva's marriage with Parvati, and Manmatha's effort to enkindle love in Shiva. After marriage with Parvati, some argue, where is the question of Love-god's interference to inculcate love in Shiva. It is clear in Rama Charita Maanas how this Shiva-Parvati marriage occurs. And some give the meaning like this: kR^ita where kR^i= karaNe udvaaham tu devesham = to actualise, marriage, only, of Shiva; gacChantam on going there, Love-god, sa marudgaNam with Wind-gods and other deities; dharSayaamaasa started to attack Shiva. The Love-god on going there to that hermitage that is being described by Vishvamitra along with Wind-gods et al, with an intention to get the marriage of Shiva performed, assailed Shiva.

VERSE 12

अवध्यतः च रुद्रेण चक्षुषा रघु नन्दन
व्यशीर्यन्त शरीरात् स्वात् सर्व गात्राणि दुर्मतेः

avadhyataḥ ca rudreṇa cakṣuṣā raghu nandana
vyaśīryanta śarīrāt svāt sarva gātrāṇi durmateḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"And Rama, the wrathful third-eye of Shiva destroyed the lewd-minded Love-god making all his limbs to fall down from his body. [1-23-12]

PURPORT

The word avadhyat is otherwise said in other texts as ava dagdhasya rudreNa cakshusaa , to derive a clear meaning of 'burnt down,' because avadhyat is just killing, slaying, whereas Shiva's third-eye truly burns down anything where even ashes do not remain. The critical editions have this as dagdhasya tasya raudreNa chakShuShA

VERSE 13

तत्र गात्रम् हतम् तस्य निर्दग्धस्य महात्मनः
अशरीरः कृतः कामः क्रोधात् देव ईश्वरेण ह

tatra gātram hatam tasya nirdagdhasya mahātmanaḥ
aśarīraḥ kṛtaḥ kāmaḥ krodhāt deva īśvareṇa ha

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"There the body of Love-god is evanesced when that great soul Shiva burnt it down, and by the anger of that god of gods Shiva, Love-god is rendered as a bodiless entity. [1-23-13]

PURPORT

Manmatha and his wife Rati will have supremely exquisite physiques. At the very sight of Manmatha everybody used to become a prey to lasciviousness. So Shiva had to completely burn down that physical form of love, whereby only kaama, the mental desire, is remaining.

VERSE 14

अनङ्ग इति विख्यातः तदा प्रभृति राघव
स च अङ्ग विषयः श्रीमान् यत्र अंगम् स मुमोच ह

anaṅga iti vikhyātaḥ tadā prabhṛti rāghava
sa ca aṅga viṣayaḥ śrīmān yatra aṃgam sa mumoca ha

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Then onwards Love-god is renowned as Ananga, as he is without body, and where his body is given up that is renowned as Anga province. [1-23-14]

VERSE 15

तस्य अयम् आश्रमः पुण्यः तस्य इमे मुनयः पुरा
शिष्या धर्मपरा वीर तेषाम् पापम् न विद्यते

tasya ayam āśramaḥ puṇyaḥ tasya ime munayaḥ purā
śiṣyā dharmaparā vīra teṣām pāpam na vidyate

SYNONYMS

vīra: oh, brave one [Rama] | ayam tasya punyaḥ āśramaḥ: this is, his [Shiva's,] merited, hermitage | purā tasya śiśyāḥ ime munayaḥ: at one time, his [Shiva's,] disciples, these, sages are | dharma parā: in virtue, abiding | teṣām pāpam na vidyate: with them, sin, not, evident [sinless.] |

TRANSLATION

"This merited hermitage thus belongs to Shiva and, oh, brave Rama, these sages abiding in virtue are Shiva's disciples at one time, thus sin is unverifiable with them. [1-23-15]

PURPORT

This hermitage belongs to Love God or Shiva, tasya kaamasya sthaaNorvaa . Because Shiva is a god who controls Love-god, kaameswhvara , this is Shiva's hermitage. The last verse again says it is Kaama's hermitage. And the sages practising ascesis in this hermitage, puraa shiSyaa , are the old time disciples of Shiva. puurva kaalam aarabhya...santaana paramparayaa shiSyaa . These sages are the progeny of the sages who long time back were the direct disciples of Shiva. Because these are the direct grandchildren of the direct disciples of Shiva, sin cannot touch them. ata eva paapam teShaamna vidyate | puurvam rudra shiShyaa api samprati tat shiShya kR^itam paapam navidyate ityarthaH|| Govindaraja.

VERSE 16

इह अद्य रजनीम् राम वसेम शुभ दर्शन
पुण्ययोः सरितोः मध्ये श्वः तरिष्यामहे वयम्

iha adya rajanīm rāma vasema śubha darśana
puṇyayoḥ saritoḥ madhye śvaḥ tariṣyāmahe vayam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Let us stay for this night in this hermitage situated in between two meritorious rivers Ganga and Sarayu, oh, Rama with auspicious mien, tomorrow we will cross over the River Ganga. [1-23-16]

VERSE 17

अभिगच्छामहे सर्वे शुचयः पुण्यम् आश्रमम्
इह वासः परो।अस्माकम् सुखम् वस्त्यामहे वयम्

abhigacchāmahe sarve śucayaḥ puṇyam āśramam
iha vāsaḥ paro|asmākam sukham vastyāmahe vayam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Let us all purify ourselves by taking our bath, performing our meditations, offering our daily oblations, and then let us enter this meritorious hermitage, thus our stay in here will be comforting to us." So said Vishvamitra to Rama and Lakshmana. [1-23-17, 18a]

VERSE 18

तेषाम् संवदताम् तत्र तपो दीर्घेण चक्षुषा

teṣām saṃvadatām tatra tapo dīrgheṇa cakṣuṣā

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

When they are discussing there the sages of that hermitage are highly gladdened to perceive them with their sixth-sense, and on approaching them enchantedly they offered water for hands and feet wash and then offered hospitality firstly to Sage Vishvamitra. [1-23-18, 19]

VERSE 20

राम लक्ष्मणयोः पश्चात् अकुर्वन् अतिथि क्रियाम्
सत्कारम् सम् अनुप्राप्य कथाभिः अभिरंजयन्

rāma lakṣmaṇayoḥ paścāt akurvan atithi kriyām
satkāram sam anuprāpya kathābhiḥ abhiraṃjayan

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Afterwards those sages of that hermitage have accorded reception to Rama and Lakshmana, and applauded by Vishvamitra for their hospitality those sages have entertained Rama and other guests with myths and legends. [1-23-20]

VERSE 21

यथा अर्हम् अजपन् संध्याम् ऋषयः ते समाहिताः
तत्र वासिभिः आनीता मुनिभिः सुव्रतैः सह

yathā arham ajapan saṃdhyām ṛṣayaḥ te samāhitāḥ
tatra vāsibhiḥ ānītā munibhiḥ suvrataiḥ saha

SYNONYMS

te ṛśayaḥ samāhitāḥ: those, sages, concentrating their minds | yatha arham: according to, their aptitude | sndhyām ajapan = deity at sunset: Gayatri, meditated upon | tatra vāsibhiḥ: there, who are dwelling [Rama and others] | su vrataiḥ: [sages] with pious, commitments | munibhiḥ saha: sages, along with | ānītāḥ: those [guests] that are led forth [into hermitage] | tathā tatra: that way, there | kāma āśrama pade = in k͟hāma: Shiva's, hermitage's, precincts | su sukham nyavasan: very, comfortably, they stayed. |

TRANSLATION

Those sages with concentrated minds and according to one's own aptitude have meditated upon the deity of sunset when it is sundown, followed by Rama and others. Then led into hermitage by those sages who are with pious commitments and who are dwelling there, Rama and others have very comfortably stayed in the precincts of Shiva's hermitage. [1-23-21]

VERSE 22

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदिकाव्ये बाल काण्डे त्रयोविंशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādikāvye bāla kāṇḍe trayoviṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Staying very comfortably in the precincts of Kaama hermitage, then that virtuous sage Vishvamitra, saint the eminent, delighted the delightful princes with delighting stories..... [1-23-22]