Valmiki Ramayana - Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties

अथ तौ देश कालज्ञौ राजपुत्रौ अरिंदमौ
देशे काले च वाक्यज्ञौ अब्रूताम् कौशिकम् वचः

atha tau deśa kālajñau rājaputrau ariṃdamau
deśe kāle ca vākyajñau abrūtām kauśikam vacaḥ

SYNONYMS

atha: then | deśa kāla jñau: place, time, those sensible of | arindamau: enemy-subjugators | deśe kāle ca vākya jñau = in place, in time, vording: talking, sensible ones | tau rājaputrau: those two, princes | kauśikam vacaḥ abrūtām: to Kushi's son [Vishvamitra,] sentence, started to say. |

TRANSLATION

The two enemy subjugators, Rama and Lakshmana, who are sensible of their conduct according to time and place, and who will be sensibly talking according to time and place, those princes then spoke this sentence to Vishvamitra. [1-30-1]

VERSE 2

भगवन् श्रोतुम् इच्छावो यस्मिन् काले निशाचरौ
संरक्षणीयौ तौ ब्रूहि न अतिवर्तेत तत् क्षणम्

bhagavan śrotum icchāvo yasmin kāle niśācarau
saṃrakṣaṇīyau tau brūhi na ativarteta tat kṣaṇam

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Oh, god, we are interested to listen at which time those night-walkers come to disturb the ritual, and at which time we have to safeguarded the ritual from them, that you tell us, let not that moment pass away." [1-30-2]

PURPORT

It appears from the word order as above, 'at which time those two demons are to be safeguarded by us?' But positioning the word samrakshNiiyau is a grammarian's headache. On this many kinds of declinations are said. Rama Tilaka attributes this rakshNiyau 'to be safeguarded' to ritual, and he says that 'from whom the ritual is to be safeguarded'

VERSE 3

एवम् ब्रुवाणौ काकुत्स्थौ त्वरमाणौ युयुत्सया
सर्वे ते मुनयः प्रीताः प्रशशंसुर् नृपात्मजौ

evam bruvāṇau kākutsthau tvaramāṇau yuyutsayā
sarve te munayaḥ prītāḥ praśaśaṃsur nṛpātmajau

SYNONYMS

evam bruvāṇau: this way, who are speaking | yuyutsayā tvaramāṇau: to combat, those that making haste | nṛpa ātmajau kākutsthau = to king's, sons: to princes, Kakutstha-s | te munayaḥ sarve: those, sages, all of them | prītāḥ praśaśamsuḥ: delighted at them, praised them. |

TRANSLATION

All the sages available there are delighted with the princes of Kakutstha dynasty who are speaking thus and making haste for a combat with demons and they praised them. [1-30-3]

VERSE 4

अद्य प्रभृति षट् रात्रम् रक्षतम् राघवौ युवाम्
दीक्षाम् गतो हि येष मुनिर् मौनित्वम् च गमिष्यति

adya prabhṛti ṣaṭ rātram rakṣatam rāghavau yuvām
dīkṣām gato hi yeṣa munir maunitvam ca gamiṣyati

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Raghava-s, you have to safeguard this ritual for six nights and days from today, and this Sage Vishvamitra who is under the vow of ritual goes into muteness as required by the vow." Thus said the other sages near at ritual place. [1-30-4]

VERSE 5

तौ तु तद् वचनम् श्रुत्वा राजपुत्रौ यशस्विनौ
अनिद्रौ षट् अहोरात्रम् तपोवनम् अरक्षताम्

tau tu tad vacanam śrutvā rājaputrau yaśasvinau
anidrau ṣaṭ ahorātram tapovanam arakṣatām

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

On hearing that sentence of the other sages those two glorious princes have wakefully safeguarded that woodland of the ritual for six nights and days. [1-30-5]

VERSE 6

उपासाम् चक्रतुर् वीरौ यत्तौ परम धन्विनौ
ररक्षतुर् मुनिवरम् विश्वामित्रम् अरिंदमौ

upāsām cakratur vīrau yattau parama dhanvinau
rarakṣatur munivaram viśvāmitram ariṃdamau

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

On alertly patrolling nearby the Altar of Fire those two enemy-destroyers who are the wielders of great bows and valiant ones have protected the best sage Vishvamitra. [1-30-6]

VERSE 7

अथ काले गते तस्मिन् षष्ठे अहनि तदा आगते
सौमित्रम् अब्रवीद् रामो यत्तो भव समाहितः

atha kāle gate tasmin ṣaṣṭhe ahani tadā āgate
saumitram abravīd rāmo yatto bhava samāhitaḥ

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

While that period of six days is elapsing and when the sixth day has come, then Rama said to Saumitri, "you be prepared and be on alert." [1-30-7]

VERSE 8

रामस्य एवम् ब्रुवाणस्य त्वरितस्य युयुत्सया
प्रजज्वाल ततो वेदिः स उपाध्याय पुरोहिता

rāmasya evam bruvāṇasya tvaritasya yuyutsayā
prajajvāla tato vediḥ sa upādhyāya purohitā

SYNONYMS

yuyutsayā tvaritasya: to combat, quickening | rāmasya evam bruvāṇasya: of Rama, thus, while saying | tataḥ: then | sa upādhyāya purohitā = vith, teacer: officator Vishvamitra, with other priests - attended by them | vediḥ: altar of fire | pra ja jvāla: suddenly, highly, flared up. |

TRANSLATION

While Rama is saying thus himself quickening to combat then the fire in the Altar of Fire flared up suddenly and highly, brightening the chief officiator of the ritual, namely Vishvamitra, and other priests around it. [1-30-8]

PURPORT

The compound pra ja jwaala , with many stresses for the flare is given here to import that the ritual is achieving its climax and it will be fructified thereby. The demons enter just at this juncture to spoil the ritual.

VERSE 9

स दर्भ चमस स्रुक्का स समित् कुसुमोच्चया
विश्वामित्रेण सहिता वेदिः जज्वाल स ऋत्विजा

sa darbha camasa srukkā sa samit kusumoccayā
viśvāmitreṇa sahitā vediḥ jajvāla sa ṛtvijā

SYNONYMS

sa darbha camasa srukkā: with, sacred grass, drink-vessels, oblation spoons | sa samit kusuma uccayā: with, firewood sticks, flowers, heaps of | viśvāmitreṇa sahitā: Vishvamitra, attended by | vediḥ: altar of fire | ja jvāla: highly flared up | sa ṛtvijā: with Ritwiks, conductors of ritual. |

TRANSLATION

The Altar of Fire around which sacred grass, drink-vessels, oblation spoons, firewood-sticks, and heaps of flowers are kept, and around which Vishvamitra and the conductors of ritual are sitting, that altar flared high. [1-30-9]

PURPORT

The darbha is kusha grass used specifically in rituals even today. chamasa is a wooden vessels used for consuming soma juice. srukk is an arm-length wooden spoon with a palm size receptacle at one end used to pour clarified butter and other liquids into Altar of Fire to the chanting of hymns. samidha -s comprises items of wood pieces or sticks, mainly from sandalwood trees and a variety of other items that are offered into fire.

VERSE 10

मंत्रवत् च यथा न्यायम् यज्ञो असौ संप्रवर्तते
आकाशे च महान् शब्दः प्रादुर् आसीत् भयानकः

maṃtravat ca yathā nyāyam yajño asau saṃpravartate
ākāśe ca mahān śabdaḥ prādur āsīt bhayānakaḥ

SYNONYMS

asau yajñaḥ: that, Vedic ritual | mantravat ca yathā nyāyam: hymnal rendering, also, as per, rules | sam pravartate: while well, proceeding | ākāśe bhayānakaḥ: in sky, frightening onel mahaan shabdaH = strident, blare | prāduḥ āsīt: generated, it is. |

TRANSLATION

While the Vedic ritual is proceeding well towards its conclusion according to hymnal rendering and rules of conducting the ritual, a strident and frightening blare is generated in the sky. [1-30-10]

VERSE 11

आवार्य गगनम् मेघो यथा प्रावृषि दृश्यते
तथा मायाम् विकुर्वाणौ राक्षसौ अभ्यधावताम्

āvārya gaganam megho yathā prāvṛṣi dṛśyate
tathā māyām vikurvāṇau rākṣasau abhyadhāvatām

SYNONYMS

prā vṛṣi = in great: torrential, cloudburst | meghaḥ yathā: [massive] cloud, as to how | dṛśyate [nir gate]: appears, [emerges] | tathā: likewise | gaganam āvārya: sky, enshrouding | rākṣasau māyām vi kurvāṇau: two demons, wizardry, verily, performing | abhya dhāvatām = tovards, came running: swooped down. |

TRANSLATION

As to how massive clouds appear in torrential cloudburst, likewise two demons appeared enshrouding the sky, and performing wizardry they are about to swoop down towards the Altar of Fire. [1-30-11]

VERSE 12

मारीचः च सुबाहुः च तयोर् अनुचराः तथा
आगंय भीम संकाशा रुधिर ओघान् अवासृजन्

mārīcaḥ ca subāhuḥ ca tayor anucarāḥ tathā
āgaṃya bhīma saṃkāśā rudhira oghān avāsṛjan

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Maareecha and Subaahu are the monstrous demons that have come along with their followers and they have started to pour down spates of blood. [1-30-12]

VERSE 13

ताम् तेन रुधिर ओघेण वेदीम् वीक्ष्य समुक्षिताम्
सहसा अभिद्रुतो रामः तान् अपश्यत् ततो दिवि

tām tena rudhira ogheṇa vedīm vīkṣya samukṣitām
sahasā abhidruto rāmaḥ tān apaśyat tato divi

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

On noticing the Altar of Fire swamped with streams of blood, then Rama swiftly ran towards that direction and saw the demons in the sky. [1-30-13]

VERSE 14

तौ आपतन्तौ सहसा दृष्ट्वा राजीव लोचनः
लक्ष्मणम् तौ अभिसंप्रेक्ष्य रामो वचनम् अब्रवीत्

tau āpatantau sahasā dṛṣṭvā rājīva locanaḥ
lakṣmaṇam tau abhisaṃprekṣya rāmo vacanam abravīt

SYNONYMS

rājīva locanaḥ rāmaḥ: lotus, eyed one, Rama | sahasā ā patantau = hastily, coming and falling: [about to] swoop | tau dṛṣṭvā: them two, on perceiving | lakṣmaṇam tu = at ḻakśmana, but: however | abhi sam prekṣya = fully, vell, glancing: giving quick look to check up | vacanam abravīt: sentence, said. |

TRANSLATION

Perceiving that the two demons are about to swoop down on Altar of Fire in haste, that lotus-eyed Rama however gave a quick checking look at Lakshmana saying this sentence. [1-30-14]

VERSE 15

पश्य लक्ष्मण दुर्वृत्तान् राक्षसान् पिशित अशनान्
मानवास्त्र समाधूतान् अनिलेन यथा घनान्

paśya lakṣmaṇa durvṛttān rākṣasān piśita aśanān
mānavāstra samādhūtān anilena yathā ghanān

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Lakshmana, I am reluctant to eliminate this kind of these ill-behaved and raw flesh eating demons, but no doubt, they will be puffed out with Manava missile like a gust puffing thick clouds, you may see." Thus Rama said to Lakshmana. [1-30-15, 16a]

VERSE 16

इति उक्त्वा वचनम् रामः चापे संधाय वेगवान्

iti uktvā vacanam rāmaḥ cāpe saṃdhāya vegavān

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Saying so that agile Rama fitted the very benign and highly radiant arrow Maanava on his bow, and taking aim with it at Maareecha that highly furious Raghava darted it on the chest of Maareecha. [1-30-16b, 17]

VERSE 18

स तेन परमास्त्रेण मानवेन समाहितः
संपूर्णम् योजन शतम् क्षिप्तः सागर संप्लवे

sa tena paramāstreṇa mānavena samāhitaḥ
saṃpūrṇam yojana śatam kṣiptaḥ sāgara saṃplave

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

Cleanly hit with that great missile Maanava, demon Maareecha is pitched for a hundred yojana lengths in full, and flung down into an ocean rocking with tidewaters. [1-30-18]

VERSE 19

विचेतनम् विघूर्णन्तम् शीतेषु बल पीडितम्
निरस्तम् दृश्य मारीचम् रामो लक्ष्मणम् अब्रवीत्

vicetanam vighūrṇantam śīteṣu bala pīḍitam
nirastam dṛśya mārīcam rāmo lakṣmaṇam abravīt

SYNONYMS

śīta iṣu bala pīḍitam = by chold, arrov's: missile's, strength, rammed away | vi cetanam vi ghūrṇantam: without, sense, verily, whirling | nirastam = rendered vithout staying pover: thrown out | mārīcam: at Maareecha | dṛśya: on seeing | rāmaḥ lakṣmaṇam abravīt: Rama, to Lakshmana, said. |

TRANSLATION

On seeing him highly whirling, rendered insensate and thrown out when rammed away with the strength of that Cold arrow Rama said this to Lakshmana. [1-30-19]

VERSE 20

पश्य लक्ष्मण शीतेषुम् मानवम् मनु संहितम्
मोहयित्वा नयति एनम् न च प्राणैर् व्ययुज्यत

paśya lakṣmaṇa śīteṣum mānavam manu saṃhitam
mohayitvā nayati enam na ca prāṇair vyayujyata

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"Lakshmana, see the Cold arrow belonging to Maanava missile expounded by Manu which is taking him away on baffling, but without taking away his life. [1-30-20]

PURPORT

Rama is reluctant to eliminate demon Maareecha at this juncture because the same demon discourages Ravana in confronting Rama, but becomes a golden deer at the behest of Ravana, at the time of Ravana's abducting Seetha. So, Rama shows forbearance at Maareecha till such time.

VERSE 21

इमान् अपि वधिष्यामि निर्घृणान् दुष्ट चारिणः
राक्षसान् पाप कर्मस्थान् यज्ञ घ्नान् रुधिर अशनान्

imān api vadhiṣyāmi nirghṛṇān duṣṭa cāriṇaḥ
rākṣasān pāpa karmasthān yajña ghnān rudhira aśanān

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

"But I wish to kill these demons for they are ruthless, iniquitous, flagitious, ritual-hinderers and blood-drinkers." So said Rama to Lakshmana. [1-30-21]

VERSE 22

इति उक्त्वा लक्ष्मणम् च अशु लाघवम् दर्शयन् इव
संगृह्य सुमहत् च अस्त्रम् आग्नेयम् रघुनंदनः
सुबाहु उरसि चिक्षेप स विद्धः प्रापतत् भुवि

iti uktvā lakṣmaṇam ca aśu lāghavam darśayan iva
saṃgṛhya sumahat ca astram āgneyam raghunaṃdanaḥ
subāhu urasi cikṣepa sa viddhaḥ prāpatat bhuvi

SYNONYMS

iti uktvā lakśmaṇam: thus, saying, to Lakshmana, also | raghu nandanaḥ = ṟaghu's, descendent: Rama | darśayan aśu lāghavam iva: to show, swift, dexterity, as though | su mahat = very, poverful: missile | āgneyam astram samgṛhya: Aagneya, missile, on taking | subāhu urasi cikṣepa: on Subaahu's, chest, darted it | saḥ viddhaḥ = he: Subaahu, struck with it | pra apatat bhuvi: flat, fell, on ground. |

TRANSLATION

Thus saying to Lakshmana, as though to show his swift dexterity Rama, the descendent of Raghu dynasty, took up a very powerful missile called Aagneya astra, Fire-missile, and darted it on the chest of Subaahu, by which that demon Subaahu is struck and fell flat on ground. [1-30-22]

VERSE 23

शेषान् वायव्यम् आदाय निजघान महायशाः
राघवः परमोदारो मुनीनाम् मुदम् आवहन्

śeṣān vāyavyam ādāya nijaghāna mahāyaśāḥ
rāghavaḥ paramodāro munīnām mudam āvahan

SYNONYMS

TRANSLATION

In order to bring felicity to the sages that great glorious and supremely generous Raghava took up the missile of Air-god and hit down the remaining demons. [1-30-23]

VERSE 24

स हत्वा राक्षसान् सर्वान् यज्ञ घ्नान् रघुनंदनः
ऋषिभिः पूजितः तत्र यथा इन्द्रो विजये पुरा

sa hatvā rākṣasān sarvān yajña ghnān raghunaṃdanaḥ
ṛṣibhiḥ pūjitaḥ tatra yathā indro vijaye purā

SYNONYMS

raghu nandanaḥ: Raghu's, delight | yajña ghnān: ritual, hinderers | rākṣasān sarvān hatvā: demons, all of them, when eliminated | purā vijaye indraḥ yathā: once, when victorious, Indra, as with | tatra ṛṣibhiḥ pūjitaḥ = there: in hermitage, by sages, idealised. |

TRANSLATION

When Rama, the delight of Raghu's dynasty, has eliminated all of the demons that are the hinderers of Vedic rituals, the sages available there in that hermitage idealised him as Indra was idealised once, when he became victories on demons. [1-30-24]

VERSE 25

अथ यज्ञे समाप्ते तु विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः
निरीतिका दिशो दृष्ट्वा काकुत्स्थम् इदम् अब्रवीत्

atha yajñe samāpte tu viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ
nirītikā diśo dṛṣṭvā kākutstham idam abravīt

SYNONYMS

atha yajñe samāpte tu: then, ritual, on completion, but | viśvāmitraḥ mahāmuniḥ: Vishvamitra, great sage | nir ītikā diśaḥ dṛṣṭvā: devoid of, calamities, precincts, beholding | kākutstham idam abravīt = to k͟hakutstha: to Rama, this, said. |

TRANSLATION

On the completion of ritual beholding the precincts that are devoid of calamities the great sage Vishvamitra said this to Rama. [1-30-25]

VERSE 26

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे त्रिंशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe triṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

mahā bāhuḥ: oh, dextrous one | kṛta arthaḥ asmi = made, results ī am: my purpose is fully realised | tvayā guru vacaḥ kṛtam: by you, mentor's, word of honour, is actualised | mahā yaśaḥ vīra = oh, highly illustrious, valiant: Rama | idam siddha āśramam: this, Siddha [Accomplished] hermitage | satyam kṛtam: true [to its name,] is rendered | saḥ evam rāmam praśasya = he: Vishvamitra, thus, at Rama, while applauding | tābhyām sandhyām upāgamat: by both of them, vesper-time, came nigh. |

TRANSLATION

"My purpose in conducting the ritual is fully realised, oh, dextrous Rama, and you too, as a highly illustrious prince, have actualised the word of honour of your mentor, where one mentor is your father King Dasharatha and the other is myself, and likewise oh, valiant Rama the glory of this Accomplished hermitage is also actualised..." thus when Vishvamitra is applauding Rama, they have come close to vesper-time for vespertine prayers on Sandhya, the goddess of gloaming. [1-30-26]