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Chapter 33

Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties

VERSE 1

तस्य तद् वचनम् श्रुत्वा कुशनाभस्य धीमतः
शिरोभिः चरणौ स्पृष्ट्वा कन्या शतम् अभाषत

tasya tad vacanam śrutvā kuśanābhasya dhīmataḥ
śirobhiḥ caraṇau spṛṣṭvā kanyā śatam abhāṣata

SYNONYMS

dhīmataḥ: scholarly one | tasya kuśanābhasya: his, of Kushanaabha | tat vacanam śrutvā: that, sentence, on hearing | kanyā śatam: girls, hundred | śirobhiḥ caraṇau spṛṣṭvā: with forehead, [father's] feet, on touching | abhāṣata: spoke. |

TRANSLATION

On hearing that sentence of scholarly Kushanaabha those hundred girls touched his feet with their foreheads and spoke to him. [1-33-1]

VERSE 2

वायुः सर्वात्मको राजन् प्रधर्षयितुम् इच्छति
अशुभम् मार्गम् आस्थाय न धर्मम् प्रत्यवेक्षते

vāyuḥ sarvātmako rājan pradharṣayitum icchati
aśubham mārgam āsthāya na dharmam pratyavekṣate

SYNONYMS

rājan: oh, king | sarva ātmakaḥ vāyuḥ: all-pervasive, Air-god | a śubham mārgam āsthāya = not, auspicious, path: improper approach, resorting to | pra dharṣayitum icchati: to highly, maltreat [dishonour us,] he desired to | dharmam na prati avekṣate = virtuous conduct of girls, not, tovards, sīing: overlooking. |

TRANSLATION

" 'The all-pervasive Air-god desired to dishonour us, oh, king, resorting to improper approach and overlooking virtuous conduct. [1-33-2]

VERSE 3

पितृमत्यः स्म भद्रम् ते स्वच्छन्दे न वयम् स्थिताः
पितरम् नो वृणीष्व त्वम् यदि नो दास्यते तव

pitṛmatyaḥ sma bhadram te svacchande na vayam sthitāḥ
pitaram no vṛṇīṣva tvam yadi no dāsyate tava

SYNONYMS

vayam pitṛmatyaḥ sma: we, those that have a father [father dependent,] we are there | te bhadram: you be safe | sva cchande na sthitāḥ: our, own way, not [not independent,] we are | naḥ tava: us, to you | dāsyate yadi: he gives, whether or not | tvam naḥ pitaram vṛṇīṣva: you, with our, father, may request. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Our father is there and we are not independent, you be safe, hence oh, Air-god, you may request our father to know whether he gives us to you or not.' Thus we have told the Air-god, but... [1-33-3]

VERSE 4

तेन पाप अनुबन्धेन वचनम् न प्रतीच्छता
एवम् ब्रुवंत्यः सर्वाः स्म वायुना अभिहता भृषम्

tena pāpa anubandhena vacanam na pratīcchatā
evam bruvaṃtyaḥ sarvāḥ sma vāyunā abhihatā bhṛṣam

SYNONYMS

evam bruvantyaḥ sarvāḥ: thus, speaking, all of us | pāpa anubandhena: venality, bound by | vacanam: [our] sentence | na: not | prati īcchatā = in reply, bearing in mind: one who refused to take notice | tena vāyunā: by him, by Air-god | bhṛṣam: much | abhi hatā = smacked dovn: we are harmed. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Though we all have spoken to him thus, that Air-god who is bound by venality refused to take notice of our words and he has harmed us a lot.' Thus those girls informed their father. [1-33-4]

PURPORT

Since then, because the Wind-God bent / The damsels' forms for punishment, / That royal town is known to fame / By Kanyakubja's borrowed name. That is, the City of the Bent Virgins, the modern Kanauj or Canouge - Griffith.
VERSE 5

तासाम् तु वचनम् श्रुत्वा राजा परम धार्मिकः
प्रत्युवाच महातेजाः कन्या शतम् अनुत्तमम्

tāsām tu vacanam śrutvā rājā parama dhārmikaḥ
pratyuvāca mahātejāḥ kanyā śatam anuttamam

SYNONYMS

parama dhārmikaḥ: highly, virtuous one | mahātejāḥ: highly resplendent one | rājā: king | tāsām tat vacanam śrutvā: their, that, sentence, on listening | an uttamam kanyā śatam uvāca: to un, surpassing, to girls, hundred, said. |

TRANSLATION

On listening their words that highly virtuous and highly resplendent king spoke to the hundred girls with unsurpassed virtue. [1-33-5]

VERSE 6

क्षान्तम् क्षमावताम् पुत्र्यः कर्तव्यम् सुमहत् कृतम्
ऐकमत्यम् उपागंय कुलम् च आवेक्षितम् मम

kṣāntam kṣamāvatām putryaḥ kartavyam sumahat kṛtam
aikamatyam upāgaṃya kulam ca āvekṣitam mama

SYNONYMS

putryaḥ: oh, daughters | kṣamāvatām kartavyam kṣāntam = those that have self: control - imperturbability, their duty, is forgiving | kṛtam = that is done: you have done it | su mahat: [this is] very, excellent [deed you have done] | aikamatyam upāgamya: unity, coursing through | mama kulam ca: my, family [prestige,] also | āvekṣitam: looked after [kept up.] |

TRANSLATION

" 'Forgiving is the duty of imperturbable and you have done it. Excellent. Oh, daughters, coursing through your unity my family's prestige is also kept up. [1-33-6]

VERSE 7

अलंकारो हि नारीणाम् क्षमा तु पुरुषस्य वा
दुष्करम् तत् च वै क्षान्तम् त्रिदशेषु विशेषतः

alaṃkāro hi nārīṇām kṣamā tu puruṣasya vā
duṣkaram tat ca vai kṣāntam tridaśeṣu viśeṣataḥ

SYNONYMS

, 8a| nārīṇām: to women | puruṣasya vā: to men, either | kṣamā alankāraḥ hi: forgiveness, adornment, as a matter of fact | kṣāntam iti yat: forgiving, that which is there | tat duṣ karam ca vai: that is, not, practicable, also, verily | tridaśeṣu viśeṣataḥ: among divinities, especially [impracticable] | vaḥ sarvāsām: to you, you all | a viśeṣataḥ = not, differentiated: uniformly | yādṛśīḥ: which kind of | kṣamā: forgiving [is there | duṣkaram = impossible: laudable.] |

TRANSLATION

" 'Forgiveness is an adornment to women, as a matter of fact, even for men, and this matter called 'forgiving' that which is there, it is an impracticable affair. That too, in respect of divinities. And the kind of forgiveness you all possess uniformly, that is further laudable. [1-33-7, 8a]

PURPORT

This also means: 'though you possess excellent aspects and persona alike celestials, viz., apsara-s, for you are the children of celestial / apsara Ghritachi... you have forgiven Air-god, without submitting yourselves to bodily pleasures of humans.'
VERSE 8

क्षमा दानम् क्षमा सत्यम् क्षमा यज्ञः च पुत्रिकाः

kṣamā dānam kṣamā satyam kṣamā yajñaḥ ca putrikāḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 9a| kṣamā dānam: grace [forgiveness] is, altruism | kṣamā yajñaḥ: grace is, ritualism | putrikāḥ: oh, daughters | kṣamā yaśaḥ: grace is, glory | kṣamā dharmaḥ: grace is, virtue | kṣamā satyam [hi]: grace is, truth, [isn't it] | kṣamāyām jagat vi ṣṭhitam: in graciousness, universe is, verily, abiding. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Grace is altruism, grace is ritualism, oh, my daughters, grace is glory, grace is virtue, and this universe is verily abiding in graciousness alone for grace itself is the truth, isn't it!' Thus king Kushanaabha said to his daughters and sent them away. [1-33-8b, 9a]

VERSE 9

विसृज्य कन्याः काकुत्स्थ राजा त्रिदश विक्रमः

visṛjya kanyāḥ kākutstha rājā tridaśa vikramaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 10| kākutstha: oh, Rama | tridaśa vikramaḥ: matching god, whose valour is | mantra jñaḥ: in thinking, expert | rājā: king Kushanaabha | kanyāḥ visṛjya: girls, leaving them | mantribhiḥ saha: ministers, along with | pradānam: about endowing [giving daughters in marriage] | mantrayāmāsa: started to contemplate | pradānasya: of that bride giving] | deśe kāle: in which country, at which time | sadṛśe: matching one [bridegroom] | pratipādanam kartavyam ca = [marriage] proposals, is to be done: on such topics he discussed with ministers. |

TRANSLATION

"On leaving those girls, oh, Rama, that king whose valour matches that of gods and who is an expert in thinking strategies started to think with his ministers on the topics like, as to how his daughters are to be espoused to, to which country they are to be sent, at which time marriage shall happen, and to which matching bridegroom the marriage is to be proposed, and so on." Thus Vishvamitra continued his narration. [1-33-9b, 10]

VERSE 11

एतस्मिन् एव काले तु चूली नाम महाद्युतिः
ऊर्ध्व रेताः शुभाचारो ब्राह्मम् तप उपागमत्

etasmin eva kāle tu cūlī nāma mahādyutiḥ
ūrdhva retāḥ śubhācāro brāhmam tapa upāgamat

SYNONYMS

etasmin kāle eva tu: during, time, alone, but | mahā dhyutiḥ: great-resplendent one | ūrdhva retāḥ = vith upvard, semen: meaning whose semen is not lost | śubha ācāraḥ: with propitious, demeanour | cūlī nāma: Cuulii, named | brāhmam tapa = Vedic, asceticism: one who has ascesis strict to Vedic canons | upāgamat: achieved such ascesis. |

TRANSLATION

During that time a great-resplendent sage named Cuulii is there, who is propitious in his demeanour and who holds his semen upward, and who has achieved high ascetic practise strictly according to Vedic canons. [1-33-11]

PURPORT

The uurthva retaH is that the yogi-s of a very high practice of pure yoga called haTha yoga, will hold their semen un-ejaculated by use or misuse, and they make it course towards their heads through the six-plexuses of human body. This type of practice is to enrich their mental and physical glow and they will have a divine aura around them.
VERSE 12

तपस्यंतम् ऋषिम् तत्र गंधर्वी पर्युपासते
सोमदा नाम भद्रम् ते ऊर्मिला तनया तदा

tapasyaṃtam ṛṣim tatra gaṃdharvī paryupāsate
somadā nāma bhadram te ūrmilā tanayā tadā

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | tatra tapasyantam ṛṣim: at the place of ascesis, while practising, sage is | ūrmilā tanayā: Urmila's, daughter | somadā nāma gandharvī: Somada, named, a gandharva / celestial female | pari upāsate: in overall manner, serving him | te bhadram: to you, safety |

TRANSLATION

"While that sage is in the practise of asceticism a celestial female served him at the place of his ascesis, safety be with you oh, Rama, she is Somada by her name, the daughter of Urmila. [1-33-12]

VERSE 13

सा च तम् प्रणता भूत्वा शुश्रूषण परायणा
उवास काले धर्मिष्ठा तस्याः तुष्टो अभवत् गुरुः

sā ca tam praṇatā bhūtvā śuśrūṣaṇa parāyaṇā
uvāsa kāle dharmiṣṭhā tasyāḥ tuṣṭo abhavat guruḥ

SYNONYMS

sā ca: she, even | tam: in his respect | praṇatā bhūtvā = boving dovn: obediently, on becoming | śuśrūṣaṇa parāyaṇā: ministering to, dedicate one | dharmiṣṭhā: righteously | uvāsa: stayed there | kāle: after some time | guruḥ: mentor [the sage] | tasyāḥ tuṣṭaḥ abhavat: of her [service,] satisfied, he became. |

TRANSLATION

"Even she is obedient in his respect, and dedicating herself in ministering to him she stayed there righteously. After some time that sage Cuulii has become satisfied with her service. [1-33-13]

VERSE 14

स च ताम् काल योगेन प्रोवाच रघु नंदन
परितुष्टो अस्मि भद्रम् ते किम् करोमि तव प्रियम्

sa ca tām kāla yogena provāca raghu naṃdana
parituṣṭo asmi bhadram te kim karomi tava priyam

SYNONYMS

raghu nandana = oh, ṟaghu's, delight: Rama | saḥ ca: he that sage, also | kāla yogena = time, by cance of: when her service is fructified | tām pra uvāca: to her, well [benevolently,] said | parituṣṭoaḥ asmi: perfectly pleased, I am | te bhadram: to you, safety | tava kim priyam karomi = your, vhat, ceriś, ī can do: I have to fulfil. |

TRANSLATION

"When her service is fructified, oh, Rama, that sage benevolently spoke to her saying, 'I am perfectly pleased with your service, let good betide you, what cherish of yours I have to fulfil.' [1-33-14]

VERSE 15

परितुष्टम् मुनिम् ज्ञात्वा गन्धर्वी मधुर स्वरम्
उवाच परम प्रीता वाक्यज्ञा वाक्य कोविदम्

parituṣṭam munim jñātvā gandharvī madhura svaram
uvāca parama prītā vākyajñā vākya kovidam

SYNONYMS

munim parituṣṭam jñātvā: sage, contented, on perceiving | madhura svaram: in melodious, voice | vākya jñā: sentence making, she who is aware of | gandharvī: gandharva female | parama prītā: highly, delighted | vākya kovidam = sentence making, to ekṣpert: pedantic sage | uvāca: spoke. |

TRANSLATION

"Perceiving that the sage is contented that female celestial Soamda who is aware of making good sentences is highly delighted and spoke with her melodious voice to that pedantic sage. [1-33-15]

VERSE 16

लक्ष्ंया समुदितो ब्राह्ंया ब्रह्म भूतो महातपाः
ब्राह्मेण तपसा युक्तम् पुत्रम् इच्छामि धार्मिकम्

lakṣṃyā samudito brāhṃyā brahma bhūto mahātapāḥ
brāhmeṇa tapasā yuktam putram icchāmi dhārmikam

SYNONYMS

mahā tapāḥ: oh, one with supreme, ascesis | brāhmyā lakṣmyā sam uditaḥ = pertaining to Brahma [Vedic practises,] splendour, is on the rise: flourishing | brahma bhūtaḥ: on with Brahma, you became | brāhmeṇa tapasā yuktam = vith Brahma's [spirituality of Veda: s,] ascetic [spirituality,] along with - embodied with | dhārmikam putram icchāmi = righteous, son, ī viś to have: I may be endowed with. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Vedic splendour is flourishing in you when you have become one with Brahma, oh, supreme ascetic, I may please be endowed with a righteous son whose ascetic spirituality may embody the spirituality enunciated in Veda-s. [1-33-16]

VERSE 17

अपतिः च अस्मि भद्रम् ते भार्या च अस्मि न कस्यचित्
ब्राह्मेण उपगतायाः च दातुम् अर्हसि मे सुतम्

apatiḥ ca asmi bhadram te bhāryā ca asmi na kasyacit
brāhmeṇa upagatāyāḥ ca dātum arhasi me sutam

SYNONYMS

a patiḥ ca asmi: without, husband [unmarried,] also, I am | bhadram te: safe, you be | kasyacit bhāryā na asmi: to anyone, wife, not, I am | upa gatāyāḥ = nearby, arrived: took shelter under you | me: to me | brāhmeṇa: by your ascetic faculty | sutam dātum arhasi: a son, to endow, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

" 'I am unmarried and nobody's wife, safe you be, and as I took shelter under your kindness it will be apt of you to endow me a son with your faculty of asceticism.' So said Somada to sage Cuulii. [1-33-17]

VERSE 18

तस्याः प्रसन्नो ब्रह्मर्षिर् ददौ ब्राह्मम् अनुत्तमम्
ब्रह्मदत्त इति ख्यातम् मानसम् चूलिनः सुतम्

tasyāḥ prasanno brahmarṣir dadau brāhmam anuttamam
brahmadatta iti khyātam mānasam cūlinaḥ sutam

SYNONYMS

tasyāḥ prasannaḥ brahmarṣiḥ: of her, one who became benignant, Brahma-sage | cūlinaḥ: of sage Cuulina | mānasam sutam = by instinct, [born] son: brainchild | brāhmam: Brahma-like | brahmadatta iti khyātam: Brahmadatta, thus, renowned | an uttamam = un, surpassed: unique one | dadau: bestowed. |

TRANSLATION

"That Brahma-sage Cuulina benignantly bestowed her with a unique and Brahma-like son who is renowned as Brahmadatta, as well as his own brainchild. [1-33-18]

PURPORT

The word 'cuulinaH' also read as Cuulina, another name for this sage Cuuli.
VERSE 19

स राजा ब्रह्मदत्तः तु पुरीम् अध्यवसत् तदा
कांपिल्याम् परया लक्ष्ंया देवराजो यथा दिवम्

sa rājā brahmadattaḥ tu purīm adhyavasat tadā
kāṃpilyām parayā lakṣṃyā devarājo yathā divam

SYNONYMS

brahmadattaḥ saḥ rājā tu: Brahmadatta, he that, king, for his part | tadā: then | deva nrājaḥ divam yathā: god's, king, Indra, heaven, as with | kāmpilyām: Kampilya named | purīm: city | parayā lakṣmyā adhyavasat = endued vith superb, grandeur, presided: ruled. |

TRANSLATION

"King Brahmadatta endued with superb grandeur ruled from a city called Kaampilya as with Indra ruling the heaven. [1-33-19]

VERSE 20

स बुद्धिम् कृतवान् राजा कुशनाभः सुधार्मिकः
ब्रह्मदत्ताय काकुत्स्थ दातुम् कन्या शतम् तदा

sa buddhim kṛtavān rājā kuśanābhaḥ sudhārmikaḥ
brahmadattāya kākutstha dātum kanyā śatam tadā

SYNONYMS

kākutstha: oh, Rama of Kakutstha | tadā: then | su dhārmikaḥ rājā: most, righteous, king | saḥ kuśanābhaḥ: he that, Kushanaabha | kanyā śatam: daughters, hundred | brahmadattāya dātum = to Brahmadatta, to give: to espouse | buddhim kṛtavān: mind, made up. |

TRANSLATION

"The most righteous king Kushanaabha then made up his mind, oh, Rama of Kakutstha, to espouse his hundred daughters to Brahmadatta. [1-33-20]

VERSE 21

तम् आहूय महातेजा ब्रह्मदत्तम् महीपतिः
ददौ कन्या शतम् राजा सुप्रीतेन अंतरात्मना

tam āhūya mahātejā brahmadattam mahīpatiḥ
dadau kanyā śatam rājā suprītena aṃtarātmanā

SYNONYMS

mahātejā mahīpatiḥ rājā = great: resplendent, lord of land, king - Kushanaabha | tam brahmadattam āhūya = him that, Brahmadatta, on calling: inviting | su prītena antar ātmanā: with highly, pleased, heart of hearts | kanyā śatam dadau = daughters, hundred, gave: married. |

TRANSLATION

"Inviting Brahmadatta that great-resplendent lord of the land, namely the king Kushanaabha, married his hundred daughters to him, pleasing highly in his heart of hearts. [1-33-21]

VERSE 22

यथा क्रमम् ततः पाणिम् जग्राह रघुनंदन
ब्रह्मदत्तो महीपालः तासाम् देवपतिर् यथा

yathā kramam tataḥ pāṇim jagrāha raghunaṃdana
brahmadatto mahīpālaḥ tāsām devapatir yathā

SYNONYMS

raghu nandana: oh, Rama of Raghu's dynasty | deva patiḥ yathā = gods, lord: Indra, who vies with | brahmadattaḥ mahīpālaḥ: Brahmadatta, the king | tataḥ yathā kramam: then, in succession | tāsām pāṇim jagrāha = their, palm, caught: received each of their palm into his hand, as per the custom of marriage. |

TRANSLATION

"As with the tradition of marriage king Brahmadatta who vies with lord of gods, namely Indra, in succession took the palm of each of the hundred girls into his palm. [1-33-22]

VERSE 23

स्पृष्ट मात्रे ततः पाणौ विकुब्जा विगत ज्वराः
युक्ताः परमया लक्ष्ंया बभौ कन्या शतम् तदा

spṛṣṭa mātre tataḥ pāṇau vikubjā vigata jvarāḥ
yuktāḥ paramayā lakṣṃyā babhau kanyā śatam tadā

SYNONYMS

tataḥ: then | pāṇau spṛṣṭa mātre: palm, on touching, just by | tadā: as a result of | kanyā śatam: maidens, hundred | vi kubjā = vithout, huncback: without misshape | vi gata = verily, gone: evanished | jvarāḥ = fervidity: desperation | paramayā lakṣmyā yuktāḥ: with utmost, elegance, along with [retouched with] | babhau: they are beaming bright. |

TRANSLATION

"By mere touch of hand of Brahmadatta alone, their misshape and desperation are evanished, and all of those hundred maidens beamed bright as they are retouched with utmost elegance. [1-33-23]

VERSE 24

स दृष्ट्वा वायुना मुक्ताः कुशनाभो महीपतिः
बभूव परम प्रीतो हर्षम् लेभे पुनः पुनः

sa dṛṣṭvā vāyunā muktāḥ kuśanābho mahīpatiḥ
babhūva parama prīto harṣam lebhe punaḥ punaḥ

SYNONYMS

mahīpatiḥ: lord of land | saḥ kuśanābhaḥ: that, Kushanaabha | vāyunā muktāḥ: by [the effect of] Air-god, released | dṛṣṭvā: on seeing | parama prītaḥ babhūva: highly, joyful, he became | punaḥ punaḥ harṣam lebhe = again, again, delight, he tūk: in seeing his daughters restored to originality. |

TRANSLATION

"On seeing his daughters getting release from the effect of Air-god Kushanaabha became highly joyful, and he took great delight time and again as and when he looked at them. [1-33-24]

VERSE 25

कृत उद्वाहम् तु राजानम् ब्रह्मदत्तम् महीपतिः
सदारम् प्रेषयामास स उपाध्याय गणम् तदा

kṛta udvāham tu rājānam brahmadattam mahīpatiḥ
sadāram preṣayāmāsa sa upādhyāya gaṇam tadā

SYNONYMS

tadā: later | mahīpatiḥ: king Kushanaabha | kṛta udvāham tu = one vho has finiśed, marriage: when marriage is over | sa dāram: with, wives | sa upādhyāya gaṇam: with, religious teachers, assemblages of | rājānam brahmadattam: of king, Brahmadatta | preṣayāmāsa: started to send [off.] |

TRANSLATION

"Later when the marriage is complete king Kushanaabha bade farewell to king Brahmadatta along with his wives, his own hundred daughters, and along with the groups of religious teachers. [1-33-25]

VERSE 26

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे त्रयः त्रिंशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe trayaḥ triṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

gandharvī somadā api: gandharva female, Somada, even | sutam dṛṣṭvā: son, on seeing | [prati anandata: gladdened towards them] | tāḥ kanyāḥ: those, girls | spṛṣṭvā spṛṣṭvā = on toucing, toucing: caressing repeatedly | kuśanābham praśasya ca: Kushanaabha, praised, also | putrasya sadṛśīm kriyām: for a son, worthwhile, deed | yathā nyāyam ca: as per, tradition, also | tāḥ snuṣāḥ prati anandata = those, daughter: in-laws, towards, gladdened - or - blessed them. |

TRANSLATION

"Somada, the celestial female and the mother of Brahmadatta, is gladdened to see her son Brahmadatta, for the worthwhile deed done by him in removing the blemish caused by the Air-god to the girls, or in bringing those worthwhile girls as her daughter-in-laws. She is further gladdened while her feet are traditionally and repeatedly touched by a hundred daughter-in-laws in succession, coupled with her own raising of each of the daughter-in-law to embrace for a hundred times. Thus Somada has gone on caressing each of her hundred daughter-in-laws, and in doing so she is gladdened to do so over and over again, she is gladdened. She thus praised Kushanaabha for giving his gemlike daughters as her daughter-in-laws and blessed the daughter-in-laws. [1-33-26]