Chapter 34

Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties

VERSE 1

कृत उद्वाहे गते तस्मिन् ब्रह्मदत्ते च राघव
अपुत्रः पुत्र लाभाय पौत्रीम् इष्टिम् अकल्पयत्

kṛta udvāhe gate tasmin brahmadatte ca rāghava
aputraḥ putra lābhāya pautrīm iṣṭim akalpayat

SYNONYMS

rāghava: oh, Raghava | tasmin brahmadatte: of that, Brahmadatta's | kṛta udvāhe gate: on making, marriage [on marrying,] when gone away | a putraḥ = not, vith son: sonless | putra lābhāya: son, for achieving | pautrīm iṣṭim akalpayat: for son's, ritual, embarked on. |

TRANSLATION

When Brahmadatta has married and left, oh, Raghava, king Kushanaabha he embarked on Vedic-ritual called putra kaameSTHi in order to beget a son because is sonless. [1-34-1]

VERSE 2

इष्ट्याम् तु वर्तमानायाम् कुशनाभम् महीपतिम्
उवाच परमोदारः कुशो ब्रह्मसुतः तदा

iṣṭyām tu vartamānāyām kuśanābham mahīpatim
uvāca paramodāraḥ kuśo brahmasutaḥ tadā

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | iṣṭyām tu vartamānāyām = ritual, but, vhile being conducted: during its performance | parama udāraḥ: supremely, generous one | brahma sutaḥ kuśaḥ = Brahma's, braincild, namely: Kusha | kuśanābham mahīpatim uvāca: to Kushanaabha, king, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

During the performance of the ritual, supremely generous Kusha, the brainchild of Brahma and the father of Kushanaabha, spoke to the king Kushanaabha. [1-34-2]

VERSE 3

पुत्रः ते सदृशः पुत्र भविष्यति सुधार्मिकः
गाधिम् प्राप्स्यसि तेन त्वम् कीर्तिम् लोके च शाश्वतीम्

putraḥ te sadṛśaḥ putra bhaviṣyati sudhārmikaḥ
gādhim prāpsyasi tena tvam kīrtim loke ca śāśvatīm

SYNONYMS

putraḥ: oh, son | te sadṛśaḥ su dhārmikaḥ putra: to you, selfsame, highly, virtuous, son | bhaviṣyati: will be there | gādhim prāpsyasi: Gadhi, you will get | tena tvam loke śāśvatīm kīrtim ca: by him, you, in world, everlasting, renown | [prāpyasi: you will get.] |

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, son, there will be a highly virtuous and selfsame son of yours, known as Gaadhi, and through him you also will get everlasting renown in the world.' " Thus Kusha said to Kushanaabha. [1-34-3]

VERSE 4

एवम् उक्त्वा कुशो राम कुशनाभम् महीपतिम्
जगाम आकाशम् आविश्य ब्रह्म लोकम् सनातनम्

evam uktvā kuśo rāma kuśanābham mahīpatim
jagāma ākāśam āviśya brahma lokam sanātanam

SYNONYMS

rāma: oh, Rama | kuśa: Kusha | mahīpatim kuśanābham: to king, Kushanaabha | evam uktvā: so, saying | ākāśam āviśya: sky, on entering | sanātanam brahma lokam jagāma: to time-honoured, Brahma's, abode, journeyed to. |

TRANSLATION

"Saying so, oh, Rama, Kushanaabha's father Kusa entered the sky and journeyed to the time-honoured abode of Brahma. [1-34-4]

VERSE 5

कस्यचित् तु अथ कालस्य कुशनाभस्य धीमतः
जज्ञे परम धर्मिष्ठो गाधिः इति एव नामतः

kasyacit tu atha kālasya kuśanābhasya dhīmataḥ
jajñe parama dharmiṣṭho gādhiḥ iti eva nāmataḥ

SYNONYMS

atha kasyacit kālasya tu: then, after some, of time, but | dhīmataḥ kuśanābhasya: to highly intellectual, Kushanaabha | parama dharmiṣṭhaḥ: supremely, righteous one | nāmataḥ gādhiḥ iti eva: by name, Gaadhi, thus, [known] as | jajñe: took birth. |

TRANSLATION

"Then after some time that highly intellectual Kushanaabha begot a supremely righteous son known by the name Gaadhi. [1-34-5]

VERSE 6

स पिता मम काकुत्स्थ गाधिः परम धार्मिकः
कुश वंश प्रसूतो अस्मि कौशिको रघुनंदन

sa pitā mama kākutstha gādhiḥ parama dhārmikaḥ
kuśa vaṃśa prasūto asmi kauśiko raghunaṃdana

SYNONYMS

kākutstha: oh, Kakutstha | parama dhārmikaḥ gādhiḥ: eminently righteous one, Gaadhi | saḥ mama pitā: he is, my, father | raghu nandana: oh, Raghu's legatee | kuśa vamśa prasūtaḥ: [because] in Kusa's, dynasty, born in | kauśikaḥ: Kaushika [by the name of] | asmi = ī am: I got the name. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Rama of Kakutstha dynasty, that eminently righteous Gaadhi is my father, and since I am born in Kusha dynasty, oh, Raghu's legatee, I got the name Kaushika." Sage Vishvamitra thus narrating to Rama. [1-34-6]

VERSE 7

पूर्वजा भगिनी च अपि मम राघव सुव्रता
नाम्ना सत्यवती नाम ऋचीके प्रतिपादिता

pūrvajā bhaginī ca api mama rāghava suvratā
nāmnā satyavatī nāma ṛcīke pratipāditā

SYNONYMS

rāghava: oh, Raghava | su vratā: one with benevolent, vows | nāmnā satyavatī nāma: by name, Satyavati, renowned as | mama pūrva jā bhaginī ca api = to me, earlier, born, sister, also, even: she is there | ṛcīke pratipāditā: to sage Ruchika, proposed to [given in marriage.] |

TRANSLATION

"Even my elder sister who undertook benevolent vows and who is renowned by her name Satyavathi is there, oh, Raghava, and she is given in marriage to sage Ruchika. [1-34-7]

VERSE 8

सशरीरा गता स्वर्गम् भर्तारम् अनुवर्तिनी
कौशिकी परमोदारा सा प्रवृत्ता महानदी

saśarīrā gatā svargam bhartāram anuvartinī
kauśikī paramodārā sā pravṛttā mahānadī

SYNONYMS

: she | bhartāram anuvartinī: husband, while following | sa śarīrā svargam gatā: with body, to heaven, went to | parama udārā: very, generous one | kauśikī: [renowned as] Kaushiki | sā mahā nadī pravṛttā: she, as great, river, coursed as. |

TRANSLATION

"She journeyed to heaven with her body while she followed her departed husband and being a very generous lady she coursed as a great river renowned as River Kaushiki. [1-34-8]

PURPORT

Now called Kos'i (Cosy) corrupted from Kaus'ika, daughter of Kusha. 'This is one of those personifications of rivers so frequent in the Grecian mythology, but in the similar myths is seen the impress of the genius of each people, austere and profoundly religious in India, graceful and devoted to the worship of external beauty in Greece.' Gorresio.
VERSE 9

दिव्या पुण्य उदका रंया हिमवंतम् उपाश्रिता
लोकस्य हितकार्य अर्थम् प्रवृत्ता भगिनी मम

divyā puṇya udakā raṃyā himavaṃtam upāśritā
lokasya hitakārya artham pravṛttā bhaginī mama

SYNONYMS

lokasya hita kārya artham: world's, welfare, to do [yield benefit,] desiring for | pra vṛttā: well, emerged | divyā puṇya udakā ramya: divinely, pious, water, delightful | mama bhaginī = my, sister: Kaushiki river | himavantam upa āśritā: Himavanta, [Himalayan mountains,] takes shelter [while flowing.] |

TRANSLATION

"Desiring to yield benefit for the welfare of world, my sister has emerged with her divinely pious and delightful waters, taking recourse to Himalayan Mountains. [1-34-9]

PURPORT

If the first compound is lokasya hita kaama artham then 'to accord both mortal and immortal happiness; paara laukika, aihika saukhyam . My sister's holy waves are hurled / To purify and glad the world. - Griffith.
VERSE 10

ततो अहम् हिमवत् पार्श्वे वसामि नियतः सुखम्
भगिन्याम् स्नेह संयुक्तः कौशिक्या रघुनंदन

tato aham himavat pārśve vasāmi niyataḥ sukham
bhaginyām sneha saṃyuktaḥ kauśikyā raghunaṃdana

SYNONYMS

raghu nandana: oh, Raghu's, legatee | tataḥ: thereby | bhaginyām kauśikyām [pārśve]: of sister, Kaushiki, [adjacent to] | sneha samyuktaḥ: affection, along with | aham: I am | niyataḥ: abidingly | himavat pārśve: Himalayas, on mountainsides | sukham vasāmi: delightedly, I am residing. |

TRANSLATION

"Thereby, oh, Rama, I am delightfully and abidingly residing on the mountainsides of Himalayas, in adjacency of my sister Kausiki in all my affection for her. [1-34-10]

VERSE 11

सा तु सत्यवती पुण्या सत्ये धर्मे प्रतिष्ठिता
पतिव्रता महाभागा कौशिकी सरिताम् वरा

sā tu satyavatī puṇyā satye dharme pratiṣṭhitā
pativratā mahābhāgā kauśikī saritām varā

SYNONYMS

sā satyavatī tu: she, Satyavathi, for her part | puṇyā: a pious one | satye dharme pratiṣṭhitā: truthfulness, righteousness, steadfast | pati vratā mahā bhāgā: husband devote, highly, fortunate one | saritām varā kauśikī = among rivers, best of the, as ṟiver k͟hauśiki: she emerged. |

TRANSLATION

"She that Satyavathi for her part is a pious one, steadfast in truthfulness and righteousness, a husband devout, and such a highly fortunate one has emerged as a best river among rivers, namely River Kaushiki. [1-34-11]

VERSE 12

अहम् हि नियमात् राम हित्वा ताम् समुपागतः
सिद्ध आश्रमम् अनुप्राप्तः सिद्धो अस्मि तव तेजसा

aham hi niyamāt rāma hitvā tām samupāgataḥ
siddha āśramam anuprāptaḥ siddho asmi tava tejasā

SYNONYMS

rāma: oh, Rama | aham niyamāt: I, owing to [my] vow | tām hitvā: her, on leaving | sam upā gataḥ: well, nearby [of Accomplished Hermitage,] came in | siddha āśramam anuprāptaḥ: to Accomplished, hermitage, I have come | tava tejasā: by your, magnificence | siddhaḥ asmi: accomplished, I have. |

TRANSLATION

"Owing to my vow, oh, Rama, I left her for a while and came to the Accomplished Hermitage and owing to your magnificence I have become accomplished in that vow of mine. [1-34-12]

VERSE 13

एषा राम मम उत्पत्तिः स्वस्य वंशस्य कीर्तिता
देशस्य च महाबाहो यन् माम् त्वम् परिपृच्छसि

eṣā rāma mama utpattiḥ svasya vaṃśasya kīrtitā
deśasya ca mahābāho yan mām tvam paripṛcchasi

SYNONYMS

mahābāhuḥ rāma: oh, dextrous Rama | eṣā mama: this, is my | svasya vamśasya deśasya ca = of my, dynasty, [my] province, also: on which we are presently camping namely the riverbanks of Sona | utpattiḥ kīrtitā: [my] birth, is narrated | yat tvam mām paripṛcchasi: which, you, me, have asked. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, dextrous Rama, this is all about my dynasty, my province on which we are presently camping namely the riverbanks of Sona, and about my birth, and thus everything is narrated as you have asked me. [1-34-13]

VERSE 14

गतो अर्ध रात्रः काकुत्स्थ कथाः कथयतो मम
निद्राम् अभ्येहि भद्रम् ते मा भूत् विघ्नो अध्वनि इह नः

gato ardha rātraḥ kākutstha kathāḥ kathayato mama
nidrām abhyehi bhadram te mā bhūt vighno adhvani iha naḥ

SYNONYMS

kākutstha: oh, Rama | mama kathāḥ kathayataḥ: by me, narration, while narrating | ardha rātraḥ: mid, night | gataḥ: is past | nidrām abhyehi: [some] sleep, you get | te bhadram: good may betide you | iha naḥ adhvani = here: halfway, to us, on the way | vighnaḥ mā abhūt: hindrance, let not, occur. |

TRANSLATION

"By telling these legends it is past midnight, oh, Kakutstha, you get some sleep. Safe you be! Let no hindrance occur for us halfway on our pathway. [1-34-14]

VERSE 15

निष्पन्दाः तरवः सर्वे निलीना मृग पक्षिणः
नैशेन तमसा व्याप्ता दिशः च रघुनंदन

niṣpandāḥ taravaḥ sarve nilīnā mṛga pakṣiṇaḥ
naiśena tamasā vyāptā diśaḥ ca raghunaṃdana

SYNONYMS

rāma: oh, Rama | nāmnā menā [nāma]: by name, Mena, [she who is renowned like that] | yā meru duhitā: she who is, Mt. Meru's, daughter | su madhyamā: to that slender-waisted one | manojñā: fascinating one | himavataḥ patnī priyā: Himavan's, dear, wife | tayoḥ mātā vai: their, mother, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Raghu's delight, trees are standstill... animals and birds have slouched... nightly sombre has pervaded all the confines. [1-34-15]

VERSE 16

शनैः विसृज्यते संध्या नभो नेत्रैः इव आवृतम्
नक्षत्र तारा गहनम् ज्योतिर्भिः अवभासते

śanaiḥ visṛjyate saṃdhyā nabho netraiḥ iva āvṛtam
nakṣatra tārā gahanam jyotirbhiḥ avabhāsate

SYNONYMS

sandhyā śanaiḥ visṛjyate: eventide, slowly, lapsed | nakṣatra tārā gahanam: stars, starlets, filled with | nabhaḥ: vault of heaven | jyotibhiḥ: with stars | netraiḥ āvṛtam iva: with orbs [of heaven,] overspread, as though | ava bhāsate: splendorous / it is appearing. |

TRANSLATION

"Eventide lapsed slowly and the vault of heaven filled with stars and starlets is splendorous as though orbs of heaven are overspread on its vault. [1-34-16]

VERSE 17

उत्तिष्ठते च शीतांशुः शशी लोक तमो नुदः
ह्लादयन् प्राणिनाम् लोके मनांसि प्रभया स्वया

uttiṣṭhate ca śītāṃśuḥ śaśī loka tamo nudaḥ
hlādayan prāṇinām loke manāṃsi prabhayā svayā

SYNONYMS

śīta amśuḥ śaśī: who has coolant, moonbeams, the moon | loka tamaḥ nudaḥ: of world, darkness, while dissipating | svayā prabhayā: with his own, with brilliance | loke prāṇinām manāmsi: in world, living beings', hearts | hlādayan: gladdening | uttiṣṭhate ca: is rising, also. |

TRANSLATION

"Also, dissipating the darkness of the world with his brilliance, the moon with coolant moonbeams is rising up, gladdening the hearts of worldly beings. [1-34-17]

VERSE 18

नैशानि सर्व भूतानि प्रचरंति ततः ततः
यक्ष राक्षस संघाः च रौद्राः च पिशित अशनाः

naiśāni sarva bhūtāni pracaraṃti tataḥ tataḥ
yakṣa rākṣasa saṃghāḥ ca raudrāḥ ca piśita aśanāḥ

SYNONYMS

naiśāni = those beings that move in night: nightly beings | sarva bhūtāni: all, beings of | yakṣas rākṣasa sanghāḥ ca: yaksha-s, demon, bands, even | raudrāḥ piśita aśanāḥ ca: ferocious, raw flesh, eaters [ogres,] even | tataḥ tataḥ: there, there | pra caranti = are [nov] milling about: astir. |

TRANSLATION

"Now, the bands of yaksha-s, demons, even the ferocious ogres that feed on raw flesh, why them, all the beings that take pleasure in nights are astir, far and wide." So said Vishvamitra to Rama. [1-34-18]

VERSE 19

एवम् उक्त्वा महातेजा विरराम महामुनिः
साधु साधु इति ते सर्वे मुनयो हि अभ्यपूजयन्

evam uktvā mahātejā virarāma mahāmuniḥ
sādhu sādhu iti te sarve munayo hi abhyapūjayan

SYNONYMS

mahā tejā mahā muniḥ: great-resplendent, eminent, saint | evam uktvā: this way, on saying | vi ra rāma: verily, paused | sarve munayaḥ: all, saints | sādhu sādhu iti: well-said, well-said thus as | tam abhyapūjayan [abhi apūjayan]: him, verily, revered. |

TRANSLATION

Saying so that greatly resplendent and eminent saint Vishvamitra paused, and then all the other sages have revered him saying, "well-said, well-said." [1-34-19]

VERSE 20

कुशिकनाम् अयम् वंशो महान् धर्मपरः सदा
ब्रह्म उपमा महात्मनः कुशवंश्या नरोत्तम

kuśikanām ayam vaṃśo mahān dharmaparaḥ sadā
brahma upamā mahātmanaḥ kuśavaṃśyā narottama

SYNONYMS

kuśikanām: pertaining to Kusha's progeny | ayam vamśaḥ mahān: this, dynasty is, sublime | sadā dharma paraḥ: always, to righteousness, dedicated to | kuśa vamśyāḥ: those belonging to Kusha's lineage | nara uttamaḥ = men: mankind, the best ones among | mahā ātmanaḥ: highly reverential ones | brahma upamā = Brahma, in simile to: symbolise with. |

TRANSLATION

"Sublime is this lineage of Kusha dynasty which always dedicated itself to righteousness, and the dynasts of Kusha are the best ones among mankind, and they symbolise with god Brahma himself, thus they are highly reverential." Thus the other sages have applauded Vishvamitra and his dynasty. [1-34-20]

VERSE 21

विशेषेण भवान् एव विश्वामित्र महायशः
कौशिकी सरिताम् श्रेष्ठः कुल उद्योतकरी तव

viśeṣeṇa bhavān eva viśvāmitra mahāyaśaḥ
kauśikī saritām śreṣṭhaḥ kula udyotakarī tava

SYNONYMS

mahāyaśaḥ viśvāmitra: oh, highly renowned, Vishvamitra | bhavān eva: you, alone | viśeṣeṇa = especially: are exemplary, selfsame to Brahma | saritām śreṣṭhaḥ: among rivers, prominent one | kauśikī: River Kaushiki [sister of Vishvamitra] | tava kula udyotakarī: your, ancestry, she is glorifying. |

TRANSLATION

"You alone are exemplarily selfsame to Brahma, oh, Vishvamitra of great-renown, and among rivers that prominent River Kaushiki is your sister, thus she is glorifying your ancestry." Thus the sages lauded Vishvamitra. [1-34-21]

VERSE 22

मुदितैः मुनि शार्दूलैः प्रशस्तः कुशिक आत्मजः
निद्राम् उपागमत् श्रीमान् अस्तम् गत इव अंशुमान्

muditaiḥ muni śārdūlaiḥ praśastaḥ kuśika ātmajaḥ
nidrām upāgamat śrīmān astam gata iva aṃśumān

SYNONYMS

[iti: in this way] | muni śārdūlaiḥ praśastaḥ = by sages, tigerly ones, one vho is lauded: Vishvamitra | śrīmān kuśika ātmajaḥ = magnificent one, k͟huśi's, son: Vishvamitra | muditaiḥ: is pleased | astam gata: to dusk, one has gone in | amśumān iva: one having sunrays [sun,] as with | nidrām upa āgamat = slīp, nearer, came nearby: slept | or, śrīmān astam iva aṃśumān: like the resplendent sun going to western mountain to take rest for that day, Vishvamitra drifted into sleep. |

TRANSLATION

Sage Vishvamitra is pleased when those tigerly sages have laude him, and then that magnificent sage Vishvamitra lapsed into the lap of sleep, as the sun lapses into lap of dusk for that day. [1-34-22]

VERSE 23

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे चतुर् त्रिंशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe catur triṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

saha saumitriḥ rāmaḥ api: with, Soumitri, Rama, even | kimcit āgata vismayaḥ: a little, came upon, astonishment | muni śārdūlam praśasya: sage, tigerly, on applauding | nidrām sam upa sevate: sleep, well, nearly, held dear [Rama served the Goddess of Sleep, Nidra Devi |

TRANSLATION

Even Rama with a little astonishment coming upon him, applauding that tigerly-sage, and glided into the lap of sleep along with Soumitri. [1-34-23]