Chapter 41

Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties

VERSE 1

पुत्रान् चिर गतान् ज्ञात्वा सगरो रघुनंदन
नप्तारम् अब्रवीत् राजा दीप्यमानम् स्व तेजसा

putrān cira gatān jñātvā sagaro raghunaṃdana
naptāram abravīt rājā dīpyamānam sva tejasā

SYNONYMS

raghunandana: oh, Rama, descendent of Raghu | rājā sagaraḥ: king, Sagara | putrān cira gatān = sons, long time back, have gone: for searching horse | jñātvā: on knowing, on recalling to mind | sva tejasā dīpyamānam: with his own, resplendence, who is resplendent | naptāram abravīt: to grand son, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

"On observing that his sons have gone long time back in search of ritual-horse, oh, Rama, king Sagara spoke this to his grandson, Amshuman, who is radiant with his own self-resplendence." Thus Vishvamitra continued his narration about Sagara. [1-41-1]

VERSE 2

शूरः च कृत विद्यः च पूर्वैः तुल्यो असि तेजसा
पितृणाम् गतिम् अन्विच्छ येन च अश्वो अपहारितः

śūraḥ ca kṛta vidyaḥ ca pūrvaiḥ tulyo asi tejasā
pitṛṇām gatim anviccha yena ca aśvo apahāritaḥ

SYNONYMS

śūraḥ ca kṛta vidyaḥ ca: [you are a] brave one, also, completed, education [in warfare] | tejasā: by magnificence | pūrvaiḥ tulyaḥ asi: with [your] fathers [paternal-uncles,] equal to, you are | pitṝṇām gatim anviccha: your fathers [paternal-uncles',] course, you search | aśvaḥ yena apahāritaḥ ca = horse, by vhom, stolen, also|: you fin out. |

TRANSLATION

" 'You are brave one and completed your education in warfare, such as you are, you are a coequal to your paternal-uncles in magnificence, thus you search the course of your paternal uncles, also him by whom the horse is stolen.' Thus King Sagara started speaking to his grandson Amshuman. [1-41-2]

VERSE 3

अन्तर् भौमानि सत्त्वानि वीर्यवन्ति महान्ति च
तेषाम् त्वम् प्रतिघात अर्थम् स असिम् गृह्णीष्व कार्मुकम्

antar bhaumāni sattvāni vīryavanti mahānti ca
teṣām tvam pratighāta artham sa asim gṛhṇīṣva kārmukam

SYNONYMS

antar bhaumāni sattvāni = underneath, earth, beings: living beings in netherworlds | vīryavanti: are intrepid ones | mahānti ca: extraordinary ones, also | tvam teṣām pratighāta artham: you, their, retaliation [if they attack you,] for the purpose of | sa asim: with, sword | kārmukam gṛ hṇīṣva = bov, you take up: you wield. |

TRANSLATION

" 'The living beings in netherworlds of earth are intrepid and they are extraordinary also, hence you take your bow along with your sword to retaliate them in the event of their attacking you. [1-41-3]

VERSE 4

अभिवाद्य अभिवाद्यान् त्वम् हत्वा विघ्न करान् अपि
सिद्धार्थः संनिवर्तस्व मम यज्ञस्य पारगः

abhivādya abhivādyān tvam hatvā vighna karān api
siddhārthaḥ saṃnivartasva mama yajñasya pāragaḥ

SYNONYMS

tvam: you | abhivādyān: those that are to be saluted | abhivādya: on saluting them | vighna karān hatvā api: obstructions, causers, killing, even on | siddha arthaḥ san: achieved, purpose, on becoming | mama yajñasya: my, of Vedic-ritual | pāra gaḥ: to other shore, be crossed over | sam nivartasva = vell, return: safely come back. |

TRANSLATION

" 'On saluting them that are worthy for salutations, and on eliminating them that are the causer of obstructions, you shall achieve your purpose of tracking the ritual-horse, and thus you comeback safely and let my Vedic-ritual be crossed over to the other shore of mortality by you.' Thus king Sagara told his grandson Amshuman. [1-41-4]

VERSE 5

एवम् उक्तो अंशुमान् संयक् सगरेण महात्मना
धनुर् आदाय खड्गम् च जगाम लघुविक्रमः

evam ukto aṃśumān saṃyak sagareṇa mahātmanā
dhanur ādāya khaḍgam ca jagāma laghuvikramaḥ

SYNONYMS

amśumān: Amshuman | maha atmanā sagareṇa: by great-souled one, by Sagara | evam samyak uktaḥ: this way, thoroughly, when said | dhanuḥ khaḍgam ca ādāya: bow, sword, also, on taking | laghu vikramaḥ: in agility, adroit one | jagāma: proceeded. |

TRANSLATION

"When the great-souled king Sagara has thoroughly said in this way, that adroitly agile Amshuman proceeded wielding a bow and a sword. [1-41-5]

VERSE 6

स खातम् पितृभिः मार्गम् अन्तर् भौमम् महात्मभिः
प्रापद्यत नरश्रेष्ठ तेन राज्ञा अभिचोदितः

sa khātam pitṛbhiḥ mārgam antar bhaumam mahātmabhiḥ
prāpadyata naraśreṣṭha tena rājñā abhicoditaḥ

SYNONYMS

nara śreṣṭha = oh, best one among men: Rama | saḥ: he, Amshuman | tena rājñā abhicoditaḥ: by him, that king, motivated by | mahātmabhiḥ pitṛbhiḥ = by great: souled ones, by fathers - paternal-uncles | antar bhaumam khātam mārgam: inside, of earth, hollowed, walkway | prāpadyata = he attained: progressed on that path. |

TRANSLATION

"Motivated by the King Sagara, oh, Rama, the best one among men, Amshuman progressed on the walkway that was hollowed out by his great-souled paternal-uncles inside the earth. [1-41-6]

VERSE 7

देव दानव रक्षोभिः पिशाच पतग उरगैः
पूज्यमानम् महातेजा दिशा गजम् अपश्यत

deva dānava rakṣobhiḥ piśāca pataga uragaiḥ
pūjyamānam mahātejā diśā gajam apaśyata

SYNONYMS

mahātejā = that highly resplendent one: Amshuman | deva dānava rakṣobhiḥ: by gods, monsters, demons | piśāca pataga uragaiḥ: by imps, vultures, serpents | pūjyamānam: being venerated | diśā gajam apaśyata: directional, elephant, beheld. |

TRANSLATION

"And he that resplendent Amshuman beheld one of the four directional elephant of the earth which is being venerated by gods, monsters, demons, imps, vultures and serpents. [1-41-7]

VERSE 8

स तम् प्रदक्षिणम् कृत्वा पृष्ट्वा चैव निरामयम्
पितृइन् स परिपप्रच्छ वाजि हर्तारम् एव च

sa tam pradakṣiṇam kṛtvā pṛṣṭvā caiva nirāmayam
pitṛin sa paripapraccha vāji hartāram eva ca

SYNONYMS

saḥ tam pradakṣiṇam kṛtvā: he, him [elephant,] circumambulations, on making | nirāmayam pṛṣṭvā caiva: well being, on asking, also, even | saḥ = he: Amshuman | pitṛin: about fathers | vāji hartāram eva ca: horse, robber, even, also | pari pa praccha: in detail, enquired. |

TRANSLATION

On circumambulating that elephant in supplication, and even on enquiring after its well-being, he that Amshuman has enquired in detail with it for his paternal-uncles and even about the robber of the ritual-horse. [1-41-8]

VERSE 9

दिशा गजः तु तत् श्रुत्वा प्रत्युवाच महामतिः
आसमंज कृतार्थः त्वम् सह अश्वः शीघ्रम् एष्यसि

diśā gajaḥ tu tat śrutvā pratyuvāca mahāmatiḥ
āsamaṃja kṛtārthaḥ tvam saha aśvaḥ śīghram eṣyasi

SYNONYMS

mahāmatiḥ: of great perception [elephant] | diśā gajaḥ tu: directional, elephant, on its part | tat śrutvā: that, on hearing | prati uvāca = in turn, spoke: replied | āsamanja: oh, son of Asamanja | tvam kṛta arthaḥ: you, achieving, your mission | saha aśvaḥ śīghram eṣyasi = along vith, horse, ekṣpeditiously, you vill procīd: you will return. |

TRANSLATION

"On hearing that enquiry of Amshuman that directional elephant with great perception replied on its part saying, 'oh Amshuman, son of Asamanja, on achieving your mission you will return expeditiously along with the horse. [1-41-9]

VERSE 10

तस्य तद् वचनम् श्रुत्वा सर्वान् एव दिशा गजान्
यथा क्रमम् यथा न्यायम् प्रष्टुम् समुपचक्रमे

tasya tad vacanam śrutvā sarvān eva diśā gajān
yathā kramam yathā nyāyam praṣṭum samupacakrame

SYNONYMS

tasya tat vacanam śrutvā: his [elephant's,] that, word, on hearing | sarvān eva: all, like that | diśā gajān: directional, elephants | yathā kramam yathā nyāyam: according to, positioning, [i.e., their standing, north, east, south, west etc.,] according to, procedure | praṣṭum samupacakrame: to ask, he commenced. |

TRANSLATION

"On hearing that word of that directional elephant he departed from there, and on sequentially reaching other directional elephants that are abiding in other directions of earth, he commenced to ask the same enquiry which he made with the first, according to the positioning of elephants in directions, and according to the established procedures of their venerability. [1-41-10]

VERSE 11

तैः च सर्वैः दिशा पालैः वाक्यज्ञैः वाक्यकोविदैः
पूजितः स हयः चैव गन्ता असि इति अभिचोदितः

taiḥ ca sarvaiḥ diśā pālaiḥ vākyajñaiḥ vākyakovidaiḥ
pūjitaḥ sa hayaḥ caiva gantā asi iti abhicoditaḥ

SYNONYMS

vākya jñaiḥ vākyakovidaiḥ = sentence, knovers, sentence: making, experts in - articulate, eloquent | sarvaiḥ taiḥ diśā pālaiḥ ca: by all, of them, directions, safeguarding elephants | pūjitaḥ: he who is adored | sa hayaḥ = vith, horse: taking horse | gantā asi iti abhicoditaḥ: gone, you will be, thus, motivated. |

TRANSLATION

"All the elephants that safeguard the directions of earth which have the faculties of articulation and eloquence have adored Amshuman and motivated him by saying, 'you will be going from here taking the horse.' [1-41-11]

VERSE 12

तेषाम् तत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा जगाम लघुविक्रमः
भस्म राशी कृता यत्र पितरः तस्य सागराः

teṣām tat vacanam śrutvā jagāma laghuvikramaḥ
bhasma rāśī kṛtā yatra pitaraḥ tasya sāgarāḥ

SYNONYMS

teṣām tat vacanam śrutvā = of them [elephants,] that, vord: common blessing, on hearing | laghu vikramaḥ = nimble: footed - prince | tasya pitaraḥ = his, fathers: paternal uncles | sāgarāḥ: sons of Sagara | yatra: where | bhasma rāśī kṛtā: ash, mound, made as | [tatra: [ to there] | jagāma: he has gone. |

TRANSLATION

"On hearing that common blessing of all the directional-elephants, he that nimble-footed Amshuman has gone to the place where his paternal-uncles, sons of Sagara, were rendered as mounds of ashes. [1-41-12]

VERSE 13

स दुःख वशम् आपन्नः तु असमंज सुतः तदा
चुक्रोश परम आर्तः तु वधात् तेषाम् सुदुःखितः

sa duḥkha vaśam āpannaḥ tu asamaṃja sutaḥ tadā
cukrośa parama ārtaḥ tu vadhāt teṣām suduḥkhitaḥ

SYNONYMS

tadā: then | saḥ: he that | asamanja sutaḥ = āsamanja's, son: Amshuman | duḥkha vaśam āpannaḥ tu: anguish, into control, chanced upon, but | parama ārtaḥ tu: highly, agonised, but | teṣām vadhāt su duḥkhitaḥ = their: paternal-uncles, at the destruction, extremely, anguished | cukrośa: wept. |

TRANSLATION

"But he on whom the control of anguish has chanced for not physically seeing his paternal-uncles, that son of Asamanja then wept, as he is highly agonised and extremely anguished at their destruction. [1-41-13]

VERSE 14

यज्ञियम् च हयम् तत्र चरन्तम् अविदूरतः
ददर्श पुरुषव्याघ्रो दुःख शोक समन्वितः

yajñiyam ca hayam tatra carantam avidūrataḥ
dadarśa puruṣavyāghro duḥkha śoka samanvitaḥ

SYNONYMS

duḥkha śoka samanvitaḥ: by anguish, agony, one who is overwhelmed | puruṣa vyāghraḥ = tigerly: man - Amshuman | avidūrataḥ carantam: not very far, grazing | yajñiyam hayam ca: of Vedic-ritual, horse, also | dadarśa: he beheld. |

TRANSLATION

"That tigerly-man Amshuman who is overwhelmed by agony and anguish, also beheld there the horse of Vedic-ritual that is grazing nearby. [1-41-14]

VERSE 15

स तेषाम् राज पुत्राणाम् कर्तु कामो जल क्रियाम्
स जलार्थम् महातेजा न च अपश्यत् जल आशयम्

sa teṣām rāja putrāṇām kartu kāmo jala kriyām
sa jalārtham mahātejā na ca apaśyat jala āśayam

SYNONYMS

mahātejā: great resplendent one | saḥ: he | teṣām rāja putrāṇām = for them, king's, sons: to the departed souls | jala kriyām kartu kāmaḥ: [obsequial] water, oblation, to offer, wanted to | jala artham = vater, for the purpose of: when searched for | jala āśayam = vater, receptacle: tank, fount | saḥ na apaśyat ca = he, not, has sīn: found, also. |

TRANSLATION

"When he that great resplendent Amshuman wanted to offer obsequial waters to the departed sons of Sagara and searched for water he has not found any fount of water. [1-41-15]

VERSE 16

विसार्य निपुणाम् दृष्टिम् ततो अपश्यत् खग अधिपम्
पितृणाम् मातुलम् राम सुपर्णम् अनिल उपमम्

visārya nipuṇām dṛṣṭim tato apaśyat khaga adhipam
pitṛṇām mātulam rāma suparṇam anila upamam

SYNONYMS

rāma: oh, Rama | tataḥ: then | nipuṇām dṛṣṭim visārya: expert, glance, on spanning | pitṛṇām mātulam: fathers' paternal-uncles', maternal uncle | khaga adhipam: birds, king of | anila upamam: wind-god, similar to | su parṇam = rapid, vinged: Garuda | apaśyat: he saw. |

TRANSLATION

"Spanning his expert glances, oh, Rama, he then saw the rapid-winged king of birds, namely Garuda, the Eagle-vehicle of Vishnu, who is the maternal uncle of his father and other paternal-uncles, and whose flight will be similar to that of the Wind-god. [1-41-16]

VERSE 17

स च एनम् अब्रवीत् वाक्यम् वैनतेयो महाबलः
मा शुचः पुरुषव्याघ्र वधो अयम् लोक सम्मतः

sa ca enam abravīt vākyam vainateyo mahābalaḥ
mā śucaḥ puruṣavyāghra vadho ayam loka sammataḥ

SYNONYMS

mahābalaḥ: great-mighty | saḥ vainateyaḥ = he, that son of Vinata: Garuda | enam vākyam abravīt ca = to him: to Amshuman, sentence, spoke, also | puruṣavyāghra: oh, tigerly-man | mā śucaḥ: do not, bemoan | ayam vadhaḥ loka sammataḥ: this, eradication [of your paternal-uncles,] agreeable [worthwhile] to the worlds. |

TRANSLATION

"That great-mighty son of Lady Vinata, namely Garuda, also spoke this word to Amshuman, 'do not bemoan, oh, tigerly-man, this eradication of your paternal-uncles is worthwhile to the worlds. [1-41-17]

VERSE 18

कपिलेन अप्रमेयेण दग्धा हि इमे महाबलाः
सलिलम् न अर्हसि प्राज्ञ दातुम् एषाम् हि लौकिकम्

kapilena aprameyeṇa dagdhā hi ime mahābalāḥ
salilam na arhasi prājña dātum eṣām hi laukikam

SYNONYMS

mahā balāḥ: great-mighty ones | ime: these [paternal-uncles of yours] | aprameyeṇa kapilena: by the Imponderable one, by Kapila | dagdhā hi: are burnt down, in fact | prājña = oh, observant: Amshuman | eṣām laukikam salilam dātum: to them, mundane [obsequial water-oblations,] to offer | na arhasi hi: not, apt of you, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

" 'In fact, Kapila, the Imponderable Sage, has burnt down those great-mighty paternal-uncles of yours, oh, observant Amshuman, as such it will not be apt of you to offer the mundane obsequial water-oblations to them, indeed. [1-41-18]

VERSE 19

गंगा हिमवतो ज्येष्ठा दुहिता पुरुषर्षभ
तस्याम् कुरु महाबाहो पितॄणाम् तु जल क्रियाम्

gaṃgā himavato jyeṣṭhā duhitā puruṣarṣabha
tasyām kuru mahābāho pitṝṇām tu jala kriyām

SYNONYMS

puruṣarṣabha: man, the best | himavataḥ jyeṣṭhā duhitā gangā = ḥimavanta's, elder, daughter, ġanga: is there | mahābāhuḥ: oh, dextrous one | pitṝṇām tu jala kriyām: [to your departed] fathers [paternal-uncles,] but, water, oblation | tasyām kuru = in her, [in ġanga vaters,] you offer: you have to offer. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, best one among men, River Ganga is the elder daughter of Himavanta, and oh, dextrous one, you have to offer water-oblation to the departed paternal-uncles of yours in her waters, namely the holy waters of River Ganga. [1-41-19]

VERSE 20

भस्म राशी कृतान् एतान् पावयेत् लोक कांतया
तया क्लिन्नम् इदम् भस्म गंगया लोक कान्तया
षष्टिम् पुत्र सहस्राणि स्वर्ग लोकम् गमिष्यति

bhasma rāśī kṛtān etān pāvayet loka kāṃtayā
tayā klinnam idam bhasma gaṃgayā loka kāntayā
ṣaṣṭim putra sahasrāṇi svarga lokam gamiṣyati

SYNONYMS

loka pavanī: world, purifier [Ganga] | bhasma rāśī kṛtān: ash, mounds, made as | etān plāvayet = them [sons of ṣagara,] drifts: to heavens | [pāvaet: will purify them] | loka kāntayā: by worlds, adored | tayā gangayā: by her, by Ganga | klinnam idam bhasma: drenched, this, ash | ṣaṣṭim putra sahasrāṇi: sixty, sons, thousands | svarga lokam gamiṣyati: to empyrean, world, she can lead them. |

TRANSLATION

" 'World purifier River Ganga will drift them who are rendered as mounds of ashes to heaven, and when she who is much adored by all worlds drenches this ash, that River Ganga herself will lead the sixty-thousand sons of Sagara to heaven. [1-41-20]

VERSE 21

निर्गच्छ च अश्वम् महाभाग संगृह्य पुरुषर्षभ
यज्ञम् पैतामहम् वीर निर्वर्तयितुम् अर्हसि

nirgaccha ca aśvam mahābhāga saṃgṛhya puruṣarṣabha
yajñam paitāmaham vīra nirvartayitum arhasi

SYNONYMS

mahābhāga: oh, great fortunate one | puruṣa rṣabha: oh, best one among men | aśvam samgṛhya nir gaccha = horse, on taking, out, you go: you may proceed from here | vīra: oh, brave one | paitāmaham yajñam nirvartayitum arhasi: of grand father, Vedic- ritual, to carry out, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, great fortunate one, oh, best one among men, you may proceed from here with the horse, oh, brave one, it will be apt of you to carry out the Vedic-ritual of your grandfather.' Thus Garuda said to Amshuman. [1-41-21]

VERSE 22

सुपर्ण वचनम् श्रुत्वा सः अंशुमान् अतिवीर्यवान्
त्वरितम् हयम् आदाय पुनर् आयात् महायशाः

suparṇa vacanam śrutvā saḥ aṃśumān ativīryavān
tvaritam hayam ādāya punar āyāt mahāyaśāḥ

SYNONYMS

ati vīryavān: highly, braving one | mahāyaśāḥ: highly renowned one | saḥ amśumān: he, Amshuman | suparṇa vacanam śrutvā: great-winged eagle [Garuda's,] words, on hearing | tvaritam hayam ādāya: swiftly, horse, on taking along | punaḥ āyāt: again, came- returned to his grandfather. |

TRANSLATION

"On hearing the words of that great-winged eagle, Garuda, he that highly brave and well-renowned Amshuman swiftly took the horse, and returned to the ritual place of his grandfather, king Sagara. [1-41-22]

VERSE 23

ततो राजानम् आसाद्य दीक्षितम् रघुनंदन
न्यवेदयत् यथा वृत्तम् सुपर्ण वचनम् तथा

tato rājānam āsādya dīkṣitam raghunaṃdana
nyavedayat yathā vṛttam suparṇa vacanam tathā

SYNONYMS

raghu nandana: oh, Rama, the descendant of Raghu | tataḥ: then | dīkṣitam rājānam āsādya: under vow, king, on getting at | yathā vṛttam: as has happened | tathā: all that | suparṇa vacanam: Garuda's, words, [also] | nyavedayat = submitted: described to Sagara. |

TRANSLATION

"Then on reaching the King Sagara, who is under the vow of the ritual, oh, Rama, Amshuman described what all has happened and even the words of Garuda. [1-41-23]

VERSE 24

तत् श्रुत्वा घोर संकाशम् वाक्यम् अंशुमतो नृपः
यज्ञम् निर्वर्तयामास यथा कल्पम् यथा विधि

tat śrutvā ghora saṃkāśam vākyam aṃśumato nṛpaḥ
yajñam nirvartayāmāsa yathā kalpam yathā vidhi

SYNONYMS

nṛpaḥ: king Sagara | amśumataḥ: from Amshuman | ghora samkāśam: unendurable | tat vākyam śrutvā: that, sentence, on hearing | yathā kalpam yathā vidhi: as per, scriptures, as per procedure | yajñam nirvartayāmāsa = Vedic ritual, restarted to: firstly - complete, and to see bout Ganga later. |

TRANSLATION

"On hearing those unendurable words from Amshuman, the king Sagara firstly completed the Vedic-ritual scripturally and procedurally. [1-41-24]

VERSE 25

स्व पुरम् च अगमत् श्रीमान् इष्ट यज्ञो महीपतिः
गंगायाः च आगमे राजा निश्चयम् न अध्यगच्छत

sva puram ca agamat śrīmān iṣṭa yajño mahīpatiḥ
gaṃgāyāḥ ca āgame rājā niścayam na adhyagacchata

SYNONYMS

śrīmān mahīpatiḥ = fortunate one, land, lord: king Sagara | iṣṭa yajñaḥ: having completed, Vedic-ritual | sva puram: his own, to capital | agamat: arrived | rājā gangāyāḥ āgame ca: king, about Ganga's, arrival, also | niścayam na adhyagacchata: decision, not, arrived at. |

TRANSLATION

"On completing the Vedic-ritual King Sagara arrived at his capital, but that king could not arrive at a decision about the arrival of Ganga to the earth. [1-41-25]

VERSE 26

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे एक चत्वारिंशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe eka catvāriṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

mahān rājā: great, king | mahatā kālena = long, by time: even after | niścayam a gatvā = resolve, not, getting at: for Ganga's descent | trimśat varṣa sahasrāṇi: thirty, years, thousands | rājyam kṛtvā divam gataḥ: kingdom, on ruling, to heaven, went to. |

TRANSLATION

"That great king Sagara could not get at any resolve in getting Ganga to earth even after a long time, and on ruling kingdom for thirty-thousand years he went to heaven." Thus Vishvamitra continued his narration about the ancestors of Rama. [1-41-26]