Chapter 45
Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties
विश्वामित्र वचः श्रुत्वा राघवः सह लक्ष्मणः
विस्मयम् परमम् गत्वा विश्वामित्रम् अथ अब्रवीत्
viśvāmitra vacaḥ śrutvā rāghavaḥ saha lakṣmaṇaḥ
vismayam paramam gatvā viśvāmitram atha abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On listening the narration of Sage Vishwamitra about Ganga's descent along with Lakshmana, Rama went into a great astonishment, and then addressed Vishvamitra. [1-45-1]
अति अद्भुतम् इदम् ब्रह्मन् कथितम् परमम् त्वया
गंगा अवतरणम् पुण्यम् सागरस्य अपि पूरणम्
ati adbhutam idam brahman kathitam paramam tvayā
gaṃgā avataraṇam puṇyam sāgarasya api pūraṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The blessed legend you have narrated about the digging of an ocean at the behest of Sagara, Ganga's alighting, and Bhageeratha filling it with the water of Ganga is sacrosanct and even highly amazing. [1-45-2]
क्षण भूत इव नौ रात्रिः संवृत्त इयम् परंतप
इमाम् चिंतयतोः सर्वम् निखिलेन कथाम् तव
kṣaṇa bhūta iva nau rātriḥ saṃvṛtta iyam paraṃtapa
imām ciṃtayatoḥ sarvam nikhilena kathām tava
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, enemy-inflamer, for two of us entire night rolled by as if it is a single moment while we were thinking about the episode you have narrated in its entirety. [1-45-3]
तस्य सा शर्वरी सर्वा मम सौमित्रिणा सह
जगाम चिंतयान् अस्य विश्वामित्र कथाम् शुभाम्
tasya sā śarvarī sarvā mama saumitriṇā saha
jagāma ciṃtayān asya viśvāmitra kathām śubhām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"While thinking about the auspicious legend of Ganga along with Lakshmana, oh, friend of the universe, Vishvamitra, whole night rolled by." Thus Rama is addressing Vishvamitra. [1-45-4]
PURPORT
ततः प्रभाते विमले विश्वामित्रम् तपोधनम्
उवाच राघवो वाक्यम् कृत आह्निकम् अरिन्दमः
tataḥ prabhāte vimale viśvāmitram tapodhanam
uvāca rāghavo vākyam kṛta āhnikam arindamaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Thereafter on the next fresh dawn the enemy-oppressor Raghava spoke these words to sage Vishvamitra, whose affluence is nothing but asceticism, and who by now has performed his daily chores of rituals. [1-45-5]
गता भगवती रात्रिः श्रोतव्यम् परमम् श्रुतम्
तराम सरितम् श्रेष्टम् पुण्यम् त्रि पथ गाम् नदीम्
gatā bhagavatī rātriḥ śrotavyam paramam śrutam
tarāma saritam śreṣṭam puṇyam tri patha gām nadīm
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"We have listened the praiseworthy legend of River Ganga, and the deific night has also passed by while listening such a legend, we may now cross over the very same prominent and merited River Ganga, the tri-path-cruiser. [1-45-6]
नौः एषा हि सुख आस्तीर्णा ऋषीणाम् पुण्य कर्मणाम्
भगवंतम् इह प्राप्तम् ज्ञात्वा त्वरितम् आगता
nauḥ eṣā hi sukha āstīrṇā ṛṣīṇām puṇya karmaṇām
bhagavaṃtam iha prāptam jñātvā tvaritam āgatā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This boat which is suitable for the embarkation of the sages whose deeds are pious, and which is comfortably blanketed with mats in its deck has come here, and indeed on knowing about the visit of your holiness to this place the sages have fetched it." Thus Rama spoke to Vishvamitra. [1-45-7]
तस्य तत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा राघवस्य महात्मनः
संतारम् कारयामास स ऋषि संघस्य कौशिकः
tasya tat vacanam śrutvā rāghavasya mahātmanaḥ
saṃtāram kārayāmāsa sa ṛṣi saṃghasya kauśikaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing the words of great-souled Raghava, Vishvamitra of Kusha dynasty, started to cross over the River Ganga along with the assemblage of sages, and with both the Raghava-s. [1-45-8]
उत्तरम् तीरम् आसाद्य संपूज्य ऋषि गणम् ततः
गंगा कूले निविष्टाः ते विशालाम् ददृशुः पुरीम्
uttaram tīram āsādya saṃpūjya ṛṣi gaṇam tataḥ
gaṃgā kūle niviṣṭāḥ te viśālām dadṛśuḥ purīm
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Arriving at the northern bank of River Ganga they have honoured the group of sages who ferried them up to here and sent them off. Then sojourning on the riverbank of Ganga they have seen the city called Vishaala. [1-45-9]
ततो मुनि वरः तूर्णम् जगाम सह राघवः
विशालाम् नगरीम् रंयाम् दिव्याम् स्वर्ग उपमाम् तदा
tato muni varaḥ tūrṇam jagāma saha rāghavaḥ
viśālām nagarīm raṃyām divyām svarga upamām tadā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The great sage Vishvamitra then quickly started along with Rama and Lakshmana to the charming and admirable city Vishaala, which in comparison is like heaven. [1-45-10]
अथ रामो महाप्राज्ञो विश्वामित्रम् महामुनिम्
पप्रच्छ प्रांजलिः भूत्वा विशालाम् उत्तमाम् पुरीम्
atha rāmo mahāprājño viśvāmitram mahāmunim
papraccha prāṃjaliḥ bhūtvā viśālām uttamām purīm
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then Rama, whose flair for knowing everything is high, became suppliant duly adjoining his palms, and enquired about the prominent city Vishala with the great Sage Vishvamitra. [1-45-11]
कतमो राज वंशो अयम् विशालायाम् महामुने
श्रोतुम् इच्छामि भद्रम् ते परम् कौतूहलम् हि मे
katamo rāja vaṃśo ayam viśālāyām mahāmune
śrotum icchāmi bhadram te param kautūhalam hi me
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, great sage, which dynasty of kings is ruling from this city of Vishaala? Let safeness betide you, I am interested to hear of it and indeed I am highly inquisitive about it." Thus Rama spoke to Vishvamitra. [1- 45-12]
तस्य तत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा रामस्य मुनिपुंगवः
आख्यातुम् तत् समारेभे विशालस्य पुरातनम्
tasya tat vacanam śrutvā rāmasya munipuṃgavaḥ
ākhyātum tat samārebhe viśālasya purātanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Hearing that sentence of Rama then the eminent sage Vishvamitra has commenced to narrate the legend of ancient Vishaala. [1-45-13]
श्रूयताम् राम शक्रस्य कथाम् कथयतः श्रुताम्
अस्मिन् देशे हि यत् वृत्तम् शृणु तत्त्वेन राघव
śrūyatām rāma śakrasya kathām kathayataḥ śrutām
asmin deśe hi yat vṛttam śṛṇu tattvena rāghava
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Rama, I will tell you about the auspicious legend of Indra as I was told, and you listen to it as I tell. Oh, Raghava, indeed you may now listen to the quintessence of what has happened in this country. [1-45-14]
पूर्वम् कृत युगे राम दितेः पुत्रा महाबलाः
अदितेः च महाभागा वीर्यवन्तः सुधार्मिकाः
pūrvam kṛta yuge rāma diteḥ putrā mahābalāḥ
aditeḥ ca mahābhāgā vīryavantaḥ sudhārmikāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Once in Krita era, oh, Rama, the sons of Lady Diti were extremely energetic, whereas the sons of her younger sister Lady Aditi were vigorous and highly righteous. [1-45-15]
PURPORT
ततः तेषाम् नरव्याघ्रः बुद्धिः आसीत् महात्मनाम्
अमरा विर्जराः चैव कथम् स्यामो निरामयाः
tataḥ teṣām naravyāghraḥ buddhiḥ āsīt mahātmanām
amarā virjarāḥ caiva katham syāmo nirāmayāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, tigerly-man, Rama, then those great-souls speculated as to 'how we can thrive without ageing, illness, and likewise without death.' [1-45-16]
तेषाम् चिंतयताम् तत्र बुद्धिः आसीत् विपश्चिताम्
क्षीर उद मथनम् कृत्वा रसम् प्राप्स्याम तत्र वै
teṣām ciṃtayatām tatra buddhiḥ āsīt vipaścitām
kṣīra uda mathanam kṛtvā rasam prāpsyāma tatra vai
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"A thought occurred to those masterminds who were thinking on that matter clueing them up, 'we indeed can get elixir of life by churning the Milky Ocean.' [1-45-17]
ततो निश्चित्य मथनम् योक्त्रम् कृत्वा च वासुकिम्
मन्थानम् मन्दरम् कृत्वा ममन्थुर् अमित ओजसः
tato niścitya mathanam yoktram kṛtvā ca vāsukim
manthānam mandaram kṛtvā mamanthur amita ojasaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Deciding upon to churn the Milky Ocean then made Vasuki, Thousand-headed King of Snakes, as the churning rope and Mt. Mandara as stirrer, and those brothers whose energy is unlimited have started churning the Milky Ocean thoroughly. [1-45-18]
अथ वर्ष सहस्रेण योक्त्र सर्प शिरांसि च
वमन्तो अति विषम् तत्र ददंशुर् दशनैः शिलाः
atha varṣa sahasreṇa yoktra sarpa śirāṃsi ca
vamanto ati viṣam tatra dadaṃśur daśanaiḥ śilāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"After a thousand years, the Thousand-headed serpent Vaasuki, which is being used as churning rope, is incapacitated to bear the friction of churning and fanged the cliffs of Mt. Mandara. Thereby a great lot of venom is disgorged from the heads of that serpent Vaasuki, which venom on melting the rocks of Mt. Mandara became the holocaustic poison called haalahala . [1-45-19]
उत्पपाताम् अग्नि संकाशम् हालाहल महाविषम्
तेन दग्धम् जगत् सर्वम् स देव असुर मानुषम्
utpapātām agni saṃkāśam hālāhala mahāviṣam
tena dagdham jagat sarvam sa deva asura mānuṣam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"A lethal poison similar to inferno known as haalahala has started to fulminate therefrom, by which whole universe of gods, non-gods and humans is burnt down. [1-45-20]
अथ देवा महादेवम् शंकरम् शरणार्थ्तिनः
जग्मुः पशुपतिम् रुद्रम् त्राहि त्राहि इति तुष्टुवुः
atha devā mahādevam śaṃkaram śaraṇārthtinaḥ
jagmuḥ paśupatim rudram trāhi trāhi iti tuṣṭuvuḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The gods seeking shelter then approached Rudra, the Cardinal God, Endower of Solace, and who husbands all the created animals inclusive of human-animals, namely Shiva, and they prayed to him saying 'save, save us.' [1-45-21]
एवम् उक्{]तः ततो देवैः देवेश्वरः प्रभुः
प्रादुर् आसीत् ततो अत्र एव शंख चक्र धरो हरिः
evam uk{]taḥ tato devaiḥ deveśvaraḥ prabhuḥ
prādur āsīt tato atra eva śaṃkha cakra dharo hariḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This way while the gods are praying the Lord and God of Gods, namely Shiva, then handling his disc and conch-shell Vishnu has also revealed himself at that place. [1-45-22]
उवाच एनम् स्मितम् कृत्वा रुद्रम् शूलधरम् हरिः
दैवतैः मध्यमानो तु तत् पूर्वम् समुपस्थितम्
uvāca enam smitam kṛtvā rudram śūladharam hariḥ
daivataiḥ madhyamāno tu tat pūrvam samupasthitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"And Vishnu smilingly spoke to wielder of trident Rudra, 'oh, god the best, whatever element that has emerged from the churning of Milk Ocean by gods, that shall belong to you, isn't it. By virtue of your position as the foremost god among gods, oh, omnicompetent god Shiva, you please accept this poison applying yourself to that position of foremost god, and deeming this poison, haalahala, as a foremost oblation to your godhood. [1-45-23, 24]
इति उक्त्वा च सुरश्रेष्ठः तत्र एव अंतर्धीयत
देवतानाम् भयम् दृष्ट्वा श्रुत्वा वाक्यम् तु शारङ्गिणः
iti uktvā ca suraśreṣṭhaḥ tatra eva aṃtardhīyata
devatānām bhayam dṛṣṭvā śrutvā vākyam tu śāraṅgiṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Saying so Vishnu, the best one among gods, has disappeared then and there only. And on observing the scare of gods and also on paying heed to the words of the Wielder of Bow called shaara~Nga , namely Vishnu, god Shiva gulped that lethal poison haalahala , as if it is ambrosia. [1-45-25, 26a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The god of gods Hara then left for his abode Kailash parting with other gods, and oh, Rama, the joy of Raghu's dynasty, the gods and non-gods have continued to churn the Milky Ocean. [1-45-26b, 27a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Now the loftiest mountain that is being used as stirrer, namely Mt. Mandara, has caved into the netherworld, thereby the gods along with gandharva-s have prayed to Madhusuudana, the other name of Vishnu. [1-45-27b, 28a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'You alone are the recourse to all beings, especially to the dwellers in heavens, oh ambidextrous god Vishnu, you safeguard us, it will be apt of you elevate the mountain.' So prayed gods to Vishnu. [1-45-28b, 29a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Hearing the prayer of gods Vishnu, Hrisheekesha, the controller of senses, adopting the form a tortoise and positioning the stirring Mt. Mandara on that tortoiseshell, he lay recumbent at the bottom of Milky Ocean as a base to the stirrer. [1-45-29b, 30a]
पर्वत अग्रम् तु लोकात्मा हस्तेन आक्रम्य केशवः
parvata agram tu lokātmā hastena ākramya keśavaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Keshava then reached out his hand and grasped the mountaintop as he is the Cosmic-Soul, and thus staying amid gods that Supreme Person Vishnu participated in churning the ocean by holding the stirring mountain upright. [1-45-30b, 31a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"After a thousand years of churning, then a male personality, an epitome of Life Sciences, namely aayur veda , a highly righteous soul, named Dhanvantari, has firstly surfaced with his arm-rest-stick and with his handy water-vessel, and then the remarkably elegant Apsara-s, angelic damsels, have emerged next to him from the Milky Ocean. [1-45-31b, 32]
अप्सु निर्मथनात् एव रसात् तस्मात् वर स्त्रियः
उत्पेतुः मनुज श्रेष्ठ तस्मात् अप्सरसो अभवन्
apsu nirmathanāt eva rasāt tasmāt vara striyaḥ
utpetuḥ manuja śreṣṭha tasmāt apsaraso abhavan
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Choicest females have come out an elixir obtained on absolute churning of the waters of Milk Ocean, oh, best one among men, Rama, thereby that genera of females became Apsara-s. [1-45-33]
षष्टिः कोट्यो अभवन् तासाम् अप्सराणाम् सुवर्चसाम्
असन्ख्येयाः तु काकुत्स्थ याः तासाम् परिचारिकाः
ṣaṣṭiḥ koṭyo abhavan tāsām apsarāṇām suvarcasām
asankhyeyāḥ tu kākutstha yāḥ tāsām paricārikāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Six hundred millions of such Apsara-s with amazing dazzle have emerged from the churning of Milky Ocean, oh, descendent of Kakutstha, and their maidservants who emerged along with them are innumerable. [1-45-34]
न ताः स्म प्रतिगृह्णन्ति सर्वे ते देव दानवाः
अप्रतिग्रहणात् एव ता वै साधारणाः स्मृताः
na tāḥ sma pratigṛhṇanti sarve te deva dānavāḥ
apratigrahaṇāt eva tā vai sādhāraṇāḥ smṛtāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Anybody either from gods or demons espoused them, and when none espoused them they are virtually reckoned as 'general-purpose' Apsara-females. [1-45-35]
PURPORT
वरुणस्य ततः कन्या वारुणी रघुनन्दन
उत्पपात महाभागा मार्गमाणा परिग्रहम्
varuṇasya tataḥ kanyā vāruṇī raghunandana
utpapāta mahābhāgā mārgamāṇā parigraham
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, descendent of Raghu, then the heaven-sent damsel Vaaruni came up from Milky Ocean searching for her espousal, who is the daughter of Varuna, the Rain-god, and who incidentally is the presiding deity of hard liquors and also called as sura . [1-45-36]
दितेः पुत्रा न ताम् राम जगृहुर् वरुण आत्मजाम्
अदितेः तु सुता वीर जगृहुः ताम् अनिन्दिताम्
diteḥ putrā na tām rāma jagṛhur varuṇa ātmajām
aditeḥ tu sutā vīra jagṛhuḥ tām aninditām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Rama, the sons of Diti, namely asuraa-s, have not espoused that daughter of Rain-god, but oh, brave Rama, the sons of Aditi on their part, namely sura-s, have espoused that impeccable Vaaruni. [1-45-37]
असुराः तेन दैतेयाः सुराः तेन अदितेः सुताः
हृष्टाः प्रमुदिताः च आसन् वारुणी ग्रहणात् सुराः
asurāḥ tena daiteyāḥ surāḥ tena aditeḥ sutāḥ
hṛṣṭāḥ pramuditāḥ ca āsan vāruṇī grahaṇāt surāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Thereby the sons of Diti are called a suraa -s, and the sons of Aditi are called suraa -s, and gods are delighted and rejoiced on espousing Vaaruni. [1-45-38]
उच्चैःश्रवा हय श्रेष्ठो मणि रत्नम् च कौस्तुभम्
उदतिष्ठन् नरश्रेष्ठ तथैव अमृतम् उत्तमम्
uccaiḥśravā haya śreṣṭho maṇi ratnam ca kaustubham
udatiṣṭhan naraśreṣṭha tathaiva amṛtam uttamam
TRANSLATION
"Then a best horse called Ucchaishravaa has emerged, oh, Rama, the best among men, and then a gem of a jewel, called Kaustubha, and like that amrita , the Supreme ambrosial elixir of gods, have also emerged. [1-45-39]
अथ तस्य कृते राम महान् आसीत् कुल क्षयः
अदितेः तु ततः पुत्रा दितेः पुत्रान् असूदयन्
atha tasya kṛte rāma mahān āsīt kula kṣayaḥ
aditeḥ tu tataḥ putrā diteḥ putrān asūdayan
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Owing to the dispute regarding the possession of that ambrosia, oh, Rama, then there chanced a rampant ethnic havoc, and then the sons of Aditi have havocked the sons of Diti. [1-45-40]
एकताम् अगमन् सर्वे असुरा राक्शसैः सह
युद्धम् आसीत् महाघोरम् वीर त्रैलोक्य मोहनम्
ekatām agaman sarve asurā rākśasaiḥ saha
yuddham āsīt mahāghoram vīra trailokya mohanam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"All the asura-s and demons have come to one side against sura-s, and there occurred a very gruesome war which was perplexing to all the triad of universe viz., ethereal, real and surreal spheres. [1-45-41]
यदा क्शयम् गतम् सर्वम् तदा विष्णुः महाबलः
अमृतम् सः अहरत् तूर्णम् मायाम् आस्थाय मोहिनीम्
yadā kśayam gatam sarvam tadā viṣṇuḥ mahābalaḥ
amṛtam saḥ aharat tūrṇam māyām āsthāya mohinīm
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"When everything is wading into annihilation then that omnicompetent Vishnu swiftly impounded Amrita, the Divine Elixir, by assuming his illusory power of Mohini. [1-45-42]
PURPORT
ये गता अभिमुखम् विष्णुम् अक्शरम् पुरुषोत्तमम्
सꣳपिष्टाः ते तदा युद्धे बिष्णुना प्रभ विष्णुना
ye gatā abhimukham viṣṇum akśaram puruṣottamam
sam̐piṣṭāḥ te tadā yuddhe biṣṇunā prabha viṣṇunā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Whoever confronted that Eternal and Supreme Person, namely Vishnu, in that war, then Vishnu whose blaze is threefold as manifest in the sun, fire and lightning, has pulverised him. [1-45-43]
अदितेः आत्मजा वीरा दितेः पुत्रान् निजघ्निरे
अस्मिन् घोरे महायुद्धे दैतेया अदित्यायोः भृशम्
aditeḥ ātmajā vīrā diteḥ putrān nijaghnire
asmin ghore mahāyuddhe daiteyā adityāyoḥ bhṛśam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"In this horrendous war between the progeny of Diti, namely demons, and the progeny of Aditi, namely gods, the sons of Aditi being gods, have altogether massacred the demonic sons of Diti. [1-45-44]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे पन्च चत्वारिꣳशः
सर्गः
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe panca catvārim̐śaḥ
sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On eliminating the demonic sons of Diti and on acquiring kingdom of heaven, that eliminator of enemy cities, namely Indra, happily ruled the worlds that are inclusive of sages and caarana-s." Thus Vishvamitra continued his narration about Vishaala city and its emergence. [1-45-45]