Chapter 47

Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties

VERSE 1

सप्तधा तु कृते गर्भे दितिः परम दुःखिता
सहस्राक्षम् दुराधर्षम् वाक्यम् स अनुनया अब्रवीत्

saptadhā tu kṛte garbhe ditiḥ parama duḥkhitā
sahasrākṣam durādharṣam vākyam sa anunayā abravīt

SYNONYMS

garbhe saptadhā tu kṛte: foetus, into seven ways, but, on rendering | ditiḥ parama duḥkhitā: Diti, highly, anguished | durādharṣam sahasrākṣam: to indomitable one, Thousand-eyed Indra | sa anunayā vākyam abravīt: with, appeasement, words, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

"Diti was highly anguished when her foetus is rendered into sevenfold, and spoke these appeasing words to the indomitable Thousand-eyed Indra." Thus Vishvamitra continued his narration about City Vishala. [1-47-1]

VERSE 2

मम अपराधात् गर्भो अयम् सप्तधा शकली कृतः
न अपराधो हि देव ईश तव अत्र बलसूदन

mama aparādhāt garbho ayam saptadhā śakalī kṛtaḥ
na aparādho hi deva īśa tava atra balasūdana

SYNONYMS

bala sūdana = demon Bala, killer of: oh, Indra | deva īśa = oh, gods, ruler of: Indra | mama aparādhāt: my, by misdeed [alone] | ayam garbhaḥ: this, foetus | saptadhā śakalī [viphalī ] kṛtaḥ: in seven, segments [foiled,] made into [sliced] | atra: in that matter | tava aparādhaḥ: your, iniquity | na hi: not, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, Indra, the eliminator of demon Bala, this foetus of mine is sliced into seven segments owing to my own misdeed, oh, ruler of gods, Indra, indeed there is no iniquity of yours in this matter.' Thus Diti started speaking to Indra. [1-47-2]

VERSE 3

प्रियम् त्वत् कृतम् इच्छामि मम गर्भ विपर्यये
मरुताम् सप्त सप्तानाम् स्थानपाला भवन्तु ते

priyam tvat kṛtam icchāmi mama garbha viparyaye
marutām sapta saptānām sthānapālā bhavantu te

SYNONYMS

garbha viparyaye [mama garbha viṣaye viparyaye sambhave san]: pregnancy, reversal, [in my, pregnancy, matter of, reversal, happened, though] | mama: to me | tvat kṛtam: by you, done | priyam icchāmi: a courtesy, I wish to have | [ime: these] | sapta: seven [segments of foetus] | saptānām: as seven | marutām: of Wind-gods | te: in your [ruler-ship] | sthāna pālā: [Airy, Ethereal] places, as rulers | bhavantu: let them become. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Though a reversal has happened against my thinking in the matter of my pregnancy, let these seven segments become your seven Wind-gods, the rulers of seven ethereal-places, under your ruler-ship. [1-47-3]

PURPORT

According to mythology there are seven ethereal places in cosmos on which the galaxies and planets are dependent. According to Vishnu Puraana: aavaha pravahava caiva samvahaH ca udvaH ca tathaa | vihaa aakhyaH praivaahaH paraavaha iti kramaat || gaganaH sparshanaH vaayu anilaH ca tathaa aparaH | praaNaH praaNeshvaraH jiiva iti ete sapta maarutaaH || They are: aavaha the air called by this name will be pervading in clouds, thunderbolts, rain, meteors; pravaha air in solar orbit; samhava in lunar orbit; udvaha in galaxies; vivaha in planetary spheres; parivaha in the Seven-Sages sphere; varaavaha in north polar regions. These are otherwise called by names gagana, sparshana, vaayu, anila, praaNa, praaNeshvara, jiiva . Each of the Marut god has a batch of seven Marut-s, thus they are forty-nine entities, in total.
VERSE 4

वात स्कंधा इमे सप्त चरन्तु दिवि पुत्रक
मारुता इति विख्याता दिव्यरूपा मम आत्मजाः

vāta skaṃdhā ime sapta carantu divi putraka
mārutā iti vikhyātā divyarūpā mama ātmajāḥ

SYNONYMS

putrakāḥ: oh, son, Indra | sapta ime mama ātmajāḥ: seven, of these, my, sons | divya rūpā: with heavenly, forms | vāta skandhā = to air divisions, presiding deities: let them become presiding deities in cosmos | mārutā iti vikhyātā: Maaruta-s, thus, renowned | carantu divi: let them move, in heaven. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, son Indra, let these seven sons of mine become the seven presiding deities of Cosmic Air Divisions and let them move in heaven with heavenly forms. [1-47-4]

VERSE 5

ब्रह्म लोकम् चरतु एक इन्द्र लोकम् तथा अपरः
दिव्य वायुः इति ख्यातः तृतीयो अपि महायशाः

brahma lokam caratu eka indra lokam tathā aparaḥ
divya vāyuḥ iti khyātaḥ tṛtīyo api mahāyaśāḥ

SYNONYMS

ekaḥ = one: of the seven | brahma lokam caratu = Brahma's, abode, move in: permeate | tathā aparaḥ: likewise, another one | indra lokam: in Indra's, heaven | mahā yaśāḥ tṛtīyaḥ api: greatly, celebrated, third one, even | vāyuḥ iti khyātaḥ: Wind, thus, reputed as | divya [divi caratu] = ḍivine,: in Universe, let him circulate. |

TRANSLATION

" 'One from the seven may permeate Brahma's abode, likewise another may permeate the heaven of Indra, and even the third one, let him become a greatly celebrated and reputed as Divine Wind, and he may circulate in entire universe. [1-47-5]

VERSE 6

चत्वारः तु सुरश्रेष्ठ दिशो वै तव शासनात्
संचरिष्यन्ति भद्रम् ते कलेन हि मम आत्मजाः

catvāraḥ tu suraśreṣṭha diśo vai tava śāsanāt
saṃcariṣyanti bhadram te kalena hi mama ātmajāḥ

SYNONYMS

, 7a| sura śreṣṭha: oh, god's, chief | catvāraḥ mama ātma jāḥ = four, of my, soul, born ones: sons | tava śāsanāt vai: by your, command, indeed | tvat kṛtena eva nāmnā vai: by you, given, thus, by name, indeed | mārutā iti viśrutāḥ: Maaruta, thus, be renowned | kālena diśaḥ sam cariṣyanti hi: in time, in directions, verily, let them permeate, indeed | te bhadram: let safety betide you. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, chief of gods, Indra, let four of my sons permeate four directions according to time and at your command, let safety betide you, and let them be renowned verily by the name given by you as 'Marut,' because you have coaxed the crying fragments of foetus saying, 'maa ruda, maa ruda, 'do not cry, do not cry...' Thus Diti said to Indra. [1-47-6, 7a]

VERSE 7

तस्याः तत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा सहस्राक्षः पुरंदरः

tasyāḥ tat vacanam śrutvā sahasrākṣaḥ puraṃdaraḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 8a| sahasra akṣaḥ: Thousand-eyed one | puram daraḥ: enemy-citadels, destroyer | bala sūdanaḥ = demon Bala, destroyer of: Indra | tasyāḥ tat vacanam śrutvā: of her, that, words, on hearing | pra anjaliḥ ditim vākyam uvāca: with adjoined- palms, to Diti, words, said. |

TRANSLATION

"On hearing her words, the Thousand-eyed destroyer of enemy's citadels and a demon named Bala, namely Indra, spoke this word to Diti, humbly adjoining his palms. [1-47-7b, 8a]

VERSE 8

सर्वम् एतत् यथा उक्तम् ते भविष्यति न संशयः

sarvam etat yathā uktam te bhaviṣyati na saṃśayaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 9, 10a| te: to you [by you] | yathā uktam: as, said | etat sarvam bhaviṣyati: this, all, will happen | samśayaḥ na: doubt, without | tava ātmajāḥ: you, own offspring | deva rūpāḥ: gods, in the form of | vicariṣyanti: will be moving [pervading] | te bhadram: you be safe | rāma: oh, Rama | tau: those two | mātā putrau: [Diti, the step] mother, [Indra the] son | tapaḥ vane: in ascetic, forest | evam niścayam kṛtvā: in this way, decision, on taking | kṛta arthāu: fulfilling, their purposes | tridivam jagmatuḥ: to heaven, they departed | iti naḥ śrutam: thus, for us [by us, the legend is] heard. |

TRANSLATION

" 'All this will happen as you have said, undoubtedly, and your offspring, the Maaruta-s, would be pervading in the forms of gods, you be safe.' Thus Indra assured Diti. Those two, the stepmother Diti and the stepson Indra, on arriving at a decision in that ascetic forest, departed to heaven fulfilling their purposes. Thus we heard the legend." Thus Vishvamitra continued his narration. [1-47-8b, 9, 10a]

VERSE 10

एष देशः स काकुत्स्थ महेन्द्रात् अद्युषितः पुरा

eṣa deśaḥ sa kākutstha mahendrāt adyuṣitaḥ purā

SYNONYMS

b, 11| kākutstha: oh, Rama, of Kakutstha | eṣa: this is | purā: once | mahendrā adhyuṣitaḥ: by Indra, presided over | saḥ deśaḥ: that, province | yatra: where | saḥ = he: Indra | tapaḥ siddhām: in her asceticism, an accomplished one | ditim: to Diti | evam paricacāra: in this way, rendered services. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Rama of Kakutstha, this province is that one which was once presided over by Indra, and where he rendered services to that accomplished one in her asceticism, namely lady Diti. [1-47-10b, 11a]

VERSE 11

इक्ष्वाकोस्तु नरव्याघ्र पुत्रः परम धार्मिकः

ikṣvākostu naravyāghra putraḥ parama dhārmikaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 12| naravyāghra: oh, tigerly-man, Rama | ikṣvākoḥ tu: to King Ikshvaku, on his part | alambuṣāyām: throguh queen Alambusa | parama dhārmikaḥ: most, righteous one [is born] | viśāla iti viśrutaḥ: Vishaala, as, renowned | putraḥ utpannaḥ: a son, is born | tena = by him: owing to him | iha sthāne: at this, place | viśāla iti purī kṛtā: Vishaala, as known as,] city, constructed | āsīt: is there. |

TRANSLATION

"To king Ikshvaku of Vishaala, oh, tigerly-man Rama, a highly righteous son was born through queen Alambusa, and he was renowned as Vishaala. There is a city in this place constructed by him and known by his own name, Vishaala. [1-47-11b, 12]

PURPORT

These Ikshvaku-s of Vishaala are not the Ikshvaku-s of Ayodhya, i.e., of Solar Dynasty. The Bhaagavata Puraana says separately in its seventh canto about this dynasty of Ikshvaku-s of Vishaala.
VERSE 13

विशालस्य सुतो राम हेमचन्द्रो महाबलः
सुचन्द्र इति विख्यातो हेमचन्द्रात् अनंतरः

viśālasya suto rāma hemacandro mahābalaḥ
sucandra iti vikhyāto hemacandrāt anaṃtaraḥ

SYNONYMS

rāma: oh, Rama | mahābalaḥ hemacandraḥ: great-mighty one, Hemachandra | viśālasya sutaḥ: Vishala's, son | hemacandrāt anantaraḥ = from ḥemacandra, latter one: son of Hemacandra | sucandra iti vikhyātaḥ: Suchandra, as, highly renowned one. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Rama, Vishaala's son is the great-mighty Hemachandra, and Hemachandra's son is highly renowned as Suchandra.. [1-47-13]

VERSE 14

सुचन्द्र तनयो राम धूम्र अश्व इति विश्रुतः
धूम्राश्व तनयः च अपि सृंजयः समपद्यत

sucandra tanayo rāma dhūmra aśva iti viśrutaḥ
dhūmrāśva tanayaḥ ca api sṛṃjayaḥ samapadyata

SYNONYMS

rāma: oh, Rama | sucandra tanayaḥ: Suchandra's, son | dhūmrāśva iti viśrutaḥ: Dhuumra ashva, as, renowned | dhūmrāśva tanayaḥ ca api: Dhuumraashva, son, also, even | sṛnjayaḥ samapadyata: Srinjaya, derived. |

TRANSLATION

"The son of Suchandra became famous as Dhuumraashva, and oh, Rama, Dhuumraashva derived his son named Srinjaya. [1-47-14]

VERSE 15

सृंजयस्य सुतः श्रीमान् सहदेवः प्रतापवान्
कुशाश्वः सहदेवस्य पुत्रः परम धार्मिकः

sṛṃjayasya sutaḥ śrīmān sahadevaḥ pratāpavān
kuśāśvaḥ sahadevasya putraḥ parama dhārmikaḥ

SYNONYMS

śrīmān pratāpavān: fortunate one, valorous one | sahadevaḥ: Sahadeva | sṛnjayasya sutaḥ: is Srinjaya's, son | parama dhārmikaḥ kuśāśvaḥ sahadevasya putraḥ: most righteous, Kushaashva is, Sahadeva's, son. |

TRANSLATION

"The fortunate and valorous son of Srinjaya is Sahadeva, and the son of Sahadeva is the most righteous Kushaashva. [1-47-15]

VERSE 16

कुशाश्वस्य महातेजाः सोमदत्तः प्रतापवान्
सोमदत्तस्य पुत्रः तु काकुत्स्थ इति विश्रुतः

kuśāśvasya mahātejāḥ somadattaḥ pratāpavān
somadattasya putraḥ tu kākutstha iti viśrutaḥ

SYNONYMS

mahātejāḥ pratāpavān somadattaḥ: highly resplendent, dauntless, Somadatta is | kuśāśvasya [putraḥ]: Kushaashva's, [son] | somadattasya putraḥ tu: Somadatta's, son, on his part | kākutstha iti viśrutaḥ: Kakutstha, thus, highly reputed one. |

TRANSLATION

"The highly resplendent and dauntless Somadatta is the son of Kushaashva and Somadatta's son is highly reputed as Kakutstha. [1-47-16]

VERSE 17

तस्य पुत्रो महातेजाः संप्रति एष पुरीम् इमाम्
आवसत् परम प्रख्यः सुमतिः नाम दुर्जयः

tasya putro mahātejāḥ saṃprati eṣa purīm imām
āvasat parama prakhyaḥ sumatiḥ nāma durjayaḥ

SYNONYMS

samprati: presently | eṣa imām purīm: in this, city | tasya: his [Kakutstha's] | putraḥ mahā tejāḥ: son [of Kakutstha,] great-resplendent one | parama [amara] prakhyaḥ: highly [godlike,] celebrated one | dur jayaḥ: un, conquerable one | sumatiḥ nāma: Sumati named one | āvasat: is dwelling. |

TRANSLATION

"Presently that Kakutstha's son named Sumati, who is a great-resplendent one, an unconquerable one, and a highly celebrated one is dwelling in this city. [1-47-17]

PURPORT

These two Ikshvaku and Kakutstha are of Vishaala dynasty. They are not to be confounded with the grandparents of Rama.
VERSE 18

इक्ष्वाकोस्तु प्रसादेन सर्वे वैशालिका नृपाः
दीर्घ आयुषो महात्मानो वीर्यवन्तः सुधार्मिकाः

ikṣvākostu prasādena sarve vaiśālikā nṛpāḥ
dīrgha āyuṣo mahātmāno vīryavantaḥ sudhārmikāḥ

SYNONYMS

ikṣvākaḥ tu prasādena: by Ikshvaku, but, by the grace of | vaiśālikāḥ nṛpāḥ: relating to Vishaala, [successive] kings | sarve: all of them | dīrgha āyuṣaḥ: had long, life [had longevity] | mahātmānaḥ: great souled ones | vīrya vantaḥ: intrepid ones | su dhārmikāḥ: highly, generous ones [well-off, in generosity.] |

TRANSLATION

"By the grace of Ikshvaku, the successive kings of Vishaala have longevity, intrepidity, well-off in generosity, and they were great-souled ones. [1-47-18]

VERSE 19

इह अद्य रजनीम् एकाम् सुखम् स्वप्स्यामहे वयम्
श्वः प्रभाते नरश्रेष्ठ जनकम् द्रष्टुम् अर्हसि

iha adya rajanīm ekām sukham svapsyāmahe vayam
śvaḥ prabhāte naraśreṣṭha janakam draṣṭum arhasi

SYNONYMS

nara śreṣṭha = oh, best among men: Rama | adya ekām rajanīm: today, one, night | iha: here alone | vayam sukham svapsyāmahe: we, gladly, go to sleep | śvaḥ prabhāte: tomorrow, morning | janakam draṣṭum arhasi: Janaka [King of Mithila,] to see, will be apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

"Today we may gladly go to sleep here for a night, and oh, best one among men, and it will be apt of you to see Janaka, the King of Mithila tomorrow morning." Thus Sage Vishvamitra spoke to Rama and Lakshmana. [1-47-19]

VERSE 20

सुमतिः तु महातेजा विश्वामित्रम् उपागतम्
श्रुत्वा नर वर श्रेष्ठः प्रत्यागच्छन् महायशाः

sumatiḥ tu mahātejā viśvāmitram upāgatam
śrutvā nara vara śreṣṭhaḥ pratyāgacchan mahāyaśāḥ

SYNONYMS

mahātejāḥ mahā yaśāḥ: highly resplendent one, widely, reputed one | nara vara śreṣṭhaḥ: among men, best, best of [best among best men] | sumatiḥ tu: Sumati [King of Vishaala,] on his part | viśvāmitram upa agatam = Viśvamitra, to nearby, came: arrived at the outskirts of city | śrutvā: on hearing | prati āgacchat = tovards, came: for warm welcome. |

TRANSLATION

The best one among best men, a widely reputed and the highly resplendent king of Vishaala, namely Sumati, having heard that Vishvamitra has arrived at the precincts of the city, came to him for a warm welcome. [1-47-20]

VERSE 21

पूजाम् च परमाम् कृत्वा स उपाध्यायः सबान्धवः
प्रांजलिः कुशलम् पृष्ट्वा विश्वामित्रम् अथ अब्रवीत्

pūjām ca paramām kṛtvā sa upādhyāyaḥ sabāndhavaḥ
prāṃjaliḥ kuśalam pṛṣṭvā viśvāmitram atha abravīt

SYNONYMS

sa upādhyāyaḥ sa bāndhavaḥ = vith, mentors, vith family members: Sumati on arriving with | paramām pūjām kṛtvā: excellent, veneration, on performing | pra anjaliḥ: with adjoined palms | kuśalam pṛṣṭvā: well being, on enquiring about | atha: then | viśvāmitram abravīt: to Vishvamitra, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

King Sumati arrived along with his mentors and family members, offered an excellent veneration to Vishvamitra, and then spoke to the sage with adjoined palms enquiring about his well being. [1-47-21]

VERSE 22

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे सप्त चत्वारिंशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe sapta catvāriṃśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

yasya me viṣayam = to vhic, mine, province: to which province, that of mine | mune: oh, saint | sam prāptaḥ darśanam: well, chanced, your audience | dhanyaḥ asmi: fortunate, I am | anugṛhītaḥ asmi: much obliged, I am | mama dhanya taraḥ: me, fortunate one, than, higher in degree | na asti: not, is there. |

TRANSLATION

"To which province you have visited that happens to be mine, thereby I could get an audience of yours without stirring myself from my country, hence none will be more fortunate than me." So said king Sumati to Vishvamitra. [1-47-22]