Chapter 48
Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties
पृष्ट्वा तु कुशलम् तत्र परस्पर समागमे
कथाअन्ते सुमतिः वाक्यम् व्याजहार महामुनिम्
pṛṣṭvā tu kuśalam tatra paraspara samāgame
kathāante sumatiḥ vākyam vyājahāra mahāmunim
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
When those two, Vishvamitra and Sumati, have met one another there at that place, king Sumati raised the topic of Rama and Lakshmana, after exchanging greetings and enquiring about the well-being of the great-saint Vishvamitra. [1-48-1]
इमौ कुमारौ भद्रम् ते देव तुल्य पराक्रमौ
गज सिंह गती वीरौ शार्दूल वृषभ उपमौ
imau kumārau bhadram te deva tulya parākramau
gaja siṃha gatī vīrau śārdūla vṛṣabha upamau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"These two youngsters, oh, sage, let safety betide you, striding like audacious elephants and arrogant lions, bearing a similitude to adventurous tigers and adamantine bulls, and wielding quivers, swords, and bows, are valorous with their valour matching that of Vishnu, and with their eyes broad like lotus-petals and with youthfulness in the offing they look like the exceptionally beautiful twin-gods, Ashwin-brothers, by their physique. How these two have footslogged and chanced here as though immortals have chanced on earth from the abode of gods at their pleasure? What for they have come here, and whose scions are they? [1-48-2, 3, 4]
PURPORT
भूषयन्तौ इमम् देशम् चन्द्र सूर्यौ इव अंबरम्
परस्परेण सदृशौ प्रमाण इन्गित चेष्टितैः
bhūṣayantau imam deśam candra sūryau iva aṃbaram
paraspareṇa sadṛśau pramāṇa ingita ceṣṭitaiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"These two best ones among men are identical to one another by their bodily proportion, facial-language, and by bodily gestures, and with their presence they refurbish this province like the Moon and Sun brightening the firmament. In truth, I would like to know for what reason these valiant ones who are wielding best weapons have arrived here travelling on an arduous path." Thus, king Sumati asked Vishvamitra. [1-48-5, 6]
PURPORT
तस्य तद् वचनम् श्रुत्वा यथा वृत्तम् न्यवेदयत्
सिद्ध आश्रम निवासम् च राक्षसानाम् वधम् तथा
१४८७ब्
tasya tad vacanam śrutvā yathā vṛttam nyavedayat
siddha āśrama nivāsam ca rākṣasānām vadham tathā
1-48-7b
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On hearing those words of King Sumati, Vishvamitra informed him about the visit of Rama and Lakshmana to the Hermitage of Accomplishment, also about the elimination of demons, as it has happened. [1-48-7a, 7b]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
King Sumati is highly astonished to hear the words of Vishvamitra about the visit of Rama and Lakshmana, and treating them to have come as the most prominent and honour-worthy guests that king started to honour those two great-mighty sons of Dasharatha customarily. [1-48-7c, 8]
ततः परम सत्कारम् सुमतेः प्राप्य राघवौ
उष्य तत्र निशाम् एकाम् जग्मतुः मिथिलाम् ततः
tataḥ parama satkāram sumateḥ prāpya rāghavau
uṣya tatra niśām ekām jagmatuḥ mithilām tataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On getting high honours from King Sumati, Raghava-s stayed there along with Vishvamitra and with the community of sages for one night, and then they all have moved on to Mithila. [1-48-9]
ताम् दृष्ट्वा मुनयः सर्वे जनकस्य पुरीम् शुभाम्
साधु साधु इति शंसन्तो मिथिलाम् समपूजयन्
tām dṛṣṭvā munayaḥ sarve janakasya purīm śubhām
sādhu sādhu iti śaṃsanto mithilām samapūjayan
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On seeing Janaka's auspicious city Mithila, all of the saints who are accompanying Vishvamitra, Rama, and Lakshmana, extolled it saying, "Splendid! Splendid!" and admired it highly. [1-48-10]
PURPORT
मिथिल उपवने तत्र आश्रमम् दृश्य राघवः
पुराणम् निर्जनम् रंयम् पप्रच्छ मुनि पुंगवम्
mithila upavane tatra āśramam dṛśya rāghavaḥ
purāṇam nirjanam raṃyam papraccha muni puṃgavam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On seeing a hermitage in the fringes of Mithila, that appeared to be age-old, but now uninhabited, yet pleasing, Rama asked the eminent sage Vishvamitra. [1-48-11]
इदम् आश्रम संकाशम् किम् नु इदम् मुनि वर्जितम्
श्रोतुम् इच्छामि भगवन् कस्य अयम् पूर्व आश्रमः
idam āśrama saṃkāśam kim nu idam muni varjitam
śrotum icchāmi bhagavan kasya ayam pūrva āśramaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This is semblable to a hermitage but sages seem to have discarded it. Oh, venerable sage, whose is this hermitage previously, I wish to listen of it." Thus, Rama asked Vishvamitra. [1-48-12]
तत् श्रुता राघवेण उक्तम् वाक्यम् वाक्य विशारदः
प्रति उवाच महातेजा विश्वमित्रो महामुनिः
tat śrutā rāghaveṇa uktam vākyam vākya viśāradaḥ
prati uvāca mahātejā viśvamitro mahāmuniḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On hearing that sentence spoken by Raghava, the expert in sententiousness, a great resplendent sage and eminent-saint Vishvamitra replied him in this way. [1-48-13]
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि शृणु तत्त्वेन राघव
यस्य एतत् आश्रम पदम् शप्तम् कोपान् महात्मना
hanta te kathayiṣyāmi śṛṇu tattvena rāghava
yasya etat āśrama padam śaptam kopān mahātmanā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"What a pleasure! You may listen as I narrate, Raghava, whose hermitage is this factually, and which great soul has resentfully cursed this. [1-48-14]
PURPORT
गौतमस्य नरश्रेष्ठ पूर्वम् आसीत् महात्मनः
आश्रमो दिव्य संकाशः सुरैः अपि सुपूजितः
gautamasya naraśreṣṭha pūrvam āsīt mahātmanaḥ
āśramo divya saṃkāśaḥ suraiḥ api supūjitaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, the best one among men Rama, this hermitage with a heavenly glisten, and highly hallowed even by gods, once belonged to the great-souled sage Gautama. [1-48-15]
स च अत्र तप आतिष्ठत् अहल्या सहितः पुरा
वर्ष पूगानि अनेकानि राजपुत्र महायशः
sa ca atra tapa ātiṣṭhat ahalyā sahitaḥ purā
varṣa pūgāni anekāni rājaputra mahāyaśaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"In this hermitage, oh, prince Rama, once that highly renowned Sage Gautama sat tight in asceticism for numerous cycle of years along with his wife Ahalya. [1-48-16]
तस्य अन्तरम् विदित्वा तु सहस्राक्षः शची पतिः
मुनि वेष धरो भूत्वा अहल्याम् इदम् अब्रवीत्
tasya antaram viditvā tu sahasrākṣaḥ śacī patiḥ
muni veṣa dharo bhūtvā ahalyām idam abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On knowing the meantime of Gautama's availability at hermitage, Indra, the husband of Shaci Devi and the Thousand-eyed god wearing the guise of sage Gautama and becoming such a sage, approached Ahalya and said this to her. [1-48-17]
ऋतु कालम् प्रतीक्षन्ते न अर्थिनः सुसमाहिते
संगमम् तु अहम् इच्छामि त्वया सह सुमध्यमे
ṛtu kālam pratīkṣante na arthinaḥ susamāhite
saṃgamam tu aham icchāmi tvayā saha sumadhyame
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'Oh, finely limbed lady, indulgers do not watch out for the time to conceive, as such oh, slender-waisted one, I desire copulation with you. [1-48-18]
PURPORT
मुनि वेषम् सहस्राक्षम् विज्ञाय रघुनंदन
मतिम् चकार दुर्मेधा देव राज कुतूहलात्
muni veṣam sahasrākṣam vijñāya raghunaṃdana
matim cakāra durmedhā deva rāja kutūhalāt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Rama, the legatee of Raghu, though knowing him as the Thousand-eyed Indra in the guise of her husband Gautama, she is inclined to have intercourse ill-advisedly, only to satisfy the impassion of the King of Gods. [1-48-19]
PURPORT
अथ अब्रवीत् सुरश्रेष्ठम् कृतार्थेन अंतरात्मना
कृतार्था अस्मि सुरश्रेष्ठ गच्छ शीघ्रम् इतः प्रभो
atha abravīt suraśreṣṭham kṛtārthena aṃtarātmanā
kṛtārthā asmi suraśreṣṭha gaccha śīghram itaḥ prabho
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"She felt fulfilled in her heart of hearts and then she said this to that best god Indra, 'I am gratified in complying with your wish, oh, best of gods, get going oh, lord, from here quickly, oh, ruler of gods, always safeguard yourself and me from Sage Gautama.' Thus, Ahalya said to Indra. [1-48-20, 21a]
इन्द्रः तु प्रहसन् वाक्यम् अहल्याम् इदम् अब्रवीत्
indraḥ tu prahasan vākyam ahalyām idam abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Indra on his part smilingly said this word to Ahalya, 'oh, well-hipped lady, I am quite delighted, here I go as I have came.' [1-48-21b, 22a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Rama, Indra then came out of the cottage flustering hurriedly after copulating with her with an uncertainty about the arrival of Sage Gautama. [1-48-22b, 23a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On cursing immodest Ahalya thus, that great-resplendent Sage Gautama shed this hermitage which was once adored by celestials like siddha-sand caarana-s, and that great-ascetic Gautama practised his asceticism on the pleasant peaks of Himalayas." Thus, Vishvamitra continued his narration about the legend of Ahalya. [1-48-33]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On seeing the sage the lord of gods Indra is scared and became dreary-faced. Then the well-behaved Gautama furiously spoke these words on seeing the ill-behaved Thousand-eyed Indra who is donning the guise of a saint. [1-48-25b, 26]
मम रूपम् समास्थाय कृतवान् असि दुर्मते
अकर्तव्यम् इदम् यस्मात् विफलः त्वम् भविष्यति
mama rūpam samāsthāya kṛtavān asi durmate
akartavyam idam yasmāt viphalaḥ tvam bhaviṣyati
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'Oh, dirty-minded Indra, taking hold of my form you have effectuated this unacceptable deed, whereby you shall become infecund.' Thus, Gautama cursed Indra. [1-48-27]
गौतमेन एवम् उक्तस्य स रोषेण महात्मना
पेततुः वृषणौ भूमौ सहस्राक्षस्य तत् क्षणात्
gautamena evam uktasya sa roṣeṇa mahātmanā
petatuḥ vṛṣaṇau bhūmau sahasrākṣasya tat kṣaṇāt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"When that great-souled sage Gautama spoke that way with rancour, the testicles of the cursed Thousand-eyed Indra fell down onto ground at that very moment. [1-48-28]
तथा शप्त्वा च वै शक्रम् भार्याम् अपि च शप्तवान्
इह वर्ष सहस्राणि बहूनि निवषिस्यसि
tathā śaptvā ca vai śakram bhāryām api ca śaptavān
iha varṣa sahasrāṇi bahūni nivaṣisyasi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On cursing Indra thus the sage cursed even his wife saying, 'you shall tarry here for many thousands of years to come without food and consuming air alone, and unseen by all beings you shall live on in this hermitage while contritely recumbent in dust. [1-48-29, 30]
यदा तु एतत् वनम् घोरम् रामो दशरथ आत्मजः
आगमिष्यति दुर्धर्षः तदा पूता भविष्यसि
yadā tu etat vanam ghoram rāmo daśaratha ātmajaḥ
āgamiṣyati durdharṣaḥ tadā pūtā bhaviṣyasi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'When that unassailable son of Dasharatha, namely Rama, arrives at this squalid forest, for it will be henceforth rendered so along with you, then you will be purified. [1-48-31]
तस्य आतिथ्येन दुर्वृत्ते लोभ मोह विवर्जिता
मत् सकाशे मुदा युक्ता स्वम् वपुः धारयिष्यसि
tasya ātithyena durvṛtte lobha moha vivarjitā
mat sakāśe mudā yuktā svam vapuḥ dhārayiṣyasi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'On your welcoming Rama, oh, ill-behaved woman, you will be divested of your greed and craze in which you lingered so far, and then you will assume your own body and then you can be in my proximity, rejoicingly.' Thus, Sage Gautama cursed his wife Ahalya. [1-48-32]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे अष्ट चत्वारिंशः सर्गः
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe aṣṭa catvāriṃśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On cursing immodest Ahalya thus, that great-resplendent Sage Gautama shed this hermitage which was once adored by celestials like siddha-sand caarana-s, and that great-ascetic Gautama practised his asceticism on the pleasant peaks of Himalayas." Thus, Vishvamitra continued his narration about the legend of Ahalya. [1-48-33]