Chapter 50
Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties
ततः प्राक् उत्तराम् गत्वा रामः सौमित्रिणा सह
विश्वामित्रम् पुरस्कृत्य यज्ञ वाटम् उपागमत्
tataḥ prāk uttarām gatvā rāmaḥ saumitriṇā saha
viśvāmitram puraskṛtya yajña vāṭam upāgamat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama then travelled along with Lakshmana towards northeast direction keeping Vishvamitra afore and neared the hall of Vedic ritual of Janaka in Mithila kingdom. [1-50-1]
PURPORT
रामः तु मुनि शार्दूलम् उवाच सह लक्ष्मणः
साध्वी यज्ञ समृद्धिः हि जनकस्य महात्मनः
rāmaḥ tu muni śārdūlam uvāca saha lakṣmaṇaḥ
sādhvī yajña samṛddhiḥ hi janakasya mahātmanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Rama who is with Lakshmana spoke to the tigerly saint Vishvamitra, " the Vedic-ritual of noble-souled Janaka is excellent, indeed with bountifully garnered paraphernalia of the ritual. [1-50-2]
बहूनि इह सहस्राणि नाना देश निवासिनाम्
ब्राह्मणानाम् महाभाग वेद अध्ययन शालिनाम्
bahūni iha sahasrāṇi nānā deśa nivāsinām
brāhmaṇānām mahābhāga veda adhyayana śālinām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, highly fortunate sage, this place abounds with many thousands of Brahmans who are experts in Vedic practises and who seem to be the dwellers of numerous provinces, and also discernable are the cottages of sages rife with hundreds of carts full with their ceremonial chattels, as such oh, Brahman, a campsite may be decided for us too, as I discern every inch is inhabited." Thus Rama spoke to Vishvamitra. [1-50-3, 4]
रामस्य वचनम् श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः
निवेशम् अकरोत् देशे विविक्ते सलिल आयुते
rāmasya vacanam śrutvā viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ
niveśam akarot deśe vivikte salila āyute
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On hearing the words of Rama that great-saint Vishvamitra arranged a camp at an unfrequented place that has refreshing water. [1-50-5]
विश्वामित्रम् अनुप्राप्तम् श्रुत्वा नृपवरः तदा
शतानंदम् पुरस्कृत्य पुरोहितम् अनिन्दितम्
viśvāmitram anuprāptam śrutvā nṛpavaraḥ tadā
śatānaṃdam puraskṛtya purohitam aninditam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On hearing that Vishvamitra has arrived in Mithila, then the best king Janaka instantly forged ahead towards Vishvamitra, keeping his unreprovable priest Shataananda afore of the team, in deference to Vishvamitra. [1-50-6, 7a]
ऋत्विजो अपि महात्मानः तु अर्घ्यम् आदाय स त्वरम्
ṛtvijo api mahātmānaḥ tu arghyam ādāya sa tvaram
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Even the Ritvik-s, the administrators of that Vedic-ritual, of the great souled king Janaka arrived with post-haste taking holy waters, and they have ritualistically offered that sanctified water to Vishvamitra. [1-50-7b, 8a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On receiving that veneration from the great souled Janaka, Vishvamitra asked after the well-being of the king Janaka, as well about the unhindered proceedings of that Vedic-ritual. [1-50-8b, 9a]
स ताम् च अथ मुनीन् पृष्ट्वा स उपाध्याय पुरोधसः
sa tām ca atha munīn pṛṣṭvā sa upādhyāya purodhasaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
Then Vishvamitra asked after the well-being of saints, mentors, clerics, as befitting to their order, and joined the company of all of the sages as a happy-souled sage. [1-50-9b, 10a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The king Janaka adjoining his palms then spoke to that eminent-sage Vishvamitra, "oh, reverend sage, please be seated on this high seat, along with these eminent saints in their respective seats." Thus Janaka spoke to Vishvamitra [1-50-10b, 11a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On hearing the words of Janaka that great-sage Vishvamitra took his seat, and king Janaka also took seat along with his royal priest Shataananda, and the administrators of that Vedic-ritual, namely Ritvik-s, and along with his ministers. [1-50-11b, 12a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On beholding all of them seated all about in their respective seats as demanded by procedure king Janaka then spoke to Vishvamitra. [1-50-12b, 13a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Today my Vedic ritual is enriched with your advent, whereby I deem that gods have fructified the ritual. Let the ritual be like that. I deem that I have obtained the fruit of the ritual just on seeing godlike you here today. [1-50-13b, 14a]
धन्यो अस्मि अनुगृहीतो अस्मि यस्य मे मुनि पुंगव
dhanyo asmi anugṛhīto asmi yasya me muni puṃgava
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Brahman, at which Vedic-ritual hall you have arrived along with so many sages that happens to be mine, whereby, oh, eminent saint, I feel that I am honoured and hallowed. [1-50-14b, 15a]
द्वादश अहम् तु ब्रह्मर्षे दीक्षाम् आहुः मनीषिणः
dvādaśa aham tu brahmarṣe dīkṣām āhuḥ manīṣiṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Brahma-sage, the scholarly Ritvik-s conducting my Vedic-ritual are saying that only twelve more days are remaining to complete the observation of ritual-pledge, and then oh, Kaushika, it will be apt of you to see the gods who arrive at the conclusion of this Vedic-ritual expecting their due in the ritual." So said king Janaka to Vishvamitra. [1-50-15b, 16a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On speaking to that tigerly sage Vishvamitra in this way, the king again asked the sage pointedly and inquisitively with adjoined palms and with a gladdened face. [1-50-16b, 17a]
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? [1-50-17b, 18, 19]
PURPORT
वर आयुध धरौ वीरौ कस्य पुत्रौ महामुने
भूषयन्तौ इमम् देशम् चन्द्र सूर्यौ इव अंबरम्
vara āyudha dharau vīrau kasya putrau mahāmune
bhūṣayantau imam deśam candra sūryau iva aṃbaram
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, great-saint, whose sons are these two valiant youngsters who are brandishing best weapons? They are embellishing this province as the Sun and Moon doeth the sky. Each to each they are clonal by postural-language, by facial-language and by body language. They appear valorous but boyish in their appearance, as their curls are still jet-black like crow-wings. Thus, whether they are immature by age though mature by their valour or so, I wish to listen about them in actuality. [1-50-20, 21]
PURPORT
तस्य तत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा जनकस्य महात्मनः
न्यवेदयत् अमेय आत्मा पुत्रौ दशरथस्य तौ
tasya tat vacanam śrutvā janakasya mahātmanaḥ
nyavedayat ameya ātmā putrau daśarathasya tau
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On hearing the words of great-souled Janaka, Vishvamitra whose anima is immeasurable, has announced that those two as the sons of king Dasharatha. [1-50-22]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे पंचाशः सर्गः
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe paṃcāśaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
The highly resplendent great-saint Vishvamitra has informed the high souled Janaka about the coming of Rama and Lakshmana to the Hermitage of Accomplishment, their stopping over there and elimination of demons at that place, their indefatigable travel along with him, beholding City of Vishaala, seeing Ahalya, her reuniting with Sage Gautama, likewise their coming hitherward to gain a grasp of great bow of Shiva. On informing all these incidents to Janaka as well as to Shataananda, who incidentally is the son of Ahalya, sage Vishvamitra paused. [1-50-23, 24, 25]
