Chapter 51

Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties

VERSE 1

तस्य तत् वचनम् श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः
हृष्ट रोमा महातेजाः शताअनन्दो महातपाः

tasya tat vacanam śrutvā viśvāmitrasya dhīmataḥ
hṛṣṭa romā mahātejāḥ śatāanando mahātapāḥ

SYNONYMS

dhīmataḥ: intellectual one | tasya viśvāmitrasya tat vacanam śrutvā: his, of Vishvamitra, that, sentence, on hearing | mahātejāḥ mahātapāḥ: highly refulgent, great-ascetic | gautamasya jyeṣṭhaḥ sutaḥ: Sage Gautama's, eldest, son | tapasā dyotita prabhaḥ = by ascesis, brightened, radiance: who has it | śatāanandaḥ: sage Shataananda | hṛṣṭa romā: rejoiced, hair [hair-raising, overjoyed] | rāma sandarśanāt eva: Rama, on seeing at, just by | param vismayam āgataḥ: great, amazement, he obtained. |

TRANSLATION

On hearing that sentence of that intellectual sage Vishvamitra, the highly refulgent and the great ascetic Shataananda is overjoyed, and Sage Shataananda, the eldest son of Sage Gautama, and whose radiance is brightened by his own ascesis is highly amazed just on seeing Rama. [1-51-1, 2]

VERSE 3

एतौ निषण्णौ संप्रेक्ष्य सुख आसीनौ नृपात्मजौ
शताअनंदो मुनिश्रेष्ठम् विश्वामित्रम् अथ अब्रवीत्

etau niṣaṇṇau saṃprekṣya sukha āsīnau nṛpātmajau
śatāanaṃdo muniśreṣṭham viśvāmitram atha abravīt

SYNONYMS

atha: then | śatāanandaḥ: Shataananda | niṣaṇṇau = the tvo vhose heads are bent: bowing submissively | sukha āsīnau: comfortably, seated | etau nṛpātmajau samprekṣya: those two, king's sons [princes,] on raptly observing | muniśreṣṭham viśvāmitram abravīt: to sage, the eminent, to Vishvamitra, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

On raptly observing those two princes who are sitting comfortably with their heads bending down submissively, then Shataananda spoke to the eminent sage Vishvamitra. [1-51-3]

VERSE 4

अपि ते मुनि शार्दूल मम माता यशस्विनी
दर्शिता राज पुत्राय तपो दीर्घम् उपागता

api te muni śārdūla mama mātā yaśasvinī
darśitā rāja putrāya tapo dīrgham upāgatā

SYNONYMS

muni śārdūla: oh, saint, tigerly Vishvamitra | dīrgham tapaḥ upāgatā: marathon, ascesis, came near [who meted out] | yaśasvinī: glorious one | mama mātā: my, mother | te: by you | rāja putrāya: to princes | api darśitā: even, is she revealed? |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, tigerly saint Vishvamitra, you have revealed my glorious mother Ahalya who meted out a marathon ascesis to the princes - Really! [1-51-4]

VERSE 5

अपि रामे महातेजो मम माता यशस्विनी
वन्यैः उपाहरत् पूजाम् पूजा अर्हे सर्व देहिनाम्

api rāme mahātejo mama mātā yaśasvinī
vanyaiḥ upāharat pūjām pūjā arhe sarva dehinām

SYNONYMS

mahātejaḥ yaśasvinī = highly resplendent one, celebrated one: Ahalya | mama mātā: my, mother | sarva dehinām: by every, one with body [with corporeity, corporeal beings] | pūjā arhe rāme = for deference, vorthy of, in ṟama: in respect of Rama | vanyaiḥ = vith forest produce: flowers and fruits | pūjām api upāharat = vorśip, even, has śe performed: has she worshipped him? |

TRANSLATION

"And the highly resplendent and celebrated mother of mine worshipped Rama, who is worthy of worship by every corporeal being, with forest produce, is it so! [1-51-5]

VERSE 6

अपि रामाय कथितम् यथा वृत्तम् पुरातनम्
मम मातुः महातेजो दैवेन दुरनुष्ठितम्

api rāmāya kathitam yathā vṛttam purātanam
mama mātuḥ mahātejo daivena duranuṣṭhitam

SYNONYMS

mahātejaḥ = oh, great: resplendent - Vishvamitra | mama mātuḥ: my, mother | daivena dur anuṣṭhitam = by Providence, mal: , treatment - subjected to | purātanam = anciently: happened episode | yathā vṛttam: as, happened | rāmāya api kathitam: to Rama, even, , narrated. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, great-resplendent Vishvamitra, you have narrated to Rama about the maltreatment of my mother by the Providence as has happened anciently, isn't it![1-51-6]

VERSE 7

अपि कौशिक भद्रम् ते गुरुणा मम संगता
माता मम मुनिश्रेष्ठ राम संदर्शनात् इतः

api kauśika bhadram te guruṇā mama saṃgatā
mātā mama muniśreṣṭha rāma saṃdarśanāt itaḥ

SYNONYMS

kauśika: oh, Kaushika | te bhadram: to you, let safety be | muniśreṣṭha: oh sage, the best | mama mātā: my, mother | rāma sandarśanāt itaḥ = ṟama's, by bolding: giving hospitality etc | mama guruṇā: with my, father | api sangatā = even, joined: reunited with. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, the best sage Kaushika, you be safe, my mother is reunited with my father on beholding and giving hospitality to Rama - Really! [1-51-7]

VERSE 8

अपि मे गुरुणा रामः पूजितः कुशिकात्मज
इह आगतो महातेजाः पूजाम् प्राप्य महात्मनः

api me guruṇā rāmaḥ pūjitaḥ kuśikātmaja
iha āgato mahātejāḥ pūjām prāpya mahātmanaḥ

SYNONYMS

kuśikātmaja: oh, Kushi's, son [Kaushika, Vishvamitra] | rāmaḥ: Rama | me guruṇā api pūjitaḥ: by my, father, even, is he worshipped | iha āgataḥ mahātejāḥ: here [to Ahalya's place,] one who came, great-resplendent one [Gautama, Shataananda's father] | mahātmanaḥ: from great-souled one [from Rama] | pūjām api prāpya: worship, even, has he [Rama] got. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Kaushika, my father came to my mother's place from Himalayas! Has the great resplendent father of mine worshipped Rama because the redemption of my mother is per the kindness of Rama! Has this great-souled Rama reverenced that great resplendent father of mine by according a redemption, ahalyaa daana , the endowment of Ahalya to her husband. [1-51-8]

VERSE 9

अपि शांतेन मनसा गुरुः मे कुशिकात्मज
इह आगतेन रामेण पूजितेन अभिवादितः

api śāṃtena manasā guruḥ me kuśikātmaja
iha āgatena rāmeṇa pūjitena abhivāditaḥ

SYNONYMS

kuśikātmaja: oh, son of Kushika, Vishvamitra | iha āgatena: to here [at Ahalya's place,] who came | pūjitena = by a reverential one: Rama [prayatena = by a pure soul - Rama] | rāmeṇa: by Rama | me guruḥ: my, father | śāntena manasā: with a pacified, heart | api abhivāditaḥ: whether, reverenced. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Kaushika, on his arrival at my mother's place whether this reverential Rama reverenced my father with a pacified heart without becoming contumelious!" Thus sage Shataananda exclaimed at the marvel occurred through Rama. [1-51-9]

VERSE 10

तत् श्रुत्वा वचनम् तस्य विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः
प्रति उवाच शतानंदम् वाक्यज्ञो वाक्य कोविदम्

tat śrutvā vacanam tasya viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ
prati uvāca śatānaṃdam vākyajño vākya kovidam

SYNONYMS

mahāmuniḥ viśvāmitraḥ: great-saint, Vishvamitra | tasya tat vacanam śrutvā: his, that, sentence, on hearing | vākya jñaḥ: sententious one [Vishvamitra] | vākya kovidam śatānandam: sentence-precisian to sentence, to precisionist, to Shataananda | prati uvāca: in reply, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

On hearing that sentence of his, that great-saint and sentence-precisian Sage Vishvamitra, replied the sentence-precisionist Sage Shataananda. [1-51-10]

VERSE 11

न अतिक्रान्तम् मुनिश्रेष्ठ यत् कर्तव्यम् कृतम् मया
संगता मुनिना पत्नी भार्गवेण इव रेणुका

na atikrāntam muniśreṣṭha yat kartavyam kṛtam mayā
saṃgatā muninā patnī bhārgaveṇa iva reṇukā

SYNONYMS

muniśreṣṭha = oh, sage the best: oh, Shataananda | na atikrāntam = not, over, stepped: nothing left unperformed | mayā yat kartavyam: by me, whatever, performable | kṛtam: that is performed | reṇukā bhārgaveṇa iva: Renuka, with [the descendent of] Bhaargava or Bhrugu, as with | patnī muninā sangatā: wife [of sage,] with sage, is reunited. |

TRANSLATION

"I have done whatever good is to be done and nothing is left undone, and the wife of the sage, namely Ahalya, is reunited with her husband sage Gautama, as with Renuka who was reunited with sage Jamagani, the descendent of Bhrigu." So said Vishvamitra. [1-51-11]

PURPORT

Renuka is the mother of Parashu Rama, another human incarnation of Vishnu as a Brahmin to struggle with the erring Kshatriya kings of an earlier era. Renuka's husband is Sage Jamadagni, the descendent of Bhrigu or also called as Bhaargava and on certain occasion, Jamadagi, orders his son Parashu Rama to behead her, i.e., Renuka, Parashu Rama's own mother and Parashu Rama unhesitatingly carries out his father's orders. Thus, Parashu Rama is called Bhaargava Rama, with an axe as his unsurpassed weapon. This Parashu Rama confronts Rama of Ramayana after Seetha's marriage.
VERSE 12

तत् श्रुत्वा वचनम् तस्य विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः
शतानंदो महातेजा रामम् वचनम् अब्रवीत्

tat śrutvā vacanam tasya viśvāmitrasya dhīmataḥ
śatānaṃdo mahātejā rāmam vacanam abravīt

SYNONYMS

tasya viśvāmitrasya dhīmataḥ: his, Vishvamitra's, highly intellectual one | tat vacanam śrutvā: that, sentence, on hearing | mahātejāḥ śatānandaḥ: of high refulgence, Shataananda | rāmam vacanam abravīt: to Rama, sentence, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

On hearing those words of that highly intellectual Vishvamitra, high refulgent sage Shataananda spoke these words to Rama. [1-51-12]

VERSE 13

स्वागतम् ते नरश्रेष्ठ दिष्ट्या प्राप्तो असि राघव
विश्वामित्रम् पुरस्कृत्य महर्षिम् अपराजितम्

svāgatam te naraśreṣṭha diṣṭyā prāpto asi rāghava
viśvāmitram puraskṛtya maharṣim aparājitam

SYNONYMS

naraśreṣṭha rāghava: oh, best among men, oh, Raghava | [svāgatam te: hail to thee | a parājitam: not, defeatable one | maharṣim viśvāmitram puraskṛtya: great-sage, Vishvamitra, keeping afore [spearheaded by] | diṣṭyā prāptaḥ asi: as godsend, chanced, you are | svāgatam te: hail, to thee. |

TRANSLATION

"Hail to thee! Oh, best one among men Rama, your arrival is a godsend, not only to Mithila but to entire humanity, and oh, Raghava, as an undefeatable great-sage Vishvamitra spearheads you, so shall your mission be undefeatable, thus hail to thee! [1-51-13]

PURPORT

This statement of Sage Shataananda shall remind us the utterances of Vishvamitra in Dasharatha's court at 1-19-14: aham vedmi mahaatmaanam raamam... 'I know this great soul Rama, the virtue valiant, even Vashishta and also these saints who are here...' So also, Shataananda being the son of Ahalya and Gautama perceived who this Rama is. Further, when such and such a sage spearheads Rama, Rama ought to know something about the background of his steersman, namely Vishvamitra, basing on which Rama can learn his own lessons. As such, next few chapters are catered to the legend of Vishvamitra through Shataananda.
VERSE 14

अचिन्त्य कर्मा तपसा ब्रह्मर्षिः अमित प्रभः
विश्वामित्रो महातेजा वेद्ंय वेत्सि एनम् परमाम्
गतिम्

acintya karmā tapasā brahmarṣiḥ amita prabhaḥ
viśvāmitro mahātejā - vedṃya - vetsi enam paramām
gatim

SYNONYMS

mahātejā viśvāmitraḥ: highly resplendent, Vishvamitra | a cintya karmā: is of un, imaginable, exploits | tapasā brahmarṣiḥ: by ascesis, Brahma-sage | a mita prabhaḥ: of ill, imitable, resplendence | enam paramām gatim: him, as ultimate, course | [vedmya: you have to know] vetsi = you [already] know. |

TRANSLATION

"This highly resplendent Vishvamitra's exploits are unimaginable. He attained the highest order of Brahma-sage by his ascesis, thus illimitable is his ascetic resplendence, and you have to know him as an ultimate course, not only to you alone, but also to one and all. [1-51-14]

PURPORT

If the text 'you already know him...' is adopted there will be nothing left to Shataananda to say more. Hence, the meaning is said on taking vedmya 'you should know some more...' would be better. Because Vishvamitra is a parama hita sandhaayaka 'a do-gooder for universal peace' as indicated by his name itself, vishva 'of universe...' mitra 'friend, 'friend of universe...'
VERSE 15

न अस्ति धन्यतरो राम त्वत्तो अन्यो भुवि कश्चन
गोप्ता कुशिक पुत्रः ते येन तप्तम् महत् तपः

na asti dhanyataro rāma tvatto anyo bhuvi kaścana
goptā kuśika putraḥ te yena taptam mahat tapaḥ

SYNONYMS

rāma: oh, Rama | bhuvi: on earth | tvattaḥ: than you | dhanya taraḥ: fortunate, better | anyaḥ: another one | kaścana: anyone | na asti: not, is there | yena mahat tapaḥ taptam: by whom, supreme, ascesis, practised | kuśika putraḥ: Kushi's, scion, namely Vishvamitra | te goptā: to you, protector. |

TRANSLATION

"None other than you is fortunate enough on earth, oh, Rama, as you are in the custodial care of Vishvamitra, the scion of Kushika, who has practised supreme ascesis. [1-51-15]

VERSE 16

श्रूयताम् च अभिधास्यामि कौशिकस्य महात्मनः
यथा बलम् यथा तत्त्वम् तत् मे निगदतः शृणु

śrūyatām ca abhidhāsyāmi kauśikasya mahātmanaḥ
yathā balam yathā tattvam tat me nigadataḥ śṛṇu

SYNONYMS

mahātmanaḥ kauśikasya: great-souled, Vishvamitra's | balam yathā: prowess, as to how | śrūyatām = ī vill let you hear: hear from me | tattvam [vṛttam]: quintessence [his legend] | yathā: as to how | abhidhāsyāmi: I will narrate | tat me nigadataḥ śṛṇu: that, from me, while being narrated, you listen. |

TRANSLATION

"What is the prowess of the great-souled Vishvamitra, and what the quintessence of his legend may be heard from me while I narrate it. [1-51-16]

VERSE 17

राजा अभूत् एष धर्मात्मा दीर्घ कालम् अरिन्दमः
धर्मज्ञः कृत विद्यः च प्रजानाम् च हिते रतः

rājā abhūt eṣa dharmātmā dīrgha kālam arindamaḥ
dharmajñaḥ kṛta vidyaḥ ca prajānām ca hite rataḥ

SYNONYMS

eṣa: he | dharmātmā: probity-souled one Vishvamitra | dharma jñaḥ: in rectitude, well-versed [proficient] one | kṛta vidyaḥ ca: made [perfected,] education [perfectionist in kingcraft,] also | prajānām ca hite rataḥ: for people, also, in welfare, proponent of | arin damaḥ: enemies, persecutor of | dīrgha kālam rājā abhūt: for long, time, king, was there, he was. |

TRANSLATION

"This probity-souled Vishvamitra, being a proficient in rectitude, a perfectionist in kingcraft, a proponent of people's welfare, more so a persecutor of enemies, was there as a king for a long time. [1-51-17]

VERSE 18

प्रजापति सुतः तु आसीत् कुशो नाम महीपतिः
कुशस्य पुत्रो बलवान् कुशनाभः सुधार्मिकः

prajāpati sutaḥ tu āsīt kuśo nāma mahīpatiḥ
kuśasya putro balavān kuśanābhaḥ sudhārmikaḥ

SYNONYMS

prajāpati sutaḥ: Prajapati's, brainchild | kuśaḥ nāma mahī patiḥ: Kusha, named, earth, lord [king] | āsīt: was there | balavān: powerful one | su dhārmikaḥ: verily, righteous one | kuśanābhaḥ: Kushanaabha is | kuśasya putraḥ: Kusha's, son. |

TRANSLATION

"There was a king named Kusha, a brainchild of Prjaapati, and Kusha's son was the powerful and verily righteous Kushanaabha. [1-51-18]

VERSE 19

कुशनाभ सुतः तु आसीत् गाधिः इति एव विश्रुतः
गाधेः पुत्रो महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः

kuśanābha sutaḥ tu āsīt gādhiḥ iti eva viśrutaḥ
gādheḥ putro mahātejā viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ

SYNONYMS

gādhiḥ iti eva vi śrutaḥ: Gaadhi, thus, only, verily heard [of highly renowned] | kuśanābha sutaḥ tu: Kushanaabha's, son, but | āsīt: was there | mahātejāḥ mahā muniḥ viśvāmitraḥ: great resplendence, great-saint, Vishvamitra | gādheḥ putraḥ: Gaadhi's, son. |

TRANSLATION

"One who is highly renowned by the name Gaadhi was the son of Kushanaabha, and Gaadhi's son is this great-saint of great resplendence, Vishvamitra. [1-51-19]

VERSE 20

विश्वमित्रो महातेजाः पालयामास मेदिनीम्
बहु वर्ष सहस्राणि राजा राज्यम् अकारयत्

viśvamitro mahātejāḥ pālayāmāsa medinīm
bahu varṣa sahasrāṇi rājā rājyam akārayat

SYNONYMS

mahātejāḥ viśvamitraḥ = great resplendent, Viśvamitra: the king | medinīm pālayāmāsa: the earth, was ruling | rājā: king | bahu varṣa sahasrāṇi: many, years, thousands | rājyam akārayat: kingdom, made [ruled.] |

TRANSLATION

"Vishvamitra ruled the earth, and this great-resplendent king ruled the kingdom for many thousands of years. [1-51-20]

VERSE 21

कदाचित् तु महातेजा योजयित्वा वरूथिनीम्
अक्षौहिणी परिवृतः परिचक्राम मेदिनीम्

kadācit tu mahātejā yojayitvā varūthinīm
akṣauhiṇī parivṛtaḥ paricakrāma medinīm

SYNONYMS

mahātejāḥ: great-resplendent king Vishvamitra | kadācit: at one time | varūthinīm yojayitvā: armies, combining [marshalling] | akṣauhiṇī parivṛtaḥ = vith ākśauhini unit of army, encircled by: along with | medinīm paricakrāma = earth, he circulated: gone round. |

TRANSLATION

"At one time the great-resplendent king Vishvamitra went round the earth marshalling a unit of akshauhini army. [1-51-21]

PURPORT

The army unit called akshauhini consists of 21,870 elephants, as many chariots, 65,610 cavalry, and 1,09,350 foot soldiers.
VERSE 22

नगराणि च राष्ट्रानि सरितः च तथा गिरीन्
आश्रमान् क्रमशो राजा विचरन् आजगाम ह

nagarāṇi ca rāṣṭrāni saritaḥ ca tathā girīn
āśramān kramaśo rājā vicaran ājagāma ha

SYNONYMS

, 23, 24, 2125, 26, 27, 28a| n agarāṇi rāṣṭrāni ca: cities, provinces, also | saritaḥ tathā girīn: rivers, like that, mountains | āśramān ca: hermitages, also | kramaśaḥ: sequentially | vicaran: while moving about | nānā puṣpa latā drumam = numerous, flovered, climbers, trīs: which has | nānā mṛga gaṇa ākīrṇam = very many, animals, herds of, overspread: which is | siddha cāraṇa sevitam: by siddha-s, caaranaa-s, adored by | deva dānava gandharvaiḥ kinnaraiḥ upaśobhitam: gods, demons, gandharva-s, kinnaraa-s, [frequented and] embellished with | praśānta hariṇā ākīrṇam: equable, deer, spread out | dvija sangha niṣevitam: birds, flights of, adored by | brahma ṛṣi gaṇa sankīrṇam: Brahma, sage's, assemblages, compacted with | deva ṛṣi gaṇa sevitam: godly, sages, assemblages, adored by | satatam sankulam: always, bustling with | tapaḥ caraṇa sam siddhaiḥ = ascesis, practising, vell, accompliśed ones: with them | agni kalpaiḥ: Ritual-fire, similar | mahātmabhiḥ: with great-souled ones | brahma kalpaiḥ: to Brahma, comparable ones | mahā ātmabhiḥ: with great-souled ones | ab bhakṣaiḥ: water, eaters [some subsisting on] | vāyu bhakṣaiḥ ca: [some subsist on,] air, eaters, also | śīrṇa parṇa aśanaiḥ tathā: dried, leaves, eaters, likewise [some subsisting on them] | phala mūla aśanaiḥ: fruits, tubers, eaters [some subsisting on] | dāntaiḥ: self-controlled ones | jita doṣaiḥ: overcame, peccabilites | jita indriyaiḥ: overpowered, senses | ṛṣibhiḥ vālakhilyaiḥ ca: with sages, Vaalakhilyaa-s, also | japa homa parāyaṇaiḥ: meditations, oblations in Ritual-fire, who are occupied with | anyaiḥ vaikhānasaiḥ caiva: with others, Vaikhaanasa-s, also thus | sam antāt = vell, up to end: whole of perimeter | śrīmat: magnificent one [to such a hermitage of] | vasiṣṭhasya āśrama padam: Vashishta's, hermitage's, threshold of | rājā ājagāma ha: king Vishvamitra, arrived, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"Moving sequentially about the provinces, cities, rivers likewise mountains, king Vishvamitra arrived at the threshold of a hermitage which is with numerous flowered trees and climbers, overspread with very many herds of animals, adored by the celestials like siddha-s and caarana-s, frequented and embellished with gods, demons, gandharva-s, and kinnara-s, spread out with equable deer, adored by flights of birds, compacted with the assemblages of Brahma-sages, and also with the assemblages of godly-sages who are fully accomplished in their ascesis, where the personal resplendence of each of the great-souled sage is similar to each of the Ritual-fire available in each of the Ritual Fire Altar before which he is sitting, and which hermitage is bustling with the activity of great-souled sages who are comparable to Brahma, among whom some subsist on water alone, and some on air alone, likewise some more on dry leaves, while some on fruits, tubers, and with such of those sages and also with particular sages like Vaalakhilyaa-s, also with others like Vaikhaanasa-s, who are all self-controlled, who have overcame their peccabilites, who have overpowered their senses that hermitage is occupied, and while everyone of the inmates is engaged in meditations and oblations into Ritual-fire, and with such sages and their activity whole of the perimeter of that hermitage is brightened and rendered splendent, and king Vishvamitra arrived at such a magnificent hermitage of Sage Vashishta. [1-51-22, 23, 24, 2125, 26, 27, 28a]

VERSE 28

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे एक पंचाशः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe eka paṃcāśaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

jayatām śreṣṭha: among vanquishers, best one | mahābalaḥ viśvāmitraḥ: great-stalwart, Vishvamitra | a param: not, other [not in other world, this worldly] | brahma lokam iva: Brahma's, universe, like | vasiṣṭhasya āśrama padam: Vashishta's, Hermitage's, threshold | dadarśa: has seen. |

TRANSLATION

"And this best one among vanquishers and the great-stalwart Vishvamitra has then seen the hermitage of Vashishta which is like the worldly Universe of Brahma." Thus Sage Shataananda continued his narration. [1-51-28]