Chapter 58
Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties
ततः त्रिश्हंकोः वछनम् श्ह्रुत्वा क्रोध समन्वितम्
ऋष्हि पुत्र श्हतम् राम राजानम् इदम् अब्रवीत्
tataḥ triśhaṃkoḥ vachanam śhrutvā krodha samanvitam
ṛṣhi putra śhatam rāma rājānam idam abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On hearing the sentence of Trishanku, oh, Rama, the hundred sons of sage Vashishta infuriately said this to that king." Thus, sage Shataananda continued his narration to Rama and others. [1-58-1]
प्रत्याख्यातो असि दुर्बुद्धे गुरुणा सत्य वादिना
तम् कथम् समतिक्रंय श्हाखा अन्तरम् उपेयिवान्
pratyākhyāto asi durbuddhe guruṇā satya vādinā
tam katham samatikraṃya śhākhā antaram upeyivān
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'You slow-witted king, your veracious mentor has denounced you. But transgressing him how do you approach another branch of the same tree of wisdom, when that very tree rejected you?' So the sons of Vashishta have started to denounce Trishanku. [1-58-2]
इक्ष्ह्वाकूणाम् हि सर्वेष्हाम् पुरोधाः परमा गतिः
न छ अतिक्रमितुम् श्हक्यम् वछनम् सत्य वादिनः
ikṣhvākūṇām hi sarveṣhām purodhāḥ paramā gatiḥ
na cha atikramitum śhakyam vachanam satya vādinaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'The Royal Priest is the ultimate course for all of Ikshvaku-s, isn't it. It is impossible to transgress the word of advise of such a veracious Priest. [1-58-3]
अश्हक्यम् इति स उवाछ वसिष्ह्ठो भगवान् ऋष्हिः
तम् वयम् वै समाहर्तुम् क्रतुम् श्हक्ताः कथंछन
aśhakyam iti sa uvācha vasiṣhṭho bhagavān ṛṣhiḥ
tam vayam vai samāhartum kratum śhaktāḥ kathaṃchana
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'Vashishta is the most reverential sage and such a sage has already said it is impossible to conduct such a Vedic-ritual. Then, in which way we are capable to conduct such a Vedic-ritual? [1-58-4]
बालिश्हः त्वम् नर श्ह्रेष्ह्ठ गंयताम् स्व पुरम् पुनः
याजने भगवान् श्हक्तः त्रैलोक्यस्य अपि पार्थिव
bāliśhaḥ tvam nara śhreṣhṭha gaṃyatām sva puram punaḥ
yājane bhagavān śhaktaḥ trailokyasya api pārthiva
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'Oh king of subjects, better get back to your own city again for you are childish. That godlike Vashishta alone is capable to orchestrate any ritual by any king in all the three worlds. Oh, king, how then we are capable to cause a disrepute to his reputation.' Thus, the sons of Vashishta refuted Trishanku. [1-58-5, 6a]
तेष्हाम् तद् वछनम् श्ह्रुत्वा क्रोध पर्याकुल अक्ष्हरम्
teṣhām tad vachanam śhrutvā krodha paryākula akṣharam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On hearing that sentence of theirs which is highly faltering with words of fury that king further spoke this sentence to all of them." So Shataananda continued. [1-58-6b, 7a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'I am indeed rejected by the godlike Vashishta, likewise even by you, the sons of the same mentor, as such oh, ascetically wealthy scholars, in this state obloquy I will resort to another recourse, let safety betide you.' So Trishanku bade farewell to the sons of Vashishta, but... [1-58-7b, 8a]
ऋष्हि पुत्राः तु तत् श्ह्रुत्वा वाक्यम् घोर अभिसंहितम्
ṛṣhi putrāḥ tu tat śhrutvā vākyam ghora abhisaṃhitam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"But the sons of the sage Vashishta, on hearing that sentence of the king, that is inclusive of and leading to a calamitous situation, have become very highly infuriated and cursed saying, 'you shall get into a state of basely profaner.' That is the curse issued by the sons of Vashishta to Trishanku. [1-58-8b, 9a]
PURPORT
इति उक्त्वा ते महात्मानो विविश्हुः स्वम् स्वम् आश्ह्रमम्
iti uktvā te mahātmāno viviśhuḥ svam svam āśhramam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On saying thus those great-souled sons of Vashishta withdrew to one's own hermitage and when that night elapsed into day then the king lapsed into a state of basely profaner. [1-58-9b, 10a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"He is now wearing blackish cloths which on yestereve were ochry silks, he is now a blackamoor who on yestereve was a gilt-royalty, his head-hair is shaggy which earlier was silkily soft, and his royal garlands which were richly fragrant are now funeral wreaths, and he is besmeared with crematory ashes which were regal emollients, and his royal jewellery is now rendered into iron adornments. [1-58-10b, 11a]
तम् दृष्ह्ट्वा मंत्रिणः सर्वे त्यज्य छण्डाल रूपिणम्
tam dṛṣhṭvā maṃtriṇaḥ sarve tyajya chaṇḍāla rūpiṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On seeing him in the mien of a profaner, oh, Rama, all of his ministers and the subjects and his own retinue have deserted him and took to flight in masses. [1-58-11b, 12a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Though that resolutely self-assured king seethed for one night and day for this mishap, then went to the ascetically prosperous Vishvamitra. [1-58-12b, 13a]
विश्ह्वामित्रः तु तम् दृष्ह्ट्वा राजानम् विफली कृतम्
viśhvāmitraḥ tu tam dṛṣhṭvā rājānam viphalī kṛtam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
But on seeing at that mien of the king which is rendered to that of a precluded profaner from kingship and for officiating rituals etc., oh, Rama, sage Vishvamitra because sympathetic. [1-58-13b, 14a]
PURPORT
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The great-resplendent sage and highly generous Vishvamitra firstly said to that king who is in a terrible aspect 'let safety betide you,' and then spoke on this sentence to him. [1-58-14b, 15a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'What is the purpose of your visit, oh, great-mighty prince Trishanku, oh, brave lord of Ayodhya, you are accurst to the state of profaner.' [1-58-15, 16a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Then that king who is accurst to a state of profaner on listening that sentence, as a diligent sentence maker spoke this sentence with his palms adjoined to the sententious sage Vishvamitra. [1-58-16b, 17a]
प्रत्याख्यातो अस्मि गुरुणा गुरु पुत्रैः तथा एव छ
pratyākhyāto asmi guruṇā guru putraiḥ tathā eva cha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'I am spurned off by my mentor Vashishta and also like that by his sons. My aspiration remained unachievable, besides, this discrepancy has bechanced upon me. [1-58-17b, 18a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'Oh, gentle Vishvamitra, my aspiration is nothing but to go to heaven with my body. I have performed hundred rituals but I have not achieved the fruit.' Thus Trishanku started tell his sad tale.
अनृतम् न उक्त पूर्वम् मे न छ वक्ष्ह्ये कदाछन
anṛtam na ukta pūrvam me na cha vakṣhye kadāchana
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'And now if you doubt me to be a liar, I am no liar either. I spoke no lie heretofore, and even if I were to land into any predicament I do not speak lies anytime hereinafter. Oh, gentle sage, this I pledge you upon my virtue of Kshatriya-hood. [1-58-19, 20a]
PURPORT
यज्ञैः बहु विधैः इष्ह्टम् प्रजा धर्मेण पालिताः
yajñaiḥ bahu vidhaiḥ iṣhṭam prajā dharmeṇa pālitāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'I have propitiated gods with many kinds of Vedic-rituals. I have reigned over people conscientiously. And with my conduct and comport the high-souled savants are also pleased. [1-58-20b, 21a]
धर्मे प्रयतमानस्य यज्ञम् छ आहर्तुम् इछ्छ्हतः
dharme prayatamānasya yajñam cha āhartum ichchhataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'While I am a pursuant in probity I expect to avail myself of the fruition of this kind of Vedic-ritual. Oh, eminent sage Vishvamitra, but my mentors are not deriving complete contentment by my pursuit. Hence, they shove me off. [1-58-21b, 22a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'I deem destiny is the only ultimate, and manly efforts are meaningless, for destiny surmounts everything. Destiny is the ultimate course, isn't it? [1-58-22b, 23a]
तस्य मे परम आर्तस्य प्रसादम् अभिकांक्ष्हतः
कर्तुम् अर्हसि भद्रम् ते दैव उपहत कर्मणः
tasya me parama ārtasya prasādam abhikāṃkṣhataḥ
kartum arhasi bhadram te daiva upahata karmaṇaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'A highly anguished endeavourer, marred by destiny, a sincere requester, such as I am, it will be apt of you to accord, you be safe, your favour upon me. [1-58-23b, c]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे अष्ह्ट पंछाश्हः सर्गः
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe aṣhṭa paṃchāśhaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'In no alternate course I wish to course through and no alternative shelter is there for me. Hence, it will be apt of you, a god in man's mien, to countervail my destiny.' Thus Trishanku prayed for the grace of Vishvamitra..." So said Sage Shataananda to Rama and others continuing the legend of Vishvamitra. [1-58-24]