Chapter 61

Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties

VERSE 1

विश्ह्वामित्रो महातेजाः प्रस्थितान् वीक्ष्ह्य तान् ऋष्हीन्
अब्रवीत् नरश्हार्दूल सर्वान् तान् वन वासिनः

viśhvāmitro mahātejāḥ prasthitān vīkṣhya tān ṛṣhīn
abravīt naraśhārdūla sarvān tān vana vāsinaḥ

SYNONYMS

nara śārdūla: oh, manly-tiger Rama | mahātejāḥ viśvāmitraḥ: great-resplendent, Vishvamitra | prasthitān: those who started to go back | vana vāsinaḥ: forest, dwellers | tān sarvān ṛṣīn: them, all, sages | vīkśya = on sīing: giving them farewell | tān = to them: to remaining sages | abravīt: said. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, manly-tiger Rama, on giving farewell to those sages who came at his invitation and who have started to go back after the ritual of Trishanku is over, then that great-resplendent Vishvamitra spoke to all of the sages who are forest dwellers that remained with him." Thus Shatananda continued to narrate the legend of Vishvamitra. [1-61-1]

VERSE 2

महाविघ्नः प्रवृत्तो अयम् दक्ष्हिणाम् आस्थितो दिश्हम्
दिश्हम् अन्याम् प्रपत्स्यामः तत्र तप्स्यामहे तपः

mahāvighnaḥ pravṛtto ayam dakṣhiṇām āsthito diśham
diśham anyām prapatsyāmaḥ tatra tapsyāmahe tapaḥ

SYNONYMS

dakṣiṇām diśam āsthitaḥ: southern, quarter, depending upon | ayam mahān vighnaḥ pravṛttaḥ: this [Trishanku's episode,] a gross, hindrance, cropped up | anyām diśam prapatsyāmaḥ: another, direction, we journey on | tatra tapaḥ tapsyāmahe: there, ascesis, we perform. |

TRANSLATION

" 'While depending on this southern quarter this gross hindrance has cropped up for my ascesis in the shape of Trishanku's ascent to heaven, hence we will go to another direction, and there we continue ascesis. [1-61-2]

VERSE 3

पश्ह्छिमायाम् विश्हालायाम् पुष्ह्करेष्हु महात्मनः
सुखम् तपः छरिष्ह्यामः परम् तत् हि तपो वनम्

paśhchimāyām viśhālāyām puṣhkareṣhu mahātmanaḥ
sukham tapaḥ chariṣhyāmaḥ param tat hi tapo vanam

SYNONYMS

mahātmanaḥ: oh, great-souled sages | viśālāyām: in a vast one | paścimāyām: in western direction | puṣkareṣu: at holy lakeside | sukham tapaḥ cariṣyāmaḥ: conveniently, ascesis, we undertake | tat param tapaḥ vanam hi: that is, august, ascetical, forest, isn't it. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, great-souled sages, we can conveniently undertake our ascesis in the vast of westerly direction where holy lakesides are there. That would be an august ascetical forest, isn't it.' Thus Vishvamitra said to fellow sages in his camp. [1-61-3]

VERSE 4

एवम् उक्त्वा महातेजाः पुष्ह्करेष्हु महामुनिः
तप उग्रम् दुराधर्ष्हम् तेपे मूल फल अश्हनः

evam uktvā mahātejāḥ puṣhkareṣhu mahāmuniḥ
tapa ugram durādharṣham tepe mūla phala aśhanaḥ

SYNONYMS

mahātejāḥ: most brilliant | mahā muniḥ: great-saint Vishvamitra | evam uktvā: thus, on saying | puṣkareṣu = in holy lakeside: after reaching them | mūla phala aśanaḥ: tubers, fruits, eating [subsisting on] | durādharṣam ugram tapaḥ tepe: unhindered, rigorous, ascesis, performed. |

TRANSLATION

"On saying thus that most brilliant and great saint Vishvamitra performed an unhindered and rigorous ascesis subsisting only on fruits and tubers after reaching the lakeside of holy lakes. [1-61-4]

VERSE 5

एतस्मिन् एव काले तु अयोध्या अधिपतिः महान्
अंबरीष्ह इति ख्यातो यष्ह्टुम् समुपछक्रमे

etasmin eva kāle tu ayodhyā adhipatiḥ mahān
aṃbarīṣha iti khyāto yaṣhṭum samupachakrame

SYNONYMS

etasmin kale eva: in this, time, only | ambarīṣa iti khyātaḥ: Ambariisha, thus, renowned [king] | ayodhyā mahān adhipatiḥ [nṛpaḥ]: Ayodhya's, great, lord, [king] | yaṣṭum samupacakrame: to perform Vedic-ritual, embarked on. |

TRANSLATION

"In the meanwhile the great king of Ayodhya, renowned as Ambariisha, embarked on to perform a Vedic-ritual. [1-61-5]

VERSE 6

तस्य वै यजमानस्य पश्हुम् इन्द्रो जहार ह
प्रणष्ह्टे तु पश्हौ विप्रो राजानम् इदम् अब्रवीत्

tasya vai yajamānasya paśhum indro jahāra ha
praṇaṣhṭe tu paśhau vipro rājānam idam abravīt

SYNONYMS

yajamānasya tasya paśum: of the principal [of ritual,] his, ritual-animal | indraḥ jahāra ha: Indra, stole [impounded,] indeed | paśau praṇaṣṭe sati: animal is, verily lost [really vanished,] while becoming | vipraḥ rājānam idam abravīt: the officiant of ritual, to king, this, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

"But Indra impounded the animal of the principal of that ritual, namely king Ambariisha, and when that animal is really vanished, the officiant Brahman of the ritual spoke this to that king. [1-61-6]

VERSE 7

पश्हुः अभ्याहृतः राजन् प्रणष्ह्टः तव दुर्नयात्
अरक्ष्हितारम् राजानम् घ्नन्ति दोष्हा नरेश्ह्वर

paśhuḥ abhyāhṛtaḥ rājan praṇaṣhṭaḥ tava durnayāt
arakṣhitāram rājānam ghnanti doṣhā nareśhvara

SYNONYMS

rājan: oh, king | paśuḥ: ritual-animal | abhyāhṛtaḥ [abhi ā hṛtaḥ]: to here, fetched [by you] | praṇaṣṭaḥ: verily lost [gone astray] | nareśvara: oh, king | tava dur nayāt: by your, bad-conduct [incautiousness] | a rakṣitāram: not, guarded [ritual items] | rājānam doṣā ghnanti: for king, as blemishes, will destruct. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, king, the animal you have fetched for the ritual has gone astray owing to your incautiousness. Oh, king, unguarded items of the ritual will themselves become destructive blemishes for that king who is performing the ritual. [1-61-7]

VERSE 8

प्रायः छित्तम् महत् हि एतत् नरम् वा पुरुष्हर्ष्हभ
आनयस्व पश्हुम् श्हीघ्रम् यावत् कर्म प्रवर्तते

prāyaḥ chittam mahat hi etat naram vā puruṣharṣhabha
ānayasva paśhum śhīghram yāvat karma pravartate

SYNONYMS

puruṣarṣabha: oh, man the best | etat = for this: loss of animal | mahat prāyaḥcittam = a great, making amends: is to be done | naram vā paśum: man, or, [as ritual] animal | śīghram ānayasva: quickly, be fetched | karma yāvat pravartate: ritual-deeds, until [only after that,] will continue. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, the best man among men, you have to make great amends for the loss of animal as that animal alone which was intended but now missing shall be used in ritual. Or, a man may be fetched as ritual-animal, and only after that the deeds of the ritual can be continued.' Thus, the priests of the ritual said to king Ambariisha. [1-61-8]

VERSE 9

उपाध्याय वछः श्ह्रुत्वा स राजा पुरुष्हर्ष्हभ
अन्वियेष्ह महाबुद्धिः पश्हुम् गोभिः सहस्रश्हः

upādhyāya vachaḥ śhrutvā sa rājā puruṣharṣhabha
anviyeṣha mahābuddhiḥ paśhum gobhiḥ sahasraśhaḥ

SYNONYMS

puruṣa rṣabha: oh, man the best, Rama | mahā buddhiḥ saḥ rājā: highly intelligent [obedient king to rules,] king | upādhyāya vacaḥ śrutvā: teachers', words, on hearing | sahasraśaḥ gobhiḥ: with thousands, of cows [in barter] | paśum anviyeṣa = [human] animal, searced: he tried for. |

TRANSLATION

"On hearing the words of his teacher, oh, the best one among men, Rama, he that highly rule-obedient king tried for a human-ritual-animal for a barter of thousands of cows. [1-61-9]

VERSE 10

देश्हान् जनपदान् तान् तान् नगराणि वनानि छ
आश्ह्रमाणि छ पुण्यानि मार्गमाणो महीपतिः

deśhān janapadān tān tān nagarāṇi vanāni cha
āśhramāṇi cha puṇyāni mārgamāṇo mahīpatiḥ

SYNONYMS

, 11| tāta: oh, dear, Rama | raghunandana: oh, Raghu's, legatee | saḥ mahī patiḥ = he that land, lord: that king Ambariisha | tān tān deśān: those, those, provinces | janapadān: villages | nagarāṇi vanāni ca: townships, forests, also | puṇyāni āśramāṇi ca: pious hermitages, even | mārgamāṇaḥ: while searching | bhṛgutunge: on Mt. Bhrigutunga | putra sahitam: sons, along with | sa bhāryam: with, wife | sam āsīnam: well, seated [settled] | ṛcīkam sam dadarśa ha: at Sage Raiciika, well, he has seen, indeed. |

TRANSLATION

"While that king is searching those and those provinces, villages, forests, townships, and even the pious hermitages, oh, dear Rama, the legatee of Raghu's dynasty, that king has indeed seen Sage Riciika, who is well settled on Mt. Bhrigutunga along with his sons and wife. [1-61-10, 11]

VERSE 12

तम् उवाछ महातेजाः प्रणंय अभिप्रसाद्य छ
महर्ष्हिम् तपसा दीप्तम् राजर्ष्हिः अमित प्रभः

tam uvācha mahātejāḥ praṇaṃya abhiprasādya cha
maharṣhim tapasā dīptam rājarṣhiḥ amita prabhaḥ

SYNONYMS

, 13a| mahātejāḥ: great-resplendent | a mita prabhaḥ: not, limitable, in brilliance | rājarṣiḥ: kingly sage [King Ambariisha ] | tapasā dīptam: by ascesis, brilliant [Sage Riciika] | tam maharṣim praṇamya: him, great-sage Riciika, on reverencing | abhiprasādya ca: obtaining his grace, also | sarvatra kuśalam pṛṣṭvā: in every aspect, wellbeing, on asking | tam ṛcīkam: him, to Sage Riciika | idam vacaḥ uvāca = this, vord, said: King Ambariisha said. |

TRANSLATION

"On reverencing and on obtaining the grace of ascetically brilliant great Sage Riciika, and even on asking him about his wellbeing in every aspect, that kingly sage Ambariisha, who is with great resplendence and whose brilliance is illimitable, said this word to that sage. [1-61-12, 13a]

VERSE 13

गवाम् श्हत सहस्रेण विक्रीणीष्हे सुतम् यदि

gavām śhata sahasreṇa vikrīṇīṣhe sutam yadi

SYNONYMS

b, 14a| mahā bhāga: oh, godlike sage | bhārgava: oh, successor of Bhrigu | gavām śata sahasreṇa: cows, by hundred, thousand | sutam: [your] son | paśoḥ arthe: ritual-animal, for purpose of | vikrīṇīṣe yadi: you bargain, if | kṛta kṛtyaḥ asmi: done, deed [achieved ends,] I will be. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Oh, godlike sage, if you bargain your son with a hundred thousand cows for the purpose of a ritual-animal, oh, the successor Sage Bhrigu, I deem my ends are achieved. [1-61-13b, 14a]

VERSE 14

सर्वे परिगता देश्हा यज्ञियम् न लभे पश्हुम्

sarve parigatā deśhā yajñiyam na labhe paśhum

SYNONYMS

b, 15a| sarve deśāḥ pari gatā: all, provinces, over, went [went over] | yajñiyam paśum na labhe: ritual's, animal, not, obtained | itaḥ: from [among your sons] | ekam sutam: one, son | mūlyena: for a value | dātum arhasi: to give, apt of you. |

TRANSLATION

" 'All the provinces are went over but unobtainable is that animal of the ritual, hence it will be apt of you to give me one son from among your sons, for a value.' Thus, king Ambariisha bargained with the sage. [1-61-14b, 15a]

VERSE 15

एवम् उक्तो महातेजा ऋछीकः तु अब्रवीत् वछः

evam ukto mahātejā ṛchīkaḥ tu abravīt vachaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 16a| evam uktaḥ: thus, who is addressed | mahātejā: great-resplendent sage | ṛcīkaḥ tu: Riciika, on his part | vacaḥ abravīt: word, said | nara śreṣṭha = oh, man, the best: king Ambariisha | aham kathamcana: I, in anyway | jyeṣṭham na vikrīṇīyām: eldest [son,] not, possibly sell. |

TRANSLATION

"When that great-resplendent Sage Riciika is addressed thus, he said this word, 'oh, best of men, I cannot possibly sell my eldest son, in anyway.' [1-61-15b, 16a]

VERSE 16

ऋछीकस्य वछः श्ह्रुत्वा तेष्हाम् माता महात्मनाम्

ṛchīkasya vachaḥ śhrutvā teṣhām mātā mahātmanām

SYNONYMS

b, 17a: ṛcīkasya vacaḥ śrutvā: Riciika's, words, on hearing | mahā ātmanām: of great souled [sons] | teṣām mātā: their [sons',] mother | nara śārdūlam ambarīṣam: to manly tiger, to Ambariisha | idam vacaḥ uvāca: this, word, said. |

TRANSLATION

"On hearing the words of Sage Riciika the mother of those great-souled sons spoke this word to the tigerly-man Ambariisha. [1-61-16b, 17a]

VERSE 17

अविक्रेयम् सुतम् ज्येष्ह्ठम् भगवान् आह भार्गवः

avikreyam sutam jyeṣhṭham bhagavān āha bhārgavaḥ

SYNONYMS

b, 18| bhagavān: reverential one | bhārgavaḥ: sage from Bhaargava dynasty [namely Riciika] | jyeṣṭham sutam a vikreyam: eldest son, not, sellable | [iti: thus] | āha: said | pārthiva: oh, king | śunakam kaniṣṭham: Shunaka [Shunaka named,] youngest [son] | mama dayitam: mine, as a cherished [son] | viddhi: [thereof you must] know | prabho: oh, lord | kanīyasam putram api: youngest, son, either | tava na dāsye: to you not, I will give. |

TRANSLATION

"The most reverential sage and the one from Bhaargava dynasty, my husband, said that the eldest son is un-sellable. Thereof oh, lord, you must know that my youngest son, namely Shunaka, is a cherished one for me. Therefore oh, king, I will not give my youngest son to you, either. [1-61-17b, 18]

VERSE 19

प्रायेण हि नरश्ह्रेष्ह्ठ ज्येष्ह्ठाः पितृष्हु वल्लभाः
मातॄणाम् छ कनीयांसः तस्मात् रक्ष्हे कनीयसम्

prāyeṇa hi naraśhreṣhṭha jyeṣhṭhāḥ pitṛṣhu vallabhāḥ
mātṝṇām cha kanīyāṃsaḥ tasmāt rakṣhe kanīyasam

SYNONYMS

naraśreṣṭha = oh, best one among men: oh, king | prāyeṇa: generally | jyeṣṭhāḥ pitṛṣu vallabhāḥ hi: eldest [sons,] for father, favourites, isn't it | mātṝṇām ca kanīyāmsaḥ [vallabhāḥ]: for mothers, also, youngest ones, [favourites] | tasmāt rakṣe kanīyasam: therefor, I [have to] tend, youngest one. |

TRANSLATION

"Generally eldest sons are fathers' favourites, oh, best king among men, and mothers' favourites are the youngest, isn't it! Therefor, I have to tend my youngest son.' Thus, wife Sage Ruciika said to Ambariisha. [1-61-19]

PURPORT

The wife of the Sage Ruciika is Satyavathi, the sister of Vishvamitra whose legend was narrated by Vishvamitra in Bala Ch. 34. This longing for youngest sons by a mother is reflected in Maha Bharata, where Kunti pleads for leaving Sahadeva, the youngest Pandava, from going to forest exile, along with her in the city. In sabhaa parva she says: sabhaa parvaaNi sahadevam prati kuntii vaakyam - sahadeva nivartasva nanu tvam asi me priyaH | shariiraat api maadreya maamatyakShiiH kuputravat | - aashrama vaase dharma putram prati kuntii vaakyam - sahadeva maaraaja maa pramaadam kR^ithaa | - dk Kunti, the mother of Pandava-s says: 'oh, Sahadeva, you refrain from going on exile as you are a dear son of mine, though Maadri gave you a bodily birth, you are my favourite...' Also, in the period of forest exile she says to Yudhishtar: 'oh, king, let no danger occur to Sahadeva... as he is my cherished son...'
VERSE 20

उक्त वाक्ये मुनौ तस्मिन् मुनि पत्न्याम् तथैव छ
श्हुनःश्हेपः स्वयम् राम मध्यमो वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्

ukta vākye munau tasmin muni patnyām tathaiva cha
śhunaḥśhepaḥ svayam rāma madhyamo vākyam abravīt

SYNONYMS

rāma: oh, Rama | tasmin munau: that, by sage | ukta vākye: said so, sentence | muni patnyām tathaiva ca: by sage, wife's, in that way, only | madhyamaḥ śunaḥśepaḥ: intermediate [son,] Shunashepa | svayam vākyam abravīt: personally, sentence, spoke. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Rama, when that sage's sentence is so, and his wife's sentence is also in that way only, their intermediate son, namely Shunashepa, personally spoke this sentence. [1-61-20]

VERSE 21

पिता ज्येष्ह्ठम् अविक्रेयम् माता छ आह कनीयसम्
विक्रेतम् मध्यमम् मन्ये राजपुत्र नयस्व माम्

pitā jyeṣhṭham avikreyam mātā cha āha kanīyasam
vikretam madhyamam manye rājaputra nayasva mām

SYNONYMS

rājaputra: oh, prince | pitā jyeṣṭham a vikreyam āha: father eldest one, as un-sellable one, he is telling | mātā ca kanīyasam: mother, also [said the same, about] youngest son | madhyamam = intermediate: son | vikretam manye: sellable, I deem | mām nayasva: me, you lead forth. |

TRANSLATION

" 'Father said that the eldest son is un-sellable, mother also said the same about youngest one. Then I deem that the intermediary son is sellable. Hence, oh, prince, you may lead me forth. [1-61-21]

VERSE 22

अथ राजा महाबाहो वाक्य अन्ते ब्रह्म वादिनः
हिरण्यस्य सुवर्णस्य कोटिभी रत्न राश्हिभिः

atha rājā mahābāho vākya ante brahma vādinaḥ
hiraṇyasya suvarṇasya koṭibhī ratna rāśhibhiḥ

SYNONYMS

, 23| mahābāho: oh, dextrous Rama | raghu nandana: oh, Raghu's, legatee, Rama | atha rājā: then, king | brahma vādinaḥ: of Brahma [Veda-s,] advocate of | vākya ante: sentence, end of [when he finished his speech] | hiraṇyasya suvarṇasya: of gold, of silver | koṭibhī: crores of [ten million] | ratna rāśibhiḥ: gemstones, heaps of, [dattvaa = on giving] | gavām śata sahasreṇa: cows, hundred, thousand | nareśvaraḥ: king Ambariisha | śunaḥśepam: Shunashepa is | gṛhītvā: on taking | parama prītaḥ: highly, gladdened | jagāma: went away. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, dextrous Rama, when that advocate of Veda-s, namely Shunashepa finished his speech, then the king gave gold, silver, and gemstones, each in ten million heaps, and even a hundred thousand cows, and oh, Rama, the legatee of Ragu, that king Ambariisha went away highly gladdened to take Shunashepa with him. [1-61-22, 23]

VERSE 24

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे एक ष्हष्ह्टितमः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe eka ṣhaṣhṭitamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

mahātejā = great: resplendent - king | mahāyaśāḥ = highly renovned: king raajarSii ambariiSaH tu = kingly sage, Ambariisha, on his part | sa tvaraḥ: with, haste | śunaḥśepam ratham āropya: Shunashepa, on chariot, ascending | āśu jagāma: hastily, proceeded. |

TRANSLATION

"That great resplendent and highly renowned king Ambariisha on his part proceeded hastily after ascending Shunashepa onto the chariot that hastily." Thus Sage Shataananda continued his narration. [1-61-24]