Chapter 62
Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties
श्हुनःश्हेपम् नरश्ह्रेष्ह्ठ गृहीत्वा तु महायश्हाः
व्यश्ह्रामत् पुष्ह्करे राजा मध्याह्ने रघुनंदन
śhunaḥśhepam naraśhreṣhṭha gṛhītvā tu mahāyaśhāḥ
vyaśhrāmat puṣhkare rājā madhyāhne raghunaṃdana
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Rama, the best one among men and the legatee of Raghu, on taking Shunashepa that highly renowned king Ambariisha took rest at noontime on the lakeside of Holy Lake." Thus Sage Shataananda continued the legend of Shunashepa, as a part of Vishvamitra's legend. [1-62-1]
तस्य विश्ह्रममाणस्य श्हुनःश्हेपो महायश्हाः
पुष्ह्करम् ज्येष्ह्ठम् आगंय विश्ह्वामित्रम् ददर्श्ह ह
tasya viśhramamāṇasya śhunaḥśhepo mahāyaśhāḥ
puṣhkaram jyeṣhṭham āgaṃya viśhvāmitram dadarśha ha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"While the king Ambariisha is taking rest that highly brilliant Shunashepa came to the lakeside of main Holy Lake with high anxiety, and there he indeed saw his maternal uncle Sage Vishvamitra who is performing ascesis along with other sages. [1-62-2, 3a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Shunashepa became pitiable and sulky faced by strain and thirst, oh, Rama, and he immediately fell in the lap of saint Vishvamitra saying this sentence. [1-62-3b, 4a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'I have no mother or a father to save me. Then wherefore cousins or relatives will be there to protect me. Oh, peaceable saint the eminent, it will be apt of you to protect me according to saintliness. [1-62-4b, 5a]
त्राता त्वम् हि नरश्ह्रेष्ह्ठ सर्वेष्हाम् त्वम् हि भावनः
trātā tvam hi naraśhreṣhṭha sarveṣhām tvam hi bhāvanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'Oh, illustrious sage, you alone are the saviour to each and every one, isn't it! You alone are the guardian angel, isn't it! Hence, let the purpose of the king Ambariisha be achieved, and let longevity come to me, and I on becoming imperishable and indeed on performing an unexcelled ascesis, I wish to enjoy in heavenly worlds. [1-62-5b, 6]
स मे नाथो हि अनाथस्य भव भव्येन छेतसा
पिता इव पुत्रम् धर्माअत्मन् त्रातुम् अर्हसि किल्बिष्हात्
sa me nātho hi anāthasya bhava bhavyena chetasā
pitā iva putram dharmāatman trātum arhasi kilbiṣhāt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" You shall be my providence with a providential sentiment as I stand unprotected, and oh, virtue souled one, it will be apt of you to protect me from misfortune, like a father protecting his own son.' Thus Shunashepa appealed to Vishvamitra. [1-62-7]
तस्य तत् वछनम् श्ह्रुत्वा विश्ह्वामित्रो महातपाः
सान्त्वयित्वा बहु विधम् पुत्रान् इदम् उवाछ ह
tasya tat vachanam śhrutvā viśhvāmitro mahātapāḥ
sāntvayitvā bahu vidham putrān idam uvācha ha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On hearing that sentence of Shunashepa and on pacifying him in many ways, Vishvamitra of higher ascesis, indeed said this to his sons. [1-62-8]
यत् कृते पितरः पुत्रान् जनयन्ति श्हुभ अर्थिनः
पर लोक हित अर्थाय तस्य कालो अयम् आगतः
yat kṛte pitaraḥ putrān janayanti śhubha arthinaḥ
para loka hita arthāya tasya kālo ayam āgataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'For what reason parents engender sons, desiring positivity and for the purpose of welfare in the other worlds, this is the time that has come for fulfilling that reason. [1-62-9]
PURPORT
अयम् मुनि सुतो बालो मत्तः श्हरणम् इछ्छ्हति
अस्य जीवित मात्रेण प्रियम् कुरुत पुत्रकाः
ayam muni suto bālo mattaḥ śharaṇam ichchhati
asya jīvita mātreṇa priyam kuruta putrakāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'This youngster is the son of sage and he aspires shelter from me. Hence, oh, sons, give him satisfaction just by giving life to him. [1-62-10]
सर्वे सुकृत कर्माणः सर्वे धर्म परायणाः
पश्हु भूता नरेन्द्रस्य तृप्तिम् अग्नेः प्रयछ्छ्हत
sarve sukṛta karmāṇaḥ sarve dharma parāyaṇāḥ
paśhu bhūtā narendrasya tṛptim agneḥ prayachchhata
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'You all have done very good pious deeds and you all abide by probity. Hence, you bestow appeasement to Fire-god on your becoming the ritual-animals of king Ambariisha in lieu of this boy Shunashepa. [1-62-11]
नाथनान् छ श्हुनःश्हेपो यज्ञः छ अविघ्नतो भवेत्
देवताः तर्पिताः छ स्युः मम छ अपि कृतम् वछः
nāthanān cha śhunaḥśhepo yajñaḥ cha avighnato bhavet
devatāḥ tarpitāḥ cha syuḥ mama cha api kṛtam vachaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'As a result, Shunashepa will have protectors, Vedic-ritual will be unimpeded, gods will be oblated, and my word too will be actualised.' Thus Vishvamitra said to his sons. [1-62-12]
मुनेः तु वछनम् श्ह्रुत्वा मधुष्ह्यन्द आदयः सुताः
स अभिमानम् नरश्ह्रेष्ह्ठ स लीलम् इदम् अब्रुवन्
muneḥ tu vachanam śhrutvā madhuṣhyanda ādayaḥ sutāḥ
sa abhimānam naraśhreṣhṭha sa līlam idam abruvan
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"But on hearing the saying of the sage, oh, Rama, the best of men, Madhushyanda and the other sons of Vishvamitra said this, haughtily and disparagingly. [1-62-13]
कथम् आत्म सुतान् हित्वा त्रायसे अन्य सुतम् विभो
अकार्यम् इव पश्ह्यामः श्ह्व मांसम् इव भोजने
katham ātma sutān hitvā trāyase anya sutam vibho
akāryam iva paśhyāmaḥ śhva māṃsam iva bhojane
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'On sacrificing your own sons how can you save another's son, oh, lordly father, we deem this as a wrongdoing and as good as dog's meat in a dinner.' Thus the sons of Vishvamitra replied their father. [1-62-14]
PURPORT
तेष्हाम् तत् वछनम् श्ह्रुत्वा पुत्राणाम् मुनिपुंगवः
क्रोध संरक्त नयनो व्याहर्तुम् उपछक्रमे
teṣhām tat vachanam śhrutvā putrāṇām munipuṃgavaḥ
krodha saṃrakta nayano vyāhartum upachakrame
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On listening that saying of his sons that eminent sage Vishvamitra started to curse them while fury reddened his eyes. [1-62-15]
निःसाध्वसम् इदम् प्रोक्तम् धर्मात् अपि विगर्हितम्
अतिक्रंय तु मत् वाक्यम् दारुणम् रोम हर्ष्हणम्
niḥsādhvasam idam proktam dharmāt api vigarhitam
atikraṃya tu mat vākyam dāruṇam roma harṣhaṇam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'You all have not only transgressed my word, but pertly replied me in an impudent manner which is abhorrent and hair-raising, and recriminatory according to probity. [1-62-16]
श्ह्व मांस भोजिनः सर्वे वासिष्ह्ठा इव जातिष्हु
पूर्णम् वर्ष्ह सहस्रम् तु पृथिव्याम् अनुवत्स्यथ
śhva māṃsa bhojinaḥ sarve vāsiṣhṭhā iva jātiṣhu
pūrṇam varṣha sahasram tu pṛthivyām anuvatsyatha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'You all will be whirling around the earth totally for a thousand years taking birth in the race that subsists on dog's meat, like the sons of Vashishta.' Thus Vishvamitra cursed his sons. [1-62-17]
कृत्वा श्हाप समायुक्तान् पुत्रान् मुनिवरः तदा
श्हुनःश्हेपम् उवाछ आर्तम् कृत्वा रक्ष्हाम् निरामयाम्
kṛtvā śhāpa samāyuktān putrān munivaraḥ tadā
śhunaḥśhepam uvācha ārtam kṛtvā rakṣhām nirāmayām
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On making his sons bounden by curse, then that best saint spoke to the pitiable Shunashepa, on making unharmed invulnerability to him with sanctifying hymns. [1-62-18]
पवित्र पाश्हैर् बद्धो रक्त माल्य अनुलेपनः
वैष्ह्णवम् यूपम् आसाद्य वाग्भिः अग्निम् उदाहर
pavitra pāśhair baddho rakta mālya anulepanaḥ
vaiṣhṇavam yūpam āsādya vāgbhiḥ agnim udāhara
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'When you are fastened with sacred fastener to the sacrificial post of Vishnu, smeared with red paste and garlanded with red garlands, you praisefully address the Fire-god with the words I going to impart to you in Vedic hymns. [1-62-19]
इमे छ गाथे द्वे दिव्ये गायेथा मुनि पुत्रक
अंबरीष्हस्य यज्ञे अस्मिन् ततः सिद्धिम् अवाप्स्यसि
ime cha gāthe dve divye gāyethā muni putraka
aṃbarīṣhasya yajñe asmin tataḥ siddhim avāpsyasi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'These two divine hymns, oh, son of saint, shall be chanted in the Vedic-ritual of Ambariisha, then you will obtain your aspiration.' Thus Vishvamitra taught two Vedic hymns to the boy. [1-62-20]
श्हुनःश्हेपो गृहीत्वा ते द्वे गाथे सुसमाहितः
त्वरया राज सिंहम् तम् अंबरीष्हम् उवाछ ह
śhunaḥśhepo gṛhītvā te dve gāthe susamāhitaḥ
tvarayā rāja siṃham tam aṃbarīṣham uvācha ha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Shunashepa having taken those two hymns from Vishvamitra very attentively has instantly gone to that lion-king Ambariisha and indeed spoke to him. [1-62-21]
राज सिंह महाबुद्धे श्हीघ्रम् गछ्छ्हावहे वयम्
निवर्तयस्व राजेन्द्र दीक्ष्हाम् छ समुदाहर
rāja siṃha mahābuddhe śhīghram gachchhāvahe vayam
nivartayasva rājendra dīkṣhām cha samudāhara
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
" 'Oh, king the lion, let us go promptly to your ritual place, oh, best king, you may apply yourself to your pledge in completing the ritual, with me as its sacrificial animal,' thus the boy said. [1-62-22]
तत् वाक्यम् ऋष्हि पुत्रस्य श्ह्रुत्वा हर्ष्ह समन्वितः
जगाम नृपतिः श्हीघ्रम् यज्ञ वाटम् अतन्द्रितः
tat vākyam ṛṣhi putrasya śhrutvā harṣha samanvitaḥ
jagāma nṛpatiḥ śhīghram yajña vāṭam atandritaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On listening that sentence of the son of sage, the king Ambariisha is gladdened and proceeded to the ritual hall immediately and spiritedly. [1-62-23]
सदस्य अनुमते राजा पवित्र कृत लक्ष्हणम्
पश्हुम् रक्त अंबरम् कृत्वा यूपे तम् समबन्धयत्
sadasya anumate rājā pavitra kṛta lakṣhaṇam
paśhum rakta aṃbaram kṛtvā yūpe tam samabandhayat
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"The king with the permission of officiators of ritual got the boy prepared as a ritual animal with sanctified bodily features and clad him in red clothes and got him securely fastened to the sacrificial post. [1-62-24]
स बद्धो वाग्भिः अग्र्याभिः अभितुष्ह्टाव वै सुरौ
इन्द्रम् इन्द्र अनुजम् छैव यथावत् मुनि पुत्रकः
sa baddho vāgbhiḥ agryābhiḥ abhituṣhṭāva vai surau
indram indra anujam chaiva yathāvat muni putrakaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"When Shunashepa is tied to ritual post he immensely pleased two gods, namely Indra and Upendra as well, with those two hymns he got from Vishvamitra. [1-62-25]
ततः प्रीतः सहस्र अक्ष्हो रहस्य स्तुति तोष्हितः
दीर्घम् आयुः तदा प्रादात् श्हुनःश्हेपाय राघव
tataḥ prītaḥ sahasra akṣho rahasya stuti toṣhitaḥ
dīrgham āyuḥ tadā prādāt śhunaḥśhepāya rāghava
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Then the Thousand-eyed Indra who is satisfied with esoteric laudation is gladdened, and oh, Raghava, then he bestowed longevity to Shunashepa. [1-62-26]
स छ राजा नरश्ह्रेष्ह्ठ यज्ञस्य छ समाप्तवान्
फलम् बहु गुणम् राम सहस्राक्ष्ह प्रसादजम्
sa cha rājā naraśhreṣhṭha yajñasya cha samāptavān
phalam bahu guṇam rāma sahasrākṣha prasādajam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Rama, the best one among men, he that king Ambariisha also obtained the fruits of that Vedic-ritual in manyfold, resulted from the grace of Thousand-eyed Indra. [1-62-27]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे द्वि ष्हष्ह्टितमः सर्गः
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe dvi ṣhaṣhṭitamaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Rama, the best among men, even the virtue-souled great ascetic Vishvamitra again performed ascesis at the same Holy lakeside for another thousand years." Thus Sage Shataananda continued the narration of Vishvamitra's legend. [1-62-28]