Chapter 71

Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties

VERSE 1

एवम् ब्रुवाणम् जनकः प्रत्युवाछ कृतांजलिः
श्ह्रोतुम् अर्हसि भद्रम् ते कुलम् नः परिकीर्तितम्

evam bruvāṇam janakaḥ pratyuvācha kṛtāṃjaliḥ
śhrotum arhasi bhadram te kulam naḥ parikīrtitam

SYNONYMS

evam bruvāṇam = this vay, to him vho is saying: to Vashishta | janakaḥ kṛtānjaliḥ pratyuvāca: Janaka, reverentially making palm-fold, in reply said | te bhadram: you be safe | parikīrtitam: distinguished | naḥ kulam: of our, lineage | śrotum arhasi = to listen, apt of you: all of you. |

TRANSLATION

When sage Vashishta said that way, Janaka reverentially made palm fold and said this in reply, "oh, sage, let safeness betide you all... now, it will be apt of you all to listen to our distinguished lineage... [1-71-1]

VERSE 2

प्रदाने हि मुनि श्ह्रेष्ह्ठ कुलम् निरवश्हेष्हतः
वक्तव्यम् कुल जातेन तन् निबोध महामुने

pradāne hi muni śhreṣhṭha kulam niravaśheṣhataḥ
vaktavyam kula jātena tan nibodha mahāmune

SYNONYMS

muni śreṣṭha: oh, eminent sage | mahāmune: oh, great sage | kula jātena: in [a particular noble] gens, born ones | pradāne: while offering [bride] | nir ava śeṣataḥ: without, a little, remainder [completely, in entirety] | kulam vaktavyam hi = parentage, speakable: to be informed, isn't it | tat nibodha: thereby, let all be informed of our lineage. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, eminent sage Vashishta, he who is born in a particular noble gens has to inform about his parentage in its entirety, especially when he offers a bride... thereby oh, great sage, let all be informed of about our lineage... [1-71-2]

VERSE 3

राजा अभूत् त्रिष्हु लोकेष्हु विश्ह्रुतः स्वेन कर्मणा
निमिः परम धर्मात्मा सर्व सत्त्ववताम् वरः

rājā abhūt triṣhu lokeṣhu viśhrutaḥ svena karmaṇā
nimiḥ parama dharmātmā sarva sattvavatām varaḥ

SYNONYMS

svena karmaṇā: by his own, accomplishments | triṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ: in triad, of worlds, renowned one | parama dharma ātmā: uniquely, seraphic, souled one | sarva sattvavatām varaḥ: among all, stalwart [emperors,] best one | rājā nimiḥ abhūt = emperor, ṇimi, vas there: once upon a time. |

TRANSLATION

"Once there was an emperor Nimi, who was renowned in the triad of worlds by his own accomplishments, and who was uniquely seraphic-souled and a best one among all stalwart emperors... [1-71-3]

VERSE 4

तस्य पुत्रो मिथिः नाम जनको मिथि पुत्रकः
प्रथमो जनको नाम जनकात् अपि उदावसुः

tasya putro mithiḥ nāma janako mithi putrakaḥ
prathamo janako nāma janakāt api udāvasuḥ

SYNONYMS

mithiḥ nāma: Mithi, named | tasya putraḥ: his, son | prathamaḥ janakaḥ nāma: first, Janaka, by name [designated as] | mithi putrakaḥ janakaḥ: Mithi's, son, is Janaka | janakāt api udāvasuḥ = from zanaka, even, ūdāvasu: are born. |

TRANSLATION

"And his son was named as Mithi, and Janaka was Mithi's son... the first one to be designated as Janaka... and even from that Janaka it is Udaavasu who took birth... [1-71-4]

VERSE 5

उदावसोः तु धर्मात्मा जातो वै नन्दिवर्धनः
नन्दिवर्धन पुत्रः तु सुकेतुः नाम नामतः

udāvasoḥ tu dharmātmā jāto vai nandivardhanaḥ
nandivardhana putraḥ tu suketuḥ nāma nāmataḥ

SYNONYMS

udāvasoḥ tu: from Udaavasu, on his part | dharmātmā nandivardhanaḥ jātaḥ: noble souled, Nandivardhana, took birth | nandivardhana putraḥ tu: Nandivardhana's, son, but | nāmataḥ suketuḥ nāma: by name, Suketu, named one. |

TRANSLATION

"From Udaavasu it is noble souled Nandivardhana took birth, and Nandivardhana's son is named as Suketu, by his name... [1-71-5]

VERSE 6

सुकेतोः अपि धर्मात्मा देवरातो महाबलः
देवरातस्य राजर्ष्हेः बृहद्रथ इति स्मृउतः

suketoḥ api dharmātmā devarāto mahābalaḥ
devarātasya rājarṣheḥ bṛhadratha iti smṛutaḥ

SYNONYMS

suketoḥ api: from Suketu, even | dharmātmā: virtue-souled one | mahā balaḥ: highly powerful | devarātaḥ = ḍevarāta: is born | devarātasya rājarṣeḥ bṛhadratha iti smṛutaḥ = from ḍevarāta, kingly sage, Brihadratha, thus, heard: him to be his son. |

TRANSLATION

"From Suketu the highly powerful and virtue-souled Devaraata is born, and from that kingly sage Devaraata, it is Brihadratha who took birth, thus we have heard... [1-71-6]

VERSE 7

बृहद्रथस्य श्हूरो अभूत् महावीरः प्रतापवान्
महावीरस्य धृतिमान् सुधृतिः सत्य विक्रमः

bṛhadrathasya śhūro abhūt mahāvīraḥ pratāpavān
mahāvīrasya dhṛtimān sudhṛtiḥ satya vikramaḥ

SYNONYMS

bṛhadrathasya: of Brihadratha | śūraḥ pratāpavān mahāvīraḥ abhūt = valiant one, highly brave, courageous one, ṃahāvīra, became: took birth | mahāvīrasya: of Mahaavira | dhṛtimān: bold one | satya vikramaḥ: truth, valiant | sudhṛtiḥ = ṣudhriti: is the son. |

TRANSLATION

"From Brihadratha it is the highly braving, courageous and valiant Mahaaviira has come, and the bold and truth-valiant Sudhriti from Mahaaviira... [1-71-7]

VERSE 8

सुधृतेः अपि धर्मात्मा धृष्ह्टकेतुः सु धार्मिकः
धृष्ह्टकेतोः छ राजर्ष्हेः हर्यश्ह्व इति विश्ह्रुतः

sudhṛteḥ api dharmātmā dhṛṣhṭaketuḥ su dhārmikaḥ
dhṛṣhṭaketoḥ cha rājarṣheḥ haryaśhva iti viśhrutaḥ

SYNONYMS

sudhṛteḥ api: from Sudhriti, even | dharmātmā: right-minded one | su dhārmikaḥ: highly, generous one | dhṛṣṭaketuḥ: it is Dhristaketu | rājarṣeḥ dhṛṣṭaketoḥ: from kingly sage, Dhristakeu | haryaśva iti viśrutaḥ = ḥaryaśva, thus, renovned: son is born. |

TRANSLATION

"Form Sudhriti, the right-minded and highly generous Dhristaketu took birth, and from the kingly sage Dhristaketu it is highly renowned Haryashva is the son... [1-71-8]

VERSE 9

हर्यश्ह्वस्य मरुः पुत्रो मरोः पुत्रः प्रतीन्धकः
प्रतीन्धकस्य धर्मात्मा राजा कीर्तिरथः सुतः

haryaśhvasya maruḥ putro maroḥ putraḥ pratīndhakaḥ
pratīndhakasya dharmātmā rājā kīrtirathaḥ sutaḥ

SYNONYMS

haryaśvasya putraḥ maruḥ: Haryashva's, son is, Maru | maroḥ putraḥ pratīndhakaḥ: Maru's, son is, Pratiindhaka | pratīndhakasya sutaḥ: Pratiindhaka's, son is | dharmātmā: noble souled one | rājā kīrtirathaḥ: king, Kiiriratha. |

TRANSLATION

"Haryashva's son is Maru, and Maru's, son is Pratiindhaka, and the son of Pratiindhaka's is noble-souled king Kiirtiratha... [1-71-9]

VERSE 10

पुत्रः कीर्तिरथस्य अपि देवमीढ इति स्मृतः
देवमीढस्य विबुधो विबुधस्य महीध्रकः

putraḥ kīrtirathasya api devamīḍha iti smṛtaḥ
devamīḍhasya vibudho vibudhasya mahīdhrakaḥ

SYNONYMS

kīrtirathasya api putraḥ: of Kiirtiratha, even, son is | devamīḍha iti smṛtaḥ: Devamidha, thus, remembered | devamīḍhasya vibudho: of Devamiidha, Vibudha | vibudhasya mahīdhrakaḥ: Vibudha's, Mahiidraka. |

TRANSLATION

"The son of Kiirtiratha is remembered as Devamiidha, and the son of Devamiidha is Vibudha, and Vibudha's son is Mahiidraka... [1-71-10]

VERSE 11

महीध्रक सुतो राजा कीर्तिरातो महाबलः
कीर्ति रातस्य राजऋष्हेः महारोमा व्यजायत

mahīdhraka suto rājā kīrtirāto mahābalaḥ
kīrti rātasya rājaṛṣheḥ mahāromā vyajāyata

SYNONYMS

mahābalaḥ: great mighty one | rājā kīrtirātaḥ: king, Kiirtiraata is | mahīdhraka sutaḥ: Mahiidraka's, son | rājaṛṣeḥ kīrtirātasya: to sagely king, Kiirtiraata | mahāromā vyajāyata: Mahaaroma, born. |

TRANSLATION

"Mahiidraka's son is the great mighty king Kiirtiraata, and the son born to sagely king Kiirtiraata is Mahaaroma... [1-71-11]

VERSE 12

महारोम्णः तु धर्मात्मा स्वर्णरोमा व्यजायत
स्वर्णरोम्णः तु राजर्ष्हेः ह्रस्वरोमा व्यजायत

mahāromṇaḥ tu dharmātmā svarṇaromā vyajāyata
svarṇaromṇaḥ tu rājarṣheḥ hrasvaromā vyajāyata

SYNONYMS

mahāromṇaḥ tu: from Mahaaroma, but | dharmātmā: virtue-souled one | svarṇaromā vyajāyata: Swarnaroma, is born | rājarṣeḥ svarṇaromṇaḥ tu: to kingly sage, Swarnaroma, on his part | hrasvaromā vyajāyata: Hrasvaroma, is born. |

TRANSLATION

"From Mahaaroma it is the virtue-souled Swarnaroma, and from kingly sage Swarnaroma it is Hrasvaroma... [1-71-12]

VERSE 13

तस्य पुत्र द्वयम् जज्ञे धर्मज्ञस्य महात्मनः
ज्येष्ह्ठो अहम् अनुजो भ्राता मम वीरः कुश्हध्वज

tasya putra dvayam jajñe dharmajñasya mahātmanaḥ
jyeṣhṭho aham anujo bhrātā mama vīraḥ kuśhadhvaja

SYNONYMS

dharmajñasya tasya: that virtue, knower, from him | mahātmanaḥ: noble-souled ones | putra dvayam jajñe: sons, a pair of, are born | aham jyeṣṭhaḥ: I am, elder | vīraḥ kuśadhvaja: brave one, Kushadhvaja is | mama: my | anu jaḥ: later, born [younger] | bhrātā: brother. |

TRANSLATION

"Two sons are born to that knower of virtue and noble souled Hrasvaroma, I am the elder, and my younger brother is this brave Kushadhvaja... [1-71-13]

VERSE 14

माम् तु ज्येष्ह्ठम् पिता राज्ये सो अभिष्हिछ्य नराधिप
कुश्हध्वजम् समावेश्ह्य भारम् मयि वनम् गतः

mām tu jyeṣhṭham pitā rājye so abhiṣhichya narādhipa
kuśhadhvajam samāveśhya bhāram mayi vanam gataḥ

SYNONYMS

pitā saḥ narādhipa: father, he, that king | jyeṣṭham mām: elder me | rājye abhiṣicya: in kingdom, anointed | kuśadhvajam bhāram: Kushadhvaja's, burden [duty to look after] | mayi samāveśya: in me, vesting | vanam gataḥ: to forests, departed. |

TRANSLATION

"He that king and father of ours, Hrasvaroma, anointing me in kingdom as I am the elder, and vesting the duty of looking after Kushadhvaja in me, he departed to forests... [1-71-14]

VERSE 15

वृद्धे पितरि स्वर् याते धर्मेण धुरम् आवहम्
भ्रातरम् देव संकाश्हम् स्नेहात् पश्ह्यन् कुश्हध्वजम्

vṛddhe pitari svar yāte dharmeṇa dhuram āvaham
bhrātaram deva saṃkāśham snehāt paśhyan kuśhadhvajam

SYNONYMS

vṛddhe pitari svar yāte sati: aged, father, to heaven, on departure | bhrātaram: brother | deva sankāśam kuśadhvajam = god, similar, k͟huśadhvaja: his upbringing | snehāt paśyanem: by friendship [with brotherliness,] while looking after | dharmeṇa: righteously | dhuram: burden [of kingship] | āvaham: lugging around. |

TRANSLATION

"On the departure of our aged father to heaven, I am looking after this godlike Kushadhvaja with brotherliness and lugging around the burden of this kingship... [1-71-15]

VERSE 16

कस्यछित् तु अथ कालस्य सांकाश्ह्यात् अगमत् पुरात्
सुधन्वा वीर्यवान् राजा मिथिलाम् अवरोधकः

kasyachit tu atha kālasya sāṃkāśhyāt agamat purāt
sudhanvā vīryavān rājā mithilām avarodhakaḥ

SYNONYMS

atha: later | kasyacit tu kālasya: sometime, but, after time | vīryavān: valorous one | sudhanvā rājā: Sudhanva, a king | mithilām avarodhakaḥ: Mithila, to beleaguer | sāmkāśyāt purāt: from Saamkaasha, city | agamat: he came. |

TRANSLATION

"Then after sometime, a valorous king named Sudhanva came beleaguering Mithila, from his city Saamkaasha... [1-71-16]

VERSE 17

स छ मे प्रेष्हयामास श्हैवम् धनुः अनुत्तमम्
सीता कन्या छ पद्माक्ष्ही मह्यम् वै दीयताम् इति

sa cha me preṣhayāmāsa śhaivam dhanuḥ anuttamam
sītā kanyā cha padmākṣhī mahyam vai dīyatām iti

SYNONYMS

anuttamam śaivam dhanuḥ: unexcelled, Shiva's, bow | padmākṣī kanyā sītā ca: lotus-eyed, virgin, Seetha, along with | mahyam dīyatām: to me, be given | iti saḥ ca me preṣayāmāsa: thus, he, even, me, started to urge. |

TRANSLATION

" 'The unexcelled bow of Shiva shall be given to me, along with the lotus-eyed virgin, Seetha...' thus he started to urge me... [1-71-17]

VERSE 18

तस्य अप्रदानात् ब्रह्मर्ष्हे युद्धम् आसीत् मया सह
स हतो अभिमुखो राजा सुधन्वा तु मया रणे

tasya apradānāt brahmarṣhe yuddham āsīt mayā saha
sa hato abhimukho rājā sudhanvā tu mayā raṇe

SYNONYMS

brahmarṣe: oh, Brahma-sage Vashishta | a pradānāt = non, bestoval: for the reason of | tasya: to him | mayā saha: me, with | yuddham āsīt: war, occurred | raṇe abhimukhaḥ: in war, he who affronted | saḥ rājā sudhanvā tu: he, king, Sudhanva, on his part | mayā hataḥ: by me, put to the sword. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, Brahma sage Vashishta, for the reason of my non-bestowal of bow or bride he warred with me, and when he affronted me in that war I have put that Sudhanva to the sword... [1-71-18]

VERSE 19

निहत्य तम् मुनिश्ह्रेष्ह्ठ सुधन्वानम् नराधिपम्
सांकाश्ह्ये भ्रातरम् श्हूरम् अभ्यष्हिंछम् कुश्हध्वजम्

nihatya tam muniśhreṣhṭha sudhanvānam narādhipam
sāṃkāśhye bhrātaram śhūram abhyaṣhiṃcham kuśhadhvajam

SYNONYMS

muniśreṣṭha: oh, best sage | narādhipam tam sudhanvānam nihatya: lord of people, him, Sudhanva, on eliminating | bhrātaram śūram kuśadhvajam: brother, valiant one, Kushadhvaja | sāmkāśye abhyaṣincam: in Saamkaasha, I have anointed. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, best sage Vashishta, on eliminating king Sudhanva, I have anointed my valiant brother Kushadhvaja in the kingdom of Saamkaasha... [1-71-19]

VERSE 20

कनीयान् एष्ह मे भ्राता अहम् ज्येष्ह्ठो महामुने
ददामि परम प्रीतो वध्वौ ते मुनिपुंगव

kanīyān eṣha me bhrātā aham jyeṣhṭho mahāmune
dadāmi parama prīto vadhvau te munipuṃgava

SYNONYMS

, 21a| mahāmune: oh, best saint | eṣa me kanīyān bhrātā: he is, my, younger, brother | aham jyeṣṭhaḥ: I am, elder | munipungava: oh, eminent-saint | parama prītaḥ: highly, gladdened | te vadhvau dadāmi: those, brides, I am bestowing | sītām rāmāya: Seetha, for Rama | ūrmilām lakṣmaṇāya vai: Urmila, for Lakshmana, for sure | te bhadram = to you: to all, let there be felicity,. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, best saint Vashishta, this is that younger brother of mine, and I am the elder. Oh, eminent-saint, I am bestowing those brides with a highly gladdened heart... Seetha for Rama, and Urmila for Lakshmana, let there be felicity for all... [1-71-20, 21a]

VERSE 21

वीर्य श्हुल्काम् मम सुताम् सीताम् सुर सुत उपमाम्

vīrya śhulkām mama sutām sītām sura suta upamām

SYNONYMS

b, 22a| vīrya śulkām: bravery's, bounty | sura suta upamām: divine Providence's, daughter, in simile | mama sutām sītām: my, daughter, Seetha | dvitīyām ūrmilām caiva: second one, Urmila, also thus | munipungava: oh, eminent-saint | triḥ vadāmi: thrice, I reiterate | parama prītaḥ: highly, gladdened | te vadhvau dadāmi: those, brides, I am bestowing | samśayaḥ na: doubt, is not there. |

TRANSLATION

"My daughter Seetha is the bounty for bravery and in simile she is the daughter of the divine Providence, and thus the second one Urmila too... oh, eminent-saint, with a highly gladdened heart I reiterate thrice while I bestow those brides, there is no doubt about it... [1-71-21b, 22a]

PURPORT

The thrice reiteration is the threefold commitment mano vaak kaaya karaNaaH i.e., 'the three instruments of communication, mind, voice, and body... so I endow the brides whole-heartedly, clear-articulately, and agleam-physically...' Here this verse is addressed to Vashishta, while other mms say that it is aimed at Dasharatha by placing words 'raghunandana' instead of 'munipungava.'
VERSE 23

राम लक्ष्ह्मणयो राजन् गो दानम् कारयस्व ह
पितृ कार्यम् छ भद्रम् ते ततो वैवाहिकम् कुरु

rāma lakṣhmaṇayo rājan go dānam kārayasva ha
pitṛ kāryam cha bhadram te tato vaivāhikam kuru

SYNONYMS

b, c, 23| rājan: oh, king Dasharatha | rāma lakṣmaṇayaḥ: for Rama, Lakshmana | go dānam: cow, donation [lexically, but this is different and given in comment] | kārayasva ha: make happen, indeed | pitṛ kāryam ca: to manes, ritual, also [get it done] | tataḥ vaivāhikam kuru: afterwards, wedding celebrations, you make happen | te bhadram: all be blest. |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, king Dasharatha, let the preceding ritual of samaavartna , be undertaken, and let manes be propitiated by the ritual, naandi shraadha , and afterwards you make happen the wedding celebrations ... thus, all will be blest... [1-71-22b, 23]

PURPORT

The wording go daana differs from the ordinary lexical meaning 'cow donation' as the word gaavaka means body hair and daana is releasing, or let-going, i.e., shaving. When the students return home after the studentship they will be admitted into household after some rituals like shaving off unnecessary hair, taking oil bath etc. gauH dvayoH tu rashmiH dR^ig baaNa svarja vajra ambu lomasu - naa naa - go daanam caula vat kaaryam shoDaaShe abde taducyate | In this there will be a real cow donation also to the teacher of that student, when the students sheds his hair, after the barber attends him. After shaving off the unwanted hair, then samaavartana is undertaken. The problem pointed out at this place is, that Rama or Lakshmana are born without vyanjana kesha unwanted hair, except head-hair, as Indian mytholoj~n will not give a hairy makeup to these four brothers. 'How then Janaka asked to undertake such ceremony, when discardable hair itself is not there...' is the objection. Whether they have hair or not, the ceremony has to go on.
VERSE 24

इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे एक सप्ततितमः सर्गः

iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe eka saptatitamaḥ sargaḥ

SYNONYMS

mahābāho: oh, great dextrous Dasharatha | prabho: oh, lord | adya maghā hi: today, [ruling star is] Magha, isn't it | rājan: oh, king | tṛtīye divase: on third, day from today | phalgunyām: in Phalguni [when star Phalguni comes] | tasmin uttare: in that, later part [Uttara phalguNi] | vaivāhikam kuru: wedding, you make happen | rāma lakṣmaṇayoḥ: for Rama, Lakshmana | sukha udayam arthe: for wellbeing, invoking, for purpose of [wellbeing is the only ensuing factor] | dānam kāryam: bounties, doable [be accorded generously.] |

TRANSLATION

"Oh, great dextrous Dasharatha, the star ruling today is magha , isn't it... oh, lord, on the third from now, say day after tomorrow, when the star phaalguNi comes, in its later part, namely uttara phalugNi , you may make happen this wedding, and the bounties like go bhuu tila hiraNya aadi i.e., ' cows, lands, grains, gold etc., that ensue the wellbeing of Rama and Lakshmana, may be accorded to the eligible generously... [1-71-24]

PURPORT

These old people have meticulously calculated stars and their sidereal times for marriage, but being old, they have forgotten to print the date of wedding on wedding invitations or, at least said about it. Thereby the dating of Ramayana has become a problem, and dating with Ramayana prospered.