Chapter 75
Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties
राम दाश्हरथे वीर वीर्यम् ते श्ह्रूयते
अद्भुतम्
धनुष्हो भेदनम् छैव निखिलेन मया श्ह्रुतम्
rāma dāśharathe vīra vīryam te śhrūyate
adbhutam
dhanuṣho bhedanam chaiva nikhilena mayā śhrutam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, valiant Rama of Dasharatha, your valour is bruited as a sensational valour, and sensational is your smashing of Shiva's bow, also thus I have thoroughly heard about your others deeds like elimination of Tataka et cetera... [1-75-1]
तत् अद्भुतम् अछिंत्यम् छ भेदनम् धनुष्हः
तथा
तत् श्ह्रुत्वा अहम् अनुप्राप्तो धनुर् गृह्य अपरम् श्हुभम्
tat adbhutam achiṃtyam cha bhedanam dhanuṣhaḥ
tathā
tat śhrutvā aham anuprāpto dhanur gṛhya aparam śhubham
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"That way, smashing of that particular bow of Shiva is wondrous and even unimaginable... on hearing that alone I happened upon you, bringing another outranking bow... [1-75-2]
तत् इदम् घोर संकाश्हम् जामदग्न्यम् महत्
धनुः
पूरयस्व श्हरेण एव स्व बलम् दर्श्हयस्व छ
tat idam ghora saṃkāśham jāmadagnyam mahat
dhanuḥ
pūrayasva śhareṇa eva sva balam darśhayasva cha
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This alone is that catastrophic bow received through Sage Jamadagni... flex it with an arrow on bowstring stretching up to your ear, and in that way show your capability... [1-75-3]
तत् अहम् ते बलम् दृष्ह्ट्वा धनुष्हो अपि अस्य
पूरणे
द्वंद्व युद्धम् प्रदास्यामि वीर्य श्ह्लाघ्यम् अहम् तव
tat aham te balam dṛṣhṭvā dhanuṣho api asya
pūraṇe
dvaṃdva yuddham pradāsyāmi vīrya śhlāghyam aham tava
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Thereby, on examining your strength in your taking aim with this bow, and should you be deservedly valorous, I will give you a combative duel..." So said Parashu Rama to Dasharatha Rama. [1-75-4]
PURPORT
तस्य तत् वछनम् श्ह्रुत्वा राजा दश्हरथः
तदा
विष्हण्ण वदनो दीनः प्रांजलिः वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
tasya tat vachanam śhrutvā rājā daśharathaḥ
tadā
viṣhaṇṇa vadano dīnaḥ prāṃjaliḥ vākyam abravīt
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
On hearing that sentence of Bhaargava Rama, then king Dasharatha became a pitiable one, and with a downcast face and adjoined palms said this. [1-75-5]
क्ष्हत्र रोष्हात् प्रश्हांतः त्वम् ब्राह्मणः छ
महातपाः
बालानाम् मम पुत्राणाम् अभयम् दातुम् अर्हसि
kṣhatra roṣhāt praśhāṃtaḥ tvam brāhmaṇaḥ cha
mahātapāḥ
bālānām mama putrāṇām abhayam dātum arhasi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Aren't you a Brahman with inviolable ascesis, and whose rancour on Kshatriya-s has calmed down long back. Why this hostility again. It'll be apt of you to award aegis to my sons, for they are yet youngsters... [1-75-6]
PURPORT
भार्गवाणाम् कुले जातः स्वाध्याय व्रत श्हालिनाम्
सहस्राक्ष्हे प्रतिज्ञाय श्हस्त्रम् प्रक्ष्ह्द् इप्तवान् असि
bhārgavāṇām kule jātaḥ svādhyāya vrata śhālinām
sahasrākṣhe pratijñāya śhastram prakṣhd iptavān asi
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Aren't you from the bloodline of Bhaargava-s who always conduct themselves in self-study of Vedas and self-principled ways... haven't you readily discarded weapon-wielding on your promise to Thousand-eyed Indra... [1-75-7]
PURPORT
स त्वम् धर्म परो भूत्वा काश्ह्यपाय
वसुंधराम्
दत्त्वा वनम् उपागंय महेन्द्र कृत केतनः
sa tvam dharma paro bhūtvā kāśhyapāya
vasuṃdharām
dattvā vanam upāgaṃya mahendra kṛta ketanaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Such as you were, you on becoming a dedicatee to probity, haven't you given the planet earth to Kashyapa and haven't you repaired to forests, and haven't you flagged yourself on Mt. Mahendra... [1-75-8]
PURPORT
मम सर्व विनाश्हाय संप्राप्तः त्वम् महामुने
न छ एकस्मिन् हते रामे सर्वे जीवामहे वयम्
mama sarva vināśhāya saṃprāptaḥ tvam mahāmune
na cha ekasmin hate rāme sarve jīvāmahe vayam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Or, oh, insurmountable sage, have you chanced upon us for a total annihilation of ours... when Rama is singularised and eliminated, nay-said that we all will be living..." Thus Dasharatha had gone on appealing in his love for his sons. [1-75-9]
PURPORT
ब्रुवति एवम् दश्हरथे जामदग्न्यः प्रतापवान्
अनादृत्य तु तत् वाक्यम् रामम् एव अभ्यभाष्हत
bruvati evam daśharathe jāmadagnyaḥ pratāpavān
anādṛtya tu tat vākyam rāmam eva abhyabhāṣhata
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
While Dasharatha is speaking in that way that intransigent Bhaargava Rama of Sage Jamadagni uncaring for those merciful words of Dasharatha addressed Rama of Dasharatha alone. [1-75-10]
इमे द्वे धनुष्ही श्ह्रेष्ह्ठे दिव्ये लोक
अभिपूजिते
दृढे बलवती मुख्ये सुकृते विश्ह्वकर्मणा
ime dve dhanuṣhī śhreṣhṭhe divye loka
abhipūjite
dṛḍhe balavatī mukhye sukṛte viśhvakarmaṇā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"These are the two strong and sturdy unsurpassed longbows, well-designed by gods and well-crafted by Vishvakarma, the Divine Architect, and these are very important among all bows and well-worshipped by all worlds... one broken in your, and the other in my hand... [1-75-11]
अनिसृष्ह्टम् सुरैः एकम् त्र्यम्बकाय युयुत्सवे
त्रिपुर घ्नम् नरश्ह्रेष्ह्ठ भग्नम् काकुत्स्थ यत् त्वया
anisṛṣhṭam suraiḥ ekam tryambakāya yuyutsave
tripura ghnam naraśhreṣhṭha bhagnam kākutstha yat tvayā
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, best one among men, out of the two longbows gods gave one to restive Trymbaka, God Shiva for a combat with demon Tripura, and oh, Kakutstha, that bow alone is the annihilator of Tripura, the demon... and you have broken that alone... [1-75-12]
इदम् द्वितीयम् दुर्धर्ष्हम् विष्ह्णोर् दत्तम्
सुरोत्तमैः
तत् इदम् वैष्ह्णवम् राम धनुः पर पुरम् जयम्
idam dvitīyam durdharṣham viṣhṇor dattam
surottamaiḥ
tat idam vaiṣhṇavam rāma dhanuḥ para puram jayam
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"This is the second one and the choicest gods gave this to Vishnu, thereby this is named after Him as 'Vishnu's bow...' this is an indestructible and enemy-citadel conquering longbow... and this is identical in its efficacy with Rudra's longbow... [1-75-13, 14a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Once, all the gods were asking the Grandparent, Brahma, as to who is powerful and who is less powerful among the blue-throated Shiva and Vishnu... but the Grandparent Brahma on inferring the intent of gods started to create adversity among those two, Shiva and Vishnu, for the Grandparent is the best adherer of truthfulness, as truth cannot be demonstrated on hearsay evidence... [1-75-14b, 15, 16a] Legend: Brahma thought that it would better to enact a drama to cleanse the one-sided mentalities of these lesser gods. So, he started to write the script, and himself becoming the writer-director of that drama. That script is hereunder. Brahma: Mahadeva, who is the destroyer of Tripura, or say triple-citadels? Shiva: Why? It is me, of course... Brahma: Why do you boast that way of yourself? It is the long-arrow of your longbow, isn't it? Shiva: Yes of course... Brahma: Then Vishnu was presiding deity of that long-bow... isn't t? Shiva: Yes, it is he, but I shot it from my bow... basically, is this a confusion, or, are you playing any part of Narada... Brahma: Not so, the other day Vishnu was telling that he alone did that master task... Shiva: How can it be! In the triple of doer-deed-instrument, instrument cannot become the doer... has his language gone topsy-turvy, noun is becoming verb and verb is lost to adjective and... Brahma: Ok, Ok... we do not care much for grammar as we care more for communication, grammar is paNini's headache... but what he said is that he alone did it... not you... Shiva: Then why I am called... why that longbow is given to me... you should have got it done by Vishnu... why calling me... you have unnecessarily spoiled my dance program... Brahma: Not that... I said what he said... let's not quarrel among ourselves... Shiva: I not only quarrel but wage war, if it comes to my interests and my devotees' interest... how many times I have not done so... Brahma: That is what Vishnu was telling... every time you give a boon to every demon, and involve yourself in enmeshment, and Vishnu has come to come and rescue... have he forgotten the episode of bhasmaasura... thus Vishnu is saying and asking... Shiva: Now I don't tolerate... I will take him to task... Exit Shiva - Enter Vishnu. Brahma reverses the above dialogue and says that to Vishnu Vishnu: No, No, highly objectionable... I will take him to task... I will take him to task... Exit All. War Started.
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Owing to their animosity then occurred a fierce and hair-raising war among Shiva and Vishnu, as each aspired victory for himself... [1-75-16b, 17a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"By the 'hum' sound of Vishnu that ruinously overpowering longbow of Shiva is broken, and the triple-eyed God, Mahadeva, is frozen... [1-75-17b, 18a]
PURPORT
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Then gods along with the assemblages of sages and celestial carana-s have come together and appealed to those two for appeasement in the matter of wielding authority, and then those two superior gods, Shiva and Vishnu, went into a state of amity... [1-75-18b, 19a]
जृम्भितम् तत् धनुः दृष्ह्ट्वा श्हैवम् विष्ह्णु
पराक्रमैः
jṛmbhitam tat dhanuḥ dṛṣhṭvā śhaivam viṣhṇu
parākramaiḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On seeing the bow of Shiva rendered inert by the mettlesomeness of Vishnu, from then on the gods along with the assemblages of sages deemed Vishnu to be the paramount... [1-75-19b, 20a]
धनू रुद्रः तु संक्रुद्धो विदेहेष्हु महायश्हाः
dhanū rudraḥ tu saṃkruddho videheṣhu mahāyaśhāḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"That celebrated Rudra on his part with indignation has handed over that longbow, which is already fitted with unloosened arrow, to the sagely king among Videha kings, namely Devaraata... [1-75-20b, 21a]
PURPORT
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Rama, this alone is that enemy-citadel conquering longbow of Vishnu, and Vishnu handed over this to Sage Riciika, the son of Bhrigu, as a trustworthy trust... [1-75-21b, 22a]
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"That great-resplendent Sage Riciika on his part has handed over this divine bow to his son with unmatchable deeds of religious merit, who is my father Sage Jamadagni... [1-75-22b, 23a]
PURPORT
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Adhering to a barbarous mentality Kaartvaviirya Arjuna put my father to death, when the ascetically powerful father of mine has isolated himself from arsenal... [1-75-23b, 24a]
वधम् अप्रतिरूपम् तु पितुः श्ह्रुत्वा सु दारुणम्
क्ष्हत्रम् उत्सादयन् रोष्हात् जातम् जातम् अनेकश्हः
vadham apratirūpam tu pituḥ śhrutvā su dāruṇam
kṣhatram utsādayan roṣhāt jātam jātam anekaśhaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Oh, Rama, on hearing the unregenerate and highly perfidious murdering of my father, I rancorously extirpated Kshatriya-s as and when they are born, that too not for one time, but I did so for thirty-seven times going around the earth... and on getting the entire earth under my control I performed Vedic-ritual, and at the end of that Vedic-ritual, I gave all that earth to sage Kashyapa, a sage with divine soul and with pious observances, as a ritualistic-generosity... and I am at present on Mt. Mahendra practising ascesis and thus conjoined are the powers of ascesis in me... [1-75-24b, c, 25, 26a]
श्ह्रुत्वा तु धनुष्हो भेदम् ततो अहम् द्रुतम्
आगतः
śhrutvā tu dhanuṣho bhedam tato aham drutam
āgataḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"On hearing about the breakage of Shiva's longbow, then I promptly came here. Thereby, oh, Rama, wield this supernatural and superlative longbow of Vishnu, which is passed on to me from my forefathers and my father. Keep your fealty to Kshatriya-hood in view, and wield this as you have wielded Shiva's longbow... [1-75-26b, 27]
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बाल काण्डे
पंछ सप्ततितमः सर्गः
iti vālmīki rāmāyaṇe ādi kāvye bāla kāṇḍe
paṃcha saptatitamaḥ sargaḥ
SYNONYMS
TRANSLATION
"Take an aim with an arrow that conquers enemy's citadels fixing it on this supramundane longbow... and oh, Kakutstha, should you be capable of it, thereafter I will give you a duel... [1-75-27]
PURPORT
