🌅 Bala Kanda

Sarga 25

20 shlokas

BK-25-1Bala Kanda 25.1

अथ तस्याप्रमेयस्य मुनेर्वचनमुत्तमम्। श्रुत्वा पुरुषशार्दूल: प्रत्युवाच शुभां गिरम्।।1.25.1।।

atha tasyāprameyasya munervacanamuttamam| śrutvā puruṣaśārdūla: pratyuvāca śubhāṃ giram||1.25.1||

Translation

अप्रमेयस्य having super human faculty beyond comprehension, तस्य मुने: that sage's, उत्तमम् excellent, वचनम् words, श्रुत्वा having heard, पुरुषशार्दूल: greatest among men, शुभाम् auspicious, गिरम् speech, प्रत्युवाच replied.

Meaning

On hearing the excellent words of Viswamitra, a sage with unimaginable faculty. Rama, the tiger among men (Rama) replied in a, gentle voice:

BK-25-2Bala Kanda 25.2

अल्पवीर्या यदा यक्षा श्श्रूयन्ते मुनिपुङ्गव। कथन्नागसहस्रस्य धारयत्यबला बलम्।।1.25.2।।

alpavīryā yadā yakṣā śśrūyante munipuṅgava| kathannāgasahasrasya dhārayatyabalā balam||1.25.2||

Translation

मुनिपुङ्गव O Best of ascetics, यक्षा: yakshas, अल्पवीर्या: possess little prowess, यदा श्रूयन्ते since it is being heard, अबला a woman, नागसहस्रस्य thousand elephants', बलम् strength, कथम् how, धारयति possesses.

Meaning

"O best of ascetics, I have heard the yakshas possess little prowess. How can a woman who is by gender weak possess the strength of a thousand elephants?

BK-25-3Bala Kanda 25.3

विश्वामित्रोऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं शृण येन बलोत्तरा। वरदानकृतं वीर्यं धारयत्यबला बलम्।।1.25.3।।

viśvāmitro'bravīdvākyṃ śṛṇa yena balottarā| varadānakṛtṃ vīryṃ dhārayatyabalā balam||1.25.3||

Translation

विश्वामित्र: Visvamitra, वाक्यम् words, अब्रवीत् spoke, अबला a woman, येन for which ever reason, बलोत्तरा acquired great strength, शृणु you may listen, वरदानकृतम् by virtue of a boon, वीर्यम् prowess, बलम् strength, धारयति possesses.

Meaning

Viswamitra said, "Listen, how she acquired the prowess and strength by virtue of a boon she received.

BK-25-4Bala Kanda 25.4

पूर्वमासीन्महायक्षस्सुकेतुर्नाम वीर्यवान्। अनपत्यश्शुभाचारस्स च तेपे महत्तप:।।1.25.4।।

pūrvamāsīnmahāyakṣassuketurnāma vīryavān| anapatyaśśubhācārassa ca tepe mahattapa:||1.25.4||

Translation

पूर्वम् in the days past, सुकेतुर्नाम named Suketu, वीर्यवान् powerful, महायक्ष: great yaksha, आसीत् existed, अनपत्य: he was without children, स: he, शुभाचार: one with pure practices, महत् great, तप: penance, तेपे performed.

Meaning

"In the past there was a powerful and great yaksha by name Suketu. He had no children. So he performed an intense penance following virtuous practices.

BK-25-5Bala Kanda 25.5

पितामहस्तु सुप्रीतस्तस्य यक्षपते स्तदा। कन्यारत्नं ददौ राम ताटकां नाम नामत:।।1.25.5।।

pitāmahastu suprītastasya yakṣapate stadā| kanyāratnṃ dadau rāma tāṭakāṃ nāma nāmata:||1.25.5||

Translation

राम O Rama, तदा then, पितामह: Brahma, सुप्रीत: highly gratified, तस्य यक्षपते: towards that king of yakshas, नामत: by name, नाम wellknown as, ताटकां Tataka, कन्यारत्नम् gem of a daughter, ददौ granted.

Meaning

Rama the grandsire Brahma was highly gratified and granted to the king of yakshas, the gem of a daughter by name known asTataka.

BK-25-6Bala Kanda 25.6

ददौ नागसहस्रस्य बलं चास्या: पितामह:। नत्वेव पुत्रं यक्षाय ददौ ब्रह्मा महायशा:।।1.25.6।।

dadau nāgasahasrasya balṃ cāsyā: pitāmaha:| natveva putrṃ yakṣāya dadau brahmā mahāyaśā:||1.25.6||

Translation

पितामह: lord Brahma, अस्या: for her, नागसहस्रस्य thousand elephants, बलम् strength, ददौ granted, महायशा: that illustrious, ब्रह्मा lord Brahma, यक्षाय for that yaksha, पुत्रं तु son, न ददौ did not bestow.

Meaning

The illustrious grandsire Brahma granted her the strength of a thousand elephants, but did not bestow a son on the yaksha.

BK-25-7Bala Kanda 25.7

तां तु जातां विवर्धन्तीं रूपयौवनशालिनीम्। झर्झपुत्राय सुन्दाय ददौ भार्यां यशस्विनीम्।।1.25.7।।

tāṃ tu jātāṃ vivardhantīṃ rūpayauvanaśālinīm| jharjhaputrāya sundāya dadau bhāryāṃ yaśasvinīm||1.25.7||

Translation

जाताम् born, विवर्धन्तीम् as she was growing, रूपयौवनशालिनीम् shining with youthful charm and beauty, यशस्विनीम् glorious, ताम् her, झर्झपुत्राय son of Jharjha, सुन्दाय for Sunda, भार्याम् as wife, ददौ gave.

Meaning

As she grew up, glowing with youth and beauty she was given in marriage to Sunda, son of Jharjha.

BK-25-8Bala Kanda 25.8

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य यक्षी पुत्रमजायत। मारीचं नाम दुर्धर्षं यश्शापाद्राक्षसोऽभवत्।।1.25.8।।

kasyacittvatha kālasya yakṣī putramajāyata| mārīcṃ nāma durdharṣṃ yaśśāpādrākṣaso'bhavat||1.25.8||

Translation

अथ thereafter, कस्यचित् कालस्य after some time, यक्षी the female yakshi,Tataka, मारीचं नाम by name Maricha, दुर्धर्षम् unassailable, पुत्रम् son, अजायत gave birth, य: he, शापात् because of the curse, राक्षस: अभवत् became rakshasa.

Meaning

After some time that yakshini gave birth to an unassailable son by name Maricha. Because of a curse, he became a rakshasa (though born of yaksha parentage).

BK-25-9Bala Kanda 25.9

सुन्दे तु निहते राम सागस्त्यमृषिसत्तमम्। ताटका सह पुत्रेण प्रधर्षयितुमिच्छति।।1.25.9।।

sunde tu nihate rāma sāgastyamṛṣisattamam| tāṭakā saha putreṇa pradharṣayitumicchati||1.25.9||

Translation

राम: O Rama, सुन्दे when Sunda, निहते was killed, सा ताटका that Tataka, पुत्रेण सह along with her son, ऋषिसत्तमम् excellent of sages, अगस्त्यम् Agastya, प्रधर्षयितुम् to attack him, इच्छति desires(ed).

Meaning

O Rama when Sunda died Tataka along with her son wanted to attack Agastya, the best of sages.

BK-25-10Bala Kanda 25.10

भक्षार्थं जातसंरम्भा गर्जन्ती साभ्यधावत।0 आपतन्तीं तु तां दृष्ट्वा अगस्त्यो भगवानृषि:।।1.25.10।। राक्षसत्वं भजस्वेति मारीचं व्याजहार स:। 1

bhakṣārthṃ jātasṃrambhā garjantī sābhyadhāvata|0 āpatantīṃ tu tāṃ dṛṣṭvā agastyo bhagavānṛṣi:||1.25.10|| rākṣasatvṃ bhajasveti mārīcṃ vyājahāra sa:| 1

Translation

सा she, गर्जन्ती roaring, जातसंरम्भा with haste and excitement, भक्षार्धम् to devour, अभ्यधावत rushed towards him, भगवान् venerable, स: अगस्त्य: ऋषि: that Agastya rishi, आपतन्तीम् approaching, ताम् her, दृष्ट्वा having seen, राक्षसत्वम् demons' nature, भजस्व इति partake, मरीचम् Maricha, व्याजहार spoke(cursed).

Meaning

Roaring, she rushed with excitement to devour him. The venerable rishi Agastya saw her approaching him and cursed Maricha to assume form of a demoness.

BK-25-11-12Bala Kanda 25.11–12 (युग्मम्)

अगस्त्य: परमक्रुद्धस्ताटकामपि शप्तवान्।।1.25.11।। पुरुषादी महायक्षी विरूपा विकृतानना। इदं रूपं विहायाथ दारुणं रूपमस्तु ते।।1.25.12।।

agastya: paramakruddhastāṭakāmapi śaptavān||1.25.11|| puruṣādī mahāyakṣī virūpā vikṛtānanā| idṃ rūpṃ vihāyātha dāruṇṃ rūpamastu te||1.25.12||

Translation

परमक्रुद्ध: exceedingly wrathful, अगस्त्य: Agastya, ताटकामपि Tataka also, शप्तवान् cursed, इदं रूपम् this form, विहाय abandoning, अथ thereafter, विरूपा disfigured shape, विकृतानना hideous countenance, पुरुषादी becoming a cannibal, महायक्षी great yakshi, ते to you, दारुणं रूपम् अस्तु let it be a terrible form.

Meaning

Mighty angry, Agastya cursed Tataka saying, 'Abandon this form of a great yakshini and assume the terrible figure of a rakshasi, a cannibal with distorted appearance and a hideous countenance'.

BK-25-13Bala Kanda 25.13

सैषा शापकृतामर्षा ताटका क्रोधमूर्छिता। देशमुत्सादयत्येनमगस्त्यचरितं शुभम्।।1.25.13।।

saiṣā śāpakṛtāmarṣā tāṭakā krodhamūrchitā| deśamutsādayatyenamagastyacaritṃ śubham||1.25.13||

Translation

शापकृतामर्षा enraged at the curse, सा एषा ताटका this same Tataka, क्रोधमूर्छिता has become senseless with anger, अगस्त्यचरितम् place tread over by Agstya, शुभम् sacred, एनं देशम् this land, उत्सादयति is destroying.

Meaning

Enraged at the curse, senseless, Tataka with anger, has been ravaging this sacred land when Agastya walked.

BK-25-14Bala Kanda 25.14

एनां राघव दुर्वृत्तां यक्षीं परमदारुणाम्। गोब्राह्मणहितार्थाय जहि दुष्टपराक्रमाम्।।1.25.14।।

enāṃ rāghava durvṛttāṃ yakṣīṃ paramadāruṇām| gobrāhmaṇahitārthāya jahi duṣṭaparākramām||1.25.14||

Translation

राघव (राम) O Rama, दुर्वृत्ताम् wicked, परमदारुणाम् highly cruel, दुष्टपराक्रमाम् having vile prowess, एनां यक्षीम् this yakshi, गोब्राह्मणहितार्थाय for the welfare of brahmins and the cows, जहि you may slay her.

Meaning

O Rama for the welfare of cows and brahmins, slay this yakshini who is wicked, extremely cruel and possessing vile prowess.

BK-25-15Bala Kanda 25.15

न ह्येनां शापसम्स्पृष्टां कश्चिदुत्सहते पुमान्। निहन्तुं त्रिषु लोकेषु त्वामृते रघुनन्दन।।1.25.15।।

na hyenāṃ śāpasamspṛṣṭāṃ kaścidutsahate pumān| nihantuṃ triṣu lokeṣu tvāmṛte raghunandana||1.25.15||

Translation

रघुनन्दन O Rama, शापसम्स्पृष्टाम् maligned by the curse, एनाम् this yakshini, निहन्तुम् to slay, त्वां ऋते except you, कश्चित् पुमान् a single man, त्रिषु लोकेषु in three worlds, न उत्सहते हि not inclined.

Meaning

O son of Raghu's dynasty she is maligned by the curse, and so not a single man in the three worlds except you, is competent to slay this yakshini.

BK-25-16Bala Kanda 25.16

न हि ते स्त्रीवधकृते घृणा कार्या नरोत्तम। चातुर्वण्यहितार्थाय कर्तव्यं राजसूनुना।।1.25.16।।

na hi te strīvadhakṛte ghṛṇā kāryā narottama| cāturvaṇyahitārthāya kartavyṃ rājasūnunā||1.25.16||

Translation

नरोत्तम O Best among men, स्त्रीवधकृते by the act of slaying a woman, ते to you, घृणा pity न कार्या need not be shown, राजसूनुना by a prince, चातुर्वर्ण्यहितार्थाय in the interests four orders of the society, कर्तव्यम् should be done.

Meaning

O best among men you need not hate killing a woman. You are a prince. You should serve the interest of the four orders of the society.

BK-25-17Bala Kanda 25.17

नृशंसमनृशंसं वा प्रजारक्षणकारणात्। पातकं वा सदोषं वा कर्तव्यं रक्षता सता।।1.25.17।।

nṛśṃsamanṛśṃsṃ vā prajārakṣaṇakāraṇāt| pātakṃ vā sadoṣṃ vā kartavyṃ rakṣatā satā||1.25.17||

Translation

रक्षता while protecting, सता by a virtuous man, प्रजारक्षणकारणात् for the welfare of the subjects, नृशंसं वा either cruel, अनृशंसं वा or not cruel ,पातकं वा or a sin, सदोषं वा or involving a mistake, कर्तव्यम् should be done.

Meaning

Whether cruel or kind, sinful or wrong whatever contributes to the protection of the subjects, should be done by the righteous (king).

BK-25-18Bala Kanda 25.18

राज्यभारनियुक्तानामेष धर्मस्सनातन:। अधर्म्यां जहि काकुत्स्थ धर्मोह्यस्या न विद्यते।।1.25.18।।

rājyabhāraniyuktānāmeṣa dharmassanātana:| adharmyāṃ jahi kākutstha dharmohyasyā na vidyate||1.25.18||

Translation

राज्यभारनियुक्तानाम् for those who enjoined by the burden of royalty, एष: this one, सनातन: eternal, धर्म: law, काकुत्स्थ O Kakusthsa, अधर्म्याम् unjust (Tataka ), जहि kill her, अस्या: for this Tataka, धर्म: righteousness, न विद्यते हि knows not.

Meaning

This is the eternal law binding those who are appointed to bear the burden of a kingdom. O Kakutstha kill her. She knows no dharma.

BK-25-19Bala Kanda 25.19

श्रूयते हि पुरा शक्रो विरोचनसुतां नृप। पृथिवीं हन्तुमिच्छन्तीं मन्थरामभ्यसूदयत्।।1.25.19।।

śrūyate hi purā śakro virocanasutāṃ nṛpa| pṛthivīṃ hantumicchantīṃ mantharāmabhyasūdayat||1.25.19||

Translation

नृप O Prince, पुरा in the days of the past, पृथिवीम् this earth, हन्तुम् to destroy, इच्छन्तीम् intending, विरोचनसुताम् daughter of Virochana, मन्थराम् Manthara, शक्र: Indra, अभ्यसूदयत् slew, श्रूयते हि it is heard.

Meaning

O Prince It is heard that in the past Indra slew Manthara, Virochana's daughter who intended to destroy the earth.

BK-25-20Bala Kanda 25.20

विष्णुनापि पुरा राम भृगुपत्नी दृढव्रता। अनिन्द्रं लोकमिच्छन्ती काव्यमाता निषूदिता।।1.25.20।।

viṣṇunāpi purā rāma bhṛgupatnī dṛḍhavratā| anindrṃ lokamicchantī kāvyamātā niṣūditā||1.25.20||

Translation

राम O Rama, पुरा in the olden days, लोकम् this world, अनिन्द्रम् devoid of Indra, इच्छन्ती desirous, दृढव्रता determined to vow, काव्यमाता mother of Sukracharya, भृगुपत्नी अपि wife of sage Bhrigu, विष्णुनाऽपि by Visnu also, निषूदिता destroyed.

Meaning

'O Rama! In olden times, Kavya, the mother of Sukracharya, the wife of sage Bhrigu, was destroyed by Vishnu determined to destroy Indra.'

BK-25-21Bala Kanda 25.21

एतैश्चान्यैश्च बहुभी राजपुत्र महात्मभि:। अधर्मसहिता नार्यो हता: पुरुषसत्तमै:।।1.25.21।।

etaiścānyaiśca bahubhī rājaputra mahātmabhi:| adharmasahitā nāryo hatā: puruṣasattamai:||1.25.21||

Translation

राजपुत्र O Prince, महात्मभि: magnanimous, एतैश्च by them, अन्यै:च by others, पुरुषसत्तमै: by the best among men, बहुभिः by several, अधर्मसहिता: unrighteous ones, नार्य: women, हता: were killed.

Meaning

O Prince by these magnanimous persons and by great men several unrighteous women were killed for the common good". इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे पञ्चविंशस्सर्ग:।। Thus ends the twentyfifth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

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