🌅 Bala Kanda

Sarga 56

18 shlokas

BK-56-1Bala Kanda 56.1

एवमुक्तो वसिष्ठेन विश्वामित्रो महाबल:। आग्नेयमस्त्रमुत्क्षिप्य तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत्।।1.56.1।।

evamukto vasiṣṭhena viśvāmitro mahābala:| āgneyamastramutkṣipya tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt||1.56.1||

Translation

महाबल: mighty, विश्वामित्र: Visvamitra, वसिष्ठेन by Vasishta, एवम् thus, उक्त: having been addressed, आग्नेयम् अस्त्रम् Agneya astra, उत्क्षिप्य after lifting, तिष्ठ तिष्ठ इति 'stay, stay' so, अब्रवीत् said.

Meaning

Thus said Vasishta. Mighty Viswamitra lifted up agneya astra (shaft of fire) and discharging it said, 'stay, stay'.

BK-56-2Bala Kanda 56.2

ब्रह्मदण्डं समुत्क्षिप्य कालदण्डमिवाऽपरम्। वसिष्ठो भगवान् क्रोधादिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।।1.56.2।।

brahmadaṇḍṃ samutkṣipya kāladaṇḍamivā'param| vasiṣṭho bhagavān krodhādidṃ vacanamabravīt||1.56.2||

Translation

भगवान् revered, वसिष्ठ: Vasishta, परम् another, कालदण्डमिव looking like unto the rod of death, ब्रह्मदण्डम् rod of Brahma, समुत्क्षिप्य having lifted, क्रोधात् in anger, इदम् this, वचनम् word, अब्रवीत् spoke.

Meaning

Venerable Vasishta, in fury lifted the Brahmadanda which was like another rod of death. And spoke these words:

BK-56-3Bala Kanda 56.3

क्षत्रबन्धो स्थितोस्म्येष यद्बलं तद्विदर्शय। नाशयाम्यद्य ते दर्पं शस्त्रस्य तव गाधिज।।1.56.3।।

kṣatrabandho sthitosmyeṣa yadbalṃ tadvidarśaya| nāśayāmyadya te darpṃ śastrasya tava gādhija||1.56.3||

Translation

क्षत्रबन्धो O Wicked kshatriya, एष: स्थित: अस्मि I am standing here, यत् बलम् which strength (you have), तत् that one, विदर्शय show it, गाधिज O Son of Gadhi, अद्य now, ते your, दर्पम् pride, तव your, शस्त्रस्य arms', नाशयामि I will destroy.

Meaning

"O wicked kshatriya O son of Gadhi here I stand. Show me your strength and the pride of your arms. I will destroy them now.

BK-56-4Bala Kanda 56.4

क्व च ते क्षत्रियबलं क्व च ब्रह्मबलं महत्। पश्य ब्रह्मबलं दिव्यं मम क्षत्रियपांसन।।1.56.4।।

kva ca te kṣatriyabalṃ kva ca brahmabalṃ mahat| paśya brahmabalṃ divyṃ mama kṣatriyapāṃsana||1.56.4||

Translation

क्षत्रियपांसन O Meanest among kshatriyas, ते your, क्षत्रियबलम् energy of kshatriya, क्व where, महत् great, ब्रह्मबलम् energy of Brahma, क्व where, मम my, दिव्यम् divine, ब्रह्मबलम् energy of Brahma, पश्य behold.

Meaning

O mean kshatriya where does your energy of a kshatriya stand in comparison with the great energy of Brahma? Behold my Brahmabala (Brahman's energy)".

BK-56-5Bala Kanda 56.5

तस्यास्त्रं गाधिपुत्रस्य घोरमाग्नेयमुद्यतम्। ब्रह्मदण्डेन तच्छान्तमग्नेर्वेग इवाम्भसा।।1.56.5।।

tasyāstrṃ gādhiputrasya ghoramāgneyamudyatam| brahmadaṇḍena tacchāntamagnervega ivāmbhasā||1.56.5||

Translation

तस्य गाधिपुत्रस्य that Gadhi's son's, उद्यतम् discharged, तत् that, आग्नेयम् Agneya, अस्त्रम् weapon, अम्भसा by water, अग्ने: fire's, वेग: इव like speed, ब्रह्मदण्डेन by the rod of Brahma, शान्तम् calmed.

Meaning

The Brahmadanda (released by Vasishta) put down the dreadful agneya astra released by Gadhi's son just like the force of fire is extinguished by water.

BK-56-6Bala Kanda 56.6

वारुणं चैव रौद्रं च ऐन्द्रं पाशुपतं तथा। ऐषीकं चापि चिक्षेप कुपितो गाधिनन्दन:।।1.56.6।।

vāruṇṃ caiva raudrṃ ca aindrṃ pāśupatṃ tathā| aiṣīkṃ cāpi cikṣepa kupito gādhinandana:||1.56.6||

Translation

कुपित: incensed, गाधिनन्दन: son of Gadhi, वारुणं चैव Varuna weapon, रौद्रं च Raudra, ऐन्द्रं च Aindra, तथा and, पाशुपतम् Pasupata, ऐषीकं चापि Aishika, चिक्षेप employed or discharged.

Meaning

The incensed son of Gadhi employed varuna, raudra, aindra, pasupata and aishika weapons.

BK-56-7-12Bala Kanda 56.7–12 (कुलकम्)

मानवं मोहनं चैव गान्धर्वं स्वापनं तथा। जृम्भणं मादनं चैव संतापनविलापने।।1.56.7।। शोषणं दारणं चैव वज्रमस्त्रं सुदुर्जयम्। ब्रह्मपाशं कालपाशं वारुणं पाशमेव च।।1.56.8।। पैनाकास्त्रं च दयितं शुष्कार्द्रे अशनी उभे। दण्डास्त्रमथ पैशाचं क्रौञ्चमस्त्रं तथैव च।।1.56.9।। धर्मचक्रं कालचक्रं विष्णुचक्रं तथैव च। वायव्यं मथनं चैव अस्त्रं हयशिरस्तथा।।1.56.10।। शक्तिद्वयं च चिक्षेप कङ्कालं मुसलं तथा। 560 वैद्याधरं महास्त्रं च कालास्त्रमथ दारुणम्।।1.56.11।। त्रिशूलमस्त्रं घोरं च कापालमथ कङ्कणम्। एतान्यस्त्राणि चिक्षेप सर्वाणि रघुनन्दन।।1.56.12।। वसिष्ठे जपतां श्रेष्ठे तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्।

mānavṃ mohanṃ caiva gāndharvṃ svāpanṃ tathā| jṛmbhaṇṃ mādanṃ caiva sṃtāpanavilāpane||1.56.7|| śoṣaṇṃ dāraṇṃ caiva vajramastrṃ sudurjayam| brahmapāśṃ kālapāśṃ vāruṇṃ pāśameva ca||1.56.8|| painākāstrṃ ca dayitṃ śuṣkārdre aśanī ubhe| daṇḍāstramatha paiśācṃ krauñcamastrṃ tathaiva ca||1.56.9|| dharmacakrṃ kālacakrṃ viṣṇucakrṃ tathaiva ca| vāyavyṃ mathanṃ caiva astrṃ hayaśirastathā||1.56.10|| śaktidvayṃ ca cikṣepa kaṅkālṃ musalṃ tathā| 560 vaidyādharṃ mahāstrṃ ca kālāstramatha dāruṇam||1.56.11|| triśūlamastrṃ ghorṃ ca kāpālamatha kaṅkaṇam| etānyastrāṇi cikṣepa sarvāṇi raghunandana||1.56.12|| vasiṣṭhe japatāṃ śreṣṭhe tadadbhutamivābhavat|

Translation

रघुनन्दन O Joy of Raghus, Rama, मानवम् manava, मोहनं चैव mohana, गान्धर्वम् gandharva, तथा and, स्वापनम् swapana (inducing sleep), जृम्भणम् Jrimbhana (causing yawning), मादनं चैव weapon causing intoxication, सन्तापनविलापने weapons causing burning and wailing, शोषणम् weapon causing emaciation, दारणं चैव weapon that splits, सुदुर्जयम् difficult to defeat, वज्रम् अस्त्रं च Vajra astra, ब्रह्मपाशम् Brahma astra, कालपाशम् Kala pasa, वारुणं पाशमेव च Varuna pasa, पैनाकास्त्रम् Painaka weapon, दयितम् Daita weapon, शुष्कार्द्रे wet and dry, उभे two, अशनी thunder bolt, अथ and, दण्डास्त्रम् Danda weapon, पैशाचम् Paisacha weapon, तथैव च as also, क्रौञ्चमस्त्रम् Krauncha weapon, धर्मचक्रम् Dharma chakra, कालचक्रम् Kala chakra, तथैव च as also, विष्णुचक्रम् Vishnu Chakra, वायव्यम् pike of Vayu, मथनं चैव mathana, the churning weapon, तथा and, हयशिर: अस्त्रम् Haya sira weapon, कङ्कालम् Kankala, the skeleton weapon, तथा and, मुसलम् musala, the pestle, शक्तिद्वयं च two powers, चिक्षेप employed, वैद्याधरम् Vaidyadhram pertaining to Vidyadharas, महास्त्रं च mahastra, अथ and, दारुणम् fearful, कालास्त्रम् Kala weapon, घोरम् dreadful, त्रिशूलम् अस्त्रम् Trishula weapon, अथ and, कापालम् Kapalaskull, कङ्कणम् ring shaped Kankana, एतानि सर्वाणि all these, अस्त्राणि weapons, जपतां श्रेष्ठे at the best among ascetics, वसिष्ठे on Vasistha, चिक्षेप employed, तत् that, अद्भुतमिव अभवत् became super natural (aweful).

Meaning

"O Descendent of Raghu Viswamitra employed weapons like manava, mohana, gandharva, swapana, jrimbhana, madana, santapana, vilapana, shoshana, darana, vajra weapons, Brahma, kala and varuna pasas, the favourite painaka, daita, shushka, ardra vajras, danda, paisacha, krauncha, weapons, dharmachakra, kalachakra, vishnuchakras, vayavya, mathana, hayasira weapons, kanakala, musala powers, vaidyadhara, kalatrishula, kapala, kankana weapons discharged against Vasishta the best of ascetics. All this became aweful.

BK-56-13Bala Kanda 56.13

तानि सर्वाणि दण्डेन ग्रसते ब्रह्मणस्सुत:।।1.56.13।। तेषु शान्तेषु ब्रह्मास्त्रं क्षिप्तवान् गाधिनन्दन:।

tāni sarvāṇi daṇḍena grasate brahmaṇassuta:||1.56.13|| teṣu śānteṣu brahmāstrṃ kṣiptavān gādhinandana:|

Translation

ब्रह्मण: सुत: son of Brahma, Vasishta, तानि सर्वाणि all those (weapons ), दण्डेन with his staff, ग्रसते swallowed, तेषु when those weapons, शान्तेषु were humbled, गाधिनन्दन: son of Gadhi, ब्रह्मास्त्रम् Brahma astra, क्षिप्तवान् employed.

Meaning

Vasishta son of Brahma, swallowed all those weapons with his staff. When those weapons were humbled, son of Gadhi employed Brahmastra.

BK-56-14-15Bala Kanda 56.14–15 (युग्मम्)

तदस्त्रमुद्यतं दृष्ट्वा देवास्साग्निपुरोगमा:।।1.56.14।। देवर्षयश्च सम्भ्रान्तागन्धर्वास्समहोरगा:। त्रैलोक्यमासीत्सन्तप्तं ब्रह्मास्त्रे समुदीरिते।।1.56.15।

tadastramudyatṃ dṛṣṭvā devāssāgnipurogamā:||1.56.14|| devarṣayaśca sambhrāntāgandharvāssamahoragā:| trailokyamāsītsantaptṃ brahmāstre samudīrite||1.56.15|

Translation

उद्यतम् employed, तत् अस्त्रम् that Brahma astra, दृष्ट्वा having seen, साग्निपुरोगमा: with Agni in the forefront, देवा: devatas, देवर्षय: च divine rishis, समहोरगा: with great serpents, गन्धर्वा: gandharvas, सम्भ्रान्ता: agitated, ब्रह्मास्त्रे when Brahma astra, समुदीरिते was discharged, त्रैलोक्यम् three worlds, सन्तप्तम् आसीत् became distressed.

Meaning

All the devatas, with Agni in the forefront, divine rishis, great uragas and gandharvas were agitated seeing the Brahmastra raised. When Brahmastra was discharged, the three worlds became distressed.

BK-56-16Bala Kanda 56.16

तदप्यस्त्रं महाघोरं ब्रह्मं ब्राह्मेण तेजसा । वसिष्ठो ग्रसते सर्वं ब्रह्मदण्डेन राघव।।1.56.16।।

tadapyastrṃ mahāghorṃ brahmṃ brāhmeṇa tejasā | vasiṣṭho grasate sarvṃ brahmadaṇḍena rāghava||1.56.16||

Translation

राघव O Rama, वसिष्ठ: Vasishta, ब्रह्मेण तेजसा possessing the energy of Brahma, ब्रह्मदण्डेन with the danda of Brahma, महाघोरम् highly dreadful, तत् that, ब्रह्मं अस्त्रमपि Brahma astra also, सर्वम् entirely, ग्रसते swallowed.

Meaning

O Descendant of Raghu Vasishta who possessed the energy of Brahma swallowed that very dreadful Brahmastra entirely with the help of Brahmadanda.

BK-56-17Bala Kanda 56.17

ब्रह्मास्त्रं ग्रसमानस्य वसिष्ठस्य महात्मन:। त्रैलोक्यमोहनं रौद्रं रूपमासीत्सुदारुणम्।।1.56.17।।

brahmāstrṃ grasamānasya vasiṣṭhasya mahātmana:| trailokyamohanṃ raudrṃ rūpamāsītsudāruṇam||1.56.17||

Translation

ब्रह्मास्त्रम् Brahma astra, ग्रसमानस्य while swallowing, महात्मन: of the magnanimous, वसिष्ठस्य Vasishta's, रूपम् form, त्रैलोक्यमोहनम् causing the three worlds to faint, रौद्रम् fierce, सुदारुणम् आसीत् became terrible.

Meaning

While swallowing Brahmastra the great Vasishta looked fierce and terrible causing the three worlds to faint.

BK-56-18Bala Kanda 56.18

रोमकूपेषु सर्वेषु वसिष्ठस्य महात्मन:। मरीच्य इव निष्पेतुरग्नेर्धूमाकुलार्चिष:।।1.56.18।।

romakūpeṣu sarveṣu vasiṣṭhasya mahātmana:| marīcya iva niṣpeturagnerdhūmākulārciṣa:||1.56.18||

Translation

महात्मन: Illustrious, वसिष्ठस्य Vasishta's, सर्वेषु completely, रोमकूपेषु in pores of his body, धूमाकुलार्चिष: flames with smoke, अग्ने: fire's, मरीच्य: rays of light, निष्पेतुरिव looked like coming out.

Meaning

From every pore of the great Vasishta's body flames resembling rays of light with smoke emerged.

BK-56-19Bala Kanda 56.19

प्राज्वलद्ब्रह्मदण्डश्च वसिष्ठस्य करोद्यत:। विधूम इव कालाग्निर्यमदण्ड इवापर:।।1.56.19।।

prājvaladbrahmadaṇḍaśca vasiṣṭhasya karodyata:| vidhūma iva kālāgniryamadaṇḍa ivāpara:||1.56.19||

Translation

वसिष्ठस्य Vasishta's, करोद्यत: lifted in his hand, ब्रह्मदण्डश्च staff of Brahma, विधूम: smokeless, कालाग्निरिव fire at the end of dissolution of the worlds, अपर: another, यमदण्ड: इव rod of death, प्राज्वलत् inflammed (was burning ).

Meaning

The staff of Brahma in Vasishta's hand, resembling smokeless fire at the end of the dissolution of the worlds inflamed like another rod of death.

BK-56-20Bala Kanda 56.20

ततोऽस्तुवन् मुनिगणा वसिष्ठं जपतां वरम्। अमोघं ते बलं ब्रह्मन् तेजो धारय तेजसा।।1.56.20।।

tato'stuvan munigaṇā vasiṣṭhṃ japatāṃ varam| amoghṃ te balṃ brahman tejo dhāraya tejasā||1.56.20||

Translation

तत: then, मुनिगणा: hosts of sages, जपतां वरम् best among sages, वसिष्ठम् Vasishta, अस्तुवन् praised, ब्रह्मन् O Brahmin, ते your, बलम् energy, अमोघम् infallible, तेज: your energy, तेजसा by your enegy, धारय hold.

Meaning

Then hosts of saints praised Vasishta, the best among sages, saying "O Brahmin, your energy is infallible, hold your energy by your enegy".

BK-56-21Bala Kanda 56.21

निगृहीतस्त्वया ब्रह्मन् विश्वामित्रो महातपा:। प्रसीद जपतां श्रेष्ठ लोकास्सन्तु गतव्यथा:।।1.56.21।।

nigṛhītastvayā brahman viśvāmitro mahātapā:| prasīda japatāṃ śreṣṭha lokāssantu gatavyathā:||1.56.21||

Translation

ब्रह्मन् O Brahman, त्वया by you, महातपा: great ascetic, विश्वामित्र: Visvamitra, निगृहीत: was controlled, जपतां श्रेष्ठ O Best of ascetics, प्रसीद be pleased, लोका: worlds, गतव्यथा: सन्तु be delivered from distress.

Meaning

'O Brahman great ascetic Viswamitra was controlled by you. O Best of ascetics be pleased and let the worlds be delivered from distress'.

BK-56-22Bala Kanda 56.22

एवमुक्तो महातेजाश्शमं चक्रे महातपा:। विश्वामित्रोऽपि निकृतो विनिश्वस्येदमब्रवीत्।।1.56.22।।

evamukto mahātejāśśamṃ cakre mahātapā:| viśvāmitro'pi nikṛto viniśvasyedamabravīt||1.56.22||

Translation

एवम् thus, उक्त: spoken, महातेजा: highly splendrous, महातपा: great ascetic, शमम् tranquility, चक्रे made, निकृत: humiliated, विश्वामित्र: अपि Visvamitra also, विनिश्वस्य heaving a sigh, इदम् this word, अब्रवीत् spoke.

Meaning

At this, Vasishta the most brilliant ascetic became quiet. The humiliated Viswamitra heaved a sigh and spoke these words:

BK-56-23Bala Kanda 56.23

धिग्बलं क्षत्रियबलं ब्रह्मतेजो बलं बलम्। एकेन ब्रह्मदण्डेन सर्वास्त्राणि हतानि मे।।1.56.23।।

dhigbalṃ kṣatriyabalṃ brahmatejo balṃ balam| ekena brahmadaṇḍena sarvāstrāṇi hatāni me||1.56.23||

Translation

क्षत्रियबलम् the energy of Kshatriya, धिक् fie upon, ब्रह्मतेजोबलम् the strength of Brahma energy, बलम् energy, एकेन by one, ब्रह्मदण्डेन staff of Brahma, मे my, सर्वास्त्राणि all weapons, हतानि were beaten.

Meaning

Shame Where is the might of a kshatriya? The energy of a brahmin is the real energy. The staff of Brahma has singly destroyed all my weapons".

BK-56-24Bala Kanda 56.24

तदेतत्समवेक्ष्याहं प्रसन्नेन्द्रियमानस:। तपो महत्समास्थास्ये यद्वै ब्रह्मत्वकारणम्।।1.56.24।।

tadetatsamavekṣyāhṃ prasannendriyamānasa:| tapo mahatsamāsthāsye yadvai brahmatvakāraṇam||1.56.24||

Translation

तत् for that reason, एतत् this affair, समवेक्ष्य having seen, प्रसन्नेन्द्रियमानस: with pellucid mind and senses, यत् which one, ब्रह्मत्वकारणम् is the reason for brahminhood, महत् great, तप: penance, समास्थास्ये undertake.

Meaning

"Now I have realised the reason. With clear mind and senses, I shall undertake intense penance which will earn me brahminhood". इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे षट्पञ्चाशस्सर्ग:।। Thus ends the fiftysixth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.