🌅 Bala Kanda

Sarga 66

26 shlokas

BK-66-1Bala Kanda 66.1

तत: प्रभाते विमले कृतकर्मा नराधिप:। विश्वामित्रं महात्मानं आजुहाव सराघवम्।।1.66.1।।

tata: prabhāte vimale kṛtakarmā narādhipa:| viśvāmitrṃ mahātmānṃ ājuhāva sarāghavam||1.66.1||

Translation

तत: thereafter, विमले in the pure light, प्रभाते of dawn, नराधिप: king, कृतकर्मा having performed daily devotions, सराघवम् together with two Raghavas, महात्मानम् magnanimous Visvamitra, आजुहाव invited.

Meaning

The day dawned bright and clear when the king (Janaka) performed his daily routine rites and welcomed the great Viswamitra with the two Raghavas (Rama and Lakshmana).

BK-66-2Bala Kanda 66.2

तमर्चयित्वा धर्मात्मा शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा। राघवौ च महात्मानौ तदा वाक्यमुवाच ह।।1.66.2।।

tamarcayitvā dharmātmā śāstradṛṣṭena karmaṇā| rāghavau ca mahātmānau tadā vākyamuvāca ha||1.66.2||

Translation

धर्मात्मा virtuous Janaka, तम् that, Visvamitra, महात्मानौ magnanimous, राघवौ च Rama and Lakshmana, शास्त्रदृष्टेन in accordance with scriptures, कर्मणा acts, अर्चयित्वा having paid homage, तदा then, वाक्यम् words, उवाच ह spoke.

Meaning

The virtuous Janaka paid respects to Viswamitra and the highsouled Rama and Lakshmana in accordance with the sastras and spoke:

BK-66-3Bala Kanda 66.3

भगवन् स्वागतं तेऽस्तु किं करोमि तवानघ। भवानाज्ञापयतु मामाज्ञाप्यो भवता ह्यहम्।।1.66.3।।

bhagavan svāgatṃ te'stu kiṃ karomi tavānagha| bhavānājñāpayatu māmājñāpyo bhavatā hyaham||1.66.3||

Translation

भगवन् O Venerable one, ते to you, स्वागतम् अस्तु welcome, अनघ O Sinless one, तव to you, किम् करोमि what shall I do, भवान् you, माम् me, आज्ञापयतु my command, अहम् I, भवता by you, आज्ञाप्य: हि worthy of being commanded.

Meaning

"Welcome, O Venerable one O Irreproachable one what can I do for you? Worthy of being commanded, I seek your orders.

BK-66-4Bala Kanda 66.4

एवमुक्तस्स धर्मात्मा जनकेन महात्मना। प्रत्युवाच मुनिर्वीरं वाक्यं वाक्यविशारद:।।1.66.4।।

evamuktassa dharmātmā janakena mahātmanā| pratyuvāca munirvīrṃ vākyṃ vākyaviśārada:||1.66.4||

Translation

महात्मना by the magnanimous, जनकेन by Janaka, एवम् thus, उक्त: having been spoken, धर्मात्मा virtuous, वाक्यविशारद: wellversed in speech, स: that, मुनि: ascetic, वीरम् addressing that warrior, वाक्यम् words, प्रत्युवाच replied.

Meaning

At the words of the magnanimous Janaka, the virtuous sage wellversed in speech replied to the heroic king:

BK-66-5Bala Kanda 66.5

पुत्रौ दशरथस्येमौ क्षत्रियौ लोकविश्रुतौ। द्रुष्टुकामौ धनु श्श्रेष्ठं यदेतत्वयि तिष्ठति।।1.66.5।।

putrau daśarathasyemau kṣatriyau lokaviśrutau| druṣṭukāmau dhanu śśreṣṭhṃ yadetatvayi tiṣṭhati||1.66.5||

Translation

दशरथस्य Dasaratha's, पुत्रौ sons, क्षत्रियौ kshatriyas, लोकविश्रुतौ renowned in the world, इमौ these two, यत् धनु: श्रेष्ठम् that great bow, त्वयि in you, तिष्ठति remaining, एतत् that one, द्रुष्टुकामौ are eager to see.

Meaning

Dasaratha's sons, (Rama and Lakshmana), kshatriyas renowned in the world are eager to see that great bow in your possession.

BK-66-6Bala Kanda 66.6

एतद्दर्शय भद्रं ते कृतकामौ नृपात्मजौ। दर्शनादस्य धनुषो यथेष्टं प्रतियास्यत:।।1.66.6।।

etaddarśaya bhadrṃ te kṛtakāmau nṛpātmajau| darśanādasya dhanuṣo yatheṣṭṃ pratiyāsyata:||1.66.6||

Translation

एतत् this bow, दर्शय show, ते भद्रं prosperity to you, अस्य धनुष: this bow's, दर्शनात् on seeing it, कृतकामौ having fulfilled their desire, नृपात्मजौ these two princes, यथेष्टम् as they wish, प्रतियास्यत: will return.

Meaning

Be blessed. Show this great bow to the princes. This is their desire. Once it is fulfilled, they will go back.

BK-66-7Bala Kanda 66.7

एवमुक्तस्तु जनक: प्रत्युवाच महामुनिम्। श्रूयतामस्य धनुषो यदर्थमिह तिष्ठति।।1.66.7।।

evamuktastu janaka: pratyuvāca mahāmunim| śrūyatāmasya dhanuṣo yadarthamiha tiṣṭhati||1.66.7||

Translation

एवम् thus, उक्त: having been addressed, जनक: Janaka, महामुनिम् mighty ascetic, प्रत्युवाच replied, इह here, यदर्थम् what for, तिष्ठति deposited, अस्य this, धनुष: an account of bow, श्रूयताम् let it be heard.

Meaning

Thus addressed by the mighty ascetic Janaka replied, "I shall tell you how this bow came to be deposited here".

BK-66-8Bala Kanda 66.8

देवरात इति ख्यातो निमेष्षष्ठो महीपति:। न्यासोऽयं तस्य भगवन् हस्ते दत्तो महात्मना।।1.66.8।।

devarāta iti khyāto nimeṣṣaṣṭho mahīpati:| nyāso'yṃ tasya bhagavan haste datto mahātmanā||1.66.8||

Translation

भगवन् O Adorable one, निमे: from Nimi, षष्ठ: sixth one in generation, देवरात इति named Devarata, ख्यात: famous, महीपति: इति (was) a king, स: अयम् this bow, तस्य that king's, हस्ते in the hands, न्यास: in trust, महात्मना by exalted (Shiva), दत्त: given.

Meaning

"O Adorable one there was a famous king named Devarata, sixth in line from Nimi. This bow was kept with him in trust by the exalted lord (Shiva).

BK-66-9Bala Kanda 66.9

दक्षयज्ञवधे पूर्वं धनुरायम्य वीर्यवान्। रुद्रस्तु त्रिदशान् रोषात्सलीलमिदमब्रवीत्।।1.66.9।।

dakṣayajñavadhe pūrvṃ dhanurāyamya vīryavān| rudrastu tridaśān roṣātsalīlamidamabravīt||1.66.9||

Translation

पूर्वम् formerly, दक्षयज्ञवधे at the time of destruction of Daksha's sacrifice, वीर्यवान् possessing great prowess, रुद्र: Rudra, धनु: bow, आयम्य lifting, त्रिदशान् addressing devatas, रोषात् from anger, सलीलम् sportively, इदम् these words, अब्रवीत् spoke.

Meaning

Earlier at the time of destruction of Daksha's sacrifice, Rudra endowed with great prowess lifted this bow sportively and spoke to the gods.

BK-66-10Bala Kanda 66.10

यस्माद्भागार्थिनो भागान्नाकल्पयत मे सुरा:। वराङ्गाणि महार्हाणि धनुषा शातयामि व:।।1.66.10।।

yasmādbhāgārthino bhāgānnākalpayata me surā:| varāṅgāṇi mahārhāṇi dhanuṣā śātayāmi va:||1.66.10||

Translation

सुरा: O Devatas, भागार्थिन: desiring your share, मे to me, यस्मात् for which reason, भागान् share, नाकल्पयत did not provide, व: your, महार्हाणि highly worthy, वराङ्गाणि beautiful limbs, धनुषा with bow, शातयामि sever.

Meaning

'O gods in your anxiety to partake your share of the sacrifie, you have failed to provide mine in the sacrificial offerings. Therefore, I shall sever your jewelled heads and beautiful limbs with this bow'.

BK-66-11Bala Kanda 66.11

ततो विमनसस्सर्वे देवा वै मुनिपुङ्गव। प्रसादयन्ति देवेशं तेषां प्रीतोऽभवद्भव:।।1.66.11।।

tato vimanasassarve devā vai munipuṅgava| prasādayanti deveśṃ teṣāṃ prīto'bhavadbhava:||1.66.11||

Translation

मुनिपुङ्गव O Eminent ascetic, तत: thereater, सर्वे all, देवा: devatas, विमनस: with dejected minds, देवेशम् lord of devatas, Siva, प्रसादयन्ति propitiated, भव: Siva, तेषाम् in their matter, प्रीत: अभवत् was pleased.

Meaning

"O Eminent ascetic thereafter all the gods with agitated minds propitiated lord of the gods, Siva and he was pleased with them.

BK-66-12Bala Kanda 66.12

प्रीतियुक्तस्स सर्वेषां ददौ तेषां महात्मनाम्। तदेतद्देवदेवस्य धनूरत्नं महात्मन:। न्यासभूतं तदा न्यस्तमस्माकं पूर्व के विभो।।1.66.12।।

prītiyuktassa sarveṣāṃ dadau teṣāṃ mahātmanām| tadetaddevadevasya dhanūratnṃ mahātmana:| nyāsabhūtṃ tadā nyastamasmākṃ pūrva ke vibho||1.66.12||

Translation

स: Maheswara, प्रीतियुक्त: wellpleased, तेषाम् महात्मनाम् with those magnanimous ones, ददौ gave, विभो O Lord, महात्मन: of the exalted, देवदेवस्य lord of devatas, Siva's, तत् एतत् धनूरत्नम् that gem of weapons, तदा then, अस्माकम् our, पूर्वके with the ancestor, न्यासभूतम् in trust, न्यस्तम् deposited.

Meaning

O Lord that gem of a bow belonging to Siva was given to the great gods who in turn got it deposited in trust with our ancestor.

BK-66-13Bala Kanda 66.13

अथ मे कृषत: क्षेत्रं लाङ्गूलादुत्थिता मया। क्षेत्रं शोधयता लब्धा नाम्ना सीतेति विश्रुता।।1.66.13।।

atha me kṛṣata: kṣetrṃ lāṅgūlādutthitā mayā| kṣetrṃ śodhayatā labdhā nāmnā sīteti viśrutā||1.66.13||

Translation

अथ thereafter, मे my, क्षेत्रम् the sacrificial ground, कृषत: while I was ploughing, लाङ्गूलात् by the blade of plough, उत्थिता lifted, नाम्ना by name, सीतेति Sita, विश्रुता wellknown, क्षेत्रम् that sacrificial ground, शोधयता purifying, मया by me, लब्धा obtained.

Meaning

Thereupon while I was ploughing and cleaing the (sacrificial) ground, Sita, a wellknown name, was lifted up by the blade of the plough. Thus she was obtained by me.

BK-66-14Bala Kanda 66.14

भूतलादुत्थिता सा तु व्यवर्धत ममात्मजा। वीर्यशुल्केति मे कन्या स्थापितेयमयोनिजा।।1.66.14।।

bhūtalādutthitā sā tu vyavardhata mamātmajā| vīryaśulketi me kanyā sthāpiteyamayonijā||1.66.14||

Translation

भूतलात् from the earth, उत्थिता has arisen, सा she, मम my, आत्मजा daughter, व्यवर्धत grew, अयोनिजा not born through womb (without mother), इयम् this, कन्या this maiden, वीर्यशुल्का prowess as marriage present, मे by me, स्थापिता established.

Meaning

Arisen from the earth and not from a mother's womb, she grew up as my daughter. I made a stipulation that (this shall be the means to win this maiden as a gift) this shall be given in marriage only to the prince whose prowess is fully tried.

BK-66-15Bala Kanda 66.15

भूतलादुत्थितां तां तु वर्धमानां ममात्मजाम्। वरयामासुरागम्य राजानो मुनिपुंगव।।1.66.15।।

bhūtalādutthitāṃ tāṃ tu vardhamānāṃ mamātmajām| varayāmāsurāgamya rājāno munipuṃgava||1.66.15||

Translation

मुनिपुङ्गव O Eminent ascetic, भूतलात् from the earth, उत्थिताम् arisen, वर्धमानां growing, ताम् that, आत्मजाम् my daughter, राजान: kings, आगम्य having arrived, वरयामासु: had sought.

Meaning

O Eminent ascetic arisen from the earth and reared as my daughter, she has been sought after in marriage by many princes.

BK-66-16Bala Kanda 66.16

तेषां वरयतां कन्यां सर्वेषां पृथिवीक्षिताम्। वीर्यशुल्केति भगवन् न ददामि सुतामहम्।।1.66.16।।

teṣāṃ varayatāṃ kanyāṃ sarveṣāṃ pṛthivīkṣitām| vīryaśulketi bhagavan na dadāmi sutāmaham||1.66.16||

Translation

भगवन् O Worshipful one, तेषाम् सर्वेषाम् for all those, पृथिवीक्षिताम् monarchs, कन्याम् maiden, वरयताम् seeking, वीर्यशुल्केति prowess as marriage offer, so, अहम् I, सुताम् daughter, न ददामि do not give.

Meaning

O Worshipful one all those monarchs sought this maiden but I did not offer my daughter saying that the 'marriage offer' could be made only through the tried and tested prowess of a suitor.

BK-66-17Bala Kanda 66.17

ततस्सर्वे नृपतय स्समेत्य मुनिपुंगव। मिथिलामभ्युपागम्य वीर्यजिज्ञासवस्तदा।।1.66.17।।

tatassarve nṛpataya ssametya munipuṃgava| mithilāmabhyupāgamya vīryajijñāsavastadā||1.66.17||

Translation

मुनिपुङ्गव O Preeminent among ascetics, तत: afterwards, सर्वे all, नृपतय: kings, समेत्य met together, तदा then, वीर्यजिज्ञासव: desirous of testing their prowess, मिथिलाम् to Mithila, अभ्युपागम्य having come.

Meaning

O Preeminent among ascetics thereafter many kings together came to Mithila to test their prowess.

BK-66-18Bala Kanda 66.18

तेषां जिज्ञासमानानां वीर्यं धनुरुपाहृतम्। न शेकुर्ग्रहणे तस्य धनुषस्तोलनेऽपि वा।।1.66.18।।

teṣāṃ jijñāsamānānāṃ vīryṃ dhanurupāhṛtam| na śekurgrahaṇe tasya dhanuṣastolane'pi vā||1.66.18||

Translation

वीर्यम् their strength, जिज्ञासमानानाम् of those who were curious to know, तेषाम् for them, धनु: bow, उपाहृतम् has been brought, तस्य that, धनुष: bow's, ग्रहणे in grasp, तोलनेऽपि in lifting (and measuring its weight), न शेकु: not competent.

Meaning

The bow was brought and placed before those who were curious to test their strength but none was able to grasp or lift the bow.

BK-66-19Bala Kanda 66.19

तेषां वीर्यवतां वीर्यमल्पं ज्ञात्वा महामुने । प्रत्याख्याता नृपतयस्तन्निबोध तपोधन।।1.66.19।।

teṣāṃ vīryavatāṃ vīryamalpṃ jñātvā mahāmune | pratyākhyātā nṛpatayastannibodha tapodhana||1.66.19||

Translation

महामुने O Mighty ascetic, तेषाम् वीर्यवताम् of those mighty kings', वीर्यम् strength, अल्पम् little, ज्ञात्वा after recognising, नृपतय: kings, प्रत्याख्याता: have been rejected, तपोधन O Maharshi, तत् that point, निबोध come to know.

Meaning

O great ascetic I knew those mighty kings had little strength, so rejected them.

BK-66-20Bala Kanda 66.20

तत: परमकोपेन राजानो नृपपुङ्गव। न्यरुंधन्मिथिलां सर्वे वीर्यसंदेहमागता:।।1.66.20।।

tata: paramakopena rājāno nṛpapuṅgava| nyaruṃdhanmithilāṃ sarve vīryasṃdehamāgatā:||1.66.20||

Translation

मुनिपुङ्गव O Mighty ascetic, तत: thereafter, सर्वे all, राजान: kings, वीर्यसन्देहम् entertaining doubt about their strength, आगता: have come, परमकोपेन inflammed with anger, मिथिलाम् Mithila, न्यरुन्धन् surrounded.

Meaning

O Mighty ascetic, thereafter all the kings doubting their own strength in stringing the bow were inflamed with anger and laid siege on Mithila.

BK-66-21Bala Kanda 66.21

आत्मानमवधूतं ते विज्ञाय नृपपुङ्गवा:। रोषेण महताऽऽविष्टा: पीडयन्मिथिलां पुरीम्।।1.66.21।।

ātmānamavadhūtṃ te vijñāya nṛpapuṅgavā:| roṣeṇa mahatā''viṣṭā: pīḍayanmithilāṃ purīm||1.66.21||

Translation

ते those, नृपपुङ्गवा: eminent kings, आत्मानम् them, अवधूतम् have been insulted, विज्ञाय knowing, महता with great, रोषेण (कोपेन) with anger, आविष्टा: filled, मिथिलां पुरीम् city of Mithila, पीडयन् while tormenting.

Meaning

Those eminent kings felt humiliated. Inflamed with anger, they tormented the city of Mithila.

BK-66-22Bala Kanda 66.22

ततस्संवत्सरे पूर्णे क्षयं यातानि सर्वश:। साधनानि मुनिश्रेष्ठ ततोऽहं भृशदु:खित:।।1.66.22।।

tatassṃvatsare pūrṇe kṣayṃ yātāni sarvaśa:| sādhanāni muniśreṣṭha tato'hṃ bhṛśadu:khita:||1.66.22||

Translation

मुनिश्रेष्ठ O Best among ascetics, तत: afterwards, संवत्सरे when one year, पूर्णे was completed, सर्वश: from every where, साधनानि all means of living, क्षयं यातानि were deteriorated, तत: thereafter, अहम् I, भृशदु:खित: was greatly aggrieved.

Meaning

O Best among ascetics thus one year passed. Everywhere in the city all the means of living were exhausted. I felt deeply sad over this situation.

BK-66-23Bala Kanda 66.23

ततो देवगणान् सर्वान् तपसाऽहं प्रसादयम्। ददुश्च परमप्रीता श्चतुरङ्गबलं सुरा:।।1.66.23।।

tato devagaṇān sarvān tapasā'hṃ prasādayam| daduśca paramaprītā ścaturaṅgabalṃ surā:||1.66.23||

Translation

तत: thereafter, अहम् I, तपसा by austerities, सर्वान् all, देवगणान् multitude of devatas, प्रसादयम् propitiated them, सुरा: devatas, परमप्रीता: were highly pleased, चतुरङ्गबलम् (divine) army of four divisions, ददु: gave.

Meaning

Thereafter, I propitiated the gods by my austerities. Highly pleased, they gave me an army of four divisions (chariots, elephants, horses and infantry ).

BK-66-24Bala Kanda 66.24

ततो भग्ना नृपतयो हन्यमाना दिशो ययु:। अवीर्या वीर्यसन्दिग्धा स्सामात्या: पापकर्मण:।।1.66.24।।

tato bhagnā nṛpatayo hanyamānā diśo yayu:| avīryā vīryasandigdhā ssāmātyā: pāpakarmaṇa:||1.66.24||

Translation

तत: thereafter, अवीर्या: those without energy, वीर्यसन्दिग्धा: doubtful about their energy, पापकर्मण: the wicked, नृपतय: kings, हन्यमाना: were being beaten, भग्ना: broken, सामात्या: with their ministers, दिश: in different directions, ययु: fled away.

Meaning

Then those wicked kings who were exhausted were doubtful about their energy. They were beaten and defeated. They fled away along with their ministers in different directions.

BK-66-25Bala Kanda 66.25

तदेतन्मुनिशार्दूल धनु: परमभास्वरम्। रामलक्ष्मणयोश्चापि दर्शयिष्यामि सुव्रत।।1.66.25।।

tadetanmuniśārdūla dhanu: paramabhāsvaram| rāmalakṣmaṇayoścāpi darśayiṣyāmi suvrata||1.66.25||

Translation

सुव्रत one faithful to vows, मुनिशार्दूल O Best among ascetics, तत् एतत् परमभास्वरम् his highly effulgent, धनु: bow, रामलक्ष्मणयोश्चापि for Rama and Lakshmana also, दर्शयिष्यामि will show.

Meaning

O Sage you are a tiger among asceties, you are faithful to your vows, I shall show this effulgent bow to your Rama and Lakshmana .

BK-66-26Bala Kanda 66.26

यद्यस्य धनुषो राम: कुर्यादारोपणं मुने। सुतामयोनिजां सीतां दद्यां दाशरथेरहम्।।1.66.26।।

yadyasya dhanuṣo rāma: kuryādāropaṇṃ mune| sutāmayonijāṃ sītāṃ dadyāṃ dāśaratheraham||1.66.26||

Translation

मुने O Sage, राम: Rama, अस्य this, धनुष: bow's, आरोपणम् lifting, कुर्याद्यदि if he could do, अयोनिजाम् this girl born without a mother, सुताम् daughter, सीताम् Sita, अहम् I, दाशरथे: for Rama, दद्याम् shall give.

Meaning

O Sage if Rama could lift and string this bow I shall give my daughter Sita, not born from a woman, to him (son of Dasaratha)". इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे षट्षष्टितमस्सर्ग:।। Thus ends the sixtysixth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.

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