Sloka & Translation

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[ Arrival of Rama in the court of Janaka--Viswamitra introduces Rama and Lakshmana.]

tata: prāguttarāṅ gatvā rāmassaumitriṇā saha.

viśvāmitraṅ puraskṛtya yajñavāṭamupāgamat৷৷1.50.1৷৷


tata: afterwards, rāma: Rama, saumitriṇā saha accompanied by Lakshmana, viśvāmitram Visvamitra, puraskṛtya keeping him ahead, prāguttarāṅ north-easterly direction, gatvā having gone, yajñavāṭam sacrificial ground, upāgamat reached.

Rama accompanied by Lakshmana with Viswamitra ahead proceeded in north-easterly direction and reached the sacrificial ground.
rāmastu muniśārdūlamuvāca sahalakṣmaṇa:.

sādhvī yajñasamṛddhirhi janakasya mahātmana:৷৷1.50.2৷৷


sahalakṣmaṇa: along with Lakshmana, rāmastu Rama, muniśārdūlaṅ addressing tiger among ascetics, Visvamitra, uvāca said, mahātmana: illustrious, janakasya Janaka's, yajñasamṛddhi: extensive preparations for sacrifice, sādhvī are excellent.

Rama with Lakshmana told the tiger among ascetics Viswamitra that the preparations or the sacrifice by the illustrious king Janaka were excellent.
bahūnīha sahasrāṇi nānādēśanivāsinām.

brāhmaṇānāṅ mahābhāga vēdādhyayanaśālinām৷৷1.50.3৷৷

ṛṣivāṭāśca dṛśyantē śakaṭīśatasaṅkulā:.

dēśō vidhīyatāṅ brahman! yatra vatsyāmahē vayam৷৷1.50.4৷৷


mahābhāga! O! Illustrious one, iha here, nānādēśanivāsinām living in different countries, vēdādhyayana śālinām of those who studied the vedas, brāhmaṇānāṅ of Brahmins, bahūni sahasrāṇi in many thousands, śakaṭīśatasaṅkulā: thronged with hundreds of carts, ṛṣivāṭāśca shelters for ascetics, dṛśyantē are seen, brahman! O! Great ascetic, vayam we, yatra where, vatsyāmahē can rest, dēśa: place, vidhīyatām be determined.

O Illustrious sage! thousands of brahmins living in different countries and versed in the study of the vedas have assembled here. The shelters for ascetics are thronged with hundreds of carts. O Great ascetic! let us choose a place where we can stay.
rāmasya vacanaṅ śrutvā viśvāmitrō mahāmuni:.

nivēśamakarōddēśē viviktē salilāyutē৷৷1.50.5৷৷


mahāmuni: great ascetic, viśvāmitra: Visvamitra, rāmasya Rama's, vacanam words, śrutvā having listened, salilāyutē provided with water, viviktē in a peaceful, dēśē place, nivēśam encampment, akarōt chosen.

Great ascetic Viswamitra, hearing Rama's words, chose a not-too-crowded place near a water-source for encampment.
viśvāmitramanuprāptaṅ śrutvā sa nṛpatistadā.

śatānandaṅ puraskṛtya purōhitamaninditam৷৷1.50.6৷৷

pratyujjagāma sahasā vinayēna samanvita:.


sa: nṛpati: that king, tadā then, viśvāmitram Viswamitra, anuprāptam arrived, śrutvā having heard, aninditam free from blemish, purōhitam family priest, śatānandam Satananda, puraskṛtya in front of him, vinayēna with due respect, samanvita: followed by, sahasā quickly, pratyujjagāma went forward to welcome him.

When the king heard of the arrival of Viswamitra he went forward with Satananda, the blemishless family priest walking ahead in order to welcome him with humility.
ṛtvijō.pi mahātmānastvarghyamādāya satvaram৷৷1.50.7৷৷

viśvāmitrāya dharmēṇa dadurmaṅntrapuraskṛtam.


mahātmāna: eminent, ṛtvijō.pi officiating priests also, satvaram quickly, arghyam offerings of worship, ādāya having brought, mantrapuraskṛtam with prayers, viśvāmitrāya for Viswamitra, dadu: offered.

Eminent officiating priests speedily brought the offerings of worship and paid obeisance to Viswamitra with prayers.
pratigṛhya ca tāṅ pūjāṅ janakasya mahātmana:৷৷1.50.8৷৷

papraccha kuśalaṅ rājñō yajñasya ca nirāmayam.


mahātmana: of the Illustrious, janakasya Janaka's, tāṅ pūjām that homage, pratigṛhya having received, rājña: about king, kuśalam welfare, yajñasya about sacrifice, nirāmayam ca welfare, papraccha enquired.

Viswamitra received illustrious king Janaka's worship and enquired about the welfare of the king and the conduct of the sacrifice.
sa tāṅścāpi munīn pṛṣṭvā sōpādhyāyapurōdhasa:৷৷1.50.9৷৷

yathānyāyaṅ tatassarvaissamāgacchatprahṛṣṭavat.


sa: Visvamitra, sōpādhyāyapurōdhasa: together with spiritual teachers, priests, tān munīn sages, yathānyāyam in accordance with tradition, pṛṣṭvā having enquired, tata: afterwards, prahṛṣṭavat like an immesely delighted person, sarvai: all, samāgacchat joined them.

Viswamitra duly enquired the well-being of the sages and the spiritual teachers, priests in right order. And thereafter the rest joined them in great delight.
atha rājā muniśrēṣṭhaṅ kṛtāñjalirabhāṣata৷৷1.50.10৷৷

āsanē bhagavānāstāṅ sahaibhirmunipuṅgavai:.


atha thereafter, rājā the king, kṛtāñjali: folding the hands in supplication, muniśrēṣṭham formost of ascetics, abhāṣata uttered, bhagavān O! Venerable one, ēbhi: munipuṅgavai: saha along with these eminent ascetics, āsanē seat, āstām you may be seated.

The king then folded his hands in supplication to the foremost of ascetics, Viswamitra, saying "O Venerable one! please be seated along with the eminent ascetics."
janakasya vacaśśrutvā niṣasāda mahāmuni:৷৷1.50.11৷৷

purōdhā ṛtvijaścaiva rājā ca saha mantribhi:.


janakasya Janaka's, vaca: words, śrutvā having listened, mahāmuni: great sage, niṣasāda sat down, purōdhā: family priest, ṛtvijaścaiva and also officiating priests of the sacrifice, mantribhi: saha along with counsellors, rājā ca and also the king (sat down).

In response to Janaka's words, great sage Viswamitra occupied his seat. Thereafter the family priests, officiationg priests of the sacrifice, counsellors and also the king occupied their seats according to their rank.
āsanēṣu yathānyāyamupaviṣṭān samantata:৷৷1.50.12৷৷

dṛṣṭvā sa nṛpatistatra viśvāmitramathābravīt.


atha afterwards, sa: nṛpati: that king, tatra there, samantata: on all sides, yathānyāyam in accordance with their rank, āsanēṣu in their seats, upaviṣṭān seated persons, dṛṣṭvā having seen, viśvāmitram addressing, abravīt spoke.

Thereafter the king looked on all sides and saw all of them seated according to their rank and addressed Viswamitra saying:
adya yajñasamṛdhdirmē saphalā daivatai: kṛtā৷৷1.50.13৷৷

adya yajñaphalaṅ prāptaṅ bhagavaddarśanānmayā.


adya today, mē my, yajñasamṛdhdi: prosperity of my sacrifice, saphalā is fruitful, daivatai: by devatas, kṛtā has been rendered, adya today, bhagavaddarśanāt by your venerable presence, mayā by me, yajñaphalam fruit of my sacrifice, prāptam has been obtained.

"Today my sacrifice has been rendered fruitful by the devatas. I have reaped the fruit of my sacrifice today by your venerable presence.
dhanyō.smyanugṛhītō.smi yasya mē munipuṅgava!৷৷1.50.14৷৷

yajñōpasadanaṅ brahman prāptō.si munibhi: saha.


munipuṅgava O! Pre-eminent among ascetics, brahman O! Brahmana, munibhi: saha along with these ascetics, yasya whose so ever, mē my, yajñōpasadanam to sacrificial house, prapta: asi have come, dhanya: asmi blessed am I, anugṛhīta: asmi obliged am I.

O Pre-eminent among ascetics! O brahmana! you have come to my sacrificial mandap along with these ascetics! Blessed am I Obliged am I.
dvādaśāhaṅ tu brahmarṣē śēṣamāhurmanīṣiṇa:৷৷1.50.15৷৷

tatō bhāgārthinō dēvān draṣṭumarhasi kauśika!.


brahmarṣē O! Brahmarshi, manīṣiṇa: learned men, dvādaśāhantu twelve days only, śēṣam remain, āhu: are saying, kauśika Visvamitra!, tata: thereafter, bhāgārthina: claiming their share, dēvān devatas, draṣṭum to see, arhasi behoves of you.

O Brahmarshi! learned men say, only twelve days remain for completion of this acrifice. Thereafter O Viswamitra! you should see devatas claiming their shares".
ityuktvā muniśārdūlaṅ prahṛṣṭavadanastadā৷৷1.50.16৷৷

punastaṅ paripapraccha prāñjali: praṇatō nṛpa:.


nṛpa: king, muniśārdūlam addressing tiger among ascetics, iti in this way, uktvā having said, tadā then, prahṛṣṭavadana: with cheerful countenance, prāñjali: with folded palms, praṇata: saluting in reverence, puna: again, tam him, paripapraccha asked.

Having said this, the king (Janaka) with a cheerful countenance and saluting with folded palms again asked that tiger among ascetics (Viswamitra):
imau kumārau bhadraṅ tē dēvatulyaparākramau৷৷1.50.17৷৷

gajasiṅhagatī vīrau śārdūlavṛṣabhōpamau.

padmapatraviśālākṣau khaḍgatūṇīdhanurdharau৷৷1.50.18৷৷

aśvināviva rūpēṇa samupasthitayauvanau.

yadṛcchayaiva gāṅ prāptau dēvalōkādivāmarau৷৷1.50.19৷৷

kathaṅ padbhyāmiha prāptau kimarthaṅ kasya vā munē!.


munē O! Visvamitra, tē bhadram prosperity to you, dēvatulyaparākramau like celestials in prowess, gajasiṅhagatī having the gait of elephant or lion, vīrau heros, śārdūlavṛṣabhōpamau resembling tiger or bull in strength, padmapatraviśālākṣau having expansive eyes like lotus-petals, khaḍgatūṇīdhanurdharau holding scimitars, quivers and bows, rūpēṇa in beauty, aśvināviva like Aswins, samupasthitayauvanau approaching the youth, dēvalōkāt from celestial world, yadṛcchayā on their own free will, gām earth, prāptau reached, amarau iva like devatas, imau these two, kumārau youths, iha here, katham how, kimartham for what purpose, padbhyām by foot, prāptau have come, kasya vā to whom do they belong?

"O Sage (Viswamitra), be blessed. Who are these two young men with the prowess of the celestials the gait of an elephant or a lion? They resemble a tiger or a bull in courage. They have large eyes like lotus-petals. They are armed with scimitars bows and quivers. With their approaching youth, they resemble the Aswinikumaras in beauty. They look like gods who have descended on earth from heaven out of their free will. Whose sons are they? How did they come here on foot? And for what purpose?
varāyudhadharau vīrau kasya putrau mahāmunē!৷৷1.50.20৷৷

bhūṣayantāvimaṅ dēśaṅ candrasūryāvivāmbaram.

parasparasya sadṛśau pramāṇēṅgitacēṣṭitai:৷৷1.50.21৷৷

kākapakṣadharau vīrau śrōtumicchāmi tattvata:.


mahāmunē O! Great ascetic, varāyudhadharau holding excellent weapons, vīrau these heros, kasya whose, putrau sons, candrasūryau Moon and Sun, ambaramiva like the sky, imam this, dēśam land, bhūṣayantau adorning, pramāṇēṅgitacēṣṭitai: in personality, expressions and gestures, parasparasya each other, sadṛśau resemble, kākapakṣadharau mesh of hair falling on their temples, vīrau about these heroes, tattvata: truely, śrōtum to listen, icchāmi desiring.

Great ascetic, these two young men with hair falling on their temples like the wings of a crow, each of them resemble the other in personality, expressions and gestures. Wielding excellent weapons they adorn this land like the Moon and the Sun deck the sky. Whose sons are they? I wish truly to hear about these heroes".
tasya tadvacanaṅ śrutvā janakasya mahātmana:৷৷1.50.22৷৷

nyavēdayanmahātmānau putrau daśarathasya tau.


mahātmana: of the magnanimous, janakasya Janaka's, tasya his, tat vacanam those words, śrutvā having heard, tau mahātmānau those two illustrious ones, daśarathasya Dasaratha's, putrau as sons, nyavēdayat presented him.

Hearing the words of the magnanimous Janaka, Viswamitra presented them to him saying that they were the illustrious sons of Dasaratha.
siddhāśramanivāsaṅ ca rākṣasānāṅ vadhaṅ tathā৷৷1.50.23৷৷

taccāgamanamavyagraṅ viśālāyāśca darśanam.

ahalyādarśanaṅ caiva gautamēna samāgamam৷৷1.50.24৷৷

mahādhanuṣi jijñāsāṅ kartumāgamanaṅ tathā.

ētatsarvaṅ mahātējā janakāya mahātmanē ৷৷1.50.25৷৷

nivēdya virarāmātha viśvāmitrō mahāmuni:.


mahātējā: highly lustrous, mahāmuni: great ascetic, viśvāmitra: Visvamitra, siddhāśramanivāsaṅ ca their stay at siddha ashrama, tathā and, rākṣasānām rakshasas', vadham slaying, avyagram undaunted, tat āgamanam that journey, viśālāyā: Vishala's, darśanam sight of, ahalyā darśanaṅ caiva appearance of Ahalya, gautamēna by Gautama, samāgamam meeting, tathā and, mahādhanuṣi in Siva's great bow, jijñāsām inquisitiveness, kartum to know, āgamanam purpose of their arrival, ētatsarvam all this, mahātmanē to the distinguished, janakāya for king Janaka, nivēdya having related, atha then, virarāma stopped.

The great ascetic Viswamitra, who was highly powerful related to the distinguished Janaka in full their undaunted journey to Siddhashrama and the slaughter of rakshasas there, the view of the city of Vishala, meeting with Ahalya and Gautama and the inquisitiveness about the great bow which brought them to Mithila and then kept quiet.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇaḍē pañcāśassarga:৷৷
Thus ends the fiftieth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.