Sloka & Translation

Audio

[Viswamitra protects Sunassepha and continues his austerities.]

śunaśśēphaṅ naraśrēṣṭha gṛhītvā tu mahāyaśā:.

vyaśrāmyat puṣkarē rājā madhyāhnē raghunandana!৷৷1.62.1৷৷


naraśrēṣṭha O! Foremost of men, raghunandana O! Rama, mahāyaśā: illustrious, rājā king, śuna:śēpham Sunassepha, gṛhītvā having taken, madhyāhnē by noon, puṣkarē in the Pushkara, vyaśrāmyat rested.

O Foremost of men, O Delight of the Raghus (Rama)! the illustrious king (Ambarisha) took Sunassepha with him. (On the way) at Pushkara he took some rest at noon.
tasya viśramamāṇasya śunaśśēphō mahāyaśā:.

puṣkarakṣētramāgamya viśvāmitraṅ dadarśa ha৷৷1.62.2৷৷

tapyantamṛṣibhissārdhaṅ mātulaṅ paramātura:.


tasya as he, viśramamāṇasya was resting, mahāyaśā: highly famous, śuna:śēpha: Sunassepha, paramātura: greately aggrieved, puṣkarakṣētram sacred Pushkara, āgamya having approached, ṛṣibhi:sārdham in the company of other sages, tapyantam performing austerities, mātulam maternal uncle, viśvāmitram Visvamitra, dadarśa ha beheld.

While the king was resting at Pushkara, the famous Sunassepha, very much distressed, happened to see his maternal uncle Viswamitra in the company of other sages performing austerities.
vivarṇavadanō dīnastṛṣṇayā ca śramēṇa ca৷৷1.62.3৷৷

papātāṅkē munērāśu vākyaṅ cēdamuvāca ha.


tṛṣṇayā with thirst, śramēṇa ca and fatigue, vivarṇavadana: with discoloured face, dīna: piteous, āśu immediately, munē: sage's, aṅkē lap, papāta fell, idam these, vākyam words, uvāca ha spoke.

With his face discoloured due to thirst and fatigue, he (Sunassepha) immediately fell into the sage's lap in a pitiable condition and said:
na mē.sti mātā na pitā jñātayō bāndhavā: kuta:৷৷1.62.4৷৷

trātumarhasi māṅ saumya dharmēṇa munipuṅgava!.


saumya O! Gentle man, munipuṅgava O! Pre-eminent among ascetics, mē to me, mātā mother, nāsti does no exist, pitā father, na not, jñātaya: agnate relations, bāndhavā: relatives, kuta: where?, mām me, dharmēṇa in accordance with righteousness, trātum to protect, arhasi behoves of you.

"O Noble man! O Pre-eminent among ascetics! I have no mother nor father nor friends nor relatives. You should protect me according to dharma.
trātā tvaṅ hi muniśrēṣṭha sarvēṣāṅ tvaṅ hi bhāvana:৷৷1.62.5৷৷

rājā ca kṛtakāryassyādahaṅ dīrghāyuravyaya:.

svargalōkamupāśnīyāṅ tapastaptvāhyanuttamam৷৷1.62.6৷৷


muniśrēṣṭha O! Best among ascetics, tvam you, sarvēṣām to everybody, trātā hi protector, tvam you, bhāvana: hi promoter of others' welfare, rājā king, kṛtakārya: fulfilling the purpose, syāt become, aham I, dīrghāyu: one who has long life, avyaya: imperishable, anuttamam great, tapa: austerities, taptvā having performed, svargalōkam heaven, upāśnīyām I may enjoy.

O Best among ascetics! you are the protecor of everybody. You are promoter of others' welfare. May the king fulfil his purpose. May I live long and become immortal and attain heaven after performing great penance. May I enjoy heaven.
tvaṅ mē nāthō hyanāthasya bhava bhavyēna cētasā.

pitēva putraṅ dharmātmaṅ strātumarhasi kilbiṣāt৷৷1.62.7৷৷


anāthasya an orphan as i am, mē to me, tvam you, bhavyēna with auspicious, cētasā mind, nātha: lord, bhava be, dharmātman O! virtuous one, pitā father, putramiva like son, kilbiṣāt from sin, trātum to protect, arhrasi behoves of you.

O Virtuous one! with a kind heart protect this orphan. Like a father who protects his son, save me from this peril".
tasya tadvacanaṅ śrutvā viśvāmitrō mahātapā:.

sāntvayitvā bahuvidhaṅ putrānidamuvāca ha৷৷1.62.8৷৷


mahātapā: mighty ascetic, viśvāmitra: Viswamitra, tasya his, tat bahuvidham vacanam those different kinds of words, śrutvā having listened, sāntvayitvā after consoling him, putrān addressing his sons, idam this word, uvāca spoke.

Having heard Sunassepha, mighty ascetic Viswamitra consoled him in many ways and said to his sons:
yatkṛtē pitara: putrān janayanti śubhārthina:.

paralōkahitārthāya tasya kālō.yamāgata:৷৷1.62.9৷৷


śubhārthina: men desiring auspiciousness, pitara: parents, yatkṛtē for whichever reason, paralōkahitārthāya for your well-being in other worlds, putrān sons, janayanti begetting, tasya for that, ayam kāla: the proper time, āgata: has come.

ayaṅ munisutō bālō mattaśśaraṇamicchati.

asya jīvitamātrēṇa priyaṅ kuruta putrakā:৷৷1.62.10৷৷


munisuta: son of sage, ayam this, bāla: young boy, matta: from me, śaraṇam refuge, icchati is strongly desiring, putrakā: O! Sons, asya for him, jīvitamātrēṇa by mere offering of life, priyam dear act, kuruta you may do.

O sons of the sage! this young boy has sought my protection. O Sons! you may grant him his desire by merely offering your life.
sarvē sukṛtakarmāṇassarvē dharmaparāyaṇā: .

paśubhūtā narēndrasya tṛptimagnē: prayacchata ৷৷1.62.11৷৷


sarvē all of you, sukṛtakarmāṇa: have done virtuous deeds, sarvē all of you, dharmaparāyaṇā: are engaged in the observance of righteousness, narēndrasya for the king, paśubhūtā: becoming sacrificial animals, agnē for Agni, tṛptim satisfaction, prayacchata give.

Engaged in the observance of righteousness, all of you have done virtuous deeds. By becoming sacrificial animals for the king, you may satisfy Agni.
nāthavāṅśca śunaśśēphō yajñaścāvighnitō bhavēt.

dēvatāstarpitāścasyurmama cāpi kṛtaṅ vaca:৷৷1.62.12৷৷


śunaśēpha: Sunassepha, nāthavān ca will have a protector, yajñaśca sacrifice also, avighnata: without hindrance, bhavēt will become, dēvatā: devatas, tarpitā: gratified, syu: will become, mama my, vaca: ca words also, kṛtam will be done.

Then Sunassepha will be protected. The king's sacrifice will continue without hindrance. The gods will be gratified. My words also will come true".
munēstu vacanaṅ śrutvā madhucchandādaya ssutā:.

sābhimānaṅ naraśrēṣṭha salīlamidamabruvan৷৷1.62.13৷৷


naraśrēṣṭha O! Best of men, madhucchandādaya: Madhuchanda and others, sutā: sons, munē: ascetics's, vacanam words, śrutvā having listened, sābhimānam with self-esteem, salīlam with ease, idam these words, abruvan spoke.

"O Best of men (Rama)! in response to the words of the sage Madhuchanda and others said thus in a casual way with self-esteem.
kathamātmasutān hitvā trāyasē.nyasutaṅ vibhō!.

akāryamiva paśyāma śśvamāṅsa iva bhōjanē৷৷1.62.14৷৷


vibhō O! Lord, ātmasutān ones own sons, hitvā abandoning, anyasutam other's son, katham how, trāyasē you rescue, bhōjanē in partaking, śvamāṅsa iva like the flesh of dog, akāryamiva as if a prohibited act, paśyāma: we find.

O Lord! protecting other's son by abandoning one' own is like partaking the flesh of a dog. We consider it a prohibited act".
tēṣāṅ tadvacanaṅ śrutvā putrāṇāṅ munipuṅgava:.

krōdhasaṅraktanayanō vyāhartumupacakramē৷৷1.62.15৷৷


munipuṅgava: eminent ascetic, tēṣām putrāṇām of those sons', tad vacanam those words, śrutvā having heard, krōdhasaṅraktanayana: with eyes reddened with anger, vyāhartum to speak, upacakramē commenced.

On hearing the words of his sons Viswamitra, the eminent ascetic, eyes reddened with anger began to speak:
nissādhvasamidaṅ prōktaṅ dharmādapi vigarhitam.

atikramya tu madvākyaṅ dāruṇaṅ rōmaharṣaṇam৷৷1.62.16৷৷


madvākyam my words, atikramya having trangressed, dharmādapi even according to morality, vigarhitam censurable, dāruṇam dreadful, rōmaharṣaṇam causing the hair to stand on end, idam these words, nissādhvasam audacious, prōktam have been uttered.

"(You have) not only trangressed my words but also (you are) censurable according to dharma. You have uttered such audacious and dreadrul words causing the hair to stand on end.
śvamāṅsabhōjinassarvē vāsiṣṭhā iva jātiṣu.

pūrṇaṅ varṣasahasraṅ tu pṛthivyāmanuvatsyatha৷৷1.62.17৷৷


sarvē all of you, śvamāṅsabhōjina: feeding on the flesh of dog, pūrṇaṅ complete, varṣasahasram thousand years, pṛthivyām on this earth, vāsiṣṭhā: iva like sons of Vasishta, jātiṣu in (Mushtika) race, anuvatsyatha shall dwell.

All of you shall live on earth for a thousand years, like the sons of Vasishta feeding on the flesh of dogs".
kṛtvā śāpasamāyuktān putrān munivarastathā.

śunaśśēphamuvācārtaṅ kṛtvā rakṣāṅ nirāmayam৷৷1.62.18৷৷


munivara: best of ascetics, putrān his sons, śāpa samāyuktān doomed with curse, kṛtvā having made, tathā then, nirāmayam free from pain, rakṣām protection, kṛtvā having made, ārtam filled with distress, śuna:śēpham addressing Sunassepha, (idam these words), uvāca spoke.

Viswamitra the best of ascetics, thus cursed his sons. Sunassepha, (now) was filled with distress. To relieve him of his pain he said:
pavitrapāśairāsaktō raktamālyānulēpana:.

vaiṣṇavaṅ yūpamāsādya vāgbhiragnimudāhara ৷৷1.62.19৷৷


vaiṣṇavaṅ yūpam Vaishnava sacrificial post, āsādya having reached, pavitrapāśai: with sacred ropes, āsakta: having bound with, raktamālyānulēpana: bedaubing your body with red sandal paste and adorned with red garlands, vāgbhi: with the hymns, agnim Agni, udāhara invoke.

"Bedaubing your person with red sandal paste and adorned with red garlands, you will
be bound to a Vaishnava, sacrificial post with sacred ropes. There invoke Agni with these hymns.
imē tu gāthē dvē divyē gāyēthā muniputraka.

ambarīṣasya yajñē.smiṅstata ssiddhimavāpsyasi৷৷1.62.20৷৷


muniputraka: O! Son of the sage, ambarīṣasya Ambarisha's, asmin yajñē in this sacrifice, imē dvē these two, divyē sacred, gāthē verses, gāyēthā: chant, tata: there after, siddhim success, avāpsyasi you will achieve.

O Son of sage! chant thse two sacred mantras in the sacrifice of Ambarisha.There after you will achieve success (long life)".
śunaśśēphō gṛhītvā tē dvē gāthē susamāhita:.

tvarayā rājasiṅhaṅ tamambarīṣamuvāca ha৷৷1.62.21৷৷


śunaśśēpha: Sunassepha, susamāhita: with concentration of mind, tē dvē those two, gāthē verses, gṛhītvā after securing, rājasiṅham the lion among kings, tam ambarīṣam that Amabarisha, tvarayā quickly, uvāca ha spoke.

Sunassepha memorized the two verses with concentration of mind and hastened towards Amabarisha, a lion among kings. And said:
rājasiṅha mahāsattva śīghraṅ gacchāvahē sada:.

nirvartayasva rājēndra dīkṣāṅ ca samupāviśa৷৷1.62.22৷৷


mahāsattva endowed with great strength, rājasiṅha lion among kings, sada: sacrificial assembly, śīghram without dealy, gacchāvahē we shall both go, rājēndra O! Indra of monarchs, nirvartayasva perform, dīkṣām initiatory rites, samupāviśa take up.

"Endowed with great strength, you are a lion among kings. We shall go to the sacrificial assembly without delay. O Indra among monarchs, take up initiatory rites
and perform the sacrifice".
tadvākyamṛṣiputrasya śrutvā harṣasamutsuka: .

jagāma nṛpati śśīghraṅ yajñavāṭamatandrita:৷৷1.62.23৷৷


nṛpati: king, ṛṣiputrasya sage's son's, tat vākyam those words, śrutvā having heard, harṣasamutsuka: rejoiced with delight, atandrita: promptly, yajñavāṭam sacrificial ground, jagāma went.

At the words of the sage's son, the king, eager with delight hastened towards the sacrificial ground.
sadasyānumatē rājā pavitrakṛtalakṣaṇam.

paśuṅ raktāmbaraṅ kṛtvā yūpē taṅ samabandhayat৷৷1.62.24৷৷


rājā king, sadasyānumatē with the consent of officiating priests, tam that Sunassepha, pavitrakṛtalakṣaṇam forming sacred knots of Kusa grass, raktāmbaram with red apparel, paśum as sacrificial animal, kṛtvā having made, yūpē to the sacrificial post, samabandhayat tied.

With the consent of the officiating priests the king invested Sunasepha with the sacred symbols with Kusa grass, dressed him in red apparel and tied him to the sacrificial post as a sacrificial animal.
sabaddhō vāgbhiragyrābhirabhituṣṭāva vai surau.

indramindrānujaṅ caiva yathāvanmuniputraka:৷৷1.62.25৷৷


baddha: having been bound, sa: muniputraka: the son of sage, indram Indra, indrānujaṅ caiva Upendra, surau two devatas, agyrābhi: with excellent, vāgbhi: words, yathāvat properly, abhituṣṭāva praised.

Thus bound, the son of the sage praised the two devatas, Indra and Upendra with moving words.
tata: prīta ssahasrākṣō rahasyastutitarpita:.

dīrghamāyustadā prādācchunaśśēphāya rāghava! ৷৷1.62.26৷৷


rāghava O! Rama, tata: then, rahasyastutitarpita: gratified with secret praise, sahasrākṣa: Indra, prīta: pleased, tadā then, śuna:śēphāya for Sunasepha, dīrgham long, āyu: life, prādāt gave.

"O Descendant of Raghu (Rama)! Indra, gratified with the secret hymn granted Sunassepha long life.
sa ca rājā naraśrēṣṭha yajñasya ca samāptavān.

phalaṅ bahuguṇaṅ rāma sahasrākṣaprasādajam৷৷1.62.27৷৷


naraśrēṣṭha O! Foremost of men, rāma Rama, sa: rājā ca that king also, sahasrākṣaprasādajam through the grace of Indra, bahuguṇam several times, yajñasya of sacrifice, phalam fruits, samāptavān obtained.

O Foremost of men! O Rama! the king also obtained from the sacrifics innumerable rewards by the grace of Indra several times greater than expected.
viśvāmitrō .pi dharmātmā bhūyastēpē mahātapā:.

puṣkarēṣu naraśrēṣṭha daśavarṣaśatāni ca৷৷1.62.28৷৷


naraśrēṣṭha O! Best among men, dharmatmā the righteous, mahātapā: mighty ascetic, viśvāmitra: api Visvamitra also, puṣkarēṣu in that sacred spot name Pushkara, daśavarṣaśatāni thousand years, bhūya: again, tēpē continued his austerities.

O Best among men! the righteous and mighty ascetic Viswamitra also continued his austerities at Pushkara for a thousand years".
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē dviṣaṣṭitamassarga:৷৷
Thus ends the sixtysecond sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.