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[Dasaratha commences putreshti under the guidance of Rsyasringa--Gods approach Brahma, the creator to suggest means of killing Ravana who could not be killed by anyone except man, monkeys and bears--Visnu appears--gods request Visnu to incarnate in the world of men as son of Dasaratha--He agrees]

मेथावी तु ततो ध्यात्वा स किञ्चिदिदमुत्तरम्।

लब्धसंज्ञस्ततस्तं तु वेदज्ञो नृपमब्रवीत्।।1.15.1।।


तत: then, मेथावी great retentive intellectual, वेदज्ञ: knowledgeable in vedas, स: he, किञ्चित् for a little while, ध्यात्वा having pondered, तत: there after, लब्धसंज्ञ: recollected his memory, तम् that, नृपम् king, अब्रवीत् said.

Rsyasringa, a highly intellectual and knowledgeable one in the Vedas, pondered for a while, revived his memory and said to the king.
इष्टिं तेऽहं करिष्यामि पुत्रीयां पुत्रकारणात्।

अथर्वशिरसि प्रोक्तैर्मन्त्रैस्सिद्धां विधानत:।।1.15.2।।


अहम् I, ते for you, पुत्रकारणात् for begetting sons, अथर्वशिरसि in 'Atharva Siras' portion of veda, प्रोक्तै: declared, मन्त्रै: by mantras, सिद्धाम् realising the desires, पुत्रीयाम् capable of bestowing sons, इष्टिम् sacrifice, विधानत: as per tradition, करिष्यामि I will perform.

"I shall perform putriyeshti to help you beget sons. This is to be done in accordance with tradition for fulfilment of desires through mantras as declared in a portion of the Vedas, 'atharva siras'" .
तत: प्राक्रमदिष्टिं तां पुत्रीयां पुत्रकारणात्।

जुहाव चाग्नौ तेजस्वी मन्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा।।1.15.3।।


तत: then, पुत्रकाराणात् for begetting sons, पुत्रीयाम् for the sake of begetting children, ताम् इष्टिम् that sacrifice, प्राक्रम्यत् having commenced, तेजस्वी effulgent Rsyasringa मन्त्रदृष्टेन in accordance with mantras, कर्मणा with sacrificial acts, अग्नौ in the fire, जुहाव च poured oblations.

To help Dasaratha beget sons, brilliant Rsyasringa commenced putriyeshti, a sacrifice for begetting children, by pouring oblations into sacrificial fire and chanting mantras in accordance with traditions.
ततो देवास्सगन्धर्वास्सिद्धाश्च परमर्षय: ।

भागप्रतिग्रहार्थं वै समवेता यथाविधि।।1.15.4।।


तत: thereafater, सगन्धर्वा: along with gandharvas, देवा: (celestial deities) devatas, सिद्धाश्च siddhas, परमर्षय: great sages, यथाविधि according to tradition, भागप्रतिग्रहार्थम् to receive their share of offerings, समवेता: वै assembled.

All the celestial deities etc., along with gandharvas according to tradition, gathered at the sacrifice to receive their share of offerings.
तास्समेत्य यथान्यायं तस्मिन्सदसि देवता:।

अब्रुवन् लोककर्तारं ब्रह्माणं वचनं महत्।।1.15.5।।


ता: देवता: those devatas (celestial deities), यथान्यायम् as per custom, तस्मिन् in that, सदसि assembly place, समेत्य having assembled, लोककर्तारम् creator of the worlds, ब्रह्माणम् lord Brahma, महत् important, वचनम् these words, अब्रुवन् addressed.

All devatas assembled there as per tradition and thus addressed Lord Brahma the creator of the worlds:
भगवन्त्वत्प्रसादेन रावणो नाम राक्षस:।

सर्वान्नो बाधते वीर्याच्छासितुं तं न शक्नुम:।।1.15.6।।


भगवन् O Revered lord, रावणो नाम by name Ravana, राक्षस: rakshasa (demonical in nature), त्वत्प्रसादेन by your grace, वीर्यात् by the prowess, न: us, सर्वान् all, बाधते is oppressing, तम् him, शासितुम् to punish, न शक्नुम: we are not capable.

"O lord a rakshasa by name Ravana who had obtained prowess through your grace is oppressing us. We are unable to punish him.
त्वया तस्मै वरो दत्त: प्रीतेन भगवन्पुरा।

मानयन्तश्च तं नित्यं सर्वं तस्य क्षमामहे।।1.15.7।।


भगवन् "O Venerable lord, पुरा earlier, प्रीतेन by the well pleased, त्वया by you, तस्मै for him, वर: boon, दत्त: granted, तम् that, मानयन्त: honouring, तस्य for his, सर्वम् entirely, नित्यम् always, क्षमामहे we endure.

Pleased with his penance, Lord, you had granted him a boon. By honour that boon and daily endure all his cruelty.
उद्वेजयति लोकान्स्तीनुच्छ्रितान्द्वेष्टि दुर्मति:।

शक्रं त्रिदशराजानं प्रधर्षयितुमिच्छति।।1.15.8।।


दुर्मति: evil minded, त्रीन् three, लोकान् worlds, उद्वेजयति inflicting pains, उच्छ्रितान् the guardians of earth, द्वेष्टि hates, त्रिदशराजानम् lord of celestial beings, शक्रम् Indra, प्रधर्षयितुम् to assault him, इच्छति he is desirous.

The evilminded Ravana is inflicting pains on the three worlds. He hates the guardians of the earth and intends to assault Indra, lord of the celestials.
ऋषीन्यक्षान्सगन्धर्वानसुरान्ब्राह्मणांस्तथा।

अतिक्रामति दुर्धर्षो वरदानेन मोहित:।।1.15.9।।


दुर्धष: the unassailable one, वरदानेन because of the boons, मोहित: is puffed with pride, ऋषीन् sages, यक्षान् yakshas, सगन्धर्वान् along with gandharvas, असुरान् asuras, तथा and, ब्राह्मणान् brahmins, अतिक्रामति tresspasses.

Because of your boon he has become unassailable and puffed with pride deties sages, yakshas, gandharvas, demons and brahmins.
नैनं सूर्य: प्रतपति पार्श्वे वाति न मारुत:।

चलोर्मिमाली तं दृष्ट्वा समुद्रोऽपि न कम्पते।।1.15.10।।


एनम् for him, सूर्य: Sun, न प्रतपति does not torment him, मारुत: wind, पार्श्वे near, न वाति does not blow, चलोर्मिमाली incessantly moving waves, समुद्रोऽपि even the ocean, तम् him, दृष्ट्वा having seen, न कम्पते does not stir (shake).

The Sun does not scorch him and the wind does not blow by him. Even the ocean with its incessantly moving waves becomes still in his presence.
तन्महन्नो भयं तस्माद्राक्षसाद्घोरदर्शनात्।

वधार्थं तस्य भगवन्नुपायं कर्तुमर्हसि।।1.15.11।।


तत् for that reason, घोरदर्शनात् from the one of dreadful appearance, तस्मात् from him, राक्षसात् rakshasa, न: for us, महत् great, भयम् terror, भगवन् O Lord, तस्य for his, वधार्थम् destruction, उपायम् means, कर्तुम् to do, अर्हसि you are capable.

His dreamful appearance of that rakshasa strikes terror into us. O Lord do find some means to kill him".
एवमुक्तस्सुरैस्सर्वैश्चिन्तयित्वा ततोऽब्रवीत्।

हन्तायं विदितस्तस्य वधोपायो दुरात्मन:।।1.15.12।।


सर्वै: by all, सुरै: devatas, एवम् in this manner, उक्त: spoken, चिन्तयित्वा having reflected, तत: then, अब्रवीत् said, तस्य that, दुरात्मन: wickedminded, अयम् this, वधोपाय: means of destrction, विदित: is known, हन्त Oh

After listening to the words of the devatas and reflecting over the matter, Brahma said, "Oh, the means of destruction of that wicked (rakshasa) has struck my mind".
तेन गन्धर्वयक्षाणां देवदानवरक्षसाम्।

अवध्योऽस्मीति वागुक्ता तथेत्युक्तं च तन्मया।।1.15.13।।


तेन by him, गन्धर्वयक्षाणाम् of (by) gandharvas and yakshas, देवदानवरक्षसाम् gods, demons and rakshasas, अवध्य: अस्मि I am incapable of being destroyed, इति in this manner, वाक् words, उक्ता spoken, मया च by me also, तत् that one, तथा be it so, उक्तम् said.

When he asked gandharvas, yakshas, gods, demons or rakshasas should never be able to kill him, I said, "So be it".
नाकीर्तयदवज्ञानात्तद्रक्षो मानुषान् प्रति।

तस्मात्स मानुषाद्वध्यो मृत्युर्नान्योऽस्य विद्यते।।1.15.14।।


तत् रक्ष: that rakshasa, अवज्ञानात् due to disdain, मानुषान् प्रति about the men, न अकीर्तयत् did not mention, तस्मात् for that reason, स: he, मानुषात् by man, वध्य: is fit to be destroyed, अस्य for him, अन्य: any other, मृत्यु: means of death, न विद्यते is not possible.

"The rakshasa did not include man monkey and bear because of his disdain for men. As such he is fit to be destroyed by a man and not by any other means".
एतच्छ्रुत्वा प्रियं वाक्यं ब्रह्मणा समुदाहृतम्।

सर्वे महर्षयो देवाः प्रहृष्टास्तेऽभवंस्तदा।।1.15.15।।


तदा then, ब्रह्मणा by Brahma, समुदाहृतम् mentioned, एतत् these, प्रियं वाक्यम् delighted words, श्रुत्वा having heard, ते देवा: those devatas (celestial deities), महर्षय: maharshis, सर्वे all, प्रहृष्टा: अभवन् felt happy.

Having heard these pleasing words uttered by Brahma, all the devatas and maharshis were overwhelmed with joy.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे विष्णुरुपयातो महाद्युति:।

शङ्खचक्रगदापाणि: पीतवासा जगत्पति:।।1.15.16।।


एतस्मिन् अन्तरे at this juncutre, माहाद्युति: highly effulgent, शङ्खचक्रगदापाणि: bearing in his hands Conch, Discus and Mace, पीतवासा: attired in yellow apparel, जगत्पति: lord of the world, विष्णु: Visnu, उपयात: arrived.

At this juncture Visnu the lord of the world, highly effulgent and bearing conch, discus and mace in his hands and in yellow apparel arrived.
ब्रह्मणा च समागम्य तत्र तस्थौ समाहित:। 1

तमब्रुवन्सुरास्सर्वे समभिष्टूय सन्नता:।।1.15.17।।


ब्रह्मणा by Brahma, समागम्य having met, तत्र there, समाहित: with composed mind, तस्थौ remained, सुरा: devatas, सर्वे all, सन्नता: prostrating, तम् him, समभिष्टूय paying homage with hymns, अब्रुवन् spoke.

Lord Visnu stayed there with a composed mind after meeting Brahma Then thus spoke the devatas prostrated before Visnu and paying him homage with hymns.
त्वान्नियोक्ष्यामहे विष्णो लोकानां हितकाम्यया। 1

राज्ञो दशरथस्य त्वमयोध्याधिपते: प्रभो:।।1.15.18।

धर्मज्ञस्य वदान्यस्य महर्षिसमतेजस: । 18

तस्य भार्यासु तिसृषु ह्रीश्रीकीर्त्युपमासु च।।1.15.19।।

विष्णो पुत्रत्वमागच्छ कृत्वाऽऽत्मानं चतुर्विधम्। 1


विष्णो O Visnu, लोकानाम् for all the worlds, हितकाम्यया desirous of doing benefit, त्वाम् you, नियोक्ष्यामहे we are appointing, विष्णो OVisnu, त्वम् you, अयोध्याधिपते: of the Sovereign of Ayodhya, प्रभो: of the king, धर्मज्ञस्य of the righteous, वदान्यस्य of the generous, महर्षिसमतेजस: of one equalling rishis in lusture, तस्य his, दशरथस्य राज्ञ: king Dasaratha's ह्री श्री कीर्त्युपमासु comparable to Hri (Modesty), Shree (auspiciousness), Kirti (fame) the daughters of Daksha, तिसृषु among the three, भार्यासु wives, आत्मानम् thy self, चतुर्विधम् in four ways, कृत्वा having divided, पुत्रत्वम् in the form of sons, आगच्छ come.

"O Visnu we pray for the welfare of all the worlds. The sovereign of Ayodhya, king Dasaratha is a righteous, virtuous and generous king equal with rishis in lusture. Pray form into four and incarnate in the of four sons of his three wives, resembling hri (modesty), shree (auspiciousness), kirti (fame).
तत्र त्वं मानुषो भूत्वा प्रवृद्धं लोककण्टकम्।

अवध्यं दैवतैर्विष्णो समरे जहि रावणम्।।1.15.20।।


विष्णो: O Visnu, त्वम् you, तत्र there, मानुष: in the form of man, भूत्वा having been born, प्रवृद्धम् increasingly becoming arrogant, लोककण्टकम् source of vexation and terror to the worlds, दैवतै: by gods, अवध्यम् invincible, रावणम् Ravana, समरे in the battle, जहि slay.

"O Visnu assuring human form, kill Ravana in the battle. He has become a source of torment to the worlds and is invincible by gods.
स हि देवांश्च गन्धर्वान्सिद्धांश्च मुनिसत्तमान्।

राक्षसो रावणो मूर्खो वीर्योत्सेकेन बाधते।।1.15.21।।


स: that, मूर्ख: dull headed, राक्षस: rakshasa, रावण: Ravana, देवांश्च gods, गन्धर्वान् gandharvas, सिद्धांश्च siddhas, मुनिसत्तमान् great rishis, वीर्योत्सेकेन by his haughty prowess, बाधते हि is tormenting indeed.

"That stupid rakshasa, Ravana, with his haughty prowess, is terrorising the gods, gandharvas, siddhas and great rishis.
ऋषयश्च ततस्तेन गन्धर्वाप्सरसस्तथा।

क्रीडन्तो नन्दनवने क्रूरेण किल हिंसिता:।।1.15.22।।


तत: thus, तेन that, क्रूरेण by the cruel one, ऋषयश्च rishis, तथा and, नन्दनवने in Nandana groves, क्रीडन्त: sporting, गन्धर्वाप्सरस: gandharvas and apsaras, हिंसिता: किल are reported to be tortured.

It is reported that a cruel rakshasa with his haughty prowess has tortured rishis, gandharvas and apsaras sporting in Nandana groves.
वधार्थं वयमायातास्तस्य वै मुनिभिस्सह।

सिद्धगन्धर्वयक्षाश्च ततस्त्वां शरणं गता:।।1.15.23।।


वयम् we, सिद्धगन्धर्वयक्षाश्च siddhas, gandharvas and yakshas, मुनिभि: सह along with ascetics, तस्य his, वधार्थम् in order to kill him, आयाता: have come, तत: for that reason, त्वाम् you, शरणम् गता: we have taken refuge in you.

We siddhas, gandharvas and yakshas along with ascetics, have hence come here to devise ways of his death. We take refuge in you.
त्वं गति: परमा देव सर्वेषां न: परन्तप:।

वधाय देवशत्रूणां नृणां लोके मन: कुरु।।1.15.24।।


परन्तप OTormentor of enemies, देव OVisnu, त्वम् you, न: सर्वेषाम् for all of us, परमा supreme, गति: refuge, देवशत्रूणाम् of the enemies of gods (rakshasas), वधाय for the destruction, नृणाम् लोके in the world of men, मन: mind, कुरु resolve.

O tormentor of enemies, O Visnu, you are the supreme, refuge for all of us. Resolve to be born in the world of men for the destruction of enemies of the gods (rakshasas)".
एवमुक्तस्तु देवेशो विष्णुस्त्रिदशपुङ्गव:।

पितामहपुरोगांस्तान्सर्वलोकनमस्कृत:।।1.15.25।।

अब्रवीत्त्रिदशान्सर्वान्समेतान्धर्मसंहितान् ।।1.15.26।।


त्रिदशपुङ्गव: foremost of gods, सर्वलोकनमस्कृत: bowed by all in the worlds, देवेश: lord of devatas, celestial beings, विष्णु: Visnu, एवम् in this manner, उक्त: addressed, समेतान् assembled, धर्मसंहितान् guided by law of righteousness, पितामहपुरोगान् led by the grand sire, तान् those, सर्वान् all, त्रिदशान् gods, अब्रवीत् spoke.

Visnu, the lord of the celestials, foremost among the gods and bowed by all in the worlds addressed the assembled devatas who were guided by the law of righteousness and were led by the grand sire, Brahma.
भयं त्यजत भद्रं वो हितार्थं युधि रावणम्।

सपुत्रपौत्रं सामात्यं समित्रज्ञातिबान्धवम्।।1.15.27।।

हत्वा क्रूरं दुरात्मानं देवर्षीणां भयावहम्।

दशवर्षसहस्राणि दशवर्षशतानि च।

वत्स्यामि मानुषे लोके पालयन्पृथिवीमिमाम्।।1.15.28।।


भयम् fear, त्यजत abandon, भद्रम् blessings (to you), व: for your, हितार्थम् welfare, सपुत्रपौत्रम् along with his sons and grandsons, सामात्यम् along with his ministesrs, समित्रज्ञाति बान्धवम् along with friends, relations and allies, क्रूरम् cruel, दुरात्मानम् wicked minded, देवर्षीणाम् for gods and rishis, भयावहम् dreadful, रावणम् Ravana, युधि in the battle, हत्वा after killing, इमाम् पृथिवीम् this earth, पालयन् while ruling, दशवर्षसहस्राणि ten thousand years, दशवर्षशतानि ten hundred years, मानुषे लोके in the world of men, वत्स्यामि I will dwell.

एवं दत्वा वरं देवो देवानां विष्णुरात्मवान्।

मानुषे चिन्तयामास जन्मभूमिमथात्मन:।।1.15.29।।


आत्मवान् the highest soul, विष्णु: देव: lord Visnu, देवानाम् for devatas, एवम् in this manner, वरम् boon, दत्वा having given, अथ there after, आत्मन: for himself, मानुषे in the world of men, जन्मभूमिम् place of birth, चिन्तयामास reflected.

Lord Visnu, supreme soul having given boon to devatas in this manner, reflected as to the place where he should take birth as a man in this world of men.
तत: पद्मपलाशाक्ष: कृत्वाऽऽत्मानं चतुर्विधम्।

पितरं रोचयामास तथा दशरथन्नृपम्।।1.15.30।।


तत: thereafter, पद्मपलाशाक्ष: lord having eyes resembling lotus petals, तदा then, आत्मानम् himself, चतुर्विधम् in four ways, कृत्वा having made, दशरथम् नृपम् king Dasaratha, तथा पितरम् as father, रोचयामास liked.

Thereafter, the Lord with eyes like the lotus petal was pleased to transform himself into four forms and to choose king Dasaratha as his father.
तदा देवर्षि गन्धर्वास्सरुद्रास्साप्सरोगणा:।

स्तुतिभिर्दिव्यरूपाभिस्तुष्टुवुर्मधुसूदनम्।।1.15.31।।


तदा then, सरुद्रा: along with rudras, साप्सरोगणा: along with groups of apsaras, देवर्षिगन्धर्वा: devatas, rishis and gandharvas, दिव्यरूपाभि: celestial beauty, स्तुतिभि: hymns, मधुसूदनम् slayer of Madhu, तुष्टुवु: praised.

Then along with gandharvas, groups of apsaras, rishis, rudras and devatas sang in praise of the 'Lord Slayer of Madhu', with hymns of celestial beauty.
तमुद्धतं रावणमुग्रतेजसं

प्रवृद्धदर्पं त्रिदशेश्वरद्विषम्।

विरावणं साधुतपस्विकण्टकं

तपस्विनामुद्धर तं भयावहम्।।1.15.32।।


उद्धतम् inflamed, उग्रतेजसम् one with frightful prowess, प्रवृद्धदर्पम् having fully grown insolence, त्रिदशेश्वरद्विषम् the enemy of the lord of gods (Indra ), तपस्विकण्टकम् source of vexation to ascetics, तपस्विनाम् for maharshis, भयावहम् dreadful, तम् him, तम् रावणम् that Ravana, विरावणम् he who causes grerat agony in the three worlds making people cry loudly, साधु rightly, उद्धर uproot him.

"Therefore, uproot that mighty Ravana possessing frightful prowess, inflamed pride, limitless insolence causing agony to the three worlds, a source of vexation to ascetics and a dreadful enemy of Indra.
तमेव हत्वा सबलं सबान्धवं

विरावणं रावणमग्य्रपौरुषम्।

स्वर्लोकमागच्छ गतज्वरश्चिरं

सुरेन्द्रगुप्तं गतदोषकल्मषम्।।1.15.33।।


सबलम् along with his forces, सबान्धवम् with his relations, विरावणम् causing distress in the worlds, अग्य्रपौरुषम् having foremost manliness, तम् एव him only, रावणम् Ravana, हत्वा having slain, चिरम् in long time, गतज्वर: purged of distress, सुरेन्द्रगुप्तम् protected by Indra, गतदोषकल्मषम् freed from faults and sins, स्वर्लोकम् celestial region, आगच्छ return.

Kill Ravana, the cause of distress in the worlds, kill his forces and relatives. Them return to heaven protected by Indra after freeing from distress, faults and sins".
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे पञ्चदशस्सर्ग:।।
Thus ends the fifteenth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.