Sloka & Translation

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

तत: प्रागुत्तरां गत्वा रामस्सौमित्रिणा सह।

विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य यज्ञवाटमुपागमत्।।1.50.1।।

तत: afterwards, राम: Rama, सौमित्रिणा सह accompanied by Lakshmana, विश्वामित्रम् Visvamitra, पुरस्कृत्य keeping him ahead, प्रागुत्तरां northeasterly direction, गत्वा having gone, यज्ञवाटम् sacrificial ground, उपागमत् reached.

Rama accompanied by Lakshmana with Viswamitra ahead proceeded in northeasterly direction and reached the sacrificial ground.

रामस्तु मुनिशार्दूलमुवाच सहलक्ष्मण:।

साध्वी यज्ञसमृद्धिर्हि जनकस्य महात्मन:।।1.50.2।।

सहलक्ष्मण: along with Lakshmana, रामस्तु Rama, मुनिशार्दूलं addressing tiger among ascetics, Visvamitra, उवाच said, महात्मन: illustrious, जनकस्य Janaka's, यज्ञसमृद्धि: extensive preparations for sacrifice, साध्वी are excellent.

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

बहूनीह सहस्राणि नानादेशनिवासिनाम्।

ब्राह्मणानां महाभाग वेदाध्ययनशालिनाम्।।1.50.3।।

ऋषिवाटाश्च दृश्यन्ते शकटीशतसङ्कुला:।

देशो विधीयतां ब्रह्मन् यत्र वत्स्यामहे वयम्।।1.50.4।।

महाभाग O Illustrious one, इह here, नानादेशनिवासिनाम् living in different countries, वेदाध्ययन शालिनाम् of those who studied the vedas, ब्राह्मणानां of Brahmins, बहूनि सहस्राणि in many thousands, शकटीशतसङ्कुला: thronged with hundreds of carts, ऋषिवाटाश्च shelters for ascetics, दृश्यन्ते are seen, ब्रह्मन् O Great ascetic, वयम् we, यत्र where, वत्स्यामहे can rest, देश: place, विधीयताम् 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.

रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रो महामुनि:।

निवेशमकरोद्देशे विविक्ते सलिलायुते।।1.50.5।।

महामुनि: great ascetic, विश्वामित्र: Visvamitra, रामस्य Rama's, वचनम् words, श्रुत्वा having listened, सलिलायुते provided with water, विविक्ते in a peaceful, देशे place, निवेशम् encampment, अकरोत् chosen.

Great ascetic Viswamitra, hearing Rama's words, chose a nottoocrowded place near a watersource for encampment.

विश्वामित्रमनुप्राप्तं श्रुत्वा स नृपतिस्तदा।

शतानन्दं पुरस्कृत्य पुरोहितमनिन्दितम्।।1.50.6।।

प्रत्युज्जगाम सहसा विनयेन समन्वित:।

स: नृपति: that king, तदा then, विश्वामित्रम् Viswamitra, अनुप्राप्तम् arrived, श्रुत्वा having heard, अनिन्दितम् free from blemish, पुरोहितम् family priest, शतानन्दम् Satananda, पुरस्कृत्य in front of him, विनयेन with due respect, समन्वित: followed by, सहसा quickly, प्रत्युज्जगाम 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.

ऋत्विजोऽपि महात्मानस्त्वर्घ्यमादाय सत्वरम्।।1.50.7।।

विश्वामित्राय धर्मेण ददुर्मंन्त्रपुरस्कृतम्।

महात्मान: eminent, ऋत्विजोऽपि officiating priests also, सत्वरम् quickly, अर्घ्यम् offerings of worship, आदाय having brought, मन्त्रपुरस्कृतम् with prayers, विश्वामित्राय for Viswamitra, ददु: offered.

Eminent officiating priests speedily brought the offerings of worship and paid obeisance to Viswamitra with prayers.

प्रतिगृह्य च तां पूजां जनकस्य महात्मन:।।1.50.8।।

पप्रच्छ कुशलं राज्ञो यज्ञस्य च निरामयम्।

महात्मन: of the Illustrious, जनकस्य Janaka's, तां पूजाम् that homage, प्रतिगृह्य having received, राज्ञ: about king, कुशलम् welfare, यज्ञस्य about sacrifice, निरामयम् च welfare, पप्रच्छ enquired.

Viswamitra received illustrious king Janaka's worship and enquired about the welfare of the king and the conduct of the sacrifice.

स तांश्चापि मुनीन् पृष्ट्वा सोपाध्यायपुरोधस:।।1.50.9।।

यथान्यायं ततस्सर्वैस्समागच्छत्प्रहृष्टवत्।

स: Visvamitra, सोपाध्यायपुरोधस: together with spiritual teachers, priests, तान् मुनीन् sages, यथान्यायम् in accordance with tradition, पृष्ट्वा having enquired, तत: afterwards, प्रहृष्टवत् like an immesely delighted person, सर्वै: all, समागच्छत् joined them.

Viswamitra duly enquired the wellbeing of the sages and the spiritual teachers, priests in right order. And thereafter the rest joined them in great delight.

अथ राजा मुनिश्रेष्ठं कृताञ्जलिरभाषत।।1.50.10।।

आसने भगवानास्तां सहैभिर्मुनिपुङ्गवै:।

अथ thereafter, राजा the king, कृताञ्जलि: folding the hands in supplication, मुनिश्रेष्ठम् formost of ascetics, अभाषत uttered, भगवान् O Venerable one, एभि: मुनिपुङ्गवै: सह along with these eminent ascetics, आसने seat, आस्ताम् 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."

जनकस्य वचश्श्रुत्वा निषसाद महामुनि:।।1.50.11।।

पुरोधा ऋत्विजश्चैव राजा च सह मन्त्रिभि:।

जनकस्य Janaka's, वच: words, श्रुत्वा having listened, महामुनि: great sage, निषसाद sat down, पुरोधा: family priest, ऋत्विजश्चैव and also officiating priests of the sacrifice, मन्त्रिभि: सह along with counsellors, राजा च 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.

आसनेषु यथान्यायमुपविष्टान् समन्तत:।।1.50.12।।

दृष्ट्वा स नृपतिस्तत्र विश्वामित्रमथाब्रवीत्।

अथ afterwards, स: नृपति: that king, तत्र there, समन्तत: on all sides, यथान्यायम् in accordance with their rank, आसनेषु in their seats, उपविष्टान् seated persons, दृष्ट्वा having seen, विश्वामित्रम् addressing, अब्रवीत् spoke.

Thereafter the king looked on all sides and saw all of them seated according to their rank and addressed Viswamitra saying:

अद्य यज्ञसमृध्दिर्मे सफला दैवतै: कृता।।1.50.13।।

अद्य यज्ञफलं प्राप्तं भगवद्दर्शनान्मया।

अद्य today, मे my, यज्ञसमृध्दि: prosperity of my sacrifice, सफला is fruitful, दैवतै: by devatas, कृता has been rendered, अद्य today, भगवद्दर्शनात् by your venerable presence, मया by me, यज्ञफलम् fruit of my sacrifice, प्राप्तम् 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.

धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि यस्य मे मुनिपुङ्गव।।1.50.14।।

यज्ञोपसदनं ब्रह्मन् प्राप्तोऽसि मुनिभि: सह।

मुनिपुङ्गव O Preeminent among ascetics, ब्रह्मन् O Brahmana, मुनिभि: सह along with these ascetics, यस्य whose so ever, मे my, यज्ञोपसदनम् to sacrificial house, प्रप्त: असि have come, धन्य: अस्मि blessed am I, अनुगृहीत: अस्मि obliged am I.

O Preeminent among ascetics O brahmana you have come to my sacrificial mandap along with these ascetics Blessed am I Obliged am I.

द्वादशाहं तु ब्रह्मर्षे शेषमाहुर्मनीषिण:।।1.50.15।।

ततो भागार्थिनो देवान् द्रष्टुमर्हसि कौशिक।

ब्रह्मर्षे O Brahmarshi, मनीषिण: learned men, द्वादशाहन्तु twelve days only, शेषम् remain, आहु: are saying, कौशिक Visvamitra, तत: thereafter, भागार्थिन: claiming their share, देवान् devatas, द्रष्टुम् to see, अर्हसि 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".

इत्युक्त्वा मुनिशार्दूलं प्रहृष्टवदनस्तदा।।1.50.16।।

पुनस्तं परिपप्रच्छ प्राञ्जलि: प्रणतो नृप:।

नृप: king, मुनिशार्दूलम् addressing tiger among ascetics, इति in this way, उक्त्वा having said, तदा then, प्रहृष्टवदन: with cheerful countenance, प्राञ्जलि: with folded palms, प्रणत: saluting in reverence, पुन: again, तम् him, परिपप्रच्छ asked.

Having said this, the king (Janaka) with a cheerful countenance and saluting with folded palms again asked that tiger among ascetics (Viswamitra):

इमौ कुमारौ भद्रं ते देवतुल्यपराक्रमौ।।1.50.17।।

गजसिंहगती वीरौ शार्दूलवृषभोपमौ।

पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षौ खड्गतूणीधनुर्धरौ।।1.50.18।।

अश्विनाविव रूपेण समुपस्थितयौवनौ।

यदृच्छयैव गां प्राप्तौ देवलोकादिवामरौ।।1.50.19।।

कथं पद्भ्यामिह प्राप्तौ किमर्थं कस्य वा मुने।

मुने O Visvamitra, ते भद्रम् prosperity to you, देवतुल्यपराक्रमौ like celestials in prowess, गजसिंहगती having the gait of elephant or lion, वीरौ heros, शार्दूलवृषभोपमौ resembling tiger or bull in strength, पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षौ having expansive eyes like lotuspetals, खड्गतूणीधनुर्धरौ holding scimitars, quivers and bows, रूपेण in beauty, अश्विनाविव like Aswins, समुपस्थितयौवनौ approaching the youth, देवलोकात् from celestial world, यदृच्छया on their own free will, गाम् earth, प्राप्तौ reached, अमरौ इव like devatas, इमौ these two, कुमारौ youths, इह here, कथम् how, किमर्थम् for what purpose, पद्भ्याम् by foot, प्राप्तौ have come, कस्य वा 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 lotuspetals. 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?

वरायुधधरौ वीरौ कस्य पुत्रौ महामुने।।1.50.20।।

भूषयन्ताविमं देशं चन्द्रसूर्याविवाम्बरम्।

परस्परस्य सदृशौ प्रमाणेङ्गितचेष्टितै:।।1.50.21।।

काकपक्षधरौ वीरौ श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वत:।

महामुने O Great ascetic, वरायुधधरौ holding excellent weapons, वीरौ these heros, कस्य whose, पुत्रौ sons, चन्द्रसूर्यौ Moon and Sun, अम्बरमिव like the sky, इमम् this, देशम् land, भूषयन्तौ adorning, प्रमाणेङ्गितचेष्टितै: in personality, expressions and gestures, परस्परस्य each other, सदृशौ resemble, काकपक्षधरौ mesh of hair falling on their temples, वीरौ about these heroes, तत्त्वत: truely, श्रोतुम् to listen, इच्छामि 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".

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा जनकस्य महात्मन:।।1.50.22।।

न्यवेदयन्महात्मानौ पुत्रौ दशरथस्य तौ।

महात्मन: of the magnanimous, जनकस्य Janaka's, तस्य his, तत् वचनम् those words, श्रुत्वा having heard, तौ महात्मानौ those two illustrious ones, दशरथस्य Dasaratha's, पुत्रौ as sons, न्यवेदयत् presented him.

Hearing the words of the magnanimous Janaka, Viswamitra presented them to him saying that they were the illustrious sons of Dasaratha.

सिद्धाश्रमनिवासं च राक्षसानां वधं तथा।।1.50.23।।

तच्चागमनमव्यग्रं विशालायाश्च दर्शनम्।

अहल्यादर्शनं चैव गौतमेन समागमम्।।1.50.24।।

महाधनुषि जिज्ञासां कर्तुमागमनं तथा।

एतत्सर्वं महातेजा जनकाय महात्मने ।।1.50.25।।

निवेद्य विररामाथ विश्वामित्रो महामुनि:।

महातेजा: highly lustrous, महामुनि: great ascetic, विश्वामित्र: Visvamitra, सिद्धाश्रमनिवासं च their stay at siddha ashrama, तथा and, राक्षसानाम् rakshasas', वधम् slaying, अव्यग्रम् undaunted, तत् आगमनम् that journey, विशालाया: Vishala's, दर्शनम् sight of, अहल्या दर्शनं चैव appearance of Ahalya, गौतमेन by Gautama, समागमम् meeting, तथा and, महाधनुषि in Siva's great bow, जिज्ञासाम् inquisitiveness, कर्तुम् to know, आगमनम् purpose of their arrival, एतत्सर्वम् all this, महात्मने to the distinguished, जनकाय for king Janaka, निवेद्य having related, अथ then, विरराम 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.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाणडे पञ्चाशस्सर्ग:।।
Thus ends the fiftieth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.