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[King Dasaratha's court and description of the virtues of ministers].

तस्यामात्या गुणैरासन्निक्ष्वाकोस्तु महात्मन: ।

मन्त्रज्ञाश्चेङ्गितज्ञाश्च नित्यं प्रियहिते रता: ।।1.7.1।।


महात्मन: of the magnanimous, तस्य his, इक्ष्वाको: of the descendent of Ikshvaku, गुणै: with virtues, मन्त्रज्ञाश्च competent counsellors, इङ्गितज्ञाश्च skilled in judging motives from the features of the face, नित्यम् always, प्रियहिते doing all that was dear and could bring welfare to the king, रता: intent on, अमात्या: ministers, आसन् existed.

The ministers of the great descendent of the Ikshvakus were endowed with all virtues. They were competent counsellors, skilled in judging motives from facial features and were always intent on doing good and all that was dear and helpful to the king.
अष्टौ बभूवुर्वीरस्य तस्यामात्या यशस्विन: ।

शुचयश्चानुरक्ताश्च राजकृत्येषु नित्यश: ।।1.7.2।।


वीरस्य of the mighty, यशस्विन: glorious, तस्य for that king Dasaratha, शुचय: free from blemish in dealings, नित्यशः ever, राजकृत्येषु in royal duties, अनुरक्ताश्च loyally devoted, अष्टौ eight, अमात्या: ministers, बभूवु: had been employed.

The mighty and glorious (king Dasaratha) had eight ministers who were free from blemish in their dealings and ever devoted to royal duties.
धृष्टिर्जयन्तो विजयस्सिद्धार्थो ह्यर्थसाधक: ।

अशोको मन्त्रपालश्च सुमन्त्रश्चाष्टमोऽभवत् ।।1.7.3।।


धृष्टि: Dhrishti, जयन्त: Jayanta, विजय: Vijaya, सिद्धार्थ: Siddhartha, अर्थसाधक: Arthasadhaka, अशोक: Ashoka, मन्त्रपालश्च Mantrapala, सुमन्त्रः Sumantra, अष्टम: eigth, अभवत् were present.

The eight ministers were Dhrishti, Jayanta,Vijaya, Siddhartha, Arthasadhaka, Ashoka, Mantrapala and Sumantra.
ऋत्विजौ द्वावभिमतौ तस्याऽऽस्तामृषिसत्तमौ ।

वसिष्ठो वामदेवश्च मन्त्रिणश्च तथापरे ।।1.7.4।।


तस्य for him, वसिष्ठ: Vasihta, वामदेव: च and Vamadeva, द्वौ two, ऋषिसत्तमौ excellent rishis, अभिमतौ highly desired, ऋत्विजौ family priests, आस्ताम् existed, तथा and, अपरे some other, मन्त्रिणश्च counsellors also.

He had two wellchosen excellent rishis, Vasishta and Vamadeva, as family priests besides some other counsellors.
विद्याविनीता ह्रीमन्त: कुशला नियतेन्द्रिया: ।

श्रीमन्तश्च महात्मानश्शास्त्रज्ञा दृढविक्रमा: ।।1.7.5।।

कीर्तिमन्त: प्रणिहिता: यथावचनकारिण: ।

तेज: क्षमायश:प्राप्ता स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषिण: ।।1.7.6।।


विद्याविनीता: well educated in all branches of knowledge, ह्रीमन्त: those who feel ashamed to do unjust acts, कुशला: proficient, नियतेन्द्रिया: those having restrained senses, श्रीमन्तश्च wealthy, महात्मान: illustrious, शास्त्रज्ञा: versed in shastras, दृढविक्रमा: steadfast in prowess, कीर्तिमन्त: renowned, प्रणिहिता: fixing their attention on their thoughts, यथावचनकारिण: doing in accordance with word, तेज:क्षमायश:प्राप्ता: possessing splendour forgiveness and fame, स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषिण: speaking with a smile.

They were welleducated in all branches of knowledge and deemed unjust acts shameful. They were renowned, proficient, versed in sastras, wealthy and magnanimous. They had their senses restrained and their deeds were in accordance with their words. They acted with determination. They were brilliant, forgiving and reputed. And always spoke with a smile.
क्रोधात्कामार्थहेतोर्वा न ब्रूयुरनृतं वच: ।

तेषामविदितं किञ्चित्स्वेषु नास्ति परेषु वा ।

क्रियमाणं कृतं वापि चारेणापि चिकीर्षितम् ।।1.7.7।।


क्रोधात् either in anger, कामार्थहेतोर्वा or for the reason of pecuniary gains or for desire, अनृतम् untruth or unjust, वच: word, न ब्रूयु: do not utter, स्वेषु in the midst of their own, परेषु वा or among their enemies, क्रियमाणम् what was being done, कृतं वापि or what had been done, चिकीर्षितम् or intended to be done, तेषाम् for them, चारेण through spies, अविदितम् unknown, किञ्चित् even little, नास्ति was not there.

Either in anger or for pecuniary gains or for fulfilment of desire, they never uttered an untrue or unjust word. In the midst of their own people or among their enemies, they knew, through spies everything being done or had been done or intended to be done in future.
कुशला व्यवहारेषु सौहृदेषु परीक्षिता: ।

प्राप्तकालं तु ते दण्डं धारयेयुस्सुतेष्वपि ।।1.7.8।।


ते those ministers, व्यवहारेषु in their dealings, कुशला: competent, सौहृदेषु in friendship, परीक्षिता: tested, सुतेष्वपि even in the matter of sons, प्राप्तकालम् appropriately, दण्डम् punishment, धारयेयु: used to impose.

They knew how to deal (with people). They were true to their friends. They used to impose appropriate punishment even on their own sons.
कोशसङ्ग्रहणे युक्ता बलस्य च परिग्रहे ।

अहितं चापि पुरुषं न विहिंस्युरदूषकम् ।।1.7.9।।


कोशसङ्ग्रहणे in replenishing the exchequer, बलस्य army's, परिग्रहे च also holding, युक्ता: experts, अदूषकम् who did not commit any offence, अहितं पुरुषमपि those who were not wellwishers, न विहिंस्यु: never inflicted with punishment.

They were experts in replenishing the exchequer and in collecting the army. They never inflicted any punishment even on those who were not their wellwishers, if they did not commit any offence.
वीराश्च नियतोत्साहा राजशास्त्रमनुष्ठिता: ।

शुचीनां रक्षितारश्च नित्यं विषयवासिनाम् ।।1.7.10।।


वीराश्च mighty and powerful, नियतोत्साहा: possessing steady perseverance, राजशास्त्रम् state policy, अनुष्ठिता: followed, विषयवासिनाम् living in the state, शुचीनाम् of virtuous people, नित्यम् always, रक्षितारश्च protectors.

They were heroic. They possessed steady perseverance. They followed the state policy and always protected the virtuous people living in the state.
ब्रह्म क्षत्रमहिंसन्तस्ते कोशं समपूरयन् ।

सुतीक्ष्णदण्डास्संप्रेक्ष्य पुरुषस्य बलाबलम् ।।1.7.11।।


ब्रह्म brahmanas, क्षत्रम् kshatriyas, अहिंसन्त: did not cause pain (in thought, word and deed), ते they, कोशम् treasury, समपूरयन् filled, पुरुषस्य for a person, बलाबलम् strength and weakness, सम्प्रेक्ष्य investigating, सुतीक्ष्णदण्डा: inflicted stringent punishments.

While ensuring that they did not cause pain to brahmanas and kshatriyas (in thought, word and deed), they filled the treasury. They inflicted stringent punishments on a man after examining his strength and weakness.
शुचीनामेकबुद्धीनां सर्वेषां सम्प्रजानताम् ।

नासीत्पुरे वा राष्ट्रे वा मृषावादी नर: क्वचित् ।।1.7.12।।


शुचीनाम् of the chaste in conduct, एकबुद्धीनाम् unanimous in decisionmaking, सर्वेषाम् of all men, सम्प्रजानताम् administrating the kingdom, पुरे वा either in the city, राष्ट्रे वा or in the kingdom, क्वचित् anywhere, मृषावादी was a liar, नर: man, नासीत् did not exist.

While the ministers of chaste conduct administered the kingdom with unanimous decisions, there was no one who was a liar, either in the city or in the kingdom.
कश्चिन्न दुष्टस्तत्रासीत्परदाररतो नर: ।

प्रशान्तं सर्वमेवासीद्राष्ट्रं पुरवरं च तत् ।।1.7.13।।


तत्र in that kingdom, दुष्ट: wicked, परदाररत: enamoured of others' wives, नर: men, कश्चित् even one, नासीत् did not exist, सर्वम् entire, राष्ट्रम् empire, तत् that, पुरवरं च best of cities, प्रशान्तम् आसीत् serenity prevailed.

In that kingdom no one was wicked or enamoured of others' wives. Serenity prevailed over the entire kingdom including the city of excellence.
सुवाससस्सुवेषाश्च ते च सर्वे सुशीलिन: ।

हितार्थं च नरेन्द्रस्य जाग्रतो नयचक्षुषा ।।1.7.14।।


ते सर्वे all the ministers, सुवासस: wore excellent clothes, सुवेषाश्च well adorned, सुशीलिन: good character, नरेन्द्रस्य king's, हितार्थम् for the welfare of, नयचक्षुषा with politics as their eyes, जाग्रत: vigilant.

They all were welldressed in fine clothes. They possessed good character with an eye on justice and vigilant about the king's welfare.
गुरोर्गुणगृहीताश्च प्रख्याताश्च पराक्रमे ।

विदेशेष्वपि विज्ञातास्सर्वतो बुद्धिनिश्चयात् ।।1.7.15।।


गुरोः from elderly venerable persons like father, mother etc, गुणगृहीता: receiving inspiration through their virtues, पराक्रमे in the matter of prowess, प्रख्याता: renowned, सर्वत: in all affairs, बुद्धिनिश्चयात् guided by their intellect, विदेशेष्वपि in other countries as well, विज्ञाता: were famous.

They imbibed virtues from the elderlies. They were renowned in prowess. They were guided by their intellect in all affairs. They were wellknown everywhere.
सन्धिविग्रहतत्त्वज्ञा: प्रकृत्या सम्पदान्विता: ।।1.7.16।।

मन्त्रसंवरणे शक्ताश्श्लक्ष्णास्सूक्ष्मासु बुद्धिषु ।

नीतिशास्त्रविशेषज्ञास्सततं प्रियवादिन: ।।1.7.17।।


सन्धिविग्रहतत्त्वज्ञा: well aware of the real nature of peace or war, प्रकृत्या inherently, सम्पदा by affluent, अन्विता: possessed, मन्त्रसंवरणे in keeping the plans secretly, शक्ता: capable, सूक्ष्मासु in sharp, बुद्धिषु in comprehension, श्लक्ष्णा: gracious, नीतिशास्त्रविशेषज्ञा: distinguished in the science of ethics and morality, सततम् always, प्रियवादिन: spoke pleasing words.

The ministers were inherently well aware of the real nature of peace or war. They were affluent, adept in keeping secrecy and sharp in comprehending the points (before making any decision). They were experts in the science of ethics and morality. They always spoke pleasing words.
ईदृशैस्तैरमात्यैस्तु राजा दशरथोऽनघ: ।

उपपन्नो गुणोपेतैरन्वशासद्वसुन्धराम् ।।1.7.18।।


अनघ: free from sin, दशरथ: राजा king Dasaratha, गुणोपेतै: by those endowed with virtues, ईदृशै: with such, अमात्यै: ministers, उपपन्न: surrounded, वसुन्धराम् earth, अन्वशासत् ruled.

The faultless king Dasaratha, with the assistance of such ministers endowed with virtues, ruled the earth.
अवेक्षमाणश्चारेण प्रजा धर्मेण रञ्जयन् ।

प्रजानां पालनं कुर्वन्नधर्मान्परिवर्जयन् ।।1.7.19।।

विश्रुतस्त्रिषु लोकेषु वदान्यस्सत्यसङ्गर: ।

स तत्र पुरुषव्याघ्रश्शशास पृथिवीमिमाम् ।।1.7.20।।


पुरुषव्याघ्र: tiger among men, स: king Dasaratha, चारेण with spies, अवेक्षमाण: guarding, प्रजा: the poeple, रञ्जयन् pleasing, प्रजानाम् of people, पालनं कुर्वन् protecting, अधर्मान् unrighteous ones, परिवर्जयन् deserting, वदान्य: munificient, सत्यसङ्गर: undertaking to uphold truth, त्रिषु लोकेषु in the three worlds, विश्रुत: wellknown, इमाम् this, पृथिवीम् earth, धर्मेण with righteousness, शशास reigned.

In the three worlds he (Dasaratha) was acclaimed in the three words as munificient and upholder of truth, a tiger among men, who ruled protecting and guarding the people through spies. He. ruled the kingdom with righteousness by deserting irreligious and keeping the subjects happy.
नाध्यगच्छद्विशिष्टं वा तुल्यं वा शत्रुमात्मन: ।

मित्रवान्नतसामन्त: प्रतापहतकण्टक: ।।1.7.21।।

स शशास जगद्राजा दिवं देवपतिर्यथा ।


मित्रवान् having many friends, नतसामन्त: humbled tributary kings, प्रतापहतकण्टक: slayed the thorny enemies with might, आत्मन: for himself, विशिष्टं वा superior, तुल्यं वा or equal, शत्रुम् foe, नाध्यगच्छत् did not meet, स: राजा that king, देवपति: Indra, यथा like, जगत् world, शशास ruled.

The king (Dasaratha) had many friends. All the tributary kings were obedient to him. He killed his enemies with his might. There was no foe who was either superior to or equal to him. He ruled the world as Indra ruled the heaven.
तैर्मन्त्रिभिर्मन्त्रहिते नियुक्तै

र्वृतोऽनुरक्तै: कुशलैस्समर्थै: ।

स पार्थिवो दीप्तिमवाप युक्त

स्तेजोमयैर्गोभिरिवोदितोऽर्क: ।।1.7.22।।


मन्त्रहिते in counselling for his welfare, नियुक्तै: appointed, अनुरक्तै: by the affectionate ones, कुशलै: skilful ones, समर्थै: by the capable, तै: मन्त्रिभि: with those ministers, वृत: surrounded by, स: पार्थिव: the king, तेजोमयै: luminous, गोभि: by rays, युक्त: filled with, उदित: rising, अर्क: इव like the Sun, दीप्तिम् brightness, अवाप obtained.

Accompanied by the ministers who were devoted to his welfare, adept in counselling, skilful, capable and loyal towards him, the king acquired glory like the rising Sun with luminous rays.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे सप्तमस्सर्ग: ।।
Thus ends the seventh sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.