Sloka & Translation

Audio

[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]

mēthāvī tu tatō dhyātvā sa kiñcididamuttaram.

labdhasaṅjñastatastaṅ tu vēdajñō nṛpamabravīt৷৷1.15.1৷৷


tata: then, mēthāvī great retentive intellectual, vēdajña: knowledgeable in vedas, sa: he, kiñcit for a little while, dhyātvā having pondered, tata: there after, labdhasaṅjña: recollected his memory, tam that, nṛpam king, abravīt said.

Rsyasringa, a highly intellectual and knowledgeable one in the Vedas, pondered for a while, revived his memory and said to the king.
iṣṭiṅ tē.haṅ kariṣyāmi putrīyāṅ putrakāraṇāt.

atharvaśirasi prōktairmantraissiddhāṅ vidhānata:৷৷1.15.2৷৷


aham I, tē for you, putrakāraṇāt for begetting sons, atharvaśirasi in 'Atharva Siras' portion of veda, prōktai: declared, mantrai: by mantras, siddhām realising the desires, putrīyām capable of bestowing sons, iṣṭim sacrifice, vidhānata: as per tradition, kariṣyāmi 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'" .
tata: prākramadiṣṭiṅ tāṅ putrīyāṅ putrakāraṇāt.

juhāva cāgnau tējasvī mantradṛṣṭēna karmaṇā৷৷1.15.3৷৷


tata: then, putrakārāṇāt for begetting sons, putrīyām for the sake of begetting children, tām iṣṭim that sacrifice, prākramyat having commenced, tējasvī effulgent Rsyasringa mantradṛṣṭēna in accordance with mantras, karmaṇā with sacrificial acts, agnau in the fire, juhāva ca 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.
tatō dēvāssagandharvāssiddhāśca paramarṣaya: .

bhāgapratigrahārthaṅ vai samavētā yathāvidhi৷৷1.15.4৷৷


tata: thereafater, sagandharvā: along with gandharvas, dēvā: (celestial deities) devatas, siddhāśca siddhas, paramarṣaya: great sages, yathāvidhi according to tradition, bhāgapratigrahārtham to receive their share of offerings, samavētā: vai assembled.

All the celestial deities etc., along with gandharvas according to tradition, gathered at the sacrifice to receive their share of offerings.
tāssamētya yathānyāyaṅ tasminsadasi dēvatā:.

abruvan lōkakartāraṅ brahmāṇaṅ vacanaṅ mahat৷৷1.15.5৷৷


tā: dēvatā: those devatas (celestial deities), yathānyāyam as per custom, tasmin in that, sadasi assembly place, samētya having assembled, lōkakartāram creator of the worlds, brahmāṇam lord Brahma, mahat important, vacanam these words, abruvan addressed.

All devatas assembled there as per tradition and thus addressed Lord Brahma the creator of the worlds:
bhagavantvatprasādēna rāvaṇō nāma rākṣasa:.

sarvānnō bādhatē vīryācchāsituṅ taṅ na śaknuma:৷৷1.15.6৷৷


bhagavan O! Revered lord, rāvaṇō nāma by name Ravana, rākṣasa: rakshasa (demonical in nature), tvatprasādēna by your grace, vīryāt by the prowess, na: us, sarvān all, bādhatē is oppressing, tam him, śāsitum to punish, na śaknuma: 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.
tvayā tasmai varō datta: prītēna bhagavanpurā.

mānayantaśca taṅ nityaṅ sarvaṅ tasya kṣamāmahē৷৷1.15.7৷৷


bhagavan "O! Venerable lord, purā earlier, prītēna by the well pleased, tvayā by you, tasmai for him, vara: boon, datta: granted, tam that, mānayanta: honouring, tasya for his, sarvam entirely, nityam always, kṣamāmahē we endure.

Pleased with his penance, Lord, you had granted him a boon. By honour that boon and daily endure all his cruelty.
udvējayati lōkānstīnucchritāndvēṣṭi durmati:.

śakraṅ tridaśarājānaṅ pradharṣayitumicchati৷৷1.15.8৷৷


durmati: evil minded, trīn three, lōkān worlds, udvējayati inflicting pains, ucchritān the guardians of earth, dvēṣṭi hates, tridaśarājānam lord of celestial beings, śakram Indra, pradharṣayitum to assault him, icchati he is desirous.

The evil-minded Ravana is inflicting pains on the three worlds. He hates the guardians of the earth and intends to assault Indra, lord of the celestials.
ṛṣīnyakṣānsagandharvānasurānbrāhmaṇāṅstathā.

atikrāmati durdharṣō varadānēna mōhita:৷৷1.15.9৷৷


durdhaṣa: the unassailable one, varadānēna because of the boons, mōhita: is puffed with pride, ṛṣīn sages, yakṣān yakshas, sagandharvān along with gandharvas, asurān asuras, tathā and, brāhmaṇān brahmins, atikrāmati tresspasses.

Because of your boon he has become unassailable and puffed with pride deties sages, yakshas, gandharvas, demons and brahmins.
nainaṅ sūrya: pratapati pārśvē vāti na māruta:.

calōrmimālī taṅ dṛṣṭvā samudrō.pi na kampatē৷৷1.15.10৷৷


ēnam for him, sūrya: Sun, na pratapati does not torment him, māruta: wind, pārśvē near, na vāti does not blow, calōrmimālī incessantly moving waves, samudrō.pi even the ocean, tam him, dṛṣṭvā having seen, na kampatē 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.
tanmahannō bhayaṅ tasmādrākṣasādghōradarśanāt.

vadhārthaṅ tasya bhagavannupāyaṅ kartumarhasi৷৷1.15.11৷৷


tat for that reason, ghōradarśanāt from the one of dreadful appearance, tasmāt from him, rākṣasāt rakshasa, na: for us, mahat great, bhayam terror, bhagavan O! Lord, tasya for his, vadhārtham destruction, upāyam means, kartum to do, arhasi you are capable.

His dreamful appearance of that rakshasa strikes terror into us. O Lord! do find some means to kill him".
ēvamuktassuraissarvaiścintayitvā tatō.bravīt.

hantāyaṅ viditastasya vadhōpāyō durātmana:৷৷1.15.12৷৷


sarvai: by all, surai: devatas, ēvam in this manner, ukta: spoken, cintayitvā having reflected, tata: then, abravīt said, tasya that, durātmana: wicked-minded, ayam this, vadhōpāya: means of destrction, vidita: is known, hanta 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".
tēna gandharvayakṣāṇāṅ dēvadānavarakṣasām.

avadhyō.smīti vāguktā tathētyuktaṅ ca tanmayā৷৷1.15.13৷৷


tēna by him, gandharvayakṣāṇām of (by) gandharvas and yakshas, dēvadānavarakṣasām gods, demons and rakshasas, avadhya: asmi I am incapable of being destroyed, iti in this manner, vāk words, uktā spoken, mayā ca by me also, tat that one, tathā be it so, uktam said.

When he asked gandharvas, yakshas, gods, demons or rakshasas should never be able to kill him, I said, "So be it".
nākīrtayadavajñānāttadrakṣō mānuṣān prati.

tasmātsa mānuṣādvadhyō mṛtyurnānyō.sya vidyatē৷৷1.15.14৷৷


tat rakṣa: that rakshasa, avajñānāt due to disdain, mānuṣān prati about the men, na akīrtayat did not mention, tasmāt for that reason, sa: he, mānuṣāt by man, vadhya: is fit to be destroyed, asya for him, anya: any other, mṛtyu: means of death, na vidyatē 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".
ētacchrutvā priyaṅ vākyaṅ brahmaṇā samudāhṛtam.

sarvē maharṣayō dēvāḥ prahṛṣṭāstē.bhavaṅstadā৷৷1.15.15৷৷


tadā then, brahmaṇā by Brahma, samudāhṛtam mentioned, ētat these, priyaṅ vākyam delighted words, śrutvā having heard, tē dēvā: those devatas (celestial deities), maharṣaya: maharshis, sarvē all, prahṛṣṭā: abhavan felt happy.

Having heard these pleasing words uttered by Brahma, all the devatas and maharshis were overwhelmed with joy.
ētasminnantarē viṣṇurupayātō mahādyuti:.

śaṅkhacakragadāpāṇi: pītavāsā jagatpati:৷৷1.15.16৷৷


ētasmin antarē at this juncutre, māhādyuti: highly effulgent, śaṅkhacakragadāpāṇi: bearing in his hands Conch, Discus and Mace, pītavāsā: attired in yellow apparel, jagatpati: lord of the world, viṣṇu: Visnu, upayāta: 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.
brahmaṇā ca samāgamya tatra tasthau samāhita:. 1

tamabruvansurāssarvē samabhiṣṭūya sannatā:৷৷1.15.17৷৷


brahmaṇā by Brahma, samāgamya having met, tatra there, samāhita: with composed mind, tasthau remained, surā: devatas, sarvē all, sannatā: prostrating, tam him, samabhiṣṭūya paying homage with hymns, abruvan 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.
tvānniyōkṣyāmahē viṣṇō lōkānāṅ hitakāmyayā. 1

rājñō daśarathasya tvamayōdhyādhipatē: prabhō:৷৷1.15.18.

dharmajñasya vadānyasya maharṣisamatējasa: . 18

tasya bhāryāsu tisṛṣu hrīśrīkīrtyupamāsu ca৷৷1.15.19৷৷

viṣṇō putratvamāgaccha kṛtvā৷৷tmānaṅ caturvidham. 1


viṣṇō O! Visnu, lōkānām for all the worlds, hitakāmyayā desirous of doing benefit, tvām you, niyōkṣyāmahē we are appointing, viṣṇō O!Visnu, tvam you, ayōdhyādhipatē: of the Sovereign of Ayodhya, prabhō: of the king, dharmajñasya of the righteous, vadānyasya of the generous, maharṣisamatējasa: of one equalling rishis in lusture, tasya his, daśarathasya rājña: king Dasaratha's hrī śrī kīrtyupamāsu comparable to Hri (Modesty), Shree (auspiciousness), Kirti (fame) the daughters of Daksha, tisṛṣu among the three, bhāryāsu wives, ātmānam thy self, caturvidham in four ways, kṛtvā having divided, putratvam in the form of sons, āgaccha 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).
tatra tvaṅ mānuṣō bhūtvā pravṛddhaṅ lōkakaṇṭakam.

avadhyaṅ daivatairviṣṇō! samarē jahi rāvaṇam৷৷1.15.20৷৷


viṣṇō: O! Visnu, tvam you, tatra there, mānuṣa: in the form of man, bhūtvā having been born, pravṛddham increasingly becoming arrogant, lōkakaṇṭakam source of vexation and terror to the worlds, daivatai: by gods, avadhyam invincible, rāvaṇam Ravana, samarē in the battle, jahi 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.
sa hi dēvāṅśca gandharvānsiddhāṅśca munisattamān.

rākṣasō rāvaṇō mūrkhō vīryōtsēkēna bādhatē৷৷1.15.21৷৷


sa: that, mūrkha: dull headed, rākṣasa: rakshasa, rāvaṇa: Ravana, dēvāṅśca gods, gandharvān gandharvas, siddhāṅśca siddhas, munisattamān great rishis, vīryōtsēkēna by his haughty prowess, bādhatē hi is tormenting indeed.

"That stupid rakshasa, Ravana, with his haughty prowess, is terrorising the gods, gandharvas, siddhas and great rishis.
ṛṣayaśca tatastēna gandharvāpsarasastathā.

krīḍantō nandanavanē krūrēṇa kila hiṅsitā:৷৷1.15.22৷৷


tata: thus, tēna that, krūrēṇa by the cruel one, ṛṣayaśca rishis, tathā and, nandanavanē in Nandana groves, krīḍanta: sporting, gandharvāpsarasa: gandharvas and apsaras, hiṅsitā: kila 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.
vadhārthaṅ vayamāyātāstasya vai munibhissaha.

siddhagandharvayakṣāśca tatastvāṅ śaraṇaṅ gatā:৷৷1.15.23৷৷


vayam we, siddhagandharvayakṣāśca siddhas, gandharvas and yakshas, munibhi: saha along with ascetics, tasya his, vadhārtham in order to kill him, āyātā: have come, tata: for that reason, tvām you, śaraṇam gatā: 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.
tvaṅ gati: paramā dēva sarvēṣāṅ na: parantapa:.

vadhāya dēvaśatrūṇāṅ nṛṇāṅ lōkē mana: kuru৷৷1.15.24৷৷


parantapa O!Tormentor of enemies, dēva O!Visnu, tvam you, na: sarvēṣām for all of us, paramā supreme, gati: refuge, dēvaśatrūṇām of the enemies of gods (rakshasas), vadhāya for the destruction, nṛṇām lōkē in the world of men, mana: mind, kuru 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)".
ēvamuktastu dēvēśō viṣṇustridaśapuṅgava:.

pitāmahapurōgāṅstānsarvalōkanamaskṛta:৷৷1.15.25৷৷

abravīttridaśānsarvānsamētāndharmasaṅhitān ৷৷1.15.26৷৷


tridaśapuṅgava: foremost of gods, sarvalōkanamaskṛta: bowed by all in the worlds, dēvēśa: lord of devatas, celestial beings, viṣṇu: Visnu, ēvam in this manner, ukta: addressed, samētān assembled, dharmasaṅhitān guided by law of righteousness, pitāmahapurōgān led by the grand sire, tān those, sarvān all, tridaśān gods, abravīt 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.
bhayaṅ tyajata bhadraṅ vō hitārthaṅ yudhi rāvaṇam.

saputrapautraṅ sāmātyaṅ samitrajñātibāndhavam৷৷1.15.27৷৷

hatvā krūraṅ durātmānaṅ dēvarṣīṇāṅ bhayāvaham.

daśavarṣasahasrāṇi daśavarṣaśatāni ca.

vatsyāmi mānuṣē lōkē pālayanpṛthivīmimām৷৷1.15.28৷৷


bhayam fear, tyajata abandon, bhadram blessings (to you), va: for your, hitārtham welfare, saputrapautram along with his sons and grandsons, sāmātyam along with his ministesrs, samitrajñāti bāndhavam along with friends, relations and allies, krūram cruel, durātmānam wicked minded, dēvarṣīṇām for gods and rishis, bhayāvaham dreadful, rāvaṇam Ravana, yudhi in the battle, hatvā after killing, imām pṛthivīm this earth, pālayan while ruling, daśavarṣasahasrāṇi ten thousand years, daśavarṣaśatāni ten hundred years, mānuṣē lōkē in the world of men, vatsyāmi I will dwell.

ēvaṅ datvā varaṅ dēvō dēvānāṅ viṣṇurātmavān.

mānuṣē cintayāmāsa janmabhūmimathātmana:৷৷1.15.29৷৷


ātmavān the highest soul, viṣṇu: dēva: lord Visnu, dēvānām for devatas, ēvam in this manner, varam boon, datvā having given, atha there after, ātmana: for himself, mānuṣē in the world of men, janmabhūmim place of birth, cintayāmāsa 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.
tata: padmapalāśākṣa: kṛtvā৷৷tmānaṅ caturvidham.

pitaraṅ rōcayāmāsa tathā daśarathannṛpam৷৷1.15.30৷৷


tata: thereafter, padmapalāśākṣa: lord having eyes resembling lotus petals, tadā then, ātmānam himself, caturvidham in four ways, kṛtvā having made, daśaratham nṛpam king Dasaratha, tathā pitaram as father, rōcayāmāsa 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.
tadā dēvarṣi gandharvāssarudrāssāpsarōgaṇā:.

stutibhirdivyarūpābhistuṣṭuvurmadhusūdanam৷৷1.15.31৷৷


tadā then, sarudrā: along with rudras, sāpsarōgaṇā: along with groups of apsaras, dēvarṣigandharvā: devatas, rishis and gandharvas, divyarūpābhi: celestial beauty, stutibhi: hymns, madhusūdanam slayer of Madhu, tuṣṭuvu: 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.
tamuddhataṅ rāvaṇamugratējasaṅ

pravṛddhadarpaṅ tridaśēśvaradviṣam.

virāvaṇaṅ sādhutapasvikaṇṭakaṅ

tapasvināmuddhara taṅ bhayāvaham৷৷1.15.32৷৷


uddhatam inflamed, ugratējasam one with frightful prowess, pravṛddhadarpam having fully grown insolence, tridaśēśvaradviṣam the enemy of the lord of gods (Indra ), tapasvikaṇṭakam source of vexation to ascetics, tapasvinām for maharshis, bhayāvaham dreadful, tam him, tam rāvaṇam that Ravana, virāvaṇam he who causes grerat agony in the three worlds making people cry loudly, sādhu rightly, uddhara 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.
tamēva hatvā sabalaṅ sabāndhavaṅ

virāvaṇaṅ rāvaṇamagyrapauruṣam.

svarlōkamāgaccha gatajvaraściraṅ

surēndraguptaṅ gatadōṣakalmaṣam৷৷1.15.33৷৷


sabalam along with his forces, sabāndhavam with his relations, virāvaṇam causing distress in the worlds, agyrapauruṣam having foremost manliness, tam ēva him only, rāvaṇam Ravana, hatvā having slain, ciram in long time, gatajvara: purged of distress, surēndraguptam protected by Indra, gatadōṣakalmaṣam freed from faults and sins, svarlōkam celestial region, āgaccha 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".
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē pañcadaśassarga:৷৷
Thus ends the fifteenth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.