Bala Kanda — Sarga 28

प्रतिगृह्य ततोऽस्त्राणि प्रहृष्टवदनः शुचिः। गच्छन्नेव च काकुत्स्थो विश्वामित्रमथाब्रवीत्॥

Having accepted those weapons with purity, Käkutstha while proceeding, with a complacent countenance spoke these words to sage Visvāmitra,-

Bala Kanda 28.1

गृहीतास्त्रोऽस्मि भगवन् दुराधर्षः सुरैरपि। अस्त्राणां त्वहमिच्छामि संहारान् मुनिपुङ्गव॥

O adorable one, I have received these weapons, incapable of being repressed even by the celestials themselves. Now, O best of ascetics, I would acquire a knowledge of with drawing them.

Bala Kanda 28.2

एवं ब्रुवति काकुत्स्थे विश्वामित्रो महातपाः। संहारान् व्याजहाराथ धृतिमान् सुव्रतः शुचिः॥

Upon Kākutstha's representing this, Viśvāmitra of high austerities, endowed with patience, of excellent vows, and pure in spirit, communicated to him the mantras for restraining the weapons.

Bala Kanda 28.3

सत्यवन्तं सत्यकीर्तिं धृष्टं रभसमेव च। प्रतिहारतरं नाम पराङ्मुखमवाङ्मुखम्॥ लक्ष्यालक्ष्याविमौ चैव दृढनाभसुनाभको। दशाक्षशतवक्त्रौ च दशशीर्षशतोदरौ॥ पद्मनाभमहानाभौ दुन्दुनाभस्वनाभको। ज्योतिष शकुनं चैव नैरास्यविमलावुभौ ॥ यौगंधरविनिद्रौ च दैत्यप्रमथनौ तथा। शुचिबाहुर्महाबाहुनिष्कलिविरुचस्तथा। सार्चिमाली धृतिमाली वृत्तिमान् रुचिरस्तथा॥ पित्र्यः सौमनसश्चैव विधूतमकरावुभौ। परवीरं रतिं चैव धनधान्यौ च राघव॥ कामरूपं कामरुचिं मोहमावरणं तथा। जृम्भकं सर्पनाथं च पन्थानवरुणौ तथा॥ कृशाश्वतनयान् राम भास्वरान् कामरूपिणः। प्रतीच्छ मम भद्रं ते पात्रभूतोऽसि राघव॥

Do you, O Rāma, accept Satyavat, and Satyakirti, Dhrsta, Rabhasa, Pratihāratara, Paranmukha, Avanmukha, and also Laksya, a Alakṣya, Dędhanabha, Sunābha, Sunabha, Dasaksa, Satavaktra, Dasasirsa, Satodara, Padmanabha, Mahanabha, Indunābha, Svanābha, Jyotisa, Sakuna, Nairasya, Vimala, Yaugandhara, Vinidra, and the two Daityapramathanas, and Śucibāhu, Mahābāhu, Niskali, Viruca, Arcimāli, Dhrtimali, Vrttimān, Rucira, Pitrya, Saumansa, Vidhuta, Makara, Karavīra, Rati, Dhana, and Dhānya, O Rāghava, and Kāmarūpa, Kāmaruci, Moha, Avarana and Jrmbhaka, Sarpanātha, Panthāna, and Varuņa-these sons of Kļśāśva, O Rāma, effulgent, and assuming shapes at will. And, good betide you, O descendant of Raghu, you are worthy to receive these weapons.

Bala Kanda 28.4

बाढमित्येव काकुत्स्थः प्रहष्टेनान्तरात्मना । दिव्यभास्वरदेहाश्च मूर्तिमन्तः सुखप्रदाः॥ केचिदङ्गारसदृशाः केचित् धूमोपमास्तथा। चन्द्रार्कसदृशाः केचित् प्रह्वाञ्जलिपुटास्तथा॥ रामं प्राञ्जलयो भूत्वाब्रुवन् मधुरभाषिणः। इमे स्म नरशार्दूल शाधि किं करवाम ते॥

Thereupon, Kākutstha with heart overflowing with delight, said,-So be it! And those weapons were furnished with celestial and shining persons, and endowed with visible shapes, and capable of conferring happiness. And some of them were like (live) coals; and some comparable to smoke; and some were like to the Sun or the Moon. And with folded hands, they spoke to Rāma in honied accents; O chief of men, here we are! Do you command as to what we are to do on your behalf.

Bala Kanda 28.5

गम्यतामिति तानाह यथेयं रघुनन्दनः। मानसाः कार्यकालेषु साहाय्यं मे करिष्यथ ॥

Then the descendant of Raghu answered, saying, Repair whither soever you will! Recurring to my memory, do you in time of need, render me assistance!

Bala Kanda 28.6

अथ ते रामामन्त्र्य कृत्वा चापि प्रदक्षिणम्। एवमस्त्विति काकुत्स्थमुक्त्वा जग्मुर्यथागतम्॥ स च तान् राघवो ज्ञात्वा विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम्। गच्छन्नेवाथ मधुरं श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रवीत्॥ किमेतन्मेघसंकाशं पर्वतस्याविदूरतः। वृक्षखण्डमितो भाति परं कौतूहलं हि मे॥

Thereupon paying homage to Rāma, and having gone round him, they replied to Kākutstha, What is yonder wood hard by the hill, appearing like clouds? Great is my curiosity.

Bala Kanda 28.7

दर्शनीयं मृगाकीर्णं मनोहरमतीव च। नानाप्रकारैः शकुनैर्वल्गुभाषैरलंकृतम्॥

It is pleasing to the sight, and abounds in beasts, and is exceedingly romantic, and is adorned with various birds singing sweetly.

Bala Kanda 28.8

निःसृताः स्मो मुनिश्रेष्ठ कान्ताराद् रोमहर्षणात्। अनया त्ववगच्छामि देशस्य सुखवत्तया॥

Now, O foremost of ascetics, we have come out of a wilderness capable of making one's hair stand on end. And from the pleasantness attaching to this place, I have come to a conclusion.

Bala Kanda 28.9

सर्वं मे शंस भगवन् कस्याश्रमपदं त्विदम्। सम्प्राप्ता यत्र ते पापा ब्रह्मघ्ना दुष्टचारिणः॥ तव यज्ञस्य विघ्नाय दुरात्मानो महामुने। भगवंस्तस्य को देश: सा यत्र तव याज्ञिकी॥ रक्षितव्या क्रिया ब्रह्मन् मया वध्याश्च राक्षसाः। एतत् सर्वं मुनिश्रेष्ठ श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं प्रभो॥

Tell me, O reverend sir, whose hermitage is this? Have we, O eminent ascetic, reached that spot where dwell those wicked minded wretches of impious deeds, given to slaughtering Brāhmaṇas, who disturb your sacrifice? Where, O adorable one, is that hermitage, repairing to which, O Brahmana, I am to protect your sacrificial rites, and to slay the Raksasas? All this, O foremost of ascetics, I desire to hear, O lord.

Bala Kanda 28.10