Bala Kanda — Sarga 66

ततः प्रभाते विमले कृतकर्मा नराधिपः। विश्वामित्रं महात्मानमाजुहाव सराघवम्॥ तमर्चयित्वा धर्मात्मा शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा। राघवौ च महात्मानौ तदा वाक्यमुवाच ह॥

The next morning, which happened to be bright, the lord of men, having performed his daily devotions, welcomed Viśvāmitra and Rāghava. And having, in accordance with the scriptures, paid homage to the former as well as the two high-souled Rāghavas, that virtuous one said,

Bala Kanda 66.1

भगवन् स्वागतं तेऽस्तु किं करोमि तवानघ। भवानाज्ञापयतु मामाज्ञाप्यो भवता ह्यहम्॥

Hail, O worshipful sir! What shall I do to you, O sinless one? Do you command. Surely, I deserve to be commanded by you.

Bala Kanda 66.2

एवमुक्तः स धर्मात्मा जनकेन महात्मना। प्रत्युवाच मुनिश्रेष्ठो वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः॥

Thus addressed by the high-souled Janaka, that first of ascetics endowed with a righteous soul, well versed in speech, answered,

Bala Kanda 66.3

पुत्रौ दशरथस्येमौ क्षत्रियौ लोकविश्रुतौ। द्रष्टुकामौ धनुःश्रेष्ठं यदेतत्त्वयि तिष्ठति ॥

These sons of Dasaratha-Ksatriyas, famed among men, are eager to behold than best of bows.

Bala Kanda 66.4

एतद् दर्शय भद्रं ते कृतकामौ नृपात्मजौ। दर्शनादस्य धनुषो यथेष्ठं प्रतियास्यतः।६।।

If it be with you, do you show it to them, may it be well with you! having obtained a sight of that bow, the king's sons, their desires crowned with success, will success, will return as they list.

Bala Kanda 66.5

एवमुक्तस्तु जनकः प्रत्युवाच महामुनिम्। श्रूयतामस्य धनुषो यदर्थमिह तिष्ठति॥

Thus accosted, Janaka replied to the mighty Muni, saying, Lisen to why the bow lie here.

Bala Kanda 66.6

देवरात इति ख्यातो निमेयेष्ठो महीपतिः। न्यासोऽयं तस्य भगवन् हस्ते दत्तो महात्मनः॥

There was a king known by the name of Devarata. He was the elder brother of Nimi. And, Oworshipful one, this bow was consigned to the hands of that high-souled one, this bow was consigned to the hands of that high-souled one as a trust.

Bala Kanda 66.7

दक्षयज्ञवधे पूर्वं धनुरायम्य वीर्यवान्। विध्वस्य त्रिदशान् रोषात्सलीलमिदमब्रवीत्॥ यस्माद् भागार्थिनो भागं नाकल्पयत मे सुराः। वराङ्गानि महार्हणि धनुषा शातयामि वः॥

Formerly with the view of destroying Dakşa's sacrifice, the puissant (Śiva), drawing this bow, sportively spoke to the celestials in ire, saying, 'Since, you gods, you deny me the shares (of this sacrifice), which I lay claim to, I will with my bow even sever those heads of yours.'

Bala Kanda 66.8

ततो विमनसः सर्वे देवा वै मुनिपुङ्गव। प्रसादयन्त देवेशं तेषां प्रीतोऽभवद् भवः॥

Thereat, O powerful ascetic, with agitated hearts, the deities fell to propitiating that lord of the celestials, and Bhava was pleased with them.

Bala Kanda 66.9

प्रीतियुक्तस्तु सर्वेषां ददौ तेषां महात्मनाम्। तदेतद् देवदेवस्य धनूरत्नं महात्मनः॥ न्यासभूतं तदा न्यस्तमस्माकं पूर्वजे विभौ।

And well-pleased with them, he conferred this upon those high-souled ones. And even this is that jewel of a bow belonging to the high-souled god of gods, and which was ultimately, O lord, consigned as a trust to our ancestor.

Bala Kanda 66.10

अथ मे कृषतः क्षेत्र लाङ्गलादुत्थिता ततः॥ क्षेत्रं शोधयता लब्धा नाम्ना सीतेति विश्रुता। भूतलादुत्थितां सा तु व्यवर्धत ममात्मजा ॥

And as I was ploughing the mead, arose a damsel, and as I obtained her while hallowing the field (for sacrifice), she has come to be known by the name of Sītā. And arising from the earth, she grew as my daughter.

Bala Kanda 66.11

वीर्यशुल्केति मे कन्या स्थापितेयमयोनिजा। भूतलादुत्थितां तां तु वर्धमानां ममात्मजाम्॥ वरयामासुरागत्य राजानो मुनिपुङ्गव। तेषां वरयतां कन्यां सर्वेषां पृथिवीक्षिताम्॥ वीर्यशुल्केति भगवन् न ददामि सुतामहम्। ततः सर्वे नृपतयः समेत्य मुनिपुङ्गव॥ मिथिलामप्युपागम्य वीर्यं जिज्ञासवस्तदा।

Unsprung from the usual source, she was then established here as my daughter, whose hand must be obtained by bending the bow. And, O foremost of ascetics, many a king, coming here, had saught to obtain my growing daughter arisen from the earth. But, O worshipful one, in consideration of her being one whose dower must be prowess in bending the bow, I would not bestow my daughter upon those lords of earth seeking for the kings in a body began to flock to Mithila, desirous of being acquainted with the strength of the bow.

Bala Kanda 66.12

तेषां जिज्ञासमानानां शैवं धनुरूपाहृतम्॥ न शेकुर्ग्रहणे तस्य धनुषस्तोलनेऽपि वा।

And on their being curious (as to the bow), I showed it to them; but they could neither hold nor wield it.

Bala Kanda 66.13

तेषां वीर्यवतां वीर्यमल्पं ज्ञात्वा महामुने॥ प्रत्याख्याता नृपतयस्तन्निबोध तपोधन । ततः परमकोपेन राजानो मुनिपुङ्गव॥ अरुन्धन् मिथिलां सर्वे वीर्यसंदेहमागताः। आत्मानमवधूतं मे विज्ञाय नृपपुङ्गवाः॥ रोषेण महताविष्टाः पीडयन् मिथिलां पुरीम्।

And, O mighty Muni, finding those powerful kings to be but endowed with small prowess, I passed them by. Hear what then befell, O you of ascetic wealth. Then, O powerful anchorite, in high ire, the kings, doubtful as to their strength in stringing the bow, laid siege to Mithila. And those potent princes, conceiving themselves as frustrated by me, began to harass the city of Mithila, waxing wondrous wroth.

Bala Kanda 66.14

ततः संवत्सरे पूर्णे क्षयं यातानि सर्वशः॥ साधनानि मुनिश्रेष्ठ ततोऽहं भृशदुःखितः।

And when a year had been completed, my defensive resources were entirely exhausted, and at this, I was exceedingly aggrieved.

Bala Kanda 66.15

ततो देवगणान् सर्वांस्तपसाहं प्रसादयम्॥ ददुश्च परमप्रीताश्चतुरङ्गबलं सुराः।

Then I sought to propitiate the deities; and well-pleased, the celestials granted me a Caturanga army.

Bala Kanda 66.16

ततो भग्ना नृपतयो हन्यमाना दिशो ययुः॥ अवीर्या वीर्यसंदिग्धाः सामात्याः पापकारिणः।

At length those wicked kings, meeting with slaughter, broke and fled in all directions, together with their adherents, bereft of vigour, and confidence in their strength.

Bala Kanda 66.17

तदेतन्मुनिशार्दूल धनुः परमभास्वरम्॥ रामलक्ष्मणयोश्चापि दर्शयिष्यामि सुव्रत।

And, O puissant ascetic, this highly effulgent bow will I show to Rāma and Laksmana.

Bala Kanda 66.18

यद्यस्य धनुषो रामः कुर्यादारोपणं मुने। सुतामयोनिजां सीतां दद्यां दाशरथेरहम्॥

O you of excellent vows. And, if, Ascetic, Rāma succeeds in fixing string to it, I will confer upon Daſaratha's son my daughter unsprung from the usual source. Sītā,

Bala Kanda 66.19