Bala Kanda — Sarga 71

एवं ब्रुवाणं जनकः प्रत्युवाच कृताञ्जलिः। श्रोतुमर्हसि भद्रं ते कुलं नः परिकीर्तितम्॥ प्रदाने हि मुनिश्रेष्ठ कुलं निरवशेषतः। वक्तव्यं कुलजातेन तन्निबोध महामते॥

When Vasiştha had spoken thus, Janaka with clasped hands answered to him, saying,-It behove you to listen to our genealogy as related by myself. In the matter of disposal of daughters, O foremost of anchorets, one's own line should be described by one boasting of a noble ancestry. Do you then, O mighty-minded one, listen to the same.

Bala Kanda 71.1

राजाभूत् त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः स्वेन कर्मणा। निमिः परमधर्मात्मा सर्वसत्त्ववतां वरः॥

There was a king famed over the three worlds by his own acts, Nimi-eminently picus and the foremost of those endowed with strength.

Bala Kanda 71.2

तस्य पुत्रो मिथिर्नाम जनको मिथिपुत्रकः। प्रथमो जनको राजा जनकादप्युदावसुः॥

His son was named Mithi, and Mithi's son was Janaka. And from this king Janaka have we son was derived that word as applied to every one of us. And from Janaka sprang Udāvasu;

Bala Kanda 71.3

उदावसोस्तु धर्मात्मा जातो वै नन्दिवर्धनः। नन्दिवर्धसुतः शूरः सुकेतुर्नाम नामतः॥

Udāvasu's the pious-souled Nandivardhana. And Nandivardha's son was the heroic Suketu.

Bala Kanda 71.4

सुकेतोरपि धर्मात्मा देवरातो महाबलः। देवरातस्य राजर्षेङ्घहद्रथ इति स्मृतः॥

Suketu's son was the mighty and righteous Devarata. And the Rājarși Devarāta's son was Brhadratha.

Bala Kanda 71.5

बृहद्रथस्य शूरोऽभून्महावीरः प्रतापवान्। महावीरस्य धृतिमान् सुधृतिः सत्यविक्रमः॥

Bịhadratha's son was the heroic and puissant Mahāvīra. And Mahāvīra's son was Sudhști, endowed with fortitude and having truth for prowess.

Bala Kanda 71.6

सुधृतेरति धर्मात्मा धृष्टकेतुः सुधार्मिकः। धृष्टकेतोश्च राजर्षेर्हर्यश्व इति विश्रुतः॥

Sudhrtia's son was the pious-spirited and eminently righteous Dhīșțaketu. And the Rājarși Dhistaketu's son was Haryasva.

Bala Kanda 71.7

हर्यश्वस्य मरुः पुत्रो मरोः पुत्रः प्रतीन्धकः। प्रतीन्धकस्य धर्मात्मा राजा कीर्तिरथः सुतः॥

Haryaśva's son was Maru; and Maru's son was Pratīndhaka. And Pratīndhaka's son was the righteous king Kirtiratha.

Bala Kanda 71.8

पुत्रः कीर्तिरथस्यापि देवमीढ इति स्मृतः। देवमीढस्य विबुधो विबुधस्य महीध्रकः॥

Kirtiratha's Devamidha, and Devamidha's Vibudha, and Vibudha's Mahidhraka.

Bala Kanda 71.9

महीध्रकसुतो राजा कीर्तिरातो महाबलः। कीर्तिरातस्य राजर्षेर्महारोमा व्यजायत॥

Mahīdhraka's son was king Kirtirāta endowed with great strength. And the Rājarşi Kirtirāta had Mahāroman born to him.

Bala Kanda 71.10

महारोम्णस्तु धर्मात्मा स्वर्णरोमा व्यजायत। स्वर्णरोम्णस्तु राजर्षेर्हस्वरोमा व्यजायत॥

Mahāroman, the virtuous Svarnaroman. And the Rājarşi Svarnaroman had Hrasvaroman born to him. son was

Bala Kanda 71.11

तस्य पुत्रद्वयं राज्ञो धर्मज्ञस्य महात्मनः। ज्येष्ठोऽहमनुजो भ्राता मम वीरः कुशध्वजः॥ मांत ज्येष्ठं पिता राज्ये सोऽभिषिच्य पिता मम। कुशध्वजं समावेश्य भारं मयि वनं गतः॥

This high-souled king conversant with morality had two sons: the elder, myself the younger, even my brother, who was the elder son, and consigning to my care Kusadhvaja, our father sought the forest.

Bala Kanda 71.12

वृद्धे पितरि स्वर्याते धर्मेण धुरमावहम्। भ्रातरं देवसंकाशं स्नेहात् पश्यन् कुशध्वजम्॥

And on my aged sire ascending heaven, I righteously ruled the kingdom and cherished my brother Kusadvaja resembling a celestial, with the eye of affection.

Bala Kanda 71.13

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य सांकाश्यादागतः पुरात्। सुधन्वा वीर्यवान् राजा मिथिलामवरोधकः॥

It came to pass that on one occasion a certain powerful king named Sudhanvan came before Mithilā intending to lay siege to it.

Bala Kanda 71.14

स च मे प्रेषयामास शैवं धनुरनुत्तमम्। सीता च कन्या पद्माक्षी मह्यं वै दीयतामिति॥

He sent word to me, saying, 'Do you give me the all-excellent bow of Śiva, as well as your daughter, the lotus-even Sītā.'

Bala Kanda 71.15

तस्याप्रदानान्महर्षे युद्धमासीन्मया सह । स हतोऽभिमुखो राजा सुधन्वा तु मया रणे॥

And is consequence of my not granting him either, king Sudhanvan, O Brahmarsi, entered into hostilities with me; but he was both defeated and slain by me in the encounter.

Bala Kanda 71.16

निहत्य तं मुनिश्रेष्ठ सुधन्वानं नराधिपम्। सांकाश्ये भ्रातरं शूरमभ्यषिञ्च कुशध्वजम्॥

O foremost of ascetics, slaying king Sudhanvan. I installed in Sānkāśyā my heroic brother Kuśadhvaja.

Bala Kanda 71.17

कनीयानेष मे भ्राता अहं ज्येष्ठो महामुने। ददामि परमप्रीतो वध्वौ ते मुनिपुङ्गव॥

Thus one, O mighty anchorite, is my younger brother, and I am his elder. O powerful ascetic, well pleased will I confer on you these as your daughter-in-law,

Bala Kanda 71.18

सीतां रामाय भद्रं ते ऊर्मिलां लक्ष्मणाय वै। वीर्यशुल्कां मम सुतां सीतां सुरसुतोपमाम्॥ द्वितीयामुर्मिलां चैव त्रिर्वदामि न संशयः। ददामि परमप्रीतो वध्वौ ते मुनिपुङ्गव॥

Sītā on Rāma, good betide you, and Urmilā on Laksmana. And, I take oath thrice that, without doubt, I will with a glad heart confer upon you, O potent ascetic, as your daughters-in-law my second daughter Urmilā and also Sītā resembling the daughter of a celestial, having prowess assigned for her dower.

Bala Kanda 71.19

रामलक्ष्मणयो राजन् गोदानं कारयस्व ह। पितृकार्यं च भद्रं ते ततो वैवाहिकं कुरु॥

do you now, O king, give away kine on behalf of the nuptials of Rāma and Lakşmaņa; and also perform their ancestral rites, good to you; and then complete the marriage ceremony.

Bala Kanda 71.20

मघा ह्यद्य महाबाहो तृतीयदिवो प्रभो। फल्गुन्यामुत्तरे राजेस्तस्मिन् वैवाहिकं कुरु। रामलक्ष्मणयोरर्थे दानं कार्यं सुखोदयम्॥

To-day the star Magha is on the ascendant. On the third day, my master, when the Phalguna will be on the north, do you, O monarch, perform the marriage ceremony. Do you now, however, dispense gifts for invoking blessings upon Rāma and Laksmana.24

Bala Kanda 71.21