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[Dasaratha sends Rama and Lakshmana with Viswamitra--Viswamitra confers

knowledge of bala and atibala to Rama and Lakshmana.]

तथा वसिष्ठे ब्रुवति राजा दशरथस्सुतम 
प्रहृष्टवदनो राममाजुहाव सलक्ष्मणम्।।1.22.1।।
 

वसिष्ठे when Vasistha, तथा in that manner, ब्रुवति having said, राजा the king, दशरथ: Dasaratha, प्रहृष्टवदन: with cheerful countenance, स्वयम् himself, सलक्ष्मणम् along with Lakshmana, रामम् Rama, आजुहाव summoned.

Vasishta having said thus, king Dasaratha, with cheerful countenance summoned Rama and Lakshmana.
कृतस्वस्त्ययनं मात्रा पित्रा दशरथेन च।

पुरोधसा वसिष्ठेन मङ्गलैरभिमन्त्रितम्।।1.22.2।।

स पुत्रं मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय राजा दशरथ: प्रियम्।

ददौ कुशिकपुत्राय सुप्रीतेनान्तरात्मना।।1.22.3।।


स: दशरथ: राजा that king Dasaratha, मात्रा by mother, पित्रा दशरथेन च by father Dasaratha (by himself), कृतस्वस्त्ययनम् giving farewell by recitation of mantras for securing prosperity and averting evils, पुरोधसा वसिष्ठेन by priest Vasishta, मङ्गलै: by auspicious, अभिमन्त्रितम् making sacred by recitation of special mantras, प्रियम् पुत्रम् affectionate son, मूर्ध्नि on the forehead, उपाघ्राय having kissed, सुप्रीतेन with a pleased, अन्तरात्मना heart, कुशिकपुत्राय for kusika's son, ददौ delivered Rama (to the care of Viswamitra).

Rama was given farewell by his parents with recitation of mantras (for securing prosperity and averting evils). Priest Vasishta sanctified him with mantras Dasaratha kissed his son on the forehead and delivered him to the care of Viswamitra, with a heart full of cheer.
ततो वायुस्सुखस्पर्शो नीरजस्को ववौ तदा।

विश्वामित्रगतं दृष्ट्वा रामं राजीवलोचनम्।।1.22.4।।


तत: then, राजीवलोचनम् lotuseyed, रामम् Rama, विश्वामित्रगतम् going with Visvamitra, दृष्ट्वा havingseen, तदा then, वायु: wind, सुखस्पर्श: with agreeable touch, नीरजस्क: without pollen, ववौ breezed.

At the sight of the lotuseyed Rama accompanying Viswamitra, the wind blew pollenfree with a gentle touch.
पुष्पवृष्टिर्महत्यासीद्देवदुन्दुभिनिस्वनै:।

शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोष: प्रयाते तु महात्मनि।।1.22.5।।


महात्मनि glorious Visvamitra, प्रयाते तु when he had departed, महती incessant, पुष्पवृष्टि: showers of flowers, देवदुन्दुभिनिस्वनै: with the sounds of celestial drums, शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोष: आसीत् sounds of blowing conches and beating drums arose.

The departure of glorious Viswamitra was greeted with incessant showers of flowers, the beating of celestial drums and the blowing of conches.
विश्वामित्रो ययावग्रे ततो रामो धनुर्धर:।

काकपक्षधरो धन्वी तं च सौमित्रिरन्वगात्।।1.22.6।।


विश्वामित्र: Viswamitra, अग्रे in the forefront, ययौ walked, तत: behind him, धनुर्धर: with bow in his hand, राम: Rama (followed), काकपक्षधर: having side locks of hair, धन्वी an archer, सौमित्रि: Sumitra's son Lakshmana, तम् अन्वगात् followed him.

Viswamitra walked in the forefront. Behind him was Rama, bow in hand, while in the archer, Sumitra's son (Lakshmana) with side locks of hair followed.
कलापिनौ धनुष्पाणी शोभमानौ दिशो दश ।

विश्वामित्रं महात्मानं त्रिशीर्षाविव पन्नगौ।।1.22.7।।

अनुजग्मतुरक्षुद्रौ पितामहमिवाश्विनौ।


कलापिनौ equipped with quivers, धनुष्पाणी the twain with bows in their hands, दश दिश: in ten cardinal points, शोभमानौ illuminating, अक्षुद्रौ warriors of not a little prowess and splendour, त्रिशीर्षौ three hooded, पन्नगौ इव resembling two serpents, महात्मानम् magnanimous, विश्वामित्रम् Visvamitra, अश्विनौ twin Aswini devatas, पितामहमिव like Brahma, अनुजग्मतु: followed.

Rama and Lakshmana equipped with bows and quivers resembled three hooded serpents. Warriors of no less prowess, they illuminated the ten quarters and followed the high souled Viswamitra like twin Aswanikumaras following the grandsire, Brahma.
तदा कुशिकपुत्रं तु धनुष्पाणी स्वलङ्कृतौ।।1.22.8।।

बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्राणौ खड्गवन्तौ महाद्युती ।

कुमारौ चारुवपुषौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ।।1.22.9।।

अनुयातौ श्रिया दीप्तौ शोभयेतामनिन्दितौ।

स्थाणुं देवमिवाचिन्त्यं कुमाराविव पावकी ।।1.22.10।।


तदा then, धनुष्पाणी bows in their hands, स्वलङ्कृतौ wellattired, बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्राणौ their left arms covered by leather to protect from bowstring and fingers encased in Gauna skin, खड्गवन्तौ armed with scimitars, महाद्युती resplendent, कुमारौ youthful beings, चारुवपुषौ having elegent physique, श्रिया with lustre, दीप्तौ radiating, अनिन्दितौ faultless, भ्रातरौ brothers, रामलक्ष्मणौ Rama and Lakshmana, अनुयातौ following the sage, पावकी born to firegod, कुमारौ sons Skanda and Visakhu, अचिन्त्यम् incomprehensible, देवम् god, स्थाणुम् इव like Iswara, कुशिकपुत्रम् son of Kausika, शोभयेताम् cast their radiance.

Then bows in hand, wellattired, their fingers encased in mongrel skin, for protection (against the bowstring) armed with scimitars, resplendent, young, handsome the two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana shone unblemished. As they followed sage Viswamitra spreading radiance, they looked like sons of the god of fire, (Skanda and Visakhu) following the incomprehensible Siva.
अध्यर्धयोजनं गत्वा सरय्वा दक्षिणे तटे।

रामेति मधुरां वाणीं विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत।।1.22.11।।


अध्यर्धयोजनम् more than a half Yojana, गत्वा having travelled, सरय्वा: river Sarayu, दक्षिणे तटे on southern bank, वश्वामित्र: Viswamitra, राम इति addressing him as "O Rama", मधुराम् sweet, वाणीम् words, अभ्यभाषत spoke.

After crossing a distance of over half a yojana on the southern bank of Sarayu, Viswamitra addressed Rama sweet in a gentle voice.
गृहाण वत्स सलिलं मा भूत्कालस्य पर्यय:।

मन्त्रग्रामं गृहाण त्वं बलामतिबलां तथा।।1.22.12।।


वत्स O Child, सलिलम् water, गृहाण take into your hands, कालस्य पर्यय:माभूत् let no delay occur, त्वम् you, मन्त्रग्रामम् collection of mantras, तथा and, बलाम् Bala, अतिबलां Atibala, गृहाण receive.

"O child, take this water (in your hands), let there be no delay. You will receive from me a collection of mantras and also bala and atibala.
न श्रमो न ज्वरो वा ते न रूपस्य विपर्यय:।

न च सुप्तं प्रमत्तं वा धर्षयिष्यन्ति नैऱृता:।।1.22.13।।


ते to you, श्रम:न neither fatigue, ज्वरो वा nor fever, रूपस्य विपर्यय: न nor change in appearance, सुप्तम् whether in sleep, प्रमत्तं वा or inattentive condition, नैरृता: rakshasas, न धर्षयिष्यन्ति cannot trouble you.

"(If you receive these mantras), you will experience neither fatigue, nor fever nor will there be a change in your appearance. Whether you are asleep or agitated, rakshasas cannot harm you.
न बाह्वोस्सदृशो वीर्ये पृथिव्यामस्ति कश्चन।

त्रिषु लोकेषु वै राम न भवेत्सदृशस्तव ।।1.22.14।।


राम O Rama, बाह्वो: of your hands, वीर्ये in might, सदृश: parallel man, कश्चन anyone, पृथिव्याम् in this earth, नास्ति does not exist, त्रिषु in the three, लोकेषु worlds, तव सदृश: equal to you, न भवेत् does not exist.

O Rama, there is none in this world equal to the might of your hands nor does such a person exist in the three worlds.
न सौभाग्ये न दाक्षिण्ये न ज्ञाने बुद्धिनिश्चये।

नोत्तरे प्रतिवक्तव्ये समो लोके तवाऽनघ।।1.22.15।।


अनघ O Sinless one, सौभाग्ये in auspiciouness, तव सम: equal to you, लोके in this world, न none, दाक्षिण्ये in kindness, न none, ज्ञाने in wisdom, बुद्धिनिश्चये in decisionmaking, न none, उत्तरे when a reply, प्रतिवक्तव्ये has to be given, न none.

O sinless one, there is none in this world equal to you in good fortune, kindness, wisdom, in taking a decsion or giving a reply.
एतद्विद्याद्वये लब्धे भविता नास्ति ते सम:।

बलात्वतिबला चैव सर्वज्ञानस्य मातरौ।।1.22.16।।


एतद्विद्याद्वये when these two kinds of knowledge, लब्धे सति have been secured, ते सम: equal to you, नास्ति there will not be, न भविता nor going to be in future, बला Bala, अतिबला चैव Atibala also, सर्वज्ञानस्य for all kinds of knowledge, मातरौ mothers.

With these two kinds of knowledge secured, there will be none equal to you, at present or in fututre. Bala and atibala are mother to all kinds of knowledge .
क्षुत्पिपासे न ते राम भविष्येते नरोत्तम ।

बलामतिबलां चैव पठत: पथि राघव।।1.22.17।।


नरोत्तम O Best among men, राघव Oborn in the line of Raghu, राम ORama,पथि on the way, बलाम् Bala, अतिबलां चैव Atibala, पठत: if recited, ते to you, क्षुत्पिपासे hunger or thirst, न भविष्येते will not get.

O Rama, best among men, scion in the line of Raghu, on your way you will not feel hunger or thirst if you recite bala and atibala.
विद्याद्वयमधीयाने यशश्चाप्यतुलं त्वयि।

पितामहसुते ह्येते विद्ये तेजस्समन्विते।।1.22.18।।

प्रदातुं तव काकुत्स्थ सदृशस्त्वं हि धार्मिक।


विद्याद्वयम् these two sciences, अधीयाने when pursued, त्वयि by you, अतुलम् unequalled, यशश्च fame, ककुत्स्थ ORama, born in the line Kakutstha, धार्मिक one who conforms to justice, तेजस्समन्विते both possessed of virtues, पितामहसुते two daughters of grand sire, Brahma, एते विद्ये these sciences, तव to you, प्रदातुम् conferring, त्वम् you, सदृश: fit person.

O Rama, born in the line Kakutstha and one who is righteous, these two radiant sciences are daughters of the grandsire Brahma. If you pursue these two sciences, you will get unequalled fame. You are a fit person to confer these two sciences.
कामं बहुगुणास्सर्वे त्वय्येते नात्र संशय:।

तपसा सम्भृते चैते बहुरूपे भविष्यत:।।1.22.19।।
 

एते बहुगुणा: these many qualities, सर्वे all, कामम् very-well, त्वयि in you, अत्र in this matter, संशय: न no doubt, तपसा with asceticism, सम्भृते nourished, एते these two sciences, बहुरूपे multiple forms, भविष्यत: will assume.

You possess all these qualities in great measure. There is no doubt that If these two sciences (mantras) are nourished with austerities they will assume multiple forms (and benefit you)".
ततो रामो जलं स्पृष्ट्वा प्रहृष्टवदनश्शुचि:।

प्रतिजग्राह ते विद्ये महर्षेर्भावितात्मन:।।1.22.20।।


तत: thereafter, राम: Rama, जलम् water, स्पृष्ट्वा having touched, शुचि: got purified, प्रहृष्टवदन: with happy coutenance, भावितात्मन: one who has perceived the supreme soul, महर्षे: from maharshi, ते विद्ये those two sciences, प्रतिजग्राह received.

Thereafter Rama, touched the water and was sanctified. With a cheerful face he received those two sciences from the maharshi who had perceived the supreme soul.
विद्यासमुदितो रामश्शुशुभे भूरिविक्रम:।

सहस्ररश्मिर्भगवान् शरदीव दिवाकर:।।1.22.21।।

गुरुकार्याणि सर्वाणि नियुज्य कुशिकात्मजे।

ऊषुस्तां रजनीं तत्र सरय्वां सुसुखं त्रय:।।1.22.22।।


भूरिविक्रम: a highly valiant hero, राम: Rama, विद्यासमुदित: possessed of the knowledge of the two sciences, कुशिकात्मजे in the matter of Visvamitra, सर्वाणि all, गुरुकार्याणि services to be rendered in relation to a preceptor, नियुज्य having performed, शरदि like in autumnal season, सहस्ररश्मि: (Sun) emitting thousand rays, भगवान् दिवाकर:इव resembling Sungod, शुशुभे appeared resplendent, त्रय: the three men, तत्र there, सरय्वाम् on the bank of river Sarayu, ससुखम् with great comfort, तां रजनीम् that night, ऊषु: dwelt.
.
Rama, the highly heroic after acquiring knowledge (of the two sciences) and having rendered all services to preceptor Viswamitra, appeared resplendent like the Sungod in autumn. There the three of them spent the night comfortably on the bank of Sarayu.
दशरथनृपसूनुसत्तमाभ्यां

तृणशयनेऽनुचिते सहोषिताभ्याम्।

कुशिकसुतवचोऽनुलालिताभ्यां

सुखमिव सा विबभौ विभावरी च।।1.22.23।।
 

अनुचिते unaccustomed, तृणशयने on the bed of grass, सहोषिताभ्याम् by those two who slept together, कुशिकसुतवचोऽनुलालिताभ्याम् who were put in good humour by the gentle words of Visvamitra, दशरथनृपसूनुसत्तमाभ्याम् by the two eminent sons of Dasaratha (Rama and Lakshmana), सा विभावरी च that night also, सुखमिव as if with comfort, विबभौ occured to their mind.

The night was spent as though with comfort by the two eminent sons of Dasaratha, who shared the unaccustomed bed of grass. They were kept in good humour by the words of Kusika's son.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे द्वाविंशस्सर्ग:।।
Thus ends the twenty second sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.