Sloka & Translation

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[On king Dasaratha's refusal to accede to his request, Viswamitra gets enraged.]

tacchrutvā vacanaṅ tasya snēhaparyākulākṣaram.

samanyu: kauśikō vākyaṅ pratyuvāca mahīpatim৷৷1.21.1৷৷


tasya king Dasaratha's, snēhaparyākulākṣaram affection-filled confused letters, tat vacanam those words, śrutvā having heard, kauśika: Visvamitra, samanyu: with anger, mahīpatim addressing the king, vākyam words, pratyuvāca replied.

Out of affection towards his son, his (king Dasaratha's) plea to Viswamitra was full of contradiction. And on hearing the king, enraged Viswamitra replied:
pūrvamarthaṅ pratiśrutya pratijñāṅ hātumicchasi.

rāghavāṇāmayuktō.yaṅ kulasyāsya viparyaya:৷৷1.21.2৷৷


pūrvam formerly, artham object or thing, pratiśrutya having promised, pratijñām that promise, hātum to break, icchasi your are desirous, ayaṅ viparyaya: in contrariety (breach of vow), rāghavāṇām Raghu's, asya kulasya in the race of, ayukta: improper.

yadīdaṅ tē kṣamaṅ rājan! gamiṣyāmi yathā.gatam.

mithyāpratijña: kākutstha! sukhībhava sabāndhava:৷৷1.21.3৷৷


rājan O! King, idam this act of yours, tē to you, kṣamaṅ yadi if appropriate, yathā.gatam from where I have come, gamiṣyāmi I shall go, kākutstha O!Scion of the race of Kakutstha, mithyāpratijña: proving false to your promise, sabāndhava: along with your relatives, sukhībhava be happy.

O king, if this act of yours is appropriate to you, I will go back (to the places) where from I came. O scion of the race of kakutstha, you have proved false to your promise. Live happily with your relatives".
tasya rōṣaparītasya viśvāmitrasya dhīmata:.

cacāla vasudhā kṛtsnā vivēśa ca bhayaṅ surān৷৷1.21.4৷৷


dhīmata: of the wise, tasya viśvāmitrasya that Visvamitra's, rōṣaparītasya seized of wrath, kṛtsnā entire, vasudhā earth, cacāla had shaken, surān devatas, bhayam fear, vivēśa gripped.

At the sight of the wise sage Viswamitra seized of wrath, the entire earth shook and devatas were gripped in fear.
trastarūpaṅ tu vijñāya jagatsarvaṅ mahānṛṣi:.

nṛpatiṅ suvratō dhīrō vasiṣṭhō vākyamabravīt৷৷1.21.5৷৷


suvrata: adherent of ascetic practices, dhīra: stead-fast in his duty, mahān ṛṣi: great Rishi, vasiṣṭha: Vasishta, sarvam jagat entire world, trastarūpam freightened form, vijñāya knowing, nṛpatim addressing the king, vākyam these words, abravīt said:

Great Vasishta, an adherent of ascetic practices and steadfast (to duty), seeing that the entire world frightened addressed the king, saying:
ikṣvākūṇāṅ kulē jātassākṣāddharma ivāpara:.

dhṛtimān suvrata: śrīmānnadharmaṅ hātumarhasi৷৷1.21.6৷৷


ikṣvākūṇāṅ kulē in the line of Ikshvaku, jāta: born, sākṣāt truely, apara: another, dharma: iva god of righteousness (personified), dhṛtimān firm, suvrata: observing excellent vows, śrīmān auspicious one, dharmam virtuousness, hātum to abandon, na arhasi you are not fit.

"Born in the line of Ikshvaku, you are a veritable the second god of righteousness, firm adherent of vows auspicious and virtuous. It is not right on your part to abandon your
promise.
triṣu lōkēṣu vikhyātō dharmātmā iti rāghava.

svadharmaṅ pratipadyasva nādharmaṅ vōḍhumarhasi৷৷1.21.7৷৷


rāghava O! Dasaratha, dharmātmā iti as righteous-minded, triṣu lōkēṣu in three worlds, vikhyāta:, reputed, svadharmam your own duty, pratipadyasva observe, adharmam unjust act, vōḍhum to endure, na arhasi not worthy of you.

O Dasaratha! you are reputed in the three worlds as righteous-minded. Do your own
duty. Do not follow an unjust act which is unworthy of respect.
saṅśrutyaivaṅ kariṣyāmītyakurvāṇasya rāghava.

iṣṭāpūrtavadhō bhūyāttasmādrāmaṅ visarjaya৷৷1.21.8৷৷


rāghava O! Dasaratha, ēvaṅ kariṣyāmi iti I shall do so, saṅśrutya having promised, akurvāṇasya for one who does not fulfill, iṣṭāpūrtavadha: bhūyāt destruction of merits earned through pious acts of sacrifice and other charitable acts, tasmāt for that reason, rāmam Rama, visarjaya send him.

O Dasaratha, a promise made and not kept amounts to destruction of merits earned through previous pieties. Therefore send Rama (with him).
kṛtāstramakṛtāstraṅ vā nainaṅ śakṣyanti rākṣasā:.

guptaṅ kuśikaputrēṇa jvalanēnāmṛtaṅ yathā৷৷1.21.9৷৷


kṛtāstram trained in the use of arms, akṛtāstraṅ vā or untrained, kuśikaputrēṇa by Viswamitra, guptam protected, ēnam this Rama, jvalanēna by flaming fire, amṛtaṅ yathā like divine nectar, rākṣasā: rakshasas, na śakṣyanti will not be able to compete.

Trained or not in the use of arms, as long as Rama is protected by Viswamitra, just as nectar is protected by the flaming fire-god rakshasas will not be able to compete with him.
ēṣa vigrahavān dharma ēṣa vīryavatāṅ vara:.

ēṣa budhyā.dhikō lōkē tapasaśca parāyaṇam৷৷1.21.10৷৷


ēṣa: Visvamitra, vigrahavān embodiment, dharma: righteousness, ēṣa: Visvamitra, vīryavatām of those possessing prowess, vara: excellent, ēṣa: Visvamitra, budhyā in intellect, lōkē in this world, adhika: surpasses, tapasa: in asceticism, parāyaṇam last resort (supreme refuge).

This (Viswamitra) is an embodiment of righteousness and unsurpassed among the powerful. None can excel him in intellect in this world. He is the supreme refuge in
austerity.
ēṣō.strān vividhānvētti trailōkyē sacarācarē.

nainamanya: pumānvētti na ca vētsyanti kēcana৷৷1.21.11৷৷


ēṣa: this one, vividhān various kinds of, astrān weapons, vētti knows, sacarācarē among all animate and inanimate beings, trailōkyē in three words, anya: pumān no other man, ēnaṅ na vētti does not know him, kēcana none, na vētsyanti are not going to know about him in future.

This Viswamitra knows the use of various kinds of weapons which no one knows among the animate and the inanimate in the three worlds. Nor will any one even know in future.
na dēvā narṣaya: kēcinnāsurā na ca rākṣasā:.

gandharvayakṣapravarāssakinnaramahōragā:৷৷1.21.12৷৷


dēvā: devatas, na(vētsyanti) will not be able to know how to use weapons, ṛṣaya: rishis, kēcit na none knows, asurā: nor asuras, rākṣasā: na nor rakshasas, sakinnaramahōragā: along with kinnaras or mighty serpants, gandharvayakṣapravarā: nor gandharvas nor best of yakshas.

No gods nor sages nor asuras in rakshasas nor kinnaras nor mighty serpents nor
gandharvas nor the best of yakshas (will be able to know);
sarvāstrāṇi bhṛśāśvasya putrā: paramadhārmikā:.

kauśikāya purā dattā yadā rājyaṅ praśāsati৷৷1.21.13৷৷


bhṛśāśvasya Bhrisasva's, paramadhārmikā: highly virtuous, putrā: sons, sarvāstrāṇi they also, yadā when, purā formerly, rājyam kingdom, praśāsati ruling, kauśikāya for Viswamitra, dattā: were given.

All these weapons were given to Viswamitra by Bhrisasva's highly virtuous sons while
he was ruling the kingdom.
tē.pi putrā bhṛśāśvasya prajāpatisutāsutā:.

naikarūpā mahāvīryā dīptimantō jayāvahā:৷৷1.21.14৷৷


prajāpatisutāsutā: grand sons of Prajapati, bhṛśāśvasya Bhrisasva's, putrā: sons, tē.pi as the weapons, naikarūpā: of diverse forms, mahāvīryā: highly energetic, dīptimanta: full of glory, jayāvahā: bring victory.

Grandsons (daughter's sons) of Prajapati, they (these weapons) are in diverse forms, highly energetic and full of glory they bring victory.
jayā ca suprabhā caiva dakṣakanyē sumadhyamē.

tē suvātē.straśastrāṇi śataṅ paramabhāsvaram৷৷1.21.15৷৷


jayā ca Jaya, suprabhā ca and Suprabha, sumadhyamē of slender waists, dakṣakanyē the two daughters of Daksha, tē they, astraśastrāṇām of Astras and Shastras(weapons for striking and throwing arms and missiles), paramabhāsvaram effulgent, śatam one hundred, suvātē gave birth
to sons (named as Samharas).

Jaya and Suprabha of slender waists are the two daughters of Daksha. They gave birth to one hundred effulgent sons known as astras and shastras.
pañcāśataṅ sutān lēbhē jayā nāma parān purā.

vadhāyāsurasainyānāmamēyān kāmarūpiṇa:৷৷1.21.16৷৷


purā formerly, jayā nāma named Jaya, asurasainyānām for asura army, vadhāya for the destruction, amēyān immeasurable prowess, kāmarūpiṇa: possessing power of changing forms at free will, varān boon, pañcāśatam fifty, sutān sons, lēbhē obtained.

Formerly Jaya, for the destruction of the army of asuras gave birth to fifty sons by virtue of a boon. They possess immeasurable power of changing forms at will.
suprabhā.janayaccāpi putrānpañcāśataṅ puna:.

saṅhārānnāmadurdharṣān durākrāmān balīyasa:৷৷1.21.17৷৷


suprabhāpi Suprabha also, durdharṣān unassailable, durākramān invincible, balīyasa: morepowerful, saṅhārān nāma Samhara by name puna: still, pañcāśatam fifty, putrān sons, ajanayat gave birth.

Suprabha gave birth to another fifty sons named Samharas who are unassailable, invincible and more powerful.
tāni cāstrāṇi vēttyēṣa yathāvatkuśikātmaja:.

apūrvāṇāṅ ca jananē śaktō bhūyassa dharmavit৷৷1.21.18৷৷


ēṣa: kuśikātmaja: this Visvamitra, tāni astrāṇi these weapons, yathāvat very well, vētti knows, dharmavit virtuous, sa: bhūya: he also, apūrvāṇām of new weapons, jananē ca in creation, śakta: capable.

Viswamitra is well conversant with these weapons. Being virtuous, he is capable of creating new weapons also.
ēvaṅ vīryō mahātējā viśvāmitrō mahāyaśāḥ.

na rāmagamanē rājan! saṅśayaṅ kartumarhasi৷৷1.21.19৷৷


mahātējā: highly effulgent, mahāyaśā: highly renowned, viśvāmitra: Visvamitra, ēvaṅ vīrya: has such prowess, rājan O! King, rāmagamanē to send Rama, saṅśayam doubt, kartum to entertain, nārhasi it is not proper for you.

Such is the prowess of Viswamitra who is a highly effulgent and highly renowned sage. O King! in sending Rama, you need not entertain any doubt.
tēṣāṅ nigrahaṇē śaktassvayaṅ ca kuśikātmaja:.

tava putrahitārthāya tvāmupētyābhiyācatē৷৷1.21.20৷৷


kuśikātmaja: son of Kusika, svayaṅ ca by himself, tēṣām of those rakhsasas, nigrahaṇē in repressing, śakta: capable, tava your, putrahitārthāya welfare of your son, tvām you, upētya having reached, abhi yācatē begs.

Son of Kusika, even though capable of repressing those rakhsasas by himself, it is for the welfare of your son that he is here requesting you to spare him".
iti munivacanātprasannacittō

raghuvṛṣabhastu mumōda bhāsvarāṅga:.

gamanamabhirurōca rāghavasya

prathitayaśā: kuśikātmajāya budhyā৷৷1.21.21৷৷


raghuvṛṣabha: the foremost of Raghus, iti in this manner, munivacanāt by the words of sage Vasishta, prasannacitta: with composed mind, bhāsvarāṅga: has a shining body, mumōda well pleased, prathitayaśā: one with manifested fame, kuśikātmajāya for Visvamitra, rāghavasya gamanam for taking Rama, budhyā with his mind, abhirurōca consented.

Satisfied in his mind at the words of the sage (Vasishta), the full one among the Raghus' (Dasaratha) one with wide reputation, his frame shining gave his cheerful
consent to the son of Kusika for Rama's departure.
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē ēkaviṅśassarga:৷৷
Thus ends the twentyfirst sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.