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[ Accompanied by Rama and Lakshmana, Viswamitra reaches the hermitage of Kama at the confluence of Sarayu and Ganga.]

प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां विश्वामित्रो महामुनि:।

अभ्यभाषत काकुत्स्थौ शयानौ पर्णसंस्तरे।।1.23.1।।


शर्वर्याम् when the night, प्रभातायाम् turned into day break, महामुनि: eminent ascetic, विश्वामित्र: Visvamitra, पर्णसंस्तरे in the bed of leaves, शयानौ lying down, काकुत्स्थौ Rama and Lakshmana, अभ्यभाषत spoke.

When the night turned into daybreak, the eminent ascetic Viswamitra, addressing the descendants of Kakutstha (Rama and Lakshmana) who were lying on a bed of leaves said:
कौसल्या सुप्रजा राम पूर्वा सन्ध्या प्रवर्तते।

उत्तिष्ठ नरशार्दूल कर्तव्यं दैवमाह्निकम्।।1.23.2।।


कैसल्या सुप्रजा: OBeloved son of Kausalya, (a son by whom Kausalya became a blessed mother), राम ORama, पूर्वा सन्ध्या the daybreak, प्रवर्तते is commencing ,नरशार्दूल OBest among men, उत्तिष्ठ awake (fromsleep), दैवम् oblations to gods, आह्निकम् religious rite to be performed every day at a fixed hour, कर्तव्यम् are required to be done.

"O beloved son of Kausalya, O Rama the day dawns. O best among men, awake, oblations to gods and other sacred rites are required to be performed".
तस्यर्षे: परमोदारं वचश्श्रुत्वा नृपात्मजौ ।

स्नात्वा कृतोदकौ वीरौ जेपतु: परमं जपम्।।1.23.3।।


वीरौ endowed with heroism, नृपात्मजौ the two princes, तस्य ऋषे: that rishi's, परमोदारम् highly generous, वच: words, श्रुत्वा having heard, स्नात्वा having bathed, कृतोदकौ offered oblations of waters(to Sungod standing in the water), परमम् holy, जपम् tapa, जेपतु: recited.

On hearing the very affectionate call of Viswamitra both the brave princes had their bath and offered oblations to Sungod (standing in the water) and recited the holy name of the Lord.
कृताह्निकौ महावीर्यौ विश्वामित्रं तपोधनम्।

अभिवाद्याभिसंहृष्टौ गमनायाभितस्थतु:।।1.23.4।।


महावीर्यौ both(brothers)exceedingly powerful, कृताह्निकौ having performed daily rites, अभिसंहृष्टौ highly energetic, तपोधनम् a sage with asceticism as wealth, विश्वामित्रम् Visvamitra, अभिवाद्य having prostrated before him with reverence, गमनाय for their onward journey, अभितस्थतु: both of them stood ready before him.

On performing the morning rites, the two highly powerful and and energetic princes stood before Viswamitra who was richly endowed with asceticism. They prostrated before him. And stood ready for their onward journey.
तौ प्रयातौ महावीर्यौ दिव्यां त्रिपथगां नदीम्।

ददृशाते ततस्तत्र सरय्वास्सङ्गमे शुभे।।1.23.5।।


तत: thereafter, महावीर्यौ तौ those two endowed with great prowess, प्रयातौ (they)having gone a little further, तत्र there, शुभे by the holy, सरय्वा: river Sarayu, सङ्गमे in the confluence (with river Ganga), दिव्यां divine, त्रिपथगां flowing in three branches, नदीम् river, ददृशाते saw.

Thereafter, having gone a little further both the heroic brothers looked at the confluence of holy Sarayu with divine Ganga divided into three branches.
तत्राश्रमपदं पुण्यमृषीणामग्य्रतेजसाम् ।

बहुवर्षसहस्राणि तप्यतां परमं तप:।।1.23.6।।


तत्र there, बहुवर्षसहस्राणि for many thousands of years, परमम् utmost, तप: austerities, तप्यताम् while performing austerities, अग्य्रतेजसाम् sages of topmost vital power, ऋषीणाम् of the anchorites, पुण्यम् sacred, आश्रमपदम् hermitage.

There they saw a sacred hermitage of anchorites of great vitality performing severe austerities for thousands of years.
तं दृष्ट्वा परमप्रीतौ राघवौ पुण्यमाश्रमम्।

ऊचतुस्तं महात्मानं विश्वामित्रमिदं वच:।।1.23.7।।


तम् that, पुण्यम् sacred, आश्रमम् hermitage, दृष्ट्वा having seen, परमप्रीतौ exceedingly delighted, राघवौ the two princes of Raghu race, महात्मानम् illustrious sage, तं विश्वामित्रम् addressing Visvamitra, इदम् वच: these words, ऊचतु: said.

Exceedingly delighted to see the sacred hermitage, the two princes enquired from the illustrious sage Viswamitra:
कस्यायमाश्रम: पुण्य: कोन्वस्मिन्वसते पुमान्।

भगवन् श्रोतुमिच्छाव: परं कौतूहलं हि नौ।।1.23.8।।


भगवन् O Worshipful one, अयम् this, पुण्य:आश्रम: sacred hermitage, कस्य whose, अस्मिन् in this, क: नु who indeed, पुमान् man, वसते lives, श्रोतुम् to hear, इच्छाव: we both are desirous, नौ for both of us, परम् keenly, कौतूहलं हि curiosity.

"O worshipful one, whose sacred hermitage is this? Who lives here? Indeed, we are curious to know".
तयोस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य मुनिपुङ्गव:।

अब्रवीच्छ्रूयतां राम यस्यायं पूर्व आश्रम:।।1.23.9 ।।


मुनिपुङ्गव: the foremost of sages, तयो: theirs, तत् वचनम् those words, श्रुत्वा having heard, प्रहस्य after gently smiling, अब्रवीत् said, पूर्व: in the days past, अयम् आश्रम: this heritage, यस्य whose, श्रूयताम् let it be heard.

On having heard their words, the foremost of sages gently smiled and said, "O Rama listen, who this hermitage belonged to in the past".
कन्दर्पो मूर्तिमानासीत्काम इत्युच्यते बुधै:।

तपस्यन्तमिह स्थाणुं नियमेन समाहितम्।।1.23.10।।

कृतोद्वाहं तु देवेशं गच्छन्तं समरुद्गगणम्।

धर्षयामास दुर्मेधा हुङ्कृतश्च महात्मना।।1.23.11।।


कन्दर्प: Kandarpa also known as Manmatha, मूर्तिमान् incarnated in human form, आसीत् lived, बुधै: by the learned, काम: इति उच्यते is called Kama, दुर्मेधा: foolish minded, इह here, तपस्यन्तम् while doing penance, नियमेन in accordance with rules, समाहितम् absorbed in meditation, कृतोद्वाहम् with his newly wedded wife, समरुद्गगणम् accompanied by maruts, गच्छन्तम् wending his way, देवेशम् lord of deities, स्थाणुम् Siva, धर्षयामास opposed him, महात्मना by Lord Siva, हुङ्कृतश्च roared in menacing sound.

"Kandarpa (the god of love) once lived here in human form. He is called Kama by the learned. The wicked Kama on his way with the maruts (god of wind) insulted Siva, the god of gods, while he was absorbed in austere meditation along with his newly wedded consort. On seeing Kama Lord Siva roared at him (menacingly).
अवदग्धस्य रौद्रेण चक्षुषा रघुनन्दन।

व्यशीर्यन्त शरीरात्स्वात्सर्वगात्राणि दुर्मते:।।1.23.12।।


रघुनन्दन O Descendent of Raghu, रौद्रेण with fierce, चक्षुषा (third)eye, अवदग्धस्य he was burnt down, दुर्मते: of the evil intentioned Kama, स्वात् from his own, शरीरात् body, सर्वगात्राणि all the limbs, व्यशीर्यन्त were consumed.

"O descendant of Raghu, burnt down by his fierce (third) eye, all the limbs of the body of that evilminded Kama were consumed.
तस्य गात्रं हतं तत्र निर्दग्थस्य महात्मना।

अशरीर: कृत: काम: क्रोधाद्देवेश्वरेण हि।।1.23.13।।


महात्मना by that lord Siva, निर्दग्थस्य having burnt down totally, तस्य his, गात्रम् body, तत्र there, हतम् disappeared, देवेश्वरेण by the lord of devatas, क्रोधात् because of wrath, काम: Kama, अशरीर: disembodied, कृत: had been made.

Having been completely burnt down by Lord Siva, Kama's body was destroyed. Mighty angry, Siva, reduced Kama to a 'disembodied being.
अनङ्ग इति विख्यातस्तदाप्रभृति राघव।

स चाङ्गविषयश्श्रीमान्यत्राङ्गं प्रमुमोच ह।।1.23.14।।


राघव O Rama, तदाप्रभृति from that time onwards, अनङ्ग इति as Ananga, विख्यात: had become wellknown, यत्र where, अङ्गम् body, प्रमुमोच ह he gave up, स:च that place, श्रीमान् beautiful, अङ्गविषय: Ananga desa, विख्यात: famed.

O descendant of the Raghus, from that time onwards, he was known as 'Ananga' (one without form). The beautiful place where he gave up his body is known as Angadesa.
तस्यायमाश्रम: पुण्यस्तस्येमे मुनय: पुरा।

शिष्या धर्मपरा नित्यं तेषां पापं न विद्यते।।1.23.15।।


अयम् this, तस्य his, पुण्य: holy, आश्रम: hermitage, पुरा formerly, तस्य his, शिष्या: disciples, इमे मुनय: these ascetics, नित्यम् always, धर्मपरा: righteous, तेषाम् for them, पापम् sin, न विद्यते does not accrue.

This holy hermitage belongs to Kama. These ascetics are his disciples. They are always righteous and are free from sin.
इहाद्य रजनीं राम वसेम शुभदर्शन।

पुण्ययोस्सरितोर्मध्ये श्वस्तरिष्यामहे वयम्।।1.23.16।।


शुभदर्शन OAuspicious looking one, राम Rama, वयम् we, अद्य today, रजनीम् this night, इह here, पुण्ययो: of both the sacred, सरितो: rivers, मध्ये in the midst, वसेम shall stay, श्व: tomorrow, तरिष्यामहे cross over.

O auspiciouslooking Rama, we will stay here tonight at the confluence of both these sacred rivers (Sarayu and Ganga) and cross over Ganga tomorrow.
अभिगच्छामहे सर्वे शुचय: पुण्यमाश्रमम्।

स्नाताश्च कृतजप्याश्च हुतहव्या नरोत्तम।।1.23.17।।


नरोत्तम O Chief of men, सर्वे all of us, स्नाताश्च have taken bath, कृतजप्याश्च have performed Japa (muttering god's sacred name severally), हुतहव्या: offered oblations in fire, शुचय: pure, पुण्यम् pious, आश्रमम् hermitage, अभिगच्छामहे we will enter.

O best of men, after morning ablutions offering oblations to the sacred fire, all of us sanctified will enter this pious hermitage".
तेषां संवदतां तत्र तपोदीर्घेण चक्षुषा।

विज्ञाय परमप्रीता मुनयो हर्षमागमन्।।1.23.18।।


तत्र there, तेषाम् they, संवदताम् were conversing, मुनय: ascetics, तपोदीर्घेण with their far reaching austerities, चक्षुषा vision, विज्ञाय having recognised them, परमप्रीता: immensely pleased, हर्षम् delight, आगमन् obtained.

As they were conversing thus, the ascetics, with their far reaching spiritual vision (beyond the veil of time) recognised them and were immensely pleased.
अर्घ्यं पाद्यं तथाऽतिथ्यं निवेद्य कुशिकात्मजे।

रामलक्ष्मणयो: पश्चादकुर्वन्नतिथिक्रियाम्।।1.23.19।।


अर्घ्यम् respectable offerings, पाद्यम् water for washing feet, तथा and, आतिथ्यम् hospitality, कुशिकात्मजे to Visvamitra, निवेद्य having offered, पश्चात् thereafter, रामलक्ष्मणयो: for Rama and Lakshmana, अतिथिक्रियाम् acts of hospitality, अकुर्वन् performed.

After extending hospitality to the son of Kusika (Viswamitra) with respectful offerings, and water for washing feet they played the host to Rama and Lakshmana.
सत्कारं समनुप्राप्य कथाभिरभिरञ्जयन्।

यथार्हमजपन् सन्ध्यामृषयस्ते समाहिता:।।1.23.20।।


सत्कारम् hospitality, समनुप्राप्य having received, कथाभि: with their conversation, अभिरञ्जयन् delighted, ते ऋषय: those rishis, समाहिता: with composed minds, यथार्हम् in accordance with tradition, सन्ध्याम् evening prayers, अजपन् recited.

Having received due hospitality, they delighted them (ascetics) with their talk. The rishis with composed minds recited their evening prayer as usual.
तत्र वासिभिरानीता मुनिभिस्सुव्रतै: सह।

न्यवसन् सुसुखं तत्र कामाश्रमपदे तदा।।1.23.21।।


तत्र there, वासिभि: by the residents, सुव्रतै: by those faithful to their vows, मुनिभि: ascetics, सह along with them, आनीता: having been brought, तदा then, तत्र there, कामाश्रमपदे in Kama's hermitage, सुसुखम् happily, न्यवसन् dwelt .

The ascetics who resided there, faithful to their vows, took them in. There they staed happily in Kama's hermitage.
कथाभिरभिरामाभिरभिरामौ नृपात्मजौ।

रमयामास धर्मात्मा कौशिको मुनिपुङ्गव:।।1.23.22।।


धर्मात्मा the magnanimous, मुनिपुङ्गव: foremost of ascetics, कौशिक: son of Kusika, अभिरामौ charming, नृपात्मजौ princes, अभिरामाभि: by enchanting, कथाभि: tales, रमयामास delighted them.

Foremost among the ascetics the son of Kusika (Viswamitra) delighted the charming princes with enchanting tales.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे त्रयोविंशस्सर्ग:।।
Thus ends the twentythird sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.