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[ Anshuman brings back the horse.]

पुत्रांश्चिरगतान् ज्ञात्वा सगरो रघुनन्दन।

नप्तारमब्रवीद्राजा दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा।।1.41.1।।


रघुनन्दन O Rama, सगरो राजा king Sagara, पुत्रान् sons, चिरगतान् having gone for a long time, ज्ञात्वा realising, स्वतेजसा by his own lusture, दीप्यमानम् resplendent, नप्तारम् addressing grand son, अब्रवीत् said:

"O Delight of the Raghus, king Sagara, realising that his sons had left long ago said to his grandson Anshuman resplendent with his own lustre:
शूरश्च कृतविद्यश्च पूर्वैस्तुल्योऽसि तेजसा।

पितृ़णां गतिमन्विच्छ येन चाश्वोऽपवाहित:।।1.41.2।।


शूरश्च valiant, कृतविद्यश्च acquired knowledge in various fields, तेजसा by lustre, पूर्वै: with your ancestors, तुल्य: असि you are equal, पितृ़णाम् your ancestors, गतिम् path, अन्विच्छ search, अश्व: horse, येन by whom, अपवाहित: is carried away.

'You are valiant. You have acquired knowledge (in various fields). You are illustrious like your ancestors. Pursue the track taken by your uncles and by the thief who ran away with the horse'.
अन्तर्भौमानि सत्त्वानि वीर्यवन्ति महान्ति च।

तेषां त्वं प्रतिघातार्थं सास्त्रं गृह्णीष्व कार्मुकम्।।1.41.3।।


अन्तर्भौमानि in the depths of earth, सत्त्वानि beings, वीर्यवन्ति possess prowess, महान्ति च are also mighty, त्वम् you, तेषाम् theirs, प्रतिघातार्थम् to destroy, सास्त्रम् with weapons, कार्मुकम् bow, गृह्णीष्व hold.

'Creatures in the depths of the earth are powerful and mighty. Carry with you a bow and weapons to counter their attack'.
अभिवाद्याभिवाद्यांस्त्वं हत्वा विघ्नकरानपि।

सिद्धार्थस्सन्निवर्तस्व मम यज्ञस्य पारग:।।1.41.4।।


त्वम् you, अभिवाद्यान् men who deserve to be honoured, अभिवाद्य after honouring, विघ्नकरान् those causing obstacles to sacrifice, हत्वा by killing, सिद्धार्थ: सन् having accomplished the purpose, मम my, यज्ञस्य sacrifice's, पारग: you ensure completion of my sacrifice, निवर्तस्व come back.

'Honour those who deserve it. Kill those who cause obstacles to sacrifice. Come back with your mission accomplishing. And ensure the (successful) completion of my sacrifice'.
एवमुक्तोंऽशुमान्सम्यक् सगरेण महात्मना।

धनुरादाय खड्गं च जगाम लघुविक्रम:।।1.41.5।।


अंशुमान् Anshuman, महात्मना by the magnanimous, सगरेण Sagara, एवम् in this way, सम्यक् thoroughly, उक्त: spoken, धनु: bow, खड्गं च scimitar, आदाय taking, लघुविक्रम: rapid strides, जगाम had set out.

"Having been throughly instructed by the highsouled Sagara in this way, Anshuman left with rapid strides carrying a scimitar and a bow.
स खातं पितृभिर्मार्गमन्तर्भौमं महात्मभि:।

प्रापद्यत नरश्रेष्ठ तेन राज्ञाऽभिचोदित:।।1.41.6।।


नरश्रेष्ठ O Best among men, स: he, राज्ञा by king, अभिचोदित: directed, महात्मभि: by the noble, पितृभि: uncles, अन्तर्भौमम् in the depths of earth, खातम् dug, मार्गम् path, प्रापद्यत followed.

O Best among men directed by the king (Sagara), Anshuman followed the path taken by his noble uncles into the depths of the earth.
दैत्यदानवरक्षोभि: पिशाचपतगोरगै:।

पूज्यमानं महातेजा दिशागजमपश्यत।।1.41.7।।


महातेजा: exceedingly valiant, दैत्यदानवरक्षोभि: daityas, danavas, rakshasas, पिशाचपतगोरगै: pisachas, birds and serpents, पूज्यमानम् worshipped by, दिशागजम् elephant of the quarter, अपश्यत beheld.

Exceedingly valiant Ashuman beheld the elephant of the quarter worshipped by daityas, danavas, rakshasas, pisachas, birds and serpents.
स तं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा पृष्ट्वा चापि निरामयम्।

पितृ़न् स परिपप्रच्छ वाजिहर्तारमेव च।।1.41.8।।


स: he, तं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा having circumambulated that elephant, निरामयम् wellbeing, पृष्ट्वा चापि having enquired, पितृ़न् about the younger brothers of his father, वाजिहर्तारमेव च about the person who had stolen the sacrificial horse, परिपप्रच्छ enquired.

Having circumambulated the elephant, he (Anshuman) enquired about his wellbeing, the where abouts of his uncles and also about the one who had stolen the sacrificial horse.
दिशागजस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा प्रत्याहांशुमतो वच:।

आसमञ्ज कृतार्थस्त्वं सहाश्वश्शीघ्रमेष्यसि।।1.41.9।।


दिशागजस्तु elephant of the quarter, अंशुमत: Anshman's, तत् वचः those words, श्रुत्वा having listened to, प्रत्याह replied, आसमञ्ज O Son of Asamanjasa, Anshuman, त्वं you, कृतार्थ: having gained the object, सहाश्व: with horse, श्रीघ्रम् soon, एष्यसि will go (back).

Having listened to the words of Anshuman the elephant of the quarter replied, 'O
Anshuman, son of Asamanjasa having fulfilled your objective, you will go back soon with the horse'.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वानेव दिशागजान्।

यथाक्रमं यथान्यायं प्रष्टुं समुपचक्रमे।।1.41.10।।


तस्य his (elephant's), तत् वचनम् those words, श्रुत्वा having listened to, सर्वानेव all of them, दिशागजान् elephants of the quarters, यथाक्रमम् successively, यथान्यायम् with due respect, प्रष्टुम् to enquire, उपचक्रमे commenced.

Having listened to the words of the elephant, Anshuman started enquring the well being of each of the guardians (elephants) of the quarters successively with due respect:
तैश्च सर्वैर्दिशापालैर्वाक्यज्ञैर्वाक्यकोविदै:।

पूजितस्सहयश्चैव गन्ताऽसीत्यभिचोदित:।।1.41.11।।


वाक्यज्ञै: knowers of essence of words, वाक्यकोविदै: proficient in the application of words, सर्वै: by all, तै: दिशापालै: by those mighty elephants, पूजित: honoured, सहय: with the horse, गन्तासि इति you will go back, अभिचोदित: was directed.

All those elephants of the quarters were knowers of the essence of words and proficient in the right use of words. Treating him kindly the elephants encouraged him saying, 'You will go back with the horse'.
तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा जगाम लघुविक्रम:।

भस्मराशीकृता यत्र पितरस्तस्य सागरा:।।1.41.12।।


तेषाम् their, तद्वचनम् those words, श्रुत्वा having heard, लघुविक्रम: with quick paces, तस्य his, पितर: younger brothers of his father, सागरा: sons of Sagara, यत्र where, भस्मराशीकृता: were reduced into heaps of ashes, जगाम had gone.

Hearing their words with a quick pace where he reached the place his uncles, sons of Sagara were reduced to heaps of ashes.
स दु:खवशमापन्नस्त्वसमञ्जसुतस्तदा।

चुक्रोश परमार्तस्तु वधात्तेषां सुदु:खित:।।1.41.13।।


तदा then, स: he, असमञ्जसुत: son of Asamanjasa, दु:खवशम् possessed by grief, आपन्न: having reached, परमार्त: greatly distressed, तेषाम् their, वधात् by destruction, सुदु:खित: greatly grieved, चुक्रोश cried out.

Then the son of Asamanjasa, overwhelmed with sorrow and deeply distressed at their destruction, bewailed with great grief.
यज्ञीयं च हयं तत्र चरन्तमविदूरत:।

ददर्श पुरुषव्याघ्रो दु:खशोकसमन्वित:।।1.41.14।।


दु:खशोकसमन्वित: possessed by grief and sorrow, पुरुषव्याघ्र: that tiger like brave one among men, अविदूरत: nearby, चरन्तम् grazing, यज्ञीयम् sacrificial, हयम् horse, ददर्श beheld.

Possessed by grief and tears, Anshuman, that tiger among men, beheld the sacrificial horse grazing nearby.
स तेषां राजपुत्राणां कर्तुकामो जलक्रियाम् ।

सलिलार्थी महातेजा न चापश्यज्जलाशयम् ।।1.41.15।।


महातेजा: highly lustrous, स: he, तेषाम् for those, राजपुत्राणाम् princes, जलक्रियाम् presenting libations of waters (to the manes of the deceased), कर्तुकाम: with intention of doing, सलिलार्थी seeking water, जलाशयम् reservoir of water, न च अपश्यत् could not see.

With the intention of performing traditional funeral rites with water for the deceased princes, highly lustrous Anshuman looked around for water but could not see any
reservoir of water (in the neighbourhood).
विसार्य निपुणां दृष्टिं ततोऽपश्यत्खगाधिपम् ।

पितृ़णां मातुलं राम सुपर्णमनिलोपमम्।।1.41.16।।


राम O Rama, तत: afterwards, निपुणाम् intelligent, दृष्टिम् glances, विसार्य extending, पितृ़णाम् uncles', मातुलम् maternal uncle, खगाधिपम् lord of the eagles, अनिलोपमम् resembling wind in swiftness, सुपर्णम् Garuda (brother of Suparna, the mother of princes), अपश्यत् beheld.

O Rama with his keen eyes, he (Anshuman) marked Suparna, the maternal uncle of his uncles, lord of the eagles (Garuda) bestowed with the swiftness of the wind.
स चैवमब्रवीद्वाक्यं वैनतेयो महाबल :।

मा शुच: पुरुषव्याघ्र वधोऽयं लोकसम्मत:।।1.41.17।।


महाबल: highly powerful, स: वैनतेय: Garuda, son of Vinata, (एनम् addressing him), वाक्यम् words, एवं thus, अब्रवीत् said, पुरुषव्याघ्र O Tiger among men, मा शुच: do not grieve, अयं वध: this act of assasination, लोकसम्मत: is aimed for the welfare of the three worlds.

Highly powerful Garuda, son of Vinata, addressing Anshuman said 'O Tiger among men do not grieve. This act of assasination is meant for the welfare of the three worlds'.
कपिलेनाप्रमेयेन दग्धा हीमे महाबला:।

सलिलं नार्हसि प्राज्ञ दातुमेषां हि लौकिकम्।।1.41.18।।


महाबला: highly valiant, इमे these, अप्रमेयेन by one who has boundless power, कपिलेन by Kapila, दग्धा: हि have been burnt indeed, प्राज्ञ O Sagacious one, लौकिकम् worldly (ordinary), सलिलम् water, दातुम् to offer, नार्हसि is not proper on your part.

'Your valiant uncles have been burnt by Kapila of boundless power. O Sagcious one performing traditional rites with ordinary water is not proper'.
गङ्गा हिमवतो ज्येष्ठा दुहिता पुरुषर्षभ।

तस्यां कुरु महाबाहो पितृ़णां तु जलक्रियाम्।।1.41.19।।


पुरुषर्षभ O Best among men, हिमवत: Himavan's, ज्येष्ठा eldest daughter, गङ्गा Ganga, महाबाहो O Mighty armed one, पितृ़णाम् yours uncles', जलक्रियाम् traditional rites with water, तस्याम् in her (those waters), कुरु perform.

'O Best among men O Mightyarmed one perform the traditional rites of your uncles with water from river Ganga, the eldest daughter of Himavat'.
भस्मराशीकृतानेतान् प्लावयेल्लोकपावनी।

तया क्लिन्नमिदं भस्म गङ्गया लोककान्तया।।1.41.20।।

षष्टिं पुत्रसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोकं च नेष्यति।


लोकपावनी purifier of the three worlds, that Ganga, भस्मराशीकृतान् reduced to heaps of ash, एतान् these, प्लावयेत् will sanctify, लोककान्तया by the beloved one of the world, तया गङ्गया by that Ganga, क्लिन्नम् inundated, इदं भस्म these heaps of ash, षष्टिं पुत्रसहस्राणि sixty thousand sons, स्वर्गलोकम् heavens च नेष्यति will take also.

Ganga, the purifier of the three worlds, will sanctify your uncles reduced to heaps of ashes. These heaps when inundated by waters of Ganga, beloved of the worlds, will take all the sixty thousand sons to heaven.
गच्छ चाश्वं महाभाग तं गृह्य पुरुषर्षभ।।1.41.21।।

यज्ञं पैतामहं वीर संवर्तयितुमर्हसि।


महाभाग O Highly fortunate one, पुरुषर्षभ O Best among men, तम् अश्वम् that horse, गृह्य taking, गच्छ go back, वीर O hero, पैतामहम् grand father's, यज्ञम् sacrifice, संवर्तयितुम् to complete, अर्हसि it behoves of you.

'O Highly fortunate one O Best among men go back with that horse. O Hero It
behoves of you to complete the sacrifice undertaken by your grandfather'.
सुपर्णवचनं श्रुत्वा सोंऽशुमानतिवीर्यवान् ।।1.41.22।।

त्वरितं हयमादाय पुनरायान्महायशा:।


अतिवीर्यवान् exceedingly powerful, महायशा: highly renowned, अंशुमान् Anshuman, सुपर्णवचनम् words of Suparna, श्रुत्वा having heard, त्वरितम् quickly, हयम् horse, आदाय taking hold of, पुन: again, आयात् returned.

Exceedingly powerful and highly renowned Anshuman, on hearing the words of Garuda returned quickly to the capital with the horse৷৷
ततो राजानमासाद्य दीक्षितं रघुनन्दन।।1.41.23।।

न्यवेदयद्यथावृत्तं सुपर्णवचनं तथा।


रघुनन्दन O Rama, दीक्षितम् one who is initiated into ceremony, राजानम् king, आसाद्य having reached, यथावृत्तम् in conformity with what had happened, तथा faithfully, सुपर्णवचनम् words of Suparna, न्यवेदयत् communicated.

O Descendant of the Raghus (Rama), having reached the king who had been initiated into the ceremony, Anshuman communicated faithfully to him all that had happened. He also reported the words Suparna had said.
तच्छ्रुत्वा घोरसङ्काशं वाक्यमंशुमतो नृप:।।1.41.24।।

यज्ञं निवर्तयामास यथाकल्पं यथाविधि।


नृप: king, अंशुमत: Anshuman's, घोरसङ्काशम् aweful, वाक्यम् words, श्रुत्वा having heard, यथाकल्पम् in accordance with rules of Kalpa, the vedanga, यथाविधि in accordance with the scriptures and tradition, यज्ञम् sacrifice ,निवर्तयामास performed.

The king heard (was stunned to hear) the awful words of Anshuman, (yet) he
performed the sacrifice in accordance with traditional scriptures and Kalpa, the
Vedanga.
स्वपुरं चागमच्छ्रीमानिष्टयज्ञोमहीपति:।।1.41.25।।

गङ्गायाश्चागमे राजा निश्चयं नाध्यगच्छत।


श्रीमान् auspicious, महीपति: lord of earth, king Sagara, इष्टयज्ञ: had completed the performance of the sacrifice, स्वपुरम् to his own capital, आगमत् reached, राजा king, गङ्गाया: Ganga, आगमे in the matter of descent, निश्चयम् decision, नाध्यगच्छत did not arrive (at any).

The great lord of the earth (king Sagara) after performing the sacrifice reached his capital. (But) He could not devise any means to bring Ganga down to the earth.
अकृत्वा निश्चयं राजा कालेन महता महान् ।

त्रिंशद्वर्षसहस्राणि राज्यं कृत्वा दिवं गत:।।1.41.26।।


महान् mighty, राजा king, महता कालेन for a long time, निश्चयं अकृत्वा without arriving at any decision (in the matter of bringing Ganga down to earth), त्रिंशद्वर्षसहस्राणि thirty thousand years, राज्यम् kingdom, कृत्वा having ruled, दिवं गत: ascended heaven.

The mighty king (Sagara), over a long period of time without being able to devise means (to bring Ganga down to the earth), ruled the kingdom for thirty thousand years and ascended to heaven".
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे एकचत्वारिंशस्सर्ग:।।
Thus ends the fortyfirst sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.