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[ Anshuman brings back the horse.]

putrāṅściragatān jñātvā sagarō raghunandana.

naptāramabravīdrājā dīpyamānaṅ svatējasā৷৷1.41.1৷৷


raghunandana O! Rama, sagarō rājā king Sagara, putrān sons, ciragatān having gone for a long time, jñātvā realising, svatējasā by his own lusture, dīpyamānam resplendent, naptāram addressing grand son, abravīt 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:
śūraśca kṛtavidyaśca pūrvaistulyō.si tējasā.

pitṛṇāṅ gatimanviccha yēna cāśvō.pavāhita:৷৷1.41.2৷৷


śūraśca valiant, kṛtavidyaśca acquired knowledge in various fields, tējasā by lustre, pūrvai: with your ancestors, tulya: asi you are equal, pitṛṇām your ancestors, gatim path, anviccha search, aśva: horse, yēna by whom, apavāhita: 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'.
antarbhaumāni sattvāni vīryavanti mahānti ca.

tēṣāṅ tvaṅ pratighātārthaṅ sāstraṅ gṛhṇīṣva kārmukam৷৷1.41.3৷৷


antarbhaumāni in the depths of earth, sattvāni beings, vīryavanti possess prowess, mahānti ca are also mighty, tvam you, tēṣām theirs, pratighātārtham to destroy, sāstram with weapons, kārmukam bow, gṛhṇīṣva hold.

'Creatures in the depths of the earth are powerful and mighty. Carry with you a bow and weapons to counter their attack'.
abhivādyābhivādyāṅstvaṅ hatvā vighnakarānapi.

siddhārthassannivartasva mama yajñasya pāraga:৷৷1.41.4৷৷


tvam you, abhivādyān men who deserve to be honoured, abhivādya after honouring, vighnakarān those causing obstacles to sacrifice, hatvā by killing, siddhārtha: san having accomplished the purpose, mama my, yajñasya sacrifice's, pāraga: you ensure completion of my sacrifice, nivartasva 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'.
ēvamuktōṅ.śumānsamyak sagarēṇa mahātmanā.

dhanurādāya khaḍgaṅ ca jagāma laghuvikrama:৷৷1.41.5৷৷


aṅśumān Anshuman, mahātmanā by the magnanimous, sagarēṇa Sagara, ēvam in this way, samyak thoroughly, ukta: spoken, dhanu: bow, khaḍgaṅ ca scimitar, ādāya taking, laghuvikrama: rapid strides, jagāma had set out.

"Having been throughly instructed by the high-souled Sagara in this way, Anshuman left with rapid strides carrying a scimitar and a bow.
sa khātaṅ pitṛbhirmārgamantarbhaumaṅ mahātmabhi:.

prāpadyata naraśrēṣṭha tēna rājñā.bhicōdita:৷৷1.41.6৷৷


naraśrēṣṭha O! Best among men, sa: he, rājñā by king, abhicōdita: directed, mahātmabhi: by the noble, pitṛbhi: uncles, antarbhaumam in the depths of earth, khātam dug, mārgam path, prāpadyata 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.
daityadānavarakṣōbhi: piśācapatagōragai:.

pūjyamānaṅ mahātējā diśāgajamapaśyata৷৷1.41.7৷৷


mahātējā: exceedingly valiant, daityadānavarakṣōbhi: daityas, danavas, rakshasas, piśācapatagōragai: pisachas, birds and serpents, pūjyamānam worshipped by, diśāgajam elephant of the quarter, apaśyata beheld.

Exceedingly valiant Ashuman beheld the elephant of the quarter worshipped by daityas, danavas, rakshasas, pisachas, birds and serpents.
sa taṅ pradakṣiṇaṅ kṛtvā pṛṣṭvā cāpi nirāmayam.

pitṛn sa paripapraccha vājihartāramēva ca৷৷1.41.8৷৷


sa: he, taṅ pradakṣiṇaṅ kṛtvā having circumambulated that elephant, nirāmayam well-being, pṛṣṭvā cāpi having enquired, pitṛn about the younger brothers of his father, vājihartāramēva ca about the person who had stolen the sacrificial horse, paripapraccha enquired.

Having circumambulated the elephant, he (Anshuman) enquired about his well-being, the where abouts of his uncles and also about the one who had stolen the sacrificial horse.
diśāgajastu tacchrutvā pratyāhāṅśumatō vaca:.

āsamañja kṛtārthastvaṅ sahāśvaśśīghramēṣyasi৷৷1.41.9৷৷


diśāgajastu elephant of the quarter, aṅśumata: Anshman's, tat vacaḥ those words, śrutvā having listened to, pratyāha replied, āsamañja O! Son of Asamanjasa, Anshuman, tvaṅ you, kṛtārtha: having gained the object, sahāśva: with horse, śrīghram soon, ēṣyasi 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'.
tasya tadvacanaṅ śrutvā sarvānēva diśāgajān.

yathākramaṅ yathānyāyaṅ praṣṭuṅ samupacakramē৷৷1.41.10৷৷


tasya his (elephant's), tat vacanam those words, śrutvā having listened to, sarvānēva all of them, diśāgajān elephants of the quarters, yathākramam successively, yathānyāyam with due respect, praṣṭum to enquire, upacakramē 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:
taiśca sarvairdiśāpālairvākyajñairvākyakōvidai:.

pūjitassahayaścaiva gantā.sītyabhicōdita:৷৷1.41.11৷৷


vākyajñai: knowers of essence of words, vākyakōvidai: proficient in the application of words, sarvai: by all, tai: diśāpālai: by those mighty elephants, pūjita: honoured, sahaya: with the horse, gantāsi iti you will go back, abhicōdita: 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'.
tēṣāṅ tadvacanaṅ śrutvā jagāma laghuvikrama:.

bhasmarāśīkṛtā yatra pitarastasya sāgarā:৷৷1.41.12৷৷


tēṣām their, tadvacanam those words, śrutvā having heard, laghuvikrama: with quick paces, tasya his, pitara: younger brothers of his father, sāgarā: sons of Sagara, yatra where, bhasmarāśīkṛtā: were reduced into heaps of ashes, jagāma 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.
sa du:khavaśamāpannastvasamañjasutastadā.

cukrōśa paramārtastu vadhāttēṣāṅ sudu:khita:৷৷1.41.13৷৷


tadā then, sa: he, asamañjasuta: son of Asamanjasa, du:khavaśam possessed by grief, āpanna: having reached, paramārta: greatly distressed, tēṣām their, vadhāt by destruction, sudu:khita: greatly grieved, cukrōśa cried out.

Then the son of Asamanjasa, overwhelmed with sorrow and deeply distressed at their destruction, bewailed with great grief.
yajñīyaṅ ca hayaṅ tatra carantamavidūrata:.

dadarśa puruṣavyāghrō du:khaśōkasamanvita:৷৷1.41.14৷৷


du:khaśōkasamanvita: possessed by grief and sorrow, puruṣavyāghra: that tiger like brave one among men, avidūrata: nearby, carantam grazing, yajñīyam sacrificial, hayam horse, dadarśa beheld.

Possessed by grief and tears, Anshuman, that tiger among men, beheld the sacrificial horse grazing nearby.
sa tēṣāṅ rājaputrāṇāṅ kartukāmō jalakriyām .

salilārthī mahātējā na cāpaśyajjalāśayam ৷৷1.41.15৷৷


mahātējā: highly lustrous, sa: he, tēṣām for those, rājaputrāṇām princes, jalakriyām presenting libations of waters (to the manes of the deceased), kartukāma: with intention of doing, salilārthī seeking water, jalāśayam reservoir of water, na ca apaśyat 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).
visārya nipuṇāṅ dṛṣṭiṅ tatō.paśyatkhagādhipam .

pitṛṇāṅ mātulaṅ rāma! suparṇamanilōpamam৷৷1.41.16৷৷


rāma O! Rama, tata: afterwards, nipuṇām intelligent, dṛṣṭim glances, visārya extending, pitṛṇām uncles', mātulam maternal uncle, khagādhipam lord of the eagles, anilōpamam resembling wind in swiftness, suparṇam Garuda (brother of Suparna, the mother of princes), apaśyat 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.
sa caivamabravīdvākyaṅ vainatēyō mahābala :.

mā śuca: puruṣavyāghra! vadhō.yaṅ lōkasammata:৷৷1.41.17৷৷


mahābala: highly powerful, sa: vainatēya: Garuda, son of Vinata, (ēnam addressing him), vākyam words, ēvaṅ thus, abravīt said, puruṣavyāghra O! Tiger among men, mā śuca: do not grieve, ayaṅ vadha: this act of assasination, lōkasammata: 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'.
kapilēnāpramēyēna dagdhā hīmē mahābalā:.

salilaṅ nārhasi prājña dātumēṣāṅ hi laukikam৷৷1.41.18৷৷


mahābalā: highly valiant, imē these, apramēyēna by one who has boundless power, kapilēna by Kapila, dagdhā: hi have been burnt indeed, prājña O! Sagacious one, laukikam worldly (ordinary), salilam water, dātum to offer, nārhasi 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'.
gaṅgā himavatō jyēṣṭhā duhitā puruṣarṣabha!.

tasyāṅ kuru mahābāhō! pitṛṇāṅ tu jalakriyām৷৷1.41.19৷৷


puruṣarṣabha O! Best among men, himavata: Himavan's, jyēṣṭhā eldest daughter, gaṅgā Ganga, mahābāhō O! Mighty armed one, pitṛṇām yours uncles', jalakriyām traditional rites with water, tasyām in her (those waters), kuru perform.

'O Best among men! O Mighty-armed one! perform the traditional rites of your uncles with water from river Ganga, the eldest daughter of Himavat'.
bhasmarāśīkṛtānētān plāvayēllōkapāvanī.

tayā klinnamidaṅ bhasma gaṅgayā lōkakāntayā৷৷1.41.20৷৷

ṣaṣṭiṅ putrasahasrāṇi svargalōkaṅ ca nēṣyati.


lōkapāvanī purifier of the three worlds, that Ganga, bhasmarāśīkṛtān reduced to heaps of ash, ētān these, plāvayēt will sanctify, lōkakāntayā by the beloved one of the world, tayā gaṅgayā by that Ganga, klinnam inundated, idaṅ bhasma these heaps of ash, ṣaṣṭiṅ putrasahasrāṇi sixty thousand sons, svargalōkam heavens ca nēṣyati 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.
gaccha cāśvaṅ mahābhāga taṅ gṛhya puruṣarṣabha!৷৷1.41.21৷৷

yajñaṅ paitāmahaṅ vīra saṅvartayitumarhasi.


mahābhāga O! Highly fortunate one, puruṣarṣabha O! Best among men, tam aśvam that horse, gṛhya taking, gaccha go back, vīra O! hero, paitāmaham grand father's, yajñam sacrifice, saṅvartayitum to complete, arhasi 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'.
suparṇavacanaṅ śrutvā sōṅ.śumānativīryavān ৷৷1.41.22৷৷

tvaritaṅ hayamādāya punarāyānmahāyaśā:.


ativīryavān exceedingly powerful, mahāyaśā: highly renowned, aṅśumān Anshuman, suparṇavacanam words of Suparna, śrutvā having heard, tvaritam quickly, hayam horse, ādāya taking hold of, puna: again, āyāt returned.

Exceedingly powerful and highly renowned Anshuman, on hearing the words of Garuda returned quickly to the capital with the horse৷৷
tatō rājānamāsādya dīkṣitaṅ raghunandana!৷৷1.41.23৷৷

nyavēdayadyathāvṛttaṅ suparṇavacanaṅ tathā.


raghunandana O! Rama, dīkṣitam one who is initiated into ceremony, rājānam king, āsādya having reached, yathāvṛttam in conformity with what had happened, tathā faithfully, suparṇavacanam words of Suparna, nyavēdayat 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.
tacchrutvā ghōrasaṅkāśaṅ vākyamaṅśumatō nṛpa:৷৷1.41.24৷৷

yajñaṅ nivartayāmāsa yathākalpaṅ yathāvidhi.


nṛpa: king, aṅśumata: Anshuman's, ghōrasaṅkāśam aweful, vākyam words, śrutvā having heard, yathākalpam in accordance with rules of Kalpa, the vedanga, yathāvidhi in accordance with the scriptures and tradition, yajñam sacrifice ,nivartayāmāsa 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.
svapuraṅ cāgamacchrīmāniṣṭayajñōmahīpati:৷৷1.41.25৷৷

gaṅgāyāścāgamē rājā niścayaṅ nādhyagacchata.


śrīmān auspicious, mahīpati: lord of earth, king Sagara, iṣṭayajña: had completed the performance of the sacrifice, svapuram to his own capital, āgamat reached, rājā king, gaṅgāyā: Ganga, āgamē in the matter of descent, niścayam decision, nādhyagacchata 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.
akṛtvā niścayaṅ rājā kālēna mahatā mahān .

triṅśadvarṣasahasrāṇi rājyaṅ kṛtvā divaṅ gata:৷৷1.41.26৷৷


mahān mighty, rājā king, mahatā kālēna for a long time, niścayaṅ akṛtvā without arriving at any decision (in the matter of bringing Ganga down to earth), triṅśadvarṣasahasrāṇi thirty thousand years, rājyam kingdom, kṛtvā having ruled, divaṅ gata: 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".
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē ēkacatvāriṅśassarga:৷৷
Thus ends the fortyfirst sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.