Sloka & Translation

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[King Janaka honours Viswamitra, Rama and Lakshmana---narrates the story about the bow of Mahadeva--declares he would give Sita in marriage to Rama if he strings the bow.]

tata: prabhātē vimalē kṛtakarmā narādhipa:.

viśvāmitraṅ mahātmānaṅ ājuhāva sarāghavam৷৷1.66.1৷৷


tata: thereafter, vimalē in the pure light, prabhātē of dawn, narādhipa: king, kṛtakarmā having performed daily devotions, sarāghavam together with two Raghavas, mahātmānam magnanimous Visvamitra, ājuhāva invited.

The day dawned bright and clear when the king (Janaka) performed his daily routine rites and welcomed the great Viswamitra with the two Raghavas (Rama and Lakshmana).
tamarcayitvā dharmātmā śāstradṛṣṭēna karmaṇā.

rāghavau ca mahātmānau tadā vākyamuvāca ha৷৷1.66.2৷৷


dharmātmā virtuous Janaka, tam that, Visvamitra, mahātmānau magnanimous, rāghavau ca Rama and Lakshmana, śāstradṛṣṭēna in accordance with scriptures, karmaṇā acts, arcayitvā having paid homage, tadā then, vākyam words, uvāca ha spoke.

The virtuous Janaka paid respects to Viswamitra and the high-souled Rama and Lakshmana in accordance with the sastras and spoke:
bhagavan svāgataṅ tē.stu kiṅ karōmi tavānagha!.

bhavānājñāpayatu māmājñāpyō bhavatā hyaham৷৷1.66.3৷৷


bhagavan O! Venerable one, tē to you, svāgatam astu welcome, anagha O! Sinless one, tava to you, kim karōmi what shall I do, bhavān you, mām me, ājñāpayatu my command, aham I, bhavatā by you, ājñāpya: hi worthy of being commanded.

"Welcome, O Venerable one! O Irreproachable one! what can I do for you? Worthy of being commanded, I seek your orders.
ēvamuktassa dharmātmā janakēna mahātmanā.

pratyuvāca munirvīraṅ vākyaṅ vākyaviśārada:৷৷1.66.4৷৷


mahātmanā by the magnanimous, janakēna by Janaka, ēvam thus, ukta: having been spoken, dharmātmā virtuous, vākyaviśārada: well-versed in speech, sa: that, muni: ascetic, vīram addressing that warrior, vākyam words, pratyuvāca replied.

At the words of the magnanimous Janaka, the virtuous sage well-versed in speech replied to the heroic king:
putrau daśarathasyēmau kṣatriyau lōkaviśrutau.

druṣṭukāmau dhanu śśrēṣṭhaṅ yadētatvayi tiṣṭhati৷৷1.66.5৷৷


daśarathasya Dasaratha's, putrau sons, kṣatriyau kshatriyas, lōkaviśrutau renowned in the world, imau these two, yat dhanu: śrēṣṭham that great bow, tvayi in you, tiṣṭhati remaining, ētat that one, druṣṭukāmau are eager to see.

Dasaratha's sons, (Rama and Lakshmana), kshatriyas renowned in the world are eager to see that great bow in your possession.
ētaddarśaya bhadraṅ tē kṛtakāmau nṛpātmajau.

darśanādasya dhanuṣō yathēṣṭaṅ pratiyāsyata:৷৷1.66.6৷৷


ētat this bow, darśaya show, tē bhadraṅ prosperity to you, asya dhanuṣa: this bow's, darśanāt on seeing it, kṛtakāmau having fulfilled their desire, nṛpātmajau these two princes, yathēṣṭam as they wish, pratiyāsyata: will return.

Be blessed. Show this great bow to the princes. This is their desire. Once it is fulfilled, they will go back.
ēvamuktastu janaka: pratyuvāca mahāmunim.

śrūyatāmasya dhanuṣō yadarthamiha tiṣṭhati৷৷1.66.7৷৷


ēvam thus, ukta: having been addressed, janaka: Janaka, mahāmunim mighty ascetic, pratyuvāca replied, iha here, yadartham what for, tiṣṭhati deposited, asya this, dhanuṣa: an account of bow, śrūyatām let it be heard.

Thus addressed by the mighty ascetic Janaka replied, "I shall tell you how this bow came to be deposited here".
dēvarāta iti khyātō nimēṣṣaṣṭhō mahīpati:.

nyāsō.yaṅ tasya bhagavan hastē dattō mahātmanā৷৷1.66.8৷৷


bhagavan O! Adorable one, nimē: from Nimi, ṣaṣṭha: sixth one in generation, dēvarāta iti named Devarata, khyāta: famous, mahīpati: iti (was) a king, sa: ayam this bow, tasya that king's, hastē in the hands, nyāsa: in trust, mahātmanā by exalted (Shiva), datta: given.

"O Adorable one! there was a famous king named Devarata, sixth in line from Nimi. This bow was kept with him in trust by the exalted lord (Shiva).
dakṣayajñavadhē pūrvaṅ dhanurāyamya vīryavān.

rudrastu tridaśān rōṣātsalīlamidamabravīt৷৷1.66.9৷৷


pūrvam formerly, dakṣayajñavadhē at the time of destruction of Daksha's sacrifice, vīryavān possessing great prowess, rudra: Rudra, dhanu: bow, āyamya lifting, tridaśān addressing devatas, rōṣāt from anger, salīlam sportively, idam these words, abravīt spoke.

Earlier at the time of destruction of Daksha's sacrifice, Rudra endowed with great
prowess lifted this bow sportively and spoke to the gods.
yasmādbhāgārthinō bhāgānnākalpayata mē surā:!.

varāṅgāṇi mahārhāṇi dhanuṣā śātayāmi va:৷৷1.66.10৷৷


surā: O! Devatas, bhāgārthina: desiring your share, mē to me, yasmāt for which reason, bhāgān share, nākalpayata did not provide, va: your, mahārhāṇi highly worthy, varāṅgāṇi beautiful limbs, dhanuṣā with bow, śātayāmi sever.

'O gods! in your anxiety to partake your share of the sacrifie, you have failed to provide mine in the sacrificial offerings. Therefore, I shall sever your jewelled heads and beautiful limbs with this bow'.
tatō vimanasassarvē dēvā vai munipuṅgava!.

prasādayanti dēvēśaṅ tēṣāṅ prītō.bhavadbhava:৷৷1.66.11৷৷


munipuṅgava O! Eminent ascetic, tata: thereater, sarvē all, dēvā: devatas, vimanasa: with dejected minds, dēvēśam lord of devatas, Siva, prasādayanti propitiated, bhava: Siva, tēṣām in their matter, prīta: abhavat was pleased.

"O Eminent ascetic! thereafter all the gods with agitated minds propitiated lord of the gods, Siva and he was pleased with them.
prītiyuktassa sarvēṣāṅ dadau tēṣāṅ mahātmanām.

tadētaddēvadēvasya dhanūratnaṅ mahātmana:.

nyāsabhūtaṅ tadā nyastamasmākaṅ pūrva kē vibhō৷৷1.66.12৷৷


sa: Maheswara, prītiyukta: well-pleased, tēṣām mahātmanām with those magnanimous ones, dadau gave, vibhō O! Lord, mahātmana: of the exalted, dēvadēvasya lord of devatas, Siva's, tat ētat dhanūratnam that gem of weapons, tadā then, asmākam our, pūrvakē with the ancestor, nyāsabhūtam in trust, nyastam deposited.

O Lord! that gem of a bow belonging to Siva was given to the great gods who in turn got it deposited in trust with our ancestor.
atha mē kṛṣata: kṣētraṅ lāṅgūlādutthitā mayā.

kṣētraṅ śōdhayatā labdhā nāmnā sītēti viśrutā৷৷1.66.13৷৷


atha thereafter, mē my, kṣētram the sacrificial ground, kṛṣata: while I was ploughing, lāṅgūlāt by the blade of plough, utthitā lifted, nāmnā by name, sītēti Sita, viśrutā well-known, kṣētram that sacrificial ground, śōdhayatā purifying, mayā by me, labdhā obtained.

Thereupon while I was ploughing and cleaing the (sacrificial) ground, Sita, a well-known name, was lifted up by the blade of the plough. Thus she was obtained by
me.
bhūtalādutthitā sā tu vyavardhata mamātmajā.

vīryaśulkēti mē kanyā sthāpitēyamayōnijā৷৷1.66.14৷৷


bhūtalāt from the earth, utthitā has arisen, sā she, mama my, ātmajā daughter, vyavardhata grew, ayōnijā not born through womb (without mother), iyam this, kanyā this maiden, vīryaśulkā prowess as marriage present, mē by me, sthāpitā established.

Arisen from the earth and not from a mother's womb, she grew up as my daughter. I made a stipulation that (this shall be the means to win this maiden as a gift) this shall be given in marriage only to the prince whose prowess is fully tried.
bhūtalādutthitāṅ tāṅ tu vardhamānāṅ mamātmajām.

varayāmāsurāgamya rājānō munipuṅgava!৷৷1.66.15৷৷


munipuṅgava O! Eminent ascetic, bhūtalāt from the earth, utthitām arisen, vardhamānāṅ growing, tām that, ātmajām my daughter, rājāna: kings, āgamya having arrived, varayāmāsu: had sought.

O Eminent ascetic! arisen from the earth and reared as my daughter, she has been sought after in marriage by many princes.
tēṣāṅ varayatāṅ kanyāṅ sarvēṣāṅ pṛthivīkṣitām.

vīryaśulkēti bhagavan na dadāmi sutāmaham৷৷1.66.16৷৷


bhagavan O! Worshipful one, tēṣām sarvēṣām for all those, pṛthivīkṣitām monarchs, kanyām maiden, varayatām seeking, vīryaśulkēti prowess as marriage offer, so, aham I, sutām daughter, na dadāmi do not give.

O Worshipful one! all those monarchs sought this maiden but I did not offer my daughter saying that the 'marriage offer' could be made only through the tried and tested prowess of a suitor.
tatassarvē nṛpataya ssamētya munipuṅgava!.

mithilāmabhyupāgamya vīryajijñāsavastadā৷৷1.66.17৷৷


munipuṅgava! O! Pre-eminent among ascetics, tata: afterwards, sarvē all, nṛpataya: kings, samētya met together, tadā then, vīryajijñāsava: desirous of testing their prowess, mithilām to Mithila, abhyupāgamya having come.

O Pre-eminent among ascetics! thereafter many kings together came to Mithila to test their prowess.
tēṣāṅ jijñāsamānānāṅ vīryaṅ dhanurupāhṛtam.

na śēkurgrahaṇē tasya dhanuṣastōlanē.pi vā৷৷1.66.18৷৷


vīryam their strength, jijñāsamānānām of those who were curious to know, tēṣām for them, dhanu: bow, upāhṛtam has been brought, tasya that, dhanuṣa: bow's, grahaṇē in grasp, tōlanē.pi in lifting (and measuring its weight), na śēku: not competent.

The bow was brought and placed before those who were curious to test their strength
but none was able to grasp or lift the bow.
tēṣāṅ vīryavatāṅ vīryamalpaṅ jñātvā mahāmunē .

pratyākhyātā nṛpatayastannibōdha tapōdhana!৷৷1.66.19৷৷


mahāmunē O! Mighty ascetic, tēṣām vīryavatām of those mighty kings', vīryam strength, alpam little, jñātvā after recognising, nṛpataya: kings, pratyākhyātā: have been rejected, tapōdhana! O! Maharshi, tat that point, nibōdha come to know.

O great ascetic! I knew those mighty kings had little strength, so rejected them.
tata: paramakōpēna rājānō nṛpapuṅgava.

nyaruṅdhanmithilāṅ sarvē vīryasaṅdēhamāgatā:৷৷1.66.20৷৷


munipuṅgava O! Mighty ascetic, tata: thereafter, sarvē all, rājāna: kings, vīryasandēham entertaining doubt about their strength, āgatā: have come, paramakōpēna inflammed with anger, mithilām Mithila, nyarundhan surrounded.

O Mighty ascetic, thereafter all the kings doubting their own strength in stringing the bow were inflamed with anger and laid siege on Mithila.
ātmānamavadhūtaṅ tē vijñāya nṛpapuṅgavā:.

rōṣēṇa mahatā৷৷viṣṭā: pīḍayanmithilāṅ purīm৷৷1.66.21৷৷


tē those, nṛpapuṅgavā: eminent kings, ātmānam them, avadhūtam have been insulted, vijñāya knowing, mahatā with great, rōṣēṇa (kōpēna) with anger, āviṣṭā: filled, mithilāṅ purīm city of Mithila, pīḍayan while tormenting.

Those eminent kings felt humiliated. Inflamed with anger, they tormented the city of Mithila.
tatassaṅvatsarē pūrṇē kṣayaṅ yātāni sarvaśa:.

sādhanāni muniśrēṣṭha tatō.haṅ bhṛśadu:khita:৷৷1.66.22৷৷


muniśrēṣṭha O! Best among ascetics, tata: afterwards, saṅvatsarē when one year, pūrṇē was completed, sarvaśa: from every where, sādhanāni all means of living, kṣayaṅ yātāni were deteriorated, tata: thereafter, aham I, bhṛśadu:khita: was greatly aggrieved.

O Best among ascetics! thus one year passed. Everywhere in the city all the means of living were exhausted. I felt deeply sad over this situation.
tatō dēvagaṇān sarvān tapasā.haṅ prasādayam.

daduśca paramaprītā ścaturaṅgabalaṅ surā:৷৷1.66.23৷৷


tata: thereafter, aham I, tapasā by austerities, sarvān all, dēvagaṇān multitude of devatas, prasādayam propitiated them, surā: devatas, paramaprītā: were highly pleased, caturaṅgabalam (divine) army of four divisions, dadu: gave.

Thereafter, I propitiated the gods by my austerities. Highly pleased, they gave me an army of four divisions (chariots, elephants, horses and infantry ).
tatō bhagnā nṛpatayō hanyamānā diśō yayu:.

avīryā vīryasandigdhā ssāmātyā: pāpakarmaṇa:৷৷1.66.24৷৷


tata: thereafter, avīryā: those without energy, vīryasandigdhā: doubtful about their energy, pāpakarmaṇa: the wicked, nṛpataya: kings, hanyamānā: were being beaten, bhagnā: broken, sāmātyā: with their ministers, diśa: in different directions, yayu: fled away.

Then those wicked kings who were exhausted were doubtful about their energy. They were beaten and defeated. They fled away along with their ministers in different directions.
tadētanmuniśārdūla dhanu: paramabhāsvaram.

rāmalakṣmaṇayōścāpi darśayiṣyāmi suvrata!৷৷1.66.25৷৷


suvrata one faithful to vows, muniśārdūla O! Best among ascetics, tat ētat paramabhāsvaram his highly effulgent, dhanu: bow, rāmalakṣmaṇayōścāpi for Rama and Lakshmana also, darśayiṣyāmi will show.

O Sage! you are a tiger among asceties, you are faithful to your vows, I shall show this effulgent bow to your Rama and Lakshmana .
yadyasya dhanuṣō rāma: kuryādārōpaṇaṅ munē!.

sutāmayōnijāṅ sītāṅ dadyāṅ dāśarathēraham৷৷1.66.26৷৷


munē O! Sage, rāma: Rama, asya this, dhanuṣa: bow's, ārōpaṇam lifting, kuryādyadi if he could do, ayōnijām this girl born without a mother, sutām daughter, sītām Sita, aham I, dāśarathē: for Rama, dadyām shall give.

O Sage! if Rama could lift and string this bow I shall give my daughter Sita, not born from a woman, to him (son of Dasaratha)".
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē ṣaṭṣaṣṭitamassarga:৷৷
Thus ends the sixtysixth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.