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[King Janaka narrates the history of his dynasty--consents to give Sita and Urmila in marriage to Rama and Lakshmana.]

एवं ब्रुवाणं जनक: प्रत्युवाच कृताञ्जलि:।

श्रोतुमर्हसि भद्रं ते कुलं न: परिकीर्तितम्।।1.71.1।।


एवम् in this manner, ब्रुवाणम् speaking (Vasishta), जनक: Janaka, कृताञ्जलि: with folded palms, प्रत्युवाच replied, ते भद्रं safety to you, परिकीर्तितम् related, न: our, कुलम् genealogy, श्रोतुम् to listen, अर्हसि behoves of you.

Vasishta having thus described (the genealogy of Dasaratha) Janaka with folded hands rejoined, "Be blessed. Let me relate the genealogy of my race. Listen".
प्रदाने हि मुनिश्रेष्ठ कुलं निरवशेषत:।

वक्तव्यं कुलजातेन तन्निबोध महामुने।।1.71.2।।


मुनिश्रेष्ठ O Best of ascetics, महामुने O Great sage, कुलजातेन by one born in a noble family, प्रदाने at the time of bestowing their daughter in marriage, निरवशेषत: completely, कुलम् geneology of dynasty, वक्तव्यं हि indeed to be told, तत् that, निबोध listen to the same.

"O Great sage O Best of ascetics while one offers his daughter (in marriage), one born in a noble family should describe his genealogy in full. Listen.
राजाऽभूत् त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुत स्स्वेन कर्मणा।

निमि: परमधर्मात्मा सर्वसत्त्ववतां वर:।।1.71.3।।


स्वेन by his own, कर्मणा acts, त्रिषु three, लोकेषु worlds, विश्रुत: known, परमधर्मात्मा supremely virtuous, सर्वसत्त्ववताम् those endowed with strength, वर: best, राजा निमि: अभूत् was king named Nimi.

There was a great man of religion king Nimi, strongest of men and wellknown in the three worlds by his own acts.
तस्य पुत्रोमिथिर्नाम मिथिला येन निर्मिता।

प्रथमो जनको नाम जनकादप्युदावसु:।।1.71.4।।


मिथिर्नाम named Mithi, तस्य his, पुत्र: son, येन निर्मिता by whom constructed, मिथिला Mithila प्रथम: first, जनक: Janaka, नाम named, जनकाद् from Janaka, उदावसु: Udavasu was born.

Nimi begot a son named Mithi who constructed Mithila. He was the first Janaka whose son was Udavasu.
उदावसोस्तु धर्मात्मा जातो वै नन्दिवर्धन:।

नन्दिवर्धनपुत्रस्तु सुकेतुर्नाम नामत:।।1.71.5।।


उदावसो: तु for that Udavasu, धर्मात्मा righteous, नन्दिवर्धन: Nandivardha, जात: was born, नन्दिवर्धनपुत्र: तु the son of Nandivardhana, नामत: by name, सुकेतुर्नाम named Suketu.

Virtuous Nandivardhana was the son of Udavasu whose son was Suketu.
सुकेतोरपि धर्मात्मा देवरातो महाबल:।

देवरातस्य राजर्षेर्बृहद्रथ इति स्मृत:।।1.71.6।।


सुकेतो: अपि for that Suketu, धर्मात्मा righteous, महाबल: highly powerful, देवरात: Devarata, राजर्षे: rishi among kings, देवरातस्य for that Devarata, बृहद्रथ Brihadradha, इति स्मृत: known as.

Suketu's son was the righteous and powerful Devarata, father of Brihadradha.
बृहद्रथस्य शूरोऽभून्महावीर: प्रतापवान्।

महावीरस्य धृतिमान् सुधृतिस्सत्यविक्रम:।।1.71.7।।


बृहद्रथस्य for Brihadradha, शूर: heroic, प्रतापवान् valourous, महावीर: Mahavera, महावीरस्य Mahaveera's, धृतिमान् courageous, सत्यविक्रम: having truthful prowess, सुधृति: Sudhruti was born.

Brihadradha's son was the heroic and powerful Mahavira, father of Sudhruti, who was armed with courage and the power of truth.
सुधृतेरपि धर्मात्मा दृष्टकेतुस्सुधार्मिक:।

दृष्टकेतोस्तु राजर्षेर्हर्यश्व इति विश्रुत:।।1.71.8।।


सुधृते: for Sudhruti, धर्मात्मा righteous, सुधार्मिक: committed to dharma, दृष्टकेतु: Drishtaketu, राजर्षे: of that royal rishi, दृष्टकेतो: for Drishtaketu, हर्यश्व: Haryasva, इति विश्रुत: thus well known (son was born.)

To Sudhruti was born the righteous Drishtaketu, committed to dharma. Rajarshi Drishtaketu was father to the wellknown Haryasva.
हर्यश्वस्य मरु: पुत्रो मरो: पुत्र: प्रतिन्धक:।

प्रतिंधकस्य धर्मात्मा राजा कीर्तिरथस्सुत:।।1.71.9।।


हर्यश्वस्य Haryasva's, मरु: Maru, पुत्र: son, मरो: for Meru, प्रतिन्धक: Pratindhaka, पुत्र: son, धर्मात्मा righteous, राजा king, कीर्तिरथ: Kirtiratha, प्रतिन्धकस्य Pratindhaka's, सुत: son.

Haryasva's son was Maru, father of Pratindhaka. Pratindhaka's son was the righteous king Kirtiratha.
पुत्र: कीर्तिरथस्यापि देवमीढ इति स्मृत:।

देवमीढस्य विबुधो विबुधस्य महीध्रक:।।1.71.10।।


कीर्तिरथस्यापि Kirtiratha's, पुत्र: son, देवमीढ इति as Devamidha, स्मृत: has been known, देवमीढस्य Devamidha's son, विबुध: was Vibudha, विबुधस्य Vibhuda's son, महीध्रक: was Mahidhraka.

The son of Kirtiratha was known as Devamidha. His son was Vibudha, father of Mahidhraka.
महीध्रकसुतो राजा कीर्तिरातो महाबल:।

कीर्तिरातस्य राजर्षेर्महारोमा व्यजायत।।1.71.11।।


महाबल: mighty, राजा कीर्तिरात: king Kirtirata, महीध्रकसुत: son of Mahidhraka, राजर्षेः of that royal rishi, कीर्तिरातस्य Kirtirata's, महारोमा Maharoma, व्यजायत born.

Mighty king Kirtirata was the son of Mahidhraka. He was a Rajarshi, father of Maharoma.
महारोम्णस्तु धर्मात्मा स्वर्णरोमा व्यजायत।

स्वर्णरोम्णस्तु राजर्षेर्ह्रस्वरोमा व्यजायत।।1.71.12।।


महारोम्ण: तु for Maharoma, स्वर्णरोमा Swarnaroma, व्यजायत was born, राजर्षेः of the royal rishi, स्वर्णरोम्ण: तु for Swarnaroma, ह्रस्वरोमा Hrasvaroma, व्यजायत was born.

To Maharoma's was born the virtuous Swarnaroma. Swarnaroma's son was Hrasvaroma.
तस्य पुत्रद्वयं जज्ञे धर्मज्ञस्य महात्मन:।

ज्येष्ठोऽहमनुजो भ्राता मम वीर: कुशध्वज:।।1.71.13।।


धर्मज्ञस्य knower of morality and ethics, तस्य of that, महात्मन: magnanimous, पुत्रद्वयम् two sons, जज्ञे were born, अहम् I am, ज्येष्ट: eldest, वीर: valiant, कुशध्वज: Kusadhwaja, मम my, अनुज: younger, भ्राता brother.

Hrasvaroma, was a religious king. He was a great soul. Of his two sons. I am the
eldest and valiant Kusadhwaja is my younger brother.
मां तु ज्येष्ठं पिता राज्ये सोऽभिषिच्य नराधिप:।

कुशध्वजं समावेश्य भारं मयि वनं गत:।।1.71.14।।


पिता father, स: नराधिप: king Hrasvaroma, ज्येष्ठं eldest, माम् me, राज्ये in the kingdom, अभिषिच्य having crowned me, कुशध्वजं Kusadhwaja, भारम् responsibility of supporting, मयि in me, समावेश्य placeing, वनम् forest, गत: went.

My father king Hrasvaroma crowned me king, entrusted Kusadhwaja to my care and retired to the forest.
वृद्धे पितरि स्वर्याते धर्मेण धुरमावहम्।

भ्रातरं देवसङ्काशं स्नेहात्पश्यन् कुशध्वजम्।।1.71.15।।


वृद्धे when the aged, पितरि father, स्वर्याते सति had attained heaven, भ्रातरम् brother, देवसङ्काशम् resembling devatas, कुशध्वजम् Kusadhwaja, स्नेहात् affectionately, पश्यन् looking after, धर्मेण with righteousness, धुरम weight of ruling the kingdom, आवहम् bore.

After my aged father attained heaven, I looked after my brother Kusadhwaja, who resembles the celestials, affectionately and ruled the kingdom with righteousness.
कस्य चित्त्वथकालस्य साङ्काश्यादगमत्पुरात्।

सुधन्वा वीर्यवान्राजा मिथिलामवरोधक:।।1.71.16।।


अथ thereafter, कस्यचित् कालस्य after sometime, वीर्यवान् powerful, सुधन्वा राजा king Sundhava, मिथिलाम् Mithila, अवरोधक: with a view to beseige, साङ्काश्यात् from Sankasya, पुरात् city, अगमत् set out.

A little later a powerful king named Sudhanva from the city of Sankasya beseiged Mithila.
स च मे प्रेषयामास शैवं धनुरनुत्तमम्।

सीता कन्या च पद्माक्षी मह्यं वै दीयतामिति।।1.71.17।।


अनुत्तमम् excellent, शैवं धनु: bow of Siva, पद्माक्षी lotuseyed, कन्या maiden, सीता च Sita also, मह्यम् to me, दीयताम् be given, इति thus, प्रेषयामास sent a message.

He (Sudhanva) sent me a message: 'give me the great bow of Siva and the lotuseyed maiden Sita'.
तस्याप्रदानाद्ब्रह्मर्षे युद्धमासीन्मया सह।

स हतोऽभिमुखो राजा सुधन्वा तु मया रणे।।1.71.18।।


ब्रह्मर्षे O Brahmarshi, अप्रदानात् by not offering, तस्य for him, मया सह with me, युद्धम् असीत् great conflict broke, रणे in the battle, अभिमुख: he in an encounter, स: that, सुधन्वा राजा king Sudhanva, मया by me, हत: killed.

O Brahmarshi when I refused, a great conflict broke out between him and me. In the encounter king Sudhanva was killed by me.
निहत्य तं मुनिश्रेष्ठ सुधन्वानं नराधिपम्।

साङ्काश्ये भ्रातरं वीरमभ्यषिञ्चं कुशध्वजम्।।1.71.19।।


मुनिश्रेष्ठ O Best of ascetics, नराधिपम् king, तम् that, सुधन्वानम् Sudhanva, निहत्य having killed, भ्रातरम् brother, वीरम् heroic one, कुशध्वजम् Kusadhwaja, साङ्काश्ये in Sankasya, अभ्यषिञ्चम् I have crowned.

O Best of ascetics having killed king Sudhanva, I have crowned my heroic brother Kusadhwaja in Sankasya.
कनीयानेष मे भ्राता अहं ज्येष्ठो महामुने।

ददामि परमप्रीतो वध्वौ ते मुनिपुङ्गव।।1.71.20।।

सीतां रामाय भद्रं ते ऊर्मिला लक्ष्मणाय च।


महामुने O Great ascetic, एष: this one, मे my, कनीयान् youger, भ्राता brother, अहम् I, ज्येष्ठ: elder, मुनिपुङ्गव preeminent among ascetics, परमप्रीत: immensely pleased, ते those, वध्वौ two maidens, ददामि I am giving, सीतां रामाय Sita to Rama, ऊर्मिला लक्ष्मणाय Urmila to Lakshmana, ते भद्रम् prosperity to you.

O Great ascetic (Vasishta), this one is my youger brother and I am the elder one. O preeminent among ascetics with immense pleasure I am giving these maidens, Sita to Rama and Urmila to Lakshmana. Be blessed
वीर्यशुल्कां मम सुतां सीतां सुरसुतोपमाम् ।।1.71.21।।

द्वितीयामूर्मिलां चैव त्रिर्ददामि न संशय:।


वीर्यशुल्काम् as reward for prowess, सुरसुतोपमाम् equal to the daughter of devatas, मम सुताम् my daughter, सीताम् Sita, द्वितीयाम् second daughter, ऊर्मिलां चैव Urmila also, त्रि: three times, ददामि bestowing, संशय: न no doubt.

I offer my daughter Sita, who looks like a celestial maiden as reward for (Rama's) prowess and my second daughter Urmila (to Lakshmana). I proclaim it three times so that there is no doubt about it.
ददामि परमप्रीतो वध्वौ ते रघुनन्दन।।1.71.22।।

रामलक्ष्मणयो राजन् गोदानं कारयस्व ह।

पितृकार्यं च भद्रं ते ततो वैवाहिकं कुरु।।1.71.23।।


रघुनन्दन O King Dasaratha, परमप्रीत: immensely pleased, ते to you, वध्वौ brides, ददामि I am giving, राजन् O King, रामलक्ष्मणयो: to Rama and Lakshmana, गोदानम् distribution of cows, कारयस्व ह let it be performed, पितृकार्यं च ritual duty towards pitris, भद्रं ते prosperity to you, तत: thereafter, वैवाहिकम् कुरु let the marriage be performed.

O Delight of the Raghus (King Dasaratha), I offer these brides with immense pleasure to Rama and Lakshmana. You may perform the rites for your forefathers by gift of cows. Prosperity to you. Thereafter you may perform the marriage.
मखा ह्यद्य महाबाहो तृतीये दिवसे प्रभो।

फल्गुन्यामुत्तरे राजंस्तस्मिन्वैवाहिकं कुरु।।1.71.24।।

रामलक्ष्मणयो राजन् दानं कार्यं सुखोदयम् ।।


महाबाहो O Strong armed one, प्रभो (विभो) O Lord, अद्य today, मखा हि star Makha is on the ascendent, राजन् O King, तृतीये दिवसे third day from today, फल्गुन्याम् known as Phalguni, तस्मिन् in that, उत्तरे in the star Uttara, वैवाहिकम् marriage, कुरु perform, राजन् O King, रामलक्ष्मणयो: for Rama and Lakshmana, सुखोदयम् for enjoying felicity, दानम् distribution of kine, etc, कार्यम् fit to be done.

Today the star Makha is on the ascendant. O King perform the marriage on the, third day from today under UttaraPhalguni star. Gifts may be given for the happiness of Rama and Lakshmana".
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे एकसप्ततितमस्सर्ग:।।
Thus ends the seventyfirst sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.