Sloka & Translation

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

ēvaṅ bruvāṇaṅ janaka: pratyuvāca kṛtāñjali:.

śrōtumarhasi bhadraṅ tē kulaṅ na: parikīrtitam৷৷1.71.1৷৷


ēvam in this manner, bruvāṇam speaking (Vasishta), janaka: Janaka, kṛtāñjali: with folded palms, pratyuvāca replied, tē bhadraṅ safety to you, parikīrtitam related, na: our, kulam genealogy, śrōtum to listen, arhasi 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".
pradānē hi muniśrēṣṭha kulaṅ niravaśēṣata:.

vaktavyaṅ kulajātēna tannibōdha mahāmunē!৷৷1.71.2৷৷


muniśrēṣṭha O! Best of ascetics, mahāmunē! O! Great sage, kulajātēna by one born in a noble family, pradānē at the time of bestowing their daughter in marriage, niravaśēṣata: completely, kulam geneology of dynasty, vaktavyaṅ hi indeed to be told, tat that, nibōdha 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.
rājā.bhūt triṣu lōkēṣu viśruta ssvēna karmaṇā.

nimi: paramadharmātmā sarvasattvavatāṅ vara:৷৷1.71.3৷৷


svēna by his own, karmaṇā acts, triṣu three, lōkēṣu worlds, viśruta: known, paramadharmātmā supremely virtuous, sarvasattvavatām those endowed with strength, vara: best, rājā nimi: abhūt was king named Nimi.

There was a great man of religion king Nimi, strongest of men and well-known in the three worlds by his own acts.
tasya putrōmithirnāma mithilā yēna nirmitā.

prathamō janakō nāma janakādapyudāvasu:৷৷1.71.4৷৷


mithirnāma named Mithi, tasya his, putra: son, yēna nirmitā by whom constructed, mithilā Mithila prathama: first, janaka: Janaka, nāma named, janakād from Janaka, udāvasu: Udavasu was born.

Nimi begot a son named Mithi who constructed Mithila. He was the first Janaka whose son was Udavasu.
udāvasōstu dharmātmā jātō vai nandivardhana:.

nandivardhanaputrastu sukēturnāma nāmata:৷৷1.71.5৷৷


udāvasō: tu for that Udavasu, dharmātmā righteous, nandivardhana: Nandivardha, jāta: was born, nandivardhanaputra: tu the son of Nandivardhana, nāmata: by name, sukēturnāma named Suketu.

Virtuous Nandivardhana was the son of Udavasu whose son was Suketu.
sukētōrapi dharmātmā dēvarātō mahābala:.

dēvarātasya rājarṣērbṛhadratha iti smṛta:৷৷1.71.6৷৷


sukētō: api for that Suketu, dharmātmā righteous, mahābala: highly powerful, dēvarāta: Devarata, rājarṣē: rishi among kings, dēvarātasya for that Devarata, bṛhadratha Brihadradha, iti smṛta: known as.

Suketu's son was the righteous and powerful Devarata, father of Brihadradha.
bṛhadrathasya śūrō.bhūnmahāvīra: pratāpavān.

mahāvīrasya dhṛtimān sudhṛtissatyavikrama:৷৷1.71.7৷৷


bṛhadrathasya for Brihadradha, śūra: heroic, pratāpavān valourous, mahāvīra: Mahavera, mahāvīrasya Mahaveera's, dhṛtimān courageous, satyavikrama: having truthful prowess, sudhṛti: 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.
sudhṛtērapi dharmātmā dṛṣṭakētussudhārmika:.

dṛṣṭakētōstu rājarṣērharyaśva iti viśruta:৷৷1.71.8৷৷


sudhṛtē: for Sudhruti, dharmātmā righteous, sudhārmika: committed to dharma, dṛṣṭakētu: Drishtaketu, rājarṣē: of that royal rishi, dṛṣṭakētō: for Drishtaketu, haryaśva: Haryasva, iti viśruta: thus well known (son was born.)

To Sudhruti was born the righteous Drishtaketu, committed to dharma. Rajarshi Drishtaketu was father to the well-known Haryasva.
haryaśvasya maru: putrō marō: putra: pratindhaka:.

pratiṅdhakasya dharmātmā rājā kīrtirathassuta:৷৷1.71.9৷৷


haryaśvasya Haryasva's, maru: Maru, putra: son, marō: for Meru, pratindhaka: Pratindhaka, putra: son, dharmātmā righteous, rājā king, kīrtiratha: Kirtiratha, pratindhakasya Pratindhaka's, suta: son.

Haryasva's son was Maru, father of Pratindhaka. Pratindhaka's son was the righteous king Kirtiratha.
putra: kīrtirathasyāpi dēvamīḍha iti smṛta:.

dēvamīḍhasya vibudhō vibudhasya mahīdhraka:৷৷1.71.10৷৷


kīrtirathasyāpi Kirtiratha's, putra: son, dēvamīḍha iti as Devamidha, smṛta: has been known, dēvamīḍhasya Devamidha's son, vibudha: was Vibudha, vibudhasya Vibhuda's son, mahīdhraka: was Mahidhraka.

The son of Kirtiratha was known as Devamidha. His son was Vibudha, father of Mahidhraka.
mahīdhrakasutō rājā kīrtirātō mahābala:.

kīrtirātasya rājarṣērmahārōmā vyajāyata৷৷1.71.11৷৷


mahābala: mighty, rājā kīrtirāta: king Kirtirata, mahīdhrakasuta: son of Mahidhraka, rājarṣēḥ of that royal rishi, kīrtirātasya Kirtirata's, mahārōmā Maharoma, vyajāyata born.

Mighty king Kirtirata was the son of Mahidhraka. He was a Rajarshi, father of Maharoma.
mahārōmṇastu dharmātmā svarṇarōmā vyajāyata.

svarṇarōmṇastu rājarṣērhrasvarōmā vyajāyata৷৷1.71.12৷৷


mahārōmṇa: tu for Maharoma, svarṇarōmā Swarnaroma, vyajāyata was born, rājarṣēḥ of the royal rishi, svarṇarōmṇa: tu for Swarnaroma, hrasvarōmā Hrasvaroma, vyajāyata was born.

To Maharoma's was born the virtuous Swarnaroma. Swarnaroma's son was Hrasvaroma.
tasya putradvayaṅ jajñē dharmajñasya mahātmana:.

jyēṣṭhō.hamanujō bhrātā mama vīra: kuśadhvaja:৷৷1.71.13৷৷


dharmajñasya knower of morality and ethics, tasya of that, mahātmana: magnanimous, putradvayam two sons, jajñē were born, aham I am, jyēṣṭa: eldest, vīra: valiant, kuśadhvaja: Kusadhwaja, mama my, anuja: younger, bhrātā 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.
māṅ tu jyēṣṭhaṅ pitā rājyē sō.bhiṣicya narādhipa:.

kuśadhvajaṅ samāvēśya bhāraṅ mayi vanaṅ gata:৷৷1.71.14৷৷


pitā father, sa: narādhipa: king Hrasvaroma, jyēṣṭhaṅ eldest, mām me, rājyē in the kingdom, abhiṣicya having crowned me, kuśadhvajaṅ Kusadhwaja, bhāram responsibility of supporting, mayi in me, samāvēśya placeing, vanam forest, gata: went.

My father king Hrasvaroma crowned me king, entrusted Kusadhwaja to my care and retired to the forest.
vṛddhē pitari svaryātē dharmēṇa dhuramāvaham.

bhrātaraṅ dēvasaṅkāśaṅ snēhātpaśyan kuśadhvajam৷৷1.71.15৷৷


vṛddhē when the aged, pitari father, svaryātē sati had attained heaven, bhrātaram brother, dēvasaṅkāśam resembling devatas, kuśadhvajam Kusadhwaja, snēhāt affectionately, paśyan looking after, dharmēṇa with righteousness, dhurama weight of ruling the kingdom, āvaham bore.

After my aged father attained heaven, I looked after my brother Kusadhwaja, who resembles the celestials, affectionately and ruled the kingdom with righteousness.
kasya cittvathakālasya sāṅkāśyādagamatpurāt.

sudhanvā vīryavānrājā mithilāmavarōdhaka:৷৷1.71.16৷৷


atha thereafter, kasyacit kālasya after sometime, vīryavān powerful, sudhanvā rājā king Sundhava, mithilām Mithila, avarōdhaka: with a view to beseige, sāṅkāśyāt from Sankasya, purāt city, agamat set out.

A little later a powerful king named Sudhanva from the city of Sankasya beseiged Mithila.
sa ca mē prēṣayāmāsa śaivaṅ dhanuranuttamam.

sītā kanyā ca padmākṣī mahyaṅ vai dīyatāmiti৷৷1.71.17৷৷


anuttamam excellent, śaivaṅ dhanu: bow of Siva, padmākṣī lotus-eyed, kanyā maiden, sītā ca Sita also, mahyam to me, dīyatām be given, iti thus, prēṣayāmāsa sent a message.

He (Sudhanva) sent me a message: 'give me the great bow of Siva and the lotus-eyed maiden Sita'.
tasyāpradānādbrahmarṣē! yuddhamāsīnmayā saha.

sa hatō.bhimukhō rājā sudhanvā tu mayā raṇē৷৷1.71.18৷৷


brahmarṣē! O! Brahmarshi, apradānāt by not offering, tasya for him, mayā saha with me, yuddham asīt great conflict broke, raṇē in the battle, abhimukha: he in an encounter, sa: that, sudhanvā rājā king Sudhanva, mayā by me, hata: killed.

O Brahmarshi! when I refused, a great conflict broke out between him and me. In the encounter king Sudhanva was killed by me.
nihatya taṅ muniśrēṣṭha sudhanvānaṅ narādhipam.

sāṅkāśyē bhrātaraṅ vīramabhyaṣiñcaṅ kuśadhvajam৷৷1.71.19৷৷


muniśrēṣṭha! O! Best of ascetics, narādhipam king, tam that, sudhanvānam Sudhanva, nihatya having killed, bhrātaram brother, vīram heroic one, kuśadhvajam Kusadhwaja, sāṅkāśyē in Sankasya, abhyaṣiñcam I have crowned.

O Best of ascetics! having killed king Sudhanva, I have crowned my heroic brother Kusadhwaja in Sankasya.
kanīyānēṣa mē bhrātā ahaṅ jyēṣṭhō mahāmunē!.

dadāmi paramaprītō vadhvau tē munipuṅgava৷৷1.71.20৷৷

sītāṅ rāmāya bhadraṅ tē ūrmilā lakṣmaṇāya ca.


mahāmunē O! Great ascetic, ēṣa: this one, mē my, kanīyān youger, bhrātā brother, aham I, jyēṣṭha: elder, munipuṅgava pre-eminent among ascetics, paramaprīta: immensely pleased, tē those, vadhvau two maidens, dadāmi I am giving, sītāṅ rāmāya Sita to Rama, ūrmilā lakṣmaṇāya Urmila to Lakshmana, tē bhadram prosperity to you.

O Great ascetic (Vasishta), this one is my youger brother and I am the elder one. O pre-eminent among ascetics! with immense pleasure I am giving these maidens, Sita to Rama and Urmila to Lakshmana. Be blessed!
vīryaśulkāṅ mama sutāṅ sītāṅ surasutōpamām ৷৷1.71.21৷৷

dvitīyāmūrmilāṅ caiva trirdadāmi na saṅśaya:.


vīryaśulkām as reward for prowess, surasutōpamām equal to the daughter of devatas, mama sutām my daughter, sītām Sita, dvitīyām second daughter, ūrmilāṅ caiva Urmila also, tri: three times, dadāmi bestowing, saṅśaya: na 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.
dadāmi paramaprītō vadhvau tē raghunandana৷৷1.71.22৷৷

rāmalakṣmaṇayō rājan! gōdānaṅ kārayasva ha.

pitṛkāryaṅ ca bhadraṅ tē tatō vaivāhikaṅ kuru৷৷1.71.23৷৷


raghunandana O! King Dasaratha, paramaprīta: immensely pleased, tē to you, vadhvau brides, dadāmi I am giving, rājan O! King, rāmalakṣmaṇayō: to Rama and Lakshmana, gōdānam distribution of cows, kārayasva ha let it be performed, pitṛkāryaṅ ca ritual duty towards pitris, bhadraṅ tē prosperity to you, tata: thereafter, vaivāhikam kuru 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.
makhā hyadya mahābāhō tṛtīyē divasē prabhō.

phalgunyāmuttarē rājaṅstasminvaivāhikaṅ kuru৷৷1.71.24৷৷

rāmalakṣmaṇayō rājan! dānaṅ kāryaṅ sukhōdayam ৷৷


mahābāhō O! Strong armed one, prabhō (vibhō) O! Lord, adya today, makhā hi star Makha is on the ascendent, rājan O! King, tṛtīyē divasē third day from today, phalgunyām known as Phalguni, tasmin in that, uttarē in the star Uttara, vaivāhikam marriage, kuru perform, rājan O! King, rāmalakṣmaṇayō: for Rama and Lakshmana, sukhōdayam for enjoying felicity, dānam distribution of kine, etc, kāryam fit to be done.

To-day the star Makha is on the ascendant. O King perform the marriage on the, third day from today under Uttara-Phalguni star. Gifts may be given for the happiness of Rama and Lakshmana".
ityārṣē śrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīya ādikāvyē bālakāṇḍē ēkasaptatitamassarga:৷৷
Thus ends the seventyfirst sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.