[Preparations for the marriage of the four sons of king Dasaratha.]
तमुक्तवन्तं वैदेहं विश्वामित्रो महामुनि:।
उवाच वचनं वीरं वसिष्ठसहितो नृपम्।।1.72.1।।
तमुक्तवन्तं वैदेहं विश्वामित्रो महामुनि:।
उवाच वचनं वीरं वसिष्ठसहितो नृपम्।।1.72.1।।
Sloka & Translation
महामुनि: mighty ascetic, विश्वामित्र: Visvamitra, वसिष्ठसहित: accompanied by Vasista, उक्तवन्तम् thus spoken, वीरम् valiant, वैदेहम् king of Videha, नृपम् addressing king Janaka, वचनम् words, उवाच said.
When Janaka the valiant king of Videha thus spoke (on the genealogy of his family) the mighty ascetic Viswamitra accompanied by Vasishta said to Janaka:
अचिन्त्यान्यप्रमेयानि कुलानि नरपुङ्गव।
इक्ष्वाकूणां विदेहानां नैषां तुल्योऽस्ति कश्चन।।1.72.2।।
इक्ष्वाकूणां विदेहानां नैषां तुल्योऽस्ति कश्चन।।1.72.2।।
नरपुङ्गव O Preeminent among men, इक्ष्वाकूणाम् of kings of Ikshvaku, विदेहानां च also of Videha, कुलानि races, अचिन्त्यानि beyond comprehension, अप्रमेयानि immeasurable, एषां for these kings of Ikshvaku and Videha, तुल्य: equal, कश्चन anyone, नास्ति is not there.
"O Preeminent among men the glory of the two races of Ikshvakus as also of Videhas is in comprehensible and immeasurable. There is none equal to these kings of the Ikshvakus and Videhas.
सदृशो धर्मसम्बन्ध: सदृशो रूपसम्पदा।
रामलक्ष्मणयो राजन् सीता चोर्मिलया सह।।1.72.3।।
रामलक्ष्मणयो राजन् सीता चोर्मिलया सह।।1.72.3।।
राजन् O King, ऊर्मिलया सह along with Urmila, सीता Sita, रामलक्ष्मणयो: for Rama and Lakshmana (is being offered), सदृश: perfectly matched, धर्मसम्बन्ध: the marriage is in accordance with religious merit, रूपसम्पदाच in virtue and beauty, सदृश: is fit.
O King it is a perfect match between Sita and Rama and Urmila and Lakshmana. In respect of piety and beauty the match is perfect.
वक्तव्यं च नरश्रेष्ठ श्रूयतां वचनं मम।
भ्राता यवीयान् धर्मज्ञ एष राजा कुशध्वज:।।1.72.4।।
भ्राता यवीयान् धर्मज्ञ एष राजा कुशध्वज:।।1.72.4।।
नरश्रेष्ठ O Best of men, मम my, वक्तव्यं च is fit to be divulged, वचनम् words, श्रूयताम् may be heard, यवीयान् भ्राता this younger brother, एष: राजा this king, कुशध्वज: Kusadhwaja, धर्मज्ञ: knower of righteousness.
O Best of men my words deserve to be heard. This younger brother king Kusadhwaja is knower of righteousness.
अस्य धर्मात्मनो राजन् रूपेणाप्रतिमं भुवि ।
सुताद्वयं नरश्रेष्ठ पत्न्यर्थं वरयामहे।।1.72.5।।
सुताद्वयं नरश्रेष्ठ पत्न्यर्थं वरयामहे।।1.72.5।।
राजन् O King, नरश्रेष्ठ O Eminent among men, रूपेण in beauty, भुवि on this earth, अप्रतिमम् unrivalled, अस्य धर्मात्मन: this virtuous one's, सुताद्वयम् two daughters, पत्न्यर्थम् as consorts, वरयामहे we are seeking.
O King, O Eminent among men we seek the hands of this virtuous king's two daughters, unrivalled in beauty, on earth, as consorts.
भरतस्य कुमारस्य शत्रुघ्नस्य च धीमत:।
वरयामस्सुते राजन् तयोरर्थे महात्मनो:।।1.72.6।।
वरयामस्सुते राजन् तयोरर्थे महात्मनो:।।1.72.6।।
राजन् O King, कुमारस्य of the youthful, भरतस्य Bharata, धीमत: sagacious, शत्रुघ्नस्य च for Satrughna also, महात्मनो: for the magnanimous ones, तयोरर्थे in the interests of both of them, सुते two daughters, वरयाम: we choose.
O king we choose your brother's daughters for the great souls: the young Bharata and the sagacious Satrughna.
पुत्रा दशरथस्येमे रूपयौवनशालिन:।
लोकपालोपमास्सर्वे देवतुल्यपराक्रमा:।।1.72.7।।
लोकपालोपमास्सर्वे देवतुल्यपराक्रमा:।।1.72.7।।
इमे these, दशरथस्य पुत्रा: sons of Dasaratha, सर्वे all, रूपयौवनशालिन: shining with youth and beauty, लोकपालोपमा: resembling the kings who are the protectors of the worlds, देवतुल्यपराक्रमा: equal to devatas in valour.
Bestowed with youth and beauty, these sons of Dasaratha resemble kings in defending the worlds and gods in valour.
उभयोरपि राजेन्द्र सम्बन्धेनानुबध्यताम्।
इक्ष्वाको: कुलमव्यग्रं भवत:पुण्यकर्मण:।।1.72.8।।
इक्ष्वाको: कुलमव्यग्रं भवत:पुण्यकर्मण:।।1.72.8।।
राजेन्द्र O King, इक्ष्वाको: Ikshvaku's, पुण्यकर्मणः of pious deeds, भवत: your, उभयोरपि both of you, कुलम् races, सम्बन्धेन by this alliance, अन्यग्रम् with clear vision, अनुबध्यताम् let it be tied.
O King of kings (Janaka) the bond between your race with its pious deeds and the Ikshvakus may be strenghthened by this alliance".
विश्वामित्रवच श्शृत्वा वसिष्ठस्य मते तदा।
जनक: प्रांजलिर्वाक्यमुवाच मुनिपुङ्गवौ।।1.72.9।।
जनक: प्रांजलिर्वाक्यमुवाच मुनिपुङ्गवौ।।1.72.9।।
तदा then, वसिष्ठस्य Vasistha's, मते by wish, विश्वामित्रवच: Viswamitra's words, शृत्वा having listened, जनक: Janaka, प्रांजलि: with folded palms, मुनिपुङ्गवौ addressing eminent asetics, वाक्यम् words, उवाच spoke.
Having heard the words of Viswamitra which echoed the wish of Vasishta, Janaka replied to the eminent ascetics with folded palms.
कुलं धन्यमिदं मन्ये येषां नो मुनिपुङ्गवौ ।
सदृशं कुलसम्बन्धं यदाज्ञापयथ: स्वयम्।।1.72.10।।
सदृशं कुलसम्बन्धं यदाज्ञापयथ: स्वयम्।।1.72.10।।
येषाम् न: for those of us, सदृशं befitting, कुलसम्बन्धम् alliance of the two races, मुनिपुङ्गवौ two eminent ascetics, स्वयम् on your own, यत् for which reason, आज्ञापयथ: are commanding, इदम् this, कुलम् race, धन्यम् blessed, मन्ये I consider.
"Since both of you, eminent ascetics, recomended this befitting alliance of the two races on your own, I regard my race as blessed.
एवं भवतु भद्रं व: कुशध्वजसुते इमे।
पत्न्यौ भजेतां सहितौ शत्रुघ्नभरतावुभौ।।1.72.11।।
पत्न्यौ भजेतां सहितौ शत्रुघ्नभरतावुभौ।।1.72.11।।
एवं भवतु let it be so, व: भद्रं: prosperity to you, इमे these, कुशध्वजसुते daughters of Kusadhwaja, सहितौ together moving, शत्रुघ्नभरतौ for Satrughna and Bharata, उभौ for both of them, पत्न्यौ as wives, भजेताम् let them serve.
"Let it be so, Be blessed Let these two daughters of Kusadhwaja (Srutakirti and Mandavi) be the wives of Satrughna and Bharata respectively and serve them.
एकाह्ना राजपुत्रीणां चतसृणां महामुने।
पाणीन् गृह्णन्तु चत्वारो राजपुत्रा महाबला:।।1.72.12।।
पाणीन् गृह्णन्तु चत्वारो राजपुत्रा महाबला:।।1.72.12।।
महामुने O Great ascetic, महाबला: valiant, चत्वार: four, राजपुत्रा: princes, एकाह्ना on the same day, चतसृ़णाम् of the four, राजपुत्रीणाम् princesses, पाणीन् hands, गृह्णन्तु let them take.
O Great ascetic let the valiant four princes take the hands of four princesses on the same day.
उत्तरे दिवसे ब्रह्मन् फल्गुनीभ्यां मनीषिण:।
वैवाहिकं प्रशंसन्ति भगो यत्र प्रजापति:।।1.72.13।।
वैवाहिकं प्रशंसन्ति भगो यत्र प्रजापति:।।1.72.13।।
ब्रह्मन् O Foremost among brahmins, फल्गुनीभ्याम् उत्तरे दिवसे on the later day of the ascent of the two Phalgunis (Phalgunis are two sisters. The previous day of the ascent of Phalguni stars, Poorva Phalguni wil be ascendent and the folowing day Uttara Phalguni wil be ascendant ), यत्र in which day, प्रजापति: bestower of children, भग: Bhaga, वैवाहिकम् to perform marriage, मनीषिण: wise people, प्रशंसन्ति are praising.
"The wise, O Brahmin think the marriage is favourable when Bhaga is Prajapati on the succeeding day of the ascent of the two stars. (that is, when poorva is followed by uttara phalguni).
एवमुक्त्वा वचस्सौम्यं प्रत्युत्थाय कृताञ्जलि:।
उभौ मुनिवरौ राजा जनको वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।1.72.14।।
उभौ मुनिवरौ राजा जनको वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।1.72.14।।
जनक: राजा king Janaka, एवम् thus, सौम्यम् pleasing, वच: words, उक्त्वा having spoken, प्रत्युत्थाय having stood up, कृताञ्जलि: with folded hands, उभौ both, मुनिवरौ great ascetics, वाक्यम् words, अब्रवीत् spoke.
King Janaka, having spoken these pleasing words, stood up and with folded hands addressing both the great ascetics:
परो धर्म: कृतो मह्यं शिष्योऽस्मिभवतो सदा।
इमान्यासनमुख्यानि आसातां मुनिपुङ्गवौ।।1.72.15।।
इमान्यासनमुख्यानि आसातां मुनिपुङ्गवौ।।1.72.15।।
मह्यम् for me, पर: supreme, धर्म: religious merit, कृत: has been done, सदा always, भवतो: for both of you, शिष्य: अस्मि I am a desciple, मुनिपुङ्गवौ eninent ascestics, इमानि these, आसनमुख्यानि best of thrones, आसाताम् occupy.
"You have earned me a great religious merit. I shall be always your disciple O Eminent ascestics, occupy these important seats".
यथा दशरथस्येयं तथाऽयोध्या पुरी मम।
प्रभुत्वे नास्ति सन्देहो यथार्हं कर्तुमर्हथ।।1.72.16।।
प्रभुत्वे नास्ति सन्देहो यथार्हं कर्तुमर्हथ।।1.72.16।।
इयम् this Mithila, दशरथस्य Dasaratha's, यथा as, अयोध्या पुरी Ayodhya city, मम to me, तथा so it is, प्रभुत्वे in the matter of governance, सन्देह: doubt, नास्ति not there, यथार्हम् appropriately, कर्तुम् to do, अर्हथ behoves of you.
"Dasaratha has right on the city of Ayodhya as much as I have on this. This right is unquestionable. So do whatever you think right".
तथा ब्रुवति वैदेहे जनके रघुनन्दन:।
राजा दशरथो हृष्ट: प्रत्युवाच महीपतिम्।।1.72.17।।
राजा दशरथो हृष्ट: प्रत्युवाच महीपतिम्।।1.72.17।।
वैदेहे when the king of Videha, जनके Janaka, तथा in that manner, ब्रुवति while speaking, रघुनन्दन: descendent of Raghu, राजा दशरथ: king Dasaratha, हृष्ट: pleased, महीपतिम् addressing king Janaka, प्रत्युवाच replied.
To the words of Janaka, king of Videha, king Dasaratha, the descendant of Raghu cheerfully replied:
युवामसङ्ख्येयगुणौ भ्रातरौ मिथिलेश्वरौ।
ऋषयो राजसङ्घाश्च भवद्भ्यामभिपूजिता:।।1.72.18।।
ऋषयो राजसङ्घाश्च भवद्भ्यामभिपूजिता:।।1.72.18।।
मिथिलेश्वरौ lords of Mithila, भ्रातरौ brothers, युवाम् both of you, असङ्ख्येयगुणौ have countless virtues, भवद्भ्याम् by you, ऋषय: rishis, राजसङ्घाश्च hosts of kings, अभिपूजिता: have been worshipped.
"You both brothers are lords of Mithila. You possess countless virtues. You pay regards to many rishis and hosts of kings".
स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि भद्रं ते गमिष्यामि स्वमालयम्।
श्राद्धकर्माणि सर्वाणि विधास्यामीति चाब्रवीत्।।1.72.19।।
श्राद्धकर्माणि सर्वाणि विधास्यामीति चाब्रवीत्।।1.72.19।।
स्वस्ति safety, प्राप्नुहि you may obtain, ते भद्रम् prosperity to you, स्वम् relating to mine, आलयम् residence, गमिष्यामि I shall go, सर्वाणि all, श्राद्धकर्माणि rites concerning the ceremony in accordance with the rituals, विधास्यामि च I shall perform, इति thus, अब्रवीत् spoke.
"Be safe. Be blessed. Let me retire to the camp. I have to perform the rites offerings to the forefathers".
तमापृष्ट्वा नरपतिं राजा दशरथस्तदा।
मुनीन्द्रौ तौ पुरस्कृत्य जगामाशु महायशा:।।1.72.20।।
मुनीन्द्रौ तौ पुरस्कृत्य जगामाशु महायशा:।।1.72.20।।
तदा then, महायशा: renowned, राजा दशरथ: king Dasaratha, तम् that, नरपतिम् king men, आपृष्ट्वा having taken leave of, तौ those two, मुनीन्द्रौ ascetics, पुरस्कृत्य placing them in the forefront, आशु immediately, जगाम went away.
Then renowned king Dasaratha, took leave of the two great ascetics. Then the rowned king Dasaratha took have of the king (Janaka) immediately following the two great ascetics.
स गत्वा निलयं राजा श्राद्धं कृत्वा विधानत:।
प्रभाते काल्यमुत्थाय चक्रे गोदानमुत्तमम्।।1.72.21।।
प्रभाते काल्यमुत्थाय चक्रे गोदानमुत्तमम्।।1.72.21।।
स: that, राजा king, निलयम् residence, गत्वा having gone, विधानत: according to scriptures, श्राद्धम् Shraddha ceremony, कृत्वा having performed, प्रभाते at dawn, उत्थाय having risen, काल्यम् appropriate to the time, उत्तमम् excellent, गोदानम् gifting of cows (a ceremony duly initiating the marriage, vow of Snathaka ), चक्रे made.
The king (Dasaratha) reached the abode, performed the sharaddha ceremony in accordance with the scriptures. Next day at dawn at appropriate time he gifted away cows (a ceremony performed by initiating the bridegrooms into the marriage.)
गवां शतसहस्राणि ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नराधिप:।
एकैकशो ददौ राजा पुत्रानुद्दिश्य धर्मत:।।1.72.22।।
एकैकशो ददौ राजा पुत्रानुद्दिश्य धर्मत:।।1.72.22।।
नराधिप: lord of men, राजा king, पुत्रान् sons, एकैकश: for each one, उद्धिश्य referring to their names, ब्राह्मणेभ्य: for brahmins, गवाम् cows, शतसहस्राणि in hundred thousands, धर्मत: in accordance with law, ददौ bestowed.
For the welfare of each of his sons the king (Dasaratha) religiously gave away a hundred thousand cows to brahmins.
सुवर्णश्रुङ्गा स्सम्पन्ना स्सवत्सा: कांस्यदोहना:।
गवां शतसहस्राणि चत्वारि पुरुषर्षभ:।।1.72.23।।
वित्तमन्यच्च सुबहुद्विजेभ्यो रघुनन्दन:।
ददौ गोदानमुद्दिश्य पुत्राणां पुत्रवत्सल:।।1.72.24।।
गवां शतसहस्राणि चत्वारि पुरुषर्षभ:।।1.72.23।।
वित्तमन्यच्च सुबहुद्विजेभ्यो रघुनन्दन:।
ददौ गोदानमुद्दिश्य पुत्राणां पुत्रवत्सल:।।1.72.24।।
पुरुषर्षभ: great among men, पुत्रवत्सल: affectionate towards his children, रघुनन्दन: Dasaratha, पुत्राणाम् sons', गोदानम् gifting away of cows, उद्धिश्य with reference to that, सुवर्णश्रुङ्गा: with their horns plaited with gold, सम्पन्ना: endowed with abundance(of milk), सवत्सा: accompanied by calves, कांस्यदोहना: bronze vessels for milking, गवाम् of cows, चत्वारि four, शतसहस्राणि a hundred thousand, अन्यत् other, सुबहु innumerable, वित्तम् च valuables, द्विजेभ्य: for brahmins, ददौ bestowed.
Great among men and affectionate towards his children, (king Dasaratha), the delight of the Raghus donated in the name of his sons' donates to the brahmins four hundred thousand cows. They were capable of abundance of milk. Their horns were plaited with gold. They were accompanied by calves. With them were given away bellmetal vessels for keeping milk and innumerable valuables.
स सुतै: कृतगोदानैर्वृतस्तु नृपतिस्तदा।
लोकपालैरिवाभाति वृत: स्सौम्य: प्रजापति:।।1.72.25।।
लोकपालैरिवाभाति वृत: स्सौम्य: प्रजापति:।।1.72.25।।
कृतगोदानै: having distributed the cows, सुतै: with his sons, वृत: surrounded, स: that, नृपति: king, तदा then, लोकपालै: by guardians of worlds, वृत: surrounded, सौम्य: pleased, प्रजापतिरिव like brahma, आभाति shining.
With his sons for whose sake cows have been given away the cheerful king looked like shining Prajapati surrrounded by the guardians of the world.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे द्विसप्ततितमस्सर्ग:।।
Thus ends the seventhsecond sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.