Book I : Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties
Vishvamitra narrates about the birth of Gaadhi, his own father and the son of Kushanaabha. Incidentally he narrates about the emergence and prominence of River Kaushiki, who is Vishwamitra's elder sister turned out as a sacred River. |
k®ta udv˜he gate tasmin brahmadatte ca r˜ghava |
aputra× putra l˜bh˜ya pautrŸm iÿ÷im akalpayat || 1-34-1
1. raaghava= oh, Raghava; tasmin brahmadatte= of that, Brahmadatta's; kR^ita udvaahe gate= on making, marriage [on marrying,] when gone away; a+putraH= not, with son - sonless; that king Kushanaabha; putra laabhaaya= son, for achieving; pautriim iSTim akalpayat= for son's, ritual, embarked on.
When Brahmadatta has married and left, oh, Raghava, king Kushanaabha he embarked on Vedic-ritual called putra kaameSTHi in order to beget a son because is sonless. [1-34-1]
iÿ÷y˜m tu vartam˜n˜y˜m kuþan˜bham mahŸpatim |
uv˜ca paramod˜ra× kuþo brahmasuta× tad˜ || 1-34-2
2. tadaa= then; iSTyaam tu vartamaanaayaam= ritual, but, while being conducted - during its performance; parama udaaraH= supremely, generous one; brahma sutaH kushaH= Brahma's, brainchild, namely - Kusha; kushanaabham mahiipatim uvaaca= to Kushanaabha, king, spoke.
During the performance of the ritual, supremely generous Kusha, the brainchild of Brahma and the father of Kushanaabha, spoke to the king Kushanaabha. [1-34-2]
putra× te sad®þa× putra bhaviÿyati sudh˜rmika× |
g˜dhim pr˜psyasi tena tvam kŸrtim loke ca þ˜þvatŸm || 1-34-3
3. putraH= oh, son; te sadR^ishaH su dhaarmikaH putra= to you, selfsame, highly, virtuous, son; bhaviSyati= will be there; gaadhim praapsyasi= Gadhi, you will get; tena tvam loke shaashvatiim kiirtim ca= by him, you, in world, everlasting, renown; [praapyasi= you will get.]
" 'Oh, son, there will be a highly virtuous and selfsame son of yours, known as Gaadhi, and through him you also will get everlasting renown in the world.' " Thus Kusha said to Kushanaabha. [1-34-3]
evam uktv˜ kuþo r˜ma kuþan˜bham mahŸpatim |
jag˜ma ˜k˜þam ˜viþya brahma lokam san˜tanam || 1-34-4
4. raama= oh, Rama; kusha= Kusha; mahiipatim kushanaabham= to king, Kushanaabha; evam uktvaa= so, saying; aakaasham aavishya= sky, on entering; sanaatanam brahma lokam jagaama= to time-honoured, Brahma's, abode, journeyed to.
"Saying so, oh, Rama, Kushanaabha's father Kusa entered the sky and journeyed to the time-honoured abode of Brahma. [1-34-4]
kasyacit tu atha k˜lasya kuþan˜bhasya dhŸmata× |
jajñe parama dharmiÿ÷ho g˜dhi× iti eva n˜mata× || 1-34-5
5. atha kasyacit kaalasya tu= then, after some, of time, but; dhiimataH kushanaabhasya= to highly intellectual, Kushanaabha; parama dharmiSThaH= supremely, righteous one; and; naamataH gaadhiH iti eva= by name, Gaadhi, thus, [known] as; jaj~ne= took birth.
"Then after some time that highly intellectual Kushanaabha begot a supremely righteous son known by the name Gaadhi. [1-34-5]
sa pit˜ mama k˜kutstha g˜dhi× parama dh˜rmika× |
kuþa vaÕþa pras¨to asmi kauþiko raghunandana || 1-34-6
6. kaakutstha= oh, Kakutstha; parama dhaarmikaH gaadhiH= eminently righteous one, Gaadhi; saH mama pitaa= he is, my, father; raghu nandana= oh, Raghu's legatee; kusha vamsha prasuutaH= [because] in Kusa's, dynasty, born in; kaushikaH= Kaushika [by the name of]; asmi= I am - I got the name.
"Oh, Rama of Kakutstha dynasty, that eminently righteous Gaadhi is my father, and since I am born in Kusha dynasty, oh, Raghu's legatee, I got the name Kaushika." Sage Vishvamitra thus narrating to Rama. [1-34-6]
p¨rvaj˜ bhaginŸ ca api mama r˜ghava suvrat˜ |
n˜mn˜ satyavatŸ n˜ma ®cŸke pratip˜dit˜ || 1-34-7
7. raaghava= oh, Raghava; su vrataa= one with benevolent, vows; naamnaa satyavatii naama= by name, Satyavati, renowned as; mama puurva jaa bhaginii ca api= to me, earlier, born, sister, also, even - she is there; R^iciike pratipaaditaa= to sage Ruchika, proposed to [given in marriage.]
"Even my elder sister who undertook benevolent vows and who is renowned by her name Satyavathi is there, oh, Raghava, and she is given in marriage to sage Ruchika. [1-34-7]
saþarŸr˜ gat˜ svargam bhart˜ram anuvartinŸ |
kauþikŸ paramod˜r˜ s˜ prav®tt˜ mah˜nadŸ || 1-34-8
8. saa= she; bhartaaram anuvartinii= husband, while following; sa shariiraa svargam gataa= with body, to heaven, went to; parama udaaraa= very, generous one; kaushikii= [renowned as] Kaushiki; saa mahaa nadii pravR^ittaa= she, as great, river, coursed as.
"She journeyed to heaven with her body while she followed her departed husband and being a very generous lady she coursed as a great river renowned as River Kaushiki. [1-34-8]
Now called Kos'i (Cosy) corrupted from Kaus'ikí, daughter of Kusha. 'This is one of those personifications of rivers so frequent in the Grecian mythology, but in the similar myths is seen the impress of the genius of each people, austere and profoundly religious in India, graceful and devoted to the worship of external beauty in Greece.' Gorresio.
divy˜ puõya udak˜ ramy˜ himavantam up˜þrit˜ |
lokasya hitak˜rya artham prav®tt˜ bhaginŸ mama || 1-34-9
9. lokasya hita kaarya artham= world's, welfare, to do [yield benefit,] desiring for; pra vR^ittaa= well, emerged; divyaa puNya udakaa ramya= divinely, pious, water, delightful; mama bhaginii= my, sister - Kaushiki river; himavantam upa aashritaa= Himavanta, [Himalayan mountains,] takes shelter [while flowing.]
"Desiring to yield benefit for the welfare of world, my sister has emerged with her divinely pious and delightful waters, taking recourse to Himalayan Mountains. [1-34-9]
If the first compound is lokasya hita kaama artham then 'to accord both mortal and immortal happiness; paara laukika, aihika saukhyam . My sister's holy waves are hurled / To purify and glad the world. - Griffith.
tato aham himavat p˜rþve vas˜mi niyata× sukham |
bhaginy˜m sneha saÕyukta× kauþiky˜ raghunandana || 1-34-10
10. raghu nandana= oh, Raghu's, legatee; tataH= thereby; bhaginyaam kaushikyaam [paarshve]= of sister, Kaushiki, [adjacent to]; sneha samyuktaH= affection, along with; aham= I am; niyataH= abidingly; himavat paarshve= Himalayas, on mountainsides; sukham vasaami= delightedly, I am residing.
"Thereby, oh, Rama, I am delightfully and abidingly residing on the mountainsides of Himalayas, in adjacency of my sister Kausiki in all my affection for her. [1-34-10]
s˜ tu satyavatŸ puõy˜ satye dharme pratiÿ÷hit˜ |
pativrat˜ mah˜bh˜g˜ kauþikŸ sarit˜m var˜ || 1-34-11
11. saa satyavatii tu= she, Satyavathi, for her part; puNyaa= a pious one; satye dharme pratiSThitaa= truthfulness, righteousness, steadfast; pati vrataa mahaa bhaagaa= husband devote, highly, fortunate one; saritaam varaa kaushikii= among rivers, best of the, as River Kaushiki - she emerged.
"She that Satyavathi for her part is a pious one, steadfast in truthfulness and righteousness, a husband devout, and such a highly fortunate one has emerged as a best river among rivers, namely River Kaushiki. [1-34-11]
aham hi niyam˜t r˜ma hitv˜ t˜m samup˜gata× |
siddha ˜þramam anupr˜pta× siddho asmi tava tejas˜ || 1-34-12
12. raama= oh, Rama; aham niyamaat= I, owing to [my] vow; taam hitvaa= her, on leaving; sam upaa gataH= well, nearby [of Accomplished Hermitage,] came in; siddha aashramam anupraaptaH= to Accomplished, hermitage, I have come; tava tejasaa= by your, magnificence; siddhaH asmi= accomplished, I have.
"Owing to my vow, oh, Rama, I left her for a while and came to the Accomplished Hermitage and owing to your magnificence I have become accomplished in that vow of mine. [1-34-12]
eÿ˜ r˜ma mama utpatti× svasya vaÕþasya kŸrtit˜ |
deþasya ca mah˜b˜ho yan m˜m tvam parip®cchasi || 1-34-13
13. mahaabaahuH raama= oh, dextrous Rama; eSaa mama= this, is my; svasya vamshasya deshasya ca= of my, dynasty, [my] province, also - on which we are presently camping namely the riverbanks of Sona; utpattiH kiirtitaa= [my] birth, is narrated; yat tvam maam paripR^icChasi= which, you, me, have asked.
"Oh, dextrous Rama, this is all about my dynasty, my province on which we are presently camping namely the riverbanks of Sona, and about my birth, and thus everything is narrated as you have asked me. [1-34-13]
gato ardha r˜tra× k˜kutstha kath˜× kathayato mama |
nidr˜m abhyehi bhadram te m˜ bh¨t vighno adhvani iha na× || 1-34-14
14. kaakutstha= oh, Rama; mama kathaaH kathayataH= by me, narration, while narrating; ardha raatraH= mid, night; gataH= is past; nidraam abhyehi= [some] sleep, you get; te bhadram= good may betide you; iha naH adhvani= here - halfway, to us, on the way; vighnaH maa abhuut= hindrance, let not, occur.
"By telling these legends it is past midnight, oh, Kakutstha, you get some sleep. Safe you be! Let no hindrance occur for us halfway on our pathway. [1-34-14]
niÿpand˜× tarava× sarve nilŸn˜ m®ga pakÿiõa× |
naiþena tamas˜ vy˜pt˜ diþa× ca raghunandana || 1-34-15
15. raghu nandana= oh, Raghu's delight; taravaH niH spandaaH= trees, not, moving [standstill]; mR^iga pakSiNaH sarve ni liinaa= animals, birds, all, down, sunk - slouched; dishaH ca= confines, also; naishena tamasaa vyaaptaa= pertaining to night, darkness, are pervaded with.
"Oh, Raghu's delight, trees are standstill... animals and birds have slouched... nightly sombre has pervaded all the confines. [1-34-15]
þanai× vis®jyate sandhy˜ nabho netrai× iva ˜v®tam |
nakÿatra t˜r˜ gahanam jyotirbhi× avabh˜sate || 1-34-16
16. sandhyaa shanaiH visR^ijyate= eventide, slowly, lapsed; nakSatra taaraa gahanam= stars, starlets, filled with; nabhaH= vault of heaven; jyotibhiH= with stars; netraiH aavR^itam iva= with orbs [of heaven,] overspread, as though; ava bhaasate - splendorous / it is appearing.
"Eventide lapsed slowly and the vault of heaven filled with stars and starlets is splendorous as though orbs of heaven are overspread on its vault. [1-34-16]
uttiÿ÷hate ca þŸt˜Õþu× þaþŸ loka tamo nuda× |
hl˜dayan pr˜õin˜m loke man˜Õsi prabhay˜ svay˜ || 1-34-17
17. shiita amshuH shashii= who has coolant, moonbeams, the moon; loka tamaH nudaH= of world, darkness, while dissipating; svayaa prabhayaa= with his own, with brilliance; loke praaNinaam manaamsi= in world, living beings', hearts; hlaadayan= gladdening; uttiSThate ca= is rising, also.
"Also, dissipating the darkness of the world with his brilliance, the moon with coolant moonbeams is rising up, gladdening the hearts of worldly beings. [1-34-17]
naiþ˜ni sarva bh¨t˜ni pracaranti tata× tata× |
yakÿa r˜kÿasa saðgh˜× ca raudr˜× ca piþita aþan˜× || 1-34-18
18. naishaani= those beings that move in night - nightly beings; sarva bhuutaani= all, beings of; yakSas raakSasa sanghaaH ca= yaksha-s, demon, bands, even; raudraaH pishita ashanaaH ca= ferocious, raw flesh, eaters [ogres,] even; tataH tataH= there, there; pra caranti= are [now] milling about - astir.
"Now, the bands of yaksha-s, demons, even the ferocious ogres that feed on raw flesh, why them, all the beings that take pleasure in nights are astir, far and wide." So said Vishvamitra to Rama. [1-34-18]
evam uktv˜ mah˜tej˜ virar˜ma mah˜muni× |
s˜dhu s˜dhu iti te sarve munayo hi abhyap¨jayan || 1-34-19
19. mahaa tejaa mahaa muniH= great-resplendent, eminent, saint; evam uktvaa= this way, on saying; vi ra raama= verily, paused; sarve munayaH= all, saints; saadhu saadhu iti= well-said, well-said thus as; tam abhyapuujayan [abhi apuujayan]= him, verily, revered.
Saying so that greatly resplendent and eminent saint Vishvamitra paused, and then all the other sages have revered him saying, "well-said, well-said." [1-34-19]
kuþikan˜m ayam vaÕþo mah˜n dharmapara× sad˜ |
brahma upam˜ mah˜tmana× kuþavaÕþy˜ narottama || 1-34-20
20. kushikanaam= pertaining to Kusha's progeny; ayam vamshaH mahaan= this, dynasty is, sublime; sadaa dharma paraH= always, to righteousness, dedicated to; kusha vamshyaaH= those belonging to Kusha's lineage; nara uttamaH= men - mankind, the best ones among; mahaa aatmanaH= highly reverential ones; brahma upamaa= Brahma, in simile to - symbolise with.
"Sublime is this lineage of Kusha dynasty which always dedicated itself to righteousness, and the dynasts of Kusha are the best ones among mankind, and they symbolise with god Brahma himself, thus they are highly reverential." Thus the other sages have applauded Vishvamitra and his dynasty. [1-34-20]
viþeÿeõa bhav˜n eva viþv˜mitra mah˜yaþa× |
kauþikŸ sarit˜m þreÿ÷ha× kula udyotakarŸ tava || 1-34-21
21. mahaayashaH vishvaamitra= oh, highly renowned, Vishvamitra; bhavaan eva= you, alone; visheSeNa= especially - are exemplary, selfsame to Brahma; saritaam shreSThaH= among rivers, prominent one; kaushikii= River Kaushiki [sister of Vishvamitra]; tava kula udyotakarii= your, ancestry, she is glorifying.
"You alone are exemplarily selfsame to Brahma, oh, Vishvamitra of great-renown, and among rivers that prominent River Kaushiki is your sister, thus she is glorifying your ancestry." Thus the sages lauded Vishvamitra. [1-34-21]
muditai× muni þ˜rd¨lai× praþasta× kuþika ˜tmaja× |
nidr˜m up˜gamat þrŸm˜n astam gata iva aÕþum˜n || 1-34-22
22. [iti= in this way]; muni shaarduulaiH prashastaH= by sages, tigerly ones, one who is lauded - Vishvamitra; shriimaan kushika aatmajaH= magnificent one, Kushi's, son - Vishvamitra; muditaiH= is pleased; astam gata= to dusk, one has gone in; amshumaan iva= one having sunrays [sun,] as with; nidraam upa aagamat= sleep, nearer, came nearby - slept; or, shriimaan astam iva a.mshumaan= like the resplendent sun going to western mountain to take rest for that day, Vishvamitra drifted into sleep.
Sage Vishvamitra is pleased when those tigerly sages have laude him, and then that magnificent sage Vishvamitra lapsed into the lap of sleep, as the sun lapses into lap of dusk for that day. [1-34-22]
r˜mo api saha saumitri× kiñcit ˜gata vismaya× |
praþasya muni þ˜rd¨lam nidr˜m samupasevate || 1-34-23
23. saha saumitriH raamaH api= with, Soumitri, Rama, even; kimcit aagata vismayaH= a little, came upon, astonishment; muni shaarduulam prashasya= sage, tigerly, on applauding; nidraam sam upa sevate= sleep, well, nearly, held dear [Rama served the Goddess of Sleep, Nidra Devi; glided into Her lap of Sleep.]
Even Rama with a little astonishment coming upon him, applauding that tigerly-sage, and glided into the lap of sleep along with Soumitri. [1-34-23]
iti v˜lmŸki r˜m˜yaõe ˜di k˜vye b˜la k˜õýe catur triÕþa× sarga×
Thus, this is the 34th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
© 2002, Desiraju Kumari [Revised : July 04]