Book I : Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties

Chapter [Sarga] 70
Verses converted to UTF-8, Oct 09

Introduction

Ikshvaku's bloodline is narrated as custom demands to enquire into the bridegroom's lineage. Vashishta narrates this to Janaka and his brother Kushadhvaja, who is also summoned to participate in the wedding celebrations, and who later has to offer his two daughters to Bharata and Shatrughna. This listing and eulogising ancestors is an adjunctive custom in Indian marriages. Nowadays it is limited to cite only three preceding generations, instead of narrating from the first, since nobody holds his family tree, ready at hand.

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tataH prabhaate janakaH kR^ita karmaa maharShibhiH |
uvaaca vaakyam vaakyaj~naH shataanaMdam purohitam || 1-70-1

1. tataH prabhaate = then, in [next] morning; maha rSibhiH = through sages; kR^ita karmaa = having performed, liturgies; vaakyaj~naH = sentence, knower of [articulator]; janakaH = Janaka; purohitam shataanandam = to Shataananda, the [royal] priest; vaakyam uvaaca = sentence, said.

Then on the next day morning after getting the ritual liturgies performed through sages, he that articulator Janaka articulated this to sage Shataananda, the royal priest. [1-70-1]

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bhraataa mama mahaatejaa yaviiyaan atidhaarmikaH |
kushadhvaja iti khyaataH puriim adhyavasat shubhaam || 1-70-2
vaaryaa phalaka paryantaam piban ikShumatiim nadiim |
saaMkaashyaam puNya saMkaashaam vimaanam iva puShpakam || 1-70-3

2, 3. ati dhaarmikaH = highly, self-righteousness; kushadhvaja iti khyaataH = Kushadhvaja, thus, renowned as; mahaatejaa = highly brilliant one; mama yaviiyaan bhraataa = my, younger, brother; ikSumatiim = River Ikshumati [with sugar-cane juice like waters]; nadiim = of River Ikshumati; piban = drinking [supping]; vaaryaa phalaka paryantaam = in water [of moats,] staked trident [bastions,] all around; shubhaam = auspicious; puNya sankaashaam = holiness, equal to - a holy city; saankaashyaam = Saankaasya named city; puriim = in such city; puSpakam vimaanam iva = Pushpaka, aircraft, like; adhyavasat = presides over [he is ruling from.]

"My younger brother renowned thus as Kushadhvaja, a highly self-righteous one and a highly brilliant one is ruling from the auspicious and holy city named Saankaasya, which city is surrounded by River Ikshumati as a natural moat, in which moat bastions of tridents are staked all around... and my brother presides over that city as if he is sitting in the Pushpaka aircraft of richly-rich god Kubera, and as though supping the sugarcane juice-like waters of River Ikshumati... [1-70-2, 3]

The words vaaryaa phalaka paryantaam also mean 'that city is surrounded by the plantation of citrus grapefruits that are famous for health keeping.

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tam aham draShTum icChaami yaj~na goptaa sa me mataH |
priitim so api mahaatejaa imaam bhoktaa mayaa saha || 1-70-4

4. aham tam draSTum icChaami = I, him, to see, I wish; saH me yaj~na goptaa mataH = = he, my, Vedic-ritual's, protector- benefactor, agreed to be - he is nominated as supplier of all paraphernalia to the ritual; mahaa tejaa saH api = highly brilliant one, he, even; mayaa saha imaam priitim bhoktaa = me, along with, this [marriage,] joyousness of, will be rejoicer.

"And I wish to see him, as he is the nominated benefactor of this Vedic-ritual of mine, and he too shall become a rejoicer in partaking the joyousness of this marriage... " So said Janaka to Shataananda. [1-70-4]

Kushadhvaja supplied whole lot of paraphernalia for this Vedic-ritual of Janaka from his auspicious city Saankaasya, and hence he is the benefactor of the ritual.

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evam ukto tu vacane shataanaMdasya saMnidhau |
aagataaH kecid avyagraa janakaH taan samaadishat || 1-70-5

5. shata anandasya sannidhau = Shataananda, in presence of; evam vacane ukte sati = that way, words [enunciation,] after saying [on asseverating,] while being so; a vyagraa = not, flustering [alacritous envoys]; kecit aagataaH = some [envoys,] have come; janakaH taan samaadishat = Janaka, them, ordered.

That way when Janaka asseverated that enunciation in the presence of Shataananda, Shataananda in turn ordered and summoned envoys, and then some alacritous envoys have come, whom Janaka ordered to proceed to his brother. [1-70-5]

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shaasanaat tu narendrasya prayayuH shiighra vaajibhiH |
samaanetum naravyaaghram viShNum indra aaj~nayaa yathaa || 1-70-6

6. narendrasya shaasanaat tu = by king's, order, just by; indra aaj~nayaa viSNum yathaa = Indra, by order of, Vishnu, as with - to fetch Vishnu as per Indra's order; naravyaaghram samaanetum = manly-tiger [Kushadhvaja]; to fetch; shiighra vaajibhiH prayayuH = [those envoys that] have speedy, horses, travelled.

By the order of the king those envoys who have speedy horses have travelled on to city Saankaasya speedily, to lead forth that manly-tiger Kushadhvaja that speedily, which is as good as fetching Vishnu by order of Indra. [1-70-6]

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saMkaasyaam te samaagaMya dadR^ishuH ca kushdhvajam |
nyavedayan yathaa vR^ittam janakasya ca cintitam || 1-70-7

7. te = those envoys; samkaasyaam samaagamya = in Saankaasya city, on arriving; kushdhvajam dadR^ishuH ca = Kushadhvaja, they have seen, also; yathaa vR^ittam = as has, happened; and; janakasya cintitam ca = Janaka's, thought of [point of view,] even; nyavedayan = reported.

On arriving in city Saankaasya those envoys have seen king Kushadhvaja and on submitting what has happened to the king about Rama's breaking of Shiva's bow, and they have also submitted the point of view of Janaka regarding marriages of four daughters. [1-70-7]

The viewpoint of Janaka is to offset the problem of marriages of both the daughters of his brother Kushadhvaja. Dasharatha has four sons and Janaka presaged a quadruple alliance with him, where Janaka has two daughters and his brother Kushadhvaja has two.

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tad vR^ittam nR^ipatiH shrutvaa duuta shreShThaiH mahaa javaiH |
aaj~nayaa tu narendrasya aajagaama kushadhvajaH || 1-70-8

8. nR^ipatiH kushadhvajaH = king, Kushadhvaja; mahaa javaiH = through great, speeded [of praiseworthy speed]; duuta shreSThaiH = from envoys, worthy ones; tat vR^ittam shrutvaa = that, event, on hearing; narendrasya aaj~nayaa aajagaama = by king Janaka's, order, came forth [to Mithila.]

On hearing that event from the worthy envoys whose speed is praiseworthy, king Kushadhvaja came right away to Mithila by the order of king Janaka. [1-70-8]

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sa dadarsha mahaatmaanam janakam dharma vatsalam |
so abhivaadya shataanaMdam janakam ca ati dhaarmikam || 1-70-9
raaja arham paramam divyam aasanam ca adhyarohata |

9, 10a. saH = he Kushadhvaja; dharma vatsalam = towards duty [of an elder brother,] a compassionate one - one who is helping as an elder brother; mahaatmaanam janakam = noble souled [insightful,] Janaka; dadarsha = has seen [addressed himself]; saH = he Kushadhvaja; shataanandam = [firstly] to Shataananda; and; ati dhaarmikam = highly, righteous [fondly, affectionate brother]; janakam ca = [next] to Janaka, also; abhivaadya = on reverencing; raaja arham = for king, befitting; paramam divyam aasanam ca = highly, divine [majestic,] on seat, also; adhyarohata [adhi aa rohat ] = mounted upon [sat upon.]

Kushadhvaja addressed himself to the insightful one and a compassionate person in the duty of an elder brother, namely Janaka, and on reverencing sage Shataananda firstly, next he has reverenced his fondly affectionate brother Janaka, and then he sat upon a majestic seat, that which is befitting to kings. [1-70-9, 10a]

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upaviShTau ubhau tau tu bhraatarau amita ojasau || 1-70-10
preShayaamaasatuH viirau mantri shreShTham sudaamanam |

10b, 11a. a mita ojasau = of un, limited, self-refulgence; tau viirau = those two, valorous [distinguished brothers for their righteous acts]; ubhau bhraatarau = both, brothers; upaviSTau = while seated [having assumed high seats]; mantri shreSTham sudaamanam = minister, distinguished one, Sudaamana; preSayaamaasatuH = started to send.

Both the brothers of unlimited self-refulgence having assumed their high seats, they who are distinguished for their righteous acts have started to send Sudaamana, the distinguished minister. [1-70-10b, 11a]

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gacCha maMtri pate shiighram ikShvaakam amita prabham || 1-70-11
aatmajaiH saha durdharSham aanayasva sa maMtriNam |

11b, 12a. mantri pate = oh, minister, husband / chief [plenipotentiary]; shiighram = immediately; amita prabham = to one with - un, limited, resplendence; ikSvaakam = to Ikshvaku's [legatee of, Dasharatha]; gacCha = you go; dur dharSam = un, assailable [invincible king Dasharatha]; sa mantriNam = who will be - with, ministers [Vedic celebrants]; aatmajaiH saha = with his sons; aanayasva = lead him forth [hither.]

"Oh, minister plenipotentiary, Sudaamana, you please proceed immediately to king Dasharatha, the legatee of Ikshvaku-s with illimitable resplendence, and let that invincible king Dasharatha be led hither along with his sons and along with his Vedic-celebrants..." Thus Janaka ordered Sudaamana, the minister. [1-70-11b, 12a]

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aupakaaryaam sa gatvaa tu raghuuNaam kula vardhanam || 1-70-12
dadarsha shirasaa ca enam abhivaadya idam abraviit |

12b, 13a. saH = he Sudaamana; aupakaaryaam = to visitatorial-palace; gatvaa = on going; raghuuNaam kula vardhanam = of Raghu's, heritage, promoter of - Dasharatha; dadarsha = seen [appeared before]; enam shirasaa abhivaadya ca = him, with head [head-bent, bow down] on hailing, also; idam abraviit = this, said.

Accordingly Sudaamana has gone to the visitatorial-palace of the promoter of Raghu's heritage, namely Dasharatha, and he said this on appearing before that king duly bowing down and hailing the king. [1-70-12b, 13a]

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ayodhyaa adhipate viira vaideho mithilaa adhipaH || 1-70-13
sa tvaam draShTum vyavasitaH sa upaadhyaaya purohitam |

13b-14a. viira = oh, valiant one; ayodhyaa adhipate = oh, Ayodhya', sovereign; mithilaa adhipaH = Mithila's, sovereign; saH vaidehaH = he, the king of Videha heritage - Janaka; sa upaadhyaaya purohitam = with [your] mentors, royal-priest; tvaam draSTum vyavasitaH = you, to see [seeking an audience,] poised for.

"Oh, valiant king, oh, sovereign of Ayodhya, his highness the sovereign of Mithila from the heritage of Videha kings is poised for seeking an audience with your highness, along with your highness' royal-priest Vashishta and other mentors..." The minister Sudaamana said so to Dasharatha. [1-70-13b, 14a]

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maMtri shreShTha vacaH shrutvaa raajaa sa R^iShi gaNaH tadaa || 1-70-14
sa bandhuH agamat tatra janako yatra var.htate |

14b, 15a. tadaa = then; raajaa = king Dasharatha; mantri shreSTha vacaH shrutvaa = minister, best one's, words, on hearing; sa R^iSi gaNaH = , with, sage's, assemblages; sa bandhuH = with, kinsmen; janakaH yatra vartate = Janaka, where, is available; tatra = there; agamat = came.

On hearing that best minister's words, then king Dasharatha came to the place where Janaka is available, along with his kinsmen and the assemblages of sages. [1-70-14b, 15a]

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raajaa ca maMtri sahitaH sa upaadhyaayaH sa baaMdhavaH || 1-70-15
vaakyam vaakya vidaam shreShTho vaideham idam abraviit |

15b, 16a. mantri sahitaH = ministers, along with; sa upaadhyaayaH = with [amongst,] mentors; sa baandhavaH = with, kinsfolk; vaakya vidaam shreSThah = sentence, experts in making, the best [sententious king Dasharatha]; raajaa = king Dasharatha; vaideham idam vaakyam abraviit = to king from the linage of Videha, this, sentence, said.

That sententious king Dasharatha said this to the king from the lineage of Videha kings, Janaka, who is with his mentors, kinsfolk, and ministers. [1-70-15b, 16a]

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viditam te mahaaraaja ikShvaaku kula daivatam || 1-70-16
vaktaa sarveShu kR^ityeShu vasiShTho bhagavaan R^iShiH |

16b,17a. mahaaraaja = oh, exalted king Janaka; bhagavaan R^iSiH vasiSThaH = godly, sage, Vashishta; ikSvaaku kula daivatam = Ikshvaku, for bloodline, godlike; sarveSu kR^ityeSu = in all, the works [affairs]; vaktaa = speaker [our internuncio]; te viditam = to you, known, [you already appreciate.]

"Oh, exalted king Janaka, you already appreciate that this godly sage Vashishta is godlike to the bloodline of Ikshvaku-s, and in all affairs he is our internuncio... [1-70-16b, 17a]

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vishvaamitra abhyanuj~naataH saha sarvaiH mahar.hShibhiH || 1-70-17
eSha vakShyati dharmaatmaa vasiShTho me yathaa kramam |
tuuShNiim bhuute dasharathe vasiShTho bhagavaan R^iShiH || 1-70-18
uvaaca vaakyam vaakyaj~no vaideham sa purodhasaam |

17b, 18, 19a. sarvaiH maharSibhiH saha = all, great sages, along with; vishvaamitra abhi anu j~naataH = by Vishvamitra, duly assented; dharmaatmaa eSa vasiSThaH = virtue-souled [equanimous,] this, Vashishta; yathaa kramam = as per, lineage; me = of mine [my bloodline]; vakSyatihe= will narrate about; dasharathe = by Dasharatha; tuuSNiim bhuute = silent, on becoming - when took pause; vaakya j~naH = sententious sage; vasiSThaH bhagavaan R^iSiH = Vashishta, godly, sage; sa purodhasaam = with, [his] men of the cloth; vaideham vaakyam uvaaca = to Videha king, sentence, said.

"Should an assent be given by Sage Vishvamitra, along with all the great sages present here, this equanimous Vashishta will narrate about my bloodline, lineally..." And, to the nod of Vishvamitra Dasharatha become reticent, and then the godly and sententious sage Vashishta who is along with his men of the cloth said these sentences to the king of Videha, namely Janaka. [1-70-17b, 18, 19a]

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avyakta prabhavo brahmaa shaashvato nitya avyayaH || 1-70-19
tasmaat mariiciH saMjaj~ne mariiceH kashyapaH sutaH |
vivasvaan kashyapaat jaj~ne manur vaivasvataH smR^itaH || 1-70-20

19b, 20. a+vyakta = un, provable; prabhavaH = emanated from; shaashvataH = timeless; nitya = changeless; a vyayaH = perishless; such a; brahmaa = Brahma - is there; tasmaat mariiciH sanjaj~ne = from, that [Being, Brahma,] Mariichi, is begotten; mariiceH kashyapaH sutaH = of Mariici, Kaashyapa, is the son; kashyapaat = from Kaashyapa; vivasvaan = Vivasvaan [The Sun]; jaj~ne = is begotten; vaivasvataH = from Vaivasvat [from Sun]; manuH smR^itaH = = Manu, is said to be the son.

"The Unprovable emanated the timeless, changeless and perishless Brahma, and from that Being, namely Brahma, Mariichi is begotten, and Kaashyapa is the son of Mariichi, and the Sun is begotten from Kaashyapa, and Manu is said to be the son of the Sun... [1-70-19b, 20]

The avyakta is the 'Unmanifest' of advaita tenet. Here it an 'Unprovable' entity since it cannot be proved by pramaaNa-s 'source of knowledge' like pratyaksha, anumana, tarka, aagama... 'perception, inference, logic, scriptures...' and because Vishnu cannot be deduced by these sources of knowledge, Vishnu Himself becomes the avyakta. And from the viewpoint of mythology, Ramayana has no place for a 'featureless Absolute...' nir guNa brahma of advaita, because Valmiki's initial questions to Narada include ko guNavaan, and thus He is sa guNa brahma. Hence avykta or aakaasha, a kaasha, 'minus, leeway...' all-pervading...' is Vishnu, the 'Unprovable'.

This aakaasha is the often repeated expression in Upanishad-s, telling it to be the aatma, Absolute, abiding in each individual jiiva aatma, Individual Soul. aakaasho ha vai naama ruupayoH nirvahitaaH te yad antara tad brahma tad amR^itam sa aatmaa - chaandogya - 8-14 | ko he vaaNyatkaH praaNaat ya eSha aakaasha aanando na syaat - taittariiya - 7 anuvaaka | aakaashor arthaantaratvaadivyapadeshaat - 1-3-41 | dahara uttarebhyaH - 1-3-14 - brahma suutra ;'who is he to be able to balance himself if this aakaasha is not to be there...' Taittarriya; 'that which makes the names and forms is within you alone as your innermost inner-space, that alone is deathless...' Chanandogya; 'akaasha [is Absolute] because it is proclaimed to be something different etc., [from names and forms yet their revealer...]; 'the small [aakaasha] is Absolute because of subsequent texts [which give ample evidence of it...] Brahma Sutra. Hence, it is Vishnu.

Out of the three epithets to Brahma one is 'timeless' because He continues to be in two para artha-s, say 31, 10, 40, 00, 00, 00, 000 human years, without transmutation, yet He continues further. He is 'changeless' as his faculties or His divine being does not undergo any mutation or metamorphosis. He is 'perishless' during the above period and after, since Vishnu gave rise to Him. Up to here is ultramundane order of progeny and the mundane lineage is now continued.

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manuH prajaapatiH puurvam ikShvaakuH ca manoH sutaH |
tam ikShvaakum ayodhyaayaam raajaanam viddhi puurvakam || 1-70-21

21. manuH puurvam prajaapatiH = Manu is, earliest, Prajaapati; ikSvaakuH manoH sutaH = Ikshvaku is, Manu's, son; tam ikSvaakum = him, that Ikshvaku; ayodhyaayaam = in Ayodhya; puurvakam raajaanam viddhi = as earliest, king, know thus.

"Manu is the earliest Prajaapati and Ikshvaaku is the son of Manu, and that Ikshvaaku is the first king of Ayodhya... know thus... [1-70-21]

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ikShvaakoH tu sutaH shriimaan kukShiH iti eva vishrutaH |
kukSheH atha aatmajaH shriimaan vikukshiH upapadyata || 1-70-22

22. shriimaan kukSiH iti eva vishrutaH = legendary one, Kukshi, thus, only, renowned; ikSvaakoH sutaH = Ikshvaaku's, son; atha = then; kukSeH = from Kukshi; shriimaan vikukshiH aatmajaH upapadyata = famous, Vikukshi, son - originated.

"The son of Ikshvaaku is the legendary Kukshi, thus he is renowned, and the famous Vikukshi is the son of Kukshi... [1-70-22]

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vikuksheH tu mahaatejaa baaNaH putraH prataapavaan |
baaNasya tu mahaatejaa anaraNyaH prataapavaan || 1-70-23

23. mahaatejaa = most brilliant one; prataapavaan = courageous one; baaNaH = Baana; vikuksheH putraH = Vikukshi's, son; mahaatejaa prataapavaan = highly refulgent, valiant; anaraNyaH = Anaranya is; baaNasya = Baana's [son.]

"From that most brilliant and courageous Vikukshi, Baana emerged as son, and the highly refulgent and valinat Anaranya is the son of Baana... [1-70-23]

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anaraNyaat pR^ithuH jaj~ne trishaMkuH tu pR^ithoH sutaH |
trishaMkoH abhavat putro dhundhumaaraH mahaayashaaH || 1-70-24

24. anaraNyaat pR^ithuH jaj~ne = from Anaranya, Pruthu, born; trishankuH tu pR^ithoH sutaH = Trishanku is, but, Pruthu's, son; trishankoH = from Trishanku; mahaayashaaH dhundhumaaraH putraH abhavat = highly renowned one, Dhundumaara, son, emerged as.

"Pruthu is the son of Anaranya, and Trishanku is Pruthu's son, and the highly renowned Dhundumaara happened to be the son of Trishanku... [1-70-24]

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dhundhumaaraat mahaatejaa yuvanaashvo mahaarathaH |
yuvanaashva sutaH asiit maandhaataa pR^ithivii patiH || 1-70-25

25. dhundhumaaraat = from Dhundumaara; mahaatejaa mahaarathaH yuvanaashvaH = highly glorious one, speediest charioteer, Yuvanaashva - is the son; pR^ithivii patiH = land, lord of - king; maandhaataa = Maandhaata; yuvanaashva sutaH asiit = Yuvanaashva's, son, emerged as.

"Dhundumaara begot a highly glorious and a speediest charioteer Yuvanaashva as son, and Mandhaata emerged as the son of Yuvanaashva... [1-70-25]

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maandhaatuH tu sutaH shriimaan susandhiH udapadyata |
susaMdheH api putrau dvau dhruvasaMdhiH prasenajit || 1-70-26

26. maandhaatuH = to Maandhaata; susandhiH = one named Susandhi; shriimaan sutaH udapadyata = a highly noble, son, engendered; susandheH api = from Susandhi, even; dhruvasandhiH = Dhruvasandhi; prasenajit = Prasenajit; dvau putrau = two, sons - took birth.

"Maandhaata engendered the highly noble Susandhi as son, and even Susandhi engendered two sons, namely Dhruvasandhi and Prasenajit... [1-70-26]

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yashasvii dhruvasaMdheH tu bharato naama naamataH |
bharataat tu mahaatejaa asito naama jaayata || 1-70-27

27. dhruvasandheH tu = from Dhruvasandhi, but; naamataH bharataH naama = by name, Bharata, named; yashasvii = an illustrious one - took birth; bharataat tu = from Bharata, but; mahaatejaa = highly effulgent one; asita naama jaayata = Asita, by name, is begotten.

"From Dhruvasandhi, an illustrious one named as Bharata is begotten, and Bharata begot a highly effulgent son named as Asita... [1-70-27]

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yasya ete prati raajana udapatyanta shaatravaH |
haihaya taalajaMghaaH ca shuuraaH ca shashabiMdvaH || 1-70-28

28. yasya = to which [Asita]; haihaya = Haihaya-s; taalajanghaaH ca = Taalajanghaa-s, also; shuuraaH shashabindvaH = valiant, Shashabindu-s; ete = these are; prati raajana = counter, kings [hostile kings]; shaatravaH udapatyanta = adversaries, resulted as.

"To which Asita, kings like Haihaya-s, Taalajanghaa-s, and the valiant Shashabindu-s have become adversaries and kings in hostility, he had to wage war with them... [1-70-28]

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taan ca sa prati yuddhyan vai yuddhe raajaa pravaasitaH |
himavantam upaagaMya bhaaryaabhyaam sahitaH tadaa || 1-70-29

29. saH = he Asita; taan yuddhe = them, in war; prati yuddhyan = counter, attacking; pravaasitaH = exiled [dethroned]; raajaa = king Asita; tadaa = then; bhaaryaabhyaam sahitaH = two wives, along with; himavantam upaagamya = Himalayas, on reaching.

"While counterattacking those kings, Asita is dethroned in war and then he reached Himalayas along with his two wives... [1-70-29]

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asito alpa balo raajaa kaala dharmam upeyivaan |
dve ca asya bhaarye garbhiNyai babhuuvatuH iti shruti || 1-70-30
ekaa garbha vinaasha artham sapatnai sagaram dadau |

30, 31a. raajaa asitaH = king, Asita; alpa balaH = with meagre, army; [staying on Himalayas]; kaala dharmam upeyivaan = Time's, onus, he drew nigh of - breathed his last; at that time; asya dve bhaarye garbhiNyai babhuuvatuH = his, two, wives, pregnant, they were; ekaa = one [of two wives]; garbha vinaasha artham = pregnancy, ruination [abortion,] purpose of; sa patnai sagaram dadau = to co-, wife, toxic [food,] gave; iti shruti = thus, we heard.

"Asita was with his meagre forces when he was in Himalayas, and there he drew nigh of his Time. At the time of his demise two of his wives were pregnant, and one of two wives gave toxic food to the co-wife for abortion... thus we heard... [1-70-30-31a]

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tataH shailavare raMye babhuuva abhirato muniH || 1-70-31
bhaargava cyavano naama himavaMtam upaashritaH |

31b-32a. tataH = then; ramye shaila vare abhirataH = on mountain, best, beautiful, in fascination; bhaargava cyavanaH naama muniH = sage Bhrigu's [heir,] Cyavana, named, saint; himavantam upaashritaH babhuuva = on Himalayas, taking shelter, he was there.

"There was a saint named Cyavana, the heir of Sage Bhrigu, who in fascination with best and beautiful mountains then taking shelter on Himalayas. [1-70-31b, 32a]

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tatra ca ekaa mahaabhaagaa bhaargavam deva varcasam || 1-70-32
vavande padma patraakshii kaaMkshantii sutam uttamam |

32b, 33a. mahaabhaagaa = highly fortunate one; padma patra akshii = lotus, petal, eyed one; [tayoH = of the two wives]; ekaa = one [from two wives of Asita]; uttamam sutam kaankshantii = a best, son, desirous of; tatra = there; deva varcasam bhaargavam vavande = godly, in glow, reverenced.

"One of the two wives of Asita, the lotus-petal eyed and highly fortunate one queen came there desirous of a best son, and reverenced the sage who is godly in his glow... [1-70-32b-33a]

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tam R^iShim saa abhyupagaMya kaalindii ca abhyavaadata || 1-70-33
sa taam abhyavadat vipraH putra iipsum putra janmani |

33b, 34a. saa kaalindii ca = she, that Kaalidi, also; tam R^iSim abhyupagamya abhyavaadata = to him, that sage, on reaching nigh, reverenced; saH = he, that; vipraH = Brahman - the sage; taam = to her - who firstly arrived, who received poison; putra iipsum = son, who is desiring; putra janmani = in the matter of son's, birth; abhi avadat = towards, said.

"Another queen Kaalindi who administer food poison to her co-wife has also come to the sage, and she too reverenced him. That sage spoke to her who received poison from her co-wife regarding the birth of her son. [1-70-34]

There are variations in reading these lines. While some say that Kaalindi is one who 'gave' toxic food to her sister, while some others say that Kaalindi is the one who 'received' the poisoned food. Here taking the kaalindi ca 'Kaalindi also...' it is said that 'Kaalindi is she who has administered poison...' Since she is also pregnant, coupled with the guilt of poisoning, hence the use of ca , she too came to the sage.

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tava kukshau mahaabhaage su putraH su mahaabalaH || 1-70-34
mahaaviiryo mahaatejaa aciraat saMjaniShyati |
gareNa sahitaH shriimaan maa shucaH kamalekshaNe || 1-70-35

34b, 35. mahaabhaage = oh, highly fortunate lady; tava kukshau = in your, stomach [womb]; su mahaabalaH = very, highly mighty one; mahaaviiryaH mahaatejaa = highly vigorous, highly refulgent one; su putraH = a righteous, son - is there; shriimaan = that illustrious one; gareNa sahitaH = toxin, along with; aciraat samjaniSyati = soon, he takes birth; kamala iikshaNe = oh, lotus-petal eyed one; maa shucaH = need not, worry.

" 'Oh, highly fortunate lady, a very good son and a very mighty son is there in your womb. Soon you will give birth to a highly vigorous, highly refulgent son and that illustrious one will take birth with toxicity, but there is no need to worry...' So said Sage Cyavana to the queen of Asita who received the poison. [1-70-35]

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cyavanam ca namaskR^itya raajaputrii pativrataa |
patyaa virahitaa tasmaat putram devii vyajaayata || 1-70-36

36. raajaputrii pativrataa = king's, daughter, husband devout; patyaa virahitaa = husband, without [is no more]; devii = that lady; cyavanam namaskR^itya = to Sage Cyavana, on reverencing; tasmaat = thereby [by the boon of sage]; putram vyajaayata = son, gave birth to.

"On reverencing Sage Cyavana that husband devout princess whose husband is no more that lady gave birth to a son... [1-70-36]

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sapatnyaa tu garaH tasyaiH datto garbha jighaaMsayaa |
saha tena gareNa eva saMjaataH sagaroi abhavat || 1-70-37

37. sapatnyaa = by co-wife; tasyaiH = to her; garbha jighaamsayaa = for womb, ruination [for abortion]; garaH dattaH = poison, given; tena gareNa saha samjaataH = with that, poison, along with, who took birth; hence he; sagaraH abhavat = Sagara, became.

"Because he took birth along with the poison administered to his mother by her co-wife, he became Sagara, the emperor..." [1-70-37]

Parable: When king Asita passed away his queen and this Sagara's mother wanted to commit self-immolation, but this Sage Cyavana dissuades her from it because she is pregnant, and takes her to his hermitage. When she gave birth to Sagara, Sage Cyavana rears up Sagara and teaches him all of the archery by according aagneya astra Fire-missile etc., kingcraft, and scriptures. On one occasion when Sagara asks for the details about his father, Cyavana had to tell all the legend of Asita and his conflicts with yavana-s, and shaka-s. Sagara becoming furious at Haihaya-s, Taalajanghaa-s, and the valiant Shashabindu-s, wars with them and drives them out of this country. While doing so, Sagara makes yavana-s tonsured, shaka-s or so-called Scythians, as half-tonsured, and paarada-s as shaggy haired ones, thus stripping of their Kshatriya-hood. Taking the nearness of name paarada to Persia, it is said that the kings repulsed by Sagara taken domicile in the Middle East and a aaryan or a aa riaan is Airan or present day Iran, and age-old are Indo-Iranian links. Further, the word Asia has its own nearness to the name of king Asita.

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sagarasya asya asamaMjaH tu asamaMjaat atha aMshumaan |
diliipo aMshumataH putro diliipasya bhagiirathaH || 1-70-38

38. asya sagarasya asamanjaH = from that, Sagara, Asamnja; atha = then; asamanjaat amshumaan = from Asamanja, Amshuman; diliipaH amshumataH putraH = Diliipa, Amshuman's, son; diliipasya bhagiirathaH = of Diliipa, is Bhageeratha - is the son.

"From Sagara it is Asamanja and from Asamanja it is Amshuman, and from Amshuman it is Diliipa, and the son of Diliipa is Bhageeratha... [1-70-38]

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bhagiirathaat kakutsthaH ca kakutsthasya raghuH tathaa |
raghoH tu putraH tejasvii pravR^iddhaH puruShaadakaH || 1-70-39
kalmaaShapaado hi abhavat tasmaat jaataH tu sha~NkhaNaH |

39, 40a. bhagiirathaat kakutsthaH ca = from Bhageeratha, Kakutstha, also; tathaa = thus; raghuH kakutsthasya = it is Raghu, from Kakutstha; tejasvii pravR^iddhaH = resplendent one, Pravriddha; raghoH putraH = Raghu's, son; he alone is; puruSa aadakaH = human flesh, eater; kalmaaSapaadaH hi abhavat = Kalmashapaada one, indeed, [Pravriddha] became; tasmaat sha~NkhaNaH jaataH = from him [Pravriddha,] Shankana, is born.

"From Bhageeratha it is Kakutstha, from Kakutstha it is Raghu, and Raghu's son is the great resplendent Pravriddha, who is reduced to a human flesh eater, and he is also known as Kalmashapaada... and from him, that Pravriddha, Shankana is born... [1-70-39, 40a]

This Pravriddha is really a great king in this lineage, but somewhat arrogant. So, at one time he was subjected to the fury of Vashishta and becomes a man-eating demon. But he too got his mystic powers. When he was trying to issue a counter-curse to Vashishta, by taking water into his hand, his wife Madayanti, being a husband devout wife dissuades him to not to counter all-powerful Vashishta. He on listening to his wife drops that water taken for cursing, onto his own feet. Then his accursed water blemished him via his feet. Hence, he is also termed as Kalmashapaada.

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sudarshanaH shaMkhaNasya agnivarNaH sudarshanaat || 1-70-40
shiighragaH tu agnivarNasya shiighragasya maruH sutaH |
maroH prashushrukaH tu aasiit aMbariiShaH prashushrukaat || 1-70-41

40b, 41. shankhaNasya sudarshanaH = Shamkana's [son is,] Sudarshana; sudarshanaat agnivarNaH = from Sudarshana, it is Agnivarna; agnivarNasya shiighragaH = of Agnivarna, Shiigraga; shiighragasya sutaH maruH = Shiighraga's, son, is Maru; maroH prashushrukaH = from Maru, it is Prashushruka; prashushrukaat ambariiSaH aasiit = from Prashushruka, Ambariisha, it was - the son.

" Shankana's son is Sudarshana, and from Sudarshana it is Agnivarsna... And Shiigraga is the son of Agnivarsna, and Shiighraga's son is Maru and from Maru it is Prashushruka, and Ambariisha is the son of Prashushruka... [1-70-41]

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aMbariiShasya putro abhuut nahuShaH ca mahiipatiH |
nahuShasya yayaatiH tu naabhaagaH tu yayaati jaH || 1-70-42

42. mahiipatiH nahuSaH = king, Nahusha; ambariiSasya putraH abhuut = Ambariisha's, son, was there; nahuSasya yayaatiH = Nahusha's [son is,] Yayaati; naabhaagaH yayaati jaH = Naabhaaga, from Yayaati, born.

"Ambariisha's son was Nahusha, the emperor and Yayaati is the son of Nahusha, but Naabhaaga is born to Yayaati... [1-70-42]

These names Nahusha and Yayaati also occur in other Puraana-s, indicating them in earlier eras to Ramayana period.

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naabhaagasya bhabhuuva aja ajaat dasharatho abhavat |
asmaat dasharathaat jaatau bhraatarau raama lakShmaNau || 1-70-43

43. naabhaagasya aja bhabhuuva = Naabhaaga's, Aja, became - son; ajaat dasharathaH abhavat = from Aja, Dasharatha, is manifest; asmaat dasharathaat = from him, from Dasharatha,; bhraatarau raama lakSmaNau jaatau = brothers, Rama, Lakshmana, are born.

"Aja was Naabhaaga's son and from Aja, this Dasharatha is manifest, and from him, from this Dasharatha, these brothers, Rama and Lakshmana are born... [1-70-43]

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aadi vaMsha vishuddhaanaam raaj~naam parama dharmiNaam |
ikShvaaku kula jaataanaam viiraaNaam satya vaadinaam || 1-70-44
raama lakShmaNayoH arthe tvat sute varaye nR^ipa |
sadR^ishaabhyaam narashreShTha sadR^ishe daatum ar.hhasi || 1-70-45

44, 45. narashreSTha = oh, best one among men, oh, Janaka; nR^ipa = oh, king Janaka; aadi [aaditaH] = from the beginning; vamsha = dynastically [this bloodline]; vi shuddhaanaam = spotlessly immaculate [souls]; parama dharmiNaam = immensely, impeccable ones; viiraaNaam = for indomitable ones; satya vaadinaam = truth, advocates of - irreproachable ones; ikSvaaku kula jaataanaam = in Ikshvaaku bloodline, born in; raaj~naam = belonging to kings; raama lakSmaNayoH arthe = Rama, Lakshmana's, in respect of; tvat sute varaye = your, daughters, I espouse; sadR^ishaabhyaam sadR^ishe = to seemly [pair of brothers,] seemly daughters of yours; datum = to espouse to; arhasi = meetly of you.

"Oh, best one among men, Janaka, from the beginning this bloodline of Ikshvaaku-s is spotlessly immaculate, immensely impeccable, indomitable, and irreproachable, and in respect of these kings born in this line of blood, oh, king Janaka, I espouse that it will be meetly of you to offer your seemly daughters to this seemly pair of Rama and Lakshmana..." So said Vashishta to king Janaka. [1-70-44, 45]

...

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye baala kaaNDe saptatitamaH sargaH

Thus, this is the 70th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.

Verse Locator for Book I : : Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties : Chapter 70

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© April, 2003, Desiraju Hanumanta Rao [Revised : January 05]

 

 

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