Bala Kanda, Sarga 10

सुमन्त्रश्चोदितो राज्ञा प्रोवाचेदं वचस्तदा। यथर्श्यशृङ्गस्त्वानीत श्श्रुणु मे मन्त्रिभिस्सह।।1.10.1।।

sumantraścodito rājñā provācedaṃ vacastadā| yatharśyaśṛṅgastvānīta śśruṇu me mantribhissaha

Thus prompted by king Dasaratha, Sumantra said, "I shall relate to you the manner in which Rsyasringa was brought to the court. Listen to me along with your ministers".

रोमपादमुवाचेदं सहामात्य: पुरोहित:। उपायो निरपायोऽयमस्माभिरभिचिन्तित:।। 1.10.2।।

romapādamuvācedaṃ sahāmātya: purohita:| upāyo nirapāyo'yamasmābhirabhicintita:

The priest accompanied by ministers said to Romapada, "We have thought over a plan which will never fail."

ऋश्यशृङ्गो वनचरस्तपस्स्वाध्ययने रत:। अनभिज्ञस्स नारीणां विषयाणां सुखस्य च।1.10.3।।

ṛśyaśṛṅgo vanacarastapassvādhyayane rata:| anabhijñassa nārīṇāṃ viṣayāṇāṃ sukhasya ca|1.10.3||

"Rsyasringa, residing in the forest, is engrossed in the study of the Vedas. He is not acquainted with women and sensual pleasures.

इन्द्रियार्थैरभिमतैर्नरचित्तप्रमाथिभि: । पुरमानाययिष्याम: क्षिप्रं चाध्यवसीयताम्।। 1.10.4।।

indriyārthairabhimatairnaracittapramāthibhi: | puramānāyayiṣyāma: kṣipraṃ cādhyavasīyatām

By means of such things that can cause sensual pleasures and overpower the minds of men, we shall be able to bring him to the town. Let it be decided quickly (said the ministers)

गणिकास्तत्र गच्छन्तु रूपवत्यस्स्वलङ्कृता:। प्रलोभ्य विविधोपायैरानेष्यन्तीह सत्कृता:।।1.10.5।।

gaṇikāstatra gacchantu rūpavatyassvalaṅkṛtā:| pralobhya vividhopāyairāneṣyantīha satkṛtā:

Beautiful and welladorned courtesans, may be sent there. They will allure him by various means and honourably bring him here.

श्रुत्वा तथेति राजा च प्रत्युवाच पुरोहितम्। पुरोहितो मन्त्रिणश्च तथा चक्रुश्च ते तदा।।1.10.6।।

śrutvā tatheti rājā ca pratyuvāca purohitam| purohito mantriṇaśca tathā cakruśca te tadā

The king, having listened to these words, conveyed his approval saying, 'Let it be done that way'. The priests and ministers acted accordingly.

वारमुख्याश्च तच्छ्रुत्वा वनं प्रविविशुर्महत्। आश्रमस्याविदूरेऽस्मिन् यत्नं कुर्वन्ति दर्शने।।1.10.7।। ऋषिपुत्रस्य धीरस्य नित्यमाश्रमवासिन:।

vāramukhyāśca tacchrutvā vanaṃ praviviśurmahat| āśramasyāvidūre'smin yatnaṃ kurvanti darśane ṛṣiputrasya dhīrasya nityamāśramavāsina:|

Having heard this, beautiful courtesans entered the great forest and remaining at a place not far from the hermitage made efforts to steal a sight of this son of a sage (Rsyasringa), this forest dweller, this controller of the senses.

पितुस्सनित्यसन्तुष्टो नातिचक्राम चाश्रमात्।।1.10.8।। न तेन जन्मप्रभृति दृष्टपूर्वं तपस्विना। स्त्री वा पुमान्वा यच्चान्यत्सर्वं नगरराष्ट्रजम्।। 1.10.9।।

pitussanityasantuṣṭo nāticakrāma cāśramāt na tena janmaprabhṛti dṛṣṭapūrvaṃ tapasvinā| strī vā pumānvā yaccānyatsarvaṃ nagararāṣṭrajam

He (Rsyasringa) was always content and never stirred out of his father's hermitage. Absorbed in penance he had never seen a woman or a man nor any of the creatures born in towns or cities right from his birth.

पितुस्सनित्यसन्तुष्टो नातिचक्राम चाश्रमात्।।1.10.8।। न तेन जन्मप्रभृति दृष्टपूर्वं तपस्विना। स्त्री वा पुमान्वा यच्चान्यत्सर्वं नगरराष्ट्रजम्।। 1.10.9।।

pitussanityasantuṣṭo nāticakrāma cāśramāt na tena janmaprabhṛti dṛṣṭapūrvaṃ tapasvinā| strī vā pumānvā yaccānyatsarvaṃ nagararāṣṭrajam

He (Rsyasringa) was always content and never stirred out of his father's hermitage. Absorbed in penance he had never seen a woman or a man nor any of the creatures born in towns or cities right from his birth.

तत: कदाचित्तं देशमाजगाम यदृच्छया। विभण्डकसुतस्तत्र ताश्चापश्यद्वराङ्गना:।।1.10.10।।

tata: kadācittaṃ deśamājagāma yadṛcchayā| vibhaṇḍakasutastatra tāścāpaśyadvarāṅganā:

One day this son of Vibhandaka (Rsyasringa) accidentally came to the place where he saw the beautiful women.

ताश्चित्रवेषा: प्रमदा गायन्त्यो मधुरस्वरा:। ऋषिपुत्रमुपागम्य सर्वा वचनमब्रुवन्।। 1.10.11।।

tāścitraveṣā: pramadā gāyantyo madhurasvarā:| ṛṣiputramupāgamya sarvā vacanamabruvan

Those wonderfully attired women singing with sweet voices approached the son of the sage (Rsyasringa) and said:

कस्त्वं किं वर्तसे ब्रह्मन् ज्ञातुमिच्छामहे वयम्। एकस्त्वं विजने घोरे वने चरसि शंस न:।। 1.10.12।।

kastvaṃ kiṃ vartase brahman jñātumicchāmahe vayam| ekastvaṃ vijane ghore vane carasi śaṃsa na:

'O brahman Who are you? How are you subsisting? We wish to know why you are roaming alone in this dreadful forest? Could you tell us.'

अदृष्टरूपास्तास्तेन काम्यरूपा वने स्त्रिय:। हार्दात्तस्य मतिर्जाता व्याख्यातुं पितरं स्वकम्।।1.10.13।।

adṛṣṭarūpāstāstena kāmyarūpā vane striya:| hārdāttasya matirjātā vyākhyātuṃ pitaraṃ svakam

He had never seen such charming women in the forest. He developed affection towards them and a desire arose in him to speak about his father.

पिता विभण्डकोऽस्माकं तस्याहं सुत औरस:। ऋश्यशृङ्ग इति ख्यातं नाम कर्म च मे भुवि।।1.10.14।।

pitā vibhaṇḍako'smākaṃ tasyāhaṃ suta aurasa:| ṛśyaśṛṅga iti khyātaṃ nāma karma ca me bhuvi

'My father is Vibhandaka. I am his own son. My name is Rsyasringa. I am known the world over by this name associated with my karma'.

इहाश्रमपदोऽस्माकं समीपे शुभदर्शना:। करिष्ये वोऽत्र पूजां वै सर्वेषां विधिपूर्वकम्।।1.10.15।।

ihāśramapado'smākaṃ samīpe śubhadarśanā:| kariṣye vo'tra pūjāṃ vai sarveṣāṃ vidhipūrvakam

'O auspiciouslooking women, our hermitage is nearby. I will extend to you due hospitality'.

ऋषिपुत्रवचश्श्रुत्वा सर्वासां मतिरास वै। तदाश्रमपदं द्रष्टुं जग्मुस्सर्वाश्च तेन ता:।। 1.10.16।।

ṛṣiputravacaśśrutvā sarvāsāṃ matirāsa vai| tadāśramapadaṃ draṣṭuṃ jagmussarvāśca tena tā:

After listening to the words of the sage's son (Rsyasringa), all the beautiful women with a desire to see the hermitage accompanied him.

आगतानां तत: पूजामृषिपुत्रश्चकार ह। इदमर्घ्यमिदं पाद्यमिदं मूलमिदं फलं च न:।।1.10.17।।

āgatānāṃ tata: pūjāmṛṣiputraścakāra ha| idamarghyamidaṃ pādyamidaṃ mūlamidaṃ phalaṃ ca na:

Thereafter the son of ascetic respectfully received the the strangers saying, "(Accept) our offerings, here is water for washing feet and here are roots and fruits".

प्रतिगृह्य च तां पूजां सर्वा एव समुत्सुका:। ऋषेर्भीताश्च शीघ्रं ता गमनाय मतिं दधु:।।1.10.18।।

pratigṛhya ca tāṃ pūjāṃ sarvā eva samutsukā:| ṛṣerbhītāśca śīghraṃ tā gamanāya matiṃ dadhu:

The anxious courtesans received the offerings and afraid of the ascetic's return, made up their minds to withdraw immediately.

अस्माकमपि मुख्यानि फलानीमानि वै द्विज । गृहाण प्रति भद्रं ते भक्षयस्व च मा चिरम्।।1.10.19।।

asmākamapi mukhyāni phalānīmāni vai dvija | gṛhāṇa prati bhadraṃ te bhakṣayasva ca mā ciram

'O brahmin, these are excellent fruits. May prosperity be to you. Accept them and eat them without delay.'

ततस्तास्तं समालिङ्ग्य सर्वा हर्षसमन्विता:। मोदकान्प्रददुस्तस्मै भक्ष्यांश्च विविधान् बहून्।।1.10.20।।

tatastāstaṃ samāliṅgya sarvā harṣasamanvitā:| modakānpradadustasmai bhakṣyāṃśca vividhān bahūn

Then, all the courtesans embracing him with joy, offered plentiful sweetmeats and various items of food.

तानि चास्वाद्य तेजस्वी फलानीति स्म मन्यते। अनास्वादितपूर्वाणि वने नित्यनिवासिनाम्।।1.10.21।।

tāni cāsvādya tejasvī phalānīti sma manyate| anāsvāditapūrvāṇi vane nityanivāsinām

The lustrous (Rsyasringa) who had never tasted any food other than what was offered by the permanent forestdwellers mistook them for fruits.

आपृच्छ्य च तदा विप्रं व्रतचर्यां निवेद्य च। गच्छन्ति स्मापदेशात्ता भीतास्तस्य पितुस्स्त्रिय:।।1.10.22।।

āpṛcchya ca tadā vipraṃ vratacaryāṃ nivedya ca| gacchanti smāpadeśāttā bhītāstasya pitusstriya:

The ladies apprehensive of (the arrival of) his father took leave of him on the pretext of observance of (evening) rites.

गतासु तासु सर्वासु काश्यपस्यात्मजो द्विज:। अस्वस्थहृदयश्चासीद्दु:खं स्म परिवर्तते।।1.10.23।।

gatāsu tāsu sarvāsu kāśyapasyātmajo dvija:| asvasthahṛdayaścāsīddu:khaṃ sma parivartate

When they all departed, Kasyapa's son, the brahmin roamed (Rsyasringa) with a restless mind charged with sorrow.

ततोऽपरेद्युस्तं देशमाजगाम स वीर्यवान्। मनोज्ञा यत्र ता दृष्टा वारमुख्यास्स्वलङ्कृताः।।1.10.24।।

tato'paredyustaṃ deśamājagāma sa vīryavān| manojñā yatra tā dṛṣṭā vāramukhyāssvalaṅkṛtāḥ

On the following day, the sage armed with the power of penance, came to the place where he had seen those enticing, welladorned courtesans.

दृष्ट्वैव च तास्तदा विप्रमायान्तं हृष्टमानसा:। उपसृत्य ततस्सर्वास्तास्तमूचुरिदं वच:।।1.10.25।।

dṛṣṭvaiva ca tāstadā vipramāyāntaṃ hṛṣṭamānasā:| upasṛtya tatassarvāstāstamūcuridaṃ vaca:

All of them were rejoiced on seeing the brahmin approaching them, came nearer to him and said:

एह्याश्रमपदं सौम्य ह्यस्माकमिति चाब्रुवन्। तत्राप्येष विधिश्श्रीमान् विशेषेण भविष्यति।।1.10.26।।

ehyāśramapadaṃ saumya hyasmākamiti cābruvan| tatrāpyeṣa vidhiśśrīmān viśeṣeṇa bhaviṣyati

'O handsome one, come to our hermitage. A special, sumptuous hospitality will be extended to you', they said.

श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तासां सर्वासां हृदयङ्गमम्। गमनाय मतिं चक्रे तं च निन्युस्तदा स्त्रिय:।।1.10.27।।

śrutvā tu vacanaṃ tāsāṃ sarvāsāṃ hṛdayaṅgamam| gamanāya matiṃ cakre taṃ ca ninyustadā striya:

Having heard their words pleasing to the mind, he agreed to go with them. And the women took him away.

तत्र चानीयमाने तु विप्रे तस्मिन्महात्मनि। ववर्ष सहसा देवो जगत्प्रह्लादयंस्तदा।।1.10.28।।

tatra cānīyamāne tu vipre tasminmahātmani| vavarṣa sahasā devo jagatprahlādayaṃstadā

As the illustrious sage was being brought (to Anga) the god of rain (Parjanya) suddenly inundated the earth which looked cherful (with rain).

वर्षेणैवागतं विप्रं विषयं स्वं नराधिप:। प्रत्युद्गम्य मुनिं प्रह्वश्शिरसा च महीं गत:।।1.10.29।।

varṣeṇaivāgataṃ vipraṃ viṣayaṃ svaṃ narādhipa:| pratyudgamya muniṃ prahvaśśirasā ca mahīṃ gata:

The king (Romapada) went out to welcome the ascetic, the brahmin who brought along with him rains to his country. He humbly bowed down his head and prostrated before him.

अर्घ्यं च प्रददौ तस्मै न्यायतस्सुसमाहित:। वव्रे प्रसादं विप्रेन्द्रान्मा विप्रं मन्युराविशेत्।।1.10.30।।

arghyaṃ ca pradadau tasmai nyāyatassusamāhita:| vavre prasādaṃ viprendrānmā vipraṃ manyurāviśet

He gave that Indra among the brahmins offerings righteously with unstinted devotion and asked for his favour that he should not incur the wrath of the sage (his father Vibhandaka for having brought him to Anga).

अन्त:पुरं प्रविश्यास्मै कन्यां दत्त्वा यथाविधि। शान्तां शान्तेन मनसा राजा हर्षमवाप स:।।1.10.31।। एवं स न्यवसत्तत्र सर्वकामैस्सुपूजित:।

anta:puraṃ praviśyāsmai kanyāṃ dattvā yathāvidhi| śāntāṃ śāntena manasā rājā harṣamavāpa sa: evaṃ sa nyavasattatra sarvakāmaissupūjita:|

The king entered the inner apartment, duly offered him his daughter Shanta in marriage and experienced peace and satisfaction. Thus he (Rsyasringa) lived there, with all his desires fulfilled" (said Sumantra). इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे दशमस्सर्ग:।। Thus ends the tenth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.