Bala Kanda, Sarga 24

तत: प्रभाते विमले कृताह्निकमरिन्दमौ। विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य नद्यास्तीरमुपागतौ।।1.24.1।।

tata: prabhāte vimale kṛtāhnikamarindamau| viśvāmitraṃ puraskṛtya nadyāstīramupāgatau

Thereafter the destroyers of foes, Rama and Lakshmana offering their morning oblations on that bright dawn arrived at the bank of the river (Ganga) with Viswamitra ahead of them.

ते च सर्वे महात्मानो मुनयस्संश्रितव्रता:। उपस्थाप्य शुभां नावं विश्वामित्रमथाब्रुवन्।।1.24.2।।

te ca sarve mahātmāno munayassaṃśritavratā:| upasthāpya śubhāṃ nāvaṃ viśvāmitramathābruvan

All the highminded ascetics and strict followers of vows secured an auspicious boat for them and addressed Viswamitra, saying:

आरोहतु भवान्नावं राजपुत्रपुरस्कृत:। अरिष्टं गच्छ पन्थानं मा भूत्कालविपर्यय:।।1.24.3।।

ārohatu bhavānnāvaṃ rājaputrapuraskṛta:| ariṣṭaṃ gaccha panthānaṃ mā bhūtkālaviparyaya:

With the princes ahead of you, board the boat. Tread the safe path. Let there be no loss of time.

विश्वामित्रस्तथेत्युक्तवा तानृषीनभिपूज्य च। ततार सहितस्ताभ्यां सरितं सागरङ्गमाम्।।1.24.4।।

viśvāmitrastathetyuktavā tānṛṣīnabhipūjya ca| tatāra sahitastābhyāṃ saritaṃ sāgaraṅgamām

"Be it so", said Viswamitra and paid respect to all those sages. And accompanied by them (Rama and Lakshmana), crossed the river flowing towards the sea.

ततश्शुश्राव वै शब्दमतिसंरम्भवर्धितम्। मध्यमागम्य तोयस्य सह राम:कनीयसा।।1.24.5।।

tataśśuśrāva vai śabdamatisaṃrambhavardhitam| madhyamāgamya toyasya saha rāma:kanīyasā

As they reached the midstream, Rama and his younger brother heard a sound greatly augmented by the speed (of the river).

अथ रामस्सरिन्मध्ये पप्रच्छ मुनिपुङ्गवम्। वारिणो भिद्यमानस्य किमयं तुमुलो ध्वनि:।।1.24.6।।

atha rāmassarinmadhye papraccha munipuṅgavam| vāriṇo bhidyamānasya kimayaṃ tumulo dhvani:

Rama enquired of Viswamitra, the best of sages, "What is this tumultuous sound bursting out of the waters?"

राघवस्य वचश्श्रुत्वा कौतूहलसमन्वित:। कथयामास धर्मात्मा तस्य शब्दस्य निश्चयम्।।1.24.7।।

rāghavasya vacaśśrutvā kautūhalasamanvita:| kathayāmāsa dharmātmā tasya śabdasya niścayam

At the words of Rama filled with curiosity, the righteous (Viswamitra) narrated the true nature of that sound.

कैलासपर्वते राम मनसा निर्मितं सर:। ब्रह्मणा नरशार्दूल तेनेदं मानसं सर:।।1.24.8।।

kailāsaparvate rāma manasā nirmitaṃ sara:| brahmaṇā naraśārdūla tenedaṃ mānasaṃ sara:

"O tiger among men, Rama. Brahma created out of his mind a lake on mount Kailas and so that lake is called Manasa (Sarovara).

तस्मात्सुस्राव सरसस्सायोध्यामुपगूहते । सर प्रवृत्ता सरयू: पुण्या ब्रह्मसरश्च्युता।।1.24.9।।

tasmātsusrāva sarasassāyodhyāmupagūhate | sara pravṛttā sarayū: puṇyā brahmasaraścyutā

This river which flows from Manasa Sarovara is, therefore, known as 'Sarayu'. It surrounds Ayodhya. This sacred river flows from that lake of Brahma.

तस्यायमतुलश्शब्दो जाह्नवीमभिवर्तते। वारिसङ्क्षोभजो राम प्रणामं नियत:कुरु।।1.24.10।।

tasyāyamatulaśśabdo jāhnavīmabhivartate| vārisaṅkṣobhajo rāma praṇāmaṃ niyata:kuru

When Ganga approaches this river (Sarayu), there is a clash of waters and this great noise is produced. Rama, offer respectful salutations here, with a calm mind".

ताभ्यां तु तावुभौ कृत्वा प्रणाममतिधार्मिकौ। तीरं दक्षिणमासाद्य जग्मतुर्लघुविक्रमौ।।1.24.11।।

tābhyāṃ tu tāvubhau kṛtvā praṇāmamatidhārmikau| tīraṃ dakṣiṇamāsādya jagmaturlaghuvikramau

Deeply religious (in nature) they both made obeisance to the two rivers and reached the southern bank and advanced with quick steps.

स वनं घोरसङ्काशं दृष्ट्वा नृपवरात्मज:। अविप्रहतमैक्ष्वाक: पप्रच्छ मुनिपुङ्गवम्।।1.24.12।।

sa vanaṃ ghorasaṅkāśaṃ dṛṣṭvā nṛpavarātmaja:| aviprahatamaikṣvāka: papraccha munipuṅgavam

He who was a descendent of Ikshvaku and son of the best of kings, (Dasaratha) having seen that untrodden and dreadful forest asked the foremost of the ascetics:

अहो वनमिदं दुर्गं झिल्लिकागणनादितम्। भैरवैश्शपदै: पूर्णं शकुन्तैर्दारुणारुतै:।।1.24.13।।

aho vanamidaṃ durgaṃ jhillikāgaṇanāditam| bhairavaiśśapadai: pūrṇaṃ śakuntairdāruṇārutai:

"What a wonder This inaccessible forest echoes with the (shrill) chirpings of crickets It is filled with ferocious beasts and birds producing fearful sounds.

नानाप्रकारैश्शकुनै र्वाश्यद्भिर्भैरवस्वनै:। सिंहव्याघ्रवराहैश्च वारणैश्चोपशोभितम्।।1.24.14।।

nānāprakāraiśśakunai rvāśyadbhirbhairavasvanai:| siṃhavyāghravarāhaiśca vāraṇaiścopaśobhitam

"It resounds with the frightful shricks of various kinds of birds. Lions, tigers, boars and elephants prowl about.

धवाश्वकर्णककुभैर्बिल्वतिन्दुकपाटलै:। सङ्कीर्णं बदरीभिश्च किन्न्वेतद्दारुणं वनम्।।1.24.15।।

dhavāśvakarṇakakubhairbilvatindukapāṭalai:| saṅkīrṇaṃ badarībhiśca kinnvetaddāruṇaṃ vanam

This forest jampacked with dhava, ashvakarna, kakubha, bilva, tinduka, patala and badari trees, how frightening this forest could be"

तमुवाच महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनि:। श्रूयतां वत्स काकुत्स्थ यस्यैतद्दारुणं वनम्।।1.24.16।।

tamuvāca mahātejā viśvāmitro mahāmuni:| śrūyatāṃ vatsa kākutstha yasyaitaddāruṇaṃ vanam

Viswamitra, the great sage radiating energy addressing Rama said, "O child of kakusthsa dynasty I shall tell you whose dreadful forest this is. Listen"

एतौ जनपदौ स्फीतौ पूर्वमास्तां नरोत्तम। मलदाश्च करूशाश्च देवनिर्माणनिर्मितौ।।1.24.17।।

etau janapadau sphītau pūrvamāstāṃ narottama| maladāśca karūśāśca devanirmāṇanirmitau

O best among men, formerly these two large and prosperous cities called Malada and Karusha built by celestial architects existed.

पुरा वृत्रवधे राम मलेन समभिप्लुतम्। क्षुधा चैव सहस्राक्षं ब्रह्महत्या समाविशत्।।1.24.18।।

purā vṛtravadhe rāma malena samabhiplutam| kṣudhā caiva sahasrākṣaṃ brahmahatyā samāviśat

O Rama, in ancient times after killing Vritrasura, Indra was overpowered by the sin of slaying a brahmin and was affected by impurity and hunger.

तमिन्द्रं स्नापयन् देवा ऋषयश्च तपोधना:। कलशैस्स्नापयामासुर्मलं चास्य प्रमोचयन्।।1.24.19।।

tamindraṃ snāpayan devā ṛṣayaśca tapodhanā:| kalaśaissnāpayāmāsurmalaṃ cāsya pramocayan

Devas and rishis endowed with the wealth of asceticism bathed Indra with the (consecrated) waters (brought from all rivers) from the pitchers and got him cleansed of impurities.

इह भूम्यां मलं दत्वा दत्वा कारूशमेव च। शरीरजं महेन्द्रस्य ततो हर्षं प्रपेदिरे।।1.24.20।।

iha bhūmyāṃ malaṃ datvā datvā kārūśameva ca| śarīrajaṃ mahendrasya tato harṣaṃ prapedire

With the hunger and the taint and impurity from the body of Mahendra removed at this place, the devas rejoiced.

निर्मलो निष्करूशश्च शुचिरिंन्द्रो यदाभवत्। ददौ देशस्य सुप्रीतो वरं प्रभुरनुत्तमम्।।1.24.21।।

nirmalo niṣkarūśaśca śuciriṃndro yadābhavat| dadau deśasya suprīto varaṃ prabhuranuttamam

Cleansed of his impurities and his hunger gone, Indra once again became pure. Allpowerful Indra highly pleased gave an excellent boon to that region.

इमौ जनपदौ स्फीतौ ख्यातिं लोके गमिष्यत:। मलदाश्च करूशाश्च ममाङ्गमलधारिणौ।।1.24.22।।

imau janapadau sphītau khyātiṃ loke gamiṣyata:| maladāśca karūśāśca mamāṅgamaladhāriṇau

Indra blessed the place saying, 'Having absorbed impurities of my body, let these places be extremely fertile and prosperous and let this be renowned throughout this world as Malada and Karusha'.

साधु साध्विति तं देवा: पाकशासनमब्रुवन्। देशस्य पूजां तां दृष्ट्वा कृतां शक्रेण धीमता।।1.24.23।।

sādhu sādhviti taṃ devā: pākaśāsanamabruvan| deśasya pūjāṃ tāṃ dṛṣṭvā kṛtāṃ śakreṇa dhīmatā

Having seen the honour bestowed on that land by the wise Indra, the gods said to him, 'Well done, Well done'.

एतौ जनपदौ स्फीतौ दीर्घकालमरिन्दम। मलदाश्च करूशाश्च मुदितौ धनधान्यत:।।1.24.24।।

etau janapadau sphītau dīrghakālamarindama| maladāśca karūśāśca muditau dhanadhānyata:

O Destroyers of enemies these prosperous townships, Malada and Karusha looked cheerful with (bumper) crops and wealth for a long time.

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य यक्षी वै कामरूपिणी। बलं नागसहस्रस्य धारयन्ती तदा ह्यभूत्।।1.24.25।। ताटका नाम भद्रं ते भार्या सुन्दस्य धीमत:। 2 मारीचो राक्षस: पुत्रो यस्याश्शक्रपराक्रम:।।1.24.26।।

kasyacittvatha kālasya yakṣī vai kāmarūpiṇī| balaṃ nāgasahasrasya dhārayantī tadā hyabhūt tāṭakā nāma bhadraṃ te bhāryā sundasya dhīmata:| 2 mārīco rākṣasa: putro yasyāśśakraparākrama:

Then, after a lapse of several years, O gentle one a terrible yakshini by name Tataka, wife of intelligent Sunda, capable of assuming different forms at will, possessed of the strength of a thousand elephants and mother of a rakshasa known as Maricha armed with the power of Indra took possession of this place.

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य यक्षी वै कामरूपिणी। बलं नागसहस्रस्य धारयन्ती तदा ह्यभूत्।।1.24.25।। ताटका नाम भद्रं ते भार्या सुन्दस्य धीमत:। 2 मारीचो राक्षस: पुत्रो यस्याश्शक्रपराक्रम:।।1.24.26।।

kasyacittvatha kālasya yakṣī vai kāmarūpiṇī| balaṃ nāgasahasrasya dhārayantī tadā hyabhūt tāṭakā nāma bhadraṃ te bhāryā sundasya dhīmata:| 2 mārīco rākṣasa: putro yasyāśśakraparākrama:

Then, after a lapse of several years, O gentle one a terrible yakshini by name Tataka, wife of intelligent Sunda, capable of assuming different forms at will, possessed of the strength of a thousand elephants and mother of a rakshasa known as Maricha armed with the power of Indra took possession of this place.

वृत्तबाहुर्महावीर्यो विपुलास्य तनुर्महान्। राक्षसो भैरवाकारो नित्यं त्रासयते प्रजा:।।1.24.27।।

vṛttabāhurmahāvīryo vipulāsya tanurmahān| rākṣaso bhairavākāro nityaṃ trāsayate prajā:

The arms (of Maricha) are round and strong. He is highly energetic. He has a large face and a huge body. In appearance, he is gigantic and possesses a dreadful form. That rakshasa always threatened the inhabitants.

इमौ जनपदौ नित्यं विनाशयति राघव। मलदांश्च करूशांश्च ताटका दुष्टचारिणी।।1.24.28।।

imau janapadau nityaṃ vināśayati rāghava| maladāṃśca karūśāṃśca tāṭakā duṣṭacāriṇī

"O Rama that wicked than Tataka carried on her depredations at regular intervals in these locations, Malada and Karusha.

सेयं पन्थानमावृत्य वसत्यध्यर्धयोजने। अत एव न गन्तव्यं ताटकाया वनं यत:।।1.24.29।।

seyaṃ panthānamāvṛtya vasatyadhyardhayojane| ata eva na gantavyaṃ tāṭakāyā vanaṃ yata:

Tataka lives at a distance of one and a half yojanas from here obstructing the path. Since Tataka dwells in this forest, no one comes here (because of fears).

स्वबाहुबलमाश्रित्य जहीमां दुष्टचारिणीम्। मन्नियोगादिमं देशं कुरु निष्कण्टकं पुन:।।1.24.30।।

svabāhubalamāśritya jahīmāṃ duṣṭacāriṇīm| manniyogādimaṃ deśaṃ kuru niṣkaṇṭakaṃ puna:

"By the strength of your arms slay this one of wicked deeds. Comply with my orders and make this country safe (and habitable).

न हि कश्चिदिमं देशं शक्नोत्यागन्तुमीदृशम्। यक्षिण्या घोरया राम उत्सादितमसह्यया।।1.24.31।।

na hi kaścidimaṃ deśaṃ śaknotyāgantumīdṛśam| yakṣiṇyā ghorayā rāma utsāditamasahyayā

O Rama none dare approach this country ravaged by such dreadful, intolerable yakshini.

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यथैतद्दारुणं वनम्। यक्ष्या चोत्सादितं सर्वमद्यापि न निवर्तते।।1.24.32।।

etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ yathaitaddāruṇaṃ vanam| yakṣyā cotsāditaṃ sarvamadyāpi na nivartate

You have been told the manner in which this fierce forest is entirely ruined by that cruel yakshini. Tell now she has not left this place". इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे चतुर्विंशतिस्सर्ग:।। Thus ends the twentyfourth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.