Bala Kanda, Sarga 37

तप्यमाने तपो देवे देवा: सर्षिगणा: पुरा। सेनापतिमभीप्सन्त: पितामहमुपागमन्।।1.37.1।।

tapyamāne tapo deve devā: sarṣigaṇā: purā| senāpatimabhīpsanta: pitāmahamupāgaman

In olden days when Iswara was engaged in austerities, the devatas together with the ascetics, approached Lord Brahma for an army general.

ततोऽब्रुवन् सुरास्सर्वे भगवन्तं पितामहम्। प्रणिपत्य सुरास्सर्वे सेन्द्रास्साग्निपुरोगमा:।।1.37.2।।

tato'bruvan surāssarve bhagavantaṃ pitāmaham| praṇipatya surāssarve sendrāssāgnipurogamā:

Then led by Indra and the Firegod all devatas approached Lord Brahma, the grandsire saluted him (with folded hands) and spoke.

यो न स्सेनापतिर्देव दत्तो भगवता पुरा। तप: परममास्थाय तप्यते स्म सहोमया।।1.37.3।।

yo na ssenāpatirdeva datto bhagavatā purā| tapa: paramamāsthāya tapyate sma sahomayā

"O Lord in ancient times your lordship gave us an army general (at the time of creation). He is engrossed in great penance along with Uma .

यदत्रानन्तरं कार्यं लोकानां हितकाम्यया। संविधत्स्व विधानज्ञ त्वं हि न: परमा गति:।।1.37.4।।

yadatrānantaraṃ kāryaṃ lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā| saṃvidhatsva vidhānajña tvaṃ hi na: paramā gati:

"O Knower of law and order O Grandsire verily you are our supreme refuge committed to the welfare of the worlds. Tell us what we should do in this matter (now that we cannot procreate a general on account of Uma's curse)".

देवतानां वचश्श्रुत्वा सर्वलोकपितामह:। सान्त्वयन्मधुरैर्वाक्यैस्त्रिदशानिदमब्रवीत्।।1.37.5।।

devatānāṃ vacaśśrutvā sarvalokapitāmaha:| sāntvayanmadhurairvākyaistridaśānidamabravīt

Hearing the words of the devatas, Brahma, the Grandsire of all the worlds consoled the devatas with sweet words, saying:

शैल पुत्र्या यदुक्तं तन्न प्रजास्यथ पत्निषु । तस्या वचनमक्लिष्टं सत्यमेतन्न संशय:।।1.37.6।।

śaila putryā yaduktaṃ tanna prajāsyatha patniṣu | tasyā vacanamakliṣṭaṃ satyametanna saṃśaya:

Whatever Uma, daughter of the mountain, has declared—that you shall bear no progeny among your wives—her infallible words are certainly true, without doubt.

इयमाकाशगा गङ्गा यस्यां पुत्रं हुताशन:। जनयिष्यति देवानां सेनापतिमरिन्दमम्।।1.37.7।।

iyamākāśagā gaṅgā yasyāṃ putraṃ hutāśana:| janayiṣyati devānāṃ senāpatimarindamam

"Ganga keeps flowing in the celestial regions. Through Ganga the Firegod will beget a son who will be capable of destroying enemies. He will become the army general of the gods".

ज्येष्ठा शैलेन्द्रदुहिता मानयिष्यति तत्सुतम्। उमायास्तद्बहुमतं भविष्यति न संशय:।।1.37.8।।

jyeṣṭhā śailendraduhitā mānayiṣyati tatsutam| umāyāstadbahumataṃ bhaviṣyati na saṃśaya:

"Ganga, the eldest daughter of the king of the mountains, will tend that son of Agni. This will be totally acceptable to Uma. No doubt".

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य कृतार्था रघुनन्दन। प्रणिपत्य सुरास्सर्वे पितामहमपूजयन्।।1.37.9।।

tacchrutvā vacanaṃ tasya kṛtārthā raghunandana| praṇipatya surāssarve pitāmahamapūjayan

"O son of the Raghus having heard Brahma's words all the devatas considered themselves successful in their mission. They saluted him with folded hands and offered their worship.

ते गत्वा पर्वतं राम कैलासं धातुमण्डितम्। अग्निं नियोजयामासु: पुत्रार्थं सर्वदेवता:।।1.37.10।।

te gatvā parvataṃ rāma kailāsaṃ dhātumaṇḍitam| agniṃ niyojayāmāsu: putrārthaṃ sarvadevatā:

All the devatas, went to mount Kailasa, adorned with minerals, and urged the Firegod for a son.

देवकार्यमिदं देव संविधत्स्व हुताशन। शैलपुत्र्यां महातेजो गङ्गायां तेज उत्सृज।।1.37.11।।

devakāryamidaṃ deva saṃvidhatsva hutāśana| śailaputryāṃ mahātejo gaṅgāyāṃ teja utsṛja

'O lustrous Firegod, accomplish this divine work. O god, possessed of mighty energy, release the vital fluid of Iswara in Ganga, daughter of the king of mountains.

देवतानां प्रतिज्ञाय गङ्गामभ्येत्य पावक:। गर्भं धारय वै देवि देवतानामिदं प्रियम्।।1.37.12।।

devatānāṃ pratijñāya gaṅgāmabhyetya pāvaka:| garbhaṃ dhāraya vai devi devatānāmidaṃ priyam

"The Firegod gave his consent. The devatas approached Ganga and said, 'O goddess bear the energy of Siva (inyour world) since this cause is dear to the gods'.

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दिव्यं रूपमधारयत्। दृष्ट्वा तन्महिमानं स समन्तादवकीर्यत।।1.37.13।।

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā divyaṃ rūpamadhārayat| dṛṣṭvā tanmahimānaṃ sa samantādavakīryata

"Hearing the words of the Firegod, Ganga assumed a divine form. Beholding her glory, the god of fire pervaded her from all sides.

समन्ततस्तदा देवीमभ्यषिञ्चत पावक:। सर्वस्रोतांसि पूर्णानि गङ्गाया रघुनन्दन।।1.37.14।।

samantatastadā devīmabhyaṣiñcata pāvaka:| sarvasrotāṃsi pūrṇāni gaṅgāyā raghunandana

O Rama then, the Firegod discharged the vital fluid of Iswara, preserved in his body, which pervaded all sides of Ganga and all her streams were filled with (the fluid).

तमुवाच ततो गङ्गा सर्वदेवपुरोहितम्। अशक्ता धारणे देव तव तेज स्समुद्धतम्। दह्यमानाग्निना तेन सम्प्रव्यथितचेतना।।1.37.15।।

tamuvāca tato gaṅgā sarvadevapurohitam| aśaktā dhāraṇe deva tava teja ssamuddhatam| dahyamānāgninā tena sampravyathitacetanā

Ganga addressing the Firegod standing ahead of all the devatas said 'O god of fire, I am incapable of holding your everincreasing splendour. The fiery fluid is burning me. My consciousness is overwhelmed'.

अथाब्रवीदिदं गङ्गां सर्वदेवहुताशन:। इह हैमवती पादे गर्भोऽयं सन्निवेश्यताम्।।1.37.16।।

athābravīdidaṃ gaṅgāṃ sarvadevahutāśana:| iha haimavatī pāde garbho'yaṃ sanniveśyatām

Thereafter the Firegod who is the partaker of oblations offered to all deities said to Ganga 'Place this embryo on this slope of Mountain Himavan'.

श्रुत्वा त्वग्निवचो गङगा तं गर्भमतिभास्वरम्। उत्ससर्ज महातेज स्स्रोतोभ्यो हि तदानघ ।।1.37.17।।

śrutvā tvagnivaco gaṅagā taṃ garbhamatibhāsvaram| utsasarja mahāteja ssrotobhyo hi tadānagha

"O glorious, sinless one, (Rama) hearing the words of the Firegod, Ganga then expelled that resplendent embryo from her streams.

यदस्या निर्गतं तस्मात्तप्तजाम्बूनदप्रभम् । काञ्चनं धरणीं प्राप्तं हिरण्यममलं शुभम्।।1.37.18।।

yadasyā nirgataṃ tasmāttaptajāmbūnadaprabham | kāñcanaṃ dharaṇīṃ prāptaṃ hiraṇyamamalaṃ śubham

The embryo that emerged from Ganga reached the earth. It resembled the lustre of molten gold. It furned into gold auspicious, bright and pure.

ताम्रं कार्ष्णायसं चैव तैक्ष्ण्यादेवाभ्यजायत।।1.37.19।। मलं तस्याभवत्तत्र त्रपु सीसकमेव च। तदेतद्धरणीं प्राप्य नानाधातुरवर्धत।।1.37.20।।

tāmraṃ kārṣṇāyasaṃ caiva taikṣṇyādevābhyajāyata malaṃ tasyābhavattatra trapu sīsakameva ca| tadetaddharaṇīṃ prāpya nānādhāturavardhata

There copper and iron were produced from its acidity, zinc and lead from its residue. Various minerals were formed when that embryo reached the earth.

ताम्रं कार्ष्णायसं चैव तैक्ष्ण्यादेवाभ्यजायत।।1.37.19।। मलं तस्याभवत्तत्र त्रपु सीसकमेव च। तदेतद्धरणीं प्राप्य नानाधातुरवर्धत।।1.37.20।।

tāmraṃ kārṣṇāyasaṃ caiva taikṣṇyādevābhyajāyata malaṃ tasyābhavattatra trapu sīsakameva ca| tadetaddharaṇīṃ prāpya nānādhāturavardhata

There copper and iron were produced from its acidity, zinc and lead from its residue. Various minerals were formed when that embryo reached the earth.

निक्षिप्तमात्रे गर्भे तु तेजोभिरभिरञ्जितम्। सर्वं पर्वतसन्नद्धं सौवर्णमभवद्वनम्।।1.37.21।।

nikṣiptamātre garbhe tu tejobhirabhirañjitam| sarvaṃ parvatasannaddhaṃ sauvarṇamabhavadvanam

When the embryo was placed (in Ganga) it spread on all sides of the forest on the mountain. Irradiated with lustre the forest appeared golden.

जातरूपमिति ख्यातं तदा प्रभृति राघव। सुवर्णं पुरुषव्याघ्र हुताशनसमप्रभम्।।1.37.22।। तृणवृक्षलतागुल्मं सर्वं भवति काञ्चनम्।

jātarūpamiti khyātaṃ tadā prabhṛti rāghava| suvarṇaṃ puruṣavyāghra hutāśanasamaprabham tṛṇavṛkṣalatāgulmaṃ sarvaṃ bhavati kāñcanam|

O tiger among men, O scion of the Raghus Then onwards gold which is effulgent like fire, became wellknown as Jatarupa (pure form). The grass, shrubs, creepers and trees of that forest looked golden.

तं कुमारं ततो जातं सेन्द्रास्सह मरुद्गणा:।।1.37.23।। क्षीरसंभावनार्थाय कृत्तिकास्समयोजन्।

taṃ kumāraṃ tato jātaṃ sendrāssaha marudgaṇā: kṣīrasaṃbhāvanārthāya kṛttikāssamayojan|

Thereafter Kumara was born (out of Ganga's womb). The gods together with Indra arranged six nymphs (stars) to act as nurses to suckle Kumara as their own offspring.

ता: क्षीरं जातमात्रस्य कृत्वा समयमुत्तमम्।।1.37.24।। ददु: पुत्रोऽयमस्माकं सर्वासामिति निश्चिता:।

tā: kṣīraṃ jātamātrasya kṛtvā samayamuttamam dadu: putro'yamasmākaṃ sarvāsāmiti niścitā:|

Those krittikas, having decided among themselves and having made an agreement with the gods saying 'This boy shall become a son to all of us' fed the newborn with their milk (breast milk).

ततस्तु देवता स्सर्वा: कार्तिकेय इति ब्रुवन्।।1.37.25।। पुत्रस्त्रैलोक्यविख्यातो भविष्यति न संशय:।4

tatastu devatā ssarvā: kārtikeya iti bruvan putrastrailokyavikhyāto bhaviṣyati na saṃśaya:|4

Thereafter, all the gods said, 'This son shall become renowned in the three worlds as Karttikeya, (son of krittikas). There is no doubt '.

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स्कन्नं गर्भपरिस्रवे।।1.37.26।। स्नापयन् परया लक्ष्म्या दीप्यमानं यथानलम्।

teṣāṃ tadvacanaṃ śrutvā skannaṃ garbhaparisrave snāpayan parayā lakṣmyā dīpyamānaṃ yathānalam|

Hearing the words of the gods, the krittikas bathed the baby that descended from the womb of Ganga resembling flaming fire and shining with great beauty.

स्कन्द इत्यब्रुवन् देवा: स्कन्नं गर्भपरिस्रवात्।।1.37.27।। कार्तिकेयं महाभागं काकुत्स्थ ज्वलनोपमम्।

skanda ityabruvan devā: skannaṃ garbhaparisravāt kārtikeyaṃ mahābhāgaṃ kākutstha jvalanopamam|

O scion of the Kakusthas, Karttikeya lustrous like flaming fire, was very fortunate Descended from the womb of the Ganga, he is named Skanda by the gods.

प्रादुर्भूतं तत: क्षीरं कृत्तिकानामनुत्तमम् ।।1.37.28।। षण्णां षडाननो भूत्वा जग्राह स्तनजं पय:।

prādurbhūtaṃ tata: kṣīraṃ kṛttikānāmanuttamam ṣaṇṇāṃ ṣaḍānano bhūtvā jagrāha stanajaṃ paya:|

Then excellent milk surged in the breasts of krittikas. Assuming six mouths, he sucked the milk.

गृहीत्वा क्षीरमेकाह्ना सुकुमारवपुस्तदा।।1.37.29।। अजयत्स्वेन वीर्येण दैत्यसेनागणान् विभु:।

gṛhītvā kṣīramekāhnā sukumāravapustadā ajayatsvena vīryeṇa daityasenāgaṇān vibhu:|

Drinking milk just for a day and with a body still tender he could vanquish hosts of demons by his inborn prowess so capable be was

सुरसेनागणपतिं ततस्तमतुलद्युतिम्।।1.37.30।। अभ्यषिञ्चन् सुरगणा स्समेत्याग्निपुरोगमा:।

surasenāgaṇapatiṃ tatastamatuladyutim abhyaṣiñcan suragaṇā ssametyāgnipurogamā:|

With the Firegod in the forefront, all the gods assembled and installed Karttikeya, shining on unsurpassed brilliant, as commander of the gods forces.

एष ते राम गङ्गाया विस्तरोऽभिहितो मया।।1.37.31।। कुमारसम्भवश्चैव धन्य: पुण्यस्तथैव च।

eṣa te rāma gaṅgāyā vistaro'bhihito mayā kumārasambhavaścaiva dhanya: puṇyastathaiva ca|

"O Rama this story of Ganga and that of the birth of Kumara, who was fortunate and auspicious, has been related to you in detail.

भक्तश्च य: कार्तिकेये काकुत्स्थ भुवि मानवः। आयुष्मान् पुत्रपौत्रैश्च स्कन्दसालोक्यतां व्रजेत्।।1.37.32।।

bhaktaśca ya: kārtikeye kākutstha bhuvi mānavaḥ| āyuṣmān putrapautraiśca skandasālokyatāṃ vrajet

O son of the Kakusthas whosoever reveres Kartikeya on this earth with devotion and faith, shall have a long life, sons and grandsons and after death will reach the world of Skanda". इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डेण्डे सप्तत्रिंशस्सर्ग:।। Thus ends the thirtyseventh sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.