Bala Kanda, Sarga 38

तां कथां कौशिको रामे निवेद्य कुशिकात्मज:। पुनरेवापरं वाक्यं काकुत्स्थ मिदमब्रवीत्।।1.38.1।।

tāṃ kathāṃ kauśiko rāme nivedya kuśikātmaja:| punarevāparaṃ vākyaṃ kākutstha midamabravīt

Viswamitra, an offspring of Kusika having related the story (of Karthikeya) to the son of the Kakusthas (Rama) said again.

अयोध्याधिपति श्शूर: पूर्वमासीन्नराधिप:। सगरो नाम धर्मात्मा प्रजाकामस्स चाप्रज:।।1.38.2।।

ayodhyādhipati śśūra: pūrvamāsīnnarādhipa:| sagaro nāma dharmātmā prajākāmassa cāpraja:

"In olden days there lived a brave and righteous king named Sagara who was ruler of Ayodhya. He was childless and desired to have children,

वैदर्भदुहिता राम केशिनी नाम नामत:। ज्येष्ठा सगरपत्नी सा धर्मिष्ठा सत्यवादिनी।।1.38.3।।

vaidarbhaduhitā rāma keśinī nāma nāmata:| jyeṣṭhā sagarapatnī sā dharmiṣṭhā satyavādinī

O Rama the daughter of the king of Vidarbha by name Kesini was Sagara's eldest wife who was righteous and truthful.

अरिष्टनेमेर्दुहिता रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि। द्वितीया सगरस्यासीत्पत्नी सुमतिसंज्ञिता ।।1.38.4।।

ariṣṭanemerduhitā rūpeṇāpratimā bhuvi| dvitīyā sagarasyāsītpatnī sumatisaṃjñitā

The daughter of Arishtanemi named Sumati was the second wife of Sagara and none surpassed her in charm on earth.

ताभ्यां सह महाराज: पत्नीभ्यां तप्तवांस्तप:। हिमवन्तं समासाद्य भृगुप्रस्रवणे गिरौ।।1.38.5।।

tābhyāṃ saha mahārāja: patnībhyāṃ taptavāṃstapa:| himavantaṃ samāsādya bhṛguprasravaṇe girau

The king (Sagara) accompanied by his wives reached Himavat mountain and engaged himself in severe austerities on a peak called Bhriguprasravana.

अथ वर्षशते पूर्णे तपसाऽराधितो मुनि:। सगराय वरं प्रादाद्भृगुस्सत्यवतां वर:।।1.38.6।।

atha varṣaśate pūrṇe tapasā'rādhito muni:| sagarāya varaṃ prādādbhṛgussatyavatāṃ vara:

When Sagara completed a hundred years in austerities, highly pleased by his performance, ascetic Bhrugu, the best among the truthful granted him a boon.

अपत्यलाभस्सुमहान् भविष्यति तवानघ। कीर्तिं चाप्रतिमां लोके प्राप्स्यसे पुरुषर्षभ।।1.38.7।।

apatyalābhassumahān bhaviṣyati tavānagha| kīrtiṃ cāpratimāṃ loke prāpsyase puruṣarṣabha

O sinless one, you will get a very great progeny, O best among men you will acquire unparalleled fame in this world.

एका जनयिता तात पुत्रं वंशकरं तव। षष्ठिं पुत्रसहस्राणि अपरा जनयिष्यति।।1.38.8।।

ekā janayitā tāta putraṃ vaṃśakaraṃ tava| ṣaṣṭhiṃ putrasahasrāṇi aparā janayiṣyati

O child, one wife will beget a son who will perpetuate your race and the other, sixty thousand sons, said Bhrugu.

भाषमाणं महात्मानं राजपुत्र्यौ प्रसाद्य तम्। ऊचतु: परमप्रीते कृताञ्जलिपुटे तदा।।1.38.9।।

bhāṣamāṇaṃ mahātmānaṃ rājaputryau prasādya tam| ūcatu: paramaprīte kṛtāñjalipuṭe tadā

Thereafter, both the daughters of the king were exceedingly delighted. Having propitiated that magnanimous asectic both of them with folded hands in supplication, said:

एक: कस्यास्सुतो ब्रह्मन् का बहून् जनयिष्यति। श्रोतुमिच्छावहे ब्रह्मन् सत्यमस्तु वचस्तव।।1.38.10।।

eka: kasyāssuto brahman kā bahūn janayiṣyati| śrotumicchāvahe brahman satyamastu vacastava

O knower of Brahman which of us will beget one, and who many sons? O Brahmarshi we wish to hear. Let your words come true".

तयोस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा भृगु: परमधार्मिक:। उवाच परमां वाणीं स्वच्छन्दोऽत्र विधीयताम्।।1.38.11।।

tayostadvacanaṃ śrutvā bhṛgu: paramadhārmika:| uvāca paramāṃ vāṇīṃ svacchando'tra vidhīyatām

Hearing their words, highly virtuous Bhrugu made an excellent statement saying, 'In this matter, you may exercise your free will'.

एको वंशकरो वाऽस्तु बहवो वा महाबला:। कीर्तिमन्तो महोत्साहा: का वा कं वरमिच्छति।।1.38.12।।

eko vaṃśakaro vā'stu bahavo vā mahābalā:| kīrtimanto mahotsāhā: kā vā kaṃ varamicchati

'What would you wish? One son who perpetuates the race or many possessed of mighty strength endowed with fame and perseverance?' (asked Bhrugu).

मुनेस्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा केशिनी रघुनन्दन। पुत्रं वंशकरं राम जग्राह नृपसन्निधौ।।1.38.13।।

munestu vacanaṃ śrutvā keśinī raghunandana| putraṃ vaṃśakaraṃ rāma jagrāha nṛpasannidhau

"O Rama, delight of the descendants of Raghus, on hearing the words of the ascetic in the presence of king Sagara, Kesini chose the boon to have a son who perpetuates the race.

षष्ठिं पुत्रसहस्राणि सुपर्णभगिनी तदा। महोत्साहान् कीर्तिमतो जग्राह सुमति: सुतान्।।1.38.14।।

ṣaṣṭhiṃ putrasahasrāṇi suparṇabhaginī tadā| mahotsāhān kīrtimato jagrāha sumati: sutān

Then, Sumati (the other wife) sister of Suparna (Garuda) obtained the boon of sixty thousand sons endowed with fame and great perseverance.

प्रदक्षिणमृषिं कृत्वा शिरसाऽभिप्रणम्य च। जगाम स्वपुरं राजा सभार्यो रघुनन्दन ।।1.38.15।।

pradakṣiṇamṛṣiṃ kṛtvā śirasā'bhipraṇamya ca| jagāma svapuraṃ rājā sabhāryo raghunandana

O son of the Raghus the king along with his wives, having circumambulated saint Bhrugu, bowed his head in reverence, saluted him with folded hands and returned to his capital.

अथ काले गते तस्मिन् ज्येष्ठा पुत्रं व्यजायत। असमञ्ज इति ख्यातं केशिनी सगरात्मजम्।।1.38.16।।

atha kāle gate tasmin jyeṣṭhā putraṃ vyajāyata| asamañja iti khyātaṃ keśinī sagarātmajam

After lapse of some time, the eldest wife Kesini gave birth to a son wellknown by name Asamanjasa.

सुमतिस्तु नरव्याघ्र गर्भतुम्बं व्यजायत। षष्ठि: पुत्रसहस्राणि तुम्बभेदाद्विनि:सृता:।।1.38.17।।

sumatistu naravyāghra garbhatumbaṃ vyajāyata| ṣaṣṭhi: putrasahasrāṇi tumbabhedādvini:sṛtā:

O best among men, Sumati gave birth to a gourdlike foetus and when it burst open, sixty thousand sons emerged.

घृतपूर्णेषु कुम्भेषु धात्र्यस्तान् समवर्धयन्। कालेन महता सर्वे यौवनं प्रतिपेदिरे।।1.38.18।।

ghṛtapūrṇeṣu kumbheṣu dhātryastān samavardhayan| kālena mahatā sarve yauvanaṃ pratipedire

Nurses placed all of them in pots filled with clarified butter and fostered them. They attained adolescence after a long time.

अथ दीर्घेण कालेन रूपयौवनशालिन:। षष्टि: पुत्रसहस्राणि सगरस्याभवंस्तदा।।1.38.19।।

atha dīrgheṇa kālena rūpayauvanaśālina:| ṣaṣṭi: putrasahasrāṇi sagarasyābhavaṃstadā

Then, after a long time Sagara's sixty thousand sons attained beauty and youth.

स च ज्येष्ठो नरश्रेष्ठ सगरस्यात्मसम्भव:। बालान् गृहीत्वा तु जले सरय्वा रघुनन्दन।।1.38.20।। प्रक्षिप्य प्रहसन्नित्यं मज्जतस्तान् समीक्ष्य वै।

sa ca jyeṣṭho naraśreṣṭha sagarasyātmasambhava:| bālān gṛhītvā tu jale sarayvā raghunandana prakṣipya prahasannityaṃ majjatastān samīkṣya vai|

O best among men, delight of the Raghus (in the mean time) sagara's eldest son Asamanjasa, used to seize hold of children and throw them into the waters of river Sarayu. And while they were drowning, he was laughing.

एवं पापसमाचारस्सज्जनप्रतिबाधक:।।1.38.21।। पौराणामहिते युक्त: पुत्रो निर्वासित: पुरात्।

evaṃ pāpasamācārassajjanapratibādhaka: paurāṇāmahite yukta: putro nirvāsita: purāt|

Thus this son inclined towards evil and formenting the good citizens was banished (of the king) from the capital for his indulgence in malevolent acts.

तस्य पुत्रोंऽशुमान्नाम असमञ्जस्य वीर्यवान्।।1.38.22।। सम्मत स्सर्वलोकस्य सर्वस्यापि प्रियंवद:।

tasya putroṃ'śumānnāma asamañjasya vīryavān sammata ssarvalokasya sarvasyāpi priyaṃvada:|

Asamanjasa's son was Anshuman. He was valiant, beloved and courteous to every one in the world.

तत: कालेन महता मतिस्समभिजायत।।1.38.23।। सगरस्य नरश्रेष्ठ यजेयमिति निश्चिता।

tata: kālena mahatā matissamabhijāyata sagarasya naraśreṣṭha yajeyamiti niścitā|

O best among men after a long time, a thought came to the mind of Sagara to definitely perform a sacrifice.

स कृत्वा निश्चयं राम सोपाध्यायगणस्तदा।।1.38.24।। यज्ञकर्मणि वेदज्ञो यष्टुं समुपचक्रमे।

sa kṛtvā niścayaṃ rāma sopādhyāyagaṇastadā yajñakarmaṇi vedajño yaṣṭuṃ samupacakrame|

O Rama having determined to perform a sacrifice, he (Sagara) versed in the Vedas, started the initiatory rites for the sacrifice in the company of high priests". इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे अष्टात्रिंशस्सर्ग: 2 Thus ends the thirtyeighth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.