Bala Kanda, Sarga 41

पुत्रांश्चिरगतान् ज्ञात्वा सगरो रघुनन्दन। नप्तारमब्रवीद्राजा दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा।।1.41.1।।

putrāṃściragatān jñātvā sagaro raghunandana| naptāramabravīdrājā dīpyamānaṃ svatejasā

"O Delight of the Raghus, king Sagara, realising that his sons had left long ago said to his grandson Anshuman resplendent with his own lustre:

शूरश्च कृतविद्यश्च पूर्वैस्तुल्योऽसि तेजसा। पितृ़णां गतिमन्विच्छ येन चाश्वोऽपवाहित:।।1.41.2।।

śūraśca kṛtavidyaśca pūrvaistulyo'si tejasā| pitṛ़ṇāṃ gatimanviccha yena cāśvo'pavāhita:

'You are valiant. You have acquired knowledge (in various fields). You are illustrious like your ancestors. Pursue the track taken by your uncles and by the thief who ran away with the horse'.

अन्तर्भौमानि सत्त्वानि वीर्यवन्ति महान्ति च। तेषां त्वं प्रतिघातार्थं सास्त्रं गृह्णीष्व कार्मुकम्।।1.41.3।।

antarbhaumāni sattvāni vīryavanti mahānti ca| teṣāṃ tvaṃ pratighātārthaṃ sāstraṃ gṛhṇīṣva kārmukam

'Creatures in the depths of the earth are powerful and mighty. Carry with you a bow and weapons to counter their attack'.

अभिवाद्याभिवाद्यांस्त्वं हत्वा विघ्नकरानपि। सिद्धार्थस्सन्निवर्तस्व मम यज्ञस्य पारग:।।1.41.4।।

abhivādyābhivādyāṃstvaṃ hatvā vighnakarānapi| siddhārthassannivartasva mama yajñasya pāraga:

'Honour those who deserve it. Kill those who cause obstacles to sacrifice. Come back with your mission accomplishing. And ensure the (successful) completion of my sacrifice'.

एवमुक्तोंऽशुमान्सम्यक् सगरेण महात्मना। धनुरादाय खड्गं च जगाम लघुविक्रम:।।1.41.5।।

evamuktoṃ'śumānsamyak sagareṇa mahātmanā| dhanurādāya khaḍgaṃ ca jagāma laghuvikrama:

"Having been throughly instructed by the highsouled Sagara in this way, Anshuman left with rapid strides carrying a scimitar and a bow.

स खातं पितृभिर्मार्गमन्तर्भौमं महात्मभि:। प्रापद्यत नरश्रेष्ठ तेन राज्ञाऽभिचोदित:।।1.41.6।।

sa khātaṃ pitṛbhirmārgamantarbhaumaṃ mahātmabhi:| prāpadyata naraśreṣṭha tena rājñā'bhicodita:

O Best among men directed by the king (Sagara), Anshuman followed the path taken by his noble uncles into the depths of the earth.

दैत्यदानवरक्षोभि: पिशाचपतगोरगै:। पूज्यमानं महातेजा दिशागजमपश्यत।।1.41.7।।

daityadānavarakṣobhi: piśācapatagoragai:| pūjyamānaṃ mahātejā diśāgajamapaśyata

Exceedingly valiant Ashuman beheld the elephant of the quarter worshipped by daityas, danavas, rakshasas, pisachas, birds and serpents.

स तं प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा पृष्ट्वा चापि निरामयम्। पितृ़न् स परिपप्रच्छ वाजिहर्तारमेव च।।1.41.8।।

sa taṃ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā pṛṣṭvā cāpi nirāmayam| pitṛ़n sa paripapraccha vājihartārameva ca

Having circumambulated the elephant, he (Anshuman) enquired about his wellbeing, the where abouts of his uncles and also about the one who had stolen the sacrificial horse.

दिशागजस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा प्रत्याहांशुमतो वच:। आसमञ्ज कृतार्थस्त्वं सहाश्वश्शीघ्रमेष्यसि।।1.41.9।।

diśāgajastu tacchrutvā pratyāhāṃśumato vaca:| āsamañja kṛtārthastvaṃ sahāśvaśśīghrameṣyasi

Having listened to the words of Anshuman the elephant of the quarter replied, 'O Anshuman, son of Asamanjasa having fulfilled your objective, you will go back soon with the horse'.

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सर्वानेव दिशागजान्। यथाक्रमं यथान्यायं प्रष्टुं समुपचक्रमे।।1.41.10।।

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā sarvāneva diśāgajān| yathākramaṃ yathānyāyaṃ praṣṭuṃ samupacakrame

Having listened to the words of the elephant, Anshuman started enquring the well being of each of the guardians (elephants) of the quarters successively with due respect:

तैश्च सर्वैर्दिशापालैर्वाक्यज्ञैर्वाक्यकोविदै:। पूजितस्सहयश्चैव गन्ताऽसीत्यभिचोदित:।।1.41.11।।

taiśca sarvairdiśāpālairvākyajñairvākyakovidai:| pūjitassahayaścaiva gantā'sītyabhicodita:

All those elephants of the quarters were knowers of the essence of words and proficient in the right use of words. Treating him kindly the elephants encouraged him saying, 'You will go back with the horse'.

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा जगाम लघुविक्रम:। भस्मराशीकृता यत्र पितरस्तस्य सागरा:।।1.41.12।।

teṣāṃ tadvacanaṃ śrutvā jagāma laghuvikrama:| bhasmarāśīkṛtā yatra pitarastasya sāgarā:

Hearing their words with a quick pace where he reached the place his uncles, sons of Sagara were reduced to heaps of ashes.

स दु:खवशमापन्नस्त्वसमञ्जसुतस्तदा। चुक्रोश परमार्तस्तु वधात्तेषां सुदु:खित:।।1.41.13।।

sa du:khavaśamāpannastvasamañjasutastadā| cukrośa paramārtastu vadhātteṣāṃ sudu:khita:

Then the son of Asamanjasa, overwhelmed with sorrow and deeply distressed at their destruction, bewailed with great grief.

यज्ञीयं च हयं तत्र चरन्तमविदूरत:। ददर्श पुरुषव्याघ्रो दु:खशोकसमन्वित:।।1.41.14।।

yajñīyaṃ ca hayaṃ tatra carantamavidūrata:| dadarśa puruṣavyāghro du:khaśokasamanvita:

Possessed by grief and tears, Anshuman, that tiger among men, beheld the sacrificial horse grazing nearby.

स तेषां राजपुत्राणां कर्तुकामो जलक्रियाम् । सलिलार्थी महातेजा न चापश्यज्जलाशयम् ।।1.41.15।।

sa teṣāṃ rājaputrāṇāṃ kartukāmo jalakriyām | salilārthī mahātejā na cāpaśyajjalāśayam

With the intention of performing traditional funeral rites with water for the deceased princes, highly lustrous Anshuman looked around for water but could not see any reservoir of water (in the neighbourhood).

विसार्य निपुणां दृष्टिं ततोऽपश्यत्खगाधिपम् । पितृ़णां मातुलं राम सुपर्णमनिलोपमम्।।1.41.16।।

visārya nipuṇāṃ dṛṣṭiṃ tato'paśyatkhagādhipam | pitṛ़ṇāṃ mātulaṃ rāma suparṇamanilopamam

O Rama with his keen eyes, he (Anshuman) marked Suparna, the maternal uncle of his uncles, lord of the eagles (Garuda) bestowed with the swiftness of the wind.

स चैवमब्रवीद्वाक्यं वैनतेयो महाबल :। मा शुच: पुरुषव्याघ्र वधोऽयं लोकसम्मत:।।1.41.17।।

sa caivamabravīdvākyaṃ vainateyo mahābala :| mā śuca: puruṣavyāghra vadho'yaṃ lokasammata:

Highly powerful Garuda, son of Vinata, addressing Anshuman said 'O Tiger among men do not grieve. This act of assasination is meant for the welfare of the three worlds'.

कपिलेनाप्रमेयेन दग्धा हीमे महाबला:। सलिलं नार्हसि प्राज्ञ दातुमेषां हि लौकिकम्।।1.41.18।।

kapilenāprameyena dagdhā hīme mahābalā:| salilaṃ nārhasi prājña dātumeṣāṃ hi laukikam

'Your valiant uncles have been burnt by Kapila of boundless power. O Sagcious one performing traditional rites with ordinary water is not proper'.

गङ्गा हिमवतो ज्येष्ठा दुहिता पुरुषर्षभ। तस्यां कुरु महाबाहो पितृ़णां तु जलक्रियाम्।।1.41.19।।

gaṅgā himavato jyeṣṭhā duhitā puruṣarṣabha| tasyāṃ kuru mahābāho pitṛ़ṇāṃ tu jalakriyām

'O Best among men O Mightyarmed one perform the traditional rites of your uncles with water from river Ganga, the eldest daughter of Himavat'.

भस्मराशीकृतानेतान् प्लावयेल्लोकपावनी। तया क्लिन्नमिदं भस्म गङ्गया लोककान्तया।।1.41.20।। षष्टिं पुत्रसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोकं च नेष्यति।

bhasmarāśīkṛtānetān plāvayellokapāvanī| tayā klinnamidaṃ bhasma gaṅgayā lokakāntayā ṣaṣṭiṃ putrasahasrāṇi svargalokaṃ ca neṣyati|

Ganga, the purifier of the three worlds, will sanctify your uncles reduced to heaps of ashes. These heaps when inundated by waters of Ganga, beloved of the worlds, will take all the sixty thousand sons to heaven.

गच्छ चाश्वं महाभाग तं गृह्य पुरुषर्षभ।।1.41.21।। यज्ञं पैतामहं वीर संवर्तयितुमर्हसि।

gaccha cāśvaṃ mahābhāga taṃ gṛhya puruṣarṣabha yajñaṃ paitāmahaṃ vīra saṃvartayitumarhasi|

'O Highly fortunate one O Best among men go back with that horse. O Hero It behoves of you to complete the sacrifice undertaken by your grandfather'.

सुपर्णवचनं श्रुत्वा सोंऽशुमानतिवीर्यवान् ।।1.41.22।। त्वरितं हयमादाय पुनरायान्महायशा:।

suparṇavacanaṃ śrutvā soṃ'śumānativīryavān tvaritaṃ hayamādāya punarāyānmahāyaśā:|

Exceedingly powerful and highly renowned Anshuman, on hearing the words of Garuda returned quickly to the capital with the horse৷৷

ततो राजानमासाद्य दीक्षितं रघुनन्दन।।1.41.23।। न्यवेदयद्यथावृत्तं सुपर्णवचनं तथा।

tato rājānamāsādya dīkṣitaṃ raghunandana nyavedayadyathāvṛttaṃ suparṇavacanaṃ tathā|

O Descendant of the Raghus (Rama), having reached the king who had been initiated into the ceremony, Anshuman communicated faithfully to him all that had happened. He also reported the words Suparna had said.

तच्छ्रुत्वा घोरसङ्काशं वाक्यमंशुमतो नृप:।।1.41.24।। यज्ञं निवर्तयामास यथाकल्पं यथाविधि।

tacchrutvā ghorasaṅkāśaṃ vākyamaṃśumato nṛpa: yajñaṃ nivartayāmāsa yathākalpaṃ yathāvidhi|

The king heard (was stunned to hear) the awful words of Anshuman, (yet) he performed the sacrifice in accordance with traditional scriptures and Kalpa, the Vedanga.

स्वपुरं चागमच्छ्रीमानिष्टयज्ञोमहीपति:।।1.41.25।। गङ्गायाश्चागमे राजा निश्चयं नाध्यगच्छत।

svapuraṃ cāgamacchrīmāniṣṭayajñomahīpati: gaṅgāyāścāgame rājā niścayaṃ nādhyagacchata|

The great lord of the earth (king Sagara) after performing the sacrifice reached his capital. (But) He could not devise any means to bring Ganga down to the earth.

अकृत्वा निश्चयं राजा कालेन महता महान् । त्रिंशद्वर्षसहस्राणि राज्यं कृत्वा दिवं गत:।।1.41.26।।

akṛtvā niścayaṃ rājā kālena mahatā mahān | triṃśadvarṣasahasrāṇi rājyaṃ kṛtvā divaṃ gata:

The mighty king (Sagara), over a long period of time without being able to devise means (to bring Ganga down to the earth), ruled the kingdom for thirty thousand years and ascended to heaven". इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे एकचत्वारिंशस्सर्ग:।। Thus ends the fortyfirst sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.