Bala Kanda, Sarga 68

जनकेन समादिष्टा दूतास्ते क्लान्तवाहना:। त्रिरात्रमुषिता मार्गे तेऽयोध्यां प्राविशन् पुरीम्।।1.68.1।।

janakena samādiṣṭā dūtāste klāntavāhanā:| trirātramuṣitā mārge te'yodhyāṃ prāviśan purīm

Commanded by Janaka the messengers travelled for three days, rested for three nights on the way and entered the city of Ayodhya along with their horses tired.

राज्ञो भवनमासाद्य द्वारस्थानिदमब्रुवन्। शीघ्रं निवेद्यतां राज्ञे दूतान्नो जनकस्य च।।1.68.2।।

rājño bhavanamāsādya dvārasthānidamabruvan| śīghraṃ nivedyatāṃ rājñe dūtānno janakasya ca

Reaching the king's palace the messengers said to the doorkeepers, "Let king Dasaratha be immediately informed that the messengers from Janaka have come".

इत्युक्ता द्वारपालास्ते राघवाय न्यवेदयन्। ते राजवचनाद्दूता राजवेश्मप्रवेशिता:। ददृशुर्देवसङ्काशं वृद्धं दशरथं नृपम्।।1.68.3।।

ityuktā dvārapālāste rāghavāya nyavedayan| te rājavacanāddūtā rājaveśmapraveśitā:| dadṛśurdevasaṅkāśaṃ vṛddhaṃ daśarathaṃ nṛpam

Having heard their words, the doorkeepers informed the descendant of Raghu (king Dasaratha). Thereafter, with the the king's permission, the messengers entered the royal palace and beheld the aged king Dasaratha who shone like a god.

बद्धाञ्जलिपुटा स्सर्वे दूता विगतसाध्वसा:। राजानं प्रयता वाक्यमब्रुवन्मधुराक्षरम्।।1.68.4।।

baddhāñjalipuṭā ssarve dūtā vigatasādhvasā:| rājānaṃ prayatā vākyamabruvanmadhurākṣaram

All the messengers, hands folded free from apprehensions, reverentially addressed the king in sweet words.

मैथिलो जनको राजा साग्निहोत्रपुरस्कृतम् । कुशलं चाव्ययं चैव सोपाध्यायपुरोहितम्।।1.68.5।। मुहुर्मुहुर्मधुरया स्नेहसंयुक्तया गिरा। जनकस्त्वां महाराज पृच्छते सपुरस्सरम्।।1.68.6।।

maithilo janako rājā sāgnihotrapuraskṛtam | kuśalaṃ cāvyayaṃ caiva sopādhyāyapurohitam muhurmuhurmadhurayā snehasaṃyuktayā girā| janakastvāṃ mahārāja pṛcchate sapurassaram

"O Great monarch Mithila's lord, king Janaka, with the sacred fire in front again and again enquires about your health and the spiritual wellbeing of your preceptors, priests and attendants in words filled with sweetness and affection.

मैथिलो जनको राजा साग्निहोत्रपुरस्कृतम् । कुशलं चाव्ययं चैव सोपाध्यायपुरोहितम्।।1.68.5।। मुहुर्मुहुर्मधुरया स्नेहसंयुक्तया गिरा। जनकस्त्वां महाराज पृच्छते सपुरस्सरम्।।1.68.6।।

maithilo janako rājā sāgnihotrapuraskṛtam | kuśalaṃ cāvyayaṃ caiva sopādhyāyapurohitam muhurmuhurmadhurayā snehasaṃyuktayā girā| janakastvāṃ mahārāja pṛcchate sapurassaram

"O Great monarch Mithila's lord, king Janaka, with the sacred fire in front again and again enquires about your health and the spiritual wellbeing of your preceptors, priests and attendants in words filled with sweetness and affection.

पृष्ट्वा कुशलमव्यग्रं वैदेहो मिथिलाधिप:। कौशिकानुमते वाक्यं भवन्तमिदमब्रवीत्।।1.68.7।।

pṛṣṭvā kuśalamavyagraṃ vaideho mithilādhipa:| kauśikānumate vākyaṃ bhavantamidamabravīt

Janaka, the king of Mithila with the enquiry about your welfare, with the permission of the son of Kausika (Viswamitra) sends you this message:

पूर्वं प्रतिज्ञा विदिता वीर्यशुल्का ममात्मजा। राजानश्च कृतामर्षानिर्वीर्या विमुखीकृता:।।1.68.8।।

pūrvaṃ pratijñā viditā vīryaśulkā mamātmajā| rājānaśca kṛtāmarṣānirvīryā vimukhīkṛtā:

O King It is wellknown that formerly I had vowed to give my daughter to a groom as a reward for prowess. Disappointed when proved powerless, the kings became indignant and opposed me.

सेयं मम सुता राजन् विश्वामित्रपुरस्सरै:। यदृच्छयागतैर्वीरैर्निर्जिता तव पुत्रकै:।।1.68.9।।

seyaṃ mama sutā rājan viśvāmitrapurassarai:| yadṛcchayāgatairvīrairnirjitā tava putrakai:

O King that this daughter of mine has been won by your heroic son Rama who has come here casually led by Viswamitra.

तच्च राजन् धनुर्दिव्यं मध्ये भग्नं महात्मना। रामेण हि महाराज महत्यां जनसंसदि।।1.68.10।।

tacca rājan dhanurdivyaṃ madhye bhagnaṃ mahātmanā| rāmeṇa hi mahārāja mahatyāṃ janasaṃsadi

O Great king, Dasaratha the divine bow with its limitless glory was broken in the middle by the great self Rama in the assembly of people.

अस्मै देया मया सीता वीर्यशुल्का महात्मने। प्रतिज्ञां कर्तुमिच्छामि तदनुज्ञातुमर्हसि।।1.68.11।।

asmai deyā mayā sītā vīryaśulkā mahātmane| pratijñāṃ kartumicchāmi tadanujñātumarhasi

Sita is fit to be given in marriage to this eminent Rama as a reward for his prowess. I request you to give your consent to fulfil my vow.

सोपाध्यायो महाराज पुरोहितपुरस्सर:। शीघ्रमागच्छ भद्रं ते द्रष्टुमर्हसि राघवौ ।।1.68.12।।

sopādhyāyo mahārāja purohitapurassara:| śīghramāgaccha bhadraṃ te draṣṭumarhasi rāghavau

O Mighty king be blessed. Come here soon with your preceptors and priest. You ought to be reumitd with Rama amd Lakshmana.

प्रीतिं च मम राजेन्द्र निर्वर्तयितुमर्हसि। पुत्रयोरुभयोरेव प्रीतिं त्वमपि लप्स्यसे।।1.68.13।।

prītiṃ ca mama rājendra nirvartayitumarhasi| putrayorubhayoreva prītiṃ tvamapi lapsyase

O Indra among kings you will not only bring me pleasure, you will also be happy to see your sons.

एवं विदेहाधिपतिर्मधुरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।1.68.14।। विश्वामित्राभ्यनुज्ञात श्शतानन्दमते स्थित:। इत्युक्त्वा विरता दूता राजगौरवशङ्किता:।।1.68.15।।

evaṃ videhādhipatirmadhuraṃ vākyamabravīt viśvāmitrābhyanujñāta śśatānandamate sthita:| ityuktvā viratā dūtā rājagauravaśaṅkitā:

The king of Videha (Janaka) with Viswamitra's approval and in line with Satananda's thinking has conveyed these sweet words". The messengers having said so concluded out of respect for their king (afraid that they might look overtalkative).

एवं विदेहाधिपतिर्मधुरं वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।1.68.14।। विश्वामित्राभ्यनुज्ञात श्शतानन्दमते स्थित:। इत्युक्त्वा विरता दूता राजगौरवशङ्किता:।।1.68.15।।

evaṃ videhādhipatirmadhuraṃ vākyamabravīt viśvāmitrābhyanujñāta śśatānandamate sthita:| ityuktvā viratā dūtā rājagauravaśaṅkitā:

The king of Videha (Janaka) with Viswamitra's approval and in line with Satananda's thinking has conveyed these sweet words". The messengers having said so concluded out of respect for their king (afraid that they might look overtalkative).

दूतवाक्यं च तच्छ्रुत्वा राजा परमहर्षित:। वसिष्ठं वामदेवं च मन्त्रिणोऽन्यांश्च सोऽब्रवीत्।।1.68.16।।

dūtavākyaṃ ca tacchrutvā rājā paramaharṣita:| vasiṣṭhaṃ vāmadevaṃ ca mantriṇo'nyāṃśca so'bravīt

Exceedingly happy to hear the words of the messengers, the king said to Vasishta, Vamadeva and other ministers.

गुप्त: कुशिकपुत्रेण कौसल्यानन्दवर्धन:। लक्ष्मणेन सह भ्रात्रा विदेहेषु वसत्यसौ।।1.68.17।।

gupta: kuśikaputreṇa kausalyānandavardhana:| lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā videheṣu vasatyasau

"The enhancer of the joy of Kausalya (Rama) along with hs brother Lakshmana under the protection of Viswamitra is now staying in the coutry of the Videhas."

दृष्टवीर्यस्तु काकुत्स्थो जनकेन महात्मना। सम्प्रदानं सुतायास्तु राघवे कर्तुमिच्छति।।1.68.18।।

dṛṣṭavīryastu kākutstho janakena mahātmanā| sampradānaṃ sutāyāstu rāghave kartumicchati

Illustrious Janaka desires to bestow his daughter on the descendat of Kakustha (Rama) whose prowess he has witnessed.

यदि वो रोचते वृत्तं जनकस्य महात्मन:। पुरीं गच्छामहे शीघ्रं मा भूत्कालस्य पर्यय:।।1.68.19।।

yadi vo rocate vṛttaṃ janakasya mahātmana:| purīṃ gacchāmahe śīghraṃ mā bhūtkālasya paryaya:

If you approve the action, of the distinguished Janaka, let us hurry to the city of Mithila. Let there be no delay".