Bala Kanda, Sarga 72

तमुक्तवन्तं वैदेहं विश्वामित्रो महामुनि:। उवाच वचनं वीरं वसिष्ठसहितो नृपम्।।1.72.1।।

tamuktavantaṃ vaidehaṃ viśvāmitro mahāmuni:| uvāca vacanaṃ vīraṃ vasiṣṭhasahito nṛpam

When Janaka the valiant king of Videha thus spoke (on the genealogy of his family) the mighty ascetic Viswamitra accompanied by Vasishta said to Janaka:

अचिन्त्यान्यप्रमेयानि कुलानि नरपुङ्गव। इक्ष्वाकूणां विदेहानां नैषां तुल्योऽस्ति कश्चन।।1.72.2।।

acintyānyaprameyāni kulāni narapuṅgava| ikṣvākūṇāṃ videhānāṃ naiṣāṃ tulyo'sti kaścana

"O Preeminent among men the glory of the two races of Ikshvakus as also of Videhas is in comprehensible and immeasurable. There is none equal to these kings of the Ikshvakus and Videhas.

सदृशो धर्मसम्बन्ध: सदृशो रूपसम्पदा। रामलक्ष्मणयो राजन् सीता चोर्मिलया सह।।1.72.3।।

sadṛśo dharmasambandha: sadṛśo rūpasampadā| rāmalakṣmaṇayo rājan sītā cormilayā saha

O King it is a perfect match between Sita and Rama and Urmila and Lakshmana. In respect of piety and beauty the match is perfect.

वक्तव्यं च नरश्रेष्ठ श्रूयतां वचनं मम। भ्राता यवीयान् धर्मज्ञ एष राजा कुशध्वज:।।1.72.4।।

vaktavyaṃ ca naraśreṣṭha śrūyatāṃ vacanaṃ mama| bhrātā yavīyān dharmajña eṣa rājā kuśadhvaja:

O Best of men my words deserve to be heard. This younger brother king Kusadhwaja is knower of righteousness.

अस्य धर्मात्मनो राजन् रूपेणाप्रतिमं भुवि । सुताद्वयं नरश्रेष्ठ पत्न्यर्थं वरयामहे।।1.72.5।।

asya dharmātmano rājan rūpeṇāpratimaṃ bhuvi | sutādvayaṃ naraśreṣṭha patnyarthaṃ varayāmahe

O King, O Eminent among men we seek the hands of this virtuous king's two daughters, unrivalled in beauty, on earth, as consorts.

भरतस्य कुमारस्य शत्रुघ्नस्य च धीमत:। वरयामस्सुते राजन् तयोरर्थे महात्मनो:।।1.72.6।।

bharatasya kumārasya śatrughnasya ca dhīmata:| varayāmassute rājan tayorarthe mahātmano:

O king we choose your brother's daughters for the great souls: the young Bharata and the sagacious Satrughna.

पुत्रा दशरथस्येमे रूपयौवनशालिन:। लोकपालोपमास्सर्वे देवतुल्यपराक्रमा:।।1.72.7।।

putrā daśarathasyeme rūpayauvanaśālina:| lokapālopamāssarve devatulyaparākramā:

Bestowed with youth and beauty, these sons of Dasaratha resemble kings in defending the worlds and gods in valour.

उभयोरपि राजेन्द्र सम्बन्धेनानुबध्यताम्। इक्ष्वाको: कुलमव्यग्रं भवत:पुण्यकर्मण:।।1.72.8।।

ubhayorapi rājendra sambandhenānubadhyatām| ikṣvāko: kulamavyagraṃ bhavata:puṇyakarmaṇa:

O King of kings (Janaka) the bond between your race with its pious deeds and the Ikshvakus may be strenghthened by this alliance".

विश्वामित्रवच श्शृत्वा वसिष्ठस्य मते तदा। जनक: प्रांजलिर्वाक्यमुवाच मुनिपुङ्गवौ।।1.72.9।।

viśvāmitravaca śśṛtvā vasiṣṭhasya mate tadā| janaka: prāṃjalirvākyamuvāca munipuṅgavau

Having heard the words of Viswamitra which echoed the wish of Vasishta, Janaka replied to the eminent ascetics with folded palms.

कुलं धन्यमिदं मन्ये येषां नो मुनिपुङ्गवौ । सदृशं कुलसम्बन्धं यदाज्ञापयथ: स्वयम्।।1.72.10।।

kulaṃ dhanyamidaṃ manye yeṣāṃ no munipuṅgavau | sadṛśaṃ kulasambandhaṃ yadājñāpayatha: svayam

"Since both of you, eminent ascetics, recomended this befitting alliance of the two races on your own, I regard my race as blessed.

एवं भवतु भद्रं व: कुशध्वजसुते इमे। पत्न्यौ भजेतां सहितौ शत्रुघ्नभरतावुभौ।।1.72.11।।

evaṃ bhavatu bhadraṃ va: kuśadhvajasute ime| patnyau bhajetāṃ sahitau śatrughnabharatāvubhau

"Let it be so, Be blessed Let these two daughters of Kusadhwaja (Srutakirti and Mandavi) be the wives of Satrughna and Bharata respectively and serve them.

एकाह्ना राजपुत्रीणां चतसृणां महामुने। पाणीन् गृह्णन्तु चत्वारो राजपुत्रा महाबला:।।1.72.12।।

ekāhnā rājaputrīṇāṃ catasṛṇāṃ mahāmune| pāṇīn gṛhṇantu catvāro rājaputrā mahābalā:

O Great ascetic let the valiant four princes take the hands of four princesses on the same day.

उत्तरे दिवसे ब्रह्मन् फल्गुनीभ्यां मनीषिण:। वैवाहिकं प्रशंसन्ति भगो यत्र प्रजापति:।।1.72.13।।

uttare divase brahman phalgunībhyāṃ manīṣiṇa:| vaivāhikaṃ praśaṃsanti bhago yatra prajāpati:

"The wise, O Brahmin think the marriage is favourable when Bhaga is Prajapati on the succeeding day of the ascent of the two stars. (that is, when poorva is followed by uttara phalguni).

एवमुक्त्वा वचस्सौम्यं प्रत्युत्थाय कृताञ्जलि:। उभौ मुनिवरौ राजा जनको वाक्यमब्रवीत्।।1.72.14।।

evamuktvā vacassaumyaṃ pratyutthāya kṛtāñjali:| ubhau munivarau rājā janako vākyamabravīt

King Janaka, having spoken these pleasing words, stood up and with folded hands addressing both the great ascetics:

परो धर्म: कृतो मह्यं शिष्योऽस्मिभवतो सदा। इमान्यासनमुख्यानि आसातां मुनिपुङ्गवौ।।1.72.15।।

paro dharma: kṛto mahyaṃ śiṣyo'smibhavato sadā| imānyāsanamukhyāni āsātāṃ munipuṅgavau

"You have earned me a great religious merit. I shall be always your disciple O Eminent ascestics, occupy these important seats".

यथा दशरथस्येयं तथाऽयोध्या पुरी मम। प्रभुत्वे नास्ति सन्देहो यथार्हं कर्तुमर्हथ।।1.72.16।।

yathā daśarathasyeyaṃ tathā'yodhyā purī mama| prabhutve nāsti sandeho yathārhaṃ kartumarhatha

"Dasaratha has right on the city of Ayodhya as much as I have on this. This right is unquestionable. So do whatever you think right".

तथा ब्रुवति वैदेहे जनके रघुनन्दन:। राजा दशरथो हृष्ट: प्रत्युवाच महीपतिम्।।1.72.17।।

tathā bruvati vaidehe janake raghunandana:| rājā daśaratho hṛṣṭa: pratyuvāca mahīpatim

To the words of Janaka, king of Videha, king Dasaratha, the descendant of Raghu cheerfully replied:

युवामसङ्ख्येयगुणौ भ्रातरौ मिथिलेश्वरौ। ऋषयो राजसङ्घाश्च भवद्भ्यामभिपूजिता:।।1.72.18।।

yuvāmasaṅkhyeyaguṇau bhrātarau mithileśvarau| ṛṣayo rājasaṅghāśca bhavadbhyāmabhipūjitā:

"You both brothers are lords of Mithila. You possess countless virtues. You pay regards to many rishis and hosts of kings".

स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि भद्रं ते गमिष्यामि स्वमालयम्। श्राद्धकर्माणि सर्वाणि विधास्यामीति चाब्रवीत्।।1.72.19।।

svasti prāpnuhi bhadraṃ te gamiṣyāmi svamālayam| śrāddhakarmāṇi sarvāṇi vidhāsyāmīti cābravīt

"Be safe. Be blessed. Let me retire to the camp. I have to perform the rites offerings to the forefathers".

तमापृष्ट्वा नरपतिं राजा दशरथस्तदा। मुनीन्द्रौ तौ पुरस्कृत्य जगामाशु महायशा:।।1.72.20।।

tamāpṛṣṭvā narapatiṃ rājā daśarathastadā| munīndrau tau puraskṛtya jagāmāśu mahāyaśā:

Then renowned king Dasaratha, took leave of the two great ascetics. Then the rowned king Dasaratha took have of the king (Janaka) immediately following the two great ascetics.

स गत्वा निलयं राजा श्राद्धं कृत्वा विधानत:। प्रभाते काल्यमुत्थाय चक्रे गोदानमुत्तमम्।।1.72.21।।

sa gatvā nilayaṃ rājā śrāddhaṃ kṛtvā vidhānata:| prabhāte kālyamutthāya cakre godānamuttamam

The king (Dasaratha) reached the abode, performed the sharaddha ceremony in accordance with the scriptures. Next day at dawn at appropriate time he gifted away cows (a ceremony performed by initiating the bridegrooms into the marriage.)

गवां शतसहस्राणि ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नराधिप:। एकैकशो ददौ राजा पुत्रानुद्दिश्य धर्मत:।।1.72.22।।

gavāṃ śatasahasrāṇi brāhmaṇebhyo narādhipa:| ekaikaśo dadau rājā putrānuddiśya dharmata:

For the welfare of each of his sons the king (Dasaratha) religiously gave away a hundred thousand cows to brahmins.

सुवर्णश्रुङ्गा स्सम्पन्ना स्सवत्सा: कांस्यदोहना:। गवां शतसहस्राणि चत्वारि पुरुषर्षभ:।।1.72.23।। वित्तमन्यच्च सुबहुद्विजेभ्यो रघुनन्दन:। ददौ गोदानमुद्दिश्य पुत्राणां पुत्रवत्सल:।।1.72.24।।

suvarṇaśruṅgā ssampannā ssavatsā: kāṃsyadohanā:| gavāṃ śatasahasrāṇi catvāri puruṣarṣabha: vittamanyacca subahudvijebhyo raghunandana:| dadau godānamuddiśya putrāṇāṃ putravatsala:

Great among men and affectionate towards his children, (king Dasaratha), the delight of the Raghus donated in the name of his sons' donates to the brahmins four hundred thousand cows. They were capable of abundance of milk. Their horns were plaited with gold. They were accompanied by calves. With them were given away bellmetal vessels for keeping milk and innumerable valuables.

सुवर्णश्रुङ्गा स्सम्पन्ना स्सवत्सा: कांस्यदोहना:। गवां शतसहस्राणि चत्वारि पुरुषर्षभ:।।1.72.23।। वित्तमन्यच्च सुबहुद्विजेभ्यो रघुनन्दन:। ददौ गोदानमुद्दिश्य पुत्राणां पुत्रवत्सल:।।1.72.24।।

suvarṇaśruṅgā ssampannā ssavatsā: kāṃsyadohanā:| gavāṃ śatasahasrāṇi catvāri puruṣarṣabha: vittamanyacca subahudvijebhyo raghunandana:| dadau godānamuddiśya putrāṇāṃ putravatsala:

Great among men and affectionate towards his children, (king Dasaratha), the delight of the Raghus donated in the name of his sons' donates to the brahmins four hundred thousand cows. They were capable of abundance of milk. Their horns were plaited with gold. They were accompanied by calves. With them were given away bellmetal vessels for keeping milk and innumerable valuables.

स सुतै: कृतगोदानैर्वृतस्तु नृपतिस्तदा। लोकपालैरिवाभाति वृत: स्सौम्य: प्रजापति:।।1.72.25।।

sa sutai: kṛtagodānairvṛtastu nṛpatistadā| lokapālairivābhāti vṛta: ssaumya: prajāpati:

With his sons for whose sake cows have been given away the cheerful king looked like shining Prajapati surrrounded by the guardians of the world. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे द्विसप्ततितमस्सर्ग:।। Thus ends the seventhsecond sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.