Bala Kanda, Sarga 8

तस्य त्वेवं प्रभावस्य धर्मज्ञस्य महात्मन:। सुतार्थं तप्यमानस्य नासीद्वंशकरस्सुत:।।1.8.1।।

tasya tvevaṃ prabhāvasya dharmajñasya mahātmana:| sutārthaṃ tapyamānasya nāsīdvaṃśakarassuta:

Such a majestic, righteous, and magnaninous king had no son to perpetuate the race even though he performed austerities for one.

चिन्तयानस्य तस्यैवं बुद्धिरासीन्महात्मन: । सुतार्थं हयमेधेन किमर्थं न यजाम्यहम्।।1.8.2।।

cintayānasya tasyaivaṃ buddhirāsīnmahātmana: | sutārthaṃ hayamedhena kimarthaṃ na yajāmyaham

While reflecting over the matter, a thought struck the magnanimous king: 'Why not invoke gods by performing a horsesacrifice for a son'.

स निश्चितां मतिं कृत्वा यष्टव्यमिति बुद्धिमान्। मन्त्रिभिस्सह धर्मात्मा सर्वैरेव कृतात्मभि:।।1.8.3।। ततोऽब्रवीदिदं राजा सुमन्त्रं मन्त्रिसत्तमम्। शीघ्रमानय मे सर्वान्गुरूंस्तान् सपुरोहितान्।।1.8.4।।

sa niścitāṃ matiṃ kṛtvā yaṣṭavyamiti buddhimān| mantribhissaha dharmātmā sarvaireva kṛtātmabhi: tato'bravīdidaṃ rājā sumantraṃ mantrisattamam| śīghramānaya me sarvāngurūṃstān sapurohitān

Having made up his mind to perform the sacrifice, that sagacious and pious king, in consultation with his wise ministers, issued the following command to Sumantra, the best of ministers "Bring all my spritual preceptors along with family priests."

स निश्चितां मतिं कृत्वा यष्टव्यमिति बुद्धिमान्। मन्त्रिभिस्सह धर्मात्मा सर्वैरेव कृतात्मभि:।।1.8.3।। ततोऽब्रवीदिदं राजा सुमन्त्रं मन्त्रिसत्तमम्। शीघ्रमानय मे सर्वान्गुरूंस्तान् सपुरोहितान्।।1.8.4।।

sa niścitāṃ matiṃ kṛtvā yaṣṭavyamiti buddhimān| mantribhissaha dharmātmā sarvaireva kṛtātmabhi: tato'bravīdidaṃ rājā sumantraṃ mantrisattamam| śīghramānaya me sarvāngurūṃstān sapurohitān

Having made up his mind to perform the sacrifice, that sagacious and pious king, in consultation with his wise ministers, issued the following command to Sumantra, the best of ministers "Bring all my spritual preceptors along with family priests."

ततस्सुमन्त्रस्त्वरितं गत्वा त्वरितविक्रम:। समानयत्स तान् सर्वान् समस्तान्वेदपारगान् ।।1.8.5।। सुयज्ञं वामदेवं च जाबालिमथ काश्यपम् । परोहितं वसिष्ठं च ये चान्ये व्दिजसत्तमा: ।। 1.8.6 ।।

tatassumantrastvaritaṃ gatvā tvaritavikrama:| samānayatsa tān sarvān samastānvedapāragān suyajñaṃ vāmadevaṃ ca jābālimatha kāśyapam | parohitaṃ vasiṣṭhaṃ ca ye cānye vdijasattamā:

Thereupon Sumantra of swift movement immediateiy brought together Suyajna, Vamadeva,Jabali, Kasyapa and priest Vasistha along with other brahmins who had mastery over the Vedas.

ततस्सुमन्त्रस्त्वरितं गत्वा त्वरितविक्रम:। समानयत्स तान् सर्वान् समस्तान्वेदपारगान् ।।1.8.5।। सुयज्ञं वामदेवं च जाबालिमथ काश्यपम् । परोहितं वसिष्ठं च ये चान्ये व्दिजसत्तमा: ।। 1.8.6 ।।

tatassumantrastvaritaṃ gatvā tvaritavikrama:| samānayatsa tān sarvān samastānvedapāragān suyajñaṃ vāmadevaṃ ca jābālimatha kāśyapam | parohitaṃ vasiṣṭhaṃ ca ye cānye vdijasattamā:

Thereupon Sumantra of swift movement immediateiy brought together Suyajna, Vamadeva,Jabali, Kasyapa and priest Vasistha along with other brahmins who had mastery over the Vedas.

तान्पूजयित्वा धर्मात्मा राजा दशरथस्तदा। इदं धर्मार्थसहितं श्लक्ष्णंवचनमब्रवीत्।।1.8.7।।

tānpūjayitvā dharmātmā rājā daśarathastadā| idaṃ dharmārthasahitaṃ ślakṣṇaṃvacanamabravīt

Virtuous king Dasaratha paid homage to them (the ministers) and uttered these gracious, righteous and meaningful words.

मम लालप्यमानस्य पुत्रार्थन्नास्ति वै सुखम्। तदर्थं हयमेधेन यक्ष्यामीति मतिर्मम।।1.8.8।।

mama lālapyamānasya putrārthannāsti vai sukham| tadarthaṃ hayamedhena yakṣyāmīti matirmama

There is no happiness for one who has no son. This is the cause of my intense suffering. Therefore, I have made up my mind to perform a horsesacrifice.

तदहं यष्टुमिच्छामि शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा। कथं प्राप्स्याम्यहं कामं बुद्धिरत्रविचार्यताम्।।1.8.9।।

tadahaṃ yaṣṭumicchāmi śāstradṛṣṭena karmaṇā| kathaṃ prāpsyāmyahaṃ kāmaṃ buddhiratravicāryatām

Therefore, I intend to perform a horsesacrifice in accordance with the scriptures. How can I fulfil my desire in this regard? You may deliberate and find a solution".

ततस्साध्विति तद्वाक्यं ब्राह्मणा: प्रत्यपूजयन्। वसिष्ठप्रमुखास्सर्वे पार्थिवस्य मुखाच्च्युतम्।।1.8.10।।

tatassādhviti tadvākyaṃ brāhmaṇā: pratyapūjayan| vasiṣṭhapramukhāssarve pārthivasya mukhāccyutam

The brahmins along with Vasishta in the forefront extolled the king's decision, exclaiming, 'Well, Well'.

ऊचुश्च परमप्रीतास्सर्वे दशरथं वच:। सम्भारास्सम्भ्रियन्तां ते तुरगश्च विमुच्यताम्।।1.8.11।।

ūcuśca paramaprītāssarve daśarathaṃ vaca:| sambhārāssambhriyantāṃ te turagaśca vimucyatām

Highly pleased, they all said to king Dasaratha, "Requisite articles be collected for the sacrifice and the horse be released."

सर्वथा प्राप्स्यसे पुत्रानभिप्रेतांश्च पार्थिव। यस्य ते धार्मिकी बुद्धिरियं पुत्रार्थमागता।।1.8.12।।

sarvathā prāpsyase putrānabhipretāṃśca pārthiva| yasya te dhārmikī buddhiriyaṃ putrārthamāgatā

'O king, the wish that arose in your mind is just and right. You will definitely obtain sons as desired by you.'

तत: प्रीतोऽभवद्राजा श्रुत्वा तद्विजभाषितम्। अमात्यांश्चाब्रवीद्राजा हर्षपर्याकुलेक्षण:।।1.8.13।।

tata: prīto'bhavadrājā śrutvā tadvijabhāṣitam| amātyāṃścābravīdrājā harṣaparyākulekṣaṇa:

On hearing the words of the brahmins, the king was pleased and said to his ministers with eyes excited with delight.

सम्भारास्सम्भ्रियन्तां मे गुरूणां वचनादिह। समर्थाधिष्ठितश्चाश्वस्सोपाध्यायो विमुच्यताम्।।1.8.14।।

sambhārāssambhriyantāṃ me gurūṇāṃ vacanādiha| samarthādhiṣṭhitaścāśvassopādhyāyo vimucyatām

"Let the articles required (for performing the sacrifice) be procured in accordance with the words of my spiritual preceptors and the horse be released under the protection of able men.

सरय्वाश्चोत्तरे तीरे यज्ञभूमिर्विधीयताम्। शान्तयश्चाभिवर्धन्तां यथाकल्पं यथाविधि।।1.8.15।।

sarayvāścottare tīre yajñabhūmirvidhīyatām| śāntayaścābhivardhantāṃ yathākalpaṃ yathāvidhi

On the northern bank of Sarayu, a sacrificial pavillion be prepared according to the methods ordained in the 'Kalpa'. Auspicious rites be performed in accordance with the ordinance for its uninterrupted completion.

शक्य: प्राप्तुमयं यज्ञस्सर्वेणापि महीक्षिता। नापराधो भवेत्कष्टो यद्यस्मिन्क्रतुसत्तमे।।1.8.16।।

śakya: prāptumayaṃ yajñassarveṇāpi mahīkṣitā| nāparādho bhavetkaṣṭo yadyasminkratusattame

If obstructions and omissions do not occur in the conduct of this best of sacrifices, it will be possible for every king to get the results.

छिद्रं हि मृगयन्तेऽत्र विद्वांसो ब्रह्मराक्षसा: । निहतस्य च यज्ञस्य सद्य: कर्ता विनश्यति ।।1.8.17।।

chidraṃ hi mṛgayante'tra vidvāṃso brahmarākṣasā: | nihatasya ca yajñasya sadya: kartā vinaśyati

The learned brahmarakshasas always look out for flaws in the sacrifice so that they can spoil it. If a flaw finds place, the doer of the sacrifice is immediately destroyed.

तद्यथा विधिपूर्वं मे क्रतुरेष समाप्यते । तथा विधानं क्रियतां समर्था: करणेष्विह।।1.8.18।।

tadyathā vidhipūrvaṃ me kratureṣa samāpyate | tathā vidhānaṃ kriyatāṃ samarthā: karaṇeṣviha

Therefore let the arrangements be made in a manner this sacifice is completed in accordance with the scriptures. And in this, you are experts".

तथेति चाब्रुवन्सर्वे मन्त्रिण:प्रत्यपूजयन्। पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य तद्वाक्यं यथाज्ञप्तं निशम्य ते।।1.8.19।।

tatheti cābruvansarve mantriṇa:pratyapūjayan| pārthivendrasya tadvākyaṃ yathājñaptaṃ niśamya te

Having heard these words of this Indra on earth (king Dasaratha) all the ministers with due respect replied: "May it be as ordered".

तथा द्विजास्ते धर्मज्ञा वर्धयन्तो नृपोत्तमम्। अनुज्ञातास्ततस्सर्वे पुनर्जग्मुर्यथागतम्।।1.8.20।।

tathā dvijāste dharmajñā vardhayanto nṛpottamam| anujñātāstatassarve punarjagmuryathāgatam

Bowing to this best of kings (Dasaratha), all the brahmins who were experts in austerities left all the knowledgeable brahmins as they camewith his permission.

विसर्जयित्वा तान्विप्रान्सचिवानिदमब्रवीत्। ऋत्विग्भिरुपदिष्टोऽयं यथावत्क्रतुराप्यताम्।।1.8.21।।

visarjayitvā tānviprānsacivānidamabravīt| ṛtvigbhirupadiṣṭo'yaṃ yathāvatkraturāpyatām

After sending away the brahmins, the king said to his ministers: "Let this sacrifice be performed as enjoined by scriptures and as directed by the officiating priests".

इत्युक्त्वा नृपशार्दूलस्सचिवान्समुपस्थितान्। विसर्जयित्वा स्वं वेश्म प्रविवेश महाद्युति:।।1.8.22।।

ityuktvā nṛpaśārdūlassacivānsamupasthitān| visarjayitvā svaṃ veśma praviveśa mahādyuti:

Having thus ordered his ministers sitting nearby, sent this highly brilliant, this preeminent among kings them away and entered the inner apartment.

ततस्स गत्वा ता:पत्नीर्नरेन्द्रो हृदयप्रिया:। उवाच दीक्षां विशत यक्ष्येऽहं सुतकारणात्।।1.8.23।।

tatassa gatvā tā:patnīrnarendro hṛdayapriyā:| uvāca dīkṣāṃ viśata yakṣye'haṃ sutakāraṇāt

Thereafter the king said to his dearest wives: "I intend to perform a sacrifice in order to obtain sons. Therefore, you, too, commence religious discipline."

तासां तेनातिकान्तेन वचनेन सुवर्चसाम्। मुखपद्मान्यशोभन्त पद्मानीव हिमात्यये।।1.8.24।।

tāsāṃ tenātikāntena vacanena suvarcasām| mukhapadmānyaśobhanta padmānīva himātyaye

On listening to these exceedingly charming words, their bright countenances shone resplendent like lotuses after the departure of winter. इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीय आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे अष्टमस्सर्ग:।। Thus ends the eighth sarga of Balakanda of the holy Ramayana the first epic composed by sage Valmiki.