“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”
Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 11
King Dasharatha Goes to Anga to Bring Back Rishyasringa and Shanta
Summary
On the advice of his minister Sumantra, Dasharatha proceeds to Anga kingdom to fetch Sage Rishyasringa and his wife Shanta to his capital Ayodhya.
Chapter [Sarga] 11 in Detail
bhuuya eva hi raajendra shrinu me vacanam hitam |
yathaa sa devapravarah kathayaamaasa buddhimaan || 1-11-1
Minister Sumantra continued, "Oh, the great king, I will further narrate all that has been said by Sanat Kumara, the best one among all deities [Gods], kindly listen to these favorable words." [1-11-1.]
iksvaakuunaam kule jaato bhavisyati sudhaarmikah |
naamnaa dasharatho raajaa shriimaan satya pratishravah || 1-11-2
"A king named Dasharatha will be born into Ikshwaku dynasty who will be very virtuous, resplendent [shining brilliantly] and truthful one to his vow." [Said Sanat Kumara, the Sage.] [1- 11-2]
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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 11 anga raajena sakhyam ca tasya raajno bhavisyati |
kanyaa ca asya mahaabhaagaa shaa.ntaa naama bhavisyati || 1-11-3
"King Dasharatha will befriend [to become friend] the king of Anga and the king of Anga will beget [get] a fortunate girl named Shanta. [1-11-3]
putrastuh angasya raajnah tu romapaada iti shrutah |
tam sa raajaa dasharatho gamisyati mahaayashaah || 1-11-4
The son of the king of Anga, the earlier king of Anga kingdom, will be known as Romapaada, or also know as Chitraratha, and the highly renowned king Dasharatha approaches Romapaada. [1-11-4]
anapatyo.asmi dharmaatman shaa.ntaa bhartaa mama kratum |
aahareta tvayaa aajnaptah sa.ntaanaartham kulasya ca || 1-11-5
Then king Dasharatha says to king of Anga "oh, righteous one, I am childless and hence I intend to perform a Vedic ritual. Let the husband of your daughter Shanta, Sage Rishyasringa, preside over that Vedic ritual at you behest [command], for the sake of progeny [descendant or children] in my dynasty. [1-11-5]
shrutvaa raajno.atha tat vaakyam manasaa sa vici.ntya ca |
pradaasyate putravantam shaa.ntaa bhartaaram aatmavaan || 1-11-6
"On hearing those words of king Dasharatha that benevolent soul Romapaada, the king of Anga, considers heartily and agrees to send the one who endows [provides] progeny by rituals, namely Sage Rishyasringa his son-in-law. [1-11-6]
pratigrihyam ca tam vipram sa raajaa vigata jvarah |
aaharisyati tam yajnam prahristena a.ntaraatmanaa || 1-11-7
"On receiving that Brahman, Sage Rishyasringa, at the behest [command] of his father- in-law, that king Dasharatha gets rid of his febrile [feverish] condition and will accomplish that Vedic ritual, feeling very felicitous [pleasant] in the depths of his heart. [1-11-7]
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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 11 tam ca raajaa dasharatho yashas kaamah kritaa.nlih |
risyashringam dvija shrestham varayisyati dharmavit || 1-11-8
yajnaartham prasavaartham ca svargaartham ca nareshvarah |
labhate ca sa tam kaamam dvija mukhyaat vishaa.mpatih || 1-11-9
"That king, the desirer of glory, the knower of virtue and the lord of people, namely Dasharatha will be requesting that best Brahman Rishyasringa with his palms adjoined in supplication [humbly] for the conduct of ritual, for progeny [children] and even for his heavenly abodes, and that king of all the quarters of earth will accomplish those desires from that eminent Brahman Rishyasringa. [1-11-8, 9]
putraah ca asya bhavisyanti catvaaro amita vikramaah |
vamsha pratisthaanakaraah sarva buutesu vishrutaah || 1-11-10
"There will be four sons to king Dasharatha that abound with valor, enrich dynasty's reputation and they will be renowned among all beings." Thus said Sage Sanat Kumara to other sages. [1-11-10]
evam sa deva pravarah puurvam kathitavaan kathaam |
sanatkumaaro bhagavaan puraa devayuge prabhuh || 1-11-11
"This way he that ancient and godly Sage Sanatkumara, who is also Brahma's brain-child like Narada, said this legend in earlier Divine Era, called krita yuga..." thus Sumantra continued his narration to Dasharatha. [1-11-11]
sa tvam purusa shaarduula samaanaya susatkritam |
svayam eva mahaaraaja gatvaa sa bala vaahanah || 1-11-12
“Oh, great king the manly-tiger, he that Sage Rishyasringa be led here on your proceeding in person with staff and transport and on adoring him well personally." Thus Sumantra concluded his narration. [1-11-12]
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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 11 sumantrasya vachah shrutvaa hristo dasharatho.abhavat |
anumaanya vasistham ca suutavaakyam nishaamya ca || 1-11-13
sa antahpurah saha amaatyah prayayau yatra sa dvijah |
On hearing the word of advise from charioteer, Dasharatha became gladsome and made Sumantra to reiterate to that sage also, for his approval, then Dasharatha traveled to the place where that Brahman Rishyasringa is, along with the inmates of palace-chambers and ministers too. [1-11-13, 14a]
vanaani saritah ca eva vyatikramya shanaih shanaih || 1-11-14
abhicakraama tam desham yatra vai munipu.ngavah |
On crossing over the rivers and forests slowly and steadily Dasharatha entered that kingdom where that eminent Brahman is there. [1-11-14b, 15a]
aasaadya tam dvija shrestham romapaada samiipagam || 1-11-15
risiputram dadarsha atho diipyamaanam iva analam |
Then Dasharatha saw that best Brahman who he is nearby king Romapaada, and who is resplendent [shining brilliantly] like ritual fire. [1-11-15b, 16a]
tato raajaa yathaa yogyam puujaam cakre vishesatah || 1-11-16
sakhitvaat tasya vai raajnah prahristena a.ntaraatmanaa |
Then king Romapaada gladdened at heart of hearts paid excellent respects to king Dasharatha procedurally and in view of their friendship.[1-11-16b, 17a]
romapaadena ca aakhyaatam risiputraaya dhiimate || 1-11-17
sakhyam sa.mbandhakam caiva tadaa tam pratyapuujayat |
Then Romapaada informed the wise sage Rishyasringa about the friendship and relation with Dasharatha, and then that sage worshipped king Dasharatha in his return. [1-11-17b, 19a]
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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 11 evam susatkritah tena sahositvaa nararsabhah || 1-11-18
saptaasta divasaan raajaa raajaanam idam abraviit |
Thus well received by king Romapaada, king Dasharatha spent seven to eight days with him, and then spoke this to king Romapaada. [1-11-18b, 19a]
shaa.ntaa tava sutaa raajan saha bhartraa vishaam pate || 1-11-19
madiiyam nagaram yaatu kaaryam hi mahadudyatam |
"Oh, lord of subjects, your daughter Princess Shanta may go over to my city Ayodhya along with her husband Rishyasringa, as oh, king, I am contemplating [consider with continued attention] to perform a great Vedic ritual, indeed." So said Dasharatha to Romapaada. [1-11-19b, 20a]
tathaa iti raajaa sa.mshrutya gamanam tasya dhiimatah || 1-11-20
uvaaca vacanam vipram gaccha tvam saha bhaaryayaa |
"So it shall be" said king Romapaada agreeing to their travel with king Dasharatha, and addressed these words to that Brahman sage and his son-in-law, Sage Rishyasringa "You may proceed along with your wife." [1-11-20b, 21a]
risiputrah pratishrutya tathaa iti aahah nripam tadaa || 1-11-21
sa nripena abhyanujnaatah prayayau saha bhaaryayaa |
Then Rishyasringa agreed and replied to the king Romapaada "So it will be done" and then having been permitted by the king he set forth along with his wife. [1-11-21b, 22a]
taava anyonya a.njalim kritvaa snehaat sa.mshlisya ca urasaa || 1-11-22
nana.ndatuh dasharatho romapaadah ca viiryavaan |
Those valiant kings greeted each other with thanksgiving palm-fold, and in friendship they embraced each other and gladdened [to be glad]. [1-11-22b, 23a]
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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 11 tatah suhridam aapricchya prasthito raghunandanah || 1-11-23
pauresu presayaamaasa duutaan vai shiighra gaaminah |
Then king Dasharatha who set forth to Ayodhya bade [bid] farewell to his friend king Romapaada, and he firstly sent quick-footed messengers to Ayodhya to inform his citizens about his arrival along with Sage Rishyasringa. [1-11-23b, 24a]
kriyataam nagaram sarvam ksipram eva svala.nkritam || 1-11-24
dhuupitam sikta sammristam pataakaabhih ala.nkritam |
"Let the entire city of Ayodhya be well decorated very quickly, let her streets be sprinkled with water and then swept, let the flags of welcome be hoisted.." Thus, king Dasharatha ordered messengers that are sent beforehand. [1-11-24b, 25a]
tatah prahristaah pauraah te shrutvaa raajaanam aagatam || 1-11-25
tathaa cakruh cha tat sarvam raajnaa yat presitam tadaa |
Then on hearing the arrival of their king all the citizens felt very happy and readily performed all those works exactly as ordered by their king. [1-11-25b, 26a]
tatah svala.mkritam raajaa nagaram pravivesha ha || 1-11-26
shankha dundubhi nihraa.rdaih puraskritvaa dvijarsabham |
Then king Dasharatha keeping Rishyasringa before him entered the well-decorated city Ayodhya amidst the full sounding of conch shells and drumbeats. [1-11-26b, 27a]
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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 11 tatah pramuditaah sarve dristvaa tam naagaraa dvijam || 1-11-27
praveshyamaanam satkritya narendrena indra karmanaa |
yathaa divi surendrena sahasraakshena kaashyapam || 1-11-28
Then all the citizens are very happy on seeing that Brahman, Sage Rishyasringa, who is well honored and being entered into the city by their king Dasharatha, as has been done once by Indra when he entered sage Kashyapa's son Vamana, the dwarfish boy and the incarnation of Vishnu, into heavens, and thus those citizens felt that their human lord Dasharatha vies [match] with divine lord Indra. [1-11-27b, 28]
antahpuram praveshya enam puujaam kritvaa ca shaastratah |
kritakrityam tadaa aatmaanam mene tasya upavaahanaat || 1-11-29
Dasharatha entered the sage into the palace chambers and worshipped him there as ordained [defined] in the scriptures, and in bringing the Sage here into his country, king Dasharatha believed that his desire is fulfilled. [1-11-28]
antahpuraani sarvaani shaa.ntaam dristvaa tathaa aagataam |
saha bhartraa vishaalaaksiim priityaa aana.ndam upaagaman || 1-11-30
On seeing her, the broad-eyed Shanta, who came there along with her husband all the ladies of palace derived happiness for the homecoming of their own daughter, as it were. [1-11- 29]
puujyamaanaa tu taabhih saa raajnaa cha eva vishesatah |
uvaasa tatra sukhitaa kancit kaalam saha dvijaa || 1-11-31
Shanta thus being admired by all of them, and in an exceptional manner by Dasharatha, comfortably resided there along with her husband, the Vedic scholar Rishyasringa. [1-11-30]
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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 11 iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye baala kaande ekaadashah sargah
Thus, this is the 11th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate
References
Desiraju Hanumanta Rao. (1998). Balakanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties.
Merriam-Webster. (2007). At http://www.m-w.com.
Reference.com. (2007). At http://www.reference.com.
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