Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama
Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 50
Rama and His Associates Enter Mithila
Summary
Rama arrives at Mithila along with Lakshmana led by Vishvamitra. On hearing that Vishvamitra has arrived at their city Mithila, King Janaka proceeds to him welcomingly. On seeing Rama and Lakshmana near at Vishvamitra, Janaka inquisitively [curiously] asks Vishvamitra about these two princes. Vishvamitra announces them as the sons of Dasharatha and informs about the adventurous deeds the boys have undertaken.
Chapter [Sarga] 50 in Detail
tatah praak uttaraam gatvaa raamah saumitrinaa saha |
vishvaamitram purashkritya yajna vaatam upaagamat || 1-50-1
Rama then traveled along with Lakshmana towards northeast direction keeping Vishvamitra afore and neared the hall of Vedic ritual of Janaka in Mithila kingdom. [1-50-1]
raamah tu muni shaarduulam uvaaca saha laksmanah |
saadhvii yajna samriddhih hi janakasya mahaatmanah || 1-50-2
Rama who is with Lakshmana spoke to the tigerly saint Vishvamitra, the Vedic-ritual of noble-souled Janaka is excellent, indeed with bountifully garnered [collected] paraphernalia [articles] of the ritual. [1-50-2]
Page 1 of 6 Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama
Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 50 bahuuni iha sahasraani naanaa desha nivaasinaam |
braahmanaanaam mahaabhaaga veda adhyayana shaalinaam || 1-50-3
risi vaataah ca drishyante shakatii shata sa.nkulaah |
desho vidhiiyataam brahman yatra vatsyaamahe vayam || 1-50-4
Oh, highly fortunate sage, this place abounds with many thousands of Brahmans who are experts in Vedic practices and who seem to be the dwellers of numerous provinces, and also discernable [distinct] are the cottages of sages rife with hundreds of carts full with their ceremonial chattels, as such oh, Brahman, a campsite may be decided for us too, as I discern every inch is inhabited. Thus Rama spoke to Vishvamitra. [1-50-3, 4]
raamasya vacanam shrutvaa vishvaamitro mahaamunih |
nivesham akarot deshe vivikte salila aayute || 1-50-5
On hearing the words of Rama that great-saint Vishvamitra arranged a camp at an unfrequented place that has refreshing water. [1-50-5]
vishvaamitram anupraaptam shrutvaa nripavarah tadaa |
shataanandam puraskritya purohitam aninditam || 1-50-6
prati ujjagaama sahasaa vinayena samanvitah |
On hearing that Vishvamitra has arrived in Mithila, then the best king Janaka instantly forged ahead towards Vishvamitra, keeping his unreprovable priest Shataananda afore of the team, in deference [honor] to Vishvamitra. [1-50-6, 7a]
ritvijo api mahaatmaanah tu arghyam aadaaya sa tvaram ||1-50-7
vishvaamitraaya dharmena dadau dharma puraskritam |
Even the Ritwiks, the administrators of that Vedic-ritual, of the great souled king Janaka arrived with post-haste taking holy waters, and they have ritualistically offered that sanctified [purified] water to Vishvamitra. [1-50-7b, 8a]
Page 2 of 6 Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama
Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 50 pratigrihya tu taam puujaam janakasya mahaatmanah || 1-50-8
papraccha kushalam raajno yajnasya ca niraamayam |
On receiving that veneration from the great souled Janaka, Vishvamitra asked after the well-being of the king Janaka, as well about the unhindered proceedings of that Vedic-ritual. [1- 50-8b, 9a]
sa taam ca atha muniin pristvaa sa upaadhyaaya purodhasah || 1-50-9
yathaa arham risibhih sarvaih samaagacchat prahristavat |
Then Vishvamitra asked after the well-being of saints, mentors, clerics, as befitting to their order, and joined the company of all of the sages as a happy-souled sage. [1-50-9b, 10a]
atha raajaa muni shrestham krita a.njalih abhaasata || 1-50-10
aasane bhagavaan aastaam saha ebhih muni sattamaih |
The king Janaka adjoining his palms then spoke to that eminent-sage Vishvamitra, oh, reverend sage, please be seated on this high seat, along with these eminent saints in their respective seats. Thus Janaka spoke to Vishvamitra [1-50-10b, 11a]
janakasya vacah shrutvaa nisasaada mahaamunih || 1-50-11
purodhaa ritvijah caiva raajaa ca saha ma.ntribhih |
On hearing the words of Janaka that great-sage Vishvamitra took his seat, and king Janaka also took seat along with his royal priest Shataananda, and the administrators of that Vedic-ritual, namely Ritwiks, and along with his ministers. [1-50-11b, 12a]
aasanesu yathaa nyaayam upavistaan samantatah || 1-50-12
dristvaa sa nripatih tatra vishvaamitram atha abraviit |
On beholding all of them seated all about in their respective seats as demanded by procedure king Janaka then spoke to Vishvamitra. [1-50-12b, 13a]
Page 3 of 6 Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama
Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 50 adya yajna samriddhih me saphalaa daivataih kritaa || 1-50-13
adya yajna phalam praaptam bhagavad darshanaat mayaa |
Today my Vedic ritual is enriched with your advent, whereby I deem that Gods have fructified [to bear fruit] the ritual. Let the ritual be like that. I deem that I have obtained the fruit of the ritual just on seeing Godlike you here today. [1-50-13b, 14a]
dhanyo asmi anugrihiito asmi yasya me muni pu.ngava || 1-50-14
yajna upasadanam brahman praapto asi munibhih saha |
Oh, Brahman, at which Vedic-ritual hall you have arrived along with so many sages that happens to be mine, whereby, oh, eminent saint, I feel that I am honored and hallowed [holy]. [1- 50-14b, 15a]
dvaadasha aham tu brahmarse diikshaam aahuh maniisinah || 1-50-15
tato bhaaga arthino devaan drastum ar.hhasi kaushika |
Oh, Brahma-sage, the scholarly Ritwiks conducting my Vedic-ritual are saying that only twelve more days are remaining to complete the observation of ritual-pledge, and then oh, Kaushika, it will be apt of you to see the Gods who arrive at the conclusion of this Vedic-ritual expecting their due in the ritual. So said king Janaka to Vishvamitra. [1-50-15b, 16a]
iti uktvaa muni shaarduulam prahrista vadanah tadaa || 1-50-16
punah tam paripapraccha praa.njalih prayato nripah |
On speaking to that tigerly sage Vishvamitra in this way, the king again asked the sage pointedly and inquisitively [curiously] with adjoined palms and with a gladdened face. [1-50-16b, 17a]
Page 4 of 6 Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama
Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 50 imau kumaarau bhadram te deva tulya paraakramau || 1-50-17
gaja tulya gatii viirau shaarduula vrisabha upamau |
padma patra vishaala aksau khadga tuunii dhanur dharau |
ashvinau iva ruupena samupasthita yauvanau || 1-50-18
yadricchayaa eva gaam praaptau deva lokaat iva amarau |
katham padbhyaam iha praaptau kim artham kasya vaa mune || 1-50-19
These two youngsters, oh, sage, let safety betide you, striding like audacious elephants and arrogant lions, bearing a similitude [likeness] to adventurous tigers and adamantine [rigidly firm] bulls, and wielding quivers, swords, and bows, are valorous with their valor matching that of Vishnu, and with their eyes broad like lotus-petals and with youthfulness in the offing they look like the exceptionally beautiful twin-Gods, Ashwin-brothers, by their physique. How these two have footslogged and chanced here as though immortals have chanced on earth from the abode of Gods at their pleasure? What for they have come here, and whose scions are they? [1-50-17b, 18, 19]
vara aayudha dharau viirau kasya putrau mahaamune |
bhuusayantau imam desham candra suuryau iva a.mbaram || 1-50-20
parasparasya sadrishau pramaana ingita cestitaih |
kaaka paksa dharau viirau shrotum icchaami tattvatah || 1-50-21
Oh, great-saint, whose sons are these two valiant youngsters who are brandishing best weapons? They are embellishing this province as the Sun and Moon doeth [do to] the sky. Each to each they are clone [duplicate] by postural-language, by facial-language and by body language. They appear valorous but boyish in their appearance, as their curls are still jet-black like crow-wings. Thus, whether they are immature by age though mature by their valor or so, I wish to listen about them in actuality. [1-50-20, 21]
tasya tat vacanam shrutvaa janakasya mahaatmanah |
nyavedayat ameya aatmaa putrau dasharathasya tau || 1-50-22
On hearing the words of great-souled Janaka, Vishvamitra whose anima [image] is immeasurable, has announced that those two as the sons of king Dasharatha. [1-50-22]
Page 5 of 6 Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama
Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 50 siddha aashrama nivaasam ca raaksasaanaam vadham tathaa | tatra aagamanam avyagram vishaalaayaah ca darshanam || 1-50-23 ahalyaa darshanam caiva gautamena samaagamam | mahaadhanusi jijnaasaam kartum aagamanam tathaa || 1-50-24 etat sarvam mahaatejaa janakaaya mahaatmane | nivedya viraraama atha vishvaamitro mahaamunih || 1-50-25 The highly resplendent great-saint Vishvamitra has informed the high souled Janaka about the coming of Rama and Lakshmana to the Hermitage of Accomplishment, their stopping over there and elimination of demons at that place, their indefatigable travel along with him, beholding City of Vishaala, seeing Ahalya, her reuniting with Sage Gautama, likewise their coming hitherward [to this place] to gain a grasp of great bow of Shiva. On informing all these incidents to Janaka as well as to Shataananda, who incidentally is the son of Ahalya, sage Vishvamitra paused. [1-50-23, 24, 25]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye baala kaande pa.ncaashah sargah
Thus, this is the 50th 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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