“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”

Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 15

Rishyasringa Performs a Sacrifice for King Dasharatha

Summary

King Dasharatha commences the putrakaamesti ritual aiming to beget progeny, under the aegis [protection] of Sage Rishyasringa. The celestial beings gather to receive the oblations offered in the Horse Ritual conducted by King Dasharatha. They are perturbed [confused] at the atrocities [cruel acts] of Ravana, and request Brahma to think for a way to eliminate Ravana. Vishnu arrives there and pacifies Brahma and other celestials with an assurance that he will incarnate as human to eliminate Ravana.

Chapter [Sarga] 15 in Detail

medhaavii tu tato dhyaatvaa sa kincit idam uttaram |

labdha sanjnah tatah tam tu vedajno nripam abraviit || 1-15-1

That intellectual sage and one proficient in Veda-s Rishyasringa contemplated for a while, and gaining indications as to which ritual is to be performed, then said the king. [1-15-1]

istim teaham karisyaami putriiyaam putra kaaranaat |

atharva sirasi proktaih mantraih siddhaam vidhaanatah || 1-15-2

"I will procedurally conduct the ritual contained in the preamble [introductory part that usually states the reasons] of adharva-veda with procedural hymns, called putra kaamesti i.e., the ritual that bestows sons, for your benefit." [1-15-2]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 15 tatah praakramat idam istim taam putriiyaam putra kaaranaat |

juhaava agnau ca tejasvii mantra dristena karmanaa || 1-15-3

Then that resplendent [shining brilliantly] Sage Rishyasringa commenced that putrakaamesti ritual, offering oblations [the act of making a religious offering] into sacred fire with ritual acts meticulously [carefully] contained in hymns. [1-15-3]

tato devaah sa gandharvaah siddhaah ca parama risayah |

bhaaga pratigrahaartham vai samavetaa yathaavidhi || 1-15-4

Then the deities along with celestial beings, Siddhas, i.e., the souls that obtained salvation, and also other esteemed sages who by now are the residents of Heavens have duteously [obediently] assembled in the firmament to receive their part of the oblations. [1-15-4]

taah sametya yathaa nyaayam tasmin sadasi devataah |

abruvan loka kartaaram brahmaanam vacanam tatah || 1-15-5

Those deities who procedurally assembled there in that congregation then spoke to Brahma, the creator of worlds. [1-15-5]

bhagavan tvat prasaadena raavano naama raaksasah |

sarvaan no baadhate viiryaat shaasitum tam na shaknumah || 1-15-6

"Oh! God, the demon named Ravana is torturing all of us with his intrepidity [characterized by resolute fearlessness, fortitude, and endurance], as you have blessed him, and we are unable to control him. [1-15-6]

tvayaa tasmai varo dattah priitena bhagavan tadaa |

maanayantah ca tam nityam sarvam tasya ksamaamahe || 1-15-7

"You have given boon to him appreciating his asceticism and oh, god, with high regard to that boon of yours we are tolerating all the cruel acts of Ravana from then onwards [1-15-7]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 15 udvejayati lokaan triin ucchritaan dvesti durmatih |

shakram tridasha raajaanam pradharsayitum icchati || 1-15-8

"That malevolent [productive of harm or evil] Ravana is tormenting [to cause severe distress of body or mind] all the three worlds, hating the functionary deities of cosmos, and always desires to assail [attack] Indra, the king of all the functionary deities of universe. [1-15-8]

risiin yaksaan sa gandharvaan asuraan braahmanaan tathaa |

atikraamati durdharso vara daanena mohitah || 1-15-9

"That invincible one is further self-conceited [an exaggerated opinion of one's own qualities or abilities] by the boons you have accorded, and he is overbearingly torturing the sages, celestial beings like Yaksha-s, Gandharva-s, Asura-s, and like that even the Brahmans. [1-15-9]

nainam suuryah pratapati paarshve vaati na maarutah |

calor.hmimaalii tam dristvaa samudro.api na kampate || 1-15-10

"The Sun-god will not verily [in truth] parch [to toast under dry heat] Ravana, the Air-god will not puff at his sides, and on seeing Ravana, the lord of the undulating [swinging] waves, namely the ocean will not pulsate [move rhythmically] either. [1-15-10]

tan mahanno bhayam tasmaat raaksasaat ghora darshanaat |

vadhaartham tasya bhagavan upaayam kartum arhasi || 1-15-11

"Thereby, there is a great panic for all of us from that demon with an awesome [terrific or extraordinary] look, hence oh, god, it will be apt of you to give a thought for his elimination. [1-15- 11]

evam uktah suraih sarvaih cintayitvaa tato.abraviit |

hantaa ayam viditah tasya vadhopaayo duraatmanah || 1-15-12

When all the deities spoke to Brahma thus, he thought for a while and then said "Aha! The idea to kill that evil-minded Ravana is discerned [distinguished]. [1-15-12]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 15 tena gandharva yaksaanaam devataanaam cha raksasaam |

avadhyo.asmi iti vaaguktaa tatheti uktam ca tan mayaa || 1-15-13

"Ravana said while seeking boon that, 'I shall not be killed by Gandharva-s, Yaksha-s, or by gods, or by other demons...' and I also said 'so be it..." [1-15-13]

na akiirtayat avajnaanaat tat rakso maanusaam tadaa |

tasmaat sa maanusaat vadhyo mrityuh na anyo.asya vidyate || 1-15-14

"That demon did not express about humans then with his disrespect to them, and evidently his death does not occur otherwise." So said Brahma to gods. [1-15-14]

etat shrutvaa priyam vaakyam brahmanaa samudaahritam |

devaa maharsayah sarve prahristaah te abhavan tadaa ||1-15-15

On hearing Brahma the explaining himself , then all those gods and great sages became adequately [sufficiently] happy. [1-15-15]

etasmin anantare visnuh upayaato mahaadyutih |

shnkha cakra gadaa paanih piita vaasaa jagatpatih || 1-115-16

vainateyam samaaruuhya bhaaskara toyadam yathaa |

tapta haataka keyuuro vandyamaanah surottamaih || 1-15-17

In the meanwhile the great resplendent [shining brilliantly] Vishnu, the Lord of the Universe, arrived there mounted on his Eagle-vehicle Garuda, handling conch-shell, disc, and mace in his three of four hands, clad in yellow-ochre robes, wearing golden bracelets, and while best Gods eulogized [to speak or write in high praise of] him, and his arrival there is like the arrival of sun mounted on black cloud to accord the gratuitous [free] gift called the rain. [1-15-16, 17]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 15 brahmanaa ca samaagamya tatra tasthau samaahitah |

tam abruvan suraah sarve samabhistuuya sa.mnataah || 1-15-18

Vishnu having met Brahma stood there contemplating [consider with continued attention], and then all of the gods on bowing down and offering prayers addressed Vishnu. [1-15-18]

tvaam niyoksyaamahe visno lokaanaam hita kaamyayaa |

raajno dasharathasya tvam ayodhya adhipateh vibhoh || 1-15-19

dharmajnasya vadaanyasya maharsi sama tejasah |

asya bhaaryaasu tisrisu hrii shrii kiirti upamaasu ca || 1-15-20

visno putratvam aagaccha kritvaa aatmaanam caturvidham |

"Oh! Vishnu, desiring prosperity in all the worlds we nominate you to become the son of the ruler and lord of Ayodhya, namely Dasharatha, who is a virtuous one, renowned one and one whose resplendence [brilliance] equals that of the sages, and oh, Vishnu, through the wives of such a king Dasharatha, who are in similitude [likeness] with the hrii, the virtue, shrii, the affluence [abundance of property or wealth], and kiirti, the glory, you have a fourfold transformation and take birth as their son. [1-15-19, 20, 21a]

tatra tvam maanuso bhuutvaa pravriddham loka kantakam || 1-15-21

avadhyam daivataih visno samare jahi raavanam |

"Oh! Vishnu, on your taking birth as human through the wives of Dasharatha you eliminate Ravana in war, who has become exacerbating [violent, bitter, or severe] and thorny to all worlds, and who is otherwise not eliminable [destroyed] for Gods. [1-15-21b, 22a]

sa hi devaan sa gandharvaan siddhaan ca risi sattamaan || 1-15-22

raaksaso raavano muurkho viirya udrekena baadhate |

"He that preposterous [ridiculously unreasonable, unsound, or incongruous] demon Ravana with his invigorated [stimulate or give life to] doggedness [marked by stubborn determination] is torturing [to cause intense suffering to] Gods along with eminent [famous] saints, Gandharva-s, and Siddhas. [1-15-22b, 23a]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 15 risayah ca tatah tena gandharvaa apsarasah tathaa || 1-15-23

kriidayanto nandana vane raiudrena vinipaatitaah |

"He that furious one with his insolence [being proud] is knocking down sages from their celestial abodes, and like that he is knocking down the Gandharva-s and Apsara celestials too from the heavenly gardens Nandana, where they will be taking delight. [1-15-23b, 24a]

vadhaartham vayam aayaataah tasya vai munibhih saha || 1-15-24

siddha gandharva yaxaah ca tatah tvaam shraranam gataah |

"We the celestial beings like Siddhas, Gandharva-s, Yaksha-s along with sages have actually come for his elimination, and thereby we seek shelter in you. [1-15-24b, 25a]

tvam gatih paramaa deva sarvesaam nah para.ntapah || 1-15-25

vadhaaya deva shatrinaam nrinaam loke manah kuru |

"Oh, enemy tormentor [destroyer], oh, Vishnu, you are the ultimate recourse [a source of help or strength] for all us in eliminating enemies of divinity, hence you make up your mind to take birth in human world." The gods appealed to Vishnu that way. [1-15-25b, 26a]

evam stutastu devesho visnuh tridashah pu.ngavah || 1-15-26

pitaamaha purogaan taan sarva loka namaskritah

abraviit tridashaan sarvaan sametaan dharma sa.mhitaan || 1-15-27

When the God of Gods Vishnu, the supreme one among deities, one who is revered by all worlds is eulogized [to speak or write in high praise of] this way, then he spoke to all of those celestials that abide [continue] in the righteousness and that are in the assemblage [gathering], keeping the Forefather Brahma at their helm [lead]. [1-15-26a, 27]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 15 bhayam tyajata bhadram vo hitaartham yudhi raavanam | sa putra pautram sa amaatyam sa mitra jnaati baandhavam || 1-15-28 hatvaa kruuram duraadharsam deva risinaam bhayaavaham | dasha varsa sahasraani dasha varsa shataani ca || 1-15-29 vatsyaami maanuse loke paalayan pridhvim imaam |

"Get rid off the fear, let safety be upon you, on eliminating that cruel and evil-minded Ravana who became dreadful to deities and sages, along with his sons, grandsons, friends, cousins and relatives, ministers and forces too in war for your welfare, I will then reside in human world ruling this earth for eleven thousand years." Thus Vishnu assured [guaranteed] the Gods. [1-15-28, 29, 30a]

evam datvaa varam devo devaanaam visnuh aatmavaan || 1-15-30

maanuse chintayaamaasa janmabhumim atha aatmanah |

On giving boon to all gods in that way the kind-hearted god Vishnu started to think about the instituting [to establish in a position] base for his birth in human world. [1-15-30b, 31a]

tatah padma palaashaaxah kritvaa aatmaanam catu.rvidham || 1-15-31

pitaram rocayaamaasa tadaa dasharatham nripam |

And then that lotus-petal-eyed one agreeing to manifest [easily understood or recognized by the mind] himself in fourfold way is predisposed [inclined] towards Dasharatha to be his father. [1-15-31b, 32a]

tadaa deva risi gandharvaah sa rudraah sa apsaro ganaah |

stutibhih divya rupaabhih tustuvuh madhusudanam || 1-15-32

Then all the groups of Gods, Sages, Gandharva-s, with Rudra-s, and Apsara-s, extolled [to praise highly] Vishnu with prayers of divine exposition [a public exhibition or show]. [1-15-32b, c]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 15 tam uddhatam raavanam ugra tejasam

pravriddha darpam tridasheshvara vara dvisam |

viraavanam saadhu tapasvi kantakam

tapasvinaam uddhara tam bhayaaavaham || 1-15-33

"Oh! Vishnu, he that fiery one is uprising furiously with his heightened arrogance [an attitude of superiority], and he is a fright [scare] to sages and a thorn in the side of hermits, and he is the hater of Indra, hence we pray you to redeem [win] that Ravana." [1-15-33]

tameva hatvaa sa balam sa baandhavam

viraavanam raavanam ugra paurusam |

svar lokam aagaccha gata jvarah ciram

surendra guptam gata dosa kalmasam || 1-15-34

"On eliminating that furiously vainglorious [boastful] Ravana with all his forces and with all his kinsmen neutralize the pandemonium [hell] created by him in all the worlds, and for a long time to come you get rid of your febrility [a long desire] and you please return to your heavenly abode, namely your blameless and faultless Vaikuntha. [1-15-34]

iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye baala kaande pancha dashah sargah ||

Thus, this is the 15th 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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