Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 72 Wives for Bharata and Shatrughna Summary Vishvamitra proposes the marriages of Bharata ad Shatrughna with the two daughters of Kushadhvaja, the younger brother of Janaka. This being a welcome offer, Janaka accords his immediate consent. Then Dasharatha proceeds with the initiatory [beginning] rituals for the bridegrooms and donates cows and riches. Chapter [Sarga] 72 – in Detail tam uktava.ntam vaideham vishvaamitro mahaamunih | uvaaca vacanam viiram vasistha sahito nripam || 1-72-1 Then the eminent-saint Vishvamitra together with Vashishta said these words to Janaka, the valiant king of Videha, who has just said about his lineage [descendents]. [1-72-1] acintyaani aprameyaani kulaani narapu.ngava | iksvaakuunaam videhaanaam na esaam tulyo asti kashcana || 1-72-2 The Ikshvaku-s and Videha-s are unimaginably admirable and immeasurably distinguished dynasties, oh, Janaka, the best one among all men, there is no single king comparable to one from these dynasties... [1-72-2] sadrisho dharma sa.mbandhah sadrisho ruupa sampadaa | raama laksmanayo raajan siitaa ca uurmilayaa saha || 1-72-3 Oh, king Janaka, these espousals [marriage] of Seetha with Rama and Urmila with Lakshmana is behovely [fit] to each other's dynastical prestige and even it is befitting to the winsome [cheerful] charms of the brides and bridegrooms, but that being so... [1-72-3] Page 1 of 6 Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 72 vaktavyam ca nara shrestha shruuyataam vacanam mama | bhraataa yaviiyaan dharmajna esa raajaa kushadhvajah || 1-72-4 Oh, grand sire [father], you may listen to my words of advise... this younger brother of yours, king Kushadhvaja, is at home in every kind of probity [adherence to the highest principles and ideals]... [1-72-4] asya dharmaatmano raajan ruupena apratimam bhuvi | sutaa dvayam narashrestha patni artham varayaamahe || 1-72-5 Oh, king, the pair of daughters of this right-minded Kushadhvaja is nonpareil [having no equal] in comeliness [having a pleasing appearance] in this world, hence, oh, grand sire [father], we choose to pair them off with Bharata and Shatrughna... [1-72-5] bharatasya kumaarasya shatrughnasya ca dhiimatah | varayema sute raajan tayoh arthe mahaatmanoh || 1-72-6 Oh, king, for the sake of those two honorable boys, for that young man Bharata and for that smart man Shatrughna, we opt [choose] your brother's daughters... [1-72-6] putraa dasharathasya ime ruupa yauvana shaalinah | loka paala samaah sarve deva tulya paraakramaah || 1-72-7 All these four sons of Dasharatha have handsomeness and youthfulness, and they are equal to the four rulers of the world from four quarters, and their valor vies [match] with the valor of God Vishnu... [1-72-7] ubhayoh api raajendra sa.mbandhena anubadhyataam | iksvaaku kulam avyagram bhavatah punya karmanah || 1-72-8 Oh, best king, let both theses dynasties of yours, the impeccable [containing no flaw or error] dynasty of Ikshvaku-s and the immaculate [pure] dynasty of yours as well, be interlocked by these wedlock-s... Thus Vishvamitra advised Janaka. [1-72-8] Page 2 of 6 Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 72 vishvaamitra vacah shrutvaa vasisthasya mate tadaa | janakah praanjalih vaakyam uvaaca munipungavau || 1-72-9 On hearing the words of Vishvamitra that have the concurrence of Vashishta then Janaka reverently said this to those two eminent-saints. [1-72-9] kulam dhanyam idam manye yesaam tau munipungavau | sadrisham kula sa.mbandham yat aajnaapayathah svayam || 1-72-10 By which reason you two eminent-saints personally bid fair to this befitting proposal, thereby I opine [state as an opinion] that my dynasty is highly honored... [1-72-10] evam bhavatu bhadram vah kushadhvaja sute ime | patnyau bhajetaam sahitau shatrughna bharatau ubhau || 1-72-11 So be it! Safe betides you all! Let the pair of Kushdhvaja's daughters, namely Maandavi, Shrutakiirti, devout themselves as a pair of wives to the paired brothers, namely Bharata and Shatrughna, respectively... [1-72-11] eka ahnaa raaja putriinaam catasrinaam mahaamune | paaniin grihnantu catvaaro raaja putraa mahaabalaah || 1-72-12 Oh, eminent-saint Vishvamitra, let the palms of four princesses be taken in the palms of these four mettlesome [spirited] princes in marriage, in the light of one day... [1-72-12] uttare divase brahman phalguniibhyaam maniisinah | vaivaahikam prasha.msanti bhago yatra prajaapatih || 1-72-13 Oh, Brahman, the savants [learned persons or sages] acclaim [claim] that part of the day as the best for wedding ceremonies when both of the pre-Phaalguni and post-Phaalguni stars are available, and on such a time where post-Phaalguni is ruling, for which Bhaga is the presiding deity for progeny... So said Janaka to the marriage party. [1-72-13] Page 3 of 6 Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 72 evam uktvaa vacah saumyam pratyutthaaya kritaanjalih | ubhau muni varau raajaa janako vaakyam abraviit || 1-72-14 On saying those gracious words thus, king Janaka got up from his throne and coming nigh [near] of both of the eminent-saints, Vishvamitra and Vashishta, reverently said this sentence. [1-72-14] paro dharmah krito mahyam shisyo asmi bhavatoh sadaa | imaani aasana mukhyaani aasyataam munipungavau || 1-72-15 You two, oh, eminent-saints, have done an excellent generous act in my respect, thus I will ever remain your proselyte [faithful to you]... you may please preside over these thrones, that of mine, my brother's, and that of Dasharatha... [1-72-15] yathaa dasharathasya iyam tathaa ayodhyaa purii mama | prabhutve na asti sandeho yathaa arham kartum arhathah || 1-72-16 As to how this city Mithila appertains [connected] to Dasharatha, in the same way city of Ayodhya is mine... and there shall be no hesitancy for you two sages in governance on these three kingdoms, thus it will be apt [ready or likely] of you to make the marriages happen as aptly as you can... So said Janaka to the sages. [1-72-16] tathaa bruvati vaidehe janake raghu na.ndanah | raajaa dasharatho hristah pratyuvaaca mahii patim || 1-72-17 The legatee of Raghu-s king Dasharatha is gladdened while the legatee of Videha is talking in such a hobnobbing [familiar] way, and he replied king to Janaka in this way. [1-72-17] yuvaam asa.nkhyeya gunau bhraatarau mithileshvarau | risayo raaja sanghaah ca bhavadbhyaam abhipuujitaah || 1-72-18 Oh, kings of Mithila, Janaka and Kushadhvaja, you two brothers have reverenced inestimable [incapable of being estimated] sages and coteries of kings, as such inestimable good manners are treasured in both of you... [1-72-18] Page 4 of 6 Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 72 svasti praapnuhi bhadram te gamisyaamah svam aalayam | shraaddha kar.hmaani vidhivat vidhaasya iti ca abraviit || 1-72-19 Enjoy that blessedness! Let safe betide you! We now depart to our visitatorial-palace, and we shall customarily carry out the tributary rituals... Dasharatha said thus. [1-72-19] tam aapristvaa nara patim raajaa dasharathah tadaa | muniindrau tau puraskritya jagaama aashu mahaayashaah || 1-72-20 On seeking leave of absence from the sovereign of people, Janaka, that highly renowned king Dasharatha promptly departed from there, keeping both of the eminent-saints afore [before], namely Vishvamitra and Vashishta. [1-72-20] sa gatvaa nilayam raajaa shraaddham kritvaa vidhaanatah | prabhaate kaalyam utthaaya cakre go daanam uttamam || 1-72-21 King Dasharatha on going to his visitatorial-palace [relating to visitation] has procedurally undertaken the tributary rituals, and on getting up in the next morning, he carried out the initiatory [beginning] rituals of marriages, in a grand way, in which donation of cows is a part. [1-72-21] gavaam shata sahasram ca braahmanebhyo naraadhipah | eka ekasho dadau raajaa putraan uddhishya dharmatah || 1-72-22 That lord of people king Dasharatha has righteously donated hundred thousand cows to Brahman-s, in the name of each of his four sons. [1-72-22] Page 5 of 6 Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 72 suvarna shri.ngayah sampannaah sa vatsaah kaamsya dohanaah | gavaam shata sahasraani catvaari purusa risabhah || 1-72-23 vittam anyat ca su bahu dvijebhyo raghu na.ndanah | dadau go daanam uddishya putraanaam putra vatsalah || 1-72-24 In that cow donation ceremony intended for his sons, he that best one among men and the one who is affectionate towards his sons, Dasharatha, the legatee of Raghu-s, has donated on behalf of each of his sons, four hundred thousand cows, that are abundant milk-ers, and that have golden casings on their horns, and that are with their calves, and along with milking jugs made with bell metal, and he even donated very many other kinds of assets to Brahmans. [1-72- 23, 24] sa sutaih krita go daanaih vritah sah nripatih tadaa | loka paalaih iva aabhaati vritah saumyah prajaapatih || 1-72-25 On performing the cow donations and samaavartna, snaataka, the initiatory ceremonies of his sons, as well, he that serene [calm] king Dasharatha who is amidst the quartet [set of four] of his sons, shone forth like serene Brahma, who is quartet-faced, with the quartet of Veda-s, and who is the overlord of mankind, amidst the quartet of presiding deities in the quartet of the world. [1-72-25] iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye baala kaande dvi saptatitamah sargah Thus, this is the 72nd 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. Page 6 of 6 .