Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 31 Vishvamitra, Rama And

“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”

Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 31

Vishvamitra, Rama and Lakshmana Depart for Mithila

Summary

Sage Vishvamitra travels to Mithila kingdom to attend a ritual of King Janaka and also to see the auspicious bow of Shiva that is being worshipped in the palace of Janaka from ages. The other sages suggest to Rama, that he too may go over there along with them to see that marvelous bow. They all proceed from Siddha Ashram towards River Sona, a tributary of Ganga, and camp on its bank for a night.

Chapter [Sarga] 31 in Detail

atha taam rajaniim tatra kritaarthau raama laksanau |

uusatur muditau viirau prahristena a.ntaraatmanaa || 1-31-1

Rejoicing for achieving the result of their journey with Vishvamitra, the brave Rama and Lakshmana then resided in that hermitage for that night, gladdening in their heart of hearts. [1-31- 1]

prabhaataayaam tu sharvaryaam krita paurva ahnika kriyau |

vishvaamitram risiim ca anyaan sahitau abhijagmatuh || 1-31-2

When that night turned into a new day, performing their morning chores both of the brother jointly approached Sage Vishvamitra, who is along with other sages by then. [1-31-2]

abhivaadya muni shrestham jvala.ntam iva paavakam |

uucatur paramodaaram vaakyam madhura bhaasinau || 1-31-3

And those gentle-speakers on reverencing [to regard or treat with honor] that eminent sage Vishvamitra, whose radiance is akin [essentially similar, related, or compatible] to the ritual- fire, they two spoke this highly courteous sentence to him. [1-31-3]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 31 imau sma muni shaarduula ki.mkarau samupasthitau |

aajnaapaya munishrestha shaasanam karavaava kim || 1-31-4

"Oh, tigerly-sage, here are your attendants sir, available in your attendance, what order is to be carried out further, oh, eminent [famous] saint, that you may order us. [1-31-4]

evam ukte tayoh vaakyam sarva eva maharsayah |

vishvaamitram puraskritya raamam vacanam abruvan || 1-31-5

When they have said that way all those great sages spoke to Rama, keeping Vishvamitra at the helm [head or lead] of affairs. [1-31-5]

maithilasya narashrestha janakasya bhavisyati |

yajnah parama dharmisthah tatra yaasyaamahe vayam || 1-31-6

"Oh, best one among men, a highly righteous Vedic ritual belonging to King Janaka of Mithila is going to take place, and we the sages are going over there. [1-31-6]

tvam caiva narashaarduula saha asmaabhir gamisyasi |

adbhutam ca dhanuu ratnam tatra tvam drastum arhasi || 1-31-7

"Oh, tigerly-man Rama, if you can come along with us, it will be expedient [immediately advantageous] for you to see a monumental gem of bow there. [1-31-7]

taddhi puurvam narashrestha dattam sadasi daivataih |

aprameya balam ghoram makhe parama bhaasvaram || 1-31-8

"Oh, best one among men, in early times indeed Gods gave that awesome bow which has an unimaginable power and which is superbly incandescent [white, glowing, or luminous with intense heat] in wars to an erstwhile [in the past or formerly] king of Mithila in a congregation [gathering] of a Vedic-ritual. [1-31-8]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 31 na asya devaa na gandharvaa na asuraa na ca raaksasaah |

kartum aaropanam shaktaa na katha.mcana maanusaah || 1-31-9

"Gods cannot capably lift it to string; Gandharva-s, NO; Asura-s, NO; demons, NO; and for human beings, NOT in any way. [1-31-9]

dhanusasya tasya viiryam hi jijnaasanto mahiiksitah |

na shekur aaropayitum raajaputraa mahaabalaah || 1-31-10

"Though many kings were inquisitive [curios] about the power of that bow, all of those great mighty princes are rendered incapable to string its bowstring. [1-31-10]

tad dhanur narashaarduula maithilasya mahaatmanah |

tatra draksyasi kaakutstha yajnam ca parama adbhutam || 1-31-11

"Oh, tigerly-man Rama, there in Mithila you can see that particular bow of the great- souled king of Mithila and his highly admirable Vedic ritual too, if you come with us. [1-31-11]

taddhi yajna phalam tena maithilena uttamam dhanuh |

yaacitam nara shaarduula sunaabham sarva daivataih || 1-31-12

"Once Devaraata, the grandparent of the present king Janaka of Mithila, conducted a Vedic-ritual and he indeed prayed only for this supreme bow with a best grip-handle as the fruit of that ritual from all of the Gods and oh, tigerly man Rama, he got the same from them. [1-31-12]

aayaagabhuutam nripateh tasya veshmani raaghava |

arcitam vividhaih gandhaih dhuupaih ca aguru ga.ndhbhih || 1-31-13

"That bow has got a regular worship and especially during the periods of Dhanur utsava- s, festivals of bows-and- arrows. Hence it is kept in the palace of King of Mithila, and oh, Raghava it is worshipped with a variety of sandalwood pastes, scents of aloe [the fragrant wood of an East Indian tree (Aquilaria agallocha) of the mezereon family] substance, and with incenses." [1-31-13]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 31 evam uktvaa munivarah prasthaanam akarot tadaa |

sa risi sa.nghah sa kaakutstha aama.ntrya vana devataah || 1-31-14

Saying so that best saint Vishvamitra started to travel on along with the assemblages [gathering] of sages, and even along with Rama and Lakshmana, whose tacit [implied or indicated] consent to follow the sage is obtained by now, and on bidding farewell to the deities of woodlands of that Accomplished Hermitage, where his ritual is accomplished with the help of Rama and Lakshmana. [1-31-14]

svasti vo astu gamisyaami siddhah siddha aashramaat aham |

uttare jaahnavii tiire himava.ntam shiloccayam || 1-31-15

"Adieu [farewell], georgic [working] deities, everything bodes [indicates] well to you all, on accomplishment of the ritual I have undertaken here, I wish to go from this Accomplished Hermitage towards the ranges of Himalayan Mountains that are on the northern bank of River Ganga." [1-31-15]

iti uktvaa munishaarduulah kaushikah sa tapodhanah |

uttaraam disham uddishya prasthaatum upacakrame || 1-31-16

Thus saying farewell to woodland-deities that descendent of Kaushika, namely Vishvamitra, the saint whose wealth is his asceticism started to journey on aiming to reach the northern side of River Ganga. [1-31-16]

tam vraja.ntam munivaram anvagaat anusaarinaam |

shakatii shata maatram tu prayaane brahma vaadinaam || 1-31-17

While that best saint set forth, the team of his close followers who are the advocators of Vedic canons [rules] have moved behind him, approximately with a hundred carts loaded with their ritual paraphernalia [articles of equipment of worship]. [1-31-17]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 31 mriga paksi ganaah caiva siddha aashrama nivaasinah |

anujagmur mahaatmaanam vishvaamitram tapodhanam || 1-31-18

nivartayaamaasa tatah sa risi sanghah sa pakshinah |

Even the residents of that Hermitage of Accomplishment, namely animals and birds, closely followed that great-souled Vishvamitra, whose wealth is his asceticism, in herds and flocks. But that sage Vishvamitra made those flocks of birds and the herds of animals to return to their places, as they have shown enough courtesy. [1-31-18, 19a]

te gatvaa duuram adhvaanam lambamaane divaakare || 1-31-19

vaasam cakrur muni ganaah shonaa kuule samaahitaah |

Those assemblages of sages on going far on their path made a camp on the bank of River Sona when the sun is dangling towards west. [1-31-19b, 20a]

te astam gate dinakare snaatvaa huta hutaashanaah || 1-31-20

vishvaamitram puraskritya nisedur amita ojasah |

When the sun went into dusk those sages with illimitable [measureless] resplendence [brilliance] took their bath and on kindling [lighting] the consumer of kindled oblations they completed their evening fire ritual, and then squatted [sat on the ground] before sage Vishvamitra. [1-31-20b, 21a]

raamo api saha saumitrih muniim taan abhipuujya ca || 1-31-21

agrato nisasaada atha vishvaamitrasya dhiimatah |

And even Rama along with Lakshmana on worshipping those sages squatted [sat on the ground] before that intellectual Vishvamitra. [1-31-21b, 22a]

atha raamo mahaatejaa vishvaamitram tapodhanam || 1-31-22

papraccha munishaarduulam kautuuhala samanvitah |

With growing inquisitiveness [curiosity] that resplendent [shining brilliantly] Rama has asked the tigerly sage Vishvamitra whose wealth is his asceticism. [1-31-22b, 23a]

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Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 31 bhagavan kah nu ayam deshah samriddha vana shobhitah || 1-31-23

shrotum icchaami bhadram te vaktum arhasi tattvatah |

"Oh, Godly sage, this place is glistening [flashing] with well-developed woodlands, really what is this place? You be blest! It will be apt of you tell about it, in essence." Thus Rama asked Vishvamitra.[1-31-23b, 24a]

codito raama vaakyena kathayaamaasa suvratah | tasya deshasya nikhilam risi madhye mahaatapaah || 1-31-24

Sage Vishvamitra whose vows are unselfish and whose asceticism is exalted is motivated with the words of Rama and staying amidst the sages he started to tell all about that place. [1-31-24b, c]

iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye baala kaande eka tri.mshah sargah

Thus, this is the 31st 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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