“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 18 Birth of Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna Summary After the completion of Vedic ritual all the kings and Sage Rishyasringa took leave of Dasharatha and went away to their countries. After some time Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna are born. Their virtues in childhood and rituals connected thereto are depicted [described] here. Dasharatha then contemplates [consider with continued attention] the marriages of the princes, since marrying sons after completion of education is customary. At that juncture Sage Vishvamitra arrives at the court of Dasharatha seeking help from the king. Dasharatha receives him adoring [regarding with loving admiration and devotion] in high esteem. Chapter [Sarga] 18 in Detail nirhvritte tu kratau tasmin hayamedhe mahaatmanah | prati grihya amaraa bhaagaan pratijagmuh yathaa aagatam || 1-18-1 On the completion of the horse ritual of high-souled Dasharatha, the Gods having received their portion of sacrificial oblation [the act of offering the eucharistic elements to God] returned to their abodes as they have come. [1-18-1] samaapta diiksaa niyamah patnii gana samanvitah | pravivesha puriim raajaa sa bhritya bala vaahanah || 1-18-2 The king completing his consecratory [sacred] vows held for horse ritual, entered Ayodhya city along with the company of his queens, servants, guards and vehicles. [1-18-2] Page 1 of 13 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 18 yathaa arham puujitaah tena raajnaa cha prithiviishvaraah | muditaah prayayuh deshaan pranamya muni pu.ngavam || 1-18-3 The other kings who arrived for the ritual are delighted when befittingly honored by the king Dasharatha, and they too returned to their countries, after suitably adoring the eminent [famous] sage Vashishta. [1-18-3] shriimataam gacchataam tesaam svagrihaani puraat tatah | balaani raajnaam shubhraani prahristaani chakaashire || 1-18-4 The entourages [attendants or associates] of those kings who set forth homeward from that city are highly gladdened and shone forth in fine fettle [state or condition of health, fitness, wholeness, spirit, or form]. [1-18-4] gatesu prithiviishesu raajaa dasharathah punah | pravivesha puriim shriimaan puraskritya dvijottamaan || 1-18-5 On the departure of visiting kings, then that fortunate king Dasharatha entered the city Ayodhya, keeping eminent [famous] Brahman priests ahead of him in the procession. [1-18-5] shaantayaa prayayau saardham risyashringah supuujitah | anugamyamaano raajnaa cha saanuyaatrena dhiimataa || 1-18-6 Well adored by king Dasharatha sage Rishyasringa also traveled along with his wife Shanta, followed by his father-in-law King Romapada, and along with other co-travelers, namely the entourage [attendants or associates] of Romapaada. [1-18-6] evam visrijya taan sarvaan raajaa sampurna maanasah | uvaasa sukhitah tatra putra utpattim vichi.ntayan || 1-18-7 On dispersing all of them king Dasharatha gratifyingly dwelled there in Ayodhya, with a satiated [as a need or desire] heart dwelling upon the birth of his sons. [1-18-7] Page 2 of 13 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 18 tato yajne samaapte tu ritunaam sat samatyayuh | tatah ca dvaadashe maase chaitre naavamike tithau || 1-18-8 nakxatre aditi daivatye sva uccha sa.nstheshu pa.nchasu | graheshu karhkate lagne vaakpataa i.ndunaa saha || 1-18-9 prodyamaane jagannaatham sarva loka namaskritam | kausalyaa ajanayat raamam sarva laksana sa.myutam || 1-18-10 visnoh ardham mahaabhaagam putram aixvaaku na.ndanam | lohitaaksham mahaabaahum rakta ostam du.ndubhi svanam || 1-18-11 On completion of the ritual, six seasons have passed by and then in the twelfth month, on the ninth day of Chaitra month [April-May,] when the presiding deity of ruling star of the day is Aditi, where the ruling star of day is punarvasu, the asterism is in the ascendant, and when five of the nine planets viz., Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus are at their highest position, when Jupiter with Moon is ascendant in Cancer, and when day is advancing, then Queen Kausalya gave birth to a son with all the divine attributes like lotus-red eyes, lengthy arms, roseate [resembling a rose especially in color] lips, voice like drumbeat, and who took birth to delight the Ikshvaku dynasty, who is adored by all the worlds, and who is the greatly blessed epitome [a typical or ideal example] of Vishnu, namely Rama. [1-18-8, 9, 10, 11] kausalyaa shushubhe tena putrena amita tejasaa | yathaa varena devaanaam aditih vajra paaninaa || 1-18-12 Kausalya shone forth with such a son whose resplendence [brilliance] is unlimited, as with lady Aditi who once stood out with her son Indra, the best one among gods. [1-18-12] bharato naama kaikeyyaam jajne satya paraakramah | saaksaat visnoh caturtha bhaagah sarvaih samudito gunaih || 1-18-13 Queen Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharata, one embodied with all merits, and whose truthfulness itself is his valor and who is fourth component of manifest Vishnu, namely Rama. [1- 18-13] Page 3 of 13 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 18 atha laxmana shatrughnau sumitraa ajanayat sutau | viirau sarva astra kushalau visnoh ardha samanvitau | 1-18-14 Queen Sumitra then gave birth to two sons who are the embodied [incarnation] epitomes [typical or ideal example] of Vishnu, namely Lakshmana, and Shatrughna, who are valiant ones and experts in all kinds of weaponry. [1-18-14] pushye jaatah tu bharato mina lagne prasanna dhih | saarpe jaatau tu saumitri kulire abhyudite ravau || 1-18-15 The fair-minded Bharata is born under Pisces where pusyami is the star of day and the sons of Sumitra, namely Lakshmana and Shatrughna are born under Cancer, where aasresa is the star of the day and when sun is rising. [1-18-15] raajnah putraa mahaatmaanah catvaaro jajnire prithak | gunavantah anuruupaah ca rucyaa prostha padopamaah || 1-18-16 Thus there are four great-souled sons of Dasharatha, born on separate instances, who are virtuous, charming, and by brilliance they are in similitude [likeness] with two stars of each of the asterisms called puurva bhadra and uttara bhadra. [1-18-16] jaguh kalam cha ga.ndharvaa nanrituh cha apsaro ganaah | deva du.ndubhayo neduh puspa vristih cha khaat patat || 1-18-17 utsavah cha mahaan aasiit ayodhyaayaam janaakulah | The celestial singers sang melodiously, paradisiacal [resembling paradise] dancing parties’ danced, divine drums drummed and heavens rained flowers, with all this there is a great festivity in Ayodhya with thronging [crowding] people. [1-18-17, 18a] Page 4 of 13 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 18 rathyaah cha jana sambaadhaa nata nartaka sa.nkulaah || 1-18-18 gaayanaih cha viraavinyo vaadanaih cha tatha aparaih | virejur vipulaah tatra sarva ratna samanvitaah || 1-18-19 Hilarity [boisterous merriment or laughter] filled the streets with people stampeding them and with the flurry of actors, dancers, singers and instrumentalists, as well by other onlookers, and there on the streets widely strewn [scattered] are all kinds of gems appreciating the artists. [1-18-18b, 19] pradeyaamshcha dadau raajaa suta maagadha vandinaam | braahmanebhyo dadau vittam go dhanaani sahasrashah || 1-18-20 The king gave worthy gifts to eulogizers [one who speaks or write in high praise of], bard [poet] singers, and panegyrists [one who speaks or write in high praise of], and to Brahmans he gave funds and wealth in the form of thousands of cows. [1-18-20] atiitya ekaadasha aaham tu naama karma tathaa akarot | jyestham raamam mahaatmaanam bharatam kaikayii sutam || 1-18-21 saumitrim laksmanam iti shatrughnam aparam tathaa | vasisthah parama priito naamaani kurute tadaa || 1-18-22 Elapsed are eleven days and the naming ceremony is performed, then Vashishta, the chief priest, named the high-souled elder one as Rama, Kaikeyi's son as Bharata, and one son of Sumitra as Lakshmana and the other as Shatrughna [1-18-21, 22] Page 5 of 13 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 18 braahmanaan bhojayaamaasa pauraan jaanapadaan api | udadad braahmanaanaam cha ratnaugham amalam bahu || 1-18-23 tesaam janma kriya aadini sarva karmaani akaarayat | The king feasted Brahmans, urbanites and villagers and he gifted many valuable gems to Brahmans in an unlimited way, and all the rituals of birth and ceremonies sequel [subsequent development] to it like naming ceremony, first-food-feeding ceremony, first-hair-removal ceremony, and sacred thread ceremony are performed in respect of the princes. [1-18-23, 24a] tesaam ketuh iva jyestho raamo ratikarah pituh |1-18-24 babhuuva bhuuyo bhuutaanaam svayam bhuuh iva sammatah | Among those princes the eldest one Rama is like a flagstaff and a delight of his father Dasharatha, and he became acceptable to all beings like the self-created Brahma. [1-18-24b, 25a] sarve veda vidah shuuraah sarve lokahite rataah || 1-18-25 sarve jnaanopasampannaah sarve samuditaa gunaih | All the princes are scholars in Veda-s, valiant ones, all are interested in the welfare of the world, all are intellectuals and all of them possess an air of probity [adherence to the highest principles and ideals]. [1-18-25b, 26a] tesaam api mahaatejaa raamah satya paraakramah || 1-18-26 istah sarvasya lokasya shashaa.nka iva nirmalah | Among them the great resplendent [brilliant] Rama, whose valor itself is his truthfulness, is the dear one to the entire world like the tranquil [calm] moon. [1-18-26b, 27a] Page 6 of 13 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 18 gaja skandhe ashwa priste cha ratha charyaasu sammatah || 1-18-27 dhanurhvede cha niratah pituh shushrisane ratah | Rama is admittedly a champion of riding elephants and horses, also in tactical charioting, and he rejoices in the art of archery, and absorbed in the obedient service of his father. [1-18- 27b, 28a] baalyaat prabhriti susnigdho laksmano laksmi vardhanah || 1-18-28 raamasya lokaraamasya bhraatuh jyesthasya nityashah | Right from childhood Lakshmana, the enhancer of prosperity, is always amiable towards his world-charming elder brother Rama.