“Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”

Valmiki – Bala Kanda – Chapter 23

Passing the Night at the Confluence of the and Sarayu

Summary

Rama and proceeding with sojourn [for a temporary stay] in a hermitage at a place where River Ganga and River Sarayu are confluent [coming together]. Once God Shiva with his third eye burnt down the physical entity of Manmatha, the Love-god, at this place.

Chapter [Sarga] 23 in Detail

prabhaataayaam tu sharvaryaam vishvaamitro mahaamunih |

abhyabhaasata kaakutsthau shayaanau parna sa.nstare || 1-23-1

At dawn after that night the great saint Vishvamitra spoke to the legatees [one to whom a legacy is bequeathed] of Kakutstha, and Lakshmana, those that are sleeping on a grass bed. [1-23-1]

kausalyaa suprajaa raama puurvaa sa.ndhyaa pravartate |

uttistha nara shaarduula kartavyam daivamaahnikam || 1-23-2

"Fortunate is Kausalya to beget [get] you as her son Rama... get up oh, tigerly-man, eastern aurora [dawn] is emerging, daytime tasks towards Gods are to be performed." [1-23-2]

tasya riseh parama udaaram vacah shrutvaa nripa narottamau |

snaatvaa krita udakau viirau jepatuh paramam japam || 1-23-3

On hearing the benign [of a gentle disposition] words of the sage those valorous and best ones among men got up, bathed, and on offering water oblation they mediated [to act as intermediary agent] upon the supreme hymn, namely Gayatri. [1-23-3]

Page 1 of 6 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”

Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 23 krita aahnikau mahaaviiryau vishvaamitram tapodhanam |

abhivaadya ati sa.mhristau gamanaaya abhitasthatuh || 1-23-4

On performing their dawn time duties those two stalwarts [marked by outstanding strength and vigor of body, mind, or spirit], Rama and Lakshmana, enthusiastically presented themselves before the ascetically rich sage Vishvamitra for further journey, duly venerating [to regard or treat with reverence] him. [1-23-4]

tau prayaantau mahaaviiryau divyam tripathagaam nadiim |

dadrishaa te tatah tatra sarayvaah sa.ngame shubhe || 1-23-5

Then on traveling some more distance those two great valiant ones, there they have seen the divine river that courses in three ways, namely Ganga, at the auspicious confluence [coming together] of River Sarayu. [1-23-5]

tatra aashrama padam punyam risiinaam bhaaviata aatmaanaam |

bahu varsa sahasraani tapyataam paramam tapah || 1-23-6

There they have seen the merited hermitage of sages with contemplative [marked by concentration on spiritual things] souls, and who are practicing supreme asceticism for many thousand years. [1-23-6]

tam dristvaa parama priitau raaghavau punyam aashramam |

uucatuh tam mahaatmaanam vishvaamitram idam vacah || 1-23-7

On seeing that merited hermitage Rama and Lakshmana are highly pleased and said this word to that great-soul Sage Vishvamitra. [1-23-7]

kasya ayam aashramah punyah ko nu asmin vasate pumaan |

bhagavan shrotum icchaavah param kautuuhalam hi nau || 1-23-8

"Whose hermitage is this merited one? Indeed who is the celebrity that lives therein? Oh, Godly sage, we are interested to listen, and we are truly inquisitive [curious] about it." Thus they asked. [1-23-8]

Page 2 of 6 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”

Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 23 tayoh tad vacanam shrutvaa prahasya munipu.ngavah |

abraviit shruyataam raama yasya ayam puurva aashramah || 1-23-9

On hearing their words the eminent sage Vishvamitra said smilingly, “whose hermitage is this in earlier times that may be listened." Thus Vishvamitra started to narrate. [1-23-9]

kandarpo muurtimaan aasiit kaama iti ucyate budhaih |

tapasya.ntam iha sthaanum niyamena samaahitam || 1-23-10

krita udvaaham tu devesham gacchantam sa marud ganam |

dharsayaamaasa dur.hmedhaa hum kritah ca mahaatmanaa || 1-23-11

"When Love-God was with his body wise men used to call him Kama, the passion. At this place, that Love-God with his naughty intent braved god of gods Shiva who had been practicing asceticism and who concentrated observantly [keenly], and who was returning after his marriage along with his followers, namely the Wind-gods and that great soul Shiva disapprovingly roared at Love-god. [1-23-10, 11]

avadhyatah ca rudrena caksusaa raghu nandana |

vyashiiryanta shariiraat svaat sarva gaatraani dur.hmateh || 1-23-12

"And Rama, the wrathful third-eye of Shiva destroyed the lewd-minded [evil minded] Love-god making all his limbs to fall down from his body. [1-23-12]

tatra gaatram hatam tasya nir.hdagdhasya mahaatmanah |

ashariirah kritah kaamah krodhaat deva ishvarena ha || 1-23-13

"There the body of Love-god is evanesced [vanished] when that great soul Shiva burnt it down, and by the anger of that God of Gods Shiva, Love-god is rendered as a bodiless entity. [1- 23-13]

Page 3 of 6 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”

Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 23 ananga iti vikhyaatah tadaa prabhriti raaghava |

sa ca anga visayah shriimaan yatra a.ngam sa mumoca ha || 1-23-14

Then onwards Love-god is renowned as Ananga, as he is without body, and where his body is given up that is renowned as Anga province. [1-23-14]

tasya ayam aashramah punyah tasya ime munayah puraa |

shisyaa dharmaparaa viira tesaam paapam na vidyate || 1-23-15

"This merited hermitage thus belongs to Shiva and, oh, brave Rama, these sages abiding [listening] in virtue are Shiva's disciples at one time, thus sin is unverifiable with them. [1-23-15]

iha adya rajaniim raama vasema shubha darshana |

punyayoh saritoh madhye shvah tarisyaamahe vayam || 1-23-16

"Let us stay for this night in this hermitage situated in between two meritorious [deserving of honor or esteem] rivers Ganga and Sarayu, oh, Rama with auspicious mien [appearance], tomorrow we will cross over the River Ganga. [1-23-16]

abhigacchaamahe sarve shuchayah punyam aashramam |

iha vaasah paro.asmaakam sukham vastyaamahe vayam || 1-23-17

snaataah cha krita japyaah ca huta havyaa narottama |

"Let us all purify ourselves by taking our bath, performing our meditations, offering our daily oblations, and then let us enter this meritorious hermitage, thus our stay in here will be comforting to us." So said Vishvamitra to Rama and Lakshmana. [1-23-17, 18a]

Page 4 of 6 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”

Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 23 tesaam sa.mvadataam tatra tapo diirghena caksusaa || 1-23-18

vijnaaya parama priitaa munayo harsam aagaman |

arghyam paadyam tathaa aatithyam nivedya kushikaatmaje || 1-23-19

When they are discussing there the sages of that hermitage are highly gladdened to perceive [see] them with their sixth-sense, and on approaching them enchanted they offered water for hands and feet wash and then offered hospitality firstly to Sage Vishvamitra. [1-23-18, 19]

raama laksmanayoh pashcaat akurvan atithi kriyaam |

satkaaram sam anupraapya kathaabhih abhira.njayan ||1-23-20

Afterwards those sages of that hermitage have accorded [more at heart] reception to Rama and Lakshmana, and applauded by Vishvamitra for their hospitality those sages have entertained Rama and other guests with myths and legends. [1-23-20]

yathaa arham ajapan sa.ndhyaam risayah te samaahitaah |

tatra vaasibhih aanitaa munibhih suvrataih saha || 1-23-21

nyavasan susukham tatra kaama aashrama pade tathaa |

Those sages with concentrated minds and according to one's own aptitude have meditated upon the deity of sunset when it is sundown, followed by Rama and others. Then led into hermitage by those sages who are with pious commitments and who are dwelling there, Rama and others have very comfortably stayed in the precincts [place] of Shiva's hermitage. [1- 23-21]

kathaabhirabhiraamabhirabhiramau nripaatmajau | - yadvaa –

kathaabhih abhi raamabhih abhi ramau nripa aatmajau

ramayaamaasa dharmaatmaa kaushiko munipungavah || 1-23-22

Later the eminent saint and virtue-souled one, Vishvamitra, delighted the delightful princes with delightful stories, in the night. [1-23-22]

Page 5 of 6 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama”

Valmiki Ramayana – Bala Kanda – Chapter 23

iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadikaavye baala kaande trayovi.mshah sargah ||

Thus, this is the 23rd chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of .

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