Arrival at Janaka's Sacrifice

Shloka 1 (bala.50.1)

ततः प्रागुत्तरां गत्वा रामः सौमित्रिणा सह। विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य यज्ञवाटमुपागमत् ॥ १-५०-१ ॥

tataḥ prāguttarāṃ gatvā rāmaḥ saumitriṇā saha| viśvāmitraṃ puraskṛtya yajñavāṭamupāgamat || 1-50-1 ||

Then, journeying toward the north-east, Rama, together with Lakshmana, placing Vishvamitra before them, arrived at the enclosure of the sacrifice.

Shloka 2 (bala.50.2)

रामस्तु मुनिशार्दूलमुवाच सहलक्ष्मणः। साध्वी यज्ञसमृद्धिर्हि जनकस्य महात्मनः ॥ १-५०-२ ॥

rāmastu muniśārdūlamuvāca sahalakṣmaṇaḥ| sādhvī yajñasamṛddhirhi janakasya mahātmanaḥ || 1-50-2 ||

Then Rama, together with Lakshmana, said to that tiger among sages: "Truly excellent indeed is this splendour of the great-souled Janaka's sacrifice."

Shloka 3 (bala.50.3)

बहूनीह सहस्राणि नानादेशनिवासिनाम्। ब्राह्मणानां महाभाग वेदाध्ययनशालिनाम् ॥ १-५०-३ ॥

bahūnīha sahasrāṇi nānādeśanivāsinām| brāhmaṇānāṃ mahābhāga vedādhyayanaśālinām || 1-50-3 ||

"O most fortunate one, here are seen many thousands of brahmins, gathered from many lands, all accomplished in the study of the Veda,"

Shloka 4 (bala.50.4)

ऋषि ऋषिवाटाश्च दृश्यन्ते शकटीशतसंकुलाः। देशो विधीयतां ब्रह्मन् यत्र वत्स्यामहे वयम् ॥ १-५०-४ ॥

ṛṣi ṛṣivāṭāśca dṛśyante śakaṭīśatasaṃkulāḥ| deśo vidhīyatāṃ brahman yatra vatsyāmahe vayam || 1-50-4 ||

"and the encampments of the sages too, thronged with hundreds of carts; therefore, O brahmin, mark out some spot where we may take up our stay."

Shloka 5 (bala.50.5)

रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः। निवेशमकरोद्देशे विविक्ते सलिलायुते ॥ १-५०-५ ॥

rāmasya vacanaṃ śrutvā viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ| niveśamakaroddeśe vivikte salilāyute || 1-50-5 ||

Hearing Rama's words, the great sage Vishvamitra made camp in a secluded spot furnished with water.

Shloka 6 (bala.50.6)

विश्वामित्रमनुप्राप्तं श्रुत्वा नृपवरस्तदा। शतानन्दं पुरस्कृत्य पुरोहितमनिन्दितम् ॥ १-५०-६ ॥

viśvāmitramanuprāptaṃ śrutvā nṛpavarastadā| śatānandaṃ puraskṛtya purohitamaninditam || 1-50-6 ||

Meanwhile, hearing that Vishvamitra had arrived, the best of kings, placing his blameless priest Shatananda before him,

Shloka 7 (bala.50.7)

प्रत्युज्जगाम सहसा विनयेन समन्वितः। ऋत्विजोऽपि महात्मानस्त्वर्घ्यमादाय सत्वरम् ॥ १-५०-७ ॥

pratyujjagāma sahasā vinayena samanvitaḥ| ṛtvijo'pi mahātmānastvarghyamādāya satvaram || 1-50-7 ||

went forth at once, in all humility, to receive him; and the great-souled officiating priests too, hastening with the guest-offering,

Shloka 8 (bala.50.8)

विश्वामित्राय धर्मेण ददौ धर्मपुरस्कृतम्। प्रतिगृह्य तु तां पूजां जनकस्य महात्मनः ॥ १-५०-८ ॥

viśvāmitrāya dharmeṇa dadau dharmapuraskṛtam| pratigṛhya tu tāṃ pūjāṃ janakasya mahātmanaḥ || 1-50-8 ||

duly offered it, according to sacred rite, to Vishvamitra. Having accepted this reverence from the great-souled Janaka,

Shloka 9 (bala.50.9)

पप्रच्छ कुशलं राज्ञो यज्ञस्य च निरामयम्। स तांश्चाथ मुनीन् पृष्ट्वा सोपाध्यायपुरोधसः ॥ १-५०-९ ॥

papraccha kuśalaṃ rājño yajñasya ca nirāmayam| sa tāṃścātha munīn pṛṣṭvā sopādhyāyapurodhasaḥ || 1-50-9 ||

Vishvamitra asked after the king's welfare and the smooth progress of the sacrifice; then he asked likewise after the welfare of all the sages, together with the preceptors and priests.

Shloka 10 (bala.50.10)

यथार्हमृषिभिः सर्वैः समागच्छत् प्रहृष्टवत्। अथ राजा मुनिश्रेष्ठं कृताञ्जलिरभाषत ॥ १-५०-१० ॥

yathārhamṛṣibhiḥ sarvaiḥ samāgacchat prahṛṣṭavat| atha rājā muniśreṣṭhaṃ kṛtāñjalirabhāṣata || 1-50-10 ||

and he greeted all the sages, each according to due honour, with great warmth. Then the king, with joined palms, addressed that foremost of sages.

Shloka 11 (bala.50.11)

आसने भगवानास्तां सहैभिर्मुनिसत्तमैः। जनकस्य वचः श्रुत्वा निषसाद महामुनिः ॥ १-५०-११ ॥

āsane bhagavānāstāṃ sahaibhirmunisattamaiḥ| janakasya vacaḥ śrutvā niṣasāda mahāmuniḥ || 1-50-11 ||

"O venerable one, be seated upon this seat, together with these most excellent sages." Hearing Janaka's words, the great sage took his seat.

Shloka 12 (bala.50.12)

पुरोधा ऋत्विजश्चैव राजा च सह मंत्रिभिः। आसनेषु यथान्यायमुपविष्टान् समन्ततः ॥ १-५०-१२ ॥

purodhā ṛtvijaścaiva rājā ca saha maṃtribhiḥ| āsaneṣu yathānyāyamupaviṣṭān samantataḥ || 1-50-12 ||

The chief priest, the officiating priests, the king together with his ministers — all took their seats round about, each in proper order.

Shloka 13 (bala.50.13)

दृष्ट्वा स नृपतिस्तत्र विश्वामित्रमथाब्रवीत्। अद्य यज्ञसमृद्धिर्मे सफला दैवतैः कृता ॥ १-५०-१३ ॥

dṛṣṭvā sa nṛpatistatra viśvāmitramathābravīt| adya yajñasamṛddhirme saphalā daivataiḥ kṛtā || 1-50-13 ||

Beholding them thus seated, the king then said to Vishvamitra: "Today the splendour of my sacrifice has been made fruitful by the gods themselves,"

Shloka 14 (bala.50.14)

अद्य यज्ञफलं प्राप्तं भगवद्दर्शनान्मया। धन्योऽस्म्यनुगृहीतोऽस्मि यस्य मे मुनिपुङ्गव ॥ १-५०-१४ ॥

adya yajñaphalaṃ prāptaṃ bhagavaddarśanānmayā| dhanyo'smyanugṛhīto'smi yasya me munipuṅgava || 1-50-14 ||

"for today, by the very sight of you, I have obtained the fruit of my sacrifice. O foremost of sages, I am blessed indeed, I am favoured,"

Shloka 15 (bala.50.15)

यज्ञोपसदनं ब्रह्मन् प्राप्तोऽसि मुनिभिः सह। द्वादशाहं तु ब्रह्मर्षे दीक्षामाहुर्मनीषिणः ॥ १-५०-१५ ॥

yajñopasadanaṃ brahman prāpto'si munibhiḥ saha| dvādaśāhaṃ tu brahmarṣe dīkṣāmāhurmanīṣiṇaḥ || 1-50-15 ||

"that you, O brahmin, have come with the sages to my place of sacrifice. O brahmarshi, the learned say the period of this consecration is twelve days,"

Shloka 16 (bala.50.16)

ततो भागार्थिनो देवान् द्रष्टुमर्हसि कौशिक। इत्युक्त्वा मुनिशार्दूलं प्रहृष्टवदनस्तदा ॥ १-५०-१६ ॥

tato bhāgārthino devān draṣṭumarhasi kauśika| ityuktvā muniśārdūlaṃ prahṛṣṭavadanastadā || 1-50-16 ||

"and thereafter, O Kaushika, you shall see the gods themselves come seeking their share." Having said this to that tiger among sages, then, his face lit with joy,

Shloka 17 (bala.50.17)

पुनस्तं परिपप्रच्छ प्रांजलिः प्रयतो नृपः। इमौ कुमारौ भद्रं ते देवतुल्यपराक्रमौ ॥ १-५०-१७ ॥

punastaṃ paripapraccha prāṃjaliḥ prayato nṛpaḥ| imau kumārau bhadraṃ te devatulyaparākramau || 1-50-17 ||

the king, with joined palms, in all reverence, questioned him yet again: "Blessings upon you — these two princes, valiant as gods,"

Shloka 18 (bala.50.18)

गजसिंहगती वीरौ शार्दूलवृषभोपमौ। पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षौ खड्गतूणीधनुर्धरौ। अश्विनाविव रूपेण समुपस्थितयौवनौ ॥ १-५०-१८ ॥

gajasiṃhagatī vīrau śārdūlavṛṣabhopamau| padmapatraviśālākṣau khaḍgatūṇīdhanurdharau| aśvināviva rūpeṇa samupasthitayauvanau || 1-50-18 ||

"moving with the gait of elephant and lion, resembling in might the tiger and the bull, their eyes wide as lotus-petals, bearing sword, quiver and bow, on the threshold of youth and beautiful in form as the twin Ashvins."

Shloka 19 (bala.50.19)

यदृच्छयैव गां प्राप्तौ देवलोकादिवामरौ। कथं पद्भ्यामिह प्राप्तौ किमर्थं कस्य वा मुने ॥ १-५०-१९ ॥

yadṛcchayaiva gāṃ prāptau devalokādivāmarau| kathaṃ padbhyāmiha prāptau kimarthaṃ kasya vā mune || 1-50-19 ||

"They seem as if two gods had, by mere chance, come down to earth from the world of the gods. O sage, how and for what purpose have they come here on foot, and whose sons are they?"

Shloka 20 (bala.50.20)

वरायुधधरौ वीरौ कस्य पुत्रौ महामुने। भूषयन्ताविमं देशं चन्द्रसूर्याविवाम्बरम् ॥ १-५०-२० ॥

varāyudhadharau vīrau kasya putrau mahāmune| bhūṣayantāvimaṃ deśaṃ candrasūryāvivāmbaram || 1-50-20 ||

"O great sage, whose sons are these two heroes, armed with such splendid weapons? They adorn this land as the moon and sun adorn the sky,"

Shloka 21 (bala.50.21)

परस्परस्य सदृशौ प्रमाणेङ्गितचेष्टितैः। काकपक्षधरौ वीरौ श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः ॥ १-५०-२१ ॥

parasparasya sadṛśau pramāṇeṅgitaceṣṭitaiḥ| kākapakṣadharau vīrau śrotumicchāmi tattvataḥ || 1-50-21 ||

"and each is the very image of the other in stature, in bearing, in gesture. Though these heroes still wear the boyish lock of hair, I truly wish to know the whole truth of them."

Shloka 22 (bala.50.22)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा जनकस्य महात्मनः। न्यवेदयदमेयात्मा पुत्रौ दशरथस्य तौ ॥ १-५०-२२ ॥

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā janakasya mahātmanaḥ| nyavedayadameyātmā putrau daśarathasya tau || 1-50-22 ||

Hearing this question of the great-souled Janaka, Vishvamitra, of immeasurable soul, made known that those two were the sons of Dasharatha.

Shloka 23 (bala.50.23)

सिद्धाश्रमनिवासं च राक्षसानां वधं तथा। तत्रागमनमव्यग्रं विशालायाश्च दर्शनम् ॥ १-५०-२३ ॥

siddhāśramanivāsaṃ ca rākṣasānāṃ vadhaṃ tathā| tatrāgamanamavyagraṃ viśālāyāśca darśanam || 1-50-23 ||

He told, too, of their stay at Siddhashrama, the slaying of the demons, their untroubled coming thence, and their beholding of the city of Vishala,

Shloka 24 (bala.50.24)

अहल्यादर्शनं चैव गौतमेन समागमम्। महाधनुषि जिज्ञासां कर्तुमागमनं तथा ॥ १-५०-२४ ॥

ahalyādarśanaṃ caiva gautamena samāgamam| mahādhanuṣi jijñāsāṃ kartumāgamanaṃ tathā || 1-50-24 ||

and of their seeing Ahalya and her reunion with Gautama, and likewise that they had come here desiring to witness the great bow of Shiva.

Shloka 25 (bala.50.25)

एतत्सर्वं महातेजा जनकाय महात्मने। निवेद्य विररामाथ विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः ॥ १-५०-२५ ॥

etatsarvaṃ mahātejā janakāya mahātmane| nivedya virarāmātha viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ || 1-50-25 ||

Having thus related all this to the great-souled Janaka, the greatly resplendent Vishvamitra fell silent.