Ram1 66

Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 26 Aug 2011 15:16 and updated at 26 Aug 2011 15:16

VALMIKI RAMAYANA

Previous Index Next

BOOK 1: BALA KANDA

SECTION 66

Then on performing morning time rites in the aurora of next morning, king Janaka invited great souled Vishvamitra, along with Raghava s. (1 66 1) On reverencing Vishvamitra and the noble souled Raghava s according to the formalities envisaged by scriptures, then the virtue souled Janaka spoke these words, indeed. (1 66 2)

Oh, god, you are welcome, oh, holy sage, bid me as to what I should for you, for I am biddable by you, indeed… (1 66 3) When said thus by the foreseer Janaka, (who can foresee as to why Vishvamitra came with Raghava s this far, and thus asked him as to what next is to be done,) that sage Vishvamitra, for he is presager and wordsmith, (and who knows what is to be done next,) said these words in reply to that valiant king Janaka. (1 66 4)

These two are the sons of Dasharatha, well renowned Kshatriya s in world, and they are desirous to see that marvellous bow which has a place with you… (1 66 5) You may show that bow, well bodes you, and on beholding that bow the desire of these two princes will come true, and they will go back as they like… (1 66 6)

But Janaka replied the great sage Vishvamitra when he was addressed thus, I shall (firstly) tell by which reason that bow has its place here… (1 66 7) Oh, godly sage, there was a king renowned as Devaraata, sixth one from Nimi, (the originator of our lineage,) and this bow was handed down to him for custodial care by the Sublime Soul, Shiva… (1 66 8)

Once, during the devastation of the Vedic ritual of Daksha Prajapati, the mettlesome god Rudra, rancorously outstretching the bowstring of this bow, said this to all Gods, superciliously… (1 66 9) Oh, Gods, whereby you have not apportioned my portion (of oblations in Vedic ritual s, as I am also the) desirer of such portion, (thereby) I will shred the highly revered heads of yours with this bow… (So said Shiva to Gods.) (1 66 10)

Then, oh, best saint Vishvamitra, all Gods are truly dismayed, and on their supplicating, Bhava, namely Shiva, the God of Gods is gladdened… (1 66 11) And that Sublime Soul Shiva gladly gave that bow to all of the great souled Gods, and oh, godly saint, then those great souled Gods gave this gem of a bow of Shiva, the God of Gods, to our ancestor Devaraata(,) for

custodial care… (1 66 12, 13a) Later, when I was ploughing the ritual field then raised by the plough (from the furrow is a baby girl… since she is) gained while consecrating the ritual field, she is named as Seetha, and thus she is renowned… (1 66 13b, 14a) Hers is a non uterine birth as she surfaced from the

surface of the earth, but fostered as my own soul born girl and I determined (to giver her in marriage to a bridegroom where his) boldness is the only bounty, (I receive in that marriage…) (1 66 14b, 15a) Oh, eminent sage, as my daughter has surfaced from the surface of earth and has come of age, the kings, (having heard my declaration that the bounty for Seetha is boldness alone,) have come and besought for her… (1 66 15b, 16a)

To all of those kings who are beseeching for the girl, I have not given my daughter, saying that she will be given for a bounty of boldness… (1 6 16b, 17a) Then all the kings convoked and on arriving at Mithila, then they wanted to ascertain the calibre (of the bow, vis vis their own…) (1 66 17b, 18a)

For them, those who wanted to ascertain the calibre of the bow, that bow of Shiva is fetched to their proximity, but they are incapable to joggle it, or even to catch hold of it… (1 66 18b, 19a) Oh, great saint, on knowing the valour of those valorous ones as valueless, I countermanded them… oh, ascetically wealthy Vishvamitra, by that you may know (the sequel of it…) (1 66 19b, 20a)

Then, oh, eminent sage, those kings beleaguered Mithila in a blind fury, since a self mistrust bechanced among them all, about their own valour… (1 66 20b, 21a) They surmised for themselves that they are brushed off by me, and they possessed by a high rancour, they strangled the City of Mithila… (1 66 21b, 22a)

Then elapsed is an year and in anyway the possessions for livelihood went into a decline, oh, eminent sage, thereby I am highly anguished (1 66 22b, 23a) Then I have assuaged the assemblages of Gods by my ascesis and Gods are also highly gladdened and gave me fourfold forces… (1 66 23b, 24a)

Then those evildoers and self mistrustful kings while being drubbed (by the heaven sent army, they have become) vigourless and broken, and they beat a hasty retreat… (1 66 24b, 25a) Oh, tigerly sage this is that supremely radiant bow, and oh, saint of sacred vows, I will show it, even to Rama and Lakshmana… (1 66 25b, 26a)

If Rama strings the bowstring of that bow, oh, sage, I will offer my daughter, whose birth is non uterine, to Dasharatha s Rama… (So said Janaka to Vishvamitra.) (1 66 26b, c)

Previous Index Next

Share:- Facebook

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License