Bala Kanda · Sarga 69 of 77 · 19 verses
Dasharatha Arrives in Mithila
At dawn Dasharatha orders Sumantra: let the treasurers go ahead with abundant wealth and jewels, let the fourfold army set out, and let Vasishtha, Vamadeva, Jabali, Kashyapa, the long-lived Markandeya and Katyayana go in front; yoke his chariot, for the messengers are urging haste. After four days’ travel he reaches Videha, and Janaka, overjoyed, welcomes him: “Welcome, best of men. By good fortune you have come; you will have the joy of both your sons, won by valour. By good fortune the holy Vasishtha has come with all the brahmanas, like Indra with the gods. By good fortune my obstacles are overcome and my family honoured by this alliance with the mighty Raghavas. Tomorrow at dawn, at the end of my sacrifice, please have the marriage performed.”
Dasharatha answers in the midst of the sages: “I have heard that receiving depends on the giver. We will do as you say, knower of dharma.” Janaka is amazed at the truthful king’s righteous, gracious reply. The sages spend the night together in great joy. Rama and Lakshmana, with Vishvamitra before them, come and touch their father’s feet. The king, delighted to see his sons, stays the night honoured by Janaka, and Janaka, having performed the rites of the sacrifice and those for his daughters, also rests.
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ततो रात्र्यां व्यतीतायां सोपाध्यायः सबान्धवः । राजा दशरथो हृष्टः सुमन्त्रमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ १ ॥
When the night had passed, King Dasharatha, delighted, with his teachers and kin, said to Sumantra:
जब रात बीत गई, तब प्रसन्न राजा दशरथ ने अपने गुरुओं और संबंधियों के साथ सुमंत्र से कहा:
Commentary on the whole sarga
Dasharatha Arrives in Mithila 1 min read.
Read the commentary CommentaryNot scripture Morning. Dasharatha gives orders, delighted. Sumantra, the minister who brought the priests for the horse sacrifice, now organises a wedding journey.
Scene 1 of 2 · Dasharatha’s wedding procession of chariots, elephants, treasure and sages sets out from Ayodhya for Mithila.
अद्य सर्वे धनाध्यक्षा धनमादाय पुष्कलम् । व्रजन्त्वग्रे सुविहिता नानारत्नसमन्विताः ॥ २ ॥
“Today let all the treasurers, taking abundant wealth, go ahead well arranged, with jewels of many kinds.
“आज सब कोषाध्यक्ष बहुत-सा धन और अनेक प्रकार के रत्न लेकर अच्छी व्यवस्था से आगे जाएँ।
CommentaryNot scripture Treasurers go first with wealth and jewels: gifts for the bride’s family and for the brahmanas.
Scene 1 of 2 · Dasharatha’s wedding procession of chariots, elephants, treasure and sages sets out from Ayodhya for Mithila.
चतुरंगबलं चापि शीघ्रं निर्यातु सर्वशः । ममाज्ञासमकालं च यानं युग्यमनुत्तमम् ॥ ३ ॥
“Let the fourfold army set out quickly, all of it, at the moment of my command, and the best of vehicles and carriages.
“मेरी आज्ञा के क्षण ही पूरी चतुरंगिणी सेना, और श्रेष्ठ वाहन और सवारियाँ, जल्दी चल पड़ें।
CommentaryNot scripture The whole army, vehicles and carriages. A royal wedding procession.
Scene 1 of 2 · Dasharatha’s wedding procession of chariots, elephants, treasure and sages sets out from Ayodhya for Mithila.
वसिष्ठो वामदेवश्च जाबालिरथ कश्यपः । मार्कण्डेयस्तु दीर्घायुर्ऋषिः कात्यायनस्तथा ॥ ४ ॥
एते द्विजाः प्रयान्त्वग्रे स्यन्दनं योजयस्व मे । यथा कालात्ययो न स्याद् दूता हि त्वरयन्ति माम् ॥ ५ ॥
“Vasishtha, Vamadeva, Jabali and Kashyapa, the long-lived sage Markandeya and Katyayana: let these brahmanas go ahead. Yoke my chariot, so that no time is lost, for the messengers are urging me.”
“वसिष्ठ, वामदेव, जाबालि और काश्यप, दीर्घायु मुनि मार्कंडेय और कात्यायन: ये ब्राह्मण आगे जाएँ। मेरा रथ जोतो, ताकि समय नष्ट न हो, क्योंकि दूत मुझे जल्दी करा रहे हैं।”
CommentaryNot scripture The priests from sarga 7 lead the way: Vasishtha, Vamadeva, Jabali, Kashyapa, Markandeya, Katyayana. “Yoke my chariot; the messengers are urging me.” The old king is in a hurry.
Scene 1 of 2 · Dasharatha’s wedding procession of chariots, elephants, treasure and sages sets out from Ayodhya for Mithila.
वचनाच्च नरेन्द्रस्य सेना च चतुरंगिणी । राजानमृषिभिः सार्धं व्रजन्तं पृष्ठतोऽन्वयात् ॥ ६ ॥
At the word of the lord of men, the fourfold army followed behind the king as he went with the sages.
मनुष्यों के स्वामी के कहने पर चतुरंगिणी सेना मुनियों के साथ जाते राजा के पीछे चली।
CommentaryNot scripture The army follows the king and the sages.
Scene 1 of 2 · Dasharatha’s wedding procession of chariots, elephants, treasure and sages sets out from Ayodhya for Mithila.
गत्वा चतुरहं मार्गं विदेहानभ्युपेयिवान् । राजा च जनकः श्रीमान् श्रुत्वा पूजामकल्पयत् ॥ ७ ॥
Having travelled four days on the road, he reached the Videhas, and the glorious King Janaka, hearing of it, prepared a welcome.
रास्ते में चार दिन चलकर वे विदेह पहुँचे, और यह सुनकर यशस्वी राजा जनक ने स्वागत की तैयारी की।
CommentaryNot scripture Four days to Videha. Janaka prepares a welcome.
Scene 1 of 2 · Dasharatha’s wedding procession of chariots, elephants, treasure and sages sets out from Ayodhya for Mithila.
ततो राजानमासाद्य वृद्धं दशरथं नृपम् । मुदितो जनको राजा प्रहर्षं परमं ययौ ॥ ८ ॥
Then, meeting the aged King Dasharatha, King Janaka, glad, was filled with the greatest joy.
तब वृद्ध राजा दशरथ से मिलकर प्रसन्न राजा जनक परम आनंद से भर गए।
CommentaryNot scripture The two kings meet, and Janaka is filled with the greatest joy. Two old fathers, both of whom waited long for children.
Scene 2 of 2 · Janaka embraces Dasharatha, and that night Rama and Lakshmana kneel and touch their father’s feet.
उवाच वचनं श्रेष्ठो नरश्रेष्ठं मुदान्वितम् । स्वागतं ते नरश्रेष्ठ दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोऽसि राघव ॥ ९ ॥
पुत्रयोरुभयोः प्रीतिं लप्स्यसे वीर्यनिर्जिताम् । दिष्ट्या प्राप्तो महातेजा वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः ॥ १० ॥
The best of kings spoke to the best of men, who was full of joy: “Welcome to you, best of men. By good fortune you have come, Raghava. You will have the joy of both your sons, won by valour. By good fortune the radiant holy sage Vasishtha has come,
राजश्रेष्ठ ने आनंद से भरे पुरुषश्रेष्ठ से कहा: “पुरुषश्रेष्ठ, आपका स्वागत है। राघव, सौभाग्य से आप आए। आपको पराक्रम से जीते गए अपने दोनों पुत्रों का आनंद मिलेगा। सौभाग्य से तेजस्वी भगवान ऋषि वसिष्ठ आए हैं,
CommentaryNot scripture “Welcome. You will have joy in both your sons.” Janaka repeats his hint about Lakshmana.
Scene 2 of 2 · Janaka embraces Dasharatha, and that night Rama and Lakshmana kneel and touch their father’s feet.
सह सर्वैर्द्विजश्रेष्ठैर्देवैरिव शतक्रतुः । दिष्ट्या मे निर्जिता विघ्ना दिष्ट्या मे पूजितं कुलम् ॥ ११ ॥
राघवैः सह सम्बन्धाद् वीर्यश्रेष्ठैर्महाबलैः । श्वः प्रभाते नरेन्द्र त्वं संवर्तयितुमर्हसि ॥ १२ ॥
“with all the best of brahmanas, like Shatakratu with the gods. By good fortune my obstacles are overcome; by good fortune my family is honoured, by alliance with the Raghavas, best in valour and mighty. Tomorrow at dawn, lord of men, you should have
“सब श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणों के साथ, जैसे देवताओं के साथ इंद्र। सौभाग्य से मेरी बाधाएँ दूर हो गईं; सौभाग्य से पराक्रम में श्रेष्ठ और बलवान राघवों से संबंध होने से मेरा कुल सम्मानित हुआ। मनुष्यों के स्वामी, कल सवेरे आपको
CommentaryNot scripture “By good fortune my obstacles are overcome; my family is honoured by alliance with the Raghavas.” The siege of Mithila, the failed suitors, the long wait: all are over.
Scene 2 of 2 · Janaka embraces Dasharatha, and that night Rama and Lakshmana kneel and touch their father’s feet.
यज्ञस्यान्ते नरश्रेष्ठ विवाहमृषिसत्तमैः । तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा ऋषिमध्ये नराधिपः ॥ १३ ॥
वाक्यं वाक्यविदां श्रेष्ठः प्रत्युवाच महीपतिम् । प्रतिग्रहो दातृवशः श्रुतमेतन्मया पुरा ॥ १४ ॥
“the marriage performed at the end of the sacrifice, best of men, by the best of sages.” Hearing his words, the lord of men, best of those who know speech, replied in the midst of the sages to the lord of the earth: “I have heard long ago that receiving depends on the giver.
“यज्ञ के अंत में श्रेष्ठ मुनि द्वारा विवाह कराना चाहिए, पुरुषश्रेष्ठ।” उनके वचन सुनकर बोलना जानने वालों में श्रेष्ठ मनुष्यों के स्वामी ने मुनियों के बीच पृथ्वीपति को उत्तर दिया: “मैंने बहुत पहले सुना है कि लेना देने वाले पर निर्भर होता है।
CommentaryNot scripture “Tomorrow at dawn, the marriage.” Dasharatha’s answer is gracious: “Receiving depends on the giver.” The bride’s family gives; the groom’s family receives with gratitude. He defers entirely to Janaka.
Scene 2 of 2 · Janaka embraces Dasharatha, and that night Rama and Lakshmana kneel and touch their father’s feet.
यथा वक्ष्यसि धर्मज्ञ तत् करिष्यामहे वयम् । तद् धर्मिष्ठं यशस्यं च वचनं सत्यवादिनः ॥ १५ ॥
श्रुत्वा विदेहाधिपतिः परं विस्मयमागतः । ततः सर्वे मुनिगणाः परस्परसमागमे ॥ १६ ॥
“As you say, knower of dharma, so we shall do.” Hearing those righteous and glorious words of the truthful one, the lord of Videha was filled with the greatest wonder. Then all the hosts of sages, meeting one another,
“धर्मज्ञ, जैसा आप कहें, वैसा ही हम करेंगे।” उस सत्यवादी के ये धर्ममय और यशस्वी वचन सुनकर विदेह के स्वामी परम विस्मय से भर गए। फिर मुनियों के सब समूह एक-दूसरे से मिलकर
CommentaryNot scripture “As you say, so we shall do.” Janaka is amazed by Dasharatha’s humility. The great king of Ayodhya does not assert his rank.
Scene 2 of 2 · Janaka embraces Dasharatha, and that night Rama and Lakshmana kneel and touch their father’s feet.
हर्षेण महता युक्तास्तां रात्रिमवसन् सुखम् । अथ रामो महातेजा लक्ष्मणेन समं ययौ ॥ १७ ॥
विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य पितुः पादावुपस्पृशन् । राजा च राघवौ पुत्रौ निशाम्य परिहर्षितः ॥ १८ ॥
spent that night happily, full of great joy. Then the radiant Rama went with Lakshmana, with Vishvamitra before them, and touched their father’s feet. And the king, seeing his two sons, the Raghavas, was overjoyed,
बड़े आनंद से भरे, उन्होंने वह रात सुख से बिताई। तब तेजस्वी राम लक्ष्मण के साथ, विश्वामित्र को आगे करके गए और पिता के चरण छुए। और अपने दोनों पुत्रों, राघवों को देखकर राजा अत्यंत प्रसन्न हुए,
CommentaryNot scripture That night, Rama and Lakshmana come with Vishvamitra and touch their father’s feet. The reunion Dasharatha prayed for. The boys he sent away in fear return as heroes.
Scene 2 of 2 · Janaka embraces Dasharatha, and that night Rama and Lakshmana kneel and touch their father’s feet.
उवास परमप्रीतो जनकेनाभिपूजितः । जनकोऽपि महातेजाः क्रिया धर्मेण तत्त्ववित् । यज्ञस्य च सुताभ्यां च कृत्वा रात्रिमुवास ह ॥ १९ ॥
and stayed, supremely pleased, honoured by Janaka. And the radiant Janaka, knower of truth, having performed by dharma the rites for the sacrifice and for his two daughters, spent the night.
और जनक से सम्मानित होकर परम संतोष से रहे। और सत्य के ज्ञाता तेजस्वी जनक ने धर्म से यज्ञ और अपनी दोनों पुत्रियों के लिए कर्म करके रात बिताई।
CommentaryNot scripture The king is “supremely pleased”. Janaka, meanwhile, performs the rites for the sacrifice and “for his two daughters”. Two daughters: the wedding is growing. The next sargas tell the lineages of both families before the marriage.
Scene 2 of 2 · Janaka embraces Dasharatha, and that night Rama and Lakshmana kneel and touch their father’s feet.
