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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 10: Daśaratha brings Ṛṣyaśṛṅga to Ayodhyā

Summary. Daśaratha visits Romapāda in Aṅga, asks for Ṛṣyaśṛṅga’s help with the sacrifice and brings the ṛṣi & Śāntā to Ayodhyā

Sequence

  1. Sumantra continues Sanatkumāra's prophecy: Daśaratha will ask his friend Romapāda to send Śāntā's husband to perform a sacrifice for the continuation of his line → Ṛṣyaśṛṅga will agree, and four renowned sons will be born (1.10.1–11)
  2. Sumantra advises Daśaratha to fetch Ṛṣyaśṛṅga personally (1.10.12)
  3. with Vasiṣṭha's approval, Daśaratha travels with his household and advisers across forests and rivers to Aṅga → there he sees Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, radiant like fire, beside Romapāda (1.10.13–15)
  4. the visitors exchange honors, and Romapāda explains the friendship and family connection (1.10.16–17)
  5. after seven or eight days, Daśaratha requests that Śāntā and her husband accompany him for an important undertaking → Romapāda consents, and Ṛṣyaśṛṅga agrees to go. The Kings embrace and take leave (1.10.18–23)
  6. Daśaratha sends messengers ahead to have Ayodhyā decorated → he enters amid conches and drums with Ṛṣyaśṛṅga leading the procession → the citizens rejoice at Ṛṣyaśṛṅga's arrival (1.10.23–26)
  7. Daśaratha receives him according to the prescribed rites → the palace women affectionately welcome Śāntā, and the couple stay happily in Ayodhyā. (1.10.27–29)

Verses 1.10.1–29

1.10.1

bhūya eva ca rājendra śṛṇu me vacanaṃ hitam
yathā sa devapravaraḥ kathayām āsa buddhimān

And once more, O lord of kings, hear my salutary words — how that wise, foremost of gods (Sanatkumāra) told the tale.

Words: bhūya — again, further; eva — indeed; ca — and; rājendra — O lord of kings; śṛṇu — hear; me — my; vacanaṃ — words; hitam — salutary, beneficial; yathā — how; sa — that; devapravaraḥ — the foremost of gods; kathayām āsa — told, related; buddhimān — the wise one

1.10.2

ikṣvākūṇāṃ kule jāto bhaviṣyati sudhārmikaḥ
rājā daśaratho nāmnā śrīmān satyapratiśravaḥ

“Born in the line of the Ikṣvākus there will be a most righteous king, Daśaratha by name, glorious and true to his word.

Words: ikṣvākūṇāṃ — of the Ikṣvākus; kule — in the family, line; jāto — born; bhaviṣyati — will be; sudhārmikaḥ — most righteous; rājā — a king; daśaratho — Daśaratha; nāmnā — by name; śrīmān — glorious, illustrious; satyapratiśravaḥ — true to his word

1.10.3

aṅgarājena sakhyaṃ ca tasya rājño bhaviṣyati
kanyā cāsya mahābhāgā śāntā nāma bhaviṣyati

That king will have a friendship with the king of the Aṅgas; and his daughter, greatly blessed, will be Śāntā by name.

Words: aṅgarājena — with the king of the Aṅgas; sakhyaṃ — friendship; ca — and; tasya — of that; rājño — king; bhaviṣyati — will be; kanyā — a daughter, maiden; cāsya — and his; mahābhāgā — greatly blessed, fortunate; śāntā — Śāntā; nāma — by name; bhaviṣyati — will be

1.10.4

putras tv aṅgasya rājñas tu romapāda iti śrutaḥ
taṃ sa rājā daśaratho gamiṣyati mahāyaśāḥ

The scion of the Aṅga king is known as Romapāda; to him the illustrious king Daśaratha will go.

Words: putras — the son, scion; tv — but, now; aṅgasya — of the Aṅga; rājñas — king; tu — and, indeed; romapāda — Romapāda; iti — thus, by name; śrutaḥ — known, heard of; taṃ — to him; sa — that; rājā — king; daśaratho — Daśaratha; gamiṣyati — will go; mahāyaśāḥ — of great renown

1.10.5

anapatyo 'smi dharmātmañ śāntā bhāryā mama kratum
āhareta tvayājñaptaḥ saṃtānārthaṃ kulasya ca

‘I am without offspring, O righteous one; Śāntā being his wife, let her husband, commanded by you, perform a sacrifice for me, for the continuation of my line.’

Words: anapatyo — without offspring, childless; 'smi — I am; dharmātmañ — O righteous one; śāntā — Śāntā; bhāryā — (being his) wife; mama — for me, my; kratum — a sacrifice; āhareta — let (her husband) perform; tvayājñaptaḥ — commanded by you; saṃtānārthaṃ — for the sake of continuation (of the line); kulasya — of the line, family; ca — and

1.10.6

śrutvā rājño 'tha tad vākyaṃ manasā sa vicintya ca
pradāsyate putravantaṃ śāntā bhartāram ātmavān

Then, hearing that speech of the king and pondering it in his mind, the self-possessed one (Romapāda) will bestow Śāntā's husband, who is to bring sons.

Words: śrutvā — having heard; rājño — of the king; 'tha — then; tad — that; vākyaṃ — speech; manasā — in his mind; sa — he; vicintya — having pondered; ca — and; pradāsyate — will bestow, give; putravantaṃ — who will bring sons, son-giving; śāntā — Śāntā('s); bhartāram — husband; ātmavān — the self-possessed one

1.10.7

pratigṛhya ca taṃ vipraṃ sa rājā vigatajvaraḥ
āhariṣyati taṃ yajñaṃ prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā

And having received that brahmin, that king, his anxiety gone, will perform that sacrifice with a thoroughly delighted heart.

Words: pratigṛhya — having received; ca — and; taṃ — that; vipraṃ — brahmin; sa — that; rājā — king; vigatajvaraḥ — his anxiety gone, free of fever; āhariṣyati — will perform, offer; taṃ — that; yajñaṃ — sacrifice; prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā — with a thoroughly delighted inner self

1.10.8

taṃ ca rājā daśaratho yaṣṭukāmaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ
ṛṣyaśṛṅgaṃ dvijaśreṣṭhaṃ varayiṣyati dharmavit

And that king Daśaratha, desiring to sacrifice, knowing dharma, with palms joined, will make his request of Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, the best of brahmins,

Words: taṃ — him; ca — and; rājā — king; daśaratho — Daśaratha; yaṣṭukāmaḥ — desiring to sacrifice; kṛtāñjaliḥ — with palms joined; ṛṣyaśṛṅgaṃ — Ṛṣyaśṛṅga; dvijaśreṣṭhaṃ — the best of brahmins; varayiṣyati — will entreat, choose, request; dharmavit — the knower of dharma

1.10.9

yajñārthaṃ prasavārthaṃ ca svargārthaṃ ca nareśvaraḥ
labhate ca sa taṃ kāmaṃ dvija mukhyād viśāṃ patiḥ

for the sake of the sacrifice, of progeny, and of heaven; and that lord of men, ruler of the people, obtains that wish from the chief of brahmins.

Words: yajñārthaṃ — for the sake of the sacrifice; prasavārthaṃ — for the sake of progeny; ca — and; svargārthaṃ — for the sake of heaven; ca — and; nareśvaraḥ — the lord of men; labhate — obtains; ca — and; sa — he; taṃ — that; kāmaṃ — wish, desire; dvija — brahmin; mukhyād — from the chief; viśāṃ — of the people; patiḥ — lord

1.10.10

putrāś cāsya bhaviṣyanti catvāro 'mitavikramāḥ
vaṃśapratiṣṭhānakarāḥ sarvalokeṣu viśrutāḥ

And he will have four sons of measureless valour, establishers of the line, renowned throughout all the worlds.”

Words: putrāś — sons; cāsya — and his; bhaviṣyanti — will be; catvāro — four; 'mitavikramāḥ — of measureless valour; vaṃśapratiṣṭhānakarāḥ — establishers of the line; sarvalokeṣu — throughout all the worlds; viśrutāḥ — renowned

1.10.11

evaṃ sa devapravaraḥ pūrvaṃ kathitavān kathām
sanatkumāro bhagavān purā devayuge prabhuḥ

Thus that foremost of gods, the venerable lord Sanatkumāra, told the tale of old, long ago in the age of the gods.

Words: evaṃ — thus; sa — that; devapravaraḥ — the foremost of gods; pūrvaṃ — formerly; kathitavān — told, related; kathām — the tale; sanatkumāro — Sanatkumāra; bhagavān — the venerable; purā — of old, long ago; devayuge — in the age of the gods; prabhuḥ — the lord

1.10.12

sa tvaṃ puruṣaśārdūla tam ānaya susatkṛtam
svayam eva mahārāja gatvā sabalavāhanaḥ

So you, O tiger among men, go yourself, O great king, with your army and mounts, and bring him, well honoured.

Words: sa — so, that (you); tvaṃ — you; puruṣaśārdūla — O tiger among men; tam — him; ānaya — bring; susatkṛtam — well honoured; svayam — yourself; eva — indeed; mahārāja — O great king; gatvā — having gone; sabalavāhanaḥ — with army and mounts

1.10.13

anumānya vasiṣṭhaṃ ca sūtavākyaṃ niśamya ca
sāntaḥpuraḥ sahāmātyaḥ prayayau yatra sa dvijaḥ

Having gained Vasiṣṭha's assent and heard the charioteer's words, together with his harem and counsellors he set out to where that brahmin was.

Words: anumānya — having gained the assent of, honoured; vasiṣṭhaṃ — Vasiṣṭha; ca — and; sūtavākyaṃ — the charioteer's words; niśamya — having heard; ca — and; sāntaḥpuraḥ — together with his harem; sahāmātyaḥ — together with his counsellors; prayayau — set out; yatra — where; sa — that; dvijaḥ — brahmin

1.10.14

vanāni saritaś caiva vyatikramya śanaiḥ śanaiḥ
abhicakrāma taṃ deśaṃ yatra vai munipuṃgavaḥ

Crossing forests and rivers little by little, he drew near to that region where the bull among sages dwelt.

Words: vanāni — forests; saritaś — rivers; caiva — and; vyatikramya — having crossed, passed over; śanaiḥ śanaiḥ — little by little, slowly; abhicakrāma — drew near, approached; taṃ — that; deśaṃ — region; yatra — where; vai — indeed; munipuṃgavaḥ — the bull among sages

1.10.15

āsādya taṃ dvijaśreṣṭhaṃ romapādasamīpagam
ṛṣiputraṃ dadarśādau dīpyamānam ivānalam

Reaching that best of brahmins, who was at Romapāda's side, he first beheld the seer's son, blazing like fire.

Words: āsādya — having reached; taṃ — that; dvijaśreṣṭhaṃ — best of brahmins; romapādasamīpagam — being at Romapāda's side; ṛṣiputraṃ — the seer's son; dadarśādau — beheld first; dīpyamānam — blazing; ivānalam — like fire

1.10.16

tato rājā yathānyāyaṃ pūjāṃ cakre viśeṣataḥ
sakhitvāt tasya vai rājñaḥ prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā

Then the king, with a thoroughly delighted heart, did him special honour as was fitting, on account of his friendship with that king.

Words: tato — then; rājā — the king; yathānyāyaṃ — as was fitting, according to propriety; pūjāṃ — honour; cakre — did, made; viśeṣataḥ — especially; sakhitvāt — on account of friendship; tasya — with that, of that; vai — indeed; rājñaḥ — king; prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā — with a thoroughly delighted inner self

1.10.17

romapādena cākhyātam ṛṣiputrāya dhīmate
sakhyaṃ saṃbandhakaṃ caiva tadā taṃ pratyapūjayat

And when the friendship and the kinship had been declared by Romapāda to the wise seer's son, he then honoured him (the king) in return.

Words: romapādena — by Romapāda; cākhyātam — and was declared; ṛṣiputrāya — to the seer's son; dhīmate — to the wise one; sakhyaṃ — the friendship; saṃbandhakaṃ — the kinship, connection; caiva — and; tadā — then; taṃ — him; pratyapūjayat — honoured in return

1.10.18

evaṃ susatkṛtas tena sahoṣitvā nararṣabhaḥ
saptāṣṭadivasān rājā rājānam idam abravīt

Thus well honoured by him, that bull among men, having stayed seven or eight days, the king said this to the (other) king:

Words: evaṃ — thus; susatkṛtas — well honoured; tena — by him; sahoṣitvā — having dwelt together; nararṣabhaḥ — the bull among men; saptāṣṭadivasān — seven or eight days; rājā — the king; rājānam — to the (other) king; idam — this; abravīt — said

1.10.19

śāntā tava sutā rājan saha bhartrā viśāmpate
madīyaṃ nagaraṃ yātu kāryaṃ hi mahad udyatam

“Śāntā, your daughter, O king, O lord of peoples — let her go with her husband to my city, for a great task is at hand.”

Words: śāntā — Śāntā; tava — your; sutā — daughter; rājan — O king; saha — with; bhartrā — her husband; viśāmpate — O lord of peoples; madīyaṃ — my; nagaraṃ — city; yātu — let (her) go; kāryaṃ — a task, business; hi — for, indeed; mahad — great; udyatam — is at hand, undertaken

1.10.20

tatheti rājā saṃśrutya gamanaṃ tasya dhīmataḥ
uvāca vacanaṃ vipraṃ gaccha tvaṃ saha bhāryayā

Saying “So be it,” the king consented to the departure of that wise one, and said these words to the brahmin: “Go, together with your wife.”

Words: tatheti — ‘so be it’; rājā — the king; saṃśrutya — having consented, agreed; gamanaṃ — the departure, going; tasya — of that; dhīmataḥ — wise one; uvāca — said; vacanaṃ — words; vipraṃ — to the brahmin; gaccha — go; tvaṃ — you; saha — with; bhāryayā — your wife

1.10.21

ṛṣiputraḥ pratiśrutya tathety āha nṛpaṃ tadā
sa nṛpeṇābhyanujñātaḥ prayayau saha bhāryayā

The seer's son, assenting, then said “So be it” to the king; and, given leave by the king, he set forth with his wife.

Words: ṛṣiputraḥ — the seer's son; pratiśrutya — having assented, promised; tathety — ‘so be it’; āha — said; nṛpaṃ — to the king; tadā — then; sa — he; nṛpeṇābhyanujñātaḥ — given leave by the king; prayayau — set forth; saha — with; bhāryayā — his wife

1.10.22

tāv anyonyāñjaliṃ kṛtvā snehāt saṃśliṣya corasā
nanandatur daśaratho romapādaś ca vīryavān

The two of them, saluting each other with joined palms and embracing breast to breast out of affection, rejoiced — Daśaratha and the valiant Romapāda.

Words: tāv — the two; anyonyāñjaliṃ — mutual salutation with joined palms; kṛtvā — having made; snehāt — out of affection; saṃśliṣya — having embraced; corasā — and with the breast; nanandatur — the two rejoiced; daśaratho — Daśaratha; romapādaś — Romapāda; ca — and; vīryavān — the valiant

1.10.23

tataḥ suhṛdam āpṛcchya prasthito raghunandanaḥ
paurebhyaḥ preṣayām āsa dūtān vai śīghragāminaḥ
kriyatāṃ nagaraṃ sarvaṃ kṣipram eva svalaṃkṛtam

Then, taking leave of his friend, the delight of the Raghus set out; he sent swift-going messengers to the citizens: “Let the whole city be quickly made well-adorned.”

Words: tataḥ — then; suhṛdam — his friend; āpṛcchya — having taken leave; prasthito — set out; raghunandanaḥ — the delight of the Raghus; paurebhyaḥ — to the citizens; preṣayām āsa — sent; dūtān — messengers; vai — indeed; śīghragāminaḥ — swift-going; kriyatāṃ — let it be made; nagaraṃ — the city; sarvaṃ — whole; kṣipram — quickly; eva — indeed; svalaṃkṛtam — well-adorned

1.10.24

tataḥ prahṛṣṭāḥ paurās te śrutvā rājānam āgatam
tathā pracakrus tat sarvaṃ rājñā yat preṣitaṃ tadā

Then those citizens, delighted, hearing that the king had come, did all that just as the king had then ordered.

Words: tataḥ — then; prahṛṣṭāḥ — delighted; paurās — the citizens; te — those; śrutvā — having heard; rājānam — the king; āgatam — had come; tathā — thus, accordingly; pracakrus — did, carried out; tat — that; sarvaṃ — all; rājñā — by the king; yat — which; preṣitaṃ — was ordered, sent; tadā — then

1.10.25

tataḥ svalaṃkṛtaṃ rājā nagaraṃ praviveśa ha
śaṅkhadundubhinirghoṣaiḥ puraskṛtya dvijarṣabham

Then the king entered the well-adorned city amid the blare of conches and kettledrums, placing the bull among brahmins at the fore.

Words: tataḥ — then; svalaṃkṛtaṃ — well-adorned; rājā — the king; nagaraṃ — the city; praviveśa — entered; ha — indeed; śaṅkhadundubhinirghoṣaiḥ — amid the blare of conches and kettledrums; puraskṛtya — having placed at the fore; dvijarṣabham — the bull among brahmins

1.10.26

tataḥ pramuditāḥ sarve dṛṣṭvā vai nāgarā dvijam
praveśyamānaṃ satkṛtya narendreṇendrakarmaṇā

Then all the citizens were delighted to see the brahmin being ushered in with honour by the king, whose deeds were like Indra's.

Words: tataḥ — then; pramuditāḥ — delighted; sarve — all; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; vai — indeed; nāgarā — the citizens; dvijam — the brahmin; praveśyamānaṃ — being ushered in; satkṛtya — having honoured; narendreṇendrakarmaṇā — by the king of Indra-like deeds

1.10.27

antaḥpuraṃ praveśyainaṃ pūjāṃ kṛtvā tu śāstrataḥ
kṛtakṛtyaṃ tadātmānaṃ mene tasyopavāhanāt

Having ushered him into the inner apartments and done him honour according to scripture, the king deemed himself to have accomplished his purpose by bringing him.

Words: antaḥpuraṃ — the inner apartments; praveśyainaṃ — having ushered him in; pūjāṃ — honour; kṛtvā — having done; tu — and; śāstrataḥ — according to scripture; kṛtakṛtyaṃ — having accomplished his purpose; tadātmānaṃ — then himself; mene — considered, deemed; tasyopavāhanāt — by bringing him

1.10.28

antaḥpurāṇi sarvāṇi śāntāṃ dṛṣṭvā tathāgatām
saha bhartrā viśālākṣīṃ prītyānandam upāgaman

All the women of the inner apartments, seeing the large-eyed Śāntā thus arrived with her husband, came to joy with affection.

Words: antaḥpurāṇi — the (women of the) inner apartments; sarvāṇi — all; śāntāṃ — Śāntā; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; tathāgatām — thus arrived; saha — with; bhartrā — her husband; viśālākṣīṃ — large-eyed; prītyānandam — joy with affection; upāgaman — came to, attained

1.10.29

pūjyamānā ca tābhiḥ sā rājñā caiva viśeṣataḥ
uvāsa tatra sukhitā kaṃ cit kālaṃ saha dvijā

And, being honoured by them and especially by the king, she dwelt there happily for some time, together with her brahmin husband.

Words: pūjyamānā — being honoured; ca — and; tābhiḥ — by them (the women); sā — she; rājñā — by the king; caiva — and; viśeṣataḥ — especially; uvāsa — dwelt; tatra — there; sukhitā — happy; kaṃ cit — some; kālaṃ — time; saha — together with; dvijā — the brahmin (her husband)

← 1.9 Story of Ṛṣyaśṛṅga: Courtesans, rain and marriage · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.11 Aśvamedha yajña: Release of the horse and preparations →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki, the ādikavi of the ādikāvya: the first poet of the first poem. Sanskrit: The Vālmīki-Rāmāyaṇa: Critical Edition, Oriental Institute, Baroda, 1960–1975 (gen. eds. G. H. Bhatt, U. P. Shah); IAST from GRETIL (Göttingen). Translation and word glosses: Claude Opus 4.6–4.7; summaries and sequences: ChatGPT Astra (machine-made). Numbering follows the Critical Edition, not the vulgate (e.g. Gita Press, valmikiramayan.net), so sarga and verse numbers can differ from those editions.

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