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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 14: Putrakāmeṣṭi and Viṣṇu’s promised human birth

Summary. Ṛṣyaśṛṅga begins the putrīyā iṣṭi, the Devas ask Viṣṇu to take human birth because Rāvaṇa’s protection excludes humans

Sequence

  1. Ṛṣyaśṛṅga considers the request and announces the putrīyā iṣṭi (rite for sons, conventionally called putrakāmeṣṭi), using the prescribed Atharvaśiras mantras → he begins making offerings into the fire (1.14.1–3)
  2. the Devas, gandharvas, siddhas, and paramarṣis assemble to receive their shares (1.14.4)
  3. the Devas tell Brahmā that Rāvaṇa's boon prevents them from punishing him, although he terrorizes the worlds, obstructs holy people, and threatens Indra → even the sun, wind, and ocean refrain from troubling him (1.14.5–11)
  4. Brahmā recalls that Rāvaṇa asked protection from gandharvas, yakṣas, Devas, dānavas, and rākṣasas, but omitted humans out of contempt → a human can therefore kill him, and the assembly rejoices (1.14.12–15)
  5. Viṣṇu arrives → the Suras ask him to divide himself fourfold and become sons through Daśaratha's three wives → in human form he must kill Rāvaṇa and free the worlds and tapasvins from fear. (1.14.16–21)

Verses 1.14.1–21

1.14.1

medhāvī tu tato dhyātvā sa kiṃ cid idam uttamam
labdhasaṃjñas tatas taṃ tu vedajño nṛpam abravīt

Then the wise one, having reflected somewhat on this excellent matter and collected his thoughts, that knower of the Veda said to the king:

Words: medhāvī — the wise, intelligent one; tu — and; tato — then; dhyātvā — having reflected, meditated; sa — he; kiṃ cid — somewhat, a little; idam — this; uttamam — excellent (matter); labdhasaṃjñas — having collected his thoughts, regained awareness; tatas — then; taṃ — that; tu — and; vedajño — the knower of the Veda; nṛpam — to the king; abravīt — said

1.14.2

iṣṭiṃ te 'haṃ kariṣyāmi putrīyāṃ putrakāraṇāt
atharvaśirasi proktair mantraiḥ siddhāṃ vidhānataḥ

“I shall perform for you the son-producing iṣṭi, for the sake of a son — effected with the mantras declared in the Atharvaśiras, according to rule.”

Words: iṣṭiṃ — the iṣṭi (sacrificial offering); te — for you; 'haṃ — I; kariṣyāmi — I shall perform; putrīyāṃ — son-producing; putrakāraṇāt — for the sake of a son; atharvaśirasi — in the Atharvaśiras (text); proktair — declared; mantraiḥ — with mantras; siddhāṃ — effected, accomplished; vidhānataḥ — according to rule

1.14.3

tataḥ prākramad iṣṭiṃ tāṃ putrīyāṃ putra kāraṇāt
juhāva cāgnau tejasvī mantradṛṣṭena karmaṇā

Then he began that son-producing iṣṭi for the sake of a son, and the radiant one made offerings into the fire with a rite prescribed by the mantras.

Words: tataḥ — then; prākramad — began; iṣṭiṃ — the iṣṭi; tāṃ — that; putrīyāṃ — son-producing; putra — son; kāraṇāt — for the sake of; juhāva — offered (into fire); cāgnau — and into the fire; tejasvī — the radiant one; mantradṛṣṭena — prescribed by the mantras; karmaṇā — with a rite

1.14.4

tato devāḥ sagandharvāḥ siddhāś ca paramarṣayaḥ
bhāgapratigrahārthaṃ vai samavetā yathāvidhi

Then the gods with the gandharvas, and the siddhas and the supreme seers, assembled duly to receive their shares.

Words: tato — then; devāḥ — the gods; sagandharvāḥ — with the gandharvas; siddhāś — the siddhas; ca — and; paramarṣayaḥ — the supreme seers; bhāgapratigrahārthaṃ — to receive their shares; vai — indeed; samavetā — assembled; yathāvidhi — duly

1.14.5

tāḥ sametya yathānyāyaṃ tasmin sadasi devatāḥ
abruvaṃl lokakartāraṃ brahmāṇaṃ vacanaṃ mahat

Those deities, having gathered in due order in that assembly, spoke a weighty word to the maker of the worlds, Brahmā:

Words: tāḥ — those; sametya — having gathered; yathānyāyaṃ — in due order; tasmin — that; sadasi — in the assembly; devatāḥ — the deities; abruvaṃl — spoke; lokakartāraṃ — to the maker of the worlds; brahmāṇaṃ — Brahmā; vacanaṃ — word; mahat — weighty, great

1.14.6

bhagavaṃs tvatprasādena rāvaṇo nāma rākṣasaḥ
sarvānno bādhate vīryāc chāsituṃ taṃ na śaknumaḥ

“Venerable one, by your grace a rākṣasa named Rāvaṇa oppresses us all with his might; we are not able to chastise him.

Words: bhagavaṃs — O venerable one; tvatprasādena — by your grace; rāvaṇo — Rāvaṇa; nāma — by name; rākṣasaḥ — a rākṣasa; sarvānno — all of us; bādhate — oppresses, harasses; vīryāc — through his might; chāsituṃ — to chastise; taṃ — him; na — not; śaknumaḥ — we are able

1.14.7

tvayā tasmai varo dattaḥ prītena bhagavan purā
mānayantaś ca taṃ nityaṃ sarvaṃ tasya kṣamāmahe

A boon was given to him by you, well pleased, of old, O venerable one; and ever honouring it, we endure everything of his.

Words: tvayā — by you; tasmai — to him; varo — a boon; dattaḥ — given; prītena — (by you) pleased; bhagavan — O venerable one; purā — of old; mānayantaś — honouring, respecting; ca — and; taṃ — it (the boon); nityaṃ — ever, always; sarvaṃ — everything; tasya — of his; kṣamāmahe — we endure, tolerate

1.14.8

udvejayati lokāṃs trīn ucchritān dveṣṭi durmatiḥ
śakraṃ tridaśarājānaṃ pradharṣayitum icchati

The evil-minded one torments the three worlds and hates the eminent; he wishes to assail Śakra, the king of the gods.

Words: udvejayati — torments, distresses; lokāṃs — the worlds; trīn — three; ucchritān — the eminent, exalted; dveṣṭi — hates; durmatiḥ — the evil-minded one; śakraṃ — Śakra (Indra); tridaśarājānaṃ — the king of the gods; pradharṣayitum — to assail, overpower; icchati — wishes

1.14.9

ṛṣīn yakṣān sagandharvān asurān brāhmaṇāṃs tathā
atikrāmati durdharṣo varadānena mohitaḥ

Deluded by the granting of the boon, that unassailable one transgresses against seers, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, and brahmins alike.

Words: ṛṣīn — seers; yakṣān — yakṣas; sagandharvān — with the gandharvas; asurān — asuras; brāhmaṇāṃs — brahmins; tathā — likewise; atikrāmati — transgresses, tramples upon; durdharṣo — the unassailable one; varadānena — by the granting of the boon; mohitaḥ — deluded, bewildered

1.14.10

nainaṃ sūryaḥ pratapati pārśve vāti na mārutaḥ
calormimālī taṃ dṛṣṭvā samudro 'pi na kampate

The sun does not scorch him, the wind does not blow at his side; and the ocean, garlanded with restless waves, does not even ripple upon seeing him.

Words: nainaṃ — not him; sūryaḥ — the sun; pratapati — scorches, shines upon; pārśve — at his side; vāti — blows; na — not; mārutaḥ — the wind; calormimālī — garlanded with restless waves; taṃ — him; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; samudro — the ocean; 'pi — even; na — not; kampate — trembles, stirs

1.14.11

tan manan no bhayaṃ tasmād rākṣasād ghoradarśanāt
vadhārthaṃ tasya bhagavann upāyaṃ kartum arhasi

There is great fear for us from that rākṣasa of dreadful aspect; O venerable one, you should devise a means for his slaying.”

Words: tan — that; manan — great (reading uncertain; likely for mahat); no — for us; bhayaṃ — fear; tasmād — from that; rākṣasād — rākṣasa; ghoradarśanāt — of dreadful aspect; vadhārthaṃ — for the sake of slaying; tasya — of him; bhagavann — O venerable one; upāyaṃ — a means, expedient; kartum — to devise, make; arhasi — you should

1.14.12

evam uktaḥ suraiḥ sarvaiś cintayitvā tato 'bravīt
hantāyaṃ vihitas tasya vadhopāyo durātmanaḥ

Thus addressed by all the gods, having pondered, he then said: “Aha, here is devised the means of slaying that evil-souled one.

Words: evam — thus; uktaḥ — addressed; suraiḥ — by the gods; sarvaiś — all; cintayitvā — having pondered; tato — then; 'bravīt — said; hantāyaṃ — ‘aha, this’; vihitas — devised, arranged; tasya — of that; vadhopāyo — the means of slaying; durātmanaḥ — of the evil-souled one

1.14.13

tena gandharvayakṣāṇāṃ devadānavarakṣasām
avadhyo 'smīti vāg uktā tathety uktaṃ ca tan mayā

By him the words were spoken: ‘I am unslayable by gandharvas and yakṣas, by gods, dānavas, and rākṣasas’; and ‘So be it’ was said by me to that.

Words: tena — by him; gandharvayakṣāṇāṃ — of gandharvas and yakṣas; devadānavarakṣasām — of gods, dānavas, and rākṣasas; avadhyo — unslayable; 'smīti — ‘I am’; vāg — the word, speech; uktā — was spoken; tathety — ‘so be it’; uktaṃ — was said; ca — and; tan — that; mayā — by me

1.14.14

nākīrtayad avajñānāt tad rakṣo mānuṣāṃs tadā
tasmāt sa mānuṣād vadhyo mṛtur nānyo 'sya vidyate

Out of contempt that rākṣasa did not then mention human beings; therefore he is slayable by a human — no other death exists for him.

Words: nākīrtayad — did not mention; avajñānāt — out of contempt; tad — that; rakṣo — rākṣasa; mānuṣāṃs — human beings; tadā — then; tasmāt — therefore; sa — he; mānuṣād — by a human; vadhyo — slayable; mṛtur — death; nānyo — no other; 'sya — of his; vidyate — exists, is found

1.14.15

etac chrutvā priyaṃ vākyaṃ brahmaṇā samudāhṛtam
devā maharṣayaḥ sarve prahṛṣṭās te 'bhavaṃs tadā

Hearing this welcome speech uttered by Brahmā, the gods and all the great seers then became delighted.

Words: etac — this; chrutvā — having heard; priyaṃ — welcome, dear; vākyaṃ — speech; brahmaṇā — by Brahmā; samudāhṛtam — uttered, declared; devā — the gods; maharṣayaḥ — the great seers; sarve — all; prahṛṣṭās — delighted; te — they; 'bhavaṃs — became; tadā — then

1.14.16

etasminn antare viṣṇur upayāto mahādyutiḥ
brahmaṇā ca samāgamya tatra tasthau samāhitaḥ

At this juncture Viṣṇu of great splendour arrived; and having met with Brahmā, he stood there composed.

Words: etasminn — at this; antare — juncture, interval; viṣṇur — Viṣṇu; upayāto — arrived; mahādyutiḥ — of great splendour; brahmaṇā — with Brahmā; ca — and; samāgamya — having met; tatra — there; tasthau — stood; samāhitaḥ — composed, attentive

1.14.17

tam abruvan surāḥ sarve samabhiṣṭūya saṃnatāḥ
tvāṃ niyokṣyāmahe viṣṇo lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā

All the gods, bowing low, praised him and said: “We shall appoint you to a task, O Viṣṇu, out of desire for the good of the worlds.

Words: tam — him; abruvan — said; surāḥ — the gods; sarve — all; samabhiṣṭūya — having praised; saṃnatāḥ — bowing low, humble; tvāṃ — you; niyokṣyāmahe — we shall appoint, engage; viṣṇo — O Viṣṇu; lokānāṃ — of the worlds; hitakāmyayā — out of desire for the good

1.14.18

rājño daśarathasya tvam ayodhyādhipater vibho
dharmajñasya vadānyasya maharṣisamatejasaḥ
tasya bhāryāsu tisṛṣu hrīśrīkīrtyupamāsu ca
viṣṇo putratvam āgaccha kṛtvātmānaṃ caturvidham

O mighty one, become the son of King Daśaratha, lord of Ayodhyā — righteous, munificent, of splendour equal to the great seers — in his three wives, who are like Modesty, Prosperity, and Fame; O Viṣṇu, enter into sonship, making yourself fourfold.

Words: rājño — of King; daśarathasya — Daśaratha; tvam — you; ayodhyādhipater — of the lord of Ayodhyā; vibho — O mighty one; dharmajñasya — of the knower of dharma; vadānyasya — of the munificent one; maharṣisamatejasaḥ — of splendour equal to the great seers; tasya — his; bhāryāsu — in the wives; tisṛṣu — three; hrīśrīkīrtyupamāsu — like Modesty, Prosperity, and Fame; ca — and; viṣṇo — O Viṣṇu; putratvam — sonship, the state of being a son; āgaccha — come to, enter into; kṛtvātmānaṃ — having made yourself; caturvidham — fourfold

1.14.19

tatra tvaṃ mānuṣo bhūtvā pravṛddhaṃ lokakaṇṭakam
avadhyaṃ daivatair viṣṇo samare jahi rāvaṇam

There, having become a man, O Viṣṇu, slay in battle Rāvaṇa, that flourishing thorn to the world, unslayable by the gods.

Words: tatra — there; tvaṃ — you; mānuṣo — a man; bhūtvā — having become; pravṛddhaṃ — flourishing, grown mighty; lokakaṇṭakam — thorn to the world; avadhyaṃ — unslayable; daivatair — by the gods; viṣṇo — O Viṣṇu; samare — in battle; jahi — slay; rāvaṇam — Rāvaṇa

1.14.20

sa hi devān sagandharvān siddhāṃś ca ṛṣisattamān
rākṣaso rāvaṇo mūrkho vīryotsekena bādhate

For that foolish rākṣasa Rāvaṇa harasses the gods, the gandharvas, the siddhas, and the best of seers, through the excess of his might.

Words: sa — he; hi — for; devān — the gods; sagandharvān — with the gandharvas; siddhāṃś — the siddhas; ca — and; ṛṣisattamān — the best of seers; rākṣaso — the rākṣasa; rāvaṇo — Rāvaṇa; mūrkho — the fool; vīryotsekena — through the excess of his might; bādhate — harasses, oppresses

1.14.21

tad uddhataṃ rāvaṇam ṛddhatejasaṃ pravṛddhadarpaṃ tridaśeśvaradviṣam
virāvaṇaṃ sādhu tapasvikaṇṭakaṃ tapasvinām uddhara taṃ bhayāvaham

So uproot that arrogant Rāvaṇa of swollen might, of overweening pride, foe of the lord of the gods — the tormentor, verily a thorn to ascetics; deliver the ascetics from that bringer of terror.

Words: tad — so, therefore; uddhataṃ — arrogant, haughty; rāvaṇam — Rāvaṇa; ṛddhatejasaṃ — of swollen might; pravṛddhadarpaṃ — of overweening pride; tridaśeśvaradviṣam — foe of the lord of the gods; virāvaṇaṃ — the tormentor (who makes cry out); sādhu — verily, well; tapasvikaṇṭakaṃ — a thorn to ascetics; tapasvinām — of the ascetics; uddhara — deliver, uproot; taṃ — that; bhayāvaham — bringer of terror

← 1.13 Aśvamedha yajña: The horse’s return and completion of the rites · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.15 Daśaratha receives and divides the divine pāyasa →

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.

Plain text: /text/1/14.md · JSON: /data/1/14.json