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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 15: Daśaratha receives and divides the divine pāyasa

Summary. Viṣṇu chooses Daśaratha as his father, a being emerges from the fire with divine pāyasa and the King distributes it among his wives

Sequence

  1. Viṣṇu asks how Rāvaṇa can be killed, although he already knows → the Suras explain again that Rāvaṇa's contempt for humans left them outside his protection → Viṣṇu chooses Daśaratha as his father (1.15.1–7)
  2. at Daśaratha's ongoing putrīyā iṣṭi, a mighty being emerges from the fire: dark-bodied, red-clad, radiant like the sun and flame, with a voice like a drum (1.15.8–12)
  3. he carries a large golden vessel with silver edging, filled with divine pāyasa, and identifies himself as a messenger of Prajāpati (1.15.12–14)
  4. Daśaratha welcomes him → the messenger tells him to give this divinely prepared, offspring-producing food to his wives (1.15.15–18)
  5. the delighted King receives the vessel on his head, bows, and circles the messenger reverently → the messenger vanishes after completing his task. Daśaratha enters the joyful inner apartments and offers the pāyasa to Kausalyā (1.15.19–24)
  6. he gives Kausalyā half of the whole (1/2) → he gives Sumitrā half of the remaining half (1/4) (1.15.25)
  7. he halves the remaining quarter, giving Kaikeyī one eighth (1/8) → after reflection, he gives the last eighth to Sumitrā, bringing her total to three eighths (1/4 + 1/8 = 3/8) → the three Queens receive their shares with joy and a sense of being honored. (1.15.26–28)

Verses 1.15.1–28

1.15.1

tato nārāyaṇo viṣṇur niyuktaḥ surasattamaiḥ
jānann api surān evaṃ ślakṣṇaṃ vacanam abravīt

Then Nārāyaṇa Viṣṇu, appointed by the best of the gods, though he already knew, thus spoke gentle words to the gods:

Words: tato — then; nārāyaṇo — Nārāyaṇa; viṣṇur — Viṣṇu; niyuktaḥ — appointed, engaged; surasattamaiḥ — by the best of the gods; jānann — knowing; api — although, even; surān — to the gods; evaṃ — thus; ślakṣṇaṃ — gentle, smooth; vacanam — word, speech; abravīt — spoke

1.15.2

upāyaḥ ko vadhe tasya rākṣasādhipateḥ surāḥ
yam ahaṃ taṃ samāsthāya nihanyām ṛṣikaṇṭakam

“What is the means for the slaying of that lord of rākṣasas, O gods — resorting to which I might slay that thorn to the seers?”

Words: upāyaḥ — means, expedient; ko — what; vadhe — in the slaying; tasya — of him; rākṣasādhipateḥ — of the lord of rākṣasas; surāḥ — O gods; yam — which; ahaṃ — I; taṃ — that; samāsthāya — having resorted to, adopted; nihanyām — I might slay; ṛṣikaṇṭakam — thorn to the seers

1.15.3

evam uktāḥ surāḥ sarve pratyūcur viṣṇum avyayam
mānuṣīṃ tanum āsthāya rāvaṇaṃ jahi saṃyuge

Addressed thus, all the gods replied to the imperishable Viṣṇu: “Taking on a human body, slay Rāvaṇa in battle.

Words: evam — thus; uktāḥ — addressed; surāḥ — the gods; sarve — all; pratyūcur — replied; viṣṇum — to Viṣṇu; avyayam — the imperishable; mānuṣīṃ — human; tanum — body; āsthāya — having taken on, assumed; rāvaṇaṃ — Rāvaṇa; jahi — slay; saṃyuge — in battle

1.15.4

sa hi tepe tapas tīvraṃ dīrghakālam ariṃdama
yena tuṣṭo 'bhavad brahmā lokakṛl lokapūjitaḥ

For he practised fierce austerity for a long time, O tamer of foes, by which Brahmā, maker of the worlds and honoured by the worlds, became pleased.

Words: sa — he; hi — for; tepe — practised, performed (austerity); tapas — austerity; tīvraṃ — fierce, severe; dīrghakālam — for a long time; ariṃdama — O tamer of foes; yena — by which; tuṣṭo — pleased; 'bhavad — became; brahmā — Brahmā; lokakṛl — maker of the worlds; lokapūjitaḥ — honoured by the worlds

1.15.5

saṃtuṣṭaḥ pradadau tasmai rākṣasāya varaṃ prabhuḥ
nānāvidhebhyo bhūtebhyo bhayaṃ nānyatra mānuṣāt

Well pleased, the lord granted that rākṣasa a boon: (safety) from beings of every kind — danger from nowhere save from a human.

Words: saṃtuṣṭaḥ — well pleased; pradadau — granted, gave; tasmai — to him; rākṣasāya — to the rākṣasa; varaṃ — a boon; prabhuḥ — the lord; nānāvidhebhyo — from various kinds; bhūtebhyo — from beings; bhayaṃ — fear, danger; nānyatra — nowhere else; mānuṣāt — than from a human

1.15.6

avajñātāḥ purā tena varadānena mānavāḥ
tasmāt tasya vadho dṛṣṭo mānuṣebhyaḥ paraṃtapa

Long ago, at the granting of that boon, humans were slighted by him; therefore his death is foreseen at the hands of humans, O scorcher of foes.

Words: avajñātāḥ — slighted, disregarded; purā — long ago, formerly; tena — by him; varadānena — by the granting of the boon; mānavāḥ — humans; tasmāt — therefore; tasya — of him; vadho — slaying, death; dṛṣṭo — foreseen, is seen; mānuṣebhyaḥ — at the hands of humans; paraṃtapa — O scorcher of foes

1.15.7

ity etad vacanaṃ śrutvā surāṇāṃ viṣṇur ātmavān
pitaraṃ rocayām āsa tadā daśarathaṃ nṛpam

Having heard this speech of the gods, the self-possessed Viṣṇu then chose King Daśaratha for his father.

Words: ity — thus; etad — this; vacanaṃ — speech, word; śrutvā — having heard; surāṇāṃ — of the gods; viṣṇur — Viṣṇu; ātmavān — the self-possessed one; pitaraṃ — as father; rocayām āsa — chose, took a liking to; tadā — then; daśarathaṃ — Daśaratha; nṛpam — the king

1.15.8

sa cāpy aputro nṛpatis tasmin kāle mahādyutiḥ
ayajat putriyām iṣṭiṃ putrepsur arisūdanaḥ

And at that time that sonless king of great splendour, that slayer of foes, desiring a son, performed the son-producing iṣṭi.

Words: sa — he; cāpy — and also; aputro — sonless; nṛpatis — the king; tasmin — that; kāle — at the time; mahādyutiḥ — of great splendour; ayajat — sacrificed, performed; putriyām — son-producing; iṣṭiṃ — the iṣṭi (offering); putrepsur — desiring a son; arisūdanaḥ — slayer of foes

1.15.9

tato vai yajamānasya pāvakād atulaprabham
prādurbhūtaṃ mahad bhūtaṃ mahāvīryaṃ mahābalam

Then indeed, as he was sacrificing, there appeared from the fire a great being of incomparable radiance, of great valour and great strength —

Words: tato — then; vai — indeed; yajamānasya — of him sacrificing; pāvakād — from the fire; atulaprabham — of incomparable radiance; prādurbhūtaṃ — appeared, arose; mahad — great; bhūtaṃ — being; mahāvīryaṃ — of great valour; mahābalam — of great strength

1.15.10

kṛṣṇaṃ raktāmbaradharaṃ raktāsyaṃ dundubhisvanam
snigdhaharyakṣatanujaśmaśrupravaramūrdhajam

black, clad in red garments, red-faced, with a voice like a kettledrum, its body-hair, beard, and fine head-hair glossy as a lion’s (mane),

Words: kṛṣṇaṃ — black; raktāmbaradharaṃ — wearing red garments; raktāsyaṃ — red-faced; dundubhisvanam — with a voice like a kettledrum; snigdhaharyakṣatanujaśmaśrupravaramūrdhajam — whose body-hair, beard and fine head-hair were glossy as a lion’s

1.15.11

śubhalakṣaṇasaṃpannaṃ divyābharaṇabhūṣitam
śailaśṛṅgasamutsedhaṃ dṛptaśārdūlavikramam

endowed with auspicious marks, adorned with divine ornaments, towering high as a mountain peak, with the stride of a proud tiger,

Words: śubhalakṣaṇasaṃpannaṃ — endowed with auspicious marks; divyābharaṇabhūṣitam — adorned with divine ornaments; śailaśṛṅgasamutsedhaṃ — towering high as a mountain peak; dṛptaśārdūlavikramam — with the stride of a proud tiger

1.15.12

divākarasamākāraṃ dīptānalaśikhopamam
taptajāmbūnadamayīṃ rājatāntaparicchadām

in appearance like the sun, resembling the flame of a blazing fire, (holding a vessel) made of refined gold with silver-lined edges,

Words: divākarasamākāraṃ — like the sun in appearance; dīptānalaśikhopamam — resembling the flame of a blazing fire; taptajāmbūnadamayīṃ — made of refined gold; rājatāntaparicchadām — with silver edging / covering

1.15.13

divyapāyasasaṃpūrṇāṃ pātrīṃ patnīm iva priyām
pragṛhya vipulāṃ dorbhyāṃ svayaṃ māyāmayīm iva

holding in both his arms a large vessel filled with divine pāyasa, dear to him as a wife, as though it were fashioned of pure magic,

Words: divyapāyasasaṃpūrṇāṃ — filled with divine pāyasa (milk-rice); pātrīṃ — a vessel, dish; patnīm — a wife; iva — like, as; priyām — dear; pragṛhya — having taken up, grasped; vipulāṃ — large, ample; dorbhyāṃ — with both arms; svayaṃ — itself, in itself; māyāmayīm — made of magic; iva — as if

1.15.14

samavekṣyābravīd vākyam idaṃ daśarathaṃ nṛpam
prājāpatyaṃ naraṃ viddhi mām ihābhyāgataṃ nṛpa

Gazing upon him, he spoke this word to King Daśaratha: “Know me, O king, as a man of Prajāpati, come here.

Words: samavekṣyābravīd — having gazed, he spoke; vākyam — word, speech; idaṃ — this; daśarathaṃ — to Daśaratha; nṛpam — the king; prājāpatyaṃ — belonging to Prajāpati; naraṃ — man; viddhi — know; mām — me; ihābhyāgataṃ — come here; nṛpa — O king

1.15.15

tataḥ paraṃ tadā rājā pratyuvāca kṛtāñjaliḥ
bhagavan svāgataṃ te 'stu kim ahaṃ karavāṇi te

Thereupon the king, with palms joined, replied: “Venerable one, welcome to you! What may I do for you?”

Words: tataḥ — then; paraṃ — thereafter; tadā — then; rājā — the king; pratyuvāca — replied; kṛtāñjaliḥ — with palms joined; bhagavan — O venerable one; svāgataṃ — welcome; te — to you; 'stu — let it be; kim — what; ahaṃ — I; karavāṇi — may I do; te — for you

1.15.16

atho punar idaṃ vākyaṃ prājāpatyo naro 'bravīt
rājann arcayatā devān adya prāptam idaṃ tvayā

Then again the man of Prajāpati spoke this word: “O king, by you who worship the gods, this has now been obtained.

Words: atho — then, thereupon; punar — again; idaṃ — this; vākyaṃ — word; prājāpatyo — of Prajāpati; naro — the man; 'bravīt — spoke; rājann — O king; arcayatā — by (you) worshipping; devān — the gods; adya — today, now; prāptam — obtained; idaṃ — this; tvayā — by you

1.15.17

idaṃ tu naraśārdūla pāyasaṃ devanirmitam
prajākaraṃ gṛhāṇa tvaṃ dhanyam ārogyavardhanam

Take this pāyasa, O tiger among men, fashioned by the gods, offspring-producing, blessed, and health-increasing.

Words: idaṃ — this; tu — indeed; naraśārdūla — O tiger among men; pāyasaṃ — pāyasa (milk-rice); devanirmitam — fashioned by the gods; prajākaraṃ — offspring-producing; gṛhāṇa — take, receive; tvaṃ — you; dhanyam — blessed, fortunate; ārogyavardhanam — health-increasing

1.15.18

bhāryāṇām anurūpāṇām aśnīteti prayaccha vai
tāsu tvaṃ lapsyase putrān yadarthaṃ yajase nṛpa

Give it to your suitable wives, saying ‘Eat’; in them you will gain the sons for whose sake you sacrifice, O king.”

Words: bhāryāṇām — to the wives; anurūpāṇām — suitable, fitting; aśnīteti — ‘eat,’ thus; prayaccha — give, bestow; vai — indeed; tāsu — in them; tvaṃ — you; lapsyase — will obtain; putrān — sons; yadarthaṃ — for whose sake; yajase — you sacrifice; nṛpa — O king

1.15.19

tatheti nṛpatiḥ prītaḥ śirasā pratigṛhyatām
pātrīṃ devānnasaṃpūrṇāṃ devadattāṃ hiraṇmayīm

“So be it,” said the delighted king, and he received upon his head the golden vessel, filled with the food of the gods and given by the god.

Words: tatheti — ‘so be it’; nṛpatiḥ — the king; prītaḥ — delighted; śirasā — with the head; pratigṛhyatām — received (lit. let it be received); pātrīṃ — the vessel; devānnasaṃpūrṇāṃ — filled with the food of the gods; devadattāṃ — given by the god; hiraṇmayīm — golden

1.15.20

abhivādya ca tad bhūtam adbhutaṃ priyadarśanam
mudā paramayā yuktaś cakārābhipradakṣiṇam

And having saluted that wondrous being of pleasing aspect, filled with the greatest joy, he made a circumambulation of it.

Words: abhivādya — having saluted; ca — and; tad — that; bhūtam — being; adbhutaṃ — wondrous; priyadarśanam — of pleasing aspect; mudā — with joy; paramayā — the greatest; yuktaś — filled with, joined; cakārābhipradakṣiṇam — made a circumambulation

1.15.21

tato daśarathaḥ prāpya pāyasaṃ devanirmitam
babhūva paramaprītaḥ prāpya vittam ivādhanaḥ

Then Daśaratha, having obtained the god-made pāyasa, became supremely delighted, like a poor man obtaining wealth.

Words: tato — then; daśarathaḥ — Daśaratha; prāpya — having obtained; pāyasaṃ — the pāyasa; devanirmitam — fashioned by the gods; babhūva — became; paramaprītaḥ — supremely delighted; prāpya — having obtained; vittam — wealth; ivādhanaḥ — like a poor man

1.15.22

tatas tad adbhutaprakhyaṃ bhūtaṃ paramabhāsvaram
saṃvartayitvā tat karma tatraivāntaradhīyata

Then that being of wondrous aspect, supremely resplendent, having accomplished that task, vanished right there.

Words: tatas — then; tad — that; adbhutaprakhyaṃ — of wondrous aspect; bhūtaṃ — being; paramabhāsvaram — supremely resplendent; saṃvartayitvā — having accomplished, completed; tat — that; karma — task, deed; tatraivāntaradhīyata — vanished right there

1.15.23

harṣaraśmibhir udyotaṃ tasyāntaḥpuram ābabhau
śāradasyābhirāmasya candrasyeva nabho'ṃśubhiḥ

His inner apartments, lit up with rays of joy, shone as the sky shines with the beams of the lovely autumn moon.

Words: harṣaraśmibhir — with rays of joy; udyotaṃ — lit up, illumined; tasyāntaḥpuram — his inner apartments; ābabhau — shone; śāradasyābhirāmasya — of the lovely autumn (moon); candrasyeva — as of the moon; nabho'ṃśubhiḥ — the sky, with the beams

1.15.24

so 'ntaḥpuraṃ praviśyaiva kausalyām idam abravīt
pāyasaṃ pratigṛhṇīṣva putrīyaṃ tv idam ātmanaḥ

Entering the inner apartments, he said this to Kausalyā: “Receive this son-producing pāyasa, for yourself.”

Words: so — he; 'ntaḥpuraṃ — the inner apartments; praviśyaiva — having just entered; kausalyām — to Kausalyā; idam — this; abravīt — said; pāyasaṃ — the pāyasa; pratigṛhṇīṣva — receive, accept; putrīyaṃ — son-producing; tv — indeed; idam — this; ātmanaḥ — for yourself

1.15.25

kausalyāyai narapatiḥ pāyasārdhaṃ dadau tadā
ardhād ardhaṃ dadau cāpi sumitrāyai narādhipaḥ

The king then gave half the pāyasa to Kausalyā; and the king gave half of that (remaining) half to Sumitrā.

Words: kausalyāyai — to Kausalyā; narapatiḥ — the king; pāyasārdhaṃ — half the pāyasa; dadau — gave; tadā — then; ardhād — of the half; ardhaṃ — half; dadau — gave; cāpi — and also; sumitrāyai — to Sumitrā; narādhipaḥ — the king

1.15.26

kaikeyyai cāvaśiṣṭārdhaṃ dadau putrārthakāraṇāt
pradadau cāvaśiṣṭārdhaṃ pāyasasyāmṛtopamam

And he gave the remaining half to Kaikeyī, for the sake of a son; and he gave once more the remaining half of the pāyasa, which was like nectar —

Words: kaikeyyai — to Kaikeyī; cāvaśiṣṭārdhaṃ — and the remaining half; dadau — gave; putrārthakāraṇāt — for the sake of a son; pradadau — gave; cāvaśiṣṭārdhaṃ — and the remaining half; pāyasasyāmṛtopamam — of the pāyasa, like nectar

1.15.27

anucintya sumitrāyai punar eva mahīpatiḥ
evaṃ tāsāṃ dadau rājā bhāryāṇāṃ pāyasaṃ pṛthak

having reflected, the lord of the earth gave once again to Sumitrā; thus the king gave the pāyasa to his wives, portion by portion.

Words: anucintya — having reflected, considered; sumitrāyai — to Sumitrā; punar — again; eva — indeed; mahīpatiḥ — the lord of the earth; evaṃ — thus; tāsāṃ — to those; dadau — gave; rājā — the king; bhāryāṇāṃ — of/to the wives; pāyasaṃ — the pāyasa; pṛthak — separately, each apart

1.15.28

tās tv etat pāyasaṃ prāpya narendrasyottamāḥ striyaḥ
saṃmānaṃ menire sarvāḥ praharṣoditacetasaḥ

And those excellent wives of the king, having received this pāyasa, all regarded it as a mark of honour, their hearts uplifted with great joy.

Words: tās — those; tv — and; etat — this; pāyasaṃ — pāyasa; prāpya — having received; narendrasyottamāḥ — the excellent (wives) of the king; striyaḥ — women, wives; saṃmānaṃ — a mark of honour, distinction; menire — regarded, considered; sarvāḥ — all; praharṣoditacetasaḥ — their hearts uplifted with joy

← 1.14 Putrakāmeṣṭi and Viṣṇu’s promised human birth · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.16 The Devas beget Rāma’s future allies →

Composed by Maharṣi Vālmīki. 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/1/15.md · JSON: /data/1/15.json