← 1.15 Daśaratha receives and divides the divine pāyasa · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.17 Birth and upbringing of the princes; Viśvāmitra’s arrival →

Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 16: The Devas beget Rāma’s future allies

Summary. Brahmā directs the Devas to beget powerful helpers, their monkey-shaped sons inherit divine qualities and gather around Vālin & Sugrīva

Sequence

  1. With Viṣṇu's human birth arranged, Brahmā orders the devatās to create powerful helpers: shape-changing, swift, intelligent warriors skilled in strategy and weapons (1.16.1–4)
  2. he directs them to beget vānara-shaped sons through apsarases, gandharvīs, daughters of yakṣas and pannagas, and ṛkṣa, vidyādharī, kiṃnarī and vānarī females (1.16.5–6)
  3. the Devas obey, joined by ṛṣis, siddhas, vidyādharas, uragas and cāraṇas (1.16.7–8)
  4. thousands of mighty bears, monkeys, and langurs are born for Rāvaṇa's destruction, each inheriting the qualities of his divine parent (1.16.9–12)
  5. they fight with rocks, trees, claws, and teeth and possess the strength to shake mountains, churn the sea, tear the earth, leap the ocean, and seize clouds (1.16.13–16)
  6. their leaders multiply, settle on Ṛkṣavat and other mountains and in forests, and gather around Sugrīva, son of the Sun, and Vālin, son of Indra → the earth fills with these future allies of Rāma. (1.16.17–20)

Verses 1.16.1–20

1.16.1

putratvaṃ tu gate viṣṇau rājñas tasya mahātmanaḥ
uvāca devatāḥ sarvāḥ svayambhūr bhagavān idam

Now when Viṣṇu had gone to sonship of that great-souled king, the venerable Self-existent (Brahmā) spoke this to all the deities:

Words: putratvaṃ — sonship, the state of being a son; tu — now, and; gate — having gone (loc. abs.); viṣṇau — when Viṣṇu (loc. abs.); rājñas — of the king; tasya — that; mahātmanaḥ — great-souled; uvāca — said; devatāḥ — to the deities; sarvāḥ — all; svayambhūr — the Self-existent (Brahmā); bhagavān — the venerable one; idam — this

1.16.2

satyasaṃdhasya vīrasya sarveṣāṃ no hitaiṣiṇaḥ
viṣṇoḥ sahāyān balinaḥ sṛjadhvaṃ kāmarūpiṇaḥ

“For Viṣṇu — true to his word, heroic, wisher of good to us all — create mighty helpers who can take any form at will:

Words: satyasaṃdhasya — of him true to his word; vīrasya — of the hero; sarveṣāṃ — of all; no — to us; hitaiṣiṇaḥ — of the well-wisher; viṣṇoḥ — of Viṣṇu; sahāyān — helpers, companions; balinaḥ — mighty, strong; sṛjadhvaṃ — create, beget; kāmarūpiṇaḥ — able to take any form at will

1.16.3

māyāvidaś ca śūrāṃś ca vāyuvegasamāñjave
nayajñān buddhisaṃpannān viṣṇutulyaparākramān

knowers of magic and heroic, equal to the wind in swiftness, versed in policy, endowed with intelligence, of prowess equal to Viṣṇu,

Words: māyāvidaś — knowers of magic; ca — and; śūrāṃś — heroic; ca — and; vāyuvegasamāñjave — equal to the wind's speed in swiftness; nayajñān — versed in policy; buddhisaṃpannān — endowed with intelligence; viṣṇutulyaparākramān — of prowess equal to Viṣṇu

1.16.4

asaṃhāryān upāyajñān divyasaṃhananānvitān
sarvāstraguṇasaṃpannān amṛtaprāśanān iva

irresistible, knowing every expedient, endowed with divine bodily frames, furnished with all the excellences of weaponry, like the nectar-eating (gods) themselves.

Words: asaṃhāryān — irresistible, not to be swept away; upāyajñān — knowing expedients; divyasaṃhananānvitān — endowed with divine frames; sarvāstraguṇasaṃpannān — furnished with all excellences of weapons; amṛtaprāśanān — the nectar-eaters (the gods); iva — like, as

1.16.5

apsaraḥsu ca mukhyāsu gandharvīṇāṃ tanūṣu ca
yakṣapannagakanyāsu ṛṣkavidyādharīṣu ca

Upon the chief apsarases and upon the bodies of gandharva-women, upon the daughters of yakṣas and serpents, and upon female bears and vidyādhara-women,

Words: apsaraḥsu — upon the apsarases; ca — and; mukhyāsu — the chief, foremost; gandharvīṇāṃ — of the gandharva-women; tanūṣu — upon the bodies; ca — and; yakṣapannagakanyāsu — upon the daughters of yakṣas and serpents; ṛṣkavidyādharīṣu — upon female bears and vidyādhara-women; ca — and

1.16.6

kiṃnarīṇāṃ ca gātreṣu vānarīṇāṃ tanūṣu ca
sṛjadhvaṃ harirūpeṇa putrāṃs tulyaparākramān

and upon the limbs of kinnara-women and the bodies of she-monkeys — beget, in the form of monkeys, sons of matching prowess.”

Words: kiṃnarīṇāṃ — of the kinnara-women; ca — and; gātreṣu — upon the limbs; vānarīṇāṃ — of the she-monkeys; tanūṣu — upon the bodies; ca — and; sṛjadhvaṃ — beget, create; harirūpeṇa — in the form of monkeys; putrāṃs — sons; tulyaparākramān — of matching prowess

1.16.7

te tathoktā bhagavatā tat pratiśrutya śāsanam
janayām āsur evaṃ te putrān vānararūpiṇaḥ

They, thus addressed by the venerable one, having assented to that command, accordingly begot sons in the form of monkeys.

Words: te — they; tathoktā — thus addressed; bhagavatā — by the venerable one; tat — that; pratiśrutya — having assented to, promised; śāsanam — command; janayām āsur — begot; evaṃ — thus, accordingly; te — they; putrān — sons; vānararūpiṇaḥ — in the form of monkeys

1.16.8

ṛṣayaś ca mahātmānaḥ siddhavidyādharoragāḥ
cāraṇāś ca sutān vīrān sasṛjur vanacāriṇaḥ

And the great-souled seers, the siddhas, vidyādharas and serpents, and the cāraṇas begot heroic sons who ranged the forests.

Words: ṛṣayaś — the seers; ca — and; mahātmānaḥ — great-souled; siddhavidyādharoragāḥ — the siddhas, vidyādharas and serpents; cāraṇāś — the cāraṇas (celestial bards); ca — and; sutān — sons; vīrān — heroic; sasṛjur — begot, created; vanacāriṇaḥ — ranging the forests

1.16.9

te sṛṣṭā bahusāhasrā daśagrīvavadhodyatāḥ
aprameyabalā vīrā vikrāntāḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ

Created in their many thousands, bent on the slaying of the Ten-necked one (Rāvaṇa), of immeasurable strength, heroic, valiant, able to take any form,

Words: te — they; sṛṣṭā — created; bahusāhasrā — in many thousands; daśagrīvavadhodyatāḥ — bent on the slaying of the Ten-necked one; aprameyabalā — of immeasurable strength; vīrā — heroic; vikrāntāḥ — valiant; kāmarūpiṇaḥ — able to take any form

1.16.10

te gajācalasaṃkāśā vapuṣmanto mahābalāḥ
ṛkṣavānaragopucchāḥ kṣipram evābhijajñire

resembling elephants and mountains, of mighty frame and great strength, in the shape of bears, monkeys and langurs, were swiftly born.

Words: te — they; gajācalasaṃkāśā — resembling elephants and mountains; vapuṣmanto — of (mighty) frame; mahābalāḥ — of great strength; ṛkṣavānaragopucchāḥ — in the shape of bears, monkeys and langurs; kṣipram — swiftly, quickly; evābhijajñire — were indeed born

1.16.11

yasya devasya yad rūpaṃ veṣo yaś ca parākramaḥ
ajāyata samastena tasya tasya sutaḥ pṛthak

Whatever form, garb and prowess belonged to each god, the son of each was born, severally, endowed with the whole of it.

Words: yasya — of which; devasya — god; yad — which; rūpaṃ — form; veṣo — garb, appearance; yaś — which; ca — and; parākramaḥ — prowess; ajāyata — was born; samastena — with the whole, entirely; tasya tasya — of each respective; sutaḥ — son; pṛthak — severally, each apart

1.16.12

golāṅgūlīṣu cotpannāḥ ke cit saṃmatavikramāḥ
ṛkṣīṣu ca tathā jātā vānarāḥ kiṃnarīṣu ca

Some of esteemed prowess were born from the langur-females; and monkeys were likewise born from she-bears and from kinnara-women.

Words: golāṅgūlīṣu — from the langur-females; cotpannāḥ — and (were) born; ke — some; cit — some (indef.); saṃmatavikramāḥ — of esteemed prowess; ṛkṣīṣu — from she-bears; ca — and; tathā — likewise; jātā — born; vānarāḥ — monkeys; kiṃnarīṣu — from kinnara-women; ca — and

1.16.13

śilāpraharaṇāḥ sarve sarve pādapayodhinaḥ
nakhadaṃṣṭrāyudhāḥ sarve sarve sarvāstrakovidāḥ

All had rocks for weapons, all fought with trees; all had claws and fangs for weapons, all were skilled in every weapon.

Words: śilāpraharaṇāḥ — having rocks for weapons; sarve — all; sarve — all; pādapayodhinaḥ — fighting with trees; nakhadaṃṣṭrāyudhāḥ — having claws and fangs for weapons; sarve — all; sarve — all; sarvāstrakovidāḥ — skilled in every weapon

1.16.14

vicālayeyuḥ śailendrān bhedayeyuḥ sthirān drumān
kṣobhayeyuś ca vegena samudraṃ saritāṃ patim

They could shake the lordly mountains, split firm trees, and by their force churn up the ocean, lord of rivers.

Words: vicālayeyuḥ — they could shake; śailendrān — the lordly mountains; bhedayeyuḥ — they could split; sthirān — firm; drumān — trees; kṣobhayeyuś — they could churn up, agitate; ca — and; vegena — by force, swiftly; samudraṃ — the ocean; saritāṃ — of the rivers; patim — lord

1.16.15

dārayeyuḥ kṣitiṃ padbhyām āplaveyur mahārṇavam
nabhastalaṃ viśeyuś ca gṛhṇīyur api toyadān

They could tear the earth with their feet, leap across the great ocean, enter the vault of the sky, and even seize the clouds.

Words: dārayeyuḥ — they could tear, rend; kṣitiṃ — the earth; padbhyām — with the feet; āplaveyur — they could leap across; mahārṇavam — the great ocean; nabhastalaṃ — the vault of the sky; viśeyuś — they could enter; ca — and; gṛhṇīyur — they could seize; api — even; toyadān — the clouds

1.16.16

gṛhṇīyur api mātaṅgān mattān pravrajato vane
nardamānāṃś ca nādena pātayeyur vihaṃgamān

They could seize even rutting elephants wandering in the forest, and with a roar could bring down the birds crying overhead.

Words: gṛhṇīyur — they could seize; api — even; mātaṅgān — elephants; mattān — rutting, in rut; pravrajato — wandering, roaming; vane — in the forest; nardamānāṃś — (the birds) crying, screeching; ca — and; nādena — with a roar; pātayeyur — they could bring down, fell; vihaṃgamān — the birds

1.16.17

īdṛśānāṃ prasūtāni harīṇāṃ kāmarūpimām
śataṃ śatasahasrāṇi yūthapānāṃ mahātmanām
babhūvur yūthapaśreṣṭhā vīrāṃś cājanayan harīn

Of such great-souled troop-leaders among monkeys, able to change form at will, there were born a hundred hundred-thousands; and the best of the troop-leaders in turn begot heroic monkeys.

Words: īdṛśānāṃ — of such; prasūtāni — born, brought forth; harīṇāṃ — of the monkeys; kāmarūpimām — able to take any form at will; śataṃ — a hundred; śatasahasrāṇi — hundred-thousands; yūthapānāṃ — of the troop-leaders; mahātmanām — great-souled; babhūvur — there were, came to be; yūthapaśreṣṭhā — the best of troop-leaders; vīrāṃś — heroic; cājanayan — and begot; harīn — monkeys

1.16.18

anye ṛkṣavataḥ prasthān upatasthuḥ sahasraśaḥ
anye nānāvidhāñ śailān kānanāni ca bhejire

Some in their thousands took station on the tablelands of Mount Ṛkṣavat; others resorted to mountains of various kinds and to the forests.

Words: anye — some, others; ṛkṣavataḥ — of Ṛkṣavat (mountain); prasthān — the tablelands, plateaus; upatasthuḥ — attended, took station at; sahasraśaḥ — in thousands; anye — others; nānāvidhāñ — of various kinds; śailān — mountains; kānanāni — forests; ca — and; bhejire — resorted to, took to

1.16.19

sūryaputraṃ ca sugrīvaṃ śakraputraṃ ca vālinam
bhrātarāv upatasthus te sarva eva harīśvarāḥ

And all those lords of monkeys attended upon the two brothers — Sugrīva, son of the Sun, and Vālin, son of Śakra (Indra).

Words: sūryaputraṃ — the son of the Sun; ca — and; sugrīvaṃ — Sugrīva; śakraputraṃ — the son of Śakra (Indra); ca — and; vālinam — Vālin; bhrātarāv — the two brothers; upatasthus — attended upon; te — they; sarva — all; eva — indeed; harīśvarāḥ — lords of monkeys

1.16.20

tair meghavṛndācalatulyakāyair mahābalair vānarayūthapālaiḥ
babhūva bhūr bhīmaśarīrarūpaiḥ samāvṛtā rāmasahāyahetoḥ

By these mighty leaders of monkey-troops, of dreadful bodily shape, their bodies like masses of cloud and like mountains, the earth was covered, for the sake of aiding Rāma.

Words: tair — by these; meghavṛndācalatulyakāyair — whose bodies were like cloud-masses and mountains; mahābalair — mighty; vānarayūthapālaiḥ — by the leaders of monkey-troops; babhūva — became, was; bhūr — the earth; bhīmaśarīrarūpaiḥ — of dreadful bodily shape; samāvṛtā — covered, filled; rāmasahāyahetoḥ — for the sake of aiding Rāma

← 1.15 Daśaratha receives and divides the divine pāyasa · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.17 Birth and upbringing of the princes; Viśvāmitra’s arrival →

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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