← 1.20 Vasiṣṭha’s intervention: The promise and Viśvāmitra’s powers · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.22 Story of Kāma: The loss of his body →

Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 21: Departure with Viśvāmitra: Rāma receives Balā & Atibalā

Summary. Daśaratha releases Rāma with Lakṣmaṇa, they follow Viśvāmitra along the Sarayū and Rāma receives the protective Balā & Atibalā teachings

Sequence

  1. Reassured, Daśaratha summons Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa → Rāma receives blessings from his parents and Vasiṣṭha → Daśaratha kisses Rāma's head and entrusts him to Viśvāmitra (1.21.1–3)
  2. a gentle, dust-free wind blows, flowers fall, and divine drums and conches sound (1.21.4–5)
  3. Viśvāmitra leads, Rāma follows, and Lakṣmaṇa walks behind → the princes carry bows, quivers, swords, arm guards, and finger protectors (1.21.6–8)
  4. after a yojana and a half, on the Sarayū's southern bank, Viśvāmitra asks Rāma to touch water and receive Balā and Atibalā. Viśvāmitra explains that these teachings protect against fatigue, fever, bodily deterioration, and attacks while asleep or unguarded (1.21.9–10)
  5. they strengthen understanding, readiness of reply, and other excellences, and prevent hunger and thirst when recited on the road (1.21.11–15)
  6. he identifies them as Brahmā's daughters and tells Rāma that he is worthy to receive them (1.21.16–17)
  7. purified by touching water, Rāma learns the two sciences and shines with their power → after rendering the services owed to their teacher, the three spend the night comfortably beside the river. (1.21.18–19)

Verses 1.21.1–19

1.21.1

tathā vasiṣṭhe bruvati rājā daśarathaḥ sutam
prahṛṣṭavadano rāmam ājuhāva salakṣmaṇam

As Vasiṣṭha spoke thus, king Daśaratha, his face gladdened, summoned his son Rāma, together with Lakṣmaṇa.

Words: tathā — thus; vasiṣṭhe — Vasiṣṭha (loc. abs.); bruvati — speaking (loc. abs.); rājā — the king; daśarathaḥ — Daśaratha; sutam — the son; prahṛṣṭavadano — his face gladdened; rāmam — Rāma; ājuhāva — summoned, called; salakṣmaṇam — together with Lakṣmaṇa

1.21.2

kṛtasvastyayanaṃ mātrā pitrā daśarathena ca
purodhasā vasiṣṭhena maṅgalair abhimantritam

(Rāma,) for whom the benediction-rite had been performed by his mother and by his father Daśaratha, and who had been consecrated with auspicious chants by the house-priest Vasiṣṭha —

Words: kṛtasvastyayanaṃ — for whom the benediction had been performed; mātrā — by the mother; pitrā — by the father; daśarathena — by Daśaratha; ca — and; purodhasā — by the house-priest; vasiṣṭhena — by Vasiṣṭha; maṅgalair — with auspicious (chants); abhimantritam — consecrated with mantras

1.21.3

sa putraṃ mūrdhny upāghrāya rājā daśarathaḥ priyam
dadau kuśikaputrāya suprītenāntarātmanā

King Daśaratha, kissing his dear son upon the head, gave him to the son of Kuśika with a well-pleased heart.

Words: sa — he; putraṃ — the son; mūrdhny — on the head; upāghrāya — having kissed (lit. smelled); rājā — the king; daśarathaḥ — Daśaratha; priyam — dear; dadau — gave; kuśikaputrāya — to the son of Kuśika; suprītenāntarātmanā — with a well-pleased inner heart

1.21.4

tato vāyuḥ sukhasparśo virajasko vavau tadā
viśvāmitragataṃ rāmaṃ dṛṣṭvā rājīvalocanam

Then a wind, pleasant to the touch and free of dust, blew, on seeing the lotus-eyed Rāma now in Viśvāmitra's charge.

Words: tato — then; vāyuḥ — the wind; sukhasparśo — pleasant to the touch; virajasko — free of dust; vavau — blew; tadā — then; viśvāmitragataṃ — gone over to Viśvāmitra; rāmaṃ — Rāma; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; rājīvalocanam — the lotus-eyed

1.21.5

puṣpavṛṣṭir mahaty āsīd devadundubhinisvanaḥ
śaṅkhadundubhinirghoṣaḥ prayāte tu mahātmani

There was a great rain of flowers, the sound of the divine kettledrums, and the blare of conches and drums, as the great-souled one set forth.

Words: puṣpavṛṣṭir — a rain of flowers; mahaty — great; āsīd — there was; devadundubhinisvanaḥ — the sound of the divine kettledrums; śaṅkhadundubhinirghoṣaḥ — the blare of conches and drums; prayāte — having set forth (loc. abs.); tu — and; mahātmani — the great-souled one (loc. abs.)

1.21.6

viśvāmitro yayāv agre tato rāmo mahāyaśāḥ
kākapakṣadharo dhanvī taṃ ca saumitrir anvagāt

Viśvāmitra went in front, and behind him the greatly renowned Rāma, wearing the boyish side-locks and bearing a bow; and Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa) followed him.

Words: viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; yayāv — went; agre — in front; tato — then, behind; rāmo — Rāma; mahāyaśāḥ — of great renown; kākapakṣadharo — wearing the boyish side-locks; dhanvī — the bowman; taṃ — him; ca — and; saumitrir — Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa); anvagāt — followed

1.21.7

kalāpinau dhanuṣpāṇī śobhayānau diśo daśa
viśvāmitraṃ mahātmānaṃ triśīrṣāv iva pannagau
anujagmatur akṣudrau pitāmaham ivāśvinau

The two, with quivers and bows in hand, lighting up the ten directions, followed the great-souled Viśvāmitra like two three-hooded serpents; those two noble ones (attended him) as the Aśvins (attend) the Grandsire.

Words: kalāpinau — the two with quivers; dhanuṣpāṇī — the two with bows in hand; śobhayānau — the two illumining, adorning; diśo — the directions; daśa — ten; viśvāmitraṃ — Viśvāmitra; mahātmānaṃ — the great-souled; triśīrṣāv — two three-hooded (serpents); iva — like; pannagau — two serpents; anujagmatur — the two followed; akṣudrau — the two noble ones, no mean ones; pitāmaham — the Grandsire (Brahmā); ivāśvinau — like the two Aśvins

1.21.8

baddhagodhāṅgulitrāṇau khaḍgavantau mahādyutī
sthāṇuṃ devam ivācintyaṃ kumārāv iva pāvakī

The two, with leather arm-guards and finger-stalls bound on, girt with swords and of great splendour, (attended Viśvāmitra) unfathomable as the god Sthāṇu (Śiva), like the two young sons of the Fire-god.

Words: baddhagodhāṅgulitrāṇau — with leather arm-guards and finger-stalls bound on (the two); khaḍgavantau — girt with swords (the two); mahādyutī — of great splendour (the two); sthāṇuṃ — Sthāṇu (Śiva); devam — the god; ivācintyaṃ — like the inconceivable; kumārāv — the two Kumāras (youths); iva — like; pāvakī — of the Fire-god (Agni)

1.21.9

adhyardhayojanaṃ gatvā sarayvā dakṣiṇe taṭe
rāmeti madhurā vāṇīṃ viśvāmitro 'bhyabhāṣata

Having gone a yojana and a half, on the southern bank of the Sarayū, Viśvāmitra spoke in a sweet voice: “Rāma!”

Words: adhyardhayojanaṃ — a yojana and a half; gatvā — having gone; sarayvā — of the Sarayū; dakṣiṇe — on the southern; taṭe — bank; rāmeti — ‘Rāma,’ thus; madhurā — sweet; vāṇīṃ — voice, word; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; 'bhyabhāṣata — spoke

1.21.10

gṛhāṇa vatsa salilaṃ mā bhūt kālasya paryayaḥ
mantragrāmaṃ gṛhāṇa tvaṃ balām atibalāṃ tathā

“Take up water, my child; let there be no lapse of the (proper) time; and receive you the group of mantras — Balā and likewise Atibalā.

Words: gṛhāṇa — take up; vatsa — my child; salilaṃ — water; mā — let not; bhūt — there be; kālasya — of the time; paryayaḥ — lapse, passing; mantragrāmaṃ — the collection of mantras; gṛhāṇa — receive, take; tvaṃ — you; balām — Balā (the science); atibalāṃ — Atibalā (the science); tathā — likewise

1.21.11

na śramo na jvaro vā te na rūpasya viparyayaḥ
na ca suptaṃ pramattaṃ vā dharṣayiṣyanti nairṛtāḥ

You will have no fatigue, nor fever, nor any alteration of your form; and the rākṣasas will not assail you, whether asleep or off your guard.

Words: na — not, no; śramo — fatigue; na — nor; jvaro — fever; vā — or; te — your, to you; na — nor; rūpasya — of form; viparyayaḥ — alteration, change; na — not; ca — and; suptaṃ — asleep; pramattaṃ — off guard, heedless; vā — or; dharṣayiṣyanti — will assail; nairṛtāḥ — the rākṣasas (descendants of Nirṛti)

1.21.12

na bāhvoḥ sadṛśo vīrye pṛthivyām asti kaś cana
triṣu lokeṣu vā rāma na bhavet sadṛśas tava

There is no one on earth equal to the might of your arms; nor in the three worlds, O Rāma, would there be your equal.

Words: na — not; bāhvoḥ — of the two arms; sadṛśo — equal; vīrye — in might; pṛthivyām — on earth; asti — is, exists; kaś — anyone; cana — at all (indef.); triṣu — in the three; lokeṣu — in the worlds; vā — or; rāma — O Rāma; na — not; bhavet — would be; sadṛśas — equal; tava — to you

1.21.13

na saubhāgye na dākṣiṇye na jñāne buddhiniścaye
nottare pratipattavyo samo loke tavānagha

Neither in charm, nor in courtesy, nor in knowledge, nor in firmness of resolve, nor in readiness of reply, is your equal to be found in the world, O sinless one.

Words: na — not; saubhāgye — in charm, good fortune; na — nor; dākṣiṇye — in courtesy, dexterity; na — nor; jñāne — in knowledge; buddhiniścaye — in firmness of resolve; nottare — nor in reply, rejoinder; pratipattavyo — to be found, obtained; samo — an equal; loke — in the world; tavānagha — to you, O sinless one

1.21.14

etadvidyādvaye labdhe bhavitā nāsti te samaḥ
balā cātibalā caiva sarvajñānasya mātarau

When this pair of sciences has been obtained, there will be no equal to you; for Balā and Atibalā are the mothers of all knowledge.

Words: etadvidyādvaye — when this pair of sciences (loc. abs.); labdhe — obtained (loc. abs.); bhavitā — there will be; nāsti — there is not; te — to you; samaḥ — an equal; balā — Balā; cātibalā — and Atibalā; caiva — and; sarvajñānasya — of all knowledge; mātarau — the two mothers

1.21.15

kṣutpipāse na te rāma bhaviṣyete narottama
balām atibalāṃ caiva paṭhataḥ pathi rāghava
vidyādvayam adhīyāne yaśaś cāpy atulaṃ bhuvi

Hunger and thirst will not be yours, O Rāma, best of men, when you recite Balā and Atibalā upon the road, O Rāghava, studying the pair of sciences; and you will have matchless fame on earth as well.

Words: kṣutpipāse — hunger and thirst; na — not; te — to you, yours; rāma — O Rāma; bhaviṣyete — the two will be; narottama — O best of men; balām — Balā; atibalāṃ — Atibalā; caiva — and; paṭhataḥ — of (you) reciting; pathi — on the road; rāghava — O Rāghava; vidyādvayam — the pair of sciences; adhīyāne — (you) studying; yaśaś — fame; cāpy — and also; atulaṃ — matchless; bhuvi — on earth

1.21.16

pitāmahasute hy ete vidye tejaḥsamanvite
pradātuṃ tava kākutstha sadṛśas tvaṃ hi dhārmika

For these two sciences, daughters of the Grandsire and endowed with splendour, are (to be given) to you, O Kākutstha; for you are worthy of them, O righteous one.

Words: pitāmahasute — the two daughters of the Grandsire; hy — for; ete — these two; vidye — the two sciences; tejaḥsamanvite — endowed with splendour (the two); pradātuṃ — to give, bestow; tava — to you; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; sadṛśas — worthy, fit; tvaṃ — you; hi — for; dhārmika — O righteous one

1.21.17

kāmaṃ bahuguṇāḥ sarve tvayy ete nātra saṃśayaḥ
tapasā saṃbhṛte caite bahurūpe bhaviṣyataḥ

Granted, all these many excellences are in you, no doubt of it; yet these two, nourished by (your) austerity, will assume manifold forms.

Words: kāmaṃ — granted, admittedly; bahuguṇāḥ — many excellences; sarve — all; tvayy — in you; ete — these; nātra — not here, in this; saṃśayaḥ — doubt; tapasā — by austerity; saṃbhṛte — nourished, cultivated (the two); caite — and these two; bahurūpe — of manifold form (the two); bhaviṣyataḥ — the two will become

1.21.18

tato rāmo jalaṃ spṛṣṭvā prahṛṣṭavadanaḥ śuciḥ
pratijagrāha te vidye maharṣer bhāvitātmanaḥ
vidyāsamudito rāmaḥ śuśubhe bhūrivikramaḥ

Then Rāma, having touched water, his face gladdened and himself purified, received those two sciences from the great seer of purified soul; and Rāma, exalted by the sciences and of abundant valour, shone forth.

Words: tato — then; rāmo — Rāma; jalaṃ — water; spṛṣṭvā — having touched; prahṛṣṭavadanaḥ — his face gladdened; śuciḥ — purified, pure; pratijagrāha — received; te — those two; vidye — two sciences; maharṣer — from the great seer; bhāvitātmanaḥ — of purified soul; vidyāsamudito — exalted by the sciences; rāmaḥ — Rāma; śuśubhe — shone forth; bhūrivikramaḥ — of abundant valour

1.21.19

gurukāryāṇi sarvāṇi niyujya kuśikātmaje
ūṣus tāṃ rajanīṃ tatra sarayvāṃ susukhaṃ trayaḥ

Having rendered upon the son of Kuśika all the services due to a preceptor, the three passed that night there on the Sarayū in great comfort.

Words: gurukāryāṇi — the duties toward a teacher; sarvāṇi — all; niyujya — having applied, rendered; kuśikātmaje — upon the son of Kuśika (Viśvāmitra); ūṣus — they dwelt, passed; tāṃ — that; rajanīṃ — night; tatra — there; sarayvāṃ — on the Sarayū; susukhaṃ — in great comfort; trayaḥ — the three

← 1.20 Vasiṣṭha’s intervention: The promise and Viśvāmitra’s powers · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.22 Story of Kāma: The loss of his body →

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/1/21.md · JSON: /data/1/21.json