← 1.21 Departure with Viśvāmitra: Rāma receives Balā & Atibalā · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.23 Story of Tāṭakā’s forest: Indra’s cleansing and the ruined country →

Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 22: Story of Kāma: The loss of his body

Summary. At the Sarayū–Gaṅgā confluence, Viśvāmitra recounts how Śiva’s fiery gaze destroyed Kāma’s body, the travellers stay at the hermitage

Sequence

  1. At dawn Viśvāmitra wakes Rāma for saṃdhyā (twilight worship) → the brothers bathe, offer water, recite the prayer, salute their teacher, and set out (1.22.1–4)
  2. at the meeting of the Sarayū and Gaṅgā they see an ancient hermitage and ask whose it is (1.22.5–8)
  3. Viśvāmitra tells an earlier story: Kāma once possessed a body → here he assailed Śiva during his disciplined austerities → Śiva's fierce gaze burned his limbs and destroyed his body (1.22.9–13)
  4. Kāma became Anaṅga, “the Bodiless,” and the place where he lost his aṅga, or body, became associated with the name Aṅga (1.22.14)
  5. Viśvāmitra identifies the hermitage with Śiva and its munis as his former disciples (1.22.15)
  6. he proposes staying between the rivers overnight before crossing → the munis welcome Viśvāmitra with arghya, pādya and ātithya (hospitality), then perform atithikriyā (guest rites) for Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa → the travelers spend the evening comfortably, delighting their hosts with stories. (1.22.16–19)

Verses 1.22.1–19

1.22.1

prabhātāyāṃ tu śarvaryāṃ viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ
abhyabhāṣata kākutsthaṃ śayānaṃ parṇasaṃstare

When the night had brightened into dawn, the great sage Viśvāmitra addressed Kākutstha (Rāma), who lay upon a couch of leaves:

Words: prabhātāyāṃ — having dawned (loc. abs.); tu — and, now; śarvaryāṃ — the night (loc. abs.); viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage; abhyabhāṣata — addressed, spoke to; kākutsthaṃ — Kākutstha (Rāma); śayānaṃ — lying, reclining; parṇasaṃstare — on a couch of leaves

1.22.2

kausalyā suprajā rāma pūrvā saṃdhyā pravartate
uttiṣṭha naraśārdūla kartavyaṃ daivam āhnikam

“Kausalyā is blessed in her son, O Rāma; the eastern twilight is coming on. Arise, O tiger among men; the morning rites due to the gods must be performed.”

Words: kausalyā — Kausalyā; suprajā — blessed with a good son; rāma — O Rāma; pūrvā — the eastern; saṃdhyā — twilight, dawn; pravartate — comes on, sets in; uttiṣṭha — arise; naraśārdūla — O tiger among men; kartavyaṃ — to be performed; daivam — the divine (rite); āhnikam — daily, morning (rite)

1.22.3

tasyarṣeḥ paramodāraṃ vacaḥ śrutvā nṛpātmajau
snātvā kṛtodakau vīrau jepatuḥ paramaṃ japam

Hearing that most noble speech of the seer, the two princes bathed, made their water-offerings, and, the two heroes, recited the supreme prayer.

Words: tasyarṣeḥ — of that seer; paramodāraṃ — most noble; vacaḥ — speech; śrutvā — having heard; nṛpātmajau — the two princes; snātvā — having bathed; kṛtodakau — the two having made the water-offering; vīrau — the two heroes; jepatuḥ — the two recited; paramaṃ — supreme; japam — the muttered prayer

1.22.4

kṛtāhnikau mahāvīryau viśvāmitraṃ tapodhanam
abhivādyābhisaṃhṛṣṭau gamanāyopatasthatuḥ

The two mighty ones, their morning rites performed, having saluted Viśvāmitra, rich in austerity, and greatly delighted, presented themselves for the journey.

Words: kṛtāhnikau — the two who had done the daily rite; mahāvīryau — the two mighty; viśvāmitraṃ — Viśvāmitra; tapodhanam — rich in austerity; abhivādyābhisaṃhṛṣṭau — having saluted, greatly delighted; gamanāyopatasthatuḥ — presented themselves for the journey

1.22.5

tau prayāte mahāvīryau divyaṃ tripathagāṃ nadīm
dadṛśāte tatas tatra sarayvāḥ saṃgame śubhe

As those two mighty ones journeyed on, they then beheld there, at the auspicious confluence with the Sarayū, the divine three-pathed river (the Gaṅgā).

Words: tau — the two; prayāte — having set forth (the two); mahāvīryau — the two mighty; divyaṃ — divine; tripathagāṃ — the three-pathed (river, Gaṅgā); nadīm — the river; dadṛśāte — the two beheld; tatas — then; tatra — there; sarayvāḥ — of the Sarayū; saṃgame — at the confluence; śubhe — auspicious

1.22.6

tatrāśramapadaṃ puṇyam ṛṣīṇām ugratejasām
bahuvarṣasahasrāṇi tapyatāṃ paramaṃ tapaḥ

There (they saw) the holy hermitage of seers of fierce splendour, who had been practising supreme austerity for many thousands of years.

Words: tatrāśramapadaṃ — there the hermitage; puṇyam — holy, sacred; ṛṣīṇām — of the seers; ugratejasām — of fierce splendour; bahuvarṣasahasrāṇi — for many thousands of years; tapyatāṃ — of those practising (austerity); paramaṃ — supreme; tapaḥ — austerity

1.22.7

taṃ dṛṣṭvā paramaprītau rāghavau puṇyam āśramam
ūcatus taṃ mahātmānaṃ viśvāmitram idaṃ vacaḥ

Seeing that holy hermitage, the two Rāghavas, greatly delighted, spoke this word to that great-souled Viśvāmitra:

Words: taṃ — that; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; paramaprītau — the two greatly delighted; rāghavau — the two Rāghavas; puṇyam — holy; āśramam — hermitage; ūcatus — the two said; taṃ — to that; mahātmānaṃ — great-souled; viśvāmitram — Viśvāmitra; idaṃ — this; vacaḥ — word

1.22.8

kasyāyam āśramaḥ puṇyaḥ ko nv asmin vasate pumān
bhagavañ śrotum icchāvaḥ paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi nau

“Whose is this holy hermitage, and what man dwells in it? O venerable one, we two wish to hear, for great is our curiosity.”

Words: kasyāyam — whose (is) this; āśramaḥ — hermitage; puṇyaḥ — holy; ko — what; nv — then, indeed; asmin — in it; vasate — dwells; pumān — man; bhagavañ — O venerable one; śrotum — to hear; icchāvaḥ — we two wish; paraṃ — great, extreme; kautūhalaṃ — curiosity; hi — for; nau — of us two

1.22.9

tayos tad vacanaṃ śrutvā prahasya munipuṃgavaḥ
abravīc chrūyatāṃ rāma yasyāyaṃ pūrva āśramaḥ

Hearing that word of the two, the bull among sages, smiling, said: “Let it be heard, O Rāma, whose hermitage this formerly was.

Words: tayos — of the two; tad — that; vacanaṃ — word; śrutvā — having heard; prahasya — smiling, laughing gently; munipuṃgavaḥ — the bull among sages; abravīc — said; chrūyatāṃ — let it be heard; rāma — O Rāma; yasyāyaṃ — of whom this; pūrva — formerly; āśramaḥ — hermitage

1.22.10

kandarpo mūrtimān āsīt kāma ity ucyate budhaiḥ

Kandarpa (Love) was once embodied, and is called Kāma (Desire) by the wise.

Words: kandarpo — Kandarpa (the god of love); mūrtimān — embodied, having a body; āsīt — was; kāma — Kāma (Desire); ity — thus; ucyate — is called; budhaiḥ — by the wise

1.22.11

tapasyantam iha sthāṇuṃ niyamena samāhitam
kṛtodvāhaṃ tu deveśaṃ gacchantaṃ samarudgaṇam
dharṣayām āsa durmedhā huṃkṛtaś ca mahātmanā

Here Sthāṇu (Śiva), composed in his observance, was practising austerity; but the fool (Kāma) assailed that lord of gods — newly wed and going forth with the host of Maruts — and was met with a scornful cry by the great one.

Words: tapasyantam — practising austerity; iha — here; sthāṇuṃ — Sthāṇu (Śiva); niyamena — by observance, discipline; samāhitam — composed, collected; kṛtodvāhaṃ — newly wed, having performed marriage; tu — but; deveśaṃ — the lord of gods; gacchantaṃ — going, proceeding; samarudgaṇam — with the host of Maruts; dharṣayām āsa — assailed, attacked; durmedhā — the fool, dull-witted one; huṃkṛtaś — (and was) scorned with a 'hum'; ca — and; mahātmanā — by the great one

1.22.12

dagdhasya tasya raudreṇa cakṣuṣā raghunandana
vyaśīryanta śarīrāt svāt sarvagātrāṇi durmateḥ

As he was burnt up by the fierce eye (of Śiva), O delight of Raghu, all the limbs of that fool fell asunder from his own body.

Words: dagdhasya — of him being burnt; tasya — that; raudreṇa — fierce, of Rudra; cakṣuṣā — by the eye; raghunandana — O delight of Raghu; vyaśīryanta — fell asunder, scattered; śarīrāt — from the body; svāt — own; sarvagātrāṇi — all the limbs; durmateḥ — of the fool

1.22.13

tasya gātraṃ hataṃ tatra nirdagdhasya mahātmanā
aśarīraḥ kṛtaḥ kāmaḥ krodhād deveśvareṇa ha

There the body of that (Kāma), burnt up by the great one, was destroyed; Kāma was rendered bodiless by the lord of gods (Śiva) in his wrath.

Words: tasya — his; gātraṃ — body, limb; hataṃ — destroyed, struck down; tatra — there; nirdagdhasya — of (him) burnt up; mahātmanā — by the great one; aśarīraḥ — bodiless; kṛtaḥ — made, rendered; kāmaḥ — Kāma; krodhād — out of wrath; deveśvareṇa — by the lord of gods; ha — indeed

1.22.14

anaṅga iti vikhyātas tadā prabhṛti rāghava
sa cāṅgaviṣayaḥ śrīmān yatrāṅgaṃ sa mumoca ha

From then on he became renowned as Anaṅga ('the Bodiless'), O Rāghava; and the glorious Aṅga country is that where he shed his body (aṅga).

Words: anaṅga — Anaṅga (the Bodiless); iti — thus, as; vikhyātas — renowned; tadā — then; prabhṛti — from...onwards; rāghava — O Rāghava; sa — that; cāṅgaviṣayaḥ — and the Aṅga territory; śrīmān — glorious; yatrāṅgaṃ — where the body; sa — he; mumoca — shed, released; ha — indeed

1.22.15

tasyāyam āśramaḥ puṇyas tasyeme munayaḥ purā
śiṣyā dharmaparā vīra teṣāṃ pāpaṃ na vidyate

This holy hermitage is his (Śiva's); and these sages here were formerly his disciples, devoted to dharma, O hero; no sin is found in them.

Words: tasyāyam — this is his; āśramaḥ — hermitage; puṇyas — holy; tasyeme — these of his; munayaḥ — the sages; purā — formerly; śiṣyā — disciples; dharmaparā — devoted to dharma; vīra — O hero; teṣāṃ — in them; pāpaṃ — sin; na — not; vidyate — is found

1.22.16

ihādya rajanīṃ rāma vasema śubhadarśana
puṇyayoḥ saritor madhye śvas tariṣyāmahe vayam

Here today let us spend the night, O Rāma of auspicious aspect, between the two holy rivers; tomorrow we shall cross over.

Words: ihādya — here today; rajanīṃ — the night; rāma — O Rāma; vasema — let us dwell; śubhadarśana — O you of auspicious aspect; puṇyayoḥ — of the two holy; saritor — of the two rivers; madhye — between, in the midst; śvas — tomorrow; tariṣyāmahe — we shall cross; vayam — we

1.22.17

teṣāṃ saṃvadatāṃ tatra tapo dīrgheṇa cakṣuṣā
vijñāya paramaprītā munayo harṣam āgaman

As those (three) conversed there, the sages, perceiving them with the far-reaching eye (born) of austerity, greatly pleased, gave way to joy.

Words: teṣāṃ — of them; saṃvadatāṃ — conversing, talking together; tatra — there; tapo — (through) austerity; dīrgheṇa — far-reaching, long; cakṣuṣā — with the eye; vijñāya — having perceived, recognized; paramaprītā — greatly pleased; munayo — the sages; harṣam — joy; āgaman — came to, attained

1.22.18

arghyaṃ pādyaṃ tathātithyaṃ nivedyakuśikātmaje
rāmalakṣmaṇayoḥ paścād akurvann atithikriyām

Having offered the guest-water, the foot-water, and hospitality to the son of Kuśika, they afterwards performed the guest-rite for Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa.

Words: arghyaṃ — the guest-water offering; pādyaṃ — water for the feet; tathātithyaṃ — and hospitality; nivedyakuśikātmaje — having offered to the son of Kuśika; rāmalakṣmaṇayoḥ — for Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa; paścād — afterwards; akurvann — they performed; atithikriyām — the guest-rite

1.22.19

satkāraṃ samanuprāpya kathābhir abhirañjayan
nyavasan susukhaṃ tatra kāmāśramapade tadā

Having received (their) hospitality, and delighting (the sages) with tales, they dwelt there very comfortably at the hermitage of Kāma.

Words: satkāraṃ — hospitality, honour; samanuprāpya — having received, obtained; kathābhir — with tales, stories; abhirañjayan — delighting, gladdening; nyavasan — they dwelt; susukhaṃ — very comfortably; tatra — there; kāmāśramapade — at the hermitage of Kāma; tadā — then

← 1.21 Departure with Viśvāmitra: Rāma receives Balā & Atibalā · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.23 Story of Tāṭakā’s forest: Indra’s cleansing and the ruined country →

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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