← 1.26 Divine weapons: Viśvāmitra grants the powers · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.28 Story of Siddhāśrama: Vāmana’s three strides →
Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 27: Divine weapons: Rāma learns their withdrawal
Summary. Rāma learns their withdrawal, permits the embodied powers to depart and asks about the beautiful hermitage ahead
Sequence
- As they walk, Rāma’s face beams → he declares that, having received the weapons, he is now unassailable even by the Suras, but also wants to learn their withdrawal or recall, saṃhāra (1.27.1–2)
- Viśvāmitra teaches their withdrawal and names the associated powers, including Satyavat, Satyakīrti, Kāmarūpa, Moha, Āvaraṇa, and Jṛmbhaka (1.27.3–9)
- these radiant, shape-changing sons of Bhṛśāśva appear in embodied form and ask for Rāma's commands (1.27.10–11)
- he permits them to go where they wish, asking that they dwell in his mind and help when needed → they circle him reverently and depart (1.27.12–13)
- continuing onward, Rāma notices a beautiful grove gleaming like a cloud beside a mountain, full of deer and sweet-voiced birds → contrasting it with the terrifying forest they have left, he asks whether this is the hermitage troubled by the rākṣasas. (1.27.14–18)
Verses 1.27.1–18
1.27.1
pratigṛhya tato 'strāṇi prahṛṣṭavadanaḥ śuciḥ
gacchann eva ca kākutstho viśvāmitram athābravīt
Having received the weapons, his face beaming and pure, Kākutstha, even as he walked along, then said to Viśvāmitra:
Words: pratigṛhya — having received; tato — then; 'strāṇi — the weapons; prahṛṣṭavadanaḥ — with beaming face; śuciḥ — pure; gacchann — walking, going along; eva — even, indeed; ca — and; kākutstho — Kākutstha; viśvāmitram — to Viśvāmitra; athābravīt — then said
1.27.2
gṛhītāstro 'smi bhagavan durādharṣaḥ surair api
astrāṇāṃ tv aham icchāmi saṃhāraṃ munipuṃgava
“I have taken up the weapons, O venerable one, and am now unassailable even by the gods; but I wish, O bull among sages, to know their withdrawal.”
Words: gṛhītāstro 'smi — I have taken up the weapons; bhagavan — O venerable one; durādharṣaḥ — unassailable, hard to overcome; surair — by the gods; api — even; astrāṇāṃ — of the weapons; tv — but; aham — I; icchāmi — I wish, desire; saṃhāraṃ — the withdrawal, recalling; munipuṃgava — O bull among sages
1.27.3
evaṃ bruvati kākutsthe viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ
saṃhāraṃ vyājahārātha dhṛtimān suvrataḥ śuciḥ
As Kākutstha spoke thus, the great sage Viśvāmitra — steadfast, of firm vows, and pure — then declared the means of withdrawal:
Words: evaṃ — thus; bruvati — as (he) spoke; kākutsthe — Kākutstha (loc.); viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage; saṃhāraṃ — the withdrawal; vyājahārātha — then declared, uttered; dhṛtimān — steadfast, resolute; suvrataḥ — of firm vows; śuciḥ — pure
1.27.4
satyavantaṃ satyakīrtiṃ dhṛṣṭaṃ rabhasam eva ca
pratihārataraṃ nāma parāṅmukham avāṅmukham
Satyavat and Satyakīrti, Dhṛṣṭa and Rabhasa, the one named Pratihāratara, Parāṅmukha and Avāṅmukha,
Words: satyavantaṃ — Satyavat (the Truthful); satyakīrtiṃ — Satyakīrti (of true fame); dhṛṣṭaṃ — Dhṛṣṭa (the Bold); rabhasam — Rabhasa (the Impetuous); eva — indeed; ca — and; pratihārataraṃ — Pratihāratara; nāma — by name; parāṅmukham — Parāṅmukha (turned-away-faced); avāṅmukham — Avāṅmukha (downward-faced)
1.27.5
lakṣākṣaviṣamau caiva dṛḍhanābhasunābhakau
daśākṣaśatavaktrau ca daśaśīrṣaśatodarau
Lakṣākṣa and Viṣama, and Dṛḍhanābha and Sunābha, Daśākṣa and Śatavaktra, and Daśaśīrṣa and Śatodara,
Words: lakṣākṣaviṣamau — Lakṣākṣa and Viṣama (dual); caiva — and; dṛḍhanābhasunābhakau — Dṛḍhanābha and Sunābha (dual); daśākṣaśatavaktrau — Daśākṣa and Śatavaktra (dual); ca — and; daśaśīrṣaśatodarau — Daśaśīrṣa and Śatodara (dual)
1.27.6
padmanābhamahānābhau dundunābhasunābhakau
jyotiṣaṃ kṛśanaṃ caiva nairāśya vimalāv ubhau
Padmanābha and Mahānābha, Dundunābha and Sunābha, and Jyotiṣa and Kṛśana, and both Nairāśya and Vimala,
Words: padmanābhamahānābhau — Padmanābha and Mahānābha (dual); dundunābhasunābhakau — Dundunābha and Sunābha (dual); jyotiṣaṃ — Jyotiṣa (the Luminous); kṛśanaṃ — Kṛśana; caiva — and; nairāśya — Nairāśya; vimalāv — Vimala (the Spotless, dual); ubhau — both
1.27.7
yaugandharaharidrau ca daityapramathanau tathā
pitryaṃ saumanasaṃ caiva vidhūtamakarāv ubhau
Yaugandhara and Haridra, and likewise the two Daityapramathanas (crushers of the Daityas), and Pitrya and Saumanasa, and both Vidhūta and Makara,
Words: yaugandharaharidrau — Yaugandhara and Haridra (dual); ca — and; daityapramathanau — the two Daityapramathana (crushers of the Daityas); tathā — likewise; pitryaṃ — Pitrya (of the ancestors); saumanasaṃ — Saumanasa; caiva — and; vidhūtamakarāv — Vidhūta and Makara (dual); ubhau — both
1.27.8
karavīrakaraṃ caiva dhanadhānyau ca rāghava
kāmarūpaṃ kāmaruciṃ moham āvaraṇaṃ tathā
and Karavīrakara, and Dhana and Dhānya, O Rāghava; Kāmarūpa and Kāmaruci, and Moha and Āvaraṇa likewise,
Words: karavīrakaraṃ — Karavīrakara; caiva — and; dhanadhānyau — Dhana and Dhānya (dual); ca — and; rāghava — O Rāghava; kāmarūpaṃ — Kāmarūpa (form-at-will); kāmaruciṃ — Kāmaruci (pleasure-at-will); moham — Moha (Delusion); āvaraṇaṃ — Āvaraṇa (Concealment); tathā — likewise
1.27.9
jṛmbhakaṃ sarvanābhaṃ ca santānavaraṇau tathā
bhṛśāśvatanayān rāma bhāsvarān kāmarūpiṇaḥ
Jṛmbhaka and Sarvanābha, and the two Santāna and Varaṇa likewise — these radiant sons of Bhṛśāśva, O Rāma, able to take any form at will —
Words: jṛmbhakaṃ — Jṛmbhaka (the Gaper); sarvanābhaṃ — Sarvanābha (all-naveled); ca — and; santānavaraṇau — Santāna and Varaṇa (dual); tathā — likewise; bhṛśāśvatanayān — the sons of Bhṛśāśva; rāma — O Rāma; bhāsvarān — radiant, shining; kāmarūpiṇaḥ — able to take any form at will
1.27.10
pratīccha mama bhadraṃ te pātrabhūto 'si rāghava
divyabhāsvaradehāś ca mūrtimantaḥ sukhapradāḥ
receive them from me; blessings on you, for you are a worthy vessel, O Rāghava. And with divine, radiant bodies, embodied and bringing joy,
Words: pratīccha — receive, accept; mama — from me, my; bhadraṃ — a blessing; te — to you; pātrabhūto 'si — you are a worthy vessel; rāghava — O Rāghava; divyabhāsvaradehāś — with divine radiant bodies; ca — and; mūrtimantaḥ — embodied, having form; sukhapradāḥ — bringing joy
1.27.11
rāmaṃ prāñjalayo bhūtvābruvan madhurabhāṣiṇaḥ
ime sma naraśārdūla śādhi kiṃ karavāma te
with palms joined and speaking sweetly, they said to Rāma: “Here we are, O tiger among men; command us — what shall we do for you?”
Words: rāmaṃ — to Rāma; prāñjalayo — with palms joined; bhūtvābruvan — having become, they said; madhurabhāṣiṇaḥ — speaking sweetly; ime — here (we are); sma — indeed (particle); naraśārdūla — O tiger among men; śādhi — command, instruct; kiṃ — what; karavāma — shall we do; te — for you
1.27.12
gamyatām iti tān āha yatheṣṭaṃ raghunandanaḥ
mānasāḥ kāryakāleṣu sāhāyyaṃ me kariṣyatha
“Go where you please,” the delight of the Raghus said to them; “dwelling in my mind, in times of need you shall render me aid.”
Words: gamyatām — let (you) go, depart; iti — thus; tān — to them; āha — said; yatheṣṭaṃ — as you please; raghunandanaḥ — the delight of the Raghus; mānasāḥ — dwelling in the mind, mental ones; kāryakāleṣu — in times of need, when there is work; sāhāyyaṃ — assistance, help; me — to me; kariṣyatha — you shall render, do
1.27.13
atha te rāmam āmantrya kṛtvā cāpi pradakṣiṇam
evam astv iti kākutstham uktvā jagmur yathāgatam
Then they, taking leave of Rāma and circumambulating him reverently, said to Kākutstha “So be it,” and departed as they had come.
Words: atha — then; te — they; rāmam — Rāma; āmantrya — having taken leave of; kṛtvā — having made, done; cāpi — and also; pradakṣiṇam — circumambulation (keeping to the right); evam — so, thus; astv — let it be; iti — thus; kākutstham — to Kākutstha; uktvā — having said; jagmur — they went, departed; yathāgatam — as they had come
1.27.14
sa ca tān rāghavo jñātvā viśvāmitraṃ mahāmunim
gacchann evātha madhuraṃ ślakṣṇaṃ vacanam abravīt
And Rāghava, having taken note of them, then, even as he walked on, spoke to the great sage Viśvāmitra these sweet and gentle words:
Words: sa — he; ca — and; tān — them; rāghavo — Rāghava; jñātvā — having understood, taken note of; viśvāmitraṃ — to Viśvāmitra; mahāmunim — the great sage; gacchann — walking, going along; evātha — even then; madhuraṃ — sweet; ślakṣṇaṃ — gentle, smooth; vacanam — words; abravīt — spoke
1.27.15
kiṃ nv etan meghasaṃkāśaṃ parvatasyāvidūrataḥ
vṛkṣaṣaṇḍam ito bhāti paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me
“What is this, resembling a cloud, that gleams yonder near the mountain — this grove of trees? For great indeed is my curiosity.
Words: kiṃ — what; nv — then, pray; etan — this; meghasaṃkāśaṃ — resembling a cloud; parvatasyāvidūrataḥ — not far from the mountain; vṛkṣaṣaṇḍam — grove of trees; ito — from here, yonder; bhāti — shines, appears; paraṃ — great, exceeding; kautūhalaṃ — curiosity; hi — indeed, for; me — my
1.27.16
darśanīyaṃ mṛgākīrṇaṃ manoharam atīva ca
nānāprakāraiḥ śakunair valgubhāṣair alaṃkṛtam
Lovely to behold, thronged with deer, and exceedingly charming, adorned with sweet-voiced birds of many kinds.
Words: darśanīyaṃ — lovely to behold; mṛgākīrṇaṃ — thronged with deer; manoharam — charming, captivating; atīva — exceedingly; ca — and; nānāprakāraiḥ — of many kinds; śakunair — with birds; valgubhāṣair — sweet-voiced; alaṃkṛtam — adorned
1.27.17
niḥsṛtāḥ sma muniśreṣṭha kāntārād romaharṣaṇāt
anayā tv avagacchāmi deśasya sukhavattayā
We have come out, O best of sages, from that hair-raising wilderness; and by this pleasantness of the region I perceive that we are near a dwelling.
Words: niḥsṛtāḥ — come out, emerged; sma — indeed (particle marking the past); muniśreṣṭha — O best of sages; kāntārād — from the wilderness; romaharṣaṇāt — hair-raising, terrifying; anayā — by this; tv — indeed; avagacchāmi — I perceive, understand; deśasya — of the region; sukhavattayā — by the pleasantness
1.27.18
sarvaṃ me śaṃsa bhagavan kasyāśramapadaṃ tv idam
saṃprāptā yatra te pāpā brahmaghnā duṣṭacāriṇaḥ
Tell me all, O venerable one: whose hermitage is this, where those sinful, brahmin-slaying evildoers have come?”
Words: sarvaṃ — everything, all; me — to me; śaṃsa — tell, relate; bhagavan — O venerable one; kasyāśramapadaṃ — whose hermitage; tv — indeed; idam — this; saṃprāptā — have arrived, come; yatra — where; te — those; pāpā — sinful (ones); brahmaghnā — slayers of brahmins; duṣṭacāriṇaḥ — evil-doers, of wicked conduct
← 1.26 Divine weapons: Viśvāmitra grants the powers · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.28 Story of Siddhāśrama: Vāmana’s three strides →
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/1/27.md · JSON: /data/1/27.json