← 1.28 Story of Siddhāśrama: Vāmana’s three strides · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.30 Departure for Mithilā and the camp beside the Śoṇā →

Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 29: Protection of Siddhāśrama: Rāma’s three astras

Summary. Rāma casts Mārīca into the sea with the Mānava astra, kills Subāhu with the Āgneya astra and defeats the remaining rākṣasas with the Vāyavya astra, allowing the yajña to finish

Sequence

  1. The brothers ask when the attackers are expected so they can be ready (1.29.1–2)
  2. the munis explain that Viśvāmitra will remain silent during his dīkṣā and that they must guard him for six nights (1.29.3–4)
  3. Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa keep watch without sleeping for six days and nights (1.29.5–6)
  4. on the sixth day Rāma tells Lakṣmaṇa to stay alert → the altar blazes as the ritual proceeds, and a terrifying noise rises overhead (1.29.7–9)
  5. Mārīca, Subāhu, and their followers sweep in like a raincloud, using magic and pouring down streams of blood (1.29.10–11)
  6. Rāma announces that the Mānava astra will scatter them (1.29.12–13)
  7. he strikes Mārīca in the breast with it, hurling him a hundred yojanas into the surging ocean (1.29.14–15)
  8. seeing Mārīca senseless and reeling under the cold arrow’s force, Rāma tells Lakṣmaṇa that the Mānava astra, described as śīteṣu (cold-arrowed), attended by dharma, has stunned and carried him away without killing him (1.29.16–17)
  9. he strikes Subāhu in the breast with the Āgneya astra (fire missile) and kills the remaining attackers with the Vāyavya astra (wind missile), bringing joy to the munis (1.29.18–20)
  10. the ṛṣis honor him → the yajña reaches completion → seeing every direction free of calamity, Viśvāmitra declares, “I have accomplished my purpose” → he says that Rāma has carried out his elder’s command and made Siddhāśrama true to its name. (1.29.21–23)

Verses 1.29.1–23

1.29.1

atha tau deśakālajñau rājaputrāv ariṃdamau
deśe kāle ca vākyajñāv abrūtāṃ kauśikaṃ vacaḥ

Then the two princes, tamers of foes, knowing place and time and skilled in speech fitting to place and occasion, spoke these words to Kauśika:

Words: atha — then; tau — the two; deśakālajñau — knowing place and time (dual); rājaputrāv — the two princes; ariṃdamau — tamers of foes (dual); deśe — in place; kāle — in time; ca — and; vākyajñāv — knowing (fitting) speech (dual); abrūtāṃ — the two spoke; kauśikaṃ — to Kauśika (Viśvāmitra); vacaḥ — words

1.29.2

bhagavañ śrotum icchāvo yasmin kāle niśācarau
saṃrakṣaṇīyau tau brahman nātivarteta tatkṣaṇam

“Venerable one, we wish to hear at what time the two night-rangers (will come), those two who are to be guarded against, O brahmin — let that moment not slip by us.”

Words: bhagavañ — O venerable one; śrotum — to hear; icchāvo — we two wish; yasmin — in which; kāle — time; niśācarau — the two night-rangers (dual); saṃrakṣaṇīyau — to be guarded against, watched for (dual); tau — those two; brahman — O brahmin; nātivarteta — let (it) not slip by, pass unheeded; tatkṣaṇam — that moment

1.29.3

evaṃ bruvāṇau kākutsthau tvaramāṇau yuyutsayā
sarve te munayaḥ prītāḥ praśaśaṃsur nṛpātmajau

As the two Kākutsthas spoke thus, hastening in their eagerness for battle, all those sages, well pleased, praised the two princes:

Words: evaṃ — thus; bruvāṇau — the two speaking; kākutsthau — the two Kākutsthas; tvaramāṇau — hastening, in haste (dual); yuyutsayā — out of eagerness to fight; sarve — all; te — those; munayaḥ — sages; prītāḥ — pleased, delighted; praśaśaṃsur — praised; nṛpātmajau — the two princes (dual)

1.29.4

adya prabhṛti ṣaḍrātraṃ rakṣataṃ rāghavau yuvām
dīkṣāṃ gato hy eṣa munir maunitvaṃ ca gamiṣyati

“From this day, for six nights, do you two Rāghavas keep guard; for this sage has entered upon consecration and will observe silence.”

Words: adya — today; prabhṛti — beginning from, henceforth; ṣaḍrātraṃ — for six nights; rakṣataṃ — keep guard, protect (2nd dual); rāghavau — O two Rāghavas; yuvām — you two; dīkṣāṃ — consecration; gato — having entered upon, gone to; hy — for; eṣa — this; munir — sage; maunitvaṃ — silence, a state of muni-silence; ca — and; gamiṣyati — will observe, go to

1.29.5

tau tu tad vacanaṃ śrutvā rājaputrau yaśasvinau
anidrau ṣaḍahorātraṃ tapovanam arakṣatām

The two illustrious princes, hearing those words, sleepless, for six days and nights guarded the penance-grove.

Words: tau — the two; tu — and; tad vacanaṃ — those words; śrutvā — having heard; rājaputrau — the two princes; yaśasvinau — illustrious (dual); anidrau — sleepless (dual); ṣaḍahorātraṃ — for six days and nights; tapovanam — the penance-grove; arakṣatām — the two guarded, protected

1.29.6

upāsāṃ cakratur vīrau yattau paramadhanvinau
rarakṣatur munivaraṃ viśvāmitram ariṃdamau

The two heroes, alert, the foremost of bowmen, waited upon him; and the two tamers of foes guarded the excellent sage Viśvāmitra.

Words: upāsāṃ cakratur — the two waited upon, attended; vīrau — the two heroes; yattau — alert, ready (dual); paramadhanvinau — the foremost of bowmen (dual); rarakṣatur — the two guarded; munivaraṃ — the excellent sage; viśvāmitram — Viśvāmitra; ariṃdamau — the two tamers of foes

1.29.7

atha kāle gate tasmin ṣaṣṭhe 'hani samāgate
saumitram abravīd rāmo yatto bhava samāhitaḥ

Then, when that time had passed and the sixth day had come, Rāma said to Saumitri: “Be alert and attentive.”

Words: atha — then; kāle gate tasmin — when that time had passed; ṣaṣṭhe — on the sixth; 'hani — day; samāgate — having arrived, come; saumitram — to Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa); abravīd — said; rāmo — Rāma; yatto — alert, ready; bhava — be; samāhitaḥ — attentive, composed

1.29.8

rāmasyaivaṃ bruvāṇasya tvaritasya yuyutsayā
prajajvāla tato vediḥ sopādhyāyapurohitā

As Rāma spoke thus, hastening in his eagerness for battle, thereupon the altar blazed up, together with its teachers and priest.

Words: rāmasyaivaṃ — of Rāma thus; bruvāṇasya — of (him) speaking; tvaritasya — of (him) hastening, in haste; yuyutsayā — out of eagerness to fight; prajajvāla — blazed up, flared; tato — then, thereupon; vediḥ — the altar; sopādhyāyapurohitā — together with its teachers and priest

1.29.9

mantravac ca yathānyāyaṃ yajño 'sau saṃpravartate
ākāśe ca mahāñ śabdaḥ prādur āsīd bhayānakaḥ

And that sacrifice proceeded with proper mantras, according to rule; and in the sky arose a great and terrifying noise.

Words: mantravac — accompanied by mantras; ca — and; yathānyāyaṃ — according to rule, as prescribed; yajño 'sau — that sacrifice; saṃpravartate — proceeds, goes forward; ākāśe — in the sky; ca — and; mahāñ — great; śabdaḥ — noise, sound; prādur āsīd — arose, became manifest; bhayānakaḥ — terrifying, dreadful

1.29.10

āvārya gaganaṃ megho yathā prāvṛṣi nirgataḥ
tathā māyāṃ vikurvāṇau rākṣasāv abhyadhāvatām

As a cloud, veiling the sky, comes forth in the rainy season, so the two rākṣasas, conjuring up their magic, rushed on.

Words: āvārya — having covered, veiled; gaganaṃ — the sky; megho — a cloud; yathā — as; prāvṛṣi — in the rainy season; nirgataḥ — come forth, arisen; tathā — so; māyāṃ — magic, illusion; vikurvāṇau — conjuring up, working (dual); rākṣasāv — the two rākṣasas; abhyadhāvatām — the two rushed on, ran up

1.29.11

mārīcaś ca subāhuś ca tayor anucarās tathā
āgamya bhīmasaṃkāśā rudhiraughān avāsṛjan

Mārīca and Subāhu, and likewise their followers, coming on, dreadful to behold, poured down streams of blood.

Words: mārīcaś — Mārīca; ca — and; subāhuś — Subāhu; ca — and; tayor — their, of those two; anucarās — followers, attendants; tathā — likewise; āgamya — having come; bhīmasaṃkāśā — dreadful to behold; rudhiraughān — streams of blood; avāsṛjan — poured down, let loose

1.29.12

tāv āpatantau sahasā dṛṣṭvā rājīvalocanaḥ
lakṣmaṇaṃ tv abhisaṃprekṣya rāmo vacanam abravīt

Seeing those two rushing suddenly upon them, the lotus-eyed Rāma, glancing at Lakṣmaṇa, spoke these words:

Words: tāv — those two; āpatantau — rushing upon, falling upon (dual); sahasā — suddenly; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; rājīvalocanaḥ — the lotus-eyed one; lakṣmaṇaṃ — at Lakṣmaṇa; tv — and; abhisaṃprekṣya — having glanced at, looked toward; rāmo — Rāma; vacanam — words; abravīt — spoke

1.29.13

paśya lakṣmaṇa durvṛttān rākṣasān piśitāśanān
mānavāstrasamādhūtān anilena yathāghanān

“Behold, Lakṣmaṇa, these wicked, flesh-eating rākṣasas, about to be scattered by the Mānava weapon, like clouds by the wind.”

Words: paśya — behold, look; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; durvṛttān — wicked, of evil conduct; rākṣasān — the rākṣasas; piśitāśanān — flesh-eating; mānavāstrasamādhūtān — scattered by the Mānava weapon; anilena — by the wind; yathāghanān — like clouds

1.29.14

mānavaṃ paramodāram astraṃ paramabhāsvaram
cikṣepa paramakruddho mārīcor asi rāghavaḥ

Rāghava, exceedingly enraged, hurled the most excellent, exceedingly radiant Mānava weapon at Mārīca's breast.

Words: mānavaṃ — the Mānava; paramodāram — most excellent; astraṃ — weapon; paramabhāsvaram — exceedingly radiant; cikṣepa — hurled, cast; paramakruddho — exceedingly enraged; mārīcor asi — at Mārīca's breast; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava

1.29.15

sa tena paramāstreṇa mānavena samāhitaḥ
saṃpūrṇaṃ yojanaśataṃ kṣiptaḥ sāgarasaṃplave

Struck by that supreme Mānava weapon, he was flung a full hundred yojanas, into the surging flood of the ocean.

Words: sa — he; tena — by that; paramāstreṇa — supreme weapon; mānavena — the Mānava; samāhitaḥ — struck, assailed; saṃpūrṇaṃ — full, complete; yojanaśataṃ — a hundred yojanas; kṣiptaḥ — flung, hurled; sāgarasaṃplave — into the flood of the ocean

1.29.16

vicetanaṃ vighūrṇantaṃ śīteṣubalapīḍitam
nirastaṃ dṛśya mārīcaṃ rāmo lakṣmaṇam abravīt

Seeing Mārīca senseless, reeling, oppressed by the force of the cold arrow, and cast away, Rāma said to Lakṣmaṇa:

Words: vicetanaṃ — senseless, unconscious; vighūrṇantaṃ — reeling, whirling about; śīteṣubalapīḍitam — oppressed by the force of the cold arrow; nirastaṃ — cast away, flung off; dṛśya — having seen; mārīcaṃ — Mārīca; rāmo — Rāma; lakṣmaṇam — to Lakṣmaṇa; abravīt — said

1.29.17

paśya lakṣmaṇa śīteṣuṃ mānavaṃ dharmasaṃhitam
mohayitvā nayaty enaṃ na ca prāṇair viyujyate

“Behold, Lakṣmaṇa, the cold-arrowed Mānava (weapon), attended by dharma: having stupefied him, it carries him off, yet he is not deprived of life.

Words: paśya — behold; lakṣmaṇa — O Lakṣmaṇa; śīteṣuṃ — the cold-arrowed (Śīteṣu); mānavaṃ — the Mānava; dharmasaṃhitam — attended by, in accord with dharma; mohayitvā — having stupefied, deluded; nayaty — carries off, leads away; enaṃ — him; na — not; ca — and, yet; prāṇair — of life-breaths; viyujyate — is deprived, separated

1.29.18

imān api vadhiṣyāmi nirghṛṇān duṣṭacāriṇaḥ
rākṣasān pāpakarmasthān yajñaghnān rudhirāśanān

These too I shall slay — the pitiless evildoers, the rākṣasas set on wicked deeds, wreckers of sacrifice, drinkers of blood.”

Words: imān — these; api — too; vadhiṣyāmi — I shall slay; nirghṛṇān — pitiless, merciless; duṣṭacāriṇaḥ — evildoers, of wicked conduct; rākṣasān — the rākṣasas; pāpakarmasthān — set on wicked deeds; yajñaghnān — wreckers of sacrifice; rudhirāśanān — drinkers of blood

1.29.19

vigṛhya sumahac cāstram āgneyaṃ raghunandanaḥ
subāhur asi cikṣepa sa viddhaḥ prāpatad bhuvi

Seizing the very great Āgneya (fire) weapon, the delight of the Raghus hurled it at Subāhu's breast; struck, he fell to the ground.

Words: vigṛhya — having seized, taken up; sumahac — very great; cāstram — and the weapon; āgneyaṃ — the fiery (Āgneya); raghunandanaḥ — the delight of the Raghus; subāhur asi — at Subāhu's breast; cikṣepa — hurled, cast; sa — he; viddhaḥ — struck, pierced; prāpatad — fell down; bhuvi — on the ground, earth

1.29.20

śeṣān vāyavyam ādāya nijaghāna mahāyaśāḥ
rāghavaḥ paramodāro munīnāṃ mudam āvahan

Taking up the Vāyavya (wind) weapon, the greatly illustrious, most noble Rāghava slew the rest, bringing joy to the sages.

Words: śeṣān — the rest, the remaining ones; vāyavyam — the wind-weapon (Vāyavya); ādāya — having taken up; nijaghāna — slew, struck down; mahāyaśāḥ — the greatly illustrious; rāghavaḥ — Rāghava; paramodāro — most noble; munīnāṃ — to the sages; mudam — joy; āvahan — bringing, causing

1.29.21

sa hatvā rākṣasān sarvān yajñaghnān raghunandanaḥ
ṛṣibhiḥ pūjitas tatra yathendro vijaye purā

Having slain all those sacrifice-wrecking rākṣasas, the delight of the Raghus was honoured there by the seers, as Indra was of old upon a victory.

Words: sa — he; hatvā — having slain; rākṣasān — the rākṣasas; sarvān — all; yajñaghnān — wreckers of sacrifice; raghunandanaḥ — the delight of the Raghus; ṛṣibhiḥ — by the seers; pūjitas — honoured; tatra — there; yathendro — as Indra; vijaye — upon a victory; purā — of old, formerly

1.29.22

atha yajñe samāpte tu viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ
nirītikā diśo dṛṣṭvā kākutstham idam abravīt

Then, when the sacrifice was completed, the great sage Viśvāmitra, seeing the quarters free of all calamity, spoke thus to Kākutstha:

Words: atha — then; yajñe samāpte — when the sacrifice was completed; tu — and; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage; nirītikā — free of calamity; diśo — the quarters, directions; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; kākutstham — to Kākutstha; idam — this; abravīt — spoke

1.29.23

kṛtārtho 'smi mahābāho kṛtaṃ guruvacas tvayā
siddhāśramam idaṃ satyaṃ kṛtaṃ rāma mahāyaśaḥ

“I have accomplished my purpose, O mighty-armed one; my elder's command has been carried out by you. You have made this Siddhāśrama true to its name, O illustrious Rāma.”

Words: kṛtārtho 'smi — I have accomplished my purpose; mahābāho — O mighty-armed one; kṛtaṃ — done, fulfilled; guruvacas — the elder's command, my word; tvayā — by you; siddhāśramam — Siddhāśrama; idaṃ — this; satyaṃ — true; kṛtaṃ — made; rāma — O Rāma; mahāyaśaḥ — O illustrious one

← 1.28 Story of Siddhāśrama: Vāmana’s three strides · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.30 Departure for Mithilā and the camp beside the Śoṇā →

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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