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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 30: Departure for Mithilā and the camp beside the Śoṇā

Summary. The ṛṣis invite the princes to Janaka’s sacrifice and the bow no suitor has strung, a camp beside the Śoṇā prompts the region’s history

Sequence

  1. After a joyful night, the princes perform their morning rites, salute Viśvāmitra, and ask for their next task (1.30.1–4)
  2. the maharṣis invite them to Janaka's sacrifice in Mithilā, where they can see his extraordinary divine bow (1.30.5–7)
  3. they explain that neither Devas, gandharvas, asuras and rākṣasas nor the Kings who tested it could string it → the maharṣis say Janaka obtained it from the Devas as a sacrificial reward (1.30.8–12)
  4. Viśvāmitra takes leave of the vanadevatās, saying that he will journey toward the Himālaya on the Gaṅgā’s northern bank → he circles Siddhāśrama and sets out northward with the princes and ṛṣis (1.30.13–15)
  5. roughly a hundred cartloads accompany his followers, and even the hermitage's animals and birds follow him (1.30.16–17)
  6. after a long journey they camp beside the Śoṇā at sunset → they bathe, make fire offerings, and gather around Viśvāmitra (1.30.18–20)
  7. Rāma asks about the flourishing country around them → Viśvāmitra begins its history. (1.30.21–23)

Verses 1.30.1–23

1.30.1

atha tāṃ rajanīṃ tatra kṛtārthau rāmalakṣaṇau
ūṣatur muditau vīrau prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā

Then Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, their purpose accomplished, the two heroes, passed that night there in gladness, with joyful inmost hearts.

Words: atha — then; tāṃ — that; rajanīṃ — night; tatra — there; kṛtārthau — their purpose accomplished (dual); rāmalakṣaṇau — Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa (dual); ūṣatur — the two passed, dwelt; muditau — glad, delighted (dual); vīrau — the two heroes; prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā — with joyful inmost heart

1.30.2

prabhātāyāṃ tu śarvaryāṃ kṛtapaurvāhṇikakriyau
viśvāmitram ṛṣīṃś cānyān sahitāv abhijagmatuḥ

When the night had brightened into dawn, the two, having performed their morning rites, went together to Viśvāmitra and the other seers.

Words: prabhātāyāṃ — when it had dawned; tu — and; śarvaryāṃ — the night (loc.); kṛtapaurvāhṇikakriyau — having performed the morning rites (dual); viśvāmitram — Viśvāmitra; ṛṣīṃś — the seers; cānyān — and the others; sahitāv — together (dual); abhijagmatuḥ — the two went to, approached

1.30.3

abhivādya muniśreṣṭhaṃ jvalantam iva pāvakam
ūcatur madhurodāraṃ vākyaṃ madhurabhāṣiṇau

Having saluted the best of sages, who blazed like fire, the two sweet-spoken ones uttered sweet and noble words:

Words: abhivādya — having saluted; muniśreṣṭhaṃ — the best of sages; jvalantam — blazing; iva — like; pāvakam — fire; ūcatur — the two said; madhurodāraṃ — sweet and noble; vākyaṃ — words, speech; madhurabhāṣiṇau — the two sweet-spoken (dual)

1.30.4

imau svo muniśārdūla kiṃkarau samupasthitau
ājñāpaya yatheṣṭaṃ vai śāsanaṃ karavāva kim

“Here we two stand, O tiger among sages, as your servants, present before you; command us as you please — what order shall we carry out?”

Words: imau — here (we) two; svo — we two are; muniśārdūla — O tiger among sages; kiṃkarau — the two servants (dual); samupasthitau — present, standing near (dual); ājñāpaya — command, order; yatheṣṭaṃ — as you please; vai — indeed; śāsanaṃ — command, order; karavāva — shall we two carry out; kim — what

1.30.5

evam ukte tatas tābhyāṃ sarva eva maharṣayaḥ
viśvāmitraṃ puraskṛtya rāmaṃ vacanam abruvan

When this had been said by the two, then all the great seers, placing Viśvāmitra at their head, spoke these words to Rāma:

Words: evam ukte — when this had been said; tatas — then; tābhyāṃ — by the two; sarva — all; eva — indeed; maharṣayaḥ — the great seers; viśvāmitraṃ — Viśvāmitra; puraskṛtya — having placed at their head; rāmaṃ — to Rāma; vacanam — words; abruvan — spoke

1.30.6

maithilasya naraśreṣṭha janakasya bhaviṣyati
yajñaḥ paramadharmiṣṭhas tatra yāsyāmahe vayam

“O best of men, a most righteous sacrifice of Janaka, king of Mithilā, will take place; thither we shall go.

Words: maithilasya — of the Maithila (king of Mithilā); naraśreṣṭha — O best of men; janakasya — of Janaka; bhaviṣyati — will be, take place; yajñaḥ — a sacrifice; paramadharmiṣṭhas — most righteous; tatra — there, thither; yāsyāmahe — we shall go; vayam — we

1.30.7

tvaṃ caiva naraśārdūla sahāsmābhir gamiṣyasi
adbhutaṃ ca dhanūratnaṃ tatra tvaṃ draṣṭum arhasi

And you too, O tiger among men, shall go with us; and there you shall behold a wondrous jewel of a bow.

Words: tvaṃ — you; caiva — and too; naraśārdūla — O tiger among men; sahāsmābhir — together with us; gamiṣyasi — you shall go; adbhutaṃ — wondrous; ca — and; dhanūratnaṃ — the jewel of a bow; tatra — there; tvaṃ — you; draṣṭum — to see, behold; arhasi — you ought, are fit

1.30.8

tad dhi pūrvaṃ naraśreṣṭha dattaṃ sadasi daivataiḥ
aprameyabalaṃ ghoraṃ makhe paramabhāsvaram

For that bow, O best of men, was given long ago by the gods in the assembly, at a sacrifice — of immeasurable power, terrible, exceedingly radiant.

Words: tad — that; dhi — for, indeed; pūrvaṃ — formerly, long ago; naraśreṣṭha — O best of men; dattaṃ — given; sadasi — in the assembly; daivataiḥ — by the gods; aprameyabalaṃ — of immeasurable power; ghoraṃ — terrible; makhe — at the sacrifice; paramabhāsvaram — exceedingly radiant

1.30.9

nāsya devā na gandharvā nāsurā na ca rākṣasāḥ
kartum āropaṇaṃ śaktā na kathaṃ cana mānuṣāḥ

Neither gods nor gandharvas, neither asuras nor rākṣasas, are able to string it — much less humans, in any way whatever.

Words: nāsya — not of it; devā — gods; na — not; gandharvā — gandharvas; nāsurā — nor asuras; na — not; ca — and; rākṣasāḥ — rākṣasas; kartum — to make, do; āropaṇaṃ — the stringing (of the bow); śaktā — able; na — not; kathaṃ cana — in any way at all; mānuṣāḥ — humans, men

1.30.10

dhanuṣas tasya vīryaṃ hi jijñāsanto mahīkṣitaḥ
na śekur āropayituṃ rājaputrā mahābalāḥ

For kings, wishing to test the power of that bow — mighty princes — were unable to string it.

Words: dhanuṣas — of the bow; tasya — that; vīryaṃ — power, valour; hi — for, indeed; jijñāsanto — wishing to know, to test; mahīkṣitaḥ — kings, rulers of the earth; na — not; śekur — were able; āropayituṃ — to string, to bend on; rājaputrā — princes; mahābalāḥ — mighty

1.30.11

tad dhanur naraśārdūla maithilasya mahātmanaḥ
tatra drakṣyasi kākutstha yajñaṃ cādbhutadarśanam

That bow of the great-souled Maithila (Janaka), O tiger among men, you shall see there, O Kākutstha, and the sacrifice, a marvel to behold.

Words: tad — that; dhanur — bow; naraśārdūla — O tiger among men; maithilasya — of the Maithila; mahātmanaḥ — the great-souled; tatra — there; drakṣyasi — you shall see; kākutstha — O Kākutstha; yajñaṃ — the sacrifice; cādbhutadarśanam — and a marvel to behold

1.30.12

tad dhi yajñaphalaṃ tena maithilenottamaṃ dhanuḥ
yācitaṃ naraśārdūla sunābhaṃ sarvadaivataiḥ

For that excellent, fair-naveled bow was, as the reward of a sacrifice, obtained by that Maithila upon request from all the gods, O tiger among men.

Words: tad — that; dhi — for, indeed; yajñaphalaṃ — the fruit of the sacrifice; tena — by that; maithilenottamaṃ — by the Maithila; excellent; dhanuḥ — bow; yācitaṃ — requested, begged for; naraśārdūla — O tiger among men; sunābhaṃ — fair-naveled; sarvadaivataiḥ — from all the gods

1.30.13

evam uktvā munivaraḥ prasthānam akarot tadā
sarṣisaṃghaḥ sakākutstha āmantrya vanadevatāḥ

Having spoken thus, the excellent sage then set out, together with the throng of seers and with the Kākutsthas, taking leave of the forest deities.

Words: evam — thus; uktvā — having said; munivaraḥ — the excellent sage; prasthānam — departure, setting-out; akarot — made; tadā — then; sarṣisaṃghaḥ — together with the throng of seers; sakākutstha — together with the Kākutsthas; āmantrya — having taken leave of; vanadevatāḥ — the forest deities

1.30.14

svasti vo 'stu gamiṣyāmi siddhaḥ siddhāśramād aham
uttare jāhnavītīre himavantaṃ śiloccayam

“May it be well with you! Perfected, I shall depart from Siddhāśrama toward the Himālaya mountain, on the northern bank of the Jāhnavī.”

Words: svasti — well-being, benediction; vo — to you (pl.); 'stu — let it be; gamiṣyāmi — I shall go, depart; siddhaḥ — perfected, accomplished; siddhāśramād — from Siddhāśrama; aham — I; uttare — on the northern; jāhnavītīre — on the bank of the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā); himavantaṃ — the Himālaya (snow-mountain); śiloccayam — the mountain, mass of rock

1.30.15

pradakṣiṇaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā siddhāśramam anuttamam
uttarāṃ diśam uddiśya prasthātum upacakrame

Then, having circumambulated the peerless Siddhāśrama, he began to set out, heading toward the northern quarter.

Words: pradakṣiṇaṃ — circumambulation (keeping to the right); tataḥ — then; kṛtvā — having made; siddhāśramam — Siddhāśrama; anuttamam — peerless; uttarāṃ — northern; diśam — quarter, direction; uddiśya — heading toward, aiming at; prasthātum — to set out; upacakrame — began

1.30.16

taṃ vrajantaṃ munivaram anvagād anusāriṇām
śakaṭī śatamātraṃ tu prayāṇe brahmavādinām

As that excellent sage went along, there followed him on the march some hundred cartloads belonging to his attendant followers, the reciters of the Veda.

Words: taṃ — him; vrajantaṃ — going, proceeding; munivaram — the excellent sage; anvagād — followed, went after; anusāriṇām — of the followers, attendants; śakaṭī — carts, wagons; śatamātraṃ — about a hundred; tu — and; prayāṇe — on the journey, march; brahmavādinām — of the reciters of the Veda

1.30.17

mṛgapakṣigaṇāś caiva siddhāśramanivāsinaḥ
anujagmur mahātmānaṃ viśvāmitraṃ mahāmunim

And the flocks of beasts and birds dwelling in Siddhāśrama followed the great-souled Viśvāmitra, the great sage.

Words: mṛgapakṣigaṇāś — the flocks of beasts and birds; caiva — and; siddhāśramanivāsinaḥ — dwelling in Siddhāśrama; anujagmur — followed; mahātmānaṃ — the great-souled; viśvāmitraṃ — Viśvāmitra; mahāmunim — the great sage

1.30.18

te gatvā dūram adhvānaṃ lambamāne divākare
vāsaṃ cakrur munigaṇāḥ śoṇākūle samāhitāḥ

Having gone a long way, as the sun was sinking, those throngs of sages, composed, made their camp on the bank of the Śoṇā.

Words: te — they; gatvā — having gone; dūram — far, a long (way); adhvānaṃ — road, way; lambamāne divākare — as the sun was sinking; vāsaṃ — dwelling, camp; cakrur — they made; munigaṇāḥ — throngs of sages; śoṇākūle — on the bank of the Śoṇā (river); samāhitāḥ — composed, collected

1.30.19

te 'staṃ gate dinakare snātvā hutahutāśanāḥ
viśvāmitraṃ puraskṛtya niṣedur amitaujasaḥ

When the sun had set, they, having bathed and offered oblations into the fire, placing Viśvāmitra at their head, sat down — those of measureless might.

Words: te — they; 'staṃ gate dinakare — when the sun had set; snātvā — having bathed; hutahutāśanāḥ — having offered oblations into the fire; viśvāmitraṃ — Viśvāmitra; puraskṛtya — placing at their head; niṣedur — sat down; amitaujasaḥ — of measureless might

1.30.20

rāmo 'pi sahasaumitrir munīṃs tān abhipūjya ca
agrato niṣasādātha viśvāmitrasya dhīmataḥ

Rāma too, together with Saumitri, having honoured those sages, then sat down before the wise Viśvāmitra.

Words: rāmo 'pi — Rāma too; sahasaumitrir — together with Saumitri; munīṃs — the sages; tān — those; abhipūjya — having honoured; ca — and; agrato — in front, before; niṣasādātha — then sat down; viśvāmitrasya — of Viśvāmitra; dhīmataḥ — the wise

1.30.21

atha rāmo mahātejā viśvāmitraṃ mahāmunim
papraccha muniśārdūlaṃ kautūhalasamanvitaḥ

Then Rāma of great splendour, filled with curiosity, asked the great sage Viśvāmitra, that tiger among sages:

Words: atha — then; rāmo — Rāma; mahātejā — of great splendour; viśvāmitraṃ — Viśvāmitra; mahāmunim — the great sage; papraccha — asked; muniśārdūlaṃ — the tiger among sages; kautūhalasamanvitaḥ — filled with curiosity

1.30.22

bhagavan ko nv ayaṃ deśaḥ samṛddhavanaśobhitaḥ
śrotum icchāmi bhadraṃ te vaktum arhasi tattvataḥ

“Venerable one, what is this region, adorned with flourishing woodland? I wish to hear of it — blessings on you — you should tell me truly.”

Words: bhagavan — O venerable one; ko — what; nv — then, pray; ayaṃ — this; deśaḥ — region, land; samṛddhavanaśobhitaḥ — adorned with flourishing woodland; śrotum — to hear; icchāmi — I wish; bhadraṃ — a blessing; te — to you; vaktum — to tell; arhasi — you ought; tattvataḥ — truly, in truth

1.30.23

codito rāmavākyena kathayām āsa suvrataḥ
tasya deśasya nikhilam ṛṣimadhye mahātapāḥ

Urged by Rāma's words, the sage of firm vows, the great ascetic, related in the midst of the seers the whole story of that region.

Words: codito — urged, prompted; rāmavākyena — by Rāma's words; kathayām āsa — related, told; suvrataḥ — of firm vows; tasya — of that; deśasya — region; nikhilam — the whole, entire; ṛṣimadhye — in the midst of the seers; mahātapāḥ — the great ascetic

← 1.29 Protection of Siddhāśrama: Rāma’s three astras · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.31 Story of Kuśanābha: Vāyu disfigures the hundred daughters →

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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