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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 37: Story of Sagara: One heir and sixty thousand sons
Summary. Sagara’s wives choose one dynastic heir or sixty thousand sons, the many grow in ghee-filled pots while Asamañja is banished for killing children
Sequence
- Viśvāmitra continues with Rāma's Ikṣvāku ancestor Sagara, the childless King of Ayodhyā (1.37.1–2)
- Sagara undertakes austerity at Bhṛguprasravaṇa, “Bhṛgu’s cascade,” in the Himālaya with his wives Keśinī, a Vidarbha princess, and Sumati, daughter of Ariṣṭanemi (1.37.3–5)
- after a hundred years, Bhṛgu grants offspring: one wife will bear a single son to continue the dynasty, the other sixty thousand sons (1.37.6–8)
- when the Queens ask which will receive which, he leaves the choice to them → Keśinī chooses the dynastic heir, while Sumati, Garuḍa's sister, chooses the sixty thousand (1.37.9–14)
- the family returns to Ayodhyā. Keśinī gives birth to Asamañja (1.37.15)
- Sumati produces a gourd-like embryo, which bursts open to release sixty thousand sons → nurses rear them in ghee-filled pots until, in time, they grow into young men (1.37.16–19)
- Asamañja terrorizes the citizens by throwing children into the Sarayū and laughing as they drown → Sagara banishes him (1.37.20–21)
- Asamañja's son Aṃśumat, however, is brave, kindly, and universally respected (1.37.22)
- after a long time Sagara resolves to perform a sacrifice and begins the preparations with his priests. (1.37.23–24)
Verses 1.37.1–24
1.37.1
tāṃ kathāṃ kauśiko rāme nivedya madhurākṣaram
punar evāparaṃ vākyaṃ kākutstham idam abravīt
Having related that tale to Rāma in sweet-syllabled words, Kauśika (Viśvāmitra) then spoke this further word to Kākutstha:
Words: tāṃ — that; kathāṃ — tale, story; kauśiko — Kauśika (Viśvāmitra); rāme — to Rāma; nivedya — having related, communicated; madhurākṣaram — in sweet syllables; punar — again, further; evāparaṃ — and yet another; vākyaṃ — word, speech; kākutstham — to Kākutstha (Rāma); idam — this; abravīt — said
1.37.2
ayodhyādhipatiḥ śūraḥ pūrvam āsīn narādhipaḥ
sagaro nāma dharmātmā prajākāmaḥ sa cāprajaḥ
Formerly there was a valiant king, lord of Ayodhyā, Sagara by name, righteous of soul, longing for offspring, yet childless.
Words: ayodhyādhipatiḥ — lord of Ayodhyā; śūraḥ — valiant, a hero; pūrvam — formerly; āsīn — there was; narādhipaḥ — king, lord of men; sagaro — Sagara; nāma — by name; dharmātmā — righteous of soul; prajākāmaḥ — longing for offspring; sa — he; cāprajaḥ — and (yet) childless
1.37.3
vaidarbhaduhitā rāma keśinī nāma nāmataḥ
jyeṣṭhā sagarapatnī sā dharmiṣṭhā satyavādinī
O Rāma, a daughter of Vidarbha, Keśinī by name, was the elder wife of Sagara — most righteous and truthful in speech.
Words: vaidarbhaduhitā — daughter of the Vidarbha (king); rāma — O Rāma; keśinī — Keśinī; nāma — named; nāmataḥ — by name; jyeṣṭhā — the elder; sagarapatnī — Sagara's wife; sā — she; dharmiṣṭhā — most righteous; satyavādinī — truthful in speech
1.37.4
ariṣṭanemiduhitā rūpeṇāpratimā bhuvi
dvitīyā sagarasyāsīt patnī sumatisaṃjñitā
The daughter of Ariṣṭanemi, unrivalled on earth in beauty, was the second wife of Sagara, named Sumati.
Words: ariṣṭanemiduhitā — daughter of Ariṣṭanemi; rūpeṇāpratimā — unrivalled in beauty; bhuvi — on earth; dvitīyā — second; sagarasyāsīt — was Sagara's; patnī — wife; sumatisaṃjñitā — named Sumati
1.37.5
tābhyāṃ saha tadā rājā patnībhyāṃ taptavāṃs tapaḥ
himavantaṃ samāsādya bhṛguprasravaṇe girau
With those two wives the king then performed austerities, having betaken himself to Himavat, on the mountain at Bhṛgu's cascade.
Words: tābhyāṃ — with those two; saha — together with; tadā — then; rājā — the king; patnībhyāṃ — with (his two) wives; taptavāṃs — performed; tapaḥ — austerity; himavantaṃ — Himavat (the Himālaya); samāsādya — having reached, betaken himself to; bhṛguprasravaṇe — at Bhṛgu's cascade (loc.); girau — on the mountain (loc.)
1.37.6
atha varṣa śate pūrṇe tapasārādhito muniḥ
sagarāya varaṃ prādād bhṛguḥ satyavatāṃ varaḥ
Now when a hundred years were complete, the sage Bhṛgu, best of the truthful, propitiated by (Sagara's) austerity, granted Sagara a boon:
Words: atha — now, then; varṣa — years; śate — hundred (loc.); pūrṇe — complete, full (loc.); tapasārādhito — propitiated by (his) austerity; muniḥ — the sage; sagarāya — to Sagara; varaṃ — a boon; prādād — granted, gave; bhṛguḥ — Bhṛgu; satyavatāṃ — of the truthful; varaḥ — the best
1.37.7
apatyalābhaḥ sumahān bhaviṣyati tavānagha
kīrtiṃ cāpratimāṃ loke prāpsyase puruṣarṣabha
“A very great gaining of offspring shall be yours, O sinless one, and you shall win unrivalled fame in the world, O bull among men.
Words: apatyalābhaḥ — the gaining of offspring; sumahān — very great; bhaviṣyati — will be; tavānagha — yours, O sinless one; kīrtiṃ — fame, glory; cāpratimāṃ — and incomparable; loke — in the world; prāpsyase — you will attain, win; puruṣarṣabha — O bull among men
1.37.8
ekā janayitā tāta putraṃ vaṃśakaraṃ tava
ṣaṣṭiṃ putrasahasrāṇi aparā janayiṣyati
One (wife), my child, will bear a son to continue your line; the other will bring forth sixty thousand sons.”
Words: ekā — one (fem.); janayitā — will bring forth, beget; tāta — my child, dear one; putraṃ — a son; vaṃśakaraṃ — continuing the line; tava — your; ṣaṣṭiṃ — sixty; putrasahasrāṇi — thousands of sons; aparā — the other (fem.); janayiṣyati — will bring forth
1.37.9
bhāṣamāṇaṃ naravyāghraṃ rājapatnyau prasādya tam
ūcatuḥ paramaprīte kṛtāñjalipuṭe tadā
As that tiger among men (the sage) was speaking, the two royal wives, greatly pleased, having won him over, then said to him with cupped hands joined:
Words: bhāṣamāṇaṃ — (him) speaking; naravyāghraṃ — the tiger among men; rājapatnyau — the two royal wives; prasādya — having conciliated, won over; tam — him; ūcatuḥ — the two said; paramaprīte — greatly pleased (dual); kṛtāñjalipuṭe — with cupped hands joined (dual); tadā — then
1.37.10
ekaḥ kasyāḥ suto brahman kā bahūñ janayiṣyati
śrotum icchāvahe brahman satyam astu vacas tava
“Whose shall be the one son, O brahmin, and which of us will bear the many? We two wish to hear, O brahmin; may your word come true.”
Words: ekaḥ — the one; kasyāḥ — whose (fem.); suto — son; brahman — O brahmin; kā — which (fem.); bahūñ — the many; janayiṣyati — will bear; śrotum — to hear; icchāvahe — we two wish; brahman — O brahmin; satyam — true; astu — let it be; vacas — word; tava — your
1.37.11
tayos tad vacanaṃ śrutvā bhṛguḥ parama dhārmikaḥ
uvāca paramāṃ vāṇīṃ svacchando 'tra vidhīyatām
Hearing that speech of theirs, the supremely righteous Bhṛgu spoke this excellent word: “Let your own free choice be exercised in this matter.
Words: tayos — of the two of them; tad — that; vacanaṃ — speech; śrutvā — having heard; bhṛguḥ — Bhṛgu; parama — supremely; dhārmikaḥ — righteous; uvāca — spoke; paramāṃ — excellent, supreme; vāṇīṃ — word, speech; svacchando — (your) own free will; 'tra — here, in this; vidhīyatām — let it be arranged, exercised
1.37.12
eko vaṃśakaro vāstu bahavo vā mahābalāḥ
kīrtimanto mahotsāhāḥ kā vā kaṃ varam icchati
Let it be either one to continue the line, or the many — mighty, glorious, full of great energy: which of you desires which boon?”
Words: eko — one; vaṃśakaro — line-continuer; vāstu — or let there be; bahavo — the many; vā — or; mahābalāḥ — of great strength; kīrtimanto — glorious, famous; mahotsāhāḥ — of great energy; kā — which (fem.); vā — or; kaṃ — which (boon); varam — boon; icchati — desires
1.37.13
munes tu vacanaṃ śrutvā keśinī raghunandana
putraṃ vaṃśakaraṃ rāma jagrāha nṛpasaṃnidhau
Hearing the sage's word, O joy of the Raghus, Keśinī chose the son who would continue the line, O Rāma, in the king's presence.
Words: munes — of the sage; tu — and, but; vacanaṃ — word; śrutvā — having heard; keśinī — Keśinī; raghunandana — O joy of the Raghus; putraṃ — the son; vaṃśakaraṃ — line-continuing; rāma — O Rāma; jagrāha — chose, took; nṛpasaṃnidhau — in the king's presence
1.37.14
ṣaṣṭiṃ putrasahasrāṇi suparṇabhaginī tadā
mahotsāhān kīrtimato jagrāha sumatiḥ sutān
And Sumati, the sister of Suparṇa (Garuḍa), then chose sixty thousand sons, of great energy and glorious.
Words: ṣaṣṭiṃ — sixty; putrasahasrāṇi — thousands of sons; suparṇabhaginī — the sister of Suparṇa (Garuḍa); tadā — then; mahotsāhān — of great energy; kīrtimato — glorious; jagrāha — chose, took; sumatiḥ — Sumati; sutān — sons
1.37.15
pradakṣiṇam ṛṣiṃ kṛtvā śirasābhipraṇamya ca
jagāma svapuraṃ rājā sabhāryā raghunandana
Having circumambulated the seer and bowed to him with his head, the king went to his own city with his wives, O joy of the Raghus.
Words: pradakṣiṇam — circumambulation (keeping him to the right); ṛṣiṃ — the seer; kṛtvā — having made; śirasābhipraṇamya — bowing with his head; ca — and; jagāma — went; svapuraṃ — to his own city; rājā — the king; sabhāryā — with his wives; raghunandana — O joy of the Raghus
1.37.16
atha kāle gate tasmiñ jyeṣṭhā putraṃ vyajāyata
asamañja iti khyātaṃ keśinī sagarātmajam
Now when that time had passed, the elder wife Keśinī gave birth to a son of Sagara, known as Asamañja.
Words: atha — now; kāle — time (loc.); gate — gone, passed (loc.); tasmiñ — that (loc.); jyeṣṭhā — the elder; putraṃ — a son; vyajāyata — gave birth to, bore; asamañja — Asamañja; iti — so (called); khyātaṃ — known, named; keśinī — Keśinī; sagarātmajam — a son of Sagara
1.37.17
sumatis tu naravyāghra garbhatumbaṃ vyajāyata
ṣaṣṭiḥ putrasahasrāṇi tumbabhedād viniḥsṛtāḥ
But Sumati, O tiger among men, gave birth to a gourd-like embryo; and sixty thousand sons came forth from the bursting of the gourd.
Words: sumatis — Sumati; tu — but; naravyāghra — O tiger among men; garbhatumbaṃ — an embryo-gourd; vyajāyata — gave birth to; ṣaṣṭiḥ — sixty; putrasahasrāṇi — thousands of sons; tumbabhedād — from the bursting of the gourd; viniḥsṛtāḥ — came forth, issued out
1.37.18
ghṛtapūrṇeṣu kumbheṣu dhātryas tān samavardhayan
kālena mahatā sarve yauvanaṃ pratipedire
Nurses reared them in pots filled with ghee; and in the course of a long time they all attained youth.
Words: ghṛtapūrṇeṣu — filled with ghee (loc. pl.); kumbheṣu — in pots, jars; dhātryas — the nurses; tān — them; samavardhayan — reared, brought up; kālena — in time; mahatā — great, long; sarve — all; yauvanaṃ — youth; pratipedire — attained, reached
1.37.19
atha dīrgheṇa kālena rūpayauvanaśālinaḥ
ṣaṣṭiḥ putrasahasrāṇi sagarasyābhavaṃs tadā
Then after a long time Sagara's sixty thousand sons came to be endowed with beauty and youth.
Words: atha — then; dīrgheṇa — long; kālena — in time, after a period; rūpayauvanaśālinaḥ — endowed with beauty and youth; ṣaṣṭiḥ — sixty; putrasahasrāṇi — thousands of sons; sagarasyābhavaṃs — became Sagara's; tadā — then
1.37.20
sa ca jyeṣṭho naraśreṣṭha sagarasyātmasaṃbhavaḥ
bālān gṛhītvā tu jale sarayvā raghunandana
prakṣipya prahasan nityaṃ majjatas tān nirīkṣya vai
And that eldest son, O best of men, born of Sagara — O joy of the Raghus — would seize children and, casting them into the water of the Sarayū, laughing all the while, watch them as they drowned.
Words: sa — he; ca — and; jyeṣṭho — the eldest; naraśreṣṭha — O best of men; sagarasyātmasaṃbhavaḥ — born of Sagara; bālān — children, boys; gṛhītvā — having seized, taken; tu — but, and; jale — in the water; sarayvā — of the Sarayū; raghunandana — O joy of the Raghus; prakṣipya — having thrown, cast; prahasan — laughing; nityaṃ — always, constantly; majjatas — as they were drowning; tān — them; nirīkṣya — watching, looking on; vai — indeed
1.37.21
paurāṇām ahite yuktaḥ pitrā nirvāsitaḥ purāt
Bent on harm to the citizens, he was banished from the city by his father.
Words: paurāṇām — of the citizens, townsfolk; ahite — in harm, mischief; yuktaḥ — engaged, intent; pitrā — by his father; nirvāsitaḥ — banished, exiled; purāt — from the city
1.37.22
tasya putro 'ṃśumān nāma asamañjasya vīryavān
saṃmataḥ sarvalokasya sarvasyāpi priyaṃvadaḥ
Asamañja had a valiant son named Aṃśumat, esteemed by all the world and speaking kindly to everyone.
Words: tasya — his; putro 'ṃśumān — the son Aṃśumat; nāma — by name; asamañjasya — of Asamañja; vīryavān — valiant, mighty; saṃmataḥ — esteemed, approved; sarvalokasya — by all the world; sarvasyāpi — and by everyone; priyaṃvadaḥ — kindly-spoken, speaking pleasantly
1.37.23
tataḥ kālena mahatā matiḥ samabhijāyata
sagarasya naraśreṣṭha yajeyam iti niścitā
Then after a long time a resolve arose in Sagara, O best of men — the firm intention, “Let me perform a sacrifice.”
Words: tataḥ — then; kālena — in time; mahatā — great, long; matiḥ — a thought, resolve; samabhijāyata — arose, came to be; sagarasya — of/in Sagara; naraśreṣṭha — O best of men; yajeyam — ‘let me sacrifice’; iti — thus; niścitā — firmly resolved (agreeing with the resolve)
1.37.24
sa kṛtvā niścayaṃ rājā sopādhyāyagaṇas tadā
yajñakarmaṇi vedajño yaṣṭuṃ samupacakrame
Having made his decision, the king, versed in the Veda, together with his company of priestly teachers, then set about performing the sacrificial rite.
Words: sa — he; kṛtvā — having made; niścayaṃ — decision, resolve; rājā — the king; sopādhyāyagaṇas — together with the company of teachers; tadā — then; yajñakarmaṇi — in the sacrificial rite; vedajño — knower of the Veda; yaṣṭuṃ — to sacrifice; samupacakrame — set about, undertook
← 1.36 Story of Gaṅgā & Umā: Kārttikeya’s birth and six nurses · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.38 Story of Sagara: The stolen horse and the earth’s excavation →
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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