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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 49: Arrival in Mithilā: Janaka receives the travellers
Summary. Janaka welcomes the travellers at his sacrifice, asks about the princes and learns that they have come to see and test the bow
Sequence
- Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa follow Viśvāmitra northeast to Janaka's sacrificial grounds (1.49.1)
- impressed by the many learned brāhmaṇas and cart-filled encampments, Rāma asks where they should stay → Viśvāmitra chooses a secluded place with water (1.49.2–5)
- Janaka comes with his purohita Śatānanda and the ṛtvijs to offer hospitality → Viśvāmitra asks after the King and the sacrifice, and they sit with the ministers and munis (1.49.6–12)
- Janaka says the visit has made his sacrifice fruitful and explains that twelve days remain before the Devas come for their shares (1.49.13–15)
- he asks who the two matching, godlike young warriors are (1.49.16–21)
- Viśvāmitra identifies Daśaratha's sons and recounts Siddhāśrama, the rākṣasas, Viśālā, Ahalyā, and Gautama → he explains that they have come to see and test the great bow. (1.49.22–25)
Verses 1.49.1–25
1.49.1
tataḥ prāguttarāṃ gatvā rāmaḥ saumitriṇā saha
viśvāmitraṃ puraskṛtya yajñavāṭam upāgamat
Then Rāma, going in the north-easterly direction together with Saumitri, and placing Viśvāmitra in front, arrived at the sacrificial enclosure.
Words: tataḥ — then; prāguttarāṃ — the north-easterly (direction); gatvā — having gone; rāmaḥ — Rāma; saumitriṇā — with Saumitri (Lakṣmaṇa); saha — together; viśvāmitraṃ — Viśvāmitra; puraskṛtya — placing in front; yajñavāṭam — the sacrificial enclosure; upāgamat — arrived at, reached
1.49.2
rāmas tu muniśārdūlam uvāca sahalakṣmaṇaḥ
sādhvī yajñasamṛddhir hi janakasya mahātmanaḥ
And Rāma, together with Lakṣmaṇa, said to the tiger among sages: “Excellent indeed is the rich sacrifice of the great-souled Janaka.
Words: rāmas — Rāma; tu — and; muniśārdūlam — to the tiger among sages; uvāca — said; sahalakṣmaṇaḥ — together with Lakṣmaṇa; sādhvī — excellent, good; yajñasamṛddhir — the abundance/success of the sacrifice; hi — indeed; janakasya — of Janaka; mahātmanaḥ — the great-souled
1.49.3
bahūnīha sahasrāṇi nānādeśanivāsinām
brāhmaṇānāṃ mahābhāga vedādhyayanaśālinām
Here are many thousands of brahmins, O illustrious one, dwelling in various lands, distinguished in the study of the Vedas.
Words: bahūnīha — many here; sahasrāṇi — thousands; nānādeśanivāsinām — of those dwelling in various lands; brāhmaṇānāṃ — of brahmins; mahābhāga — O illustrious one; vedādhyayanaśālinām — distinguished in Veda-study
1.49.4
ṛṣivāṭāś ca dṛśyante śakaṭīśatasaṃkulāḥ
deśo vidhīyatāṃ brahman yatra vatsyāmahe vayam
And the sages' encampments are seen, crowded with hundreds of carts; let a place be assigned, O brahmin, where we may dwell.”
Words: ṛṣivāṭāś — the sages' camps; ca — and; dṛśyante — are seen; śakaṭīśatasaṃkulāḥ — crowded with hundreds of carts; deśo — a place; vidhīyatāṃ — let it be assigned; brahman — O brahmin; yatra — where; vatsyāmahe — we shall dwell; vayam — we
1.49.5
rāmasya vacanaṃ śrutvā viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ
niveśam akarod deśe vivikte salilāyute
Hearing Rāma's words, the great sage Viśvāmitra made a lodging in a secluded spot supplied with water.
Words: rāmasya — of Rāma; vacanaṃ — words; śrutvā — having heard; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage; niveśam — a lodging, encampment; akarod — made; deśe — in a place; vivikte — secluded, solitary; salilāyute — supplied with water
1.49.6
viśvāmitraṃ muniśreṣṭhaṃ śrutvā sa nṛpatis tadā
śatānandaṃ puraskṛtya purohitam aninditam
When that king then heard of Viśvāmitra, the best of sages, placing before him his blameless family-priest Śatānanda —
Words: viśvāmitraṃ — Viśvāmitra; muniśreṣṭhaṃ — the best of sages; śrutvā — having heard of; sa — that; nṛpatis — king; tadā — then; śatānandaṃ — Śatānanda; puraskṛtya — placing in front; purohitam — the family-priest; aninditam — blameless
1.49.7
ṛtvijo 'pi mahātmānas tv arghyam ādāya satvaram
viśvāmitrāya dharmeṇa dadur mantrapuraskṛtam
the great-souled officiating priests too, quickly taking up the guest-offering, gave it duly to Viśvāmitra, prefaced with sacred formulas.
Words: ṛtvijo — the officiating priests; 'pi — too, also; mahātmānas — great-souled; tv — and; arghyam — the guest-offering; ādāya — having taken up; satvaram — quickly; viśvāmitrāya — to Viśvāmitra; dharmeṇa — duly, according to dharma; dadur — gave; mantrapuraskṛtam — prefaced with mantras
1.49.8
pratigṛhya tu tāṃ pūjāṃ janakasya mahātmanaḥ
papraccha kuśalaṃ rājño yajñasya ca nirāmayam
Having accepted that honour from the great-souled Janaka, he inquired after the king's welfare and the untroubled (progress) of the sacrifice.
Words: pratigṛhya — having accepted; tu — and; tāṃ — that; pūjāṃ — honour, worship; janakasya — of Janaka; mahātmanaḥ — the great-souled; papraccha — asked after; kuśalaṃ — welfare, well-being; rājño — of the king; yajñasya — of the sacrifice; ca — and; nirāmayam — freedom from trouble, unimpeded state
1.49.9
sa tāṃś cāpi munīn pṛṣṭvā sopādhyāya purodhasaḥ
yathānyāyaṃ tataḥ sarvaiḥ samāgacchat prahṛṣṭavān
And having greeted those sages too, along with the teachers and the priests, he then, greatly delighted, met with them all as was fitting.
Words: sa — he; tāṃś cāpi — those too; munīn — the sages; pṛṣṭvā — having greeted, inquired after; sopādhyāya — with the teachers; purodhasaḥ — the priests; yathānyāyaṃ — as is fitting, properly; tataḥ — then; sarvaiḥ — with all; samāgacchat — met, came together; prahṛṣṭavān — greatly delighted
1.49.10
atha rājā muniśreṣṭhaṃ kṛtāñjalir abhāṣata
āsane bhagavān āstāṃ sahaibhir munisattamaiḥ
Then the king, with palms joined, addressed the best of sages: “Let the venerable one be seated, together with these best of sages.”
Words: atha — then; rājā — the king; muniśreṣṭhaṃ — to the best of sages; kṛtāñjalir — with palms joined; abhāṣata — addressed, spoke; āsane — on a seat; bhagavān — the venerable one; āstāṃ — let (him) be seated; sahaibhir — together with these; munisattamaiḥ — with the best of sages
1.49.11
janakasya vacaḥ śrutvā niṣasāda mahāmuniḥ
purodhā ṛtvijaś caiva rājā ca saha mantribhiḥ
Hearing Janaka's words, the great sage sat down; and so did the family-priest, the officiating priests, and the king together with his ministers.
Words: janakasya — of Janaka; vacaḥ — words; śrutvā — having heard; niṣasāda — sat down; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage; purodhā — the family-priest; ṛtvijaś caiva — and the officiating priests; rājā — the king; ca — and; saha — together with; mantribhiḥ — with the ministers
1.49.12
āsaneṣu yathānyāyam upaviṣṭān samantataḥ
dṛṣṭvā sa nṛpatis tatra viśvāmitram athābravīt
Seeing them seated all around on seats as befitting, the king there then said to Viśvāmitra:
Words: āsaneṣu — on seats; yathānyāyam — as befitting, properly; upaviṣṭān — seated; samantataḥ — all around, on every side; dṛṣṭvā — having seen; sa — that; nṛpatis — king; tatra — there; viśvāmitram — to Viśvāmitra; athābravīt — then said
1.49.13
adya yajñasamṛddhir me saphalā daivataiḥ kṛtā
adya yajñaphalaṃ prāptaṃ bhagavaddarśanān mayā
“Today my rich sacrifice has been made fruitful by the gods; today the fruit of the sacrifice has been attained by me through the sight of the venerable one.
Words: adya — today; yajñasamṛddhir — the abundance of the sacrifice; me — my; saphalā — fruitful; daivataiḥ — by the gods; kṛtā — made; adya — today; yajñaphalaṃ — the fruit of the sacrifice; prāptaṃ — attained; bhagavaddarśanān — from the sight of the venerable one; mayā — by me
1.49.14
dhanyo 'smy anugṛhīto 'smi yasya me munipuṃgava
yajñopasadanaṃ brahman prāpto 'si munibhiḥ saha
I am blessed, I am favoured, O bull among sages, in that you, O brahmin, have come to my sacrificial session together with the sages.
Words: dhanyo — blessed; 'smy — I am; anugṛhīto — favoured, graced; 'smi — I am; yasya — in that, of whom; me — my, of me; munipuṃgava — O bull among sages; yajñopasadanaṃ — the sacrificial session; brahman — O brahmin; prāpto — arrived, come; 'si — you are; munibhiḥ — with the sages; saha — together
1.49.15
dvādaśāhaṃ tu brahmarṣe śeṣam āhur manīṣiṇaḥ
tato bhāgārthino devān draṣṭum arhasi kauśika
The wise say twelve days remain, O brahmin-seer; after that you shall be able to see the gods, who come for their shares, O Kauśika.
Words: dvādaśāhaṃ — twelve days; tu — but, and; brahmarṣe — O brahmin-seer; śeṣam — remainder, what is left; āhur — they say; manīṣiṇaḥ — the wise; tato — after that, then; bhāgārthino — desiring their shares; devān — the gods; draṣṭum — to see; arhasi — you shall be able; kauśika — O Kauśika (Viśvāmitra)
1.49.16
ity uktvā muniśārdūlaṃ prahṛṣṭavadanas tadā
punas taṃ paripapraccha prāñjaliḥ prayato nṛpaḥ
Having thus spoken to the tiger among sages, the king then, with joyful face, palms joined and composed, questioned him further:
Words: ity uktvā — having thus said; muniśārdūlaṃ — to the tiger among sages; prahṛṣṭavadanas — with joyful face; tadā — then; punas — again, further; taṃ — him; paripapraccha — questioned, inquired of; prāñjaliḥ — with palms joined; prayato — composed, reverent; nṛpaḥ — the king
1.49.17
imau kumārau bhadraṃ te devatulyaparākramau
gajasiṃhagatī vīrau śārdūlavṛṣabhopamau
“These two youths — blessings on you — of prowess equal to the gods, with the gait of elephant and lion, heroes like tiger and bull,
Words: imau — these two; kumārau — youths, princes; bhadraṃ — blessing; te — to you; devatulyaparākramau — of prowess equal to the gods; gajasiṃhagatī — with the gait of elephant and lion; vīrau — two heroes; śārdūlavṛṣabhopamau — like a tiger and a bull
1.49.18
padmapatraviśālākṣau khaḍgatūṇīdhanurdharau
aśvināv iva rūpeṇa samupasthitayauvanau
with eyes wide as lotus-petals, bearing sword, quiver, and bow, in form like the two Aśvins, in the bloom of youth,
Words: padmapatraviśālākṣau — with eyes broad as lotus-petals; khaḍgatūṇīdhanurdharau — bearing sword, quiver, and bow; aśvināv — the two Aśvins; iva — like; rūpeṇa — in form; samupasthitayauvanau — in whom youth has arrived
1.49.19
yadṛcchayaiva gāṃ prāptau devalokād ivāmarau
kathaṃ padbhyām iha prāptau kimarthaṃ kasya vā mune
come to earth as if by mere chance, like two immortals from the world of the gods — how have they come here on foot, for what purpose, and whose (sons) are they, O sage?
Words: yadṛcchayaiva — by mere chance; gāṃ — the earth; prāptau — (the two) arrived; devalokād — from the world of the gods; ivāmarau — like two immortals; kathaṃ — how; padbhyām — on foot; iha — here; prāptau — (the two) arrived; kimarthaṃ — for what purpose; kasya — whose; vā — or; mune — O sage
1.49.20
varāyudhadharau vīrau kasya putrau mahāmune
bhūṣayantāv imaṃ deśaṃ candrasūryāv ivāmbaram
Bearing excellent weapons, whose sons are these two heroes, O great sage, adorning this land as the moon and sun adorn the sky,
Words: varāyudhadharau — bearing excellent weapons; vīrau — two heroes; kasya — whose; putrau — the two sons; mahāmune — O great sage; bhūṣayantāv — (the two) adorning; imaṃ — this; deśaṃ — land; candrasūryāv — the moon and sun; ivāmbaram — as the sky
1.49.21
parasparasya sadṛśau pramāṇeṅgitaceṣṭitaiḥ
kākapakṣadharau vīrau śrotum icchāmi tattvataḥ
resembling each other in stature, gesture, and movement, heroes wearing the side-locks of youth? I wish to hear the truth.”
Words: parasparasya — of each other; sadṛśau — resembling, alike; pramāṇeṅgitaceṣṭitaiḥ — in stature, gesture, and movement; kākapakṣadharau — wearing the (crow-wing) side-locks; vīrau — two heroes; śrotum — to hear; icchāmi — I wish; tattvataḥ — truly, in truth
1.49.22
tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā janakasya mahātmanaḥ
nyavedayan mahātmānau putrau daśarathasya tau
Hearing that speech of the great-souled Janaka, he (Viśvāmitra) made known those two great-souled sons of Daśaratha —
Words: tasya — that, his; tadvacanaṃ — that speech; śrutvā — having heard; janakasya — of Janaka; mahātmanaḥ — the great-souled; nyavedayan — made known, related; mahātmānau — the two great-souled ones; putrau — the two sons; daśarathasya — of Daśaratha; tau — those two
1.49.23
siddhāśramanivāsaṃ ca rākṣasānāṃ vadhaṃ tathā
tac cāgamanam avyagraṃ viśālāyāś ca darśanam
— the sojourn at Siddhāśrama and the slaying of the rākṣasas, and their untroubled coming, and the sight of Viśālā,
Words: siddhāśramanivāsaṃ — the sojourn at Siddhāśrama; ca — and; rākṣasānāṃ — of the rākṣasas; vadhaṃ — the slaying; tathā — likewise; tac — that; cāgamanam — and the coming; avyagraṃ — untroubled, calm; viśālāyāś ca — and of Viśālā; darśanam — the sight, seeing
1.49.24
ahalyādarśanaṃ caiva gautamena samāgamam
mahādhanuṣi jijñāsāṃ kartum āgamanaṃ tathā
and the seeing of Ahalyā and the meeting with Gautama, and likewise their coming to make trial of the great bow.
Words: ahalyādarśanaṃ — the seeing of Ahalyā; caiva — and; gautamena — with Gautama; samāgamam — the meeting; mahādhanuṣi — concerning the great bow; jijñāsāṃ — the desire to test/examine; kartum — to make; āgamanaṃ — the coming, arrival; tathā — likewise
1.49.25
etat sarvaṃ mahātejā janakāya mahātmane
nivedya virarāmātha viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ
Having related all this to the great-souled Janaka, the mighty great sage Viśvāmitra then fell silent.
Words: etat — this; sarvaṃ — all; mahātejā — of great splendour; janakāya — to Janaka; mahātmane — to the great-souled; nivedya — having related, made known; virarāmātha — then fell silent; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage
← 1.48 Indra’s restoration; Ahalyā released by Rāma · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.50 Story of Viśvāmitra: Śatānanda introduces the former King →
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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