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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 67: Vivāha: Envoys seek Daśaratha’s consent

Summary. Janaka’s envoys report Rāma’s feat in Ayodhyā, Daśaratha consults his priests and ministers and orders departure for Mithilā

Sequence

  1. After three nights on the road, Janaka's envoys reach Ayodhyā and are admitted to Daśaratha (1.67.1–3)
  2. they convey Janaka's affectionate inquiries and explain that Rāma has fulfilled the condition for Sītā's marriage by breaking the divine bow (1.67.4–9)
  3. Janaka asks Daśaratha's consent and invites him to Mithilā with his teachers and priest, both to arrange the marriage and to see his sons (1.67.10–13)
  4. delighted that the brothers are safe under Viśvāmitra, Daśaratha consults Vasiṣṭha, Vāmadeva, and his ministers → they approve the alliance → he orders departure for the next day. (1.67.14–19)

Verses 1.67.1–19

1.67.1

janakena samādiṣṭā dūtās te klāntavāhanāḥ
trirātram uṣitvā mārge te 'yodhyāṃ prāviśan purīm

The messengers commanded by Janaka, their mounts wearied, having spent three nights on the road, entered the city of Ayodhyā.

Words: janakena — by Janaka; samādiṣṭā — commanded; dūtās — the messengers; te — those; klāntavāhanāḥ — their mounts wearied; trirātram — for three nights; uṣitvā — having dwelt, spent; mārge — on the road; te — they; 'yodhyāṃ — Ayodhyā; prāviśan — entered; purīm — the city

1.67.2

te rājavacanād dūtā rājaveśmapraveśitāḥ
dadṛśur devasaṃkāśaṃ vṛddhaṃ daśarathaṃ nṛpam

Those messengers, admitted into the royal palace by the king's word, beheld the aged king Daśaratha, who resembled a god.

Words: te — those; rājavacanād — by the king's word; dūtā — the messengers; rājaveśmapraveśitāḥ — admitted into the royal palace; dadṛśur — beheld; devasaṃkāśaṃ — resembling a god; vṛddhaṃ — aged; daśarathaṃ — Daśaratha; nṛpam — the king

1.67.3

baddhāñjalipuṭāḥ sarve dūtā vigatasādhvasāḥ
rājānaṃ prayatā vākyam abruvan madhurākṣaram

With hollowed palms joined, all the messengers, their fear gone, reverent, spoke a sweet-worded message to the king:

Words: baddhāñjalipuṭāḥ — with hollowed palms joined; sarve — all; dūtā — the messengers; vigatasādhvasāḥ — their fear gone; rājānaṃ — to the king; prayatā — reverent, self-controlled; vākyam — message, word; abruvan — spoke; madhurākṣaram — sweet-worded

1.67.4

maithilo janako rājā sāgnihotrapuraskṛtaḥ
kuśalaṃ cāvyayaṃ caiva sopādhyāyapurohitam

“King Janaka of Mithilā, with the agnihotra fire before him, (asks after) your welfare and continued health, together with your teachers and priests,

Words: maithilo — of Mithilā; janako — Janaka; rājā — the king; sāgnihotrapuraskṛtaḥ — with the agnihotra fire placed before (him); kuśalaṃ — welfare, well-being; cāvyayaṃ — and continued, imperishable (health); caiva — and; sopādhyāyapurohitam — together with (your) teachers and priests

1.67.5

muhur muhur madhurayā snehasaṃyuktayā girā
janakas tvāṃ mahārāja pṛcchate sapuraḥsaram

again and again, in a sweet voice full of affection, Janaka inquires after you, O great king, together with your retinue.

Words: muhur muhur — again and again; madhurayā — sweet; snehasaṃyuktayā — full of affection; girā — with voice; janakas — Janaka; tvāṃ — you; mahārāja — O great king; pṛcchate — inquires after; sapuraḥsaram — together with (your) retinue

1.67.6

pṛṣṭvā kuśalam avyagraṃ vaideho mithilādhipaḥ
kauśikānumate vākyaṃ bhavantam idam abravīt

Having calmly inquired after (your) welfare, the Videha king, lord of Mithilā, with Kauśika's assent, said this word to your honor:

Words: pṛṣṭvā — having inquired; kuśalam — welfare; avyagraṃ — calmly, unperturbed; vaideho — the Videha (king); mithilādhipaḥ — lord of Mithilā; kauśikānumate — with Kauśika's assent; vākyaṃ — word; bhavantam — to your honor; idam — this; abravīt — said

1.67.7

pūrvaṃ pratijñā viditā vīryaśulkā mamātmajā
rājānaś ca kṛtāmarṣā nirvīryā vimukhīkṛtāḥ

“My vow is already known — that my daughter's bride-price is valor; and the kings, made indignant, powerless, were turned away.

Words: pūrvaṃ — formerly, already; pratijñā — the vow; viditā — known; vīryaśulkā — (whose) bride-price is valor; mamātmajā — my daughter; rājānaś ca — and kings; kṛtāmarṣā — made indignant; nirvīryā — powerless; vimukhīkṛtāḥ — turned away, rebuffed

1.67.8

seyaṃ mama sutā rājan viśvāmitra puraḥsaraiḥ
yadṛcchayāgatair vīrair nirjitā tava putrakaiḥ

This daughter of mine, O king, has been won by your sons, heroes come here by chance, led by Viśvāmitra.

Words: seyaṃ — this very; mama — my; sutā — daughter; rājan — O king; viśvāmitra — Viśvāmitra; puraḥsaraiḥ — led by, having at the head; yadṛcchayāgatair — who came by chance; vīrair — by the heroes; nirjitā — won, conquered; tava — your; putrakaiḥ — by (your) sons

1.67.9

tac ca rājan dhanur divyaṃ madhye bhagnaṃ mahātmanā
rāmeṇa hi mahārāja mahatyāṃ janasaṃsadi

And that divine bow, O king, was broken in the middle by the great-souled Rāma, O great king, in a great assembly of people.

Words: tac ca — and that; rājan — O king; dhanur — bow; divyaṃ — divine; madhye — in the middle; bhagnaṃ — broken; mahātmanā — by the great-souled; rāmeṇa — by Rāma; hi — indeed; mahārāja — O great king; mahatyāṃ — great; janasaṃsadi — in the assembly of people

1.67.10

asmai deyā mayā sītā vīryaśulkā mahātmane
pratijñāṃ tartum icchāmi tad anujñātum arhasi

To this great-souled one, Sītā, whose bride-price was valor, is to be given by me; I wish to fulfill my vow — you should grant your consent to that.

Words: asmai — to this one; deyā — to be given; mayā — by me; sītā — Sītā; vīryaśulkā — whose bride-price is valor; mahātmane — to the great-souled; pratijñāṃ — the vow; tartum — to fulfill, cross over; icchāmi — I wish; tad — that; anujñātum — to grant consent, permit; arhasi — you should

1.67.11

sopādhyāyo mahārāja purohitapuraskṛtaḥ
śīghram āgaccha bhadraṃ te draṣṭum arhasi rāghavau

Together with your teachers, O great king, and with your family priest at the head, come quickly — blessings on you — you should see the two Rāghavas.

Words: sopādhyāyo — together with (your) teachers; mahārāja — O great king; purohitapuraskṛtaḥ — with the family priest at the head; śīghram — quickly; āgaccha — come; bhadraṃ te — blessings on you; draṣṭum — to see; arhasi — you should; rāghavau — the two Rāghavas

1.67.12

prītiṃ ca mama rājendra nirvartayitum arhasi
putrayor ubhayor eva prītiṃ tvam api lapsyase

And you should fulfill my joy, O king of kings; you too will gain the joy of both your sons.”

Words: prītiṃ — joy, satisfaction; ca — and; mama — my; rājendra — O king of kings; nirvartayitum — to fulfill, accomplish; arhasi — you should; putrayor — of the two sons; ubhayor — of both; eva — indeed; prītiṃ — joy; tvam — you; api — too; lapsyase — you will gain

1.67.13

evaṃ videhādhipatir madhuraṃ vākyam abravīt
viśvāmitrābhyanujñātaḥ śatānandamate sthitaḥ

Thus the lord of Videha spoke his sweet message, sanctioned by Viśvāmitra and abiding by the counsel of Śatānanda.

Words: evaṃ — thus; videhādhipatir — the lord of Videha; madhuraṃ — sweet; vākyam — word, message; abravīt — spoke; viśvāmitrābhyanujñātaḥ — sanctioned by Viśvāmitra; śatānandamate — by the counsel of Śatānanda; sthitaḥ — abiding, standing

1.67.14

dūtavākyaṃ tu tac chrutvā rājā paramaharṣitaḥ
vasiṣṭhaṃ vāmadevaṃ ca mantriṇo 'nyāṃś ca so 'bravīt

Hearing that message of the envoys, the king, exceedingly delighted, said to Vasiṣṭha, Vāmadeva, and his other ministers:

Words: dūtavākyaṃ — the message of the envoys; tu — and; tac — that; chrutvā — having heard; rājā — the king; paramaharṣitaḥ — exceedingly delighted; vasiṣṭhaṃ — Vasiṣṭha; vāmadevaṃ — Vāmadeva; ca — and; mantriṇo — ministers; 'nyāṃś — other; ca — and; so — he; 'bravīt — said

1.67.15

guptaḥ kuśikaputreṇa kausalyānandavardhanaḥ
lakṣmaṇena saha bhrātrā videheṣu vasaty asau

“Guarded by the son of Kuśika, he who increases Kausalyā's joy (Rāma), together with his brother Lakṣmaṇa, is dwelling among the Videhas.

Words: guptaḥ — guarded; kuśikaputreṇa — by the son of Kuśika; kausalyānandavardhanaḥ — the increaser of Kausalyā's joy (Rāma); lakṣmaṇena — with Lakṣmaṇa; saha — together; bhrātrā — with (his) brother; videheṣu — among the Videhas; vasaty — dwells; asau — that one, he

1.67.16

dṛṣṭavīryas tu kākutstho janakena mahātmanā
saṃpradānaṃ sutāyās tu rāghave kartum icchati

The valor of the Kākutstha having been witnessed, the great-souled Janaka wishes to make over his daughter to the Rāghava.

Words: dṛṣṭavīryas — whose valor has been seen; tu — and; kākutstho — the Kākutstha; janakena — by Janaka; mahātmanā — the great-souled; saṃpradānaṃ — the bestowal, giving away (in marriage); sutāyās — of the daughter; tu — and; rāghave — upon the Rāghava; kartum — to make; icchati — wishes

1.67.17

yadi vo rocate vṛttaṃ janakasya mahātmanaḥ
purīṃ gacchāmahe śīghraṃ mā bhūt kālasya paryayaḥ

If the conduct of the great-souled Janaka pleases you, let us go quickly to his city; let there be no lapse of time.”

Words: yadi — if; vo — to you (all); rocate — pleases; vṛttaṃ — the conduct, matter; janakasya — of Janaka; mahātmanaḥ — the great-souled; purīṃ — to the city; gacchāmahe — let us go; śīghraṃ — quickly; mā bhūt — let there not be; kālasya — of time; paryayaḥ — lapse, elapsing, delay

1.67.18

mantriṇo bāḍham ity āhuḥ saha sarvair maharṣibhiḥ
suprītaś cābravīd rājā śvo yātreti sa mantriṇaḥ

The ministers, together with all the great seers, said, “Very well”; and the king, well pleased, said to his ministers, “The journey shall be tomorrow.”

Words: mantriṇo — the ministers; bāḍham — “very well”; ity āhuḥ — thus said; saha — together; sarvair — with all; maharṣibhiḥ — the great seers; suprītaś — well pleased; cābravīd — and said; rājā — the king; śvo — tomorrow; yātreti — “the journey”; sa — he; mantriṇaḥ — to the ministers

1.67.19

mantriṇas tu narendrasya rātriṃ paramasatkṛtāḥ
ūṣuḥ pramuditāḥ sarve guṇaiḥ sarvaiḥ samanvitāḥ

And the king's ministers, most highly honored, all delighted and endowed with every virtue, passed the night.

Words: mantriṇas — the ministers; tu — and; narendrasya — of the king; rātriṃ — (through) the night; paramasatkṛtāḥ — most highly honored; ūṣuḥ — dwelt, passed (the night); pramuditāḥ — delighted; sarve — all; guṇaiḥ — with virtues; sarvaiḥ — all; samanvitāḥ — endowed

← 1.66 Rāma breaks Śiva’s bow: Janaka confirms the marriage · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.68 Vivāha: Daśaratha arrives in Mithilā →

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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