← 1.69 Vivāha: Kuśadhvaja’s arrival and the Ikṣvāku lineage · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.71 Vivāha: Four matches, śrāddha and godāna →
Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 70: Vivāha: The Videha lineage and the wedding date
Summary. Janaka recounts the Videha lineage and Kuśadhvaja’s accession, offers Sītā & Ūrmilā and appoints the wedding day and preparatory rites
Sequence
- Janaka says that the bride's family must likewise declare its ancestry (1.70.1–2)
- he begins with Nimi, Mithi, the first Janaka, Udāvasu, Nandivardhana, Suketu, Devarāta, Bṛhadratha, Mahāvīra, Sudhṛti, Dhṛṣṭaketu, and Haryaśva (1.70.3–8)
- the line continues through Maru, Pratīndhaka, Kīrtiratha, Devamīḍha, Vibudha, Mahīdhraka, Kīrtirāta, Mahāromā, Svarṇaromā, and Hrasvaromā → Hrasvaromā was the father of himself and Kuśadhvaja. Janaka recalls that his father installed him as King, entrusted the younger brother to his care, and retired to the forest (1.70.9–13)
- after his father's death, Janaka continued ruling and protecting Kuśadhvaja (1.70.14–15)
- later Sudhanvan of Sāṃkāśyā besieged Mithilā and demanded both Śiva's bow and Sītā → Janaka refused, fought and killed him, and installed Kuśadhvaja in Sāṃkāśyā (1.70.16–19)
- he now formally offers Sītā to Rāma and Ūrmilā to Lakṣmaṇa, repeating his commitment (1.70.20–22)
- he requests godāna and pitṛkarman (ancestral rites) → with the moon currently in Maghā, he appoints the wedding for the third day, under Uttara Phalgunī. (1.70.23–24)
Verses 1.70.1–24
1.70.1
evaṃ bruvāṇaṃ janakaḥ pratyuvāca kṛtāñjaliḥ
śrotum arhasi bhadraṃ te kulaṃ naḥ kīrtitaṃ param
To him as he spoke thus Janaka replied, his palms joined: “Be pleased to hear — blessings on you — of our lineage too, once it has been proclaimed.
Words: evaṃ — thus; bruvāṇaṃ — (to him) speaking; janakaḥ — Janaka; pratyuvāca — replied; kṛtāñjaliḥ — with palms joined; śrotum — to hear; arhasi — you ought, be pleased to; bhadraṃ te — blessings on you; kulaṃ — the lineage; naḥ — our; kīrtitaṃ — proclaimed, celebrated; param — supreme, most excellent
1.70.2
pradāne hi muniśreṣṭha kulaṃ niravaśeṣataḥ
vaktavyaṃ kulajātena tan nibodha mahāmune
For in giving (a daughter), O best of sages, one born of a family must declare his lineage in full; learn it, great sage.
Words: pradāne — in the giving (of a bride); hi — for, indeed; muniśreṣṭha — O best of sages; kulaṃ — lineage; niravaśeṣataḥ — in full, without remainder; vaktavyaṃ — must be declared; kulajātena — by one born of a (noble) family; tan — that; nibodha — learn, understand; mahāmune — O great sage
1.70.3
rājābhūt triṣu lokeṣu viśrutaḥ svena karmaṇā
nimiḥ paramadharmātmā sarvasattvavatāṃ varaḥ
There was a king renowned throughout the three worlds by his own deeds — Nimi, supremely righteous of soul, the best of all beings endowed with strength.
Words: rājābhūt — there was a king; triṣu — in the three; lokeṣu — worlds; viśrutaḥ — renowned, famous; svena — by his own; karmaṇā — deed, action; nimiḥ — Nimi; paramadharmātmā — supremely righteous of soul; sarvasattvavatāṃ — of all endowed with strength/virtue; varaḥ — the best
1.70.4
tasya putro mithir nāma janako mithi putrakaḥ
prathamo janako nāma janakād apy udāvasuḥ
His son was named Mithi; Janaka was Mithi's son — the first (king) named Janaka; and from that Janaka (came) Udāvasu.
Words: tasya — his; putro — son; mithir — Mithi; nāma — by name; janako — Janaka; mithi — of Mithi; putrakaḥ — son; prathamo — the first; janako — Janaka; nāma — by name; janakād — from Janaka; apy — also; udāvasuḥ — Udāvasu
1.70.5
udāvasos tu dharmātmā jāto vai nandivardhanaḥ
nandivardhana putras tu suketur nāma nāmataḥ
From Udāvasu was born the righteous Nandivardhana; and Nandivardhana's son was named Suketu.
Words: udāvasos — of Udāvasu; tu — and; dharmātmā — the righteous-souled; jāto — was born; vai — indeed; nandivardhanaḥ — Nandivardhana; nandivardhana — of Nandivardhana; putras — son; tu — and; suketur — Suketu; nāma — by name; nāmataḥ — by name
1.70.6
suketor api dharmātmā devarāto mahābalaḥ
devarātasya rājarṣer bṛhadratha iti śrutaḥ
Suketu's (son) too was the righteous Devarāta of great strength; and of the royal seer Devarāta (the son) was known as Bṛhadratha.
Words: suketor — of Suketu; api — also; dharmātmā — the righteous-souled; devarāto — Devarāta; mahābalaḥ — of great strength; devarātasya — of Devarāta; rājarṣer — of the royal seer; bṛhadratha — Bṛhadratha; iti — thus, so; śrutaḥ — known, renowned
1.70.7
bṛhadrathasya śūro 'bhūn mahāvīraḥ pratāpavān
mahāvīrasya dhṛtimān sudhṛtiḥ satyavikramaḥ
Bṛhadratha's (son) was the hero Mahāvīra, valorous; Mahāvīra's steadfast (son) was Sudhṛti, whose valour was true.
Words: bṛhadrathasya — of Bṛhadratha; śūro — hero; 'bhūn — became; mahāvīraḥ — Mahāvīra; pratāpavān — valorous, mighty; mahāvīrasya — of Mahāvīra; dhṛtimān — the steadfast; sudhṛtiḥ — Sudhṛti; satyavikramaḥ — of true valour
1.70.8
sudhṛter api dharmātmā dhṛṣṭaketuḥ sudhārmikaḥ
dhṛṣṭaketos tu rājarṣer haryaśva iti viśrutaḥ
Sudhṛti's (son) too was the righteous Dhṛṣṭaketu, most dutiful; and of the royal seer Dhṛṣṭaketu (the son) was renowned as Haryaśva.
Words: sudhṛter — of Sudhṛti; api — also; dharmātmā — the righteous-souled; dhṛṣṭaketuḥ — Dhṛṣṭaketu; sudhārmikaḥ — most dutiful, very righteous; dhṛṣṭaketos — of Dhṛṣṭaketu; tu — and; rājarṣer — of the royal seer; haryaśva — Haryaśva; iti — thus, so; viśrutaḥ — renowned
1.70.9
haryaśvasya maruḥ putro maroḥ putraḥ pratīndhakaḥ
pratīndhakasya dharmātmā rājā kīrtirathaḥ sutaḥ
Haryaśva's son was Maru; Maru's son was Pratīndhaka; and Pratīndhaka's righteous son was King Kīrtiratha.
Words: haryaśvasya — of Haryaśva; maruḥ — Maru; putro — son; maroḥ — of Maru; putraḥ — son; pratīndhakaḥ — Pratīndhaka; pratīndhakasya — of Pratīndhaka; dharmātmā — the righteous-souled; rājā — king; kīrtirathaḥ — Kīrtiratha; sutaḥ — son
1.70.10
putraḥ kīrtirathasyāpi devamīḍha iti smṛtaḥ
devamīḍhasya vibudho vibudhasya mahīdhrakaḥ
Kīrtiratha's son too was remembered as Devamīḍha; Devamīḍha's (son) was Vibudha; and Vibudha's (son) was Mahīdhraka.
Words: putraḥ — son; kīrtirathasyāpi — of Kīrtiratha too; devamīḍha — Devamīḍha; iti — thus, so; smṛtaḥ — remembered, known as; devamīḍhasya — of Devamīḍha; vibudho — Vibudha; vibudhasya — of Vibudha; mahīdhrakaḥ — Mahīdhraka
1.70.11
mahīdhrakasuto rājā kīrtirāto mahābalaḥ
kīrtirātasya rājarṣer mahāromā vyajāyata
Mahīdhraka's son was King Kīrtirāta of great strength; and of the royal seer Kīrtirāta was born Mahāromā.
Words: mahīdhrakasuto — Mahīdhraka's son; rājā — king; kīrtirāto — Kīrtirāta; mahābalaḥ — of great strength; kīrtirātasya — of Kīrtirāta; rājarṣer — of the royal seer; mahāromā — Mahāromā; vyajāyata — was born
1.70.12
mahāroṃṇas tu dharmātmā svarṇaromā vyajāyata
svarṇaroṃṇas tu rājarṣer hrasvaromā vyajāyata
From Mahāromā was born the righteous Svarṇaromā; and from the royal seer Svarṇaromā was born Hrasvaromā.
Words: mahāroṃṇas — of Mahāromā; tu — and; dharmātmā — the righteous-souled; svarṇaromā — Svarṇaromā; vyajāyata — was born; svarṇaroṃṇas — of Svarṇaromā; tu — and; rājarṣer — of the royal seer; hrasvaromā — Hrasvaromā; vyajāyata — was born
1.70.13
tasya putradvayaṃ jajñe dharmajñasya mahātmanaḥ
jyeṣṭho 'ham anujo bhrātā mama vīraḥ kuśadhvajaḥ
To him, that great-souled knower of dharma, were born two sons: I am the elder, and my younger brother is the hero Kuśadhvaja.
Words: tasya — his; putradvayaṃ — a pair of sons; jajñe — was born; dharmajñasya — of the knower of dharma; mahātmanaḥ — of the great-souled; jyeṣṭho — the elder; 'ham — I; anujo — younger; bhrātā — brother; mama — my; vīraḥ — the hero; kuśadhvajaḥ — Kuśadhvaja
1.70.14
māṃ tu jyeṣṭhaṃ pitā rājye so 'bhiṣicya narādhipaḥ
kuśadhvajaṃ samāveśya bhāraṃ mayi vanaṃ gataḥ
My father the king, having anointed me, the elder, to the kingship, and having placed Kuśadhvaja (in my care) and laid the burden upon me, went to the forest.
Words: māṃ — me; tu — and; jyeṣṭhaṃ — the elder; pitā — father; rājye — to the kingship, in the kingdom; so 'bhiṣicya — he, having anointed; narādhipaḥ — the king; kuśadhvajaṃ — Kuśadhvaja; samāveśya — having placed, settled (in my care); bhāraṃ — the burden; mayi — upon me; vanaṃ — to the forest; gataḥ — went
1.70.15
vṛddhe pitari svaryāte dharmeṇa dhuram āvaham
bhrātaraṃ devasaṃkāśaṃ snehāt paśyan kuśadhvajam
When my aged father had gone to heaven, I bore the yoke (of kingship) righteously, looking with affection on my brother Kuśadhvaja, who resembled a god.
Words: vṛddhe — aged (loc. abs.); pitari — father (loc. abs.); svaryāte — having gone to heaven; dharmeṇa — righteously, by dharma; dhuram — the yoke, burden; āvaham — I bore, carried; bhrātaraṃ — brother; devasaṃkāśaṃ — resembling a god; snehāt — out of affection; paśyan — looking upon; kuśadhvajam — Kuśadhvaja
1.70.16
kasya cit tv atha kālasya sāṃkāśyād agamat purāt
sudhanvā vīryavān rājā mithilām avarodhakaḥ
Then after some time, from the city of Sāṃkāśyā, came the valiant king Sudhanvan, laying siege to Mithilā.
Words: kasya cit — some, a certain; tv — and; atha — then; kālasya — of time; sāṃkāśyād — from Sāṃkāśyā; agamat — came; purāt — from the city; sudhanvā — Sudhanvan; vīryavān — valiant; rājā — king; mithilām — Mithilā; avarodhakaḥ — besieging, laying siege
1.70.17
sa ca me preṣayām āsa śaivaṃ dhanur anuttamam
sītā kanyā ca padmākṣī mahyaṃ vai dīyatām iti
And he sent word to me: “Let Śiva's peerless bow and the lotus-eyed maiden Sītā be given to me.”
Words: sa — he; ca — and; me — to me; preṣayām āsa — sent (word); śaivaṃ — Śiva's, belonging to Śiva; dhanur — bow; anuttamam — peerless, unsurpassed; sītā — Sītā; kanyā — maiden; ca — and; padmākṣī — the lotus-eyed; mahyaṃ — to me; vai — indeed; dīyatām — let (them) be given; iti — thus (he said)
1.70.18
tasyāpradānād brahmarṣe yuddham āsīn mayā saha
sa hato 'bhimukho rājā sudhanvā tu mayā raṇe
Because I did not give them to him, O brahmin seer, there was war between me and him; and King Sudhanvan, facing me, was slain by me in battle.
Words: tasyāpradānād — because of not giving to him; brahmarṣe — O brahmin seer; yuddham — war, battle; āsīn — there was; mayā saha — with me; sa — he; hato — slain; 'bhimukho — facing (me); rājā — king; sudhanvā — Sudhanvan; tu — and; mayā — by me; raṇe — in battle
1.70.19
nihatya taṃ muniśreṣṭha sudhanvānaṃ narādhipam
sāṃkāśye bhrātaraṃ śūram abhyaṣiñcaṃ kuśadhvajam
Having slain that king Sudhanvan, O best of sages, I anointed my heroic brother Kuśadhvaja (as king) in Sāṃkāśyā.
Words: nihatya — having slain; taṃ — that; muniśreṣṭha — O best of sages; sudhanvānaṃ — Sudhanvan; narādhipam — the king; sāṃkāśye — in Sāṃkāśyā; bhrātaraṃ — brother; śūram — heroic; abhyaṣiñcaṃ — I anointed, consecrated; kuśadhvajam — Kuśadhvaja
1.70.20
kanīyān eṣa me bhrātā ahaṃ jyeṣṭho mahāmune
dadāmi paramaprīto vadhvau te munipuṃgava
This is my younger brother, and I am the elder, O great sage; most gladly I give you two brides, O bull among sages.
Words: kanīyān — younger; eṣa — this; me — my; bhrātā — brother; ahaṃ — I; jyeṣṭho — the elder; mahāmune — O great sage; dadāmi — I give; paramaprīto — most gladly, greatly pleased; vadhvau — two brides; te — to you; munipuṃgava — O bull among sages
1.70.21
sītāṃ rāmāya bhadraṃ te ūrmilāṃ lakṣmaṇāya ca
vīryaśulkāṃ mama sutāṃ sītāṃ surasutopamām
Sītā for Rāma — blessings on you — and Ūrmilā for Lakṣmaṇa: my daughter Sītā, whose bride-price was valour, the equal of a daughter of the gods.
Words: sītāṃ — Sītā; rāmāya — for Rāma; bhadraṃ te — blessings on you; ūrmilāṃ — Ūrmilā; lakṣmaṇāya — for Lakṣmaṇa; ca — and; vīryaśulkāṃ — whose bride-price was valour; mama — my; sutāṃ — daughter; sītāṃ — Sītā; surasutopamām — the equal of a daughter of the gods
1.70.22
dvitīyām ūrmilāṃ caiva trir vadāmi na saṃśayaḥ
dadāmi paramaprīto vadhvau te raghunandana
And Ūrmilā as the second — I say it thrice, there is no doubt; most gladly I give you two brides, O delight of the Raghus.
Words: dvitīyām — the second; ūrmilāṃ — Ūrmilā; caiva — and indeed; trir — thrice; vadāmi — I say, declare; na — not; saṃśayaḥ — doubt; dadāmi — I give; paramaprīto — most gladly, greatly pleased; vadhvau — two brides; te — to you; raghunandana — O delight of the Raghus
1.70.23
rāmalakṣmaṇayo rājan godānaṃ kārayasva ha
pitṛkāryaṃ ca bhadraṃ te tato vaivāhikaṃ kuru
For Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, O king, have the cow-gift (tonsure ceremony) performed, and the rite to the ancestors — blessings on you — and then perform the wedding.
Words: rāmalakṣmaṇayo — of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa; rājan — O king; godānaṃ — the cow-gift (tonsure) rite; kārayasva — have (it) performed; ha — indeed; pitṛkāryaṃ — the rite to the ancestors; ca — and; bhadraṃ te — blessings on you; tato — then; vaivāhikaṃ — the wedding (rite); kuru — perform, do
1.70.24
maghā hy adya mahābāho tṛtīye divase prabho
phalgunyām uttare rājaṃs tasmin vaivāhikaṃ kuru
rāmalakṣmaṇayor arthe dānaṃ kāryaṃ sukhodayam
For today, O mighty-armed lord, is (the lunar mansion) Maghā; on the third day, O king, under the latter Phalgunī, perform the wedding on that (day); the giving (of the brides) for Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa should be done, ushering in happiness.
Words: maghā — (the lunar mansion) Maghā; hy — for, indeed; adya — today; mahābāho — O mighty-armed; tṛtīye — on the third; divase — day; prabho — O lord; phalgunyām — under (the mansion) Phalgunī; uttare — the latter, northern; rājaṃs — O king; tasmin — on that (day); vaivāhikaṃ — the wedding (rite); kuru — perform, do; rāmalakṣmaṇayor — of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa; arthe — for the sake; dānaṃ — the giving (of the brides); kāryaṃ — should be done; sukhodayam — ushering in happiness
← 1.69 Vivāha: Kuśadhvaja’s arrival and the Ikṣvāku lineage · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.71 Vivāha: Four matches, śrāddha and godāna →
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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