← 1.70 Vivāha: The Videha lineage and the wedding date · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.72 Vivāha: Taking hands and circling the fire →
Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 71: Vivāha: Four matches, śrāddha and godāna
Summary. Two additional matches unite all four brothers with brides, Janaka affirms shared ownership and the munis’ authority, Daśaratha performs śrāddha and godāna
Sequence
- Viśvāmitra, with Vasiṣṭha, praises the fitness of the two dynasties' alliance (1.71.1–3)
- he proposes that Kuśadhvaja's two daughters marry Bharata and Śatrughna, binding the families still more closely (1.71.4–8)
- Janaka agrees with Vasiṣṭha's approval → all four weddings will take place together on the appointed Phalgunī day (1.71.9–12)
- Janaka rises with joined palms, declares himself always the disciple of Vasiṣṭha and Viśvāmitra, and offers them seats of honor → he declares that his city belongs to Daśaratha just as Ayodhyā belongs to him, and assures the two munis of their authority to act as is fitting → Daśaratha praises both brothers' hospitality and asks leave to perform śrāddha rites (1.71.13–18)
- returning to his lodging with the munis, he performs the śrāddha and, at dawn, godāna (the pre-marital rite accompanied by gifts of cows) (1.71.19–20)
- on behalf of each son he gives a hundred thousand cows, four hundred thousand in all, each with gilded horns, a calf, and a bronze milk pail → he adds other gifts and stands among his prepared sons like Prajāpati among the guardians of the world. (1.71.21–24)
Verses 1.71.1–24
1.71.1
tam uktavantaṃ vaidehaṃ viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ
uvāca vacanaṃ vīraṃ vasiṣṭhasahito nṛpam
To the Videha king who had thus spoken, the great sage Viśvāmitra, together with Vasiṣṭha, addressed these words — to that heroic king:
Words: tam — him; uktavantaṃ — who had spoken; vaidehaṃ — the Videha king; viśvāmitro — Viśvāmitra; mahāmuniḥ — the great sage; uvāca — spoke; vacanaṃ — words; vīraṃ — heroic; vasiṣṭhasahito — together with Vasiṣṭha; nṛpam — the king
1.71.2
acintyāny aprameyāni kulāni narapuṃgava
ikṣvākūṇāṃ videhānāṃ naiṣāṃ tulyo 'sti kaś cana
Beyond thought and beyond measure, O bull among men, are the lineages of the Ikṣvākus and the Videhas; there is none equal to them.
Words: acintyāny — beyond thought, inconceivable; aprameyāni — beyond measure, immeasurable; kulāni — lineages; narapuṃgava — O bull among men; ikṣvākūṇāṃ — of the Ikṣvākus; videhānāṃ — of the Videhas; naiṣāṃ — not of these; tulyo — equal; 'sti — there is; kaś cana — anyone
1.71.3
sadṛśo dharmasaṃbandhaḥ sadṛśo rūpasaṃpadā
rāmalakṣmaṇayo rājan sītā cormilayā saha
Fitting is this union in dharma, fitting in wealth of beauty, O king — of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa with Sītā and Ūrmilā.
Words: sadṛśo — fitting, matching; dharmasaṃbandhaḥ — union in dharma; sadṛśo — fitting, matching; rūpasaṃpadā — in wealth of beauty; rāmalakṣmaṇayo — of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa; rājan — O king; sītā — Sītā; cormilayā — and with Ūrmilā; saha — with
1.71.4
vaktavyaṃ na naraśreṣṭha śrūyatāṃ vacanaṃ mama
śrūyatāṃ vacanaṃ mama
Something more must be said, O best of men; let my words be heard.
Words: vaktavyaṃ — (something) must be said; na — not (yet said); naraśreṣṭha — O best of men; śrūyatāṃ — let (it) be heard; vacanaṃ — word; mama — my
1.71.5
bhrātā yavīyān dharmajña eṣa rājā kuśadhvajaḥ
asya dharmātmano rājan rūpeṇāpratimaṃ bhuvi
sutā dvayaṃ naraśreṣṭha patnyarthaṃ varayāmahe
Your younger brother, this King Kuśadhvaja, knower of dharma — of this righteous one, O king, we ask, O best of men, for the two daughters, unmatched in beauty on earth, to be wives (for our princes).
Words: bhrātā — brother; yavīyān — younger; dharmajña — knower of dharma; eṣa — this; rājā — king; kuśadhvajaḥ — Kuśadhvaja; asya — of this; dharmātmano — of the righteous-souled; rājan — O king; rūpeṇāpratimaṃ — unmatched in beauty; bhuvi — on earth; sutā — daughters; dvayaṃ — pair, two; naraśreṣṭha — O best of men; patnyarthaṃ — for the purpose of wives; varayāmahe — we ask for, choose
1.71.6
bharatasya kumārasya śatrughnasya ca dhīmataḥ
varayema sute rājaṃs tayor arthe mahātmanoḥ
For the prince Bharata and for the wise Śatrughna, O king, we would ask the two daughters, for the sake of those two great-souled ones.
Words: bharatasya — of Bharata; kumārasya — of the prince; śatrughnasya — of Śatrughna; ca — and; dhīmataḥ — of the wise; varayema — we would ask for, choose; sute — the two daughters; rājaṃs — O king; tayor — of those two; arthe — for the sake; mahātmanoḥ — of the two great-souled ones
1.71.7
putrā daśarathasyeme rūpayauvanaśālinaḥ
lokapālopamāḥ sarve devatulyaparākramāḥ
These sons of Daśaratha, endowed with beauty and youth, are all like the guardians of the worlds, their prowess equal to the gods'.
Words: putrā — sons; daśarathasyeme — these of Daśaratha; rūpayauvanaśālinaḥ — endowed with beauty and youth; lokapālopamāḥ — like the guardians of the worlds; sarve — all; devatulyaparākramāḥ — of prowess equal to the gods'
1.71.8
ubhayor api rājendra saṃbandhenānubadhyatām
ikṣvākukulam avyagraṃ bhavataḥ puṇyakarmaṇaḥ
By the union of both (families), O lord of kings, let the Ikṣvāku house be bound firmly to you, whose deeds are meritorious.
Words: ubhayor — of both; api — also; rājendra — O lord of kings; saṃbandhenānubadhyatām — let (it) be bound by union; ikṣvākukulam — the Ikṣvāku house; avyagraṃ — steadily, firmly; bhavataḥ — of you; puṇyakarmaṇaḥ — of meritorious deeds
1.71.9
viśvāmitravacaḥ śrutvā vasiṣṭhasya mate tadā
janakaḥ prāñjalir vākyam uvāca munipuṃgavau
Hearing Viśvāmitra's words, then with Vasiṣṭha's approval, Janaka, his palms joined, spoke these words to the two bulls among sages:
Words: viśvāmitravacaḥ — Viśvāmitra's words; śrutvā — having heard; vasiṣṭhasya — of Vasiṣṭha; mate — in the opinion, with the approval; tadā — then; janakaḥ — Janaka; prāñjalir — with palms joined; vākyam — words; uvāca — spoke; munipuṃgavau — to the two bulls among sages
1.71.10
sadṛśaṃ kulasaṃbandhaṃ yad ājñāpayathaḥ svayam
evaṃ bhavatu bhadraṃ vaḥ kuśadhvajasute ime
patnyau bhajetāṃ sahitau śatrughnabharatāv ubhau
Since you yourselves ordain this fitting family union, so let it be — blessings on you: let these two daughters of Kuśadhvaja become the wives of the two, Śatrughna and Bharata, together.
Words: sadṛśaṃ — fitting, matching; kulasaṃbandhaṃ — family union; yad — which, since; ājñāpayathaḥ — you two ordain, command; svayam — yourselves; evaṃ — so, thus; bhavatu — let it be; bhadraṃ vaḥ — blessings on you; kuśadhvajasute — the two daughters of Kuśadhvaja; ime — these two; patnyau — (as) wives; bhajetāṃ — let the two obtain, share; sahitau — together (dual); śatrughnabharatāv — Śatrughna and Bharata; ubhau — both
1.71.11
ekāhnā rājaputrīṇāṃ catasḥṇāṃ mahāmune
pāṇīn gṛhṇantu catvāro rājaputrā mahābalāḥ
On one and the same day, O great sage, let the four mighty princes take the hands of the four princesses.
Words: ekāhnā — on a single day; rājaputrīṇāṃ — of the princesses; catasḥṇāṃ — of the four; mahāmune — O great sage; pāṇīn — the hands; gṛhṇantu — let (them) take; catvāro — four; rājaputrā — princes; mahābalāḥ — mighty, of great strength
1.71.12
uttare divase brahman phalgunībhyāṃ manīṣiṇaḥ
vaivāhikaṃ praśaṃsanti bhago yatra prajāpatiḥ
On the latter day, O brahmin, under the two Phalgunīs, the wise commend (holding) the wedding, when Bhaga the Prajāpati (presides).
Words: uttare — the latter; divase — day; brahman — O brahmin; phalgunībhyāṃ — under the two Phalgunīs; manīṣiṇaḥ — the wise; vaivāhikaṃ — the wedding (rite); praśaṃsanti — commend, praise; bhago — Bhaga; yatra — when, where; prajāpatiḥ — (is) the lord of creatures
1.71.13
evam uktvā vacaḥ saumyaṃ pratyutthāya kṛtāñjaliḥ
ubhau munivarau rājā janako vākyam abravīt
Having spoken these gracious words, rising up with his palms joined, King Janaka spoke (further) words to the two excellent sages:
Words: evam — thus; uktvā — having spoken; vacaḥ — words; saumyaṃ — gracious, gentle; pratyutthāya — having risen up (in respect); kṛtāñjaliḥ — with palms joined; ubhau — both; munivarau — the two excellent sages; rājā — king; janako — Janaka; vākyam — words; abravīt — spoke
1.71.14
paro dharmaḥ kṛto mahyaṃ śiṣyo 'smi bhavatoḥ sadā
imāny āsanamukhyāni āsetāṃ munipuṃgavau
A supreme kindness has been done to me; I am ever your disciple; here are the seats of honour — be seated, O bulls among sages.
Words: paro — supreme; dharmaḥ — dharma, kindness, favour; kṛto — done, rendered; mahyaṃ — to me; śiṣyo — disciple; 'smi — I am; bhavatoḥ — of you two; sadā — ever, always; imāny — these; āsanamukhyāni — the chief seats, seats of honour; āsetāṃ — let the two be seated; munipuṃgavau — O two bulls among sages
1.71.15
yathā daśarathasyeyaṃ tathāyodhyā purī mama
prabhutve nāsit saṃdeho yathārhaṃ kartum arhathaḥ
As this city Ayodhyā is Daśaratha's, so it is mine; over its lordship let there be no doubt — you two may act in it as you see fit.
Words: yathā — as; daśarathasyeyaṃ — this (is) Daśaratha's; tathāyodhyā — so Ayodhyā; purī — city; mama — mine; prabhutve — in the lordship, authority; nāsit — there is no; saṃdeho — doubt; yathārhaṃ — as is fitting; kartum — to act, do; arhathaḥ — you two may, ought
1.71.16
tathā bruvati vaidehe janake raghunandanaḥ
rājā daśaratho hṛṣṭaḥ pratyuvāca mahīpatim
As the Videha king Janaka spoke thus, the delight of the Raghus, King Daśaratha, delighted, replied to the lord of the earth:
Words: tathā — thus, so; bruvati — (as he was) speaking (loc. abs.); vaidehe — the Videha king (loc. abs.); janake — Janaka (loc. abs.); raghunandanaḥ — the delight of the Raghus; rājā — king; daśaratho — Daśaratha; hṛṣṭaḥ — delighted, pleased; pratyuvāca — replied; mahīpatim — the lord of the earth
1.71.17
yuvām asaṃkhyeya guṇau bhrātarau mithileśvarau
ṛṣayo rājasaṃghāś ca bhavadbhyām abhipūjitāḥ
You two brothers, lords of Mithilā, are of incalculable virtues; by you the seers and the assemblies of kings have been fittingly honoured.
Words: yuvām — you two; asaṃkhyeya — incalculable, countless; guṇau — of virtues (dual); bhrātarau — two brothers; mithileśvarau — the two lords of Mithilā; ṛṣayo — the seers; rājasaṃghāś — assemblies of kings; ca — and; bhavadbhyām — by you two; abhipūjitāḥ — honoured, worshipped
1.71.18
svasti prāpnuhi bhadraṃ te gamiṣyāmi svam ālayam
śrāddhakarmāṇi sarvāṇi vidhāsya iti cābravīt
“May you prosper — blessings on you; I shall go to my own lodging and perform all the śrāddha rites,” he said.
Words: svasti — well-being, prosperity; prāpnuhi — may you obtain; bhadraṃ te — blessings on you; gamiṣyāmi — I shall go; svam — my own; ālayam — lodging, dwelling; śrāddhakarmāṇi — the śrāddha (funerary) rites; sarvāṇi — all; vidhāsya — I shall perform; iti — thus; cābravīt — and he said
1.71.19
tam āpṛṣṭvā narapatiṃ rājā daśarathas tadā
munīndrau tau puraskṛtya jagāmāśu mahāyaśāḥ
Taking leave of that king, the greatly renowned King Daśaratha then, placing those two chief sages before him, went off at once.
Words: tam — him; āpṛṣṭvā — having taken leave of; narapatiṃ — the king; rājā — king; daśarathas — Daśaratha; tadā — then; munīndrau — the two chief sages; tau — those two; puraskṛtya — having placed in front, at their head; jagāmāśu — went at once; mahāyaśāḥ — greatly renowned
1.71.20
sa gatvā nilayaṃ rājā śrāddhaṃ kṛtvā vidhānataḥ
prabhāte kālyam utthāya cakre godānam uttamam
Having gone to his lodging, the king performed the śrāddha according to rule, and rising at dawn's due time, carried out the excellent cow-gift (tonsure) rite.
Words: sa — he; gatvā — having gone; nilayaṃ — to his lodging, dwelling; rājā — king; śrāddhaṃ — the śrāddha rite; kṛtvā — having performed; vidhānataḥ — according to rule; prabhāte — at daybreak; kālyam — at the (right) time, at dawn; utthāya — having risen; cakre — performed; godānam — the cow-gift (tonsure) rite; uttamam — excellent, foremost
1.71.21
gavāṃ śatasahasrāṇi brāhmaṇebhyo narādhipaḥ
ekaikaśo dadau rājā putrān uddhiśya dharmataḥ
The king gave hundreds of thousands of cows to the brahmins, one hundred thousand for each (son), dedicating them righteously on behalf of his sons.
Words: gavāṃ — of cows; śatasahasrāṇi — hundreds of thousands; brāhmaṇebhyo — to the brahmins; narādhipaḥ — the king; ekaikaśo — one by one, for each; dadau — gave; rājā — king; putrān — the sons; uddiśya — dedicating, with reference to; dharmataḥ — righteously, according to dharma
1.71.22
suvarṇaśṛṅgāḥ saṃpannāḥ savatsāḥ kāṃsyadohanāḥ
gavāṃ śatasahasrāṇi catvāri puruṣarṣabhaḥ
Golden-horned, well-favoured, each with a calf and a bronze milk-pail — four hundred thousand cows (did) that bull among men (give).
Words: suvarṇaśṛṅgāḥ — golden-horned; saṃpannāḥ — well-favoured, in prime condition; savatsāḥ — each with a calf; kāṃsyadohanāḥ — with bronze milk-pails; gavāṃ — of cows; śatasahasrāṇi — hundred-thousands; catvāri — four; puruṣarṣabhaḥ — the bull among men
1.71.23
vittam anyac ca subahu dvijebhyo raghunandanaḥ
dadau godānam uddiśya putrāṇāṃ putravatsalaḥ
And much other wealth the delight of the Raghus, fond of his sons, gave to the twice-born, dedicating it as part of the cow-gift rite on his sons' behalf.
Words: vittam — wealth; anyac — other; ca — and; subahu — very much, abundant; dvijebhyo — to the twice-born (brahmins); raghunandanaḥ — the delight of the Raghus; dadau — gave; godānam — the cow-gift rite; uddiśya — dedicating, with reference to; putrāṇāṃ — of the sons; putravatsalaḥ — fond of his sons
1.71.24
sa sutaiḥ kṛtagodānair vṛtaś ca nṛpatis tadā
lokapālair ivābhāti vṛtaḥ saumyaḥ prajāpatiḥ
Surrounded by his sons for whom the cow-gift rite had been performed, that king then shone like the gentle Prajāpati surrounded by the guardians of the worlds.
Words: sa — he; sutaiḥ — by his sons; kṛtagodānair — for whom the cow-gift had been done; vṛtaś — surrounded; ca — and; nṛpatis — the king; tadā — then; lokapālair — by the guardians of the worlds; ivābhāti — shines like; vṛtaḥ — surrounded; saumyaḥ — gentle, benign; prajāpatiḥ — Prajāpati, lord of creatures
← 1.70 Vivāha: The Videha lineage and the wedding date · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.72 Vivāha: Taking hands and circling the fire →
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.
Plain text: /text/1/71.md · JSON: /data/1/71.json