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Bāla Kāṇḍa, sarga 8: Daśaratha seeks sons: Sumantra’s prophecy
Summary. Daśaratha proposes a sacrifice for sons, Sumantra recalls Sanatkumāra’s prophecy and the story of Ṛṣyaśṛṅga’s arrival in drought-stricken Aṅga
Sequence
- Despite his power and prosperity, Daśaratha has no son to continue his line → he decides to undertake a horse-sacrifice for offspring and tells Sumantra to summon the teachers and priests (1.8.1–4)
- privately, Sumantra recalls a prophecy he heard Sanatkumāra tell the ṛṣis. In Sumantra's account, Vibhāṇḍaka, son of Kaśyapa, raises his son, the muni Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, entirely in the forest, where he knows only his father, the sacred fire, and their disciplined way of life (1.8.5–10)
- a transgression by Romapāda, King of Aṅga, brings a terrible drought → the distressed King asks learned brāhmaṇas how to make amends (1.8.11–14)
- they advise bringing Ṛṣyaśṛṅga and marrying him to the King's daughter Śāntā (1.8.15–16)
- the King and ministers consider how to fetch him, but the proposed envoys fear Ṛṣyaśṛṅga and initially refuse (1.8.17–19)
- they devise another means: courtesans bring Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, rain falls, and Śāntā becomes his wife (1.8.20–21)
- Sumantra says that this same Ṛṣyaśṛṅga will obtain sons for Daśaratha → delighted, Daśaratha asks to hear exactly how the young tapasvin was brought. (1.8.22–23)
Verses 1.8.1–23
1.8.1
tasya tv evaṃ prabhāvasya dharmajñasya mahātmanaḥ
sutārthaṃ tapyamānasya nāsīd vaṃśakaraḥ sutaḥ
But of him of such might, that righteous, great-souled one who tormented himself for the sake of a son, there was no son to continue his line.
Words: tasya — of him; tv — but; evaṃ — such, thus; prabhāvasya — of might, majesty; dharmajñasya — of the knower of dharma; mahātmanaḥ — of the great-souled one; sutārthaṃ — for the sake of a son; tapyamānasya — of one tormenting himself, doing penance; nāsīd — there was not; vaṃśakaraḥ — continuing the line; sutaḥ — son
1.8.2
cintayānasya tasyaivaṃ buddhir āsīn mahātmanaḥ
sutārthaṃ vājimedhena kimarthaṃ na yajāmy aham
As that great-souled one pondered thus, a thought came to him: “Why do I not sacrifice with a horse-sacrifice for the sake of a son?”
Words: cintayānasya — of one pondering; tasyaivaṃ — of him thus; buddhir — a thought; āsīn — arose, was; mahātmanaḥ — of the great-souled one; sutārthaṃ — for the sake of a son; vājimedhena — with a horse-sacrifice; kimarthaṃ — for what reason, why; na — not; yajāmy — do I sacrifice; aham — I
1.8.3
sa niścitāṃ matiṃ kṛtvā yaṣṭavyam iti buddhimān
mantribhiḥ saha dharmātmā sarvair eva kṛtātmabhiḥ
Having firmly made up his mind that a sacrifice must be held, that wise and righteous one, together with all his ministers, every one accomplished in soul,
Words: sa — he; niścitāṃ — firm, resolved; matiṃ — mind, resolve; kṛtvā — having made; yaṣṭavyam — a sacrifice must be performed; iti — thus; buddhimān — the wise one; mantribhiḥ — with his ministers; saha — together with; dharmātmā — the righteous-souled; sarvair — with all; eva — indeed, every one; kṛtātmabhiḥ — accomplished in soul, disciplined
1.8.4
tato 'bravīd idaṃ rājā sumantraṃ mantrisattamam
śīghram ānaya me sarvān gurūṃs tān sapurohitān
then the king said this to Sumantra, the best of ministers: “Quickly bring me all those gurus, together with the family priests.”
Words: tato — then; 'bravīd — said; idaṃ — this; rājā — the king; sumantraṃ — to Sumantra; mantrisattamam — the best of ministers; śīghram — quickly; ānaya — bring; me — to me; sarvān — all; gurūṃs — the gurus, elders; tān — those; sapurohitān — together with the family priests
1.8.5
etac chrutvā rahaḥ sūto rājānam idam abravīt
ṛtvigbhir upadiṣṭo 'yaṃ purāvṛtto mayā śrutaḥ
Hearing this, the charioteer spoke this to the king in private: “This story, taught by the ṛtvij-priests, an event of ancient times, was heard by me.
Words: etac — this; chrutvā — having heard; rahaḥ — in private, secretly; sūto — the charioteer (Sūta); rājānam — to the king; idam — this; abravīt — said; ṛtvigbhir — by the ṛtvij-priests; upadiṣṭo — taught, imparted; 'yaṃ — this; purāvṛtto — an event of old times; mayā — by me; śrutaḥ — heard
1.8.6
sanatkumāro bhagavān pūrvaṃ kathitavān kathām
ṛṣīṇāṃ saṃnidhau rājaṃs tava putrāgamaṃ prati
The venerable Sanatkumāra formerly told a story, in the presence of the seers, O king, concerning the coming of a son to you.
Words: sanatkumāro — Sanatkumāra; bhagavān — the venerable one; pūrvaṃ — formerly, of old; kathitavān — told, related; kathām — a story; ṛṣīṇāṃ — of the seers; saṃnidhau — in the presence; rājaṃs — O king; tava — to you, your; putrāgamaṃ — the coming of a son; prati — concerning, regarding
1.8.7
kāśyapasya tu putro 'sti vibhāṇḍaka iti śrutaḥ
ṛṣyaśṛṅga iti khyātas tasya putro bhaviṣyati
“Kāśyapa has a son known as Vibhāṇḍaka; to him will be born a son renowned as Ṛṣyaśṛṅga.
Words: kāśyapasya — of Kāśyapa; tu — now, indeed; putro — a son; 'sti — there is; vibhāṇḍaka — Vibhāṇḍaka; iti — thus, by name; śrutaḥ — known, heard of; ṛṣyaśṛṅga — Ṛṣyaśṛṅga; iti — thus, by name; khyātas — renowned; tasya — to him, his; putro — a son; bhaviṣyati — will be born
1.8.8
sa vane nityasaṃvṛddho munir vanacaraḥ sadā
nānyaṃ jānāti viprendro nityaṃ pitranuvartanāt
That sage, ever reared in the forest, always a forest-dweller, that best of brahmins knows no other way of life, for he ever follows his father.
Words: sa — he; vane — in the forest; nityasaṃvṛddho — ever reared, always grown up; munir — the sage; vanacaraḥ — forest-dweller; sadā — always; nānyaṃ — no other; jānāti — knows; viprendro — best of brahmins; nityaṃ — always; pitranuvartanāt — from following his father
1.8.9
dvaividhyaṃ brahmacaryasya bhaviṣyati mahātmanaḥ
lokeṣu prathitaṃ rājan vipraiś ca kathitaṃ sadā
There will come to be a two-fold nature to the celibacy of that great-souled one — a thing famed in the worlds, O king, and ever spoken of by the brahmins.
Words: dvaividhyaṃ — two-fold nature, duality; brahmacaryasya — of the celibacy, chaste studentship; bhaviṣyati — will be; mahātmanaḥ — of the great-souled one; lokeṣu — in the worlds; prathitaṃ — famed, renowned; rājan — O king; vipraiś — by the brahmins; ca — and; kathitaṃ — spoken of, told; sadā — always
1.8.10
tasyaivaṃ vartamānasya kālaḥ samabhivartata
agniṃ śuśrūṣamāṇasya pitaraṃ ca yaśasvinam
As he lived thus, tending the sacred fire and his illustrious father, time went on.
Words: tasyaivaṃ — of him thus; vartamānasya — of one living, abiding; kālaḥ — time; samabhivartata — passed on, went by; agniṃ — the (sacred) fire; śuśrūṣamāṇasya — of one serving, tending; pitaraṃ — the father; ca — and; yaśasvinam — illustrious
1.8.11
etasminn eva kāle tu romapādaḥ pratāpavān
aṅgeṣu prathitā rājā bhaviṣyati mahābalaḥ
At this very time there will be Romapāda, majestic, a renowned and mighty king among the Aṅgas.
Words: etasminn — at this; eva — very; kāle — time; tu — and, now; romapādaḥ — Romapāda; pratāpavān — majestic, of great valour; aṅgeṣu — among the Aṅgas; prathitā — renowned; rājā — king; bhaviṣyati — will be; mahābalaḥ — of great strength
1.8.12
tasya vyatikramād rājño bhaviṣyati sudāruṇā
anāvṛṣṭiḥ sughorā vai sarvabhūtabhayāvahā
Through a transgression of that king there will come a most terrible, dreadful drought, bringing terror to all beings.
Words: tasya — of that; vyatikramād — through a transgression, lapse; rājño — of the king; bhaviṣyati — will be; sudāruṇā — most terrible; anāvṛṣṭiḥ — drought, failure of rain; sughorā — most dreadful; vai — indeed; sarvabhūtabhayāvahā — bringing terror to all beings
1.8.13
anāvṛṣṭyāṃ tu vṛttāyāṃ rājā duḥkhasamanvitaḥ
brāhmaṇāñ śrutavṛddhāṃś ca samānīya pravakṣyati
When the drought has set in, the king, filled with sorrow, having gathered the brahmins who are aged in sacred learning, will say:
Words: anāvṛṣṭyāṃ — in the drought; tu — and; vṛttāyāṃ — having occurred (loc. abs.); rājā — the king; duḥkhasamanvitaḥ — filled with sorrow; brāhmaṇāñ — the brahmins; śrutavṛddhāṃś — aged in sacred learning; ca — and; samānīya — having gathered together; pravakṣyati — will say
1.8.14
bhavantaḥ śrutadharmāṇo loke cāritravedinaḥ
samādiśantu niyamaṃ prāyaścittaṃ yathā bhavet
“You who know the revealed law and are versed in right conduct in the world, ordain some rite of restraint, so that an expiation may be made.”
Words: bhavantaḥ — you (honoured ones); śrutadharmāṇo — knowers of the revealed law; loke — in the world; cāritravedinaḥ — versed in right conduct; samādiśantu — let them ordain, prescribe; niyamaṃ — a rite of restraint, observance; prāyaścittaṃ — expiation, atonement; yathā — so that; bhavet — may be, may come about
1.8.15
vakṣyanti te mahīpālaṃ brāhmaṇā vedapāragāḥ
vibhāṇḍakasutaṃ rājan sarvopāyair ihānaya
Those brahmins, masters of the Vedas, will say to that protector of the earth: “O king, bring the son of Vibhāṇḍaka here by every means.”
Words: vakṣyanti — will say; te — those; mahīpālaṃ — to the protector of the earth; brāhmaṇā — the brahmins; vedapāragāḥ — masters of the Vedas; vibhāṇḍakasutaṃ — the son of Vibhāṇḍaka; rājan — O king; sarvopāyair — by every means; ihānaya — bring here
1.8.16
ānāyya ca mahīpāla ṛṣyaśṛṅgaṃ susatkṛtam
prayaccha kanyāṃ śāntāṃ vai vidhinā susamāhitaḥ
“And O protector of the earth, having had Ṛṣyaśṛṅga brought and well honoured, give him your daughter Śāntā according to rule, with full attentiveness.”
Words: ānāyya — having caused to be brought; ca — and; mahīpāla — O protector of the earth; ṛṣyaśṛṅgaṃ — Ṛṣyaśṛṅga; susatkṛtam — well honoured; prayaccha — give, bestow; kanyāṃ — the maiden, daughter; śāntāṃ — Śāntā; vai — indeed; vidhinā — according to rule; susamāhitaḥ — with full attentiveness, composed
1.8.17
teṣāṃ tu vacanaṃ śrutvā rājā cintāṃ prapatsyate
kenopāyena vai śakyam ihānetuṃ sa vīryavān
Hearing their words, the king will fall to pondering: “By what means indeed can that heroic one be brought here?”
Words: teṣāṃ — their; tu — and; vacanaṃ — words; śrutvā — having heard; rājā — the king; cintāṃ — worry, deliberation; prapatsyate — will fall into; kenopāyena — by what means; vai — indeed; śakyam — it is possible; ihānetuṃ — to bring here; sa — he, that; vīryavān — heroic, valorous
1.8.18
tato rājā viniścitya saha mantribhir ātmavān
purohitam amātyāṃś ca preṣayiṣyati satkṛtān
Then the self-possessed king, having resolved together with his ministers, will send the family priest and his honoured counsellors.
Words: tato — then; rājā — the king; viniścitya — having resolved, decided; saha — together with; mantribhir — his ministers; ātmavān — self-possessed, resolute; purohitam — the family priest; amātyāṃś — the counsellors; ca — and; preṣayiṣyati — will send; satkṛtān — honoured
1.8.19
te tu rājño vacaḥ śrutvā vyathitā vanatānanāḥ
na gacchema ṛṣer bhītā anuneṣyanti taṃ nṛpam
But they, hearing the king's words, distressed and with faces cast down, afraid of the seer, saying “We cannot go,” will seek to win over that king.
Words: te — they; tu — but; rājño — of the king; vacaḥ — words; śrutvā — having heard; vyathitā — distressed, agitated; vanatānanāḥ — with faces cast down; na — not; gacchema — we could go, would go; ṛṣer — of the seer; bhītā — afraid; anuneṣyanti — will conciliate, seek to win over; taṃ — that; nṛpam — king
1.8.20
vakṣyanti cintayitvā te tasyopāyāṃś ca tān kṣamān
āneṣyāmo vayaṃ vipraṃ na ca doṣo bhaviṣyati
Having thought it over, they will declare those suitable means for it: “We shall bring the brahmin, and no fault will arise.”
Words: vakṣyanti — will declare, say; cintayitvā — having thought it over; te — they; tasyopāyāṃś — the means for that; ca — and; tān — those; kṣamān — suitable, fit; āneṣyāmo — we shall bring; vayaṃ — we; vipraṃ — the brahmin; na — not; ca — and; doṣo — fault, blame; bhaviṣyati — will be
1.8.21
evam aṅgādhipenaiva gaṇikābhir ṛṣeḥ sutaḥ
ānīto 'varṣayad devaḥ śāntā cāsmai pradīyate
Thus by the very lord of the Aṅgas, through courtesans, the seer's son was brought; the god rained, and Śāntā was given to him.
Words: evam — thus; aṅgādhipenaiva — by the very lord of the Aṅgas; gaṇikābhir — through courtesans; ṛṣeḥ — of the seer; sutaḥ — the son; ānīto — was brought; 'varṣayad — (the god) sent rain; devaḥ — the god (the rain-god); śāntā — Śāntā; cāsmai — and to him; pradīyate — was given
1.8.22
ṛṣyaśṛṅgas tu jāmātā putrāṃs tava vidhāsyati
sanatkumārakathitam etāvad vyāhṛtaṃ mayā
And Ṛṣyaśṛṅga, as your son-in-law, will procure sons for you. This much, as told by Sanatkumāra, has been declared by me.”
Words: ṛṣyaśṛṅgas — Ṛṣyaśṛṅga; tu — and, indeed; jāmātā — as son-in-law; putrāṃs — sons; tava — for you; vidhāsyati — will procure, bring about; sanatkumārakathitam — told by Sanatkumāra; etāvad — this much; vyāhṛtaṃ — declared, spoken; mayā — by me
1.8.23
atha hṛṣṭo daśarathaḥ sumantraṃ pratyabhāṣata
yatharṣyaśṛṅgas tv ānīto vistareṇa tvayocyatām
Then, delighted, Daśaratha replied to Sumantra: “Let it be told by you in detail how Ṛṣyaśṛṅga was brought.”
Words: atha — then; hṛṣṭo — delighted; daśarathaḥ — Daśaratha; sumantraṃ — to Sumantra; pratyabhāṣata — replied; yatharṣyaśṛṅgas — how Ṛṣyaśṛṅga; tv — indeed; ānīto — was brought; vistareṇa — in detail; tvayocyatām — let it be told by you
← 1.7 The ministers who sustain the Kingdom · Bāla Kāṇḍa · 1.9 Story of Ṛṣyaśṛṅga: Courtesans, rain and marriage →
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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