# Bāla Kāṇḍa 14 — Putrakāmeṣṭi and Viṣṇu’s promised human birth *Ṛṣyaśṛṅga begins the putrīyā iṣṭi, the Devas ask Viṣṇu to take human birth because Rāvaṇa’s protection excludes humans* Portion: Birth of the princes and their allies · Verses: 21 · Ref format: 1.14. ## Sequence - Ṛṣyaśṛṅga considers the request and announces the putrīyā iṣṭi (rite for sons, conventionally called putrakāmeṣṭi), using the prescribed Atharvaśiras mantras → he begins making offerings into the fire (14.1–3) - the Devas, gandharvas, siddhas, and paramarṣis assemble to receive their shares (14.4) - the Devas tell Brahmā that Rāvaṇa's boon prevents them from punishing him, although he terrorizes the worlds, obstructs holy people, and threatens Indra → even the sun, wind, and ocean refrain from troubling him (14.5–11) - Brahmā recalls that Rāvaṇa asked protection from gandharvas, yakṣas, Devas, dānavas, and rākṣasas, but omitted humans out of contempt → a human can therefore kill him, and the assembly rejoices (14.12–15) - Viṣṇu arrives → the Suras ask him to divide himself fourfold and become sons through Daśaratha's three wives → in human form he must kill Rāvaṇa and free the worlds and tapasvins from fear (14.16–21). ## Verses **1.14.1** medhāvī tu tato dhyātvā sa kiṃ cid idam uttamam labdhasaṃjñas tatas taṃ tu vedajño nṛpam abravīt Then the wise one, having reflected somewhat on this excellent matter and collected his thoughts, that knower of the Veda said to the king: **1.14.2** iṣṭiṃ te 'haṃ kariṣyāmi putrīyāṃ putrakāraṇāt atharvaśirasi proktair mantraiḥ siddhāṃ vidhānataḥ “I shall perform for you the son-producing iṣṭi, for the sake of a son — effected with the mantras declared in the Atharvaśiras, according to rule.” **1.14.3** tataḥ prākramad iṣṭiṃ tāṃ putrīyāṃ putra kāraṇāt juhāva cāgnau tejasvī mantradṛṣṭena karmaṇā Then he began that son-producing iṣṭi for the sake of a son, and the radiant one made offerings into the fire with a rite prescribed by the mantras. **1.14.4** tato devāḥ sagandharvāḥ siddhāś ca paramarṣayaḥ bhāgapratigrahārthaṃ vai samavetā yathāvidhi Then the gods with the gandharvas, and the siddhas and the supreme seers, assembled duly to receive their shares. **1.14.5** tāḥ sametya yathānyāyaṃ tasmin sadasi devatāḥ abruvaṃl lokakartāraṃ brahmāṇaṃ vacanaṃ mahat Those deities, having gathered in due order in that assembly, spoke a weighty word to the maker of the worlds, Brahmā: **1.14.6** bhagavaṃs tvatprasādena rāvaṇo nāma rākṣasaḥ sarvānno bādhate vīryāc chāsituṃ taṃ na śaknumaḥ “Venerable one, by your grace a rākṣasa named Rāvaṇa oppresses us all with his might; we are not able to chastise him. **1.14.7** tvayā tasmai varo dattaḥ prītena bhagavan purā mānayantaś ca taṃ nityaṃ sarvaṃ tasya kṣamāmahe A boon was given to him by you, well pleased, of old, O venerable one; and ever honouring it, we endure everything of his. **1.14.8** udvejayati lokāṃs trīn ucchritān dveṣṭi durmatiḥ śakraṃ tridaśarājānaṃ pradharṣayitum icchati The evil-minded one torments the three worlds and hates the eminent; he wishes to assail Śakra, the king of the gods. **1.14.9** ṛṣīn yakṣān sagandharvān asurān brāhmaṇāṃs tathā atikrāmati durdharṣo varadānena mohitaḥ Deluded by the granting of the boon, that unassailable one transgresses against seers, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras, and brahmins alike. **1.14.10** nainaṃ sūryaḥ pratapati pārśve vāti na mārutaḥ calormimālī taṃ dṛṣṭvā samudro 'pi na kampate The sun does not scorch him, the wind does not blow at his side; and the ocean, garlanded with restless waves, does not even ripple upon seeing him. **1.14.11** tan manan no bhayaṃ tasmād rākṣasād ghoradarśanāt vadhārthaṃ tasya bhagavann upāyaṃ kartum arhasi There is great fear for us from that rākṣasa of dreadful aspect; O venerable one, you should devise a means for his slaying.” **1.14.12** evam uktaḥ suraiḥ sarvaiś cintayitvā tato 'bravīt hantāyaṃ vihitas tasya vadhopāyo durātmanaḥ Thus addressed by all the gods, having pondered, he then said: “Aha, here is devised the means of slaying that evil-souled one. **1.14.13** tena gandharvayakṣāṇāṃ devadānavarakṣasām avadhyo 'smīti vāg uktā tathety uktaṃ ca tan mayā By him the words were spoken: ‘I am unslayable by gandharvas and yakṣas, by gods, dānavas, and rākṣasas’; and ‘So be it’ was said by me to that. **1.14.14** nākīrtayad avajñānāt tad rakṣo mānuṣāṃs tadā tasmāt sa mānuṣād vadhyo mṛtur nānyo 'sya vidyate Out of contempt that rākṣasa did not then mention human beings; therefore he is slayable by a human — no other death exists for him. **1.14.15** etac chrutvā priyaṃ vākyaṃ brahmaṇā samudāhṛtam devā maharṣayaḥ sarve prahṛṣṭās te 'bhavaṃs tadā Hearing this welcome speech uttered by Brahmā, the gods and all the great seers then became delighted. **1.14.16** etasminn antare viṣṇur upayāto mahādyutiḥ brahmaṇā ca samāgamya tatra tasthau samāhitaḥ At this juncture Viṣṇu of great splendour arrived; and having met with Brahmā, he stood there composed. **1.14.17** tam abruvan surāḥ sarve samabhiṣṭūya saṃnatāḥ tvāṃ niyokṣyāmahe viṣṇo lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā All the gods, bowing low, praised him and said: “We shall appoint you to a task, O Viṣṇu, out of desire for the good of the worlds. **1.14.18** rājño daśarathasya tvam ayodhyādhipater vibho dharmajñasya vadānyasya maharṣisamatejasaḥ tasya bhāryāsu tisṛṣu hrīśrīkīrtyupamāsu ca viṣṇo putratvam āgaccha kṛtvātmānaṃ caturvidham O mighty one, become the son of King Daśaratha, lord of Ayodhyā — righteous, munificent, of splendour equal to the great seers — in his three wives, who are like Modesty, Prosperity, and Fame; O Viṣṇu, enter into sonship, making yourself fourfold. **1.14.19** tatra tvaṃ mānuṣo bhūtvā pravṛddhaṃ lokakaṇṭakam avadhyaṃ daivatair viṣṇo samare jahi rāvaṇam There, having become a man, O Viṣṇu, slay in battle Rāvaṇa, that flourishing thorn to the world, unslayable by the gods. **1.14.20** sa hi devān sagandharvān siddhāṃś ca ṛṣisattamān rākṣaso rāvaṇo mūrkho vīryotsekena bādhate For that foolish rākṣasa Rāvaṇa harasses the gods, the gandharvas, the siddhas, and the best of seers, through the excess of his might. **1.14.21** tad uddhataṃ rāvaṇam ṛddhatejasaṃ pravṛddhadarpaṃ tridaśeśvaradviṣam virāvaṇaṃ sādhu tapasvikaṇṭakaṃ tapasvinām uddhara taṃ bhayāvaham So uproot that arrogant Rāvaṇa of swollen might, of overweening pride, foe of the lord of the gods — the tormentor, verily a thorn to ascetics; deliver the ascetics from that bringer of terror.