# Bāla Kāṇḍa 49 — Arrival in Mithilā: Janaka receives the travellers *Janaka welcomes the travellers at his sacrifice, asks about the princes and learns that they have come to see and test the bow* Portion: Arrival in Mithilā · Verses: 25 · Ref format: 1.49. ## Sequence - Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa follow Viśvāmitra northeast to Janaka's sacrificial grounds (49.1) - impressed by the many learned brāhmaṇas and cart-filled encampments, Rāma asks where they should stay → Viśvāmitra chooses a secluded place with water (49.2–5) - Janaka comes with his purohita Śatānanda and the ṛtvijs to offer hospitality → Viśvāmitra asks after the King and the sacrifice, and they sit with the ministers and munis (49.6–12) - Janaka says the visit has made his sacrifice fruitful and explains that twelve days remain before the Devas come for their shares (49.13–15) - he asks who the two matching, godlike young warriors are (49.16–21) - Viśvāmitra identifies Daśaratha's sons and recounts Siddhāśrama, the rākṣasas, Viśālā, Ahalyā, and Gautama → he explains that they have come to see and test the great bow (49.22–25). ## Verses **1.49.1** tataḥ prāguttarāṃ gatvā rāmaḥ saumitriṇā saha viśvāmitraṃ puraskṛtya yajñavāṭam upāgamat Then Rāma, going in the north-easterly direction together with Saumitri, and placing Viśvāmitra in front, arrived at the sacrificial enclosure. **1.49.2** rāmas tu muniśārdūlam uvāca sahalakṣmaṇaḥ sādhvī yajñasamṛddhir hi janakasya mahātmanaḥ And Rāma, together with Lakṣmaṇa, said to the tiger among sages: “Excellent indeed is the rich sacrifice of the great-souled Janaka. **1.49.3** bahūnīha sahasrāṇi nānādeśanivāsinām brāhmaṇānāṃ mahābhāga vedādhyayanaśālinām Here are many thousands of brahmins, O illustrious one, dwelling in various lands, distinguished in the study of the Vedas. **1.49.4** ṛṣivāṭāś ca dṛśyante śakaṭīśatasaṃkulāḥ deśo vidhīyatāṃ brahman yatra vatsyāmahe vayam And the sages' encampments are seen, crowded with hundreds of carts; let a place be assigned, O brahmin, where we may dwell.” **1.49.5** rāmasya vacanaṃ śrutvā viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ niveśam akarod deśe vivikte salilāyute Hearing Rāma's words, the great sage Viśvāmitra made a lodging in a secluded spot supplied with water. **1.49.6** viśvāmitraṃ muniśreṣṭhaṃ śrutvā sa nṛpatis tadā śatānandaṃ puraskṛtya purohitam aninditam When that king then heard of Viśvāmitra, the best of sages, placing before him his blameless family-priest Śatānanda — **1.49.7** ṛtvijo 'pi mahātmānas tv arghyam ādāya satvaram viśvāmitrāya dharmeṇa dadur mantrapuraskṛtam the great-souled officiating priests too, quickly taking up the guest-offering, gave it duly to Viśvāmitra, prefaced with sacred formulas. **1.49.8** pratigṛhya tu tāṃ pūjāṃ janakasya mahātmanaḥ papraccha kuśalaṃ rājño yajñasya ca nirāmayam Having accepted that honour from the great-souled Janaka, he inquired after the king's welfare and the untroubled (progress) of the sacrifice. **1.49.9** sa tāṃś cāpi munīn pṛṣṭvā sopādhyāya purodhasaḥ yathānyāyaṃ tataḥ sarvaiḥ samāgacchat prahṛṣṭavān And having greeted those sages too, along with the teachers and the priests, he then, greatly delighted, met with them all as was fitting. **1.49.10** atha rājā muniśreṣṭhaṃ kṛtāñjalir abhāṣata āsane bhagavān āstāṃ sahaibhir munisattamaiḥ Then the king, with palms joined, addressed the best of sages: “Let the venerable one be seated, together with these best of sages.” **1.49.11** janakasya vacaḥ śrutvā niṣasāda mahāmuniḥ purodhā ṛtvijaś caiva rājā ca saha mantribhiḥ Hearing Janaka's words, the great sage sat down; and so did the family-priest, the officiating priests, and the king together with his ministers. **1.49.12** āsaneṣu yathānyāyam upaviṣṭān samantataḥ dṛṣṭvā sa nṛpatis tatra viśvāmitram athābravīt Seeing them seated all around on seats as befitting, the king there then said to Viśvāmitra: **1.49.13** adya yajñasamṛddhir me saphalā daivataiḥ kṛtā adya yajñaphalaṃ prāptaṃ bhagavaddarśanān mayā “Today my rich sacrifice has been made fruitful by the gods; today the fruit of the sacrifice has been attained by me through the sight of the venerable one. **1.49.14** dhanyo 'smy anugṛhīto 'smi yasya me munipuṃgava yajñopasadanaṃ brahman prāpto 'si munibhiḥ saha I am blessed, I am favoured, O bull among sages, in that you, O brahmin, have come to my sacrificial session together with the sages. **1.49.15** dvādaśāhaṃ tu brahmarṣe śeṣam āhur manīṣiṇaḥ tato bhāgārthino devān draṣṭum arhasi kauśika The wise say twelve days remain, O brahmin-seer; after that you shall be able to see the gods, who come for their shares, O Kauśika. **1.49.16** ity uktvā muniśārdūlaṃ prahṛṣṭavadanas tadā punas taṃ paripapraccha prāñjaliḥ prayato nṛpaḥ Having thus spoken to the tiger among sages, the king then, with joyful face, palms joined and composed, questioned him further: **1.49.17** imau kumārau bhadraṃ te devatulyaparākramau gajasiṃhagatī vīrau śārdūlavṛṣabhopamau “These two youths — blessings on you — of prowess equal to the gods, with the gait of elephant and lion, heroes like tiger and bull, **1.49.18** padmapatraviśālākṣau khaḍgatūṇīdhanurdharau aśvināv iva rūpeṇa samupasthitayauvanau with eyes wide as lotus-petals, bearing sword, quiver, and bow, in form like the two Aśvins, in the bloom of youth, **1.49.19** yadṛcchayaiva gāṃ prāptau devalokād ivāmarau kathaṃ padbhyām iha prāptau kimarthaṃ kasya vā mune come to earth as if by mere chance, like two immortals from the world of the gods — how have they come here on foot, for what purpose, and whose (sons) are they, O sage? **1.49.20** varāyudhadharau vīrau kasya putrau mahāmune bhūṣayantāv imaṃ deśaṃ candrasūryāv ivāmbaram Bearing excellent weapons, whose sons are these two heroes, O great sage, adorning this land as the moon and sun adorn the sky, **1.49.21** parasparasya sadṛśau pramāṇeṅgitaceṣṭitaiḥ kākapakṣadharau vīrau śrotum icchāmi tattvataḥ resembling each other in stature, gesture, and movement, heroes wearing the side-locks of youth? I wish to hear the truth.” **1.49.22** tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā janakasya mahātmanaḥ nyavedayan mahātmānau putrau daśarathasya tau Hearing that speech of the great-souled Janaka, he (Viśvāmitra) made known those two great-souled sons of Daśaratha — **1.49.23** siddhāśramanivāsaṃ ca rākṣasānāṃ vadhaṃ tathā tac cāgamanam avyagraṃ viśālāyāś ca darśanam — the sojourn at Siddhāśrama and the slaying of the rākṣasas, and their untroubled coming, and the sight of Viśālā, **1.49.24** ahalyādarśanaṃ caiva gautamena samāgamam mahādhanuṣi jijñāsāṃ kartum āgamanaṃ tathā and the seeing of Ahalyā and the meeting with Gautama, and likewise their coming to make trial of the great bow. **1.49.25** etat sarvaṃ mahātejā janakāya mahātmane nivedya virarāmātha viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ Having related all this to the great-souled Janaka, the mighty great sage Viśvāmitra then fell silent.