Bala Kanda, Sarga 28

Meaning

When just about to proceed further from the forest haunted so long by Tāṭakā, after receiving the missiles from Viśwāmitra, the all-pure Śrī Rāma, a scion of Kakutstha, with a most cheerful countenance now addressed Viśwāmitra as follows : (1)

Meaning

“Having received the knowledge of invoking missiles from you, O omnipotent sage, I can no longer be easily overpowered even by gods. I also wish to learn the Mantras capable of calling them back once discharged, O jewel among sages !” (2)

Meaning

Even while Śrī Rāma was speaking thus, the great ascetic Viśwāmitra of noble vows, possessed as he was of extraordinary firmness and purity, forthwith taught to him as well as to Lakṣmaṇa the Mantras capable of calling the missile(s) back. (3)

Meaning

He said : “Receive from me, O Rāma, a scion of Raghu, since you are a fit recipient, other glorious missiles (sons of Kṛśāśwa), capable of assuming any form at will and bearing the names of Satyavān, Satyakīrti, Dhṛṣṭa and Rabhasa, Pratihāratara, Parāñmukha and Avāñmukha, Lakṣya and Alakṣya as well as the yonder Dṛḍhanābha and Sunābha, Daśākṣa and Śatavaktra as well as Daśaśīrṣa and Satodara, Padmanābha and Mahānābha, Dundunābha and Swanābha, Jyotish as well as Śakuna, both Nairāsya and Vimala, Yaugandhara and Vinidra and even so, Daitya and Pramathana, those going by the names of Śucibāhu, Mahābahu, Nīṣkali and Viruca, Sārcimālī, Dhṛtimālī, Vṛttimān and Rucira, Pitrya as well as Saumanasa, both Vidhūta and Makara, as also Paravīra and Rati, Dhana and Dhānya, Kāmarūpa, Kāmaruci, Moha and Āvaraṇa, Jṛmbhaka and Sarpanātha, Panthāna and Varuṇa, O scion of Raghu ! May good betide you !” (4—10)

Meaning

Śrī Rāma (a scion of Kakutstha) received them with a most cheerful mind, saying, “Amen !” The missiles in their concrete living form were invested with an ethereal and effulgent personality and afforded delight to all. (11)

Meaning

Some of them shone like live coal, others were smoky in appearance, while still others were brilliant as the sun and the moon and were inclined forwards with their palms joined together so as to form a cavity. (12)

Meaning

Standing with their hollowed palms joined together, they addressed Śrī Rāma in sweet accents as follows : “Here we are, O tiger among men ! Pray, instruct us what we can do for you.” (13)

Meaning

Śrī Rāma (a scion of Raghu) replied to them saying, “Let you be gone, as you will, for the present. Appearing in my mind whenever I recall you, you should render assistance to me in times of emergency.” (14)

Meaning

Taking leave of Śrī Rāma and also going round him clockwise as a mark of respect and addressing the scion of Kakutstha in the words “Be it so !” they withdrew even as they had come. (15)

Meaning

Having come to know them, Śrī Rāma forthwith addressed the following sweet and delightful words to the great sage Viśwāmitra even while moving alongwith him : (16)

Meaning

“What is this cluster of trees, that looks from this place like a mass of clouds in view of its dark colour and density, not very far from the yonder mountain? Great indeed is my curiosity in this behalf. (17)

Meaning

“It is so pleasing to the sight, extremely soul-ravishing, full of deer and graced with various species of sweetly warbling birds. (18)

Meaning

“From the happy look as indicated above of this tract of land, to tell you the truth, I presume we have emerged, O jewel among sages, from the forest haunted so long by the ogress Tāṭakā, which made one’s hair stand on end by its fearful aspect. (19)

Meaning

“Whose hermitage does this site really contain? What is the locality of your hermitage, where those sinful, wicked and evil-minded slayers of Brāhmaṇas make their inroads for the interruption of your sacrificial performance, O great and glorious sage, nay, where your sacrificial activity requires to be guarded and the ogres deserve to be killed by me, O holy Brāhmaṇa ! I wish to hear all this, O powerful jewel among sages !” (20—22)