Bala Kanda, Sarga 31

Meaning

Delighted on having accomplished their purpose in the shape of protecting the sacrifice of Viśwāmitra, the two heroes, Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, then spent that night with a most cheerful mind in the sacrificial hall of Viśwāmitra at Siddhāśrama itself. (1)

Meaning

Having finished their morning duties at the close of night, the two brothers for their part sought together Viśwāmitra and the other Ṛṣis. (2)

Meaning

Greeting Viśwāmitra, the foremost of sages, who shone as a blazing fire, the two sweet-tongued brothers made the following highly noble submission : (3)

Meaning

“Here are we, your servants, present before you, O tiger among hermits ! Tell us, O jewel among sages, what injunction of yours we should carry out.” (4)

Meaning

At the aforesaid submission of the two brothers all the great Ṛṣis present there made the following reply to Śrī Rāma with the permission of Viśwāmitra : (5)

Meaning

“A most pious sacrifice is going to be performed, O jewel among men, by Janaka, the king of Mithilā. We shall repair to that place. (6)

Meaning

“You too must accompany us, O tiger among men ! Nay, there you ought to see a marvellous jewel among bows. (7)

Meaning

“The bow, which is so terrible and supremely effulgent and whose strength (weight) cannot be estimated, was actually presented in the former times, O jewel among men, to a former king of Mithilā, Devarāta by name, in a sacrificial assembly by the gods, who had got it in their turn from Lord Śiva. (8)

Meaning

“Neither gods nor Gandharvas nor demons nor ogres are able to bend it, much less human beings. (9)

Meaning

“Eager to gauge its strength even very mighty kings and princes failed to bend it. (10)

Meaning

“There, O Rāma (a scion of Kakutstha), you will be able to see that bow of the high-souled king of Mithilā as well as his most wonderful sacrifice, O tiger among men ! (11)

Meaning

“That excellent bow, well-formed at the centre where it is held by the fist, was indeed solicited by the aforesaid king of Mithilā as a reward for the sacrifice and gifted as such by all gods.* (12)

Meaning

“Worshipped with sandal-pastes of various kinds and incenses emitting the smell of aloe-wood, it stands enshrined in the palace of that king as an object of worship, O scion of Raghu !” (13)

Meaning

Saying so (through the other sages), Viśwāmitra, the foremost of sages, presently set out on the journey accompanied by a host of Ṛṣis as well as by Śrī Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, the two scions of Kakutstha, taking leave of the sylvan deities in the following words : (14)

Meaning

“May good betide you all ! Accomplished of purpose I shall proceed from Siddhāśrama to the Himālaya mountain on the northern bank of the holy Gaṅgā.” (15)

Meaning

Having observed thus, the celebrated sage Viśwāmitra, a scion of Kuśa, a tiger among hermits and rich in askesis, made ready to depart in a northerly direction. (16)

Meaning

No less than a hundred carts, full of load consisting mostly of requisites of a sacrifice, belonging to his followers, who were all exponents of the Vedas, accompanied Viśwāmitra, the foremost of sages, as he proceeded on his journey. (17)

Meaning

Even herds of beasts and flocks of birds dwelling in the Siddhāśrama followed the high-souled Viśwāmitra, whose only wealth was his asceticism. (18)

Meaning

Thereupon Viśwāmitra, accompanied by the host of seers, persuaded the birds as well as the beasts to return. Having covered a long distance, the hosts of hermits, accompanying Viśwāmitra, concentrated and the sun now declining, broke their journey on the bank of the Sona. Having bathed in the river and having worshipped the sacred fire when the sun had set, the sages, who were all possessed of immense glory, sat down placing Viśwamitra at their head. Paying their homage to the aforesaid sages and greeting them all, Śrī Rāma too, accompanied by Lakṣmaṇa, presently sat down facing the wise Viśwāmitra. Now Śrī Rāma, who was possessed of exceptional glory, asked Viśwāmitra, a tiger among sages, whose only wealth was his asceticism, with great curiosity as follows : “What land could this possibly be, graced with a thriving forest, O venerable Sir? I wish to hear of it. Be pleased to tell me accurately about it. God bless you !” Prompted by the aforesaid question of Śrī Rāma, the great ascetic, Viśwāmitra, of noble vows proceeded to speak elaborately about that land in the midst of the seers accompanying him. (19—24)