Uttara Kanda, Sarga 57

Meaning

On hearing that charming and wonderful story, Lakṣmaṇa became very happy and addressed the following words to Śrī Rāma, a descendant of Raghu: (1)

Meaning

“O Descendant of Kākutstha! How is it that the Brāhmaṇa Vasiṣṭha and the king Nimi, who were revered even by the gods, again became embodied after having left their body?” (2)

Meaning

On hearing the speech of Lakṣmaṇa, Śrī Rāma, who was endowed with true valour, narrated the story of the high-souled Vasiṣṭha. (3)

Meaning

“O best among the Raghus! the two brilliant Brāhmaṇas were born from the pitcher which was filled with the lustre (semen) of those two high-souled ones (viz., Mitra and Varuṇa). They were the most eminent sages. (4)

Meaning

“Out of pitcher the first to be born was the illustrious sage Agastya, ‘I am not only your son,’ thus addressing Mitra he left. (5)

Meaning

“It was Mitra’s lustre which was deposited first in the presence of Urvaśī. There in that pitcher Varuṇa’s lustre was also added to it. (6)

Meaning

“After sometime from the luster of Mitra and Varuṇa was born the majestic Vasiṣṭha, who became the family-priest of the Ikṣvākus. (7)

Meaning

“O gentle one! No sooner was the blameless Vasiṣṭha born than the most brilliant Ikṣvāku chose him as priest for the welfare of our (the line of Sun or Raghus) family. (8)

Meaning

“O gentle one! Thus I have narrated the account of the birth of the high-souled Vasiṣṭha embodied anew. Now listen to what happened to Nimi. (9)

Meaning

“On seeing that the king was dead, all the wise sages took the initiation for the sacrifice and concluded the sacrifice. (10)

Meaning

“The eminent Brāhmaṇas or Brāhmarṣis alongwith the citizens and servants preserved the body of the king, together with perfumes, garlands and garments. (11)

Meaning

“After the conclusion of the sacrifice, Bhṛgu addressed, ‘O King! I am pleased with you. I shall restore your soul (consciousness).’ (12)

Meaning

“All the gods were also very much pleased and thus addressed the King, ‘O sage-king! Ask for a boon. Where should your soul (consciousness) be made to reside?’ (13)

Meaning

“On being thus told by all the gods, the spirit of Nimi said, ‘O Best of gods! Let me dwell on the eye-lids of all living beings.’ (14)

Meaning

“The gods said to Nimi’s spirit: ‘Very well! You will dwell (move about) on the eye-lids of all the living beings in the form of air. (15)

Meaning

“O Lord of the earth! In order to provide rest to you, who would be ever moving about in the form of air, living beings shall blink their eyes frequently.’ (16)

Meaning

“Having said thus, all the gods left as they had come. The high-souled sages held Nimi’s body and started churning Araṇi vigorously. In order that a son should be born to Nimi, when the high-souled ones were subjecting the fire-producing wood to friction and performing ‘oblation’ and reciting hymns a son was born called Mithi, by the great ascetics. He was called Videha as he was born of ‘Videha’. He was called Mithi, having been born from friction. He was called Janaka, since he was born in a mysterious manner. Thus at first the illustrious Janaka was also called Mithi, and hence the dynasty of Janaka was called Maithila (Dynasty). (17—20)

Meaning

“O Gentle-one! I have thus fully narrated the circumstances leading to the birth of Brāhmaṇa Vasiṣṭha as a result of the curse of Nimi, the foremost among kings and of king Nimi as a result of the curse of Brāhmaṇa Vasiṣṭha.” (21)