बालकांड
षोडश सर्गः

ततो नारायणो देवो नियुक्तः सुरसत्तमैः ।
जानन्नपि सुरावेवं श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

Then the Lord of all Devas , though aware of everything , spoke to them with the following words.

उपायः को वध्ये तस्य रावणस्य दुरात्मनः ।
यमहं तं समास्थाय निहन्यां ऋषिकंटकम् ॥

'Oh Celestials ! Please tell me the ruse to kill that cruel Rakshasa. Following that I will bring an end to this Rakshasa who harasses the Rishis'.

एवमुक्ताः सुराः सर्वे प्रत्यूचुः विष्णुमव्ययम् ।
मानुषीं तनु मास्थाय रावणं जहि संयुगे ॥
स हि तेपे तपस्तीव्रं दीर्घकालं अरिंदम ।
येन तुष्टोsभवद्ब्रह्मा लोककृल्लोकपूर्वजः॥
संतुष्टः प्रददौ तस्मै राक्षसाय वरं प्रभुः ీ
नानाविदेभ्यो भूतेभ्यो भयं नान्यत्र मानुषात् ।
अवज्ञातः पुरा तेन वरदाने हि मानवाः ॥

Hearing those words of Mahavishnu , who is immortal , the celestials replied.' O Chastiser of foes ! Assuming the human form you destroy him in a battle. Long time ago that Rakshasa performed severe penance for a long time . The maker of the universe and the progenitor of all beings , Brahma was pleased. Thus pleased , Brahma has given him a boon as asked by which he cannot be killed by a variety of beings except human beings. His utter disregard for humans is the only reason for such exclusion'.

एवं पितामहत् तस्मात् वरं प्राप्य स दर्पितः ॥
उत्पादयति लोकान् स्त्रीन् स्त्रियश्चाप्यपकर्षति ।
तस्मात् तस्य वधो दृष्टो मानुषेभ्यः परंतप॥

'Thus having been favoured by the father of creation, the arrogant Rakshasa is harrassing all beings in this world. He insults women too. Hence O Destroyer of foes ! he can be killed by human beings only'.

इत्येतद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सुराणां विष्णुरात्मवान् ।
पितरं रोचयामास तदा दशरथं नृपम् ॥
स चाप्यपुत्त्रो नृपतिः तस्मिन् काले महाद्युतिः ।
अयजत् पुत्रिया मिष्टिं पुत्त्रेप्सुररिसूदनः॥

Mahavishnu, the support of all beings having heard the Devas decided to be born as the son of Dasaratha. At that time the destroyer of enemies and highly powerful king Dasaratha was dejected since he was not having sons. To obtain progeny he performed the Yaga known as "Putrakaameshti"`

स कृत्वा निश्चयं विष्णुः अमंत्र्यच पितामहम् ।
अंतर्थानं गतो देवैः पूज्यमानो महर्षिभिः ॥

Then Lord Vishnu decided to descend to earth in the human form. Having received the prayers of all and taking leave of Brahman Vishnu disappeared.

ततो वै यजमानस्य पावकादतुल प्रभम् ।
प्रादुर्भूतम् महद्भूतं महावीर्यं महाबलम् ॥
कृष्णं रक्तांबरधरं रक्तास्यं दुंदुभिस्वनम् ।
स्निग्धहर्यक्षतनुजश्मश्रुप्रवर मूर्धजम् ॥
शुभलक्षण संपन्नं दिव्याभरण भूषितम् ।
शैलशृंगसमुत्सेधं दृप्त शार्दूलविक्रमम् ॥
दिवाकरसमाकारं दीप्तानलशिखोपमम् ।
तप्तजांबूनदमयीं राजतांतपरिच्छदाम् ॥
दिव्यपायस संपूर्णां पात्रीं पत्नीमिव प्रियाम् ।
प्रगृह्य विपुलां दोर्भ्यां स्वयं मायामयीमिव ॥

Then from the sacrificial fire there emerged an extraordinary being possessed of matchless splendor and possessing extraordinary prowess. Dark complexioned wearing ruddy clothes he was having voice resembling the sound of kettle drums. He was having soft and excellent hair like that of lion all over his body above his upper lip as well as head. He is invested with auspicious marks and is decked with celestial jewels. Possessed of the height of a mountain peak , he strode like fierce tiger. He shone like a Sun and looked like a flame of blazing fire. He carried in both his hands, a golden vessel full of sacred Payasa. He was carrying the golden vessel much like one would carry a dear spouse.

समवेक्ष्याब्रवीद्वाक्यं इदं दशरथं नृपम् ।
प्राजापत्यम् वरं विद्धि मामिहाभ्यागतं नृप ॥
ततः परं तदा राजा प्रत्युवाच कृतांजलिः ।
भगवान् स्वागतं तेsस्तु किमहं करवाणि ते ॥

Looking at the king Dasaratha he spoke the following words. ' O King the creator sent me here with his blessings'. Then the King too replied with joined palms,' O Great soul ! welcome to you. Please tell me what is to be done'.

अथो पुनरिदं वाक्यं प्राजपत्यो नरोsब्रवीत् ।
राजन्नर्चयिता देवान् अद्य प्राप्तम् इदं त्वया ॥
इदं तु नृपशार्दूल पायसं देवनिर्मितम्।
प्रजाकरं गृहाण त्वं धन्यं आरोग्यवर्धनम् ॥
भार्याणां अनुरूपाणां अश्नीतेति प्रयच्छ वै ।
तासु त्वं प्राप्यसे पुत्त्रान् यदर्थं यजसे नृप ॥

Then the messenger of Prajapathi spoke again.' O King , having performed the prayers you have obtained their favor. O King this "Payasa" is made by Devas. This will give you progeny, wealth as well as health. Please accept this. Give this to your dear wives and tell them to take the same. Eating this as the fruit of sacrifice your wives will be blessed with children'.

तथेति नृपतिः प्रीतः शिरसा प्रतिगुह्यताम् ।
पात्रीम् देवान्नसंपूर्णां देवदत्तां हिरण्मयीम् ॥
अभिवाद्य च तद्भूतं अद्भुतं प्रियदर्शनम् ।
मुदा परमया युक्तः चकाराभि प्रदक्षिणम् ॥
ततो दशरथः प्राप्य पायसं देवनिर्मितम् ।
बभूव परमप्रीतः प्राप्य वित्तमिवाधनः ॥

Saying "So be it" and the king respectfully accepted the golden vessel full of Payasa given by the Devas. Then he bowed to the extraordinary being of delightful looks and went round him as mark of his respect. Having received that celestial "Payasa" the king was very much delighted much like a man without riches feels after receiving bounty of riches.

ततस्तदद्भुतप्रख्यं भूतं परमभास्वरम् ।
संवर्तयित्वा तत्कर्म तत्रैवांतरधीयत ॥

Having completed his task that extraordinary being radiating splendor then disappeared immediately.

हर्षरस्मिभिरुद्द्योतं तस्यांतःपुरमाबभौ ।
शारदस्याभिरामस्य चंद्रस्येव नभोंसुभिः ॥
सः अंतःपुरं प्रविश्यैव कौसल्यां इदमब्रवीत् ।
पायसं प्रतिगृह्णीष्व पुत्रीयं त्विदमात्मनः ॥

Radiated by the beams of joy of the king , the harem he entered shone bright like the sky illuminated by the delightful autumnal moon.

कौसल्यायै नरपतिः पायसार्थं ददौ तदा ।
अर्थादर्थं ददौ चापि सुमित्रायै नराधिपः ॥
कैकेय्यै चावशिष्टार्थं ददौ पुत्त्रार्थकारणात् ।
प्रददौ चावशिष्टार्थं पायसस्यामृतोपमम् ॥
अनुचिंत्य सुमित्रायै पुनरेव महीपतिः ।
एवं तासां ददौ राजा भार्याणां पायसं पृथक् ॥
तास्त्येतत् पायसं प्राप्य नरेंद्रस्यॊत्तमाः स्त्रियः ।
सम्मानं मेनिरे सर्वाः प्रहर्षोदित चेतसः ॥

Then the king gave half of that "Payasa" to Kausalya. In the remaining "Payasa", he gave half to Sumitra . There upon in the remaining quarter "Payasa" he gave half to Kaikeyi and the remaining half of the quarter to Sumitra again. The queens too felt like they were honored upon receiving the "Payasa".

ततस्तु ताः प्राश्य तदुत्तमस्त्रियो
महीपतेः उत्तमपायसं पृथक् ।
हुताशनादित्यसमान तेजसोs
चिरेण गर्भान् प्रतिपेदिरे तदा ॥

Then the three queens of the King took their respective share of "Payasa" and shone with the brilliance of the effulgent Sun. After a little while they became pregnant.

ततस्तु राजा प्रसमीक्ष्य ताः स्त्रियः
प्ररूढगर्भाः प्रतिलब्धमानसः ।
बभूवहृष्ट स्त्रिदिवे यथा हरिः
सुरेंद्र सिद्दर्षि गणाभिपूजितः ॥

Then seeing his wives pregnant the king who obtained his cherished wishes felt delighted like he was the Vishnu adored by Indra and other Devas, Siddhas, venerable sages.

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये
बालकांडे षोडशस्सर्गः ॥
समाप्तं ॥

Thus ends chapter sixteen of Balakanda in Valmiki Ramayana.

||Om tat sat ||

|| om tat sat ||