बालकांड
अष्टादश सर्गः
( श्रीराम जननं )

निर्वृत्ते तु क्रतौ तस्मिन् हयमेधे महात्मनः।
प्रतिगृह्या सुरा भागान् प्रतिजग्मुः यथागतम् ॥

The Aswamedha sacrifice as well as the sacrifice intended to procure progeny performed by the highsouled King having been completed , the celestials who partook in their share of the offerrings too returned to their respective abodes

समाप्त दीक्षा नियमः पत्नीगण समन्वितः ।
प्रविवेश पुरीं राजा सभृत्यबलवाहनः ॥

Having completed the sacred vows , the king along with the queens entered the city accompanied by the servants soldiers and carriers.

यथार्हं पूजितस्तेन राज्ञा वै पृथिवीश्वराः ।
मुदिताः प्रययुर्देशान् प्रणम्य मुनिपुंगवम् ॥
श्रीमतां गच्छतां तेषां स्वपुराणि पुरात्ततः ।
बलानि राज्ञां शुभ्राणि प्रहृष्टानि चकाशिरे ॥

All the kings who came to witness the sacrifice have been honored by the king Dasaratha according to their accomplishments. The kings too very much pleased, bowed low to Sage Vasisht and started back for their respective lands. The soldiers of the glorious kings were delighted with the honors received and were shining brightly.

गतेषु पृथिवीशेषु राजा दशरथस्तदा ।
प्रविवेश पुरीं श्रीमान् पुरस्कृत्य द्विजोत्तमान् ॥

After all the visiting kings have left, then king Dasaratha too entered the city following the best of Brahmans.

शांतया प्रययौ सार्थं ऋष्यशृंगस्सुपूजितः ।
अन्वीयमानो राज्ञाsथ सानुयात्रेण धीमता ॥

The sage Rishyasrumga having been duly worshipped left along with his wife Shanta. He was followed by the king Romapada. Dasaratha too followed them for while before taking leave.

एवं विसृज्य तान् सर्वान् राजा संपूर्णमानसः ।
उवास सुखितस्तत्र पुत्रोत्पत्तिं विचिंतयन् ॥

Having bid farewell to all , the king felt happy. Thinking about the birth of his sons the king lived happily.

ततो यज्ञे समाप्तेतु ऋतूनां षट् समत्ययुः ।
ततश्च द्वादशे मासे चैत्रे नावमिके तिथौ ।
नक्षत्रेsदिति दैवत्ये स्वोच्छसंस्थेषु पंचसु ।
ग्रहेषु कर्कटे लग्ने वाक्पतिविंदुना सह ॥
प्रोद्यमाने जगन्नाथं सर्वलोक नमस्कृतम् ।
कौसल्याsजनयद्रामं सर्वलक्षण संयुतम् ॥

After the completion of Yaga six seasons have rolled on. Then after twelve months, on the ninth day of the month of Chiatra during the fourth quarter of the star Pushyami presided over by Aditi, SriRama was born to Kausalya, with five planets in their ascendancy. And Jupiter in conjunction with Moon appeared in Karka. At that auspicious time Srirama was born. He is the leader of all the three worlds and respected by all. He is endowed with all that is good.

विष्णोरर्थम् महाभागं पुत्त्रं इक्ष्वाकु वर्धनम् ।
लोहिताक्षं महाबाहुं रक्तोष्ठं दुंदुभिस्वनम्॥
कौशल्या शुशुभे तेन पुत्त्रेणामित तेजसा ।
यथा वरेन देवानां अदितिर्वज्रपाणीना ॥

He is the delight of the scion of Ikshwakus. He represents half the power of Vishnu. He has well proportioned limbs, eyes with reddish tinge as well as a booming voice resembling the sound of kettle drums. With a son of great prowess , Kausalya shone much like Aditi who had the vajrayudha wielding Indra as her son.

भरतोनाम कैकेय्यां जज्ञे सत्यपराक्रमः ।
साक्षा द्विष्णोश्चतुर्थांशः सर्वैः समुदितो गुणैः ॥
अथ लक्ष्मणशतृघ्नौ सुमित्राsजनयत् सुतौ ।
वीरौ सर्वास्त्रकुशलौ विष्णोरर्थसमन्वितौ ॥

Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharata who represnted a fourth of Vishnu's prowess and he is endowed with all virtues, and is an embodiment of true valor. Then the two sons Lakshmana and Satrughna were born to Sumitra. They were skilled in the use of all weapons and were endowed with fourth part of Vishnu's prowess.

पुष्ये जातस्तु भरतो मीनलग्बे प्रसन्नधीः ।
सार्पे जातौ तु सौमित्री कुळीरेsभ्युदिते रवौ ।
राज्ञः पुत्त्रा महात्मनः चत्वारो जज्ञिरे पृथक् ॥
गुणवंतो अनुरूपाश्च रुच्या प्रोष्ठपदोपमाः ।
जगुः कलं च गंधर्वा ननृतुश्चास्सरोगणाः ।
देव दुंदुभयो नेदुः पुष्पवृष्टिश्च खाच्च्युता ॥

Bharata always of pleasing manners, was born under the star of Pushyami and the auspicious constellation of Meena. Lakshmana and Satrughna were born under the star Aslesha in the constellation of karkata when the Sun was over the meridien. The four sons all endowed with excelent qualities were born at different times. When they were born Gandharvas sang melodiously. The Apsaras danced. The kettle drums made their resounding noises. Flowers flew down from the heavens.

उत्सवश्च महानासीत् अयोध्यायां जनाकुलः ।
रथ्याश्च जनसंबाधा नटनर्तक संकुलाः ।
गायनैश्च विराविण्यो नादनैश्च तथा अपरैः ॥
प्रदेयांश्च ददौ राजा सूतमागधवंदिनाम् ।
ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददौ वित्तं गोधनानि सहस्रशः ॥

Ayodhya celebrated the event like a great festival with participation of people. The main through fares were full of actors and dancers putting on their shows. The streets marked with rush of people were full of bards singing songs of praise. The king gave away gifts to the entourage and gave away thousands of cows and gold coins to Brahmins.

अतीत्यैकादशाहं तु नामकर्म तथा अकरोत् ।
ज्येष्ठं रामं महात्मानं भरतं कैकयीसुतम् ॥
सौमित्रिं लक्ष्मणमिति शतृघ्नं अपरं तथा ।
वसिष्ठः परमप्रीतो नामानि कृतवांस्तदा ॥

On the eleventh day the king celebrated the ceremony of giving names. Sage Vasishta peformed the ceremony with delight , naming Kausalya's son as Rama and Sumitra's sons as Lakshmana and Satrughna and Kaikeyi's son as Bharata.

ब्राह्मणान् भोजयामास पौरान् जानपदानपि ।
अददात् ब्राह्मणानां च रत्नौघम् अमितं बहु ।
तेषां जन्मक्रियादीनि सर्वकर्माण्यकारयत् ॥

The king offered food to all the citizen of Ayodhya as well as people from the vilages. For Brahmins he gave away variety of jewels. Then he got appropriate ceremonial rituals related to the birth performed.

तेषां केतु रिव ज्येष्ठो रामो रतिकरः पितुः ।
बभूव भूयो भूतानां स्वयंभूरिव सम्मतः ॥
सर्वे वेदविदः शूराः सर्वे लोकहिते रताः ।
सर्वे ज्ञानोपसंपन्नाः सर्वे समुदिता गुणैः ॥

Among the four sons , Rama the eldest gave the most pleasure to the King. He also became dear to all much like the creator himself who is admired by all . All the princes learnt Vedas. They are great warriors. They were always of the intent of working for the benefit of the people. They were endowed with wisdom and were repositories of all excellences.

तेषामपि महातेजा रामस्सत्यपराक्रमः ।
इष्टः सर्वस्य लोकस्य शशांक इव निर्मलः ॥
गजस्कंधे अश्वपृष्टे च रथ चर्यासु सम्मतः ।
धनुर्वेदेच निरतः पितृशुश्रूषेण रतः ॥

Among them Rama bore himself with great lustre and is possessed of a true valor. He is the delight of all. Like moon he is without blemish. He is skillful in all actions while riding an elephant , a horse and a chariot. He is skillful in the arts of archery . He is devoted and always involved in serving his father.

बाल्यात् प्रभृति सुस्निग्धो लक्ष्मणो लक्ष्मिवर्धनः ।
रामस्य लोकरामस्य भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य नित्यशः ॥
सर्वप्रियकर्तस्य रामस्यापि शरीरतः ।
लक्ष्मणो लक्ष्मिसंपन्नो बहिः प्राण इवापरः ॥

From his childhood Lakshmana is always devoted to his elder brother Rama and is the delight of all. He will forget his own comforts and take care of Rama's needs. He is virtually Rama's other soul.

न च तेन विना निद्रां लभते पुरुषोत्तमः ।
मृष्टमन्न मुपानीतम् अश्नाति न च तं विना ॥
यदा हि हयमारूढो मृगयां याति राघवः ।
तदैनं पृष्टतोsन्वेति स धनुः परिपालयन् ॥
भरतस्यापि शतृघ्नो लक्ष्मणावरजो हि सः ।
प्राणैः प्रियतरो नित्यं तस्य चासीत् तथा प्रियः ॥

The best of men Rama too would not sleep unless Lakshman is next to him. He would not take the tasty food brougt for him. When Rama goes for hunting on a horse he would be there with him walking on foot. Lakshmana's brother Satrughna too is like him. He is dearer to Baharata than his own life. Satrughna also has deep respect for Bharata.
स चतुर्भिर्महभागैः पुत्रैः दशरथः प्रियैः ।
बभूव परमप्रीतो देवैरिवपितामहः ॥
ते यदा ज्ञानसंपन्नाः सर्वे समुदितागुणैः ।
ह्रीमंतः कीर्तिमंतश्च सर्वज्ञा दीर्घदर्शिनः ॥
तेषामेवं प्रभवाणाम् सर्वेषां दीप्ततेजसाम् ।
पिता दशरथो हृष्टो ब्रह्मलोकाधिपो यथा ॥

The Dasaratha felt supremely delighted with his four sons very much like the the Brahma himself with the gods surrounding him. The four sons were endowed with rich wisdom , adorned with all virtues, all knowing and far sighted . King Dasaratha, the father of those four possessing unique glory and splendour, too rejoiced like Brahma the ruler of Universe.

ते चापि मनुजव्याघ्रा वैदिकाध्ययने रताः ।
पितृशुश्रूषणरता धनुर्वेदेच निष्ठिताः ॥
अथ राजा दशरथः तेषां दारक्रियां प्रति ।
चिंतयामास धर्मात्मा सोपाध्यायः सबांधवः ॥
तस्य चिंतयमानस्य मंत्रिमध्ये महात्मनः ।
अभ्यागच्छन् महातेजा विश्वामित्रोमहामुनिः ॥

Those four, tigers among men. were devoted to study of Vedic studies , well versed in the art of archery and always devoted to the service of parents. Then the king whose mind is given to piety deliberated with family priests about the princes marriage. While the king was deliberating thus the great sage Viswamitra possessed of unique glory arrived.

स राज्ञा दर्शनाकांक्षी द्वाराध्यक्षान् उवाच ह ।
शीघ्रमाख्यात मां प्राप्तं कौशिकं गाधिनस्सुतम् ॥
तत् श्रुत्वा वचनं त्रासात् राज्ञो वेश्म प्रदुद्रुवुः ।
संभ्रांत मनसः सर्वे तेन वाक्येन चोदिताः ॥
ते गत्वा राजभवनं विश्वामित्रं ऋषिं तदा ।
प्राप्तमावेदयामासुः नृपायैक्ष्वाकवे तदा ॥

Seeking an audience with the king , he announced to the gate keepers. " Announce my arrival to the King. I belong to the line of Kusa, My name is Viswamitra , son of King Gadhi'. Hearing that arnnouncement of sage, spurred on by that command, the gate keepers ran to the Kings palace. They reached the kings palace and conveyed the arrival of Viswamitra to the king.

तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स पुरोधाः समाहितः ।
प्रत्युज्जगाम तं हृष्टो ब्रह्मणमिव वासवः ॥
तं दृष्ट्वा ज्वलितं दीप्या तापसं संशितव्रतम् ।
प्रहृष्टवदनो राजा ततोsर्घ्यं उपहारयत् ॥
स राज्ञः प्रतिगृह्यार्घ्यं शास्त्र दृष्टेन कर्मणा ।
कुशलं चाव्ययं चैव पर्य पृछ्छन् नराधिपम् ॥

The king delighted to hear those words, went forth along with his priests to receive him like Indra went to receive Brahma. Seeing that sage radiating the power of his penance the king was very happy. Then the king offered ritual waters for cleaning. The sage having received the offerings enquired after the welfare of king and the kingdom.

पुरेकोशे जनपदे बांधवेषु सुहृत्सु च ।
कुशलं कौशिको राज्ञः पर्यपृछ्छत् सुधार्मिकः ॥
अपि ते सन्नताः सर्वे सामंता रिपवो जिताः ।
दैवं च मानुषं चापि कर्म ते साध्वनुष्टितम् ॥

" O King ! Are your treasury , kingdom , frends and relatives safe? Are all vassals under your control and are all enmies subdued? Are all the sacrficial duties and duties to the citizens going apace?'

वसिष्ठं च समागम्य कुशलं मुनिपुंगवः ।
ऋषींश्चान्यान् यथा न्यायं महाभागानुवाच ह ॥
ते सर्वे हृष्टमनसः तस्य राज्ञो निवेशनम् ।
विविशुः पूजितास्तत्र निषेदुश्च यथार्हतः ॥

Then the sage aproached Vasishtha and exchaged greetings and there after met all others and exchanged greetings as appropriate.
Then all of them entered the court and took their places according to their ranks.

अथ हृष्टमना राजा विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम् ।
उवाच परमोदारो हृष्टस्तमभिपूजयन् ॥
यथा अमृतस्य संप्राप्तिः यथा वर्षमनूदके ।
यथा सदृशदारेषु पुत्त्रजन्माsप्रजस्य च ॥
प्रणष्टस्य यथा लाभो यथा हर्षो महोदये ।
तथैवागमनं मन्ये स्वागतं ते महामुने ॥

Thrilled with joy , the higly magnanimous king then spoke with the sage after offering him due worship. ' O , Maharshi! Your arrrival gives us a delight like obtaining nectar for one self, like rain water in an area of drought, like the birth of a son for one without one through his wife, like the recovery of treasue for one who lost his, like the joy of great festivals. O Maharshi welcome to you '.

कं च ते परमं कामं करोमि किमु हर्षितः ।
पात्रभूतोsसि मे ब्रह्मन् दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोsसि कौशिक ॥
अद्य मे सफलं जन्म जीवितंच सुजीवितम् ।
पूर्वं राजर्षि शब्देन तपसा द्योतित प्रभः ॥
ब्रह्मर्षित्व मनुप्राप्तः पूज्योsसि बहुधा मया ।
त दद्भुत मिदं ब्रह्मन् पवित्रं परमं मम ॥
शुभक्षेत्रगतश्चाहं तव संदर्शनात् प्रभो ।
ब्रूहि यत् प्रार्थितं तुभ्यं कार्यमागमनं प्रति ॥
इच्छाम्यनुगृहीतोsहं त्वदर्थपरिवृद्धये ।

'O Great One! what is your desire. What should I do ? You deserve to receive what ever is required. Your arrival here is considered as our luck. To day I feel as though my birth stands fulfilled and my life is fulfilled . You were intially known as Rajsrshi and later attained the tittle of Brahmarshi . Hence you are worthyof our adoration. Your coming here is wonderful and our house is purified. Please let me know what is the resaon for your arrival. I am ready to fulfill your wishes'.

कार्यस्य न विमर्शं च गंतुमर्हसि कौशिक ।
कर्ताचाहमशेषेण दैवतं हि भवान् हि मम ॥
ममचायमनुप्राप्तो महानभ्युदयो द्विज ।
तवागमनजः कृत्श्नो धर्मश्चानुत्तमो मम ॥

'Oh Kausika ! do not have any concerns about your needs. You are equivalent of Gods to us. I will have the works completed without leaving anything pending. O Brahmarshi ! With your arrival I consider that all the religious merits attained by me have borne fruit.'

इति हृदयसुखं निशम्य वाक्यं
श्रुतिसुखमात्मवता विनीतमुक्तम् ।
प्रधितगुणयशा गुणैर्विशिष्टः
परमऋषिः परमं जगाम हर्षम् ॥

Hearing those words of prayer which were not only pleasing to heart but also to ears , the sage whose renown is occassioned by his excellences, whose renown is spread far and wide, and who was distinguished by his virtues, experienced supreme delight.

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये
बालकांडे अष्टादशस्सर्गः ॥
समाप्तं ॥

Thus ends the chapter 18 of Balakanda in Ramayana.

|| om tat sat ||

|| om tat sat ||