बालकांड
त्रिंशस्सर्गः

अथ तौ देशकालज्ञौ राजपुत्रवरिंदमौ ।
देशे काले च वाक्यज्ञानब्रूतां कौशिकं वचः ॥

Then the two princes who are experts in disposing of the enemies , who are well aware of the time and place and who can talk appropriately depending on the the time and place , spoke to venerable sage Viswamtra.

भगवन् श्रोतुमिच्छावो यस्मिन् काले निशाचरौ ।
संरक्षणीयौ तौ ब्रह्मन् नातिवर्तेत तत् क्षणम् ॥

Oh Bhagavan ! We would like to know when the Rakshasas come to obstruct the Yaga. We will be alert and ready for the protection of the sacrifice.

एवं ब्रुवाणौ काकुत् स्थौ त्वरमाणौ युयुत्सया ।
सर्वे ते मुनयः प्रीताः प्रशशंसुः नृपात्मजौ ॥
अद्यप्रभृति षड्रात्रं रक्षतं राघवं युवाम् ।
दीक्षां गतो ह्येष मुनिः मौनित्वं च गमिष्यति ॥

Saying so the two prince from Kakutstha line were getting ready for the battle. Then all the sages were pleased. Praising the two princes they spoke as follows. 'Raghava ! From today you will be on the job of protection for six days. The venerable sage too will be on a vow of silence during these rites'.

तौ तु तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा राजपुत्रौ यशस्विनौ ।
अनिद्रौ षडहोरात्रं तपोवन मरक्षताम् ॥
उपासां चक्रतुर्वीरौ यत्तौ परमधन्विनौ ।
ररक्षतुर्मुनिवरं विश्वामित्रमरिंदमौ ॥

Both the famed princes were on the job of protecting the venerable sage all night and day without sleeping. The two princes holding their bows and arrows ready were always standing by the sage Viswamitra. Thus they were busy with the job of protecting the sage.

अथ काले गते तस्मिन् षष्ठेsहनि समागते ।
सौमित्रिम् अब्रविद्रामो यत्तोभव समाहितः ॥
रामस्यैवं ब्रुवाणस्य त्वरितस्य युयुत्सया ।
प्रजज्वाल ततो वेदिः सोपाध्यायो पुरोहिता ॥

In this manner the sacrifice went on for five days. On the sixth day SriRama told Lakshmana , " Be ready for the battle'. Even as SriRama was saying so the fire from the sacrificial stage lept up into the skies !

स दर्भचमसस्रुक्का ससमित्कुसुमोच्चया ।
विश्वामित्रेण सहिता वेदिर्जज्वाल सर्त्विजा ॥

The sacrifial altar with Kusa grass, a Chamasa , a Sruk , peices of firewood and flowers along with Viswamitra and other Rishis blazed forth with fire.

मंत्रवच्छ यथान्यायं यज्ञोsसौ संप्रवर्तते ।
आकाशे च महान् शब्दः प्रादुरासी द्भयानकः ॥
आवार्य गगनं मेघो यथा प्रावृषि निर्गतः ।
तथा मायां विकुर्वाणौ राक्षसावभ्यधावताम्॥

The sacrifice was going on as per the prescribed practices. Then from the sky emnated a loud and fearful sound. Then the Raksahasa came running spreading their magical skills like the clouds enveloping the skies in the rainy season.

मारीचश्च सुबाहुश्च तयोरनुचराश्च ये ।
आगम्य भीम संकाशा रुधिरौघं अवासृजन् ॥
सा तेन रुधिरौगेण वेदि रज्ज्वाल मंडिता ।
सहसाभिद्रुतो रामः तानपस्यत् ततो दिवि ॥

Maricha and Subahu along with their followers then rained streams of blood . With that bloody rain all the sorroundig areas were fully drenched . Seeing that SriRam ran forth at once and beheld the Rakshasas in the sky.

तवापतंतौ सहसा दृष्ट्या राजीव लोचनः ।
लक्ष्मणं चाथ संप्रेक्ष्य रामो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

Looking at those Rakshasas coming for obstructing the sacrifice, the lotus eyed Rama looking at Lakshmana said the following:

पश्य लक्ष्मण दुर्वृत्तान् राक्षसान् पिशिताशनान् ।
मानवास्त्रसमाधूतान् अनिलेन यथा घनान् ॥
करिष्यामि नसंदेहो नोत्सहे हंतुमीदृशान् ।
इत्युक्त्वा वचनं रामः चापे संधायवेगवान् ॥
मानवं परमोदारं अस्त्रं परमभास्वरम् ।
चिक्षेप परमकृद्धो मारीचोरसि राघवः ॥

'Oh Lakshmana ! Look at these Rakshasas who are eaters of meat addicted to bad deeds and looking like the air and clouds. I will dispese them with this Manavastra. I donot like to kill these spineless Rakshasas'. Having said this SriRama stretched his bow and shot at the demon Maricha's chest a powerful arrow bearing the name of Manavastra and spreading brilliant light.

न तेन परमास्त्रेण मानवेन समाहितः ।
संपूर्णं योजनशतं क्षिप्त स्सागर संप्लवे ॥

Then that Maricha hit by that powerful and extraordinary Manavastra fell a hundred Yojanas away back into the sea

विचेतनं विघूर्णंतं शीतेषु बलताडितम् ।
निरस्तं दृश्य मारीचं रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत् ॥
इमानपि वधिष्यामि निर्घृणान् दुष्टचारिणः ।
राक्षसान् पापकर्मस्थान् यज्ञघ्नान् रुधिराशनान् ॥

Seeing that Maricha spinning and being carried away after being hit by the force of that arrow called "Siteshu", SriRama spoke to Lakshmana. " I will kill these Rakshasas.They are wedded to evil deeds and are sinners. They obstruct sacrifices. and drink blood".

संगृह्यास्त्रं ततो रामो दिव्यमाग्नेयमद्भुतम् ।
सुबाहुरपि चिक्षेप स विद्धः प्रापतद्भुवि ।
शेषान् वायव्य मादाय निजघान महायशाः ।
राघवः परमोदारो मुनीनां मुदमावहान् ॥
स हत्वा राक्षसान् सर्वान् यज्ञघ्नान् रघुनंदनः ।
ऋषिभिः पूजित स्तत्र यथेंद्रो विजये पुरा ॥

SriRama then invoked the most powerful Agneyastra and aimed it at Subahu. Hit by that missile Subahu fell down on the ground. Then the illustrious and powerful Rama killed all the other remaining Rakshasas using Vayavyastra , thus bringing joy to all the sages. Thus the scion of Raghus killing all the Rakshasas obstructing the sacrificial rites received the honors from all sages much like Indra who defeated the ogres in the olden days.

अथ यज्ञे समाप्ते तु विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः ।
निरीतिका दिशो दृष्ट्वा काकुत् स्थ मिदमब्रवीत् ॥

The Sacrificial rites were completed. The obstructions from all quarters were quashed. Seeing that sage Viswamitar spoke to SriRama

कृतार्थोस्मि महाबाहो कृतं गुरुवचस्तया ।
सिद्धाश्रममिदं सत्यं कृतं राम महायशः ॥

'Oh Mahabaho ! I have succeeded. You have carried out the bidding of your Gurus. O Iluustrious Rama! Siddaasrama ,the name of the hermitage has been proved to be apt by your deeds'.

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये
बालकांडे त्रिंशस्सर्गः ॥
समाप्तं ॥

|| Thus ends the thirtieth sarga of balakanda in Vaalmiki Ramayana ||
|| om tat sat ||

||om tat sat ||