बालकांड
अष्टमः सर्गः

तस्यत्वेवं प्रभावस्य धर्मज्ञस्य महात्मनः
सुतार्थं तप्यमानस्य नाशीद्वंशकरः सुतः ॥

That virtuous , powerful and great king Dasaratha was desolate since he did not have children who will prolong his lineage.

चिंतयानस्य तस्यैवं बुद्धिरासीन्महात्मनः ।
सुतार्थं हयमेधेन किमर्थं न यजाम्यहम् ॥
स निश्चितां मतिं कृत्वा यष्टव्यमिति बुद्धिमान् ।
मंत्रिभिः सह धर्मात्मा सर्वैरेव कृतात्मभिः ॥
ततोअब्रवीत् इदं राजा सुमंत्रं मंत्रि सत्तमम् ।
शिघ्रमानय मे सर्वान् गुरून् स्तान् स पुरोहितान् ॥

Then king thought why not perform a Asvametha yaga for obtaining children. After consulting all his experienced ministers he came to the firm conclusion to perform the sacrifice. Then he asked Sumantra the senior minister to bring all the priests including his teachers for further consultations.

ततस्सुमंत्रस्त्वरितं गत्वा त्वरित विक्रमः ।
समानयत् स तान् सर्वान् समस्तान् वेदपारगान्॥
सुयज्ञं वामदेवं च जाबालिमथ काश्यपम् ।
पुरोहितं वशिष्ठं च येचान्ये द्विज सत्तमा ॥
तान् पूजयित्वा धर्मात्मा राजा दशरथस्तथा ।
इदं धर्मार्थ सहितं श्लक्षं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

Then Sumantra went immediately and brought all those and they are well versed in Vedas. Those included Suyagnya, Vaamadeva, Jabali, Kasyapa and the chief priest Vashista along with several other venerable brahmins. Having duly honored them , King Dasaratha spoke with words which are meanigful and follow virtuous path.

मम लालप्यमानस्य पुत्रार्थं नास्ति वै सुखम् ।
तदर्थं हयमेधेन यक्ष्यामीति मतिर्मम ॥
तदहं यष्टुमिच्चामि शास्त्र दृष्टेन कर्मणा ।
कथं प्राप्य महं कामं बुद्धिरत्र विचार्यताम् ॥

King Dasaratha said "I am not at peace with my mind ever thinking about a son, hence I would like to perform the Asvmedha yaga. The Yaga should be performed as prescribed in the Sastras. You may please see how my desire can be accomplished"

ततः साध्विति तद्वाक्यं ब्राह्मणाः प्रत्यपूजयन् ।
वशिष्ठप्रमुखाः सर्वे पार्थिवस्य मुखाच्च्युताम् ॥
ऊचुश्च परमप्रीताः सर्वे दशरथं वचः ।
संभाराः संभ्रियतां ते तुरगश्च विमुच्यताम् ॥
सर्वथा प्राप्यसे पुत्रान् अभिप्रेतांश्च पार्थिव ।
यस्य ते धार्मिकी बुद्धिः इयं पुत्रार्थ मागता ॥

Then Vashista and other venerable Brahmins acclaimed the proposal put forwarded by the King himself and said "well said, well said ". Being pleased they spoke to the king as follows ;" Ok king get all the materials required for the Yaga . Let the horse for the Yaga be released. The thought you have for obtaining progeny is indeed very proper . You will certainly achieve the object of obtaining progeny "

ततः प्रीतो अभवद्राजा श्रुत्वा तद्द्विजभाषितम् ।
अमात्यांश्चाब्रवीद्राजा हर्ष पर्याकुलेक्षणः||

Hearing those words of the venerable Brahmins the king was delighted and moved to tears. Then he spoke to his ministers in the following manner.

संभारास्संभ्रियंतां मे गुरूणां वचनादिह ।
समर्थाधिष्ठितश्चाश्वः सोपाध्यायो विमुच्यताम् ॥
सरय्वाश्चोत्तरे तीरे यज्ञभूमिः विधीयताम् ।
शांतयाश्चाभिवर्थंतां यथाकल्पं यथाविथि ॥
शक्यः प्राप्तुमयं यज्ञः सर्वेणापि महीक्षिता ।
नापराथो भवेत् कष्टो यद्यस्मिन् क्रतुसत्तमे ॥

The King Dasaratha said ," Please arrange for all the materials required for the Yaga as instructed by venerable priests. Let the Yaga horse be released. The Yaga horse will be followed by the Rishis performing the yaga and will be protected by competent warriors. Prepare the site for performing the Yaga on the northern shore of the Sarayu river. Please have the protective rites performed to ward off the evils who may create the obstructions to the Yaga . If it were so easy perform the Yaga and if no obstacle are there then many other kings would have performed this Yaga" .

चिद्रं हि मृगयंते अत्र विद्वांसो ब्रह्म राक्षसः ।
निहतस्य च यज्ञस्य सद्यः कर्ता विनस्यति ॥
तद्यथा विथिपूर्वं मे क्रतुरेष समाप्यते ।
तथा विथानं क्रिअयतां समर्थाः करणे ष्विह ॥

"There will be intelligent Rakshasas who look for faults in conducting the yaga and they will use the same to put obstacles in the performance of the Yaga. If the yaga is successfully obstructed the performer of the yaga will be destroyed . You are all experts in performance. Hence please ensure that the Yaga started by us is a success in all respects ending with a successful completion".

तथेति चाब्रुवन् सर्वे मंत्रिणः प्रत्यपूजयन् ।
पार्थिवेंद्रस्य तद्वाक्यं यथाज्ञप्तं निशम्यते ॥
तथा द्विजास्ते धर्मज्ञा वर्थयंतो नृपोत्तमम् ।
अनुज्ञातास्तत स्सर्वे पुनर्जग्मुः यथागतम् ॥

All the ministers too were delighted to hear the instructions of the king and responded by saying that they will follow the kings instructions. The venerable Brahmains too blessed the king and after taking his permission went to their respective residences.

विसर्जयित्वा तान् विप्रान् सचिवानिदमब्रवीत् ।
ऋत्विग्भिः उपदिष्टोsयं यथावत् क्रतुराप्यताम् ॥
इत्युक्त्वा नृपशार्दूलः सचिवान् समुपस्थितान् ।
विशर्जयित्वा स्वं वेश्म प्रविवेश महाद्युतिः ॥

After taking leave of the venerable Brahmins , the king told the ministers to organize all meterials required for the Yaga as instructed by the Rishis. Then having instructed thus the King too entered his residence.

ततः स गत्वा ताः पत्नीः नरेंद्रोः हृदयप्रियाः ।
उवाच दीक्षां विशत यक्ष्येs हं सुतकारणात् ॥

Then that king went his dear queens and told them as follows : " I want to perform the yaga for obtaing the progeny : You too get ready for performing the Yaga|

तासां तेनाति कांतेन वचने सुवर्चसाम्।
मुखपद्मान्यशोभंत पद्मानिव हिमात्यये ॥

Hearing those joyful words the queens faces were lit bright like the blooming lotuses after the winter season.

इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये बालकांडे अष्टमः सर्गः ॥
|| समाप्तम् ॥

Thus ends chapter 8 of Balakanda in Maharshi Valmiki's Ramayana.

॥om tat sat ॥

|| om tat sat ||