Bala Kanda Sarga 30
Book I : Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties
Contents
Bala Kanda Sarga 30 in English
Chapter [Sarga] 30 -
Introduction - Rama and Lakshmana while safeguarding the ritual of Sage Vishvamitra for six days and nights, on the last night demons named Maareecha and Subahu come to hinder the ritual. Rama acts deftly and hits out Maareecha to a long distance, but kills the other, namely Subahu. Rama thus makes the ritual of sage Vishvamitra a success.
1. The two enemy subjugators, Rama and Lakshmana, who are sensible of their conduct according to time and place, and who will be sensibly talking according to time and place, those princes then spoke this sentence to Vishvamitra. [1-30-1]
2. Oh, god, we are interested to listen at which time those night-walkers come to disturb the ritual, and at which time we have to safeguarded the ritual from them, that you tell us, let not that moment pass away." [1-30-2]
It appears from the word order as above, 'at which time those two demons are to be safeguarded by us?' But positioning the word samrakshNiiyau is a grammarian's headache. On this many kinds of declinations are said. Rama Tilaka attributes this rakshNiyau 'to be safeguarded' to ritual, and he says that 'from whom the ritual is to be safeguarded'
3. All the sages available there are delighted with the princes of Kakutstha dynasty who are speaking thus and making haste for a combat with demons and they praised them. [1-30-3]
4. Oh, Raghava-s, you have to safeguard this ritual for six nights and days from today, and this Sage Vishvamitra who is under the vow of ritual goes into muteness as required by the vow." Thus said the other sages near at ritual place. [1-30-4]
5. On hearing that sentence of the other sages those two glorious princes have wakefully safeguarded that woodland of the ritual for six nights and days. [1-30-5]
6. On alertly patrolling nearby the Altar of Fire those two enemy-destroyers who are the wielders of great bows and valiant ones have protected the best sage Vishvamitra. [1-30-6]
7. While that period of six days is elapsing and when the sixth day has come, then Rama said to Saumitri, "you be prepared and be on alert." [1-30-7]
8. While Rama is saying thus himself quickening to combat then the fire in the Altar of Fire flared up suddenly and highly, brightening the chief officiator of the ritual, namely Vishvamitra, and other priests around it. [1-30-8]
The compound pra ja jwaala, with many stresses for the flare is given here to import that the ritual is achieving its climax and it will be fructified thereby. The demons enter just at this juncture to spoil the ritual.
9. The Altar of Fire around which sacred grass, drink-vessels, oblation spoons, firewood-sticks, and heaps of flowers are kept, and around which Vishvamitra and the conductors of ritual are sitting, that altar flared high. [1-30-9]
The darbha is kusha grass used specifically in rituals even today. chamasa is a wooden vessels used for consuming soma juice. srukk is an arm-length wooden spoon with a palm size receptacle at one end used to pour clarified butter and other liquids into Altar of Fire to the chanting of hymns. samidha-s comprises items of wood pieces or sticks, mainly from sandalwood trees and a variety of other items that are offered into fire.
10. While the Vedic ritual is proceeding well towards its conclusion according to hymnal rendering and rules of conducting the ritual, a strident and frightening blare is generated in the sky. [1-30-10]
11. As to how massive clouds appear in torrential cloudburst, likewise two demons appeared enshrouding the sky, and performing wizardry they are about to swoop down towards the Altar of Fire. [1-30-11]
12. Maareecha and Subaahu are the monstrous demons that have come along with their followers and they have started to pour down spates of blood. [1-30-12]
13. On noticing the Altar of Fire swamped with streams of blood, then Rama swiftly ran towards that direction and saw the demons in the sky. [1-30-13]
14. Perceiving that the two demons are about to swoop down on Altar of Fire in haste, that lotus-eyed Rama however gave a quick checking look at Lakshmana saying this sentence. [1-30-14]
15, 16a. Lakshmana, I am reluctant to eliminate this kind of these ill-behaved and raw flesh eating demons, but no doubt, they will be puffed out with Manava missile like a gust puffing thick clouds, you may see." Thus Rama said to Lakshmana. [1-30-15, 16a]
16b, 17. Saying so that agile Rama fitted the very benign and highly radiant arrow Maanava on his bow, and taking aim with it at Maareecha that highly furious Raghava darted it on the chest of Maareecha. [1-30-16b, 17]
18. Cleanly hit with that great missile Maanava, demon Maareecha is pitched for a hundred yojana lengths in full, and flung down into an ocean rocking with tidewaters. [1-30-18]
19. On seeing him highly whirling, rendered insensate and thrown out when rammed away with the strength of that Cold arrow Rama said this to Lakshmana. [1-30-19]
20. Lakshmana, see the Cold arrow belonging to Maanava missile expounded by Manu which is taking him away on baffling, but without taking away his life. [1-30-20]
Rama is reluctant to eliminate demon Maareecha at this juncture because the same demon discourages Ravana in confronting Rama, but becomes a golden deer at the behest of Ravana, at the time of Ravana's abducting Seetha. So, Rama shows forbearance at Maareecha till such time.
21. But I wish to kill these demons for they are ruthless, iniquitous, flagitious, ritual-hinderers and blood-drinkers." So said Rama to Lakshmana. [1-30-21]
22. Thus saying to Lakshmana, as though to show his swift dexterity Rama, the descendant of Raghu dynasty, took up a very powerful missile called Aagneya astra, Fire-missile, and darted it on the chest of Subahu, by which that demon Subaahu is struck and fell flat on ground. [1-30-22]
23. In order to bring felicity to the sages that great glorious and supremely generous Raghava took up the missile of Air-god and hit down the remaining demons. [1-30-23]
24. When Rama, the delight of Raghu's dynasty, has eliminated all of the demons that are the hinderers of Vedic rituals, the sages available there in that hermitage idealised him as Indra was idealised once, when he became victories on demons. [1-30-24]
25. On the completion of ritual beholding the precincts that are devoid of calamities the great sage Vishvamitra said this to Rama. [1-30-25]
26. My purpose in conducting the ritual is fully realised, oh, dextrous Rama, and you too, as a highly illustrious prince, have actualised the word of honour of your mentor, where one mentor is your father King Dasharatha and other is myself, and likewise oh, valiant Rama the glory of this Accomplished hermitage is also actualised..." thus when Vishvamitra is applauding Rama, they have come close to vesper-time for vespertine prayers on Sandhya, the goddess of gloaming. [1-30-26]
श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे त्रिंशः सर्गः ॥१-३०॥
अथ तौ देश कालज्ञौ राजपुत्रौ अरिंदमौ । देशे काले च वाक्यज्ञौ अब्रूताम् कौशिकम् वचः ॥१-३०-१॥
भगवन् श्रोतुम् इच्छावो यस्मिन् काले निशाचरौ । संरक्षणीयौ तौ ब्रूहि न अतिवर्तेत तत् क्षणम् ॥१-३०-२॥
एवम् ब्रुवाणौ काकुत्स्थौ त्वरमाणौ युयुत्सया । सर्वे ते मुनयः प्रीताः प्रशशंसुर् नृपात्मजौ ॥१-३०-३॥
अद्य प्रभृति षट् रात्रम् रक्षतम् राघवौ युवाम् । दीक्षाम् गतो हि येष मुनिर् मौनित्वम् च गमिष्यति ॥१-३०-४॥
तौ तु तद् वचनम् श्रुत्वा राजपुत्रौ यशस्विनौ । अनिद्रौ षट् अहोरात्रम् तपोवनम् अरक्षताम् ॥१-३०-५॥
उपासाम् चक्रतुर् वीरौ यत्तौ परम धन्विनौ । ररक्षतुर् मुनिवरम् विश्वामित्रम् अरिंदमौ ॥१-३०-६॥
अथ काले गते तस्मिन् षष्ठे अहनि तदा आगते । सौमित्रम् अब्रवीद् रामो यत्तो भव समाहितः ॥१-३०-७॥
रामस्य एवम् ब्रुवाणस्य त्वरितस्य युयुत्सया । प्रजज्वाल ततो वेदिः स उपाध्याय पुरोहिता ॥१-३०-८॥
स दर्भ चमस स्रुक्का स समित् कुसुमोच्चया । विश्वामित्रेण सहिता वेदिः जज्वाल स ऋत्विजा ॥१-३०-९॥
मंत्रवत् च यथा न्यायम् यज्ञो असौ संप्रवर्तते । आकाशे च महान् शब्दः प्रादुर् आसीत् भयानकः ॥१-३०-१०॥
आवार्य गगनम् मेघो यथा प्रावृषि दृश्यते । तथा मायाम् विकुर्वाणौ राक्षसौ अभ्यधावताम् ॥१-३०-११॥
मारीचः च सुबाहुः च तयोर् अनुचराः तथा । आगम्य भीम संकाशा रुधिर ओघान् अवासृजन् ॥१-३०-१२॥
ताम् तेन रुधिर ओघेण वेदीम् वीक्ष्य समुक्षिताम् । सहसा अभिद्रुतो रामः तान् अपश्यत् ततो दिवि ॥१-३०-१३॥
तौ आपतन्तौ सहसा दृष्ट्वा राजीव लोचनः । लक्ष्मणम् तौ अभिसंप्रेक्ष्य रामो वचनम् अब्रवीत् ॥१-३०-१४॥
पश्य लक्ष्मण दुर्वृत्तान् राक्षसान् पिशित अशनान् । मानवास्त्र समाधूतान् अनिलेन यथा घनान् ॥१-३०-१५॥
करिष्यामि न संदेहो न उत्सहे हन्तुम् ईदृशान् । इति उक्त्वा वचनम् रामः चापे संधाय वेगवान् ॥१-३०-१६॥
मानवम् परम उदारम् अस्त्रम् परम भास्वरम् । चिक्षेप परम क्रुद्धो मारीच उरसि राघवः ॥१-३०-१७॥
स तेन परमास्त्रेण मानवेन समाहितः । संपूर्णम् योजन शतम् क्षिप्तः सागर संप्लवे ॥१-३०-१८॥
विचेतनम् विघूर्णन्तम् शीतेषु बल पीडितम् । निरस्तम् दृश्य मारीचम् रामो लक्ष्मणम् अब्रवीत् ॥१-३०-१९॥
पश्य लक्ष्मण शीतेषुम् मानवम् मनु संहितम् । मोहयित्वा नयति एनम् न च प्राणैर् व्ययुज्यत ॥१-३०-२०॥
इमान् अपि वधिष्यामि निर्घृणान् दुष्ट चारिणः । राक्षसान् पाप कर्मस्थान् यज्ञ घ्नान् रुधिर अशनान् ॥१-३०-२१॥
इति उक्त्वा लक्ष्मणम् च अशु लाघवम् दर्शयन् इव । संगृह्य सुमहत् च अस्त्रम् आग्नेयम् रघुनंदनः । सुबाहु उरसि चिक्षेप स विद्धः प्रापतत् भुवि ॥१-३०-२२॥
शेषान् वायव्यम् आदाय निजघान महायशाः । राघवः परमोदारो मुनीनाम् मुदम् आवहन् ॥१-३०-२३॥
स हत्वा राक्षसान् सर्वान् यज्ञ घ्नान् रघुनंदनः । ऋषिभिः पूजितः तत्र यथा इन्द्रो विजये पुरा ॥१-३०-२४॥
अथ यज्ञे समाप्ते तु विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः । निरीतिका दिशो दृष्ट्वा काकुत्स्थम् इदम् अब्रवीत् ॥१-३०-२५॥
कृतार्थो अस्मि महाबाहो कृतम् गुरु वचः त्वया । सिद्धाश्रमम् इदम् सत्यम् कृतम् वीर महायशः । स हि रामम् प्रशस्य एवम् ताभ्याम् संध्याम् उपागमत् ॥१-३०-२६॥
इति वाल्मीकि रामायणे आदि काव्ये बालकाण्डे त्रिंशः सर्गः ॥१-३०॥