Baala Kaanda - Sarga 77
In this Sarga, Daṡaratha, the princes, princesses and everyone along with them, reach Ayōdhyā for a grand reception by the citizens. The new brides are received by the mothers-in-law and the women of the palace warmly. The new brides are happy in their new palaces spending time with their husbands. Bharata, along with Ṡatrughna, leaves for his maternal grandfather’s place honoring the request made by him. Rāma gains everyone’s appreciation by taking care of their needs and wishes under the guidance and orders of his father. Rāma and Seetā love each other deeply, exchanging everything heart to heart.
1.77.1
கதே ராமே ப்ரஸாந்தாத்மா ராமோ தாஸரதிர்தநு: ।
வருணாயாப்ரமேயாய ததௌ ஹஸ்தே ஸஸாயகம் ॥
gatē rāmē praṡāntātmā rāmō dāṡarathirdhanu: ।
varuṇāyāpramēyāya dadau hastē sasāyakam ॥
After Rāma left, Rāma, the son of Daṡaratha
regained his calm, and gave the
bow along with the arrows into the hands of
Varuṇa, the immeasurable.
Varuṇa is a Dēva.
1.77.2
அபிவாத்ய ததோ ராமோ வஸிஷ்டப்ரமுகாந்ருஷீந் ।
பிதரம் விஹ்வலம் த்ருஷ்ட்வா ப்ரோவாச ரகுநந்தந: ॥
abhivādya tatō rāmō vasiṣṭhapramukhānṛṣīn ।
pitaraṃ vihvalaṃ dṛṣṭvā prōvāca raghunandana: ॥
Then, Rāma the prince of Raghu dynasty,
paid obeisance to Vasishṭha and other Ṛshis
and spoke to his father, who seem to be agitated:
1.77.3
ஜாமதக்ந்யோ கதோ ராம: ப்ரயாது சதுரங்கிணீ ।
அயோத்யாபிமுகீ ஸேநா த்வயா நாதேந பாலிதா ॥
jāmadagnyō gatō rāma: prayātu caturaṅgiṇī ।
ayōdhyābhimukhī sēnā tvayā nāthēna pālitā ॥
“Rāma, the son of Jamadagni has left.
Let the four divisions of the army, that are
under your command proceed towards Ayōdhyā.”
1.77.4
ஸந்திஸஸ்வ மஹாராஜ ஸேநாம் த்வச்சாஸநே ஸ்திதாம் ।
ஸாஸநம் காங்க்ஷதே ஸேநா சாதகாலிர்ஜலம் யதா ॥
sandiṡasva mahārāja sēnāṃ tvacchāsanē sthitām ।
ṡāsanaṃ kāṅkṣatē sēnā cātakālirjalaṃ yathā ॥
“O great king! The army which is under your command
is awaiting your orders like the
Cātaka birds awaiting water.”
Chātaka birds are known to accept water that comes only from above(in the form of rains from clouds). This metaphor implies the loyalty of the army to Daṡaratha.
1.77.5-6
ராமஸ்ய வசநம் ஸ்ருத்வா ராஜா தஸரத ஸ்ஸுதம் ।
பாஹுப்யாம் ஸம்பரிஷ்வஜ்ய மூர்த்நி சாக்ராய ராகவம் ।
கதோ ராம இதி ஸ்ருத்வா ஹ்ருஷ்ட: ப்ரமுதிதோ ந்ருப: ।
புநர்ஜாதம் ததா மேநே புத்ரமாத்மாநமேவ ச ॥
rāmasya vacanaṃ ṡrutvā rājā daṡaratha ssutam ।
bāhubhyāṃ sampariṣvajya mūrdhni cāghrāya rāghavam ।
gatō rāma iti ṡrutvā hṛṣṭa: pramuditō nṛpa: ।
punarjātaṃ tadā mēnē putramātmānamēva ca ॥
Hearing those words of Rāma, king Daṡaratha
embraced his son and kissed his forehead in delight.
Hearing that Rāma (the son of Jamadagni) had departed,
the king who was delighted to the core, considered
his son and himself to have taken a new life.
1.77.7-8
சோதயாமாஸ தாம் ஸேநாம் ஜகாமாஸு தத: புரீம் ।
பதாகாத்வஜிநீம் ரம்யாம் தூர்யோத்குஷ்டநிநாதிதாம் ।
ஸிக்தராஜ பதாம் ரம்யாம் ப்ரகீர்ணகுஸுமோத்கராம் ।
ராஜப்ரவேஸஸுமுகை: பௌரைர்மங்கலவாதிபி: ।
ஸம்பூர்ணாம் ப்ராவிஸத்ராஜா ஜநௌகைஸ்ஸமலங்க்ருதாம் ॥
cōdayāmāsa tāṃ sēnāṃ jagāmāṡu tata: purīm ।
patākādhvajinīṃ ramyāṃ tūryōdghuṣṭanināditām ।
siktarāja pathāṃ ramyāṃ prakīrṇakusumōtkarām ।
rājapravēṡasumukhai: paurairmaṅgalavādibhi: ।
sampūrṇāṃ prāviṡadrājā janaughaissamalaṅkṛtām ॥
Then the king directed the army to march onwards,
and immediately reached his city that was
beautifully decorated with flags and banners,
resounding with the flourish of trumpets,
with its streets cleaned with water and
strewn with masses of flowers,
filled with citizens happy at the arrival of the king
uttering blessings and cheers,
and with vast gay crowds.
1.77.9-10a
பௌரை: ப்ரத்யுத்கதோ தூரம் த்விஜைஸ்ச புரவாஸிபி: ।
புத்ரைரநுகத ஸ்ஸ்ரீமாந் ஸ்ரீமத்பிஸ்ச மஹாயஸா: ।
ப்ரவிவேஸ க்ருஹம் ராஜா ஹிமவத்ஸத்ருஸம் புந: ॥
paurai: pratyudgatō dūraṃ dvijaiṡca puravāsibhi: ।
putrairanugata ṡṡrīmān ṡrīmadbhiṡca mahāyaṡā: ।
pravivēṡa gṛhaṃ rājā himavatsadṛṡaṃ punaḥ ॥
Received at a great distance from the city
by the citizenry and the city dwelling Brāhmaṇas,
the renowned and imposing King,
accompanied by his richly endowed sons
entered his home, which was
(majestic and monumental) like the Himalayas.
1.77.10b-11
நநந்த ஸஜநோ ராஜா க்ருஹே காமை ஸ்ஸுபூஜித: ।
கௌஸல்யா ச ஸுமித்ரா ச கைகேயீ ச ஸுமத்யமா ।
வதூப்ரதிக்ரஹே யுக்தா யாஸ்சாந்யா ராஜயோஷித: ॥
nananda sajanō rājā gṛhē kāmai ssupūjita: ।
kausalyā ca sumitrā ca kaikēyī ca sumadhyamā ।
vadhūpratigrahē yuktā yāṡcānyā rājayōṣita: ॥
The king was happy to be in the midst of
his own people serving him with all his needs.
Kousalyā, Sumitrā and Kaikēyee of slender waist
and all other women of the palace
were happy receiving the new brides.
1.77.12
ததஸ்ஸீதாம் மஹாபாகாமூர்மிலாம் ச யஸஸ்விநீம் ।
குஸத்வஜஸுதே சோபே ஜக்ருஹுர்ந்ருபபத்நய: ॥
tatassītāṃ mahābhāgāmūrmilāṃ ca yaṡasvinīm ।
kuṡadhvajasutē cōbhē jagṛhurnṛpapatnaya: ॥
The King’s wives received the blessed Seetā,
the well regarded Ūrmilā and also
the two daughters of Kuṡadhwaja.
1.77.13
மங்கலாலம்பநைஸ்சாபி ஸோபிதா: க்ஷௌமவாஸஸ: ।
தேவதாயதநாந்யாஸு ஸர்வாஸ்தா: ப்ரத்யபூஜயந் ॥
maṅgalālambhanaiṡcāpi ṡōbhitā: kṣaumavāsasa: ।
dēvatāyatanānyāṡu sarvāstā: pratyapūjayan ॥
Then all of them, splendid in
their attire of exquisite silks,
holding auspicious substances,
prayed in the abodes of all Dēvatas.
1.77.14-15
அபிவாத்யாபிவாத்யாம்ஸ்ச ஸர்வா ராஜஸுதாஸ்ததா ।
ஸ்வம் ஸ்வம் க்ருஹமதாஸாத்ய குபேரபவநோபமம் ।
கோபிர்தநைஸ்ச தாந்யைஸ்ச தர்பயித்வா த்விஜோத்தமாந் ।
ரேமிரே முதிதா: ஸர்வா பர்த்ருபி: ஸஹிதா ரஹ: ॥
abhivādyābhivādyāṃṡca sarvā rājasutāstadā ।
svaṃ svaṃ gṛhamathāsādya kubērabhavanōpamam ।
gōbhirdhanaiṡca dhānyaiṡca tarpayitvā dvijōttamān ।
rēmirē muditā: sarvā bhartṛbhi: sahitā raha: ॥
Then the princesses paid obeisance to
all those to whom obeisance was due.
They entered their respective homes
which looked like the mansions of Kubēra.
They honored the Brāhmaṇas by offering
cows, money and various types of grains.
Then all of them had a great time, having romance
with their respective husbands, in full privacy.
1.77.16-17a
குமாராஸ்ச மஹாத்மாநோ வீர்யேணாப்ரதிமா புவி ।
க்ருததாரா: க்ருதாஸ்த்ராஸ்ச ஸதநா: ஸஸுஹ்ருஜ்ஜநா: ।
ஸுஸ்ரூஷமாணா: பிதரம் வர்தயந்தி நரர்ஷபா: ॥
kumārāṡca mahātmānō vīryēṇāpratimā bhuvi ।
kṛtadārā: kṛtāstrāṡca sadhanā: sasuhṛjjanā: ।
ṡuṡrūṣamāṇā: pitaraṃ vartayanti nararṣabhā: ॥
The Mahātma princes, the best among men,
having been married,
having no equal on earth in valor,
having gained all the Astras and
having all the money and attendants they needed,
served and followed their father.
1.77.17b-18a
கஸ்யசித்த்வத காலஸ்ய ராஜா தஸரத: ஸுதம் ।
பரதம் கைகயீபுத்ர மப்ரவீத்ரகுநந்தந: ॥
kasyacittvatha kālasya rājā daṡaratha: sutam ।
bharataṃ kaikayīputra mabravīdraghunandana: ॥
After some time passed thus, the king Daṡaratha,
the delight of the dynasty of Raghu,
spoke to Bharata, the son of Kaikēyee, saying:
1.77.18b-19a
அயம் கேகயராஜஸ்ய புத்ரோ வஸதி புத்ரக ।
த்வாம் நேதுமாகதோ வீர யுதாஜிந்மாதுலஸ்தவ ॥
ayaṃ kēkayarājasya putrō vasati putraka ।
tvāṃ nētumāgatō vīra yudhājinmātulastava ॥
O my son! The valiant Yudhājit,
your maternal uncle, the son of the king of Kēkaya,
has come here and wishes to take you with him.
1.77.19b-20a
ப்ரார்திதஸ்தேந தர்மஜ்ஞ மிதிலாயாமஹம் ததா ।
ருஷிமத்யே து தஸ்ய த்வம் ப்ரீதிம் கர்துமிஹார்ஹஸி ॥
prārthitastēna dharmajña midhilāyāmahaṃ tathā ।
ṛṣimadhyē tu tasya tvaṃ prītiṃ kartumihārhasi ॥
O knower of Dharmas! He requested me thus,
in Mithilā, in the midst of all Ṛshis.
You must do so, to please him!
1.77.20b-21
ஸ்ருத்வா தஸரதஸ்யைதத்பரத: கைகயீஸுத: ।
அபிவாத்ய குரும் ராமம் பரிஷ்வஜ்ய ச லக்ஷ்மணம் ।
கமநாயாபிசக்ராம ஸத்ருக்நஸஹிதஸ்ததா ॥
ṡrutvā daṡarathasyaitadbharata: kaikayīsuta: ।
abhivādya guruṃ rāmaṃ pariṣvajya ca lakṣmaṇam ।
gamanāyābhicakrāma ṡatrughnasahitastadā ॥
Having heard those words of Daṡaratha,
Bharata, the son of Kaikēyee, got ready to leave
after paying obeisance to his father and to Rāma
and giving a hug to Lakshmaṇa.
1.77.22
ஆப்ருச்ச்ய பிதரம் ஸூரோ ராமம் சாக்லிஷ்டகாரிணம் ।
மாத்ருஸ்சாபி நரஸ்ரேஷ்டஸ்ஸத்ருக்நஸஹிதோ யயௌ ॥
āpṛcchya pitaraṃ ṡūrō rāmaṃ cākliṣṭakāriṇam ।
mātṛṡcāpi naraṡrēṣṭhaṡṡatrughnasahitō yayau ॥
The valiant Bharata, the best among men,
having taken leave from his father
and from Rāma, who never wrought evil to any one,
also took leave from the mothers
and departed along with Ṡatrughna.
It is, perhaps, unique to Indic tradition to consider not only the biological mother, but also the step-mothers and anyone else who played the role of a mother, as mothers. Hence the plural mothers in this Ṡlōka.
1.77.23
கதே து பரதே ராமோ லக்ஷ்மணஸ்ச மஹாபல: ।
பிதரம் தேவஸம்ங்காஸம் பூஜயாமாஸதுஸ்ததா ॥
gatē tu bharatē rāmō lakṣmaṇaṡca mahābala: ।
pitaraṃ dēvasaṃṅkāṡaṃ pūjayāmāsatustadā ॥
After Bharata left, the mighty strong
Rāma and Lakshmaṇa continued
serving their father, who was like a Dēva.
1.77.24
பிதுராஜ்ஞாம் புரஸ்க்ருத்ய பௌரகார்யாணி ஸர்வஸ: ।
சகார ராமோ தர்மாத்மா ப்ரியாணி ச ஹிதாநி ச ॥
piturājñāṃ puraskṛtya paurakāryāṇi sarvaṡa: ।
cakāra rāmō dharmātmā priyāṇi ca hitāni ca ॥
Rāma, the Dharmātma, fulfilled the
needs and wishes of all the people,
as per the instructions of his father.
The obligation of a king or even the head of the household is not only to fulfill the needs, but also the wishes of the people who are dependent on them. How thoughtful were the customs and obligations of those days!
1.77.25
மாத்ருப்யோ மாத்ருகார்யாணி க்ருத்வா பரமயந்த்ரித: ।
குரூணாம் குருகார்யாணி காலே காலேऽந்வவைக்ஷத ॥
mātṛbhyō mātṛkāryāṇi kṛtvā paramayantrita: ।
gurūṇāṃ gurukāryāṇi kālē kālē'nvavaikṣata ॥
He attended to the needs of
the mothers and the Gurus
as and when appropriate, quite diligently.
1.77.26
ஏவம் தஸரத: ப்ரீதோ ப்ராஹ்மணா நைகமாஸ்ததா ।
ராமஸ்ய ஸீலவ்ருத்தேந ஸர்வே விஷயவாஸிந: ॥
ēvaṃ daṡaratha: prītō brāhmaṇā naigamāstathā ।
rāmasya ṡīlavṛttēna sarvē viṣayavāsina: ॥
Daṡaratha, Brāhmaṇas, city dwellers and
all the people of that country were happy
with the handling of affairs by Rāma.
1.77.27
தேஷாமதியஸா லோகே ராமஸ்ஸத்யபராக்ரம: ।
ஸ்வயம்பூரிவ பூதாநாம் பபூவ குணவத்தர: ॥
tēṣāmatiyaṡā lōkē rāmassatyaparākramaḥ ।
svayambhūriva bhūtānāṃ babhūva guṇavattara: ॥
Rāma, with his innate strength,
and all the desirable qualities,
and deservedly wide reputation in the entire world,
proved to be like Brahma for all the beings.
1.77.28
ராமஸ்து ஸீதயா ஸார்தம் விஜஹார பஹூந்ருதூந் ।
மநஸ்ஸ்வீ தத்கதஸ்தஸ்யா: நித்யம் ஹ்ருதி ஸமர்பித: ॥
rāmastu sītayā sārdhaṃ vijahāra bahūnṛtūn ।
manassvī tadgatastasyāḥ nityaṃ hṛdi samarpita: ॥
The affable Rāma with Seetā by his side,
and having given himself to her completely,
enjoyed many, many seasons along with her.
1.77.29
ப்ரியா து ஸீதா ராமஸ்ய தாரா: பித்ருக்ருதா இதி ।
குணாத்ரூபகுணாச்சாபி ப்ரீதிர்பூயோऽப்யவர்தத ॥
priyā tu sītā rāmasya dārā: pitṛkṛtā iti ।
guṇādrūpaguṇāccāpi prītirbhūyō'bhyavardhata ॥
Seetā was endearing to Rāma,
because she was the chosen bride for him by his father.
Her beauty and virtues made her
even more endearing to him.
1.77.30
தஸ்யாஸ்ச பர்தா த்விகுணம் ஹ்ருதயே பரிவர்ததே ।
அந்தர்ஜாதமபி வ்யக்தமாக்யாதி ஹ்ருதயம் ஹ்ருதா ॥
tasyāṡca bhartā dviguṇaṃ hṛdayē parivartatē ।
antarjātamapi vyaktamākhyāti hṛdayaṃ hṛdā ॥
Seetā was also doubly happy with her husband.
They shared heart to heart
even the deepest of the deep.
1.77.31
தஸ்ய பூயோ விஸேஷேண மைதிலீ ஜநகாத்மஜா ।
தேவதாபிஸ்ஸமா ரூபே ஸீதா ஸ்ரீரிவ ரூபிணீ ॥
tasya bhūyō viṡēṣēṇa maithilī janakātmajā ।
dēvatābhissamā rūpē sītā ṡrīriva rūpiṇī ॥
That daughter of Janaka, from the city of Mithila
with celestial beauty and resembling goddess Lakshmi
became further endearing to him.
1.77.32
தயா ஸ ராஜர்ஷிஸுதோऽபிராமயா
ஸமேயிவாநுத்தமராஜகந்யயா ।
அதீவ ராமஸ்ஸுஸுபேऽபிராமயா ।
விபு ஸ்ஸ்ரியா விஷ்ணுரிவாமரேஸ்வர: ॥
tayā sa rājarṣisutō'bhirāmayā
samēyivānuttamarājakanyayā ।
atīva rāmaṡṡuṡubhē'bhirāmayā ।
vibhu ṡṡriyā viṣṇurivāmarēṡvara: ॥
Thus the son of the Rājarshi (Rāma),
united with that charming princess of noble lineage,
whose love for him was greater than his own,
was happy and shining like Vishṇu,
the Lord of the Dēvas, accompanied by Lakshmi.
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே வால்மீகீயே ஆதிகாவ்யே
சதுர்விம்ஸத்ஸஹஸ்ரிகாயாம் ஸம்ஹிதாயாம் பாலகாண்டே
ஸப்தஸப்ததிதமஸ்ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē
caturviṃṡatsahasrikāyāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ bālakāṇḍē
saptasaptatitamassarga: ॥
Thus concludes Bāla Kāṇḍa
consisting of seventy seven Sargas,
in the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
of twenty four thousand Ṡlōkas composed by Vālmeeki.
We completed reading 2242 Ṡlōkas out of ~24,000 Ṡlōkas of Vālmeeki Rāmāyaṇa.