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In this Sarga, King Daṡaratha goes to the kingdom of Aṅga and requests Rōmapāda to send Ṡānta and Ṛṡyaṡṛṅga to Ayōdhyā. Rōmapāda sends Ṡānta and Ṛṡyaṡṛṅga accordingly. And everyone in Ayōdhyā receives them merrily.
See the contrast between this Sarga with the previous Sarga. In the previous Sarga, Ṛṡyaṡṛṅga is enticed to the kingdom of Aṅga in a friendly manner and without the permission of his father. In this Sarga, Ṛṡyaṡṛṅga is invited to the kingdom of Kōsala with full process and protocol and with the permission of his father-in-law. After all, success has many roads. It all depends on the context.
1.11.1
பூய ஏவ ச ராஜேந்த்ர ஸ்ருணு மே வசநம் ஹிதம் ।
யதா ஸ தேவப்ரவர: கதாயாமேவமப்ரவீத் ॥
bhūya ēva ca rājēndra ṡṛṇu mē vacanaṃ hitam ।
yathā sa dēvapravaraḥ kathāyāmēvamabravīt ॥
O king, let me continue with the good words
I heard from the distinguished Dēva (Sanat Kumara).
1.11.2
இக்ஷ்வாகூணாம் குலே ஜாதோ பவிஷ்யதி ஸுதார்மிக: ।
ராஜா தஸரதோ நாம ஸ்ரீமாந் ஸத்யப்ரதிஸ்ரவ: ॥
ikṣvākūṇāṃ kulē jātō bhaviṣyati sudhārmikaḥ ।
rājā daṡarathō nāma ṡrīmān satyapratiṡravaḥ ॥
A well-endowed, Dharma-following king
with firm allegiance to truth, by name Daṡaratha
would be born in the lineage of Ikshwāku.
1.11.3
அங்கராஜேந ஸக்யம் ச தஸ்ய ராஜ்ஞோ பவிஷ்யதி ।
கந்யா சாஸ்ய மஹாபாகா ஸாந்தா நாம பவிஷ்யதி ॥
aṅgarājēna sakhyaṃ ca tasya rājñō bhaviṣyati ।
kanyā cāsya mahābhāgā ṡāntā nāma bhaviṣyati ॥
He would become a friend of the king of Aṅga,
who would have a daughter by name Ṡānta.
1.11.4
புத்ரஸ்த்வங்கஸ்ய ராஜ்ஞஸ்து ரோமபாத இதி ஸ்ருத: ।
அங்கராஜம் தஸரதோ கமிஷ்யதி மஹாயஸா: ॥
putrastvaṅgasya rājñastu rōmapāda iti ṡrutaḥ ।
aṅgarājaṃ daṡarathō gamiṣyati mahāyaṡāḥ ॥
The famous King Daṡaratha would go to the
king of Aṅga, known as Rōmapāda and would ask:
1.11.5
அநபத்யோऽஸ்மி தர்மாத்மந் ஸாந்தாபர்தா மம க்ரதும் ।
ஆஹரேத த்வயாஜ்ஞப்த: ஸந்தாநார்தம் குலஸ்ய ச ॥
anapatyō'smi dharmātman ṡāntābhartā mama kratum ।
āharēta tvayājñaptaḥ santānārthaṃ kulasya ca ॥
"O Dharmātmā, I am devoid of offspring.
Please send the husband of Ṡānta
to help me perform a Yāga that will
bless our lineage with offspring."
1.11.6
ஸ்ருத்வா ராஜ்ஞோऽத தத்வாக்யம் மநஸா ஸ விசிந்த்ய ச ।
ப்ரதாஸ்யதே புத்ரவந்தம் ஸாந்தாபர்தாரமாத்மவாந் ॥
ṡrutvā rājñō'tha tadvākyaṃ manasā sa vicintya ca ।
pradāsyatē putravantaṃ ṡāntābhartāramātmavān ॥
The considerate Rōmapāda, would think about the request
and would send the husband of Ṡānta.
1.11.7
ப்ரதிக்ருஹ்ய ச தம் விப்ரம் ஸ ராஜா விகதஜ்வர: ।
ஆஹரிஷ்யதி தம் யஜ்ஞம் ப்ரஹ்ருஷ்டேநாந்தராத்மநா ॥
pratigṛhya ca taṃ vipraṃ sa rājā vigatajvaraḥ ।
āhariṣyati taṃ yajñaṃ prahṛṣṭēnāntarātmanā ॥
Feeling relieved, the king would take that Brāhmaṇa
with him and would perform the Yajña with a cheerful heart.
1.11.8
தம் ச ராஜா தஸரதோ யஷ்டுகாம: க்ருதாஞ்ஜலி: ।
ருஸ்யஸ்ருங்கம் த்விஜஸ்ரேஷ்டம் வரயிஷ்யதி தர்மவித் ॥
யஜ்ஞார்தம் ப்ரஸவார்தம் ச ஸ்வர்கார்தம் ச ஜநேஸ்வர: ।
லபதே ச ஸ தம் காமம் விப்ரமுக்யாத்விஸாம்பதி: ॥
taṃ ca rājā daṡarathō yaṣṭukāmaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ ।
ṛṡyaṡṛṅgaṃ dvijaṡrēṣṭhaṃ varayiṣyati dharmavit ॥
yajñārthaṃ prasavārthaṃ ca svargārthaṃ ca janēṡvaraḥ ।
labhatē ca sa taṃ kāmaṃ vipramukhyādviṡāmpatiḥ ॥
The Dharma-following ruler of people, king Daṡaratha,
desirous of performing a Yajña would request
Ṛṡyaṡṛṅga, the eminent Brāhmaṇa, with folded hands
to perform the Yajña that would bless him
with offspring now and ascent to heaven at the end.
And his wishes would be fulfilled
by the distinguished Brāhmaṇa.
1.11.10
புத்ராஸ்சாஸ்ய பவிஷ்யந்தி சத்வாரோऽமிதவிக்ரமா: ।
வம்ஸப்ரதிஷ்டாநகரா: ஸர்வலோகேஷு விஸ்ருதா: ॥
putrāṡcāsya bhaviṣyanti catvārō'mitavikramāḥ ।
vaṃṡapratiṣṭhānakarāḥ sarvalōkēṣu viṡrutāḥ ॥
Four sons of immense prowess will be born to him
who would be well regarded in all the worlds,
and would bring glory and fame to their lineage.
1.11.11
ஏவம் ஸ தேவப்ரவர: பூர்வம் கதிதவாந் கதாம் ।
ஸநத்குமாரோ பகவாந் புரா தேவயுகே ப்ரபு: ॥
ēvaṃ sa dēvapravaraḥ pūrvaṃ kathitavān kathām ।
sanatkumārō bhagavān purā dēvayugē prabhuḥ ॥
Thus foretold Bhagawan Sanat Kumara,
the distinguished among Dēvas,
during the times of Dēva Yuga.
Rāma lived in Trētā Yuga, the second of the four Yugas (ages).
The first Yuga is known as Kṛta Yuga or Dēva Yuga.
1.11.12
ஸ த்வம் புருஷஸார்தூல தமாநய ஸுஸத்க்ருதம் ।
ஸ்வயமேவ ச ராஜேந்த்ர கத்வா ஸபலவாஹந: ॥
sa tvaṃ puruṣaṡārdūla tamānaya susatkṛtam ।
svayamēva ca rājēndra gatvā sabalavāhanaḥ ॥
O tiger among men! You should go in person
along with fitting vehicles and retinue and
invite him (Ṛṡyaṡṛṅga) with full honors.
The lives of kings, administrators, managers, diplomats and such are regularly laden with protocols and processes.
Ṡlōkas like these, which are about protocols and processes, will resonate easily with people with similar bent of mind. But for others, it feels artificial and heavy.
1.11.13
அநுமாந்ய வஸிஷ்டம் ச ஸூதவாக்யம் நிஸம்ய ச ।
ஸாந்த:புர: ஸஹாமாத்ய: ப்ரயயௌ யத்ர ஸ த்விஜ: ॥
anumānya vasiṣṭhaṃ ca sūtavākyaṃ niṡamya ca ।
sāntaḥpuraḥ sahāmātyaḥ prayayau yatra sa dvijaḥ ॥
On that advice from Sumantra and
after receiving due consent from Vasishṭha,
the king departed to the Brāhmaṇa's place
along with ministers and confidants.
1.11.14
வநாநி ஸரிதஸ்சைவ வ்யதிக்ரம்ய ஸநை: ஸநை: ।
அபிசக்ராம தம் தேஸம் யத்ர வை முநிபுங்கவ: ॥
vanāni saritaṡcaiva vyatikramya ṡanaiḥ ṡanaiḥ ।
abhicakrāma taṃ dēṡaṃ yatra vai munipuṅgavaḥ ॥
After crossing many rivers and forests,
he reached the kingdom in which the Brāhmaṇa lived.
1.11.15
ஆஸாத்ய தம் த்விஜஸ்ரேஷ்டம் ரோமபாதஸமீபகம் ।
ருஷிபுத்ரம் ததர்ஸாதௌ தீப்யமாநமிவாநலம் ॥
āsādya taṃ dvijaṡrēṣṭhaṃ rōmapādasamīpagam ।
ṛṣiputraṃ dadarṡādau dīpyamānamivānalam ॥
Immediately, he visited the distinguished Brāhmaṇa,
and the son of the Ṛshi, who was glowing with fiery brilliance,
seated next to the king Rōmapāda.
1.11.16
ததோ ராஜா யதாந்யாயம் பூஜாம் சக்ரே விஸேஷத: ।
ஸகித்வாத்தஸ்ய வை ராஜ்ஞ: ப்ரஹ்ருஷ்டேநாந்தராத்மநா ॥
tatō rājā yathānyāyaṃ pūjāṃ cakrē viṡēṣataḥ ।
sakhitvāttasya vai rājñaḥ prahṛṣṭēnāntarātmanā ॥
That king rejoicing on seeing him, received him
with all ceremonial honors and
paid obeisance and respects
in excess of what custom demanded,
to his good friend and the visiting dignitary.
1.11.17
ரோமபாதேந சாக்யாதம்ருஷிபுத்ராய தீமதே ।
ஸக்யம் ஸம்பந்தகம் சைவ ததா தம் ப்ரத்யபூஜயத் ॥
rōmapādēna cākhyātamṛṣiputrāya dhīmatē ।
sakhyaṃ sambandhakaṃ caiva tadā taṃ pratyapūjayat ॥
Rōmapāda told about their friendship and relationship
to the sagacious son of the Ṛshi who greeted him respectfully.
1.11.18
ஏவம் ஸுஸத்க்ருதஸ்தேந ஸஹோஷித்வா நரர்ஷப: ।
ஸப்தாஷ்டதிவஸாந் ராஜா ராஜாநமிதமப்ரவீத் ॥
ēvaṃ susatkṛtastēna sahōṣitvā nararṣabhaḥ ।
saptāṣṭadivasān rājā rājānamidamabravīt ॥
Daṡaratha felt very happy with the hospitality of Rōmapāda.
After staying there for seven to eight days,
he said to Rōmapāda:
1.11.19
ஸாந்தா தவ ஸுதா ராஜந் ஸஹ பர்த்ரா விஸாம்பதே ।
மதீயம் நகரம் யாது கார்யம் ஹி மஹதுத்யதம் ॥
ṡāntā tava sutā rājan saha bhartrā viṡāmpatē ।
madīyaṃ nagaraṃ yātu kāryaṃ hi mahadudyatam ॥
O king, the ruler of people!
I have set out on a great endeavor.
Can I have your daughter Ṡānta
along with her husband in my city?
1.11.20
ததேதி ராஜா ஸம்ஸ்ருத்ய கமநம் தஸ்ய தீமத: ।
உவாச வசநம் விப்ரம் கச்ச த்வம் ஸஹ பார்யயா ॥
tathēti rājā saṃṡrutya gamanaṃ tasya dhīmataḥ ।
uvāca vacanaṃ vipraṃ gaccha tvaṃ saha bhāryayā ॥
Rōmapāda agreed to send the sagacious Brāhmaṇa
and asked him to go along with his wife.
It is worth recalling my commentary about the feminists towards the end of the previous Sarga. Just as Ṡānta's consent was not sought before marrying her off to Ṛṡyaṡṛṅga, Ṛṡyaṡṛṅga's consent was not sought about his willingness (or otherwise) to go with Daṡaratha.
Who should seek whose consent? In a democratic model, everyone should seek everyone's consent. But in a hierarchical model, such as in a business division, in a military unit or in a large joint family, the person in-charge decides. And it is in his or her own best interest to make meaningful, respectful and judicious decisions.
1.11.21
ருஷிபுத்ர: ப்ரதிஸ்ருத்ய ததேத்யாஹ ந்ருபம் ததா ।
ஸ ந்ருபேணாப்யநுஜ்ஞாத: ப்ரயயௌ ஸஹ பார்யயா ॥
ṛṣiputraḥ pratiṡrutya tathētyāha nṛpaṃ tadā ।
sa nṛpēṇābhyanujñātaḥ prayayau saha bhāryayā ॥
The son of the Ṛshi agreed and
with the permission of the king,
departed along with his wife.
1.11.22
தாவந்யோந்யாஞ்ஜலிம் க்ருத்வா ஸ்நேஹாத்ஸம்ஸ்லிஷ்ய சோரஸா ।
நநந்ததுர்தஸரதோ ரோமபாதஸ்ச வீர்யவாந் ॥
tāvanyōnyāñjaliṃ kṛtvā snēhātsaṃṡliṣya cōrasā ।
nanandaturdaṡarathō rōmapādaṡca vīryavān ॥
Daṡaratha and the valorous Rōmapāda
held each other in a tight embrace
with each one's heart touching the other's
in celebration of their long friendship.
"A friend in need is a friend indeed." goes the saying. Both giving help and receiving help renews and rejuvenates long lasting friendships. It is indeed a moment for celebration and exhilaration.
Wish you had some moments like these in your life and I wish you more of them!
1.11.23-24
தத: ஸுஹ்ருதமாப்ருச்ச்ய ப்ரஸ்திதோ ரகுநந்தந: ।
பௌரேப்ய: ப்ரேஷயாமாஸ தூதாந் வை ஸீக்ரகாமிந: ॥
க்ரியதாம் நகரம் ஸர்வம் க்ஷிப்ரமேவ ஸ்வலங்க்ருதம் ।
தூபிதம் ஸிக்தஸம்ம்ருஷ்டம் பதாகாபிரலங்க்ருதம் ॥
tataḥ suhṛdamāpṛcchya prasthitō raghunandanaḥ ।
paurēbhyaḥ prēṣayāmāsa dūtān vai ṡīghragāminaḥ ॥
kriyatāṃ nagaraṃ sarvaṃ kṣipramēva svalaṅkṛtam ।
dhūpitaṃ siktasammṛṣṭaṃ patākābhiralaṅkṛtam ॥
The descendant of Raghu (Daṡaratha)
bid farewell to his friend and started on his return journey.
He sent swift messengers ahead of him,
to tell the people of his city
to wash and clean the city and
fill it with scented vapors and decorate it with flags.
The instinct to celebrate successes with decoration is universal and defies the constraints of time and place.
The description in these Ṡlōkas feels like that of a home coming ceremony in honor and celebration of winning sports teams. Or perhaps, more.
1.11.25
தத: ப்ரஹ்ருஷ்டா: பௌராஸ்தே ஸ்ருத்வா ராஜாநமாகதம் ।
ததா ப்ரசக்ருஸ்தத்ஸர்வம் ராஜ்ஞா யத்ப்ரேஷிதம் ததா ॥
tataḥ prahṛṣṭāḥ paurāstē ṡrutvā rājānamāgatam ।
tathā pracakrustatsarvaṃ rājñā yatprēṣitaṃ tadā ॥
The people of the city were excited
about the return of the king
and did all that the king told them to do.
Vālmeeki's style is interesting. He moves the story in only sketchy detail, but seems to pause to describe the moods (ups and downs) of the people in great detail and in a beautiful manner. This style is in common with that of many art forms like Kūcipūdi and the musicals of Broadway.
And there is a reason. Events are incidental and experience is real. That is what is called 'Rasa', in the Indic tradition.
Kāvyam Rasa Pradhānam - the essence of a Kāvya is Rasa - the experience of human emotions. The question in and about life is not how you got here, but whether or not you are able to experience it in its fullness.
1.11.26
தத: ஸ்வலங்க்ருதம் ராஜா நகரம் ப்ரவிவேஸ ஹ ।
ஸங்கதுந்துபிர்நிர்கோஷை: புரஸ்க்ருத்ய த்விஜர்ஷபம் ॥
tataḥ svalaṅkṛtaṃ rājā nagaraṃ pravivēṡa ha ।
ṡaṅkhadundubhirnirghōṣaiḥ puraskṛtya dvijarṣabham ॥
The king, then, entered the well-decorated city,
with that eminent Brāhmaṇa in front of him,
amidst blares of conches and blasts of drums.
1.11.27
தத: ப்ரமுதிதா: ஸர்வே த்ருஷ்ட்வா தம் நாகரா த்விஜம் ।
ப்ரவேஸ்யமாநம் ஸத்க்ருத்ய நரேந்த்ரேணேந்த்ரகர்மணா ॥
tataḥ pramuditāḥ sarvē dṛṣṭvā taṃ nāgarā dvijam ।
pravēṡyamānaṃ satkṛtya narēndrēṇēndrakarmaṇā ॥
All the people of the city merrily greeted the Brāhmaṇa
who was duly honored and introduced by
the king, in a manner befitting the king of Dēvas.
1.11.28
அந்த:புரம் ப்ரவேஸ்யைநம் பூஜாம் க்ருத்வா விதாநத: ।
க்ருதக்ருத்யம் ததாத்மாநம் மேநே தஸ்யோபவாஹநாத் ॥
antaḥpuraṃ pravēṡyainaṃ pūjāṃ kṛtvā vidhānataḥ ।
kṛtakṛtyaṃ tadātmānaṃ mēnē tasyōpavāhanāt ॥
He took him to the inner quarters of the palace
and did Pūja according to customs and tradition.
He felt accomplished with the arrival (of Ṛṡyaṡṛṅga).
1.11.29
அந்த:புரஸ்த்ரிய: ஸர்வா: ஸாந்தாம் த்ருஷ்ட்வா ததாகதாம் ।
ஸஹ பர்த்ரா விஸாலாக்ஷீம் ப்ரீத்யாநந்தமுபாகமந் ॥
antaḥpurastriyaḥ sarvāḥ ṡāntāṃ dṛṣṭvā tathāgatām ।
saha bhartrā viṡālākṣīṃ prītyānandamupāgaman ॥
The women of the palace felt very happy to see
the wide-eyed and endearing Ṡānta
who came along with her husband.
1.11.30
பூஜ்யமாநா ச தாபி: ஸா ராஜ்ஞா சைவ விஸேஷத: ।
உவாஸ தத்ர ஸுகிதா கஞ்சித்காலம் ஸஹர்த்விஜா ॥
pūjyamānā ca tābhiḥ sā rājñā caiva viṡēṣataḥ ।
uvāsa tatra sukhitā kañcitkālaṃ sahartvijā ॥
Ṡānta, along with the Ṛtvik (Ṛṡyaṡṛṅga)
lived there for a while, enjoying the hospitality
given by them, and especially by the king.
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே வால்மீகீயே ஆதிகாவ்யே
ஸ்ரீமத்பாலகாண்டே ஏகாதஸ: ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē
ṡrīmadbālakāṇḍē ēkādaṡaḥ sargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the eleventh Sarga
in Bāla Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Vālmeeki.
We completed reading 390 Ṡlōkas out of ~24,000 Ṡlōkas of Vālmeeki Rāmāyaṇa.