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Baala Kaanda - Sarga 17
The British were baffled and had to take notice, when the quiet and docile people of India suddenly marched to the seas to make salt in every corner of the vast country in protest of the tax on salt.
The quiet, dignified, friendly and orderly nation suddenly raised its defiant voice when things culminated to that point and when it found a leader in Mahātma Gandhi.
Now, think about an oppression and disrespect that is multiple times larger, stretched over a period that spanned generations and against people that were dignified, orderly and pursuing higher goals in life. Think about the moment when they had to rebel and put an end to the oppressing force.
Think about the time when the powers of Dēvas, Siddhas, Uragas, Ṛshis, Vidyādharas and others, who found hope and leadership in the incarnation of Vishṇu, took the form of Vānaras and inundated the earth, like thick clouds and vast mountains.
This Sarga brings that scene to life.
1.17.1
புத்ரத்வம் து கதே விஷ்ணௌ ராஜ்ஞஸ்தஸ்ய மஹாத்மந: ।
உவாச தேவதா: ஸர்வா: ஸ்வயம்பூர்பகவாநிதம் ॥
putratvaṃ tu gatē viṣṇau rājñastasya mahātmanaḥ ।
uvāca dēvatāḥ sarvāḥ svayambhūrbhagavānidam ॥
As Vishṇu was to be born as the son of that king,
Brahma said to all the Dēvas:
1.17.2-5
ஸத்யஸந்தஸ்ய வீரஸ்ய ஸர்வேஷாம் நோ ஹிதைஷிண: ।
விஷ்ணோ: ஸஹாயாந் பலிந: ஸ்ருஜத்வம் காமரூபிண: ॥
மாயாவிதஸ்ச ஸூராம்ஸ்ச வாயுவேகஸமாந் ஜவே ।
நயஜ்ஞாந் புத்திஸம்பந்நாந் விஷ்ணுதுல்யபராக்ரமாந் ॥
அஸம்ஹார்யாநுபாயஜ்ஞாந் ஸிம்ஹஸம்ஹநநாந்விதாந் ।
ஸர்வாஸ்த்ரகுணஸம்பந்நாநம்ருதப்ராஸநாநிவ ॥
அப்ஸரஸ்ஸு ச முக்யாஸு கந்தர்வீணாம் தநூஷு ச ।
ஸ்ருஜத்வம் ஹரிரூபேண புத்ராம்ஸ்துல்யபராக்ரமாந் ॥
satyasandhasya vīrasya sarvēṣāṃ nō hitaiṣiṇaḥ ।
viṣṇōḥ sahāyān balinaḥ sṛjadhvaṃ kāmarūpiṇaḥ ॥
māyāvidaṡca ṡūrāṃṡca vāyuvēgasamān javē ।
nayajñān buddhisampannān viṣṇutulyaparākramān ॥
asaṃhāryānupāyajñān siṃhasaṃhananānvitān ।
sarvāstraguṇasampannānamṛtaprāṡanāniva ॥
apsarassu ca mukhyāsu gandharvīṇāṃ tanūṣu ca ।
sṛjadhvaṃ harirūpēṇa putrāṃstulyaparākramān ॥
Create great many helpers to the valorous Vishṇu,
who is the well-wisher of all of us and
is known for keeping his word at any cost.
Give birth to many sons in the form of Vānaras
through the Apsara and Gandharva women
with divine bodies and with knowledge of all weapons,
who are strong and courageous,
who can change form at will,
who can move with the speed of wind,
who are highly intelligent and strategic in their thinking,
who cannot be killed, who know Upāyas,
who can be counted as peers in their valor
to Vishṇu and to all of you that have taken Amrita.
Amrita is the nectar that gave the Dēvas immortality and perpetual youth.
1.17.6
பூர்வமேவ மயா ஸ்ருஷ்டோ ஜாம்பவாந்ருக்ஷபுங்கவ: ।
ஜ்ரும்பமாணஸ்ய ஸஹஸா மம வக்த்ராதஜாயத ॥
pūrvamēva mayā sṛṣṭō jāmbavānṛkṣapuṅgavaḥ ।
jṛmbhamāṇasya sahasā mama vaktrādajāyata ॥
I have already created Jāmbavanta in the form of a bear.
He was born from my face when I yawned.
Rāvaṇa must be so strong that so many mightily strong Vānaras need to be created to kill him.
1.17.7
தே ததோக்தா பகவதா தத் ப்ரதிஸ்ருத்ய ஸாஸநம் ।
ஜநயாமாஸுரேவம் தே புத்ராந் வாநரரூபிண: ॥
tē tathōktā bhagavatā tat pratiṡrutya ṡāsanam ।
janayāmāsurēvaṃ tē putrān vānararūpiṇaḥ ॥
They agreed to what they were told
and created many sons in the form of Vānaras.
1.17.8
ருஷயஸ்ச மஹாத்மாந: ஸித்தவித்யாதரோரகா: ।
சாரணாஸ்ச ஸுதாந்வீராந் ஸஸ்ருஜுர்வநசாரிண: ॥
ṛṣayaṡca mahātmānaḥ siddhavidyādharōragāḥ ।
cāraṇāṡca sutānvīrān sasṛjurvanacāriṇaḥ ॥
The great Ṛshis, Siddhas, Vidyādharas,
Uragas and Cāraṇas also created
many valorous sons in the form of Vānaras.
1.17.9
வாநரேந்த்ரம் மஹேந்த்ராபமிந்த்ரோ வாலிநமூர்ஜிதம் ।
ஸுக்ரீவம் ஜநயாமாஸ தபநஸ்தபதாம் வர: ॥
vānarēndraṃ mahēndrābhamindrō vālinamūrjitam ।
sugrīvaṃ janayāmāsa tapanastapatāṃ varaḥ ॥
Indra created Vāli, with mighty body
comparable to Mount Mahēndra.
Surya, scorcher of scorchers created Sugreeva.
1.17.10
ப்ருஹஸ்பதிஸ்த்வஜநயத்தாரம் நாம மஹாஹரிம் ।
ஸர்வவாநரமுக்யாநாம் புத்திமந்தமநுத்தமம் ॥
bṛhaspatistvajanayattāraṃ nāma mahāharim ।
sarvavānaramukhyānāṃ buddhimantamanuttamam ॥
Bṛhaspati created a great and prominent Vānara called
Tāra, who was unequalled among the Vānaras in intellect.
1.17.11
தநதஸ்ய ஸுத: ஸ்ரீமாந் வாநரோ கந்தமாதந: ।
விஸ்வகர்மா த்வஜநயந்நலம் நாம மஹாஹரிம் ॥
dhanadasya sutaḥ ṡrīmān vānarō gandhamādanaḥ ।
viṡvakarmā tvajanayannalaṃ nāma mahāharim ॥
Kubēra, the Dēva of wealth created
a Vānara by name Gandhamādana with rich bearing.
Viṡwakarma created a great Vānara by name Nala.
Viṡwakarma is the chief architect and engineer of Dēvas.
1.17.12
பாவகஸ்ய ஸுத: ஸ்ரீமாந்நீலோऽக்நிஸத்ருஸப்ரப: ।
தேஜஸா யஸஸா வீர்யாதத்யரிச்யத வாநராந் ॥
pāvakasya sutaḥ ṡrīmānnīlō'gnisadṛṡaprabhaḥ ।
tējasā yaṡasā vīryādatyaricyata vānarān ॥
Agni created Neela,
with radiance equal to fire and with rich bearing
who stood out among all the Vānaras
in valor, reputation and radiance.
1.17.13
ரூபத்ரவிணஸம்பந்நாவஸ்விநௌ ரூபஸம்மதௌ ।
மைந்தம் ச த்விவிதம் சைவ ஜநயாமாஸது: ஸ்வயம் ॥
rūpadraviṇasampannāvaṡvinau rūpasammatau ।
maindaṃ ca dvividaṃ caiva janayāmāsatuḥ svayam ॥
The Ashwini Dēvas known for being the most handsome,
created the handsome Mainda and Dwivinda.
1.17.14
வருணோ ஜநயாமாஸ ஸுஷேணம் நாம வாநரம் ।
ஸரபம் ஜநயாமாஸ பர்ஜந்யஸ்து மஹாபலம் ॥
varuṇō janayāmāsa suṣēṇaṃ nāma vānaram ।
ṡarabhaṃ janayāmāsa parjanyastu mahābalam ॥
Varuna created Susheṇa, a great Vānara.
Parjanya created the mighty Sarabha.
1.17.15
மாருதஸ்யாத்மஜ: ஸ்ரீமாந் ஹநுமாந்நாம வாநர: ।
வஜ்ரஸம்ஹநநோபேதோ வைநதேயஸமோ ஜவே ॥
mārutasyātmajaḥ ṡrīmān hanumānnāma vānaraḥ ।
vajrasaṃhananōpētō vainatēyasamō javē ॥
Māruta, the god of wind created
the valorous Hanuman with lustrous bearing
and a body that was as strong as diamond
and speed that was equivalent to that of Vainatēya.
Vainatēya is Garuda, the eagle,
son of Vinata and vehicle of Vishṇu.
1.17.16
தே ஸ்ருஷ்டா பஹுஸாஹஸ்ரா தஸக்ரீவவதே கதா: ।
அப்ரமேயபலா வீரா விக்ராந்தா: காமரூபிண: ॥
tē sṛṣṭā bahusāhasrā daṡagrīvavadhē gatāḥ ।
apramēyabalā vīrā vikrāntāḥ kāmarūpiṇaḥ ॥
They created many thousands of
warriors of supreme strength,
that could change their form at will,
determined on killing the ten headed Rāvaṇa.
1.17.17
மேருமந்தரஸங்காஸா வபுஷ்மந்தோ மஹாபலா: ।
ருக்ஷவாநரகோபுச்சா: க்ஷிப்ரமேவாபிஜஜ்ஞிரே ॥
mērumandarasaṅkāṡā vapuṣmantō mahābalāḥ ।
ṛkṣavānaragōpucchāḥ kṣipramēvābhijajñirē ॥
Soon, many mighty Vānaras, bears and Gōpuccas sprang up
with bodies that were like Mount Mēru and Mandara.
Gōpucca is another species among apes.
1.17.18
யஸ்ய தேவஸ்ய யத்ரூபம் வேஷோ யஸ்ச பராக்ரம: ।
அஜாயத ஸமஸ்தேந தஸ்ய தஸ்ய ஸுத: ப்ருதக் ॥
yasya dēvasya yadrūpaṃ vēṣō yaṡca parākramaḥ ।
ajāyata samastēna tasya tasya sutaḥ pṛthak ॥
Each of them thus created,
inherited the strengths and features
of the Dēvas who created them.
1.17.19
கோலாங்கூலீஷு சோத்பந்நா: கேசித்ஸம்மதவிக்ரமா: ।
ருக்ஷீஷு ச ததா ஜாதா வாநரா: கிந்நரீஷு ச ॥
gōlāṅgūlīṣu cōtpannāḥ kēcitsammatavikramāḥ ।
ṛkṣīṣu ca tathā jātā vānarāḥ kinnarīṣu ca ॥
Vānaras with noted strength were born to
Kinnara, Ṛksha, and Gōlāṅgūla women.
Gōlāṅgūla is another species among apes.
1.17.20-22
தேவா மஹர்ஷிகந்தர்வா: தார்க்ஷ்யா யக்ஷா யஸஸ்விந: ।
நாகா: கிம்புருஷாஸ்சைவ ஸித்தவித்யாதரோரகா: ॥
பஹவோ ஜநயாமாஸுர்ஹ்ருஷ்டாஸ்தத்ர ஸஹஸ்ரஸ: ।
வாநராந் ஸுமஹாகாயாந் ஸர்வாந் வை வநசாரிண: ॥
அப்ஸரஸ்ஸு ச முக்யாஸு ததா வித்யாதரீஷு ச ।
நாககந்யாஸு ச ததா கந்தர்வீணாம் தநூஷு ச ॥
dēvā maharṣigandharvāḥ tārkṣyā yakṣā yaṡasvinaḥ ।
nāgāḥ kimpuruṣāṡcaiva siddhavidyādharōragāḥ ॥
bahavō janayāmāsurhṛṣṭāstatra sahasraṡaḥ ।
vānarān sumahākāyān sarvān vai vanacāriṇaḥ ॥
apsarassu ca mukhyāsu tathā vidyādharīṣu ca ।
nāgakanyāsu ca tathā gandharvīṇāṃ tanūṣu ca ॥
In all, the many prominent Dēvas, Gandharvas, Tārkshyas,
Yakshas, Nāgas, Kimpurushas, Siddhas and Uragas
created thousands of Vānaras with mighty bodies
through the Apsara, Vidyādhara,
Nāgakanya and Gandharva women.
1.17.23
காமரூபபலோபேதா யதாகாமம் விசாரிண: ।
ஸிம்ஹஸார்தூலஸத்ருஸா தர்பேண ச பலேந ச ॥
kāmarūpabalōpētā yathākāmaṃ vicāriṇaḥ ।
siṃhaṡārdūlasadṛṡā darpēṇa ca balēna ca ॥
The Vānaras were strong,
capable of changing form at will
and capable of going to places as they wished
and comparable to lions and tigers
in their proud demeanor and strength.
1.17.24
ஸிலாப்ரஹரணா: ஸர்வே ஸர்வே பாதபயோதிந: ।
நகதம்ஷ்ட்ராயுதா: ஸர்வே ஸர்வே ஸர்வாஸ்த்ரகோவிதா: ॥
ṡilāpraharaṇāḥ sarvē sarvē pādapayōdhinaḥ ।
nakhadaṃṣṭrāyudhāḥ sarvē sarvē sarvāstrakōvidāḥ ॥
They were experts in the use of all forms of weapons.
They could turn everything into a weapon including
their nails and teeth, and the trees and boulders around.
For some people, the superlatives in these Ṡlōkas may seem ridiculous. I want to remind them that Rāmāyaṇa was written for singing. These superlatives would sound fantastic in the right art form of singing. Especially, people in south India, familiar with Burra Katha and Yaksha Gāna would know what I am saying. If you are not familiar with any of these art forms, just listen to a good romantic song in any of the movies.
Then you would know how to enjoy superlatives and the poetry without getting caught up in 'logic'.
1.17.25
விசாலயேயு: ஸைலேந்த்ராந் பேதயேயு: ஸ்திராந் த்ருமாந் ।
க்ஷோபயேயுஸ்ச வேகேந ஸமுத்ரம் ஸரிதாம் பதிம் ॥
vicālayēyuḥ ṡailēndrān bhēdayēyuḥ sthirān drumān ।
kṣōbhayēyuṡca vēgēna samudraṃ saritāṃ patim ॥
They could shake mountains,
uproot strong and well rooted trees,
agitate even the great oceans into which all the great rivers merge,
with their great speed.
1.17.26
தாரயேயு: க்ஷிதிம் பத்ப்யாமாப்லவேயுர்மஹார்ணவம் ।
நப:ஸ்தலம் விஸேயுஸ்ச க்ருஹ்ணீயுரபி தோயதாந் ॥
dārayēyuḥ kṣitiṃ padbhyāmāplavēyurmahārṇavam ।
nabhaḥsthalaṃ viṡēyuṡca gṛhṇīyurapi tōyadān ॥
They could shatter the earth by stamping with their bare feet.
They could jump high enough into the sky to catch the clouds.
They could jump long enough to cross mighty oceans.
1.17.27
க்ருஹ்ணீயுரபி மாதங்காந் மத்தாந் ப்ரவ்ரஜதோ வநே ।
நர்தமாநாஸ்ச நாதேந பாதயேயுர்விஹங்கமாந் ॥
gṛhṇīyurapi mātaṅgān mattān pravrajatō vanē ।
nardamānāṡca nādēna pātayēyurvihaṅgamān ॥
They could effortlessly subdue
the wildest elephants in rut roaming in the wild.
They could make birds drop down from the sky
just with their roaring voices.
1.17.28
ஈத்ருஸாநாம் ப்ரஸூதாநி ஹரீணாம் காமரூபிணாம் ।
ஸதம் ஸதஸஹஸ்ராணி யூதபாநாம் மஹாத்மநாம் ॥
īdṛṡānāṃ prasūtāni harīṇāṃ kāmarūpiṇām ।
ṡataṃ ṡatasahasrāṇi yūthapānāṃ mahātmanām ॥
Hundreds of a hundred thousand warriors
like these were created
who could change their form at will and
who were capable of leading great armies.
You can easily relate the scene described in these Ṡlōkas, if you have been to mountains and forests full of monkeys, such as Hampi.
Hundreds of thousands of them suddenly spring up all around you, making your heart beat twice or thrice as fast in a matter of seconds.
1.17.29
தே ப்ரதாநேஷு யூதேஷு ஹரீணாம் ஹரியூதபா: ।
பபூவுர்யூதபஸ்ரேஷ்டா வீராம்ஸ்சாஜநயந் ஹரீந் ॥
tē pradhānēṣu yūthēṣu harīṇāṃ hariyūthapāḥ ।
babhūvuryūthapaṡrēṣṭhā vīrāṃṡcājanayan harīn ॥
Those warriors became the chiefs of armies
and raised many armies of brave soldiers.
1.17.30
அந்யே ருக்ஷவத: ப்ரஸ்தாநுபதஸ்து: ஸஹஸ்ரஸ: ।
அந்யே நாநாவிதாந் ஸைலாந் காநநாநி ச பேஜிரே ॥
anyē ṛkṣavataḥ prasthānupatasthuḥ sahasraṡaḥ ।
anyē nānāvidhān ṡailān kānanāni ca bhējirē ॥
Some of them lived on the sierras of mount Ṛksha.
Some lived in other mountains, hillocks and forests.
1.17.31
ஸூர்யபுத்ரம் ச ஸுக்ரீவம் ஸக்ரபுத்ரம் ச வாலிநம் ।
ப்ராதராவுபதஸ்துஸ்தே ஸர்வ ஏவ ஹரீஸ்வரா: ।
நலம் நீலம் ஹநூமந்தமந்யாம்ஸ்ச ஹரியூதபாந் ॥
sūryaputraṃ ca sugrīvaṃ ṡakraputraṃ ca vālinam ।
bhrātarāvupatasthustē sarva ēva harīṡvarāḥ ।
nalaṃ nīlaṃ hanūmantamanyāṃṡca hariyūthapān ॥
All those Vānaras were led by
Vāli, the son of Indra and Sugreeva, the son of Surya,
Hanuman, Nala, Neela and other chiefs.
1.17.32
தே தார்க்ஷ்யபலஸம்பந்நா: ஸர்வே யுத்தவிஸாரதா: ।
விசரந்தோऽர்தயந் தர்பாத்ஸிம்ஹவ்யாக்ரமஹோரகாந் ॥
tē tārkṣyabalasampannāḥ sarvē yuddhaviṡāradāḥ ।
vicarantō'rdayan darpātsiṃhavyāghramahōragān ॥
Those Vānaras, well versed in the art of war
having strength equivalent to Garuda,
moved around arrogantly, becoming a nightmare
even for the tigers, lions and mighty snakes.
1.17.33
தாம்ஸ்ச ஸர்வாந் மஹாபாஹுர்வாலீ விபுலவிக்ரம: ।
ஜுகோப புஜவீர்யேண ருக்ஷகோபுச்சவாநராந் ॥
tāṃṡca sarvān mahābāhurvālī vipulavikramaḥ ।
jugōpa bhujavīryēṇa ṛkṣagōpucchavānarān ॥
All those Vānaras, Gōpuccas and Ṛkshas
were under the care and discipline of
the mighty armed Vāli with diverse capabilities.
1.17.34
தைரியம் ப்ருதிவீ ஸூரை: ஸபர்வதவநார்ணவா ।
கீர்ணா விவிதஸம்ஸ்தாநைர்நாநாவ்யஞ்ஜநலக்ஷணை: ॥
tairiyaṃ pṛthivī ṡūraiḥ saparvatavanārṇavā ।
kīrṇā vividhasaṃsthānairnānāvyañjanalakṣaṇaiḥ ॥
The mountains, forests and oceans were
flooded with a variety of species of
Vānaras, each with its own distinctive features.
1.17.35
தைர்மேகவ்ருந்தாசலகூடகல்பைர்மஹாபலைர்வாநரயூதபாலை: ।
பபூவ பூர்பீமஸரீரரூபை: ஸமாவ்ருதா ராமஸஹாயஹேதோ: ॥
tairmēghavṛndācalakūṭakalpairmahābalairvānarayūthapālaiḥ ।
babhūva bhūrbhīmaṡarīrarūpaiḥ samāvṛtā rāmasahāyahētōḥ ॥
Those swarms of Vānaras of mighty strength
and fearsome bodies and shapes, along with their chiefs
descended on earth to assist Rāma,
covering it like ranges of mountains and swaths of clouds.
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே வால்மீகீயே ஆதிகாவ்யே
ஸ்ரீமத்பாலகாண்டே ஸப்ததஸ: ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē
ṡrīmadbālakāṇḍē saptadaṡaḥ sargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the seventeenth Sarga
in Bāla Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Vālmeeki.
We completed reading 605 Ṡlōkas out of ~24,000 Ṡlōkas of Vālmeeki Rāmāyaṇa.