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Read Ramayana Baala Kaanda - Sarga 29This Sarga contains a mini-version of the story of Vāmana Avatāra, in which Vishṇu takes the form of Vāmana to regain the three worlds from Bali and restore the rule of Indra. You would also learn in this story that Vishṇu is born as Vāmana to Kaṡyapa and Aditi, and hence becomes the younger brother of Indra.
Viṡwāmitra lives in the same Āṡrama where Vishṇu did Tapa once upon a time, before taking the Avatāra of Vāmana.
1.29.1
அத தஸ்யாப்ரமேயஸ்ய தத்வநம் பரிப்ருச்சத: ।
விஸ்வாமித்ரோ மஹாதேஜா வ்யாக்யாதுமுபசக்ரமே ॥
atha tasyāpramēyasya tadvanaṃ paripṛcchataḥ ।
viṡvāmitrō mahātējā vyākhyātumupacakramē ॥
When that immeasurable one (Rāma) asked thus,
the radiant Viṡwāmitra started to explain.
1.29.2-3a
இஹ ராம மஹாபாஹோ விஷ்ணுர்தேவவர: ப்ரபு: ।
வர்ஷாணி ஸுபஹூந்யேவ ததா யுகஸதாநி ச ॥।
தபஸ்சரணயோகார்தமுவாஸ ஸுமஹாதபா: ।
iha rāma mahābāhō viṣṇurdēvavaraḥ prabhuḥ ।
varṣāṇi subahūnyēva tathā yugaṡatāni ca ॥।
tapaṡcaraṇayōgārthamuvāsa sumahātapāḥ ।
O mighty armed Rāma!
Lord Vishṇu, the foremost of Dēvas,
the one who performed great Tapa,
used this place for his Tapa for
many years over hundred Yugas.
1.29.3b-4a
ஏஷ பூர்வாஸ்ரமோ ராம வாமநஸ்ய மஹாத்மந: ॥
ஸித்தாஸ்ரம இதி க்யாத: ஸித்தோ ஹ்யத்ர மஹாதபா: ।
ēṣa pūrvāṡramō rāma vāmanasya mahātmanaḥ ॥
siddhāṡrama iti khyātaḥ siddhō hyatra mahātapāḥ ।
O Rāma, this is the former Āṡrama of Mahātma Vāmana.
It is known as Siddhāṡrama because
great Sages attained Siddhi here.
Vāmana is a dwarf or a midget.
In general, Siddhi means attainment. But this word is specifically used in the context of attaining spiritual energies and powers. It is like the word 'graduate', which in general means becoming accomplished in anything to a noteworthy degree, but specifically means obtaining a degree from a university.
1.29.4b-5
ஏதஸ்மிந்நேவ காலே து ராஜா வைரோசநிர்பலி: ॥
நிர்ஜித்ய தைவதகணாந் ஸேந்த்ராம்ஸ்ச ஸமருத்கணாந் ।
காரயாமாஸ தத்ராஜ்யம் த்ரிஷு லோகேஷு விஸ்ருத:॥
ētasminnēva kālē tu rājā vairōcanirbali: ॥
nirjitya daivatagaṇān sēndrāṃṡca samarudgaṇān ।
kārayāmāsa tadrājyaṃ triṣu lōkēṣu viṡruta:॥
While Vishṇu was doing Tapa here,
the king Bali, the son of Virōcana,
vanquished all the Dēvas, Indra and Maruts and
ruled that kingdom, becoming famous in all the three worlds.
1.29.6
பலேஸ்து யஜமாநஸ்ய தேவா: ஸாக்நிபுரோகமா: ।
ஸமாகம்ய ஸ்வயம் சைவ விஷ்ணுமூசுரிஹாஸ்ரமே ॥
balēstu yajamānasya dēvāḥ sāgnipurōgamāḥ ।
samāgamya svayaṃ caiva viṣṇumūcurihāṡramē ॥
As Bali started a Yajña, all the Dēvas together, led by Agni,
approached Vishṇu in this Āṡrama and said:
1.29.7
பலிர்வைரோசநிர்விஷ்ணோ யஜதே யஜ்ஞமுத்தமம் ।
அஸமாப்தே க்ரதௌ தஸ்மிந் ஸ்வகார்யமபிபத்யதாம் ॥
balirvairōcanirviṣṇō yajatē yajñamuttamam ।
asamāptē kratau tasmin svakāryamabhipadyatām ॥
O Vishṇu! Bali, the son of Virōcana is performing a great Yajña.
You should accomplish your task before the Yajña is completed.
The details about the Bali episode in these Ṡlōkas are very sketchy. Either Vālmeeki has captured only the essence of a very well-known story in these few Ṡlōkas or it could be that some of the Ṡlōkas are lost over time.
Commentators filled the blanks saying that Bali became too powerful to be contained and was distributing the bounty he gained to enhance his reputation, but without regard to the disorder that ensued with it.
I will leave it to the judgment of the readers to interpret the essence of the story in their own way.
1.29.8
யே சைநமபிவாஞ்சந்தி யாசிதார இதஸ்தத: ।
யச்ச யத்ர யதாவச்ச ஸர்வம் தேப்ய: ப்ரயச்சதி ॥
yē cainamabhivāñchanti yācitāra itastataḥ ।
yacca yatra yathāvacca sarvaṃ tēbhyaḥ prayacchati ॥
He is giving away everything,
as and when he finds someone who asks;
Anyone, from anywhere.
1.29.9
ஸ த்வம் ஸுரஹிதார்தாய மாயாயோகமுபாகத: ।
வாமநத்வம் கதோ விஷ்ணோ குரு கல்யாணமுத்தமம் ॥
sa tvaṃ surahitārthāya māyāyōgamupāgataḥ ।
vāmanatvaṃ gatō viṣṇō kuru kalyāṇamuttamam ॥
Hence, for the sake of the Dēvas,
do the right thing, by assuming the form of a Vāmana,
with your powers of illusion,
for the welfare and betterment of everyone.
1.29.10-11
ஏதஸ்மிந்நந்தரே ராம கஸ்யபோऽக்நிஸமப்ரப: ।
அதித்யா ஸஹிதோ ராம தீப்யமாந இவௌஜஸா ।
தேவீஸஹாயோ பகவாந் திவ்யம் வர்ஷஸஹஸ்ரகம் ।
வ்ரதம் ஸமாப்ய வரதம் துஷ்டாவ மதுஸூதநம் ॥
ētasminnantarē rāma kaṡyapō'gnisamaprabhaḥ ।
adityā sahitō rāma dīpyamāna ivaujasā ।
dēvīsahāyō bhagavān divyaṃ varṣasahasrakam ।
vrataṃ samāpya varadaṃ tuṣṭāva madhusūdanam ॥
O Rāma! Meanwhile, Kaṡyapa, the Bhagawān
and the supremely radiant, completed
a thousand divine years-long Vrata
with the help of Aditi.
Shining brightly along with her, he prayed to
Vishṇu, the destroyer of Madhu (a Rākshasa),
who is known for granting boons.
1.29.12
தபோமயம் தபோராஸிம் தபோமூர்திம் தபாத்மகம் ।
தபஸா த்வாம் ஸுதப்தேந பஸ்யாமி புருஷோத்தமம் ॥
tapōmayaṃ tapōrāṡiṃ tapōmūrtiṃ tapātmakam ।
tapasā tvāṃ sutaptēna paṡyāmi puruṣōttamam ॥
O the best among Purushas!
You are full of Tapa! Your essence is Tapa!
You are the accumulation of Tapa!
You are the form that Tapa can take!
I am able to see you, as a result of
all the Tapa I performed.
Just as only a serious athlete can appreciate the full sportsmanship of another great athlete, only someone who has performed Tapa for a long time can appreciate the Tapa done by another great Tapasvi.
1.29.13
ஸரீரே தவ பஸ்யாமி ஜகத்ஸர்வமிதம் ப்ரபோ ।
த்வமநாதிரநிர்தேஸ்யஸ்த்வாமஹம் ஸரணம் கத: ॥
ṡarīrē tava paṡyāmi jagatsarvamidaṃ prabhō ।
tvamanādiranirdēṡyastvāmahaṃ ṡaraṇaṃ gataḥ ॥
I can see the entire world in your body.
You are without a beginning and without a boundary.
I take refuge in you.
This Ṡlōka may remind you of Viṡwarūpa Sandarṡana in Bhagavad Geeta, where Arjuna sees the entire world in the body of Krishna.
1.29.14
தமுவாச ஹரி: ப்ரீத: கஸ்யபம் தூதகல்மஷம் ।
வரம் வரய பத்ரம் தே வரார்ஹோऽஸி மதோ மம ॥
tamuvāca hariḥ prītaḥ kaṡyapaṃ dhūtakalmaṣam ।
varaṃ varaya bhadraṃ tē varārhō'si matō mama ॥
Hari (Vishṇu), pleased with Kaṡyapa,
the one freed from all afflictions, said:
May all bode well for you!
You deserve a boon. Ask what is on your mind!
1.29.15-16a
தச்ச்ருத்வா வசநம் தஸ்ய மாரீச: கஸ்யபோऽப்ரவீத் ।
அதித்யா தேவதாநாம் ச மம சைவாநுயாசத: ॥
வரம் வரத ஸுப்ரீதோ தாதுமர்ஹஸி ஸுவ்ரத ।
tacchrutvā vacanaṃ tasya mārīcaḥ kaṡyapō'bravīt ।
adityā dēvatānāṃ ca mama caivānuyācataḥ ॥
varaṃ varada suprītō dātumarhasi suvrata ।
Hearing those words of Vishṇu,
Kaṡyapa, the son of Mareecha said:
O grantor of wishes! O disciplined and thoughtful one!
You are the only one capable of
granting the wishes of Aditi, Dēvas and me!
1.29.16b-17
புத்ரத்வம் கச்ச பகவந்நதித்யா மம சாநக ॥
ப்ராதா பவ யவீயாம்ஸ்த்வம் ஸக்ரஸ்யாஸுரஸூதந ।
ஸோகார்தாநாம் து தேவாநாம் ஸாஹாய்யம் கர்துமர்ஹஸி ॥
putratvaṃ gaccha bhagavannadityā mama cānagha ॥
bhrātā bhava yavīyāṃstvaṃ ṡakrasyāsurasūdana ।
ṡōkārtānāṃ tu dēvānāṃ sāhāyyaṃ kartumarhasi ॥
O Bhagawan, O unafflicted one! O slayer of Asuras!
I wish you take birth in the form of a son to me and Aditi.
Please become the younger brother of Ṡakra (Indra).
You alone, thus, can help the Dēvas,
who are fraught with grief.
1.29.18
அயம் ஸித்தாஸ்ரமோ நாம ப்ரஸாதாத்தே பவிஷ்யதி ।
ஸித்தே கர்மணி தேவேஸ உத்திஷ்ட பகவந்நித: ॥
ayaṃ siddhāṡramō nāma prasādāttē bhaviṣyati ।
siddhē karmaṇi dēvēṡa uttiṣṭha bhagavannitaḥ ॥
O Lord of Dēvas! This place, hence onwards,
will be known as Siddhāṡrama, for here
is my wish being fulfilled by your magnanimity.
O Bhagawan! Please arise from here (to become my son)!
Vishṇu interferes in worldly affairs in three forms:
1. As himself (e.g. in saving Gajēndra, the elephant)
2. As a flash (e.g. as a turtle to lift the mount Mandara)
3. As a full-fledged incarnation (e.g. as Rāma to annihilate Rāvaṇa)
This is akin to the role of a CEO in a large corporation.
1. A CEO helps an employee, who has a personal disaster, directly, out of concern, even though it is not his direct responsibility.
2. A CEO gives a flash appearance in a critical divisional meeting to give his weight and support to a sinking enabler.
3. A CEO engages in the day to day affairs of a sick division in a substantial manner, working through many details, getting the right people on his side, firing the difficult people on the way, etc.
Vāmana is a flash appearance (Leela Avatar) of Vishṇu.
1.29.19
அத விஷ்ணுர்மஹாதேஜா அதித்யாம் ஸமஜாயத ।
வாமநம் ரூபமாஸ்தாய வைரோசநிமுபாகமத் ॥
atha viṣṇurmahātējā adityāṃ samajāyata ।
vāmanaṃ rūpamāsthāya vairōcanimupāgamat ॥
Then, the supremely radiant Vishṇu was born
to Aditi in the form of a dwarf and went to
Bali, the son of Virōcana.
1.29.20-21
த்ரீந் க்ரமாநத பிக்ஷித்வா ப்ரதிக்ருஹ்ய ச மாநத: ।
ஆக்ரம்ய லோகால்லோகாத்மா ஸர்வலோகஹிதே ரத: ॥
மஹேந்த்ராய புந: ப்ராதாந்நியம்ய பலிமோஜஸா ।
த்ரைலோக்யம் ஸ மஹாதேஜாஸ்சக்ரே ஸக்ரவஸம் புந: ॥
trīn kramānatha bhikṣitvā pratigṛhya ca mānadaḥ ।
ākramya lōkāँllōkātmā sarvalōkahitē rataḥ ॥
mahēndrāya punaḥ prādānniyamya balimōjasā ।
trailōkyaṃ sa mahātējāṡcakrē ṡakravaṡaṃ punaḥ ॥
The One, because of whom there is the notion of measure,
asked (Bali) for three measures and received it.
The One who is the essence of the three worlds,
then took over all the three worlds with the three measures.
The One who is constantly engaged in the welfare of everyone
gave the three worlds to Indra
after subduing Bali with his brilliance.
With his radiant energy, he brought
the three worlds back under the command of Ṡakra.
One of the main themes of traditional poetry in India is about seeing the infinite in the finite and finite in the infinite.
All schools of poetry around Sri Krishna incorporate this theme many a time. You see the same poetry in this Ṡlōka.
1.29.22
தேநைவ பூர்வமாக்ராந்த ஆஸ்ரம: ஸ்ரமநாஸந: ।
மயா து பக்த்யா தஸ்யைஷ வாமநஸ்யோபபுஜ்யதே ॥
tēnaiva pūrvamākrānta āṡramaḥ ṡramanāṡanaḥ ।
mayā tu bhaktyā tasyaiṣa vāmanasyōpabhujyatē ॥
That Vāmana stayed in this Āṡrama.
This Āṡrama drives away all the stress and strain of life.
I am currently enjoying this Āṡrama,
with due reverence and respects to Vāmana.
1.29.23
ஏதமாஸ்ரமமாயாந்தி ராக்ஷஸா விக்நகாரிண: ।
அத்ரைவ புருஷவ்யாக்ர ஹந்தவ்யா துஷ்டசாரிண: ॥
ētamāṡramamāyānti rākṣasā vighnakāriṇa: ।
atraiva puruṣavyāghra hantavyā duṣṭacāriṇaḥ ॥
O tiger among men, it is here that the
Rākshasas come to disturb the Yajñas.
Yes, this is where you have to slay those wicked souls.
1.29.24
அத்ய கச்சாமஹே ராம ஸித்தாஸ்ரமமநுத்தமம் ।
ததாஸ்ரமபதம் தாத தவாப்யேதத்யதா மம ॥
adya gacchāmahē rāma siddhāṡramamanuttamam ।
tadāṡramapadaṃ tāta tavāpyētadyathā mama ॥
Now, we will enter the unequaled Siddhāṡrama.
O dear, please consider this place as your own,
just as much as it is mine.
1.29.25
ப்ரவிஸந்நாஸ்ரமபதம் வ்யரோசத மஹாமுநி: ।
ஸஸீவ கதநீஹார: புநர்வஸுஸமந்வித: ॥
praviṡannāṡramapadaṃ vyarōcata mahāmuniḥ ।
ṡaṡīva gatanīhāraḥ punarvasusamanvitaḥ ॥
The eminent Muni, upon entering the Āṡrama
glowed like the moon with the star Punarvasu
after the fog is cleared.
Viṡwāmitra is a towering personality. Hence he was compared with the moon. Rāma is compared to the star Punarvasu, small in comparison, but radiant.
1.29.26
தம் த்ருஷ்ட்வா முநய: ஸர்வே ஸித்தாஸ்ரமநிவாஸிந: ।
உத்பத்யோத்பத்ய ஸஹஸா விஸ்வாமித்ரமபூஜயந் ॥
taṃ dṛṣṭvā munayaḥ sarvē siddhāṡramanivāsinaḥ ।
utpatyōtpatya sahasā viṡvāmitramapūjayan ॥
Seeing them (i.e., Viṡwāmitra with Rāma and Lakshmaṇa)
all the Munis that live in Siddhāṡrama,
immediately came running and jumping to
receive them and did Pūja to Viṡwāmitra.
You can imagine the scene here. This is like children jumping and running to the father, who comes back after being away from home for some time.
You must also have noticed that Punarvasu is the birth star of Rāma.
1.29.27
யதார்ஹம் சக்ரிரே பூஜாம் விஸ்வாமித்ராய தீமதே ।
ததைவ ராஜபுத்ராப்யாமகுர்வந்நதிதிக்ரியாம் ॥
yathārhaṃ cakrirē pūjāṃ viṡvāmitrāya dhīmatē ।
tathaiva rājaputrābhyāmakurvannatithikriyām ॥
They then did appropriate Pūja to
the enlightened Viṡwāmitra. In the same way,
they also paid respects and gave hospitality to the princes.
1.29.28
முஹூர்தமிவ விஸ்ராந்தௌ ராஜபுத்ராவரிந்தமௌ ।
ப்ராஞ்ஜலீ முநிஸார்தூலமூசதூ ரகுநந்தநௌ ॥
muhūrtamiva viṡrāntau rājaputrāvarindamau ।
prāñjalī muniṡārdūlamūcatū raghunandanau ॥
After resting for a brief while,
the princes, subjugators of enemies,
said to the tiger among Munis, with folded hands:
1.29.29
அத்யைவ தீக்ஷாம் ப்ரவிஸ பத்ரம் தே முநிபுங்கவ ।
ஸித்தாஸ்ரமோऽயம் ஸித்த: ஸ்யாத் ஸத்யமஸ்து வசஸ்தவ ॥
adyaiva dīkṣāṃ praviṡa bhadraṃ tē munipuṅgava ।
siddhāṡramō'yaṃ siddhaḥ syāt satyamastu vacastava ॥
O, best among Munis! You may
take the Deeksha (for the Yajña) right today!
May all bode well for you!
May Siddhāṡrama give the Siddhi,
true to its name and just as you wished!
Deekha is oath of commencement.
1.29.30
ஏவமுக்தோ மஹாதேஜா விஸ்வாமித்ரோ மஹாமுநி: ।
ப்ரவிவேஸ ததோ தீக்ஷாம் நியதோ நியதேந்த்ரிய: ॥
ēvamuktō mahātējā viṡvāmitrō mahāmuniḥ ।
pravivēṡa tatō dīkṣāṃ niyatō niyatēndriyaḥ ॥
Then, the supremely radiant and eminent Muni,
Viṡwāmitra took Deeksha,
with complete control on all his senses
and with all the rigor and discipline that was demanded.
1.29.31-32
குமாராவபி தாம் ராத்ரிமுஷித்வா ஸுஸமாஹிதௌ ।
ப்ரபாதகாலே சோத்தாய பூர்வாம் ஸந்த்யாமுபாஸ்ய ச ॥
ஸ்ப்ருஷ்டோதகௌ ஸுசீ ஜப்யம் ஸமாப்ய நியமேந ச ।
ஹுதாக்நிஹோத்ரமாஸீநம் விஸ்வாமித்ரமவந்ததாம் ॥
kumārāvapi tāṃ rātrimuṣitvā susamāhitau ।
prabhātakālē cōtthāya pūrvāṃ sandhyāmupāsya ca ॥
spṛṣṭōdakau ṡucī japyaṃ samāpya niyamēna ca ।
hutāgnihōtramāsīnaṃ viṡvāmitramavandatām ॥
The young princes spent the night vigilantly.
They got up early the next morning,
worshipped Sandhya, cleaned themselves by touching water,
completed Japa with due observations,
and stood with reverence by Viṡwāmitra
who had just completed morning Hōma.
Sandhya is dawn.
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே வால்மீகீயே ஆதிகாவ்யே
ஸ்ரீமத்பாலகாண்டே ஏகோநத்ரிம்ஸ: ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē
ṡrīmadbālakāṇḍē ēkōnatriṃṡaḥ sargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the twenty ninth Sarga
in Bāla Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Vālmeeki.
We completed reading 946 Ṡlōkas out of ~24,000 Ṡlōkas of Vālmeeki Rāmāyaṇa.