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Baala Kaanda - Sarga 62
In this Sarga, Ṡunahṡepha, sad about his imminent death, pleads with Viṡwāmitra, his uncle, for help. Viṡwāmitra vows to protect him. He asks his sons to save the life of Ṡunahṡepha, by themselves becoming the sacrificial animals. But the sons heckle him for that request. He gets angry and curses them. He gives two Mantras to Ṡunahṡepha. Ṡunahṡepha uses those two Mantras to please Indra. The pleased Indra blesses him with a long life.
1.62.1 ஸுந:ஸேபம் நரஸ்ரேஷ்டக்ருஹீத்வா து மஹாயஸா: ।
வ்யஸ்ராம்யத் புஷ்கரே ராஜா மத்யாஹ்நே ரகுநந்தந ॥
ṡunaḥṡēphaṃ naraṡrēṣṭhagṛhītvā tu mahāyaṡāḥ ।
vyaṡrāmyat puṣkarē rājā madhyāhnē raghunandana ॥
O prince of Raghu dynasty!
That renowned king, the best among men,
took Ṡunahṡepha with him and
rested for a while in the Pushkara at noon. Viṡwāmitra was arrogant to begin with. That led to the episode of snatching Ṡabala, and ultimately realizing Kshatriya power is no comparison to Brāhmaṇa power.
Then he was overcome by compassion towards Triṡaṅku. That led him to curse the sons of Vasishṭha, terrifying all the Ṛshis and creating an alternate Heaven for Triṡaṅku. He spent all of his spiritual energy in the process.
In this Sarga, he gets overcome by compassion again towards Ṡunahṡepha, ends up cursing his own sons and spending all of his spiritual energy.
Overcome by compassion, losing judgment, India's leaders introduced the system of reservations at the dawn of independence. They did not have any ulterior motives, as everyone would agree. But see where that has landed us!
Every political party started using it as a tool to win the elections. It has now reached ridiculous lengths. The politicians now do not have to work towards any real progress any more. All they have to do is increase the reservation quota.
I have to again applaud the Bhagavad Gita for calling Kārpaṇya (compassion) as a Dosha (trap or syndrome). I feel depressed at the number of times in the history of mankind that this Dosha has taken over and as a consequence created all sorts of troubles and damages. Even communism was born out of compassion. It is obvious where it has landed the nations that embraced it. Compassion makes one feel noble, but the immediate causality of compassion is the big picture. This story of a clouded big picture has been repeated in the history of mankind numerous times.
Also make note of the directions: The Triṡaṅku episode happens when Viṡwāmitra goes in the southerly direction. The Ṡunahṡepha episode happens now in the westerly direction. In later episodes we would see the incidents that happen in northerly and easterly direction.
1.62.2-3a தஸ்ய விஸ்ரமமாணஸ்ய ஸுந:ஸேபோ மஹாயஸா: ।
புஷ்கரக்ஷேத்ரமாகம்ய விஸ்வாமித்ரம் ததர்ஸ ஹ ।
தப்யந்தம்ருஷிபி: ஸார்த்தம் மாதுலம் பரமாதுர: ॥
tasya viṡramamāṇasya ṡunaḥṡēphō mahāyaṡāḥ ।
puṣkarakṣētramāgamya viṡvāmitraṃ dadarṡa ha ।
tapyantamṛṣibhiḥ sārddhaṃ mātulaṃ paramāturaḥ ॥
While the king was taking rest,
the extremely sad and renowned Ṡunahṡepha
went around the Pushkara and saw
his maternal uncle Viṡwāmitra,
who was performing Tapa along with Ṛshis.
1.62.3b-4a விவர்ணவதநோ தீநஸ்த்ருஷ்ணயா ச ஸ்ரமேண ச ।
பபாதாங்கே முநேராஸு வாக்யம் சேதமுவாச ஹ ॥
vivarṇavadanō dīnastṛṣṇayā ca ṡramēṇa ca ।
papātāṅkē munērāṡu vākyaṃ cēdamuvāca ha ॥
Tired, thirsty, lacking luster and feeling helpless,
he collapsed on the lap of the Muni and said:
1.62.4b-5a ந மேऽஸ்தி மாதா ந பிதா ஜ்ஞாதயோ பாந்தவா: குத: ।
த்ராதுமர்ஹஸி மாம் ஸௌம்ய தர்மேண முநிபுங்கவ ॥
na mē'sti mātā na pitā jñātayō bāndhavāḥ kutaḥ ।
trātumarhasi māṃ saumya dharmēṇa munipuṅgava ॥
I have neither a mother nor a father
nor relatives worthy of mention.
O kind hearted! Only you can save me, rightfully.
1.62.5b-6 த்ராதா த்வம் ஹி முநிஸ்ரேஷ்ட ஸர்வேஷாம் த்வம் ஹி பாவந: ॥
ராஜா ச க்ருதகார்ய: ஸ்யாதஹம் தீர்காயுரவ்யய: ।
ஸ்வர்கலோகமுபாஸ்நீயாம் தபஸ்தப்த்வா ஹ்யநுத்தமம் ॥
trātā tvaṃ hi muniṡrēṣṭha sarvēṣāṃ tvaṃ hi bhāvanaḥ ॥
rājā ca kṛtakāryaḥ syādahaṃ dīrghāyuravyayaḥ ।
svargalōkamupāṡnīyāṃ tapastaptvā hyanuttamam ॥
You help everyone and you are the savior of all!
May the king accomplish his undertaking.
May I live long, do unparalleled Tapa
and ultimately reach Heaven!
1.62.7 த்வம் மே நாதோ ஹ்யநாதஸ்ய பவ பவ்யேந சேதஸா ।
பிதேவ புத்ரம் தர்மாத்மம்ஸ்த்ராதுமர்ஹஸி கில்பிஷாத் ॥
tvaṃ mē nāthō hyanāthasya bhava bhavyēna cētasā ।
pitēva putraṃ dharmātmaṃstrātumarhasi kilbiṣāt ॥
I am completely helpless. Kindly be my savior!
O Dharmātmā! Save me from this affliction,
like a father would save a son!
1.62.8 தஸ்ய தத்வசநம் ஸ்ருத்வா விஸ்வாமித்ரோ மஹாதபா: ।
ஸாந்த்வயித்வா பஹுவிதம் புத்ராநிதமுவாச ஹ ॥
tasya tadvacanaṃ ṡrutvā viṡvāmitrō mahātapāḥ ।
sāntvayitvā bahuvidhaṃ putrānidamuvāca ha ॥
Hearing those words, the great Tapasvi Viṡwāmitra
consoled him in many ways and said,
as if he were speaking to his own son:
1.62.9 யத்க்ருதே பிதர: புத்ராந் ஜநயந்தி ஸுபார்திந: ।
பரலோகஹிதார்தாய தஸ்ய காலோऽயமாகத: ॥
yatkṛtē pitaraḥ putrān janayanti ṡubhārthinaḥ ।
paralōkahitārthāya tasya kālō'yamāgataḥ ॥
Parents give birth to children hoping for
all good things to happen in this world and beyond.
The time has come for that to be proved right.
1.62.10 அயம் முநிஸுதோ பாலோ மத்தஸ்ஸரணமிச்சதி ।
அஸ்ய ஜீவிதமாத்ரேண ப்ரியம் குருத புத்ரகா: ॥
ayaṃ munisutō bālō mattaṡṡaraṇamicchati ।
asya jīvitamātrēṇa priyaṃ kuruta putrakāḥ ॥
This child, the son of a Muni, is seeking refuge in me.
O dear sons! Cheer him up by merely keeping him alive. The expression in this Ṡlōka seems to be very idiomatic, defying a good translation.
1.62.11 ஸர்வே ஸுக்ருதகர்மாண: ஸர்வே தர்மபராயணா: ।
பஸுபூதா நரேந்த்ரஸ்ய த்ருப்திமக்நே: ப்ரயச்சத ॥
sarvē sukṛtakarmāṇaḥ sarvē dharmaparāyaṇāḥ ।
paṡubhūtā narēndrasya tṛptimagnēḥ prayacchata ॥
All of you have performed Punya Karmas.
All of you have been following Dharma all the time.
Become the sacrificial animals for the king
and placate Agni Dēva.
1.62.12 நாதவாம்ஸ்ச ஸுந:ஸேபோ யஜ்ஞஸ்சாவிக்நிதோ பவேத் ।
தேவதாஸ்தர்பிதாஸ்ச ஸ்யுர்மம சாபி க்ருதம் வச: ॥
nāthavāṃṡca ṡunaḥṡēphō yajñaṡcāvighnitō bhavēt ।
dēvatāstarpitāṡca syurmama cāpi kṛtaṃ vacaḥ ॥
Thus Ṡunahṡepha will be protected,
the Yajña will conclude without hindrance,
Dēvas will be pleased and my word will not go void.
1.62.13 முநேஸ்து வசநம் ஸ்ருத்வா மதுஷ்யந்தாதய: ஸுதா: ।
ஸாபிமாநம் நரஸ்ரேஷ்ட ஸலீலமிதமப்ருவந் ॥
munēstu vacanaṃ ṡrutvā madhuṣyandādayaḥ sutāḥ ।
sābhimānaṃ naraṡrēṣṭha salīlamidamabruvan ॥
O best among men (Rāma)!
Hearing those words of the Muni,
Madhushyanda and other sons
responded with arrogance, ridiculing him:
1.62.14 கதமாத்மஸுதாந் ஹித்வா த்ராயஸேऽந்யஸுதம் விபோ ।
அகார்யமிவ பஸ்யாம: ஸ்வமாம்ஸமிவ போஜநே ॥
kathamātmasutān hitvā trāyasē'nyasutaṃ vibhō ।
akāryamiva paṡyāmaḥ ṡvamāṃsamiva bhōjanē ॥
O dear lord! Giving up one's own sons to
to save someone else's son
is as absurd as having dog meat for a meal!
1.62.15 தேஷாம் தத்வசநம் ஸ்ருத்வா புத்ராணாம் முநிபுங்கவ: ।
க்ரோதஸம்ரக்தநயநோ வ்யாஹர்துமுபசக்ரமே ॥
tēṣāṃ tadvacanaṃ ṡrutvā putrāṇāṃ munipuṅgavaḥ ।
krōdhasaṃraktanayanō vyāhartumupacakramē ॥
Hearing those words of his sons, the bull among Munis,
with eyes turned blood-red with anger, said:
1.62.16 நிஸ்ஸாத்வஸமிதம் ப்ரோக்தம் தர்மாதபி விகர்ஹிதம் ।
அதிக்ரம்ய து மத்வாக்யம் தாருணம் ரோமஹர்ஷணம் ॥
nissādhvasamidaṃ prōktaṃ dharmādapi vigarhitam ।
atikramya tu madvākyaṃ dāruṇaṃ rōmaharṣaṇam ॥
With no fear whatsoever, you have spoken
these horrible and wrongful words of disobedience
that make my hair rise!
1.62.17 ஸ்வமாம்ஸபோஜிந: ஸர்வே வாஸிஷ்டா இவ ஜாதிஷு ।
பூர்ணம் வர்ஷஸஹஸ்ரம் து ப்ருதிவ்யாமநுவத்ஸ்யத ॥
ṡvamāṃsabhōjinaḥ sarvē vāsiṣṭhā iva jātiṣu ।
pūrṇaṃ varṣasahasraṃ tu pṛthivyāmanuvatsyatha ॥
May you also join the sons of Vasishṭha
eating dog meat for one thousand years on this earth!
1.62.18 க்ருத்வா ஸாபஸமாயுக்தாந் புத்ராந் முநிவரஸ்ததா ।
ஸுந:ஸேபமுவாசார்தம் க்ருத்வா ரக்ஷாம் நிராமயம் ॥
kṛtvā ṡāpasamāyuktān putrān munivarastathā ।
ṡunaḥṡēphamuvācārtaṃ kṛtvā rakṣāṃ nirāmayam ॥
Cursing his sons thus, the eminent Muni
gave Raksha to the sad Ṡunahṡepha
to relieve him of his agony.
The general meaning of Raksha is protection.
In this Ṡlōka it has a special meaning of
creating an aura of spiritual energy around a
person to relieve him of pain and
further damage by any external entity.
1.62.19-20 பவித்ரபாஸைராஸக்தோ ரக்தமால்யாநுலேபந: ।
வைஷ்ணவம் யூபமாஸாத்ய வாக்பிரக்நிமுதாஹர ॥
இமே து காதே த்வே திவ்யே காயேதா முநிபுத்ரக ।
அம்பரீஷஸ்ய யஜ்ஞேऽஸ்மிம்ஸ்தத: ஸித்திமவாப்ஸ்யஸி ॥
pavitrapāṡairāsaktō raktamālyānulēpanaḥ ।
vaiṣṇavaṃ yūpamāsādya vāgbhiragnimudāhara ॥
imē tu gāthē dvē divyē gāyēthā muniputraka ।
ambarīṣasya yajñē'smiṃstataḥ siddhimavāpsyasi ॥
O son of the Muni! When you are tied to
the sacrificial post of Vishṇu with auspicious ropes,
in red clothes, wearing red necklaces,
pray to Agni with these two Mantras.
You will then accomplish your goal,
in that Yajña of Ambarisha.
1.62.21 ஸுந:ஸேபோ க்ருஹீத்வா தே த்வே காதே ஸுஸமாஹித: ।
த்வரயா ராஜஸிம்ஹம் தமம்பரீஷமுவாச ஹ ॥
ṡunaḥṡēphō gṛhītvā tē dvē gāthē susamāhitaḥ ।
tvarayā rājasiṃhaṃ tamambarīṣamuvāca ha ॥
Ṡunahṡepha sincerely received those two Mantras
and quickly approached Ambarisha,
the lion among kings, and said:
1.62.22 ராஜஸிம்ஹ மஹாஸத்த்வ ஸீக்ரம் கச்சாவஹே ஸத: ।
நிர்வர்தயஸ்வ ராஜேந்த்ர தீக்ஷாம் ச ஸமுபாவிஸ ॥
rājasiṃha mahāsattva ṡīghraṃ gacchāvahē sadaḥ ।
nirvartayasva rājēndra dīkṣāṃ ca samupāviṡa ॥
O mighty strong! O lion among kings!
Let us go immediately to the place of Yajña!
O king of Kings! Take the Deeksha
and resume the performance of the Yajña.
1.62.23 தத்வாக்யம்ருஷிபுத்ரஸ்ய ஸ்ருத்வா ஹர்ஷஸமுத்ஸுக: ।
ஜகாம ந்ருபதி: ஸீக்ரம் யஜ்ஞவாடமதந்த்ரித: ॥
tadvākyamṛṣiputrasya ṡrutvā harṣasamutsukaḥ ।
jagāma nṛpatiḥ ṡīghraṃ yajñavāṭamatandritaḥ ॥
Hearing those words of the son of the Ṛshi,
the king felt very happy and left for the place of
Yajña immediately, with no further delay.
1.62.24 ஸதஸ்யாநுமதே ராஜா பவித்ரக்ருதலக்ஷணம் ।
பஸும் ரக்தாம்பரம் க்ருத்வா யூபே தம் ஸமபந்தயத் ॥
sadasyānumatē rājā pavitrakṛtalakṣaṇam ।
paṡuṃ raktāmbaraṃ kṛtvā yūpē taṃ samabandhayat ॥
With due permission from all the attendees of the Yajña,
the king got Ṡunahṡepha dressed in red garments
that were properly marked by the knot of Darbha
and tied him to the sacrificial post.
Darbha is a type of grass used for rituals in India.
1.62.25 ஸ பத்தோ வாக்பிரக்ர்யாபிரபிதுஷ்டாவ வை ஸுரௌ ।
இந்த்ரமிந்த்ராநுஜம் சைவ யதாவந்முநிபுத்ரக: ॥
sa baddhō vāgbhiragryābhirabhituṣṭāva vai surau ।
indramindrānujaṃ caiva yathāvanmuniputrakaḥ ॥
The son of Ṛshi thus tied,
prayed to Indra and his brother,
pleasing both of those Dēvas.
1.62.26 தத: ப்ரீத: ஸஹஸ்ராக்ஷோ ரஹஸ்யஸ்துதிதர்பித: ।
தீர்கமாயுஸ்ததா ப்ராதாச்சுந:ஸேபாய ராகவ ॥
tataḥ prītaḥ sahasrākṣō rahasyastutitarpitaḥ ।
dīrghamāyustadā prādācchunaḥṡēpāya rāghava ॥
O prince of Raghu dynasty!
Indra was pleased with that silent prayer
and granted a long life for Ṡunahṡepha!
1.62.27 ஸ ச ராஜா நரஸ்ரேஷ்ட யஜ்ஞஸ்ய ச ஸமாப்தவாந் ।
பலம் பஹுகுணம் ராம ஸஹஸ்ராக்ஷப்ரஸாதஜம் ॥
sa ca rājā naraṡrēṣṭha yajñasya ca samāptavān ।
phalaṃ bahuguṇaṃ rāma sahasrākṣaprasādajam ॥
O best among men (Rāma)!
With the blessings of Indra, that king also received
multiple times the reward for the Yajña.
1.62.28 விஸ்வாமித்ரோऽபி தர்மாத்மா பூயஸ்தேபே மஹாதபா: ।
புஷ்கரேஷு நரஸ்ரேஷ்ட தஸவர்ஷஸதாநி ச ॥
viṡvāmitrō'pi dharmātmā bhūyastēpē mahātapāḥ ।
puṣkarēṣu naraṡrēṣṭha daṡavarṣaṡatāni ca ॥
The great Tapasvi and Dharmātmā Viṡwāmitra
continued with his Tapa for another
thousand years in that Pushkara.
இத்யார்ஷே ஸ்ரீமத்ராமாயணே வால்மீகீயே ஆதிகாவ்யே
ஸ்ரீமத்பாலகாண்டே த்விஷஷ்டிதம: ஸர்க: ॥
ityārṣē ṡrīmadrāmāyaṇē vālmīkīyē ādikāvyē
ṡrīmadbālakāṇḍē dviṣaṣṭitamaḥ sargaḥ ॥
Thus concludes the sixty second Sarga
in Bāla Kāṇḍa of the glorious Rāmāyaṇa,
the first ever poem of humankind,
composed by Vālmeeki.
We completed reading 1821 Ṡlōkas out of ~24,000 Ṡlōkas of Vālmeeki Rāmāyaṇa.