33. Chapter 33

सिद्धा ऊचुः । पावनस्यास्य वचसः प्रोक्तस्य रघुकेतुना । निर्णयं श्रोतुमुचितं वक्ष्यमाणं महर्षिभिः ॥ १ ॥

siddhā ūcuḥ | pāvanasyāsya vacasaḥ proktasya raghuketunā | nirṇayaṃ śrotumucitaṃ vakṣyamāṇaṃ maharṣibhiḥ || 1 ||

The siddhas said:—It behoves us to hear the decision of the great sages, in reply to the holy sermon, already delivered by the chief of Raghu's race.

नारदव्यासपुलहप्रमुखा मुनिपुङ्गवाः । आगच्छताश्वविघ्नेन सर्व एव महर्षयः ॥ २ ॥

nāradavyāsapulahapramukhā munipuṅgavāḥ | āgacchatāśvavighnena sarva eva maharṣayaḥ || 2 ||

Come forward you great chiefs of the sages, you Narada, Vyasa, Pulaha and all ye great sages, and be ready.

पतामः परितः पुण्यामेतां दाशरथीं सभाम् । नीरन्ध्रां कनकोद्योतां पद्मिनीमिव षट्पदाः ॥ ३ ॥

patāmaḥ paritaḥ puṇyāmetāṃ dāśarathīṃ sabhām | nīrandhrāṃ kanakodyotāṃ padminīmiva ṣaṭpadāḥ || 3 ||

Let us descend to the full open court of Dasaratha, which is as bright as gold and free from stain, in the manner of bees alighting on the aureate and immaculate lotus.

श्रीवाल्मीकिरुवाच । इत्युक्ता सा समस्तैव व्योमवासनिवासिनी । तां पपात सभां तत्र दिव्या मुनिपरम्परा ॥ ४ ॥

śrīvālmīkiruvāca | ityuktā sā samastaiva vyomavāsanivāsinī | tāṃ papāta sabhāṃ tatra divyā muniparamparā || 4 ||

Valmiki said:—So saying, the whole company of divine sages alighted themselves in that court from their aerial abode.

अग्रस्थितमनुत्सृष्टरणद्वीणं मुनीश्वरम् । पयः पीनघनश्यामं व्यासमेव किलान्तरा ॥ ५ ॥

agrasthitamanutsṛṣṭaraṇadvīṇaṃ munīśvaram | payaḥ pīnaghanaśyāmaṃ vyāsameva kilāntarā || 5 ||

There Narada the chief of sages, sat foremost playing on his lute, and in the midst was Vyasa, with his dark blue complexion resembling a rainy cloud.

भृग्वंगिरःपुलस्त्यादिमुनिनायकमण्डिता । च्यवनोद्दालकोशीरशरलोमादिमालिता ॥ ६ ॥

bhṛgvaṃgiraḥpulastyādimunināyakamaṇḍitā | cyavanoddālakośīraśaralomādimālitā || 6 ||

It was more over adorned with the presence of the chief sages Bhrigu, Angiras, Pulastya and others, with Chyavana, Uddalaka, Usira, Saraloman and many more about them.

परस्परपरामर्शदुःसंस्थानमृगाजिना । लोलाक्षमालावलया सुकमण्डलुधारिणी ॥ ७ ॥

parasparaparāmarśaduḥsaṃsthānamṛgājinā | lolākṣamālāvalayā sukamaṇḍaludhāriṇī || 7 ||

Their garments of deer skins hang loosely down as they embraced one another. Their beads of rudraksha moved in one hand, and their water pots shook in the other.

तारावलिरिव व्योम्नि तेजःप्रसरपाटला । सूर्यावलिरिवान्योन्यं भासिताननमण्डना ॥ ८ ॥

tārāvaliriva vyomni tejaḥprasarapāṭalā | sūryāvalirivānyonyaṃ bhāsitānanamaṇḍanā || 8 ||

Their bodies shed a lustre in the Court-hall, resembling the yellow light of the stars in the sky, and like the beams of so many suns blazing upon one another.

रत्नावलिरिवान्योन्यं नानावर्णकृतांगिका । मुक्तावलिरिवान्योन्यं कृतशोभातिशायिनी ॥ ९ ॥

ratnāvalirivānyonyaṃ nānāvarṇakṛtāṃgikā | muktāvalirivānyonyaṃ kṛtaśobhātiśāyinī || 9 ||

They appeared as a shower of moon beams or as a halo about the full moon, or as a circle about the orb of the sun out of its season.

कौमुदीवृष्टिरन्येव द्वितीयेवार्कमण्डली । संभृतेवातिकालेन पूर्णचन्द्रपरम्परा ॥ १० ॥

kaumudīvṛṣṭiranyeva dvitīyevārkamaṇḍalī | saṃbhṛtevātikālena pūrṇacandraparamparā || 10 ||

They looked like a circlet of gems of varied colors, or like a belt of pearls of great lustre.

ताराजाल इवाम्भोदो व्यासो यत्र विराजते । तारौघ इव शीतांशुर्नारदोऽत्र विराजते ॥ ११ ॥

tārājāla ivāmbhodo vyāso yatra virājate | tāraugha iva śītāṃśurnārado'tra virājate || 11 ||

Vyasa appeared at the place where he sat, to be as a dark cloud amidst the stars; and Narada was beheld upon his seat as the white orb of the moon amongst the starry group.

देवेष्विव सुराधीशः पुलस्त्योऽत्र विराजते । आदित्य इव देवानामंगिरास्तु विराजते ॥ १२ ॥

deveṣviva surādhīśaḥ pulastyo'tra virājate | āditya iva devānāmaṃgirāstu virājate || 12 ||

Here Pulastya shone as Indra among the gods, and there Angira blazed as the sun amidst the heavenly bodies.

अथास्यां सिद्धसेनायां पतन्त्यां नभसो रसाम् । उत्तस्थौ मुनिसंपूर्णा तदा दाशरथी सभा ॥ १३ ॥

athāsyāṃ siddhasenāyāṃ patantyāṃ nabhaso rasām | uttasthau munisaṃpūrṇā tadā dāśarathī sabhā || 13 ||

On seeing the body of Siddhas descending from the sky on earth, the whole court of king Dasaratha rose up.

मिश्रीभूता विरेजुस्ते नभश्चरमहीचराः । परस्परवृतांगाभा भासयन्तो दिशो दश ॥ १४ ॥

miśrībhūtā virejuste nabhaścaramahīcarāḥ | parasparavṛtāṃgābhā bhāsayanto diśo daśa || 14 ||

There was a promiscuous assemblage of the aerial and earthly sages, whose commingled glory spread a lustre to the ten sides of the Court.

वेणुदण्डावृतकरा लीलाकमलधारिणः । दूर्वांकुराक्रान्तशिखाः सचूडामणिमूर्धजाः ॥ १५ ॥

veṇudaṇḍāvṛtakarā līlākamaladhāriṇaḥ | dūrvāṃkurākrāntaśikhāḥ sacūḍāmaṇimūrdhajāḥ || 15 ||

Some of them held bamboo sticks in their hands, and others had lotuses in theirs. Some had put the sacred grass in their crests, while others had inserted some gems to the braids of their hair.

जटाजूटैश्च कपिला मौलिमालितमस्तकाः । प्रकोष्ठगाक्षवलया मल्लिकावलयान्विताः ॥ १६ ॥

jaṭājūṭaiśca kapilā maulimālitamastakāḥ | prakoṣṭhagākṣavalayā mallikāvalayānvitāḥ || 16 ||

Some had matted and tawny brown hairs on their heads, and others wore garlands of flowers on theirs. Some had strings of beads for their bracelets and others wore wristlets made of the jasmine flowers.

चीरवल्कलसंवीताः स्रक्कौशेयावगुण्ठिताः । विलोलमेखलापाशाश्चलन्मुक्ताकलापिनः ॥ १७ ॥

cīravalkalasaṃvītāḥ srakkauśeyāvaguṇṭhitāḥ | vilolamekhalāpāśāścalanmuktākalāpinaḥ || 17 ||

Some were clothed in tatters, and others wore garments made of bark, while there were others who wore raiments of silk. Some were girt with girdles of grass and skin about their waists, and others wore waist bands with pendant strings of pearl.

वसिष्ठविश्वामित्रौ तान्पूजयामासतुः क्रमात् । अर्घ्यैः पाद्यौर्वचोभिश्च सर्वानेव नभश्चरान् ॥ १८ ॥

vasiṣṭhaviśvāmitrau tānpūjayāmāsatuḥ kramāt | arghyaiḥ pādyaurvacobhiśca sarvāneva nabhaścarān || 18 ||

Vasishtha and Viswamitra honoured the aerials one by one; with respectful offerings and water and courteous address.

वसिष्ठविश्वामित्रौ ते पूजयामासुरादरात् । अर्घ्यैः पाद्यैर्वचोभिश्च नभश्चरमहागणाः ॥ १९ ॥

vasiṣṭhaviśvāmitrau te pūjayāmāsurādarāt | arghyaiḥ pādyairvacobhiśca nabhaścaramahāgaṇāḥ || 19 ||

The great body of the etherials also honored Vasistha and Viswamitra in their turn, with water and offerings worthy of them and with polite speeches.

सर्वादरेण सिद्धौघं पूजयामास भूपतिः । सिद्धौघो भूपतिं चैव कुशलप्रश्नवार्तया ॥ २० ॥

sarvādareṇa siddhaughaṃ pūjayāmāsa bhūpatiḥ | siddhaugho bhūpatiṃ caiva kuśalapraśnavārtayā || 20 ||

The king also honoured the gods and the body of the Siddhas, who in return greeted the monarch with inquiries about his welfare.

तैस्तैः प्रणयसंरम्भैरन्योन्यं प्राप्तसत्क्रियाः । उपाविशन्विष्टरेषु नभश्चरमहीचराः ॥ २१ ॥

taistaiḥ praṇayasaṃrambhairanyonyaṃ prāptasatkriyāḥ | upāviśanviṣṭareṣu nabhaścaramahīcarāḥ || 21 ||

Then the heavenly and earthly saints interchanged their greetings with one another with cordial welcomes and gestures, and were all seated afterwards on seats made of the kusa grass.

वचोभिः पुष्पवर्षेण साधुवादेन चाभितः । रामं ते पूजयामासुः पुरः प्रणतमास्थितम् ॥ २२ ॥

vacobhiḥ puṣpavarṣeṇa sādhuvādena cābhitaḥ | rāmaṃ te pūjayāmāsuḥ puraḥ praṇatamāsthitam || 22 ||

They next honoured Rama, who lay bowing before them, with gentle words and congratulations accompanied with shedding of flowers.

आसांचक्रे च तत्रासौ राज्यलक्ष्मीविराजितः । विश्वामित्रो वसिष्ठश्च वामदेवोऽथ मन्त्रिणः ॥ २३ ॥

āsāṃcakre ca tatrāsau rājyalakṣmīvirājitaḥ | viśvāmitro vasiṣṭhaśca vāmadevo'tha mantriṇaḥ || 23 ||

There were seated in that assembly the sages said:—Viswamitra, Vasishtha, Vama Deva and the ministers of state.

नारदो देवपुत्रश्च व्यासश्च मुनिपुंगवः । मरीचिरथ दुर्वासा मुनिरांगिरसस्तथा ॥ २४ ॥

nārado devaputraśca vyāsaśca munipuṃgavaḥ | marīciratha durvāsā munirāṃgirasastathā || 24 ||

There were also Narada, the son of Brahma, Vyasa the greatest of sages, Marichi, Durvasa and Angira.

क्रतुः पुलस्त्यः पुलहः शरलोमा मुनीश्वरः । वात्स्यायनो भरद्वाजो वाल्मीकिर्मुनिपुंगवः ॥ २५ ॥

kratuḥ pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ śaralomā munīśvaraḥ | vātsyāyano bharadvājo vālmīkirmunipuṃgavaḥ || 25 ||

There were Kratu, Pulastya, Pulaha, Saraloma, the great sage Vatsayana, Bharadwaja, Valmiki the great bard and sage.

उद्दालक ऋचीकश्च शर्यातिश्च्यवनस्तथा ॥ २६ ॥

uddālaka ṛcīkaśca śaryātiścyavanastathā || 26 ||

There were also Uddalaka, Richika, Sarjati as well as Chyavana.

एते चान्ये च बहवो वेदवेदांगपारगाः । ज्ञातज्ञेया महात्मान आस्थितास्तत्र नायकाः ॥ २७ ॥

ete cānye ca bahavo vedavedāṃgapāragāḥ | jñātajñeyā mahātmāna āsthitāstatra nāyakāḥ || 27 ||

These and many others versed in the Vedas and their branches, and knowing all things worth knowing, were the leading members.

वसिष्ठविश्वामित्राभ्यां सह ते नारदादयः । इदमूचुरनूचाना राममानमिताननम् ॥ २८ ॥

vasiṣṭhaviśvāmitrābhyāṃ saha te nāradādayaḥ | idamūcuranūcānā rāmamānamitānanam || 28 ||

Then Narada and others joined with Viswamitra and Vasishtha in addressing Rama, who was sitting silent with his face turned downwards;and said:—

अहो बत कुमारेण कल्याणगुणशालिनी । वागुक्ता परमोदारा वैराग्यरसगर्भिणी ॥ २९ ॥

aho bata kumāreṇa kalyāṇaguṇaśālinī | vāguktā paramodārā vairāgyarasagarbhiṇī || 29 ||

We admire the blest and graceful speech of the prince which is dignified with the spirit of stoicism that breathes through the whole of it.

परिनिष्ठितवक्तव्यं सबोधमुचितं स्फुटम् । उदारं प्रियमार्यार्हमविह्नलमपि स्फुटम् ॥ ३० ॥

pariniṣṭhitavaktavyaṃ sabodhamucitaṃ sphuṭam | udāraṃ priyamāryārhamavihnalamapi sphuṭam || 30 ||

It is full of thought, perspicuous, elegant, clear, dignified, sweet and worthy of noble minded men, by its lucid style and wants of faults.

अभिव्यक्तपदं स्पष्टमिष्टं स्पष्टं च तुष्टिमत् । करोति राघवप्रोक्तं वचः कस्य न विस्मयम् ॥ ३१ ॥

abhivyaktapadaṃ spaṣṭamiṣṭaṃ spaṣṭaṃ ca tuṣṭimat | karoti rāghavaproktaṃ vacaḥ kasya na vismayam || 31 ||

Who is there that is not struck with admiration at the speech of Rama? It is well expressive of his thoughts, correct in its diction plain and sweet and agreeable to all:

शतादेकतमस्यैव सर्वोदारचमत्कृतिः । ईप्सितार्थार्पणैकान्तदक्षा भवति भारती ॥ ३२ ॥

śatādekatamasyaiva sarvodāracamatkṛtiḥ | īpsitārthārpaṇaikāntadakṣā bhavati bhāratī || 32 ||

It is rare to find one man among a hundred who is so eloquent as to combine dignity and force with a clearness and sweetness, that may command the admiration of all.

कुमार त्वां विना कस्य विवेकफलशालिनी । परं विकासमायाति प्रज्ञाशरलतातता ॥ ३३ ॥

kumāra tvāṃ vinā kasya vivekaphalaśālinī | paraṃ vikāsamāyāti prajñāśaralatātatā || 33 ||

Who has such a clear head as our prince, a head which is as penetrating as the best pointed arrow, and as fruitful and beauteous as the creeping plant.

प्रज्ञादीपशिखा यस्य रामस्येव हृदि स्थिता । प्रज्वलत्यसमालोककारिणी स पुमान्स्मृतः ॥ ३४ ॥

prajñādīpaśikhā yasya rāmasyeva hṛdi sthitā | prajvalatyasamālokakāriṇī sa pumānsmṛtaḥ || 34 ||

He is truly a man whose intellectual light like that of Rama's, burns as the flame of a lamp within himself and enlightens all about him.

रक्तमांसास्थियन्त्राणि बहून्यतितराणि च । पदार्थानभिकर्षन्ति नास्ति तेषु सचेतनः ॥ ३५ ॥

raktamāṃsāsthiyantrāṇi bahūnyatitarāṇi ca | padārthānabhikarṣanti nāsti teṣu sacetanaḥ || 35 ||

Man's blood, flesh, and bones with other (parts of his body) serve as machines to supply him with sensations of external object; but there is no intelligence in them.

जन्ममृत्युजरादुःखमनुयान्ति पुनःपुनः । विमृशन्ति न संसारं पशवः परिमोहिताः ॥ ३६ ॥

janmamṛtyujarāduḥkhamanuyānti punaḥpunaḥ | vimṛśanti na saṃsāraṃ paśavaḥ parimohitāḥ || 36 ||

Life and death, old age and troubles, repeatedly overtake every man;but they are beasts who are so infatuated as never to think of these.

कथंचित्क्वचिदेवैको दृश्यते विमलाशयः । पूर्वापरविचारार्हो यथायमरिमर्दनः ॥ ३७ ॥

kathaṃcitkvacidevaiko dṛśyate vimalāśayaḥ | pūrvāparavicārārho yathāyamarimardanaḥ || 37 ||

There is scarcely any man to be seen, who is of so clear an understanding as Rama (the destroyer of his enemies), who is able to judge of the future by the past.

अनुत्तमचमत्कारफलाः सुभगमूर्तयः । भव्या हि विरला लोके सहकारद्रुमा इव ॥ ३८ ॥

anuttamacamatkāraphalāḥ subhagamūrtayaḥ | bhavyā hi viralā loke sahakāradrumā iva || 38 ||

Rama is the most excellent, admirable, useful, and well shaped person amongst men, as is the mango tree.

सम्यग्दृष्टजगद्यात्रा स्वविवेकचमत्कृतिः । अस्मिन्मान्यमतावन्तरियमद्येव दृश्यते ॥ ३९ ॥

samyagdṛṣṭajagadyātrā svavivekacamatkṛtiḥ | asminmānyamatāvantariyamadyeva dṛśyate || 39 ||

It is only to-day that we see that a man of Rama's age has acquired so much experience of the world, and such extraordinarily mature an understanding.

सुभगाः सुलभारोहाः फलपल्लवशालिनः । जायन्ते तरवो देशे न तु चन्दनपादपाः ॥ ४० ॥

subhagāḥ sulabhārohāḥ phalapallavaśālinaḥ | jāyante taravo deśe na tu candanapādapāḥ || 40 ||

There are many such trees found growing in every place as are beautiful to see, easy of ascent, abundant in flowers and leaves; but there is no tree of paradise growing on earth.

वृक्षाः प्रतिवनं सन्ति नित्यं सफलपल्लवाः । नत्वपूर्वचमत्कारो लवङ्गः सुलभः सदा ॥ ४१ ॥

vṛkṣāḥ prativanaṃ santi nityaṃ saphalapallavāḥ | natvapūrvacamatkāro lavaṅgaḥ sulabhaḥ sadā || 41 ||

There may grow in every forest, trees with goodly flowers and leaves; but the extraordinary and fair clove tree is not always to be met with.

ज्योत्स्नेव शीता शशिनः सुतरोरिव मञ्जरी । पुष्पादामोदलेखेव दृष्टा रामाच्चमत्कृतिः ॥ ४२ ॥

jyotsneva śītā śaśinaḥ sutaroriva mañjarī | puṣpādāmodalekheva dṛṣṭā rāmāccamatkṛtiḥ || 42 ||

Rama has displayed the wonder of his knowledge, as the moon displays her cooling beams and good trees their clusters of blossoms, and as the flowers diffuse their fragrance all about.

अस्मिन्नुद्दामदौरात्म्यदैवनिर्माणनिर्मिते । द्विजेन्द्रा दग्धसंसारे सारो ह्यत्यन्तदुर्लभः ॥ ४३ ॥

asminnuddāmadaurātmyadaivanirmāṇanirmite | dvijendrā dagdhasaṃsāre sāro hyatyantadurlabhaḥ || 43 ||

It is very difficult to get the essence of true knowledge in this accursed world, which is constructed by the ungovernable and dominant predestination.

यतन्ते सारसंप्राप्तौ ये यशोनिधयो धियः । धन्या धुरि सतां गण्यास्त एव पुरुषोत्तमाः ॥ ४४ ॥

yatante sārasaṃprāptau ye yaśonidhayo dhiyaḥ | dhanyā dhuri satāṃ gaṇyāsta eva puruṣottamāḥ || 44 ||

Those only are reckoned the best of men, and leaders of the good, who try their best to gain the essence of truth, and whose minds are fixed on glory as their best treasure.

न रामेण समोऽस्तीह दृष्टो लोकेषु कश्चन । विवेकवानुदारात्मा न भावी चेति नो मतिः ॥ ४५ ॥

na rāmeṇa samo'stīha dṛṣṭo lokeṣu kaścana | vivekavānudārātmā na bhāvī ceti no matiḥ || 45 ||

We do not see any one in all this world, who is equal to Rama in discrimination and magnanimity; nor shall there be one like him in future. This is our firm conviction.

सकललोकचमत्कृतिकारिणोऽप्यभिमतं यदि राघवचेतसः । फलति नो तदिमे वयमेव हि स्फुटतरं मुनयो हतबुद्धयः ॥ ४६ ॥

sakalalokacamatkṛtikāriṇo'pyabhimataṃ yadi rāghavacetasaḥ | phalati no tadime vayameva hi sphuṭataraṃ munayo hatabuddhayaḥ || 46 ||

If this speech of Rama, which has filled every one here with admiration, fail to get its reply to the satisfaction of Rama's mind, it is certain that all of us here, must pass for senseless sages.