प्रमुमोद च लोकस्तं नृपमासाद्य राघव । नष्टशोकः समृद्धार्थो बभूव विगतज्वरः॥१-४४-
The people rejoiced upon receiving that king, O Rāghava; freed from sorrow, prosperous, and relieved of distress, they became content.
एष ते राम गंगाया विस्तरोऽभिहितो मया । स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि भद्रं ते संध्याकालोऽतिवर्तते ॥१-४४-
Thus, O Rāma, I have described to you the expanse of the Gaṅgā; may you fare well, may good be yours, for the time of twilight is passing.
धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं पुत्र्यं स्वर्ग्यमथापि च। यः श्रावयति विप्रेषु क्षत्रियेष्वितरेषु च ॥१-४४-
Blessed, renowned, life-giving, fruitful, and leading to heaven indeed is he who causes this to be heard among Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, and others.
प्रीयन्ते पितरस्तस्य प्रीयन्ते दैवतानि च । इदमाख्यानमायुष्यं गंगावतरणं शुभम् ॥१-४४-
His ancestors are pleased, and so are the gods; this narrative of the descent of Gaṅgā bestows long life and is auspicious.
यः शृणोति च काकुत्स्थ सर्वान् कामानवाप्नुयात् । सर्वे पापाः प्रणश्यन्ति आयुः कीर्तिश्च वर्धते ॥१-४४-
Whoever hears this, O descendant of Kakutstha, attains all desires; all sins are destroyed, and both lifespan and fame increase.
इत्यार्षे श्रीमद्रामायणे वाल्मीकीये आदिकाव्ये बालकाण्डे चतुश्चत्वारिंशः सर्गः ॥१-
Thus ends the forty-fourth sarga in the Bālakāṇḍa of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, the first poem.
thumb|पञ्चचत्वारिंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे पञ्चचत्वारिंशः सर्गः ॥१-
Let the forty-fifth sarga be heard in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa.
विश्वामित्रवचः श्रुत्वा राघवः सहलक्ष्मणः। विस्मयं परमं गत्वा विश्वामित्रमथाब्रवीत्
Having heard Viśvāmitra’s words, Rāghava, together with Lakṣmaṇa, was filled with great wonder and then spoke to Viśvāmitra.
अत्यद्भुतमिदं ब्रह्मन् कथितं परमं त्वया। गङ्गावतरणं पुण्यं सागरस्यापि पूरणम्
O Brāhmaṇa, what you have told is most marvelous—the sacred descent of Gaṅgā and even the filling of the ocean.
क्षणभूतेव नौ रात्रिः संवृत्तेयं परंतप। इमां चिन्तयतोः सर्वां निखिलेन कथां तव
O subduer of foes, the night has passed for us as if in a moment, as we pondered your entire story.
तस्य सा शर्वरी सर्वा मम सौमित्रिणा सह। जगाम चिन्तयानस्य विश्वामित्र कथां शुभाम्
That whole night, together with Saumitri, passed for me while reflecting on the auspicious tale of Viśvāmitra.
ततः प्रभाते विमले विश्वामित्रं तपोधनम्। उवाच राघवो वाक्यं कृताह्निकमरिन्दमः
Then, at dawn, when the day was clear, Rāghava, destroyer of enemies, having completed his morning rites, spoke to the ascetic Viśvāmitra.
गता भगवती रात्रिः श्रोतव्यं परमं श्रुतम्। तराम सरितां श्रेष्ठां पुण्यां त्रिपथगां नदीम्
The blessed night has passed, and the supreme story has been heard; let us cross the sacred river, the best of streams, the threefold-flowing Gaṅgā.
नौरेषा हि सुखास्तीर्णा ऋषीणां पुण्यकर्मणाम्। भगवन्तमिह प्राप्तं ज्ञात्वा त्वरितमागता
Indeed, this boat, easily crossed by the sages of virtuous deeds, has come quickly upon learning that the venerable one is here.
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा राघवस्य महात्मनः। सन्तारं कारयामास सर्षिसङ्घस्य कौशिकः
Hearing those words of the great-souled Rāghava, Kauśika arranged for the crossing of the entire assembly of sages.
उत्तरं तीरमासाद्य सम्पूज्यर्षिगणं ततः। गङ्गाकूले निविष्टास्ते विशालां ददृशुः पुरीम्
Having reached the northern bank and duly honoring the group of sages, they settled on the bank of the Gaṅgā and beheld the city of Viśālā.
ततो मुनिवरस्तूर्णं जगाम सहराघवः। विशालां नगरीं रम्यां दिव्यां स्वर्गोपमां तदा
Then the eminent sage, together with Rāghava, swiftly went to the delightful and splendid city of Viśālā, which was like heaven.
अथ रामो महाप्राज्ञो विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम्। पप्रच्छ प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा विशालामुत्तमां पुरीम्
Then Rāma, the highly wise, with joined palms, questioned the great sage Viśvāmitra about the excellent and vast city.
कतमो राजवंशोऽयं विशालायां महामुने। श्रोतुमिच्छामि भद्रं ते परं कौतूहलं हि मे
O great sage, which royal lineage is established here in Viśālā? I wish to hear—may good be yours—for I am greatly curious.
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा रामस्य मुनिपुङ्गवः। आख्यातुं तत्समारेभे विशालायाः पुरातनम्
Hearing those words of Rāma, the foremost among sages began to recount the ancient history of Viśālā.
श्रूयतां राम शक्रस्य कथां कथयतः श्रुताम्। अस्मिन् देशे हि यद् वृत्तं शृणु तत्त्वेन राघव
Listen, Rāma, to the tale of Indra as I have heard it; hear truly what happened in this land, O descendant of Raghu.
पूर्वं कृतयुगे राम दितेः पुत्रा महाबलाः। अदितेश्च महाभागा वीर्यवन्तः सुधार्मिकाः
Formerly, in the Kṛta age, O Rāma, the mighty sons of Diti and the greatly fortunate, powerful, and righteous sons of Aditi existed.
ततस्तेषां नरव्याघ्र बुद्धिरासीन्महात्मनाम्। अमरा विजराश्चैव कथं स्यामो निरामयाः
Then, O tiger among men, those great souls deliberated: How might we become immortal, ageless, and free from disease?
तेषां चिन्तयतां तत्र बुद्धिरासीद् विपश्चिताम्। क्षीरोदमथनं कृत्वा रसं प्राप्स्याम तत्र वै
As those wise ones pondered, the thought arose among them: By churning the ocean of milk, we shall obtain the essence there.
ततो निश्चित्य मथनं योक्त्रं कृत्वा च वासुकिम्। मन्थानं मन्दरं कृत्वा ममन्थुरमितौजसः
Having resolved to churn, they used Vāsuki as the rope and Mandara as the churning rod, and with great energy they began to churn.
अथ वर्षसहस्रेण योक्त्रसर्पशिरांसि च। वमन्तोऽतिविषं तत्र ददंशुर्दशनैः शिलाः
Then, after a thousand years, the serpent used as the rope began to emit deadly poison from its heads, biting the rocks with its fangs.
उत्पपाताग्निसंकाशं हालाहलमहाविषम्। तेन दग्धं जगत् सर्वं सदेवासुरमानुषम्
A blazing, fire-like, dreadful poison called Hālāhala arose; by it, the entire world—gods, asuras, and humans—was scorched.
अथ देवा महादेवं शङ्करं शरणार्थिनः। जग्मुः पशुपतिं रुद्रं त्राहि त्राहीति तुष्टुवुः
Then the gods, seeking refuge, approached the great god Śaṅkara, Lord of Beasts, Rudra, and praised him, crying, 'Save us, save us!'
एवमुक्तस्ततो देवैर्देवदेवेश्वरः प्रभुः। प्रादुरासीत् ततोऽत्रैव शङ्खचक्रधरो हरिः
Thus addressed by the gods, the Lord of lords of gods appeared there; then Hari, bearing the conch and discus, manifested.
उवाचैनं स्मितं कृत्वा रुद्रं शूलधरं हरिः। दैवतैर्मथ्यमाने तु यत्पूर्वं समुपस्थितम्
Hari, smiling, spoke to Rudra, the wielder of the trident: 'What has arisen here while the gods were churning—'