यज्ञोपसदनं ब्रह्मन् प्राप्तोऽसि मुनिभिः सह। द्वादशाहं तु ब्रह्मर्षे दीक्षामाहुर्मनीषिणः
O Brahman, you have arrived at the sacrificial enclosure with the sages; the wise declare that the consecration lasts twelve days, O Brahmarṣi.
ततो भागार्थिनो देवान् द्रष्टुमर्हसि कौशिक। इत्युक्त्वा मुनिशार्दूलं प्रहृष्टवदनस्तदा
Therefore, Kauśika, you should behold the gods who seek their shares; having spoken thus to the tiger among sages, his face radiant with joy,
पुनस्तं परिपप्रच्छ प्राञ्जलिः प्रयतो नृपः। इमौ कुमारौ भद्रं ते देवतुल्यपराक्रमौ
Again, with joined palms and devotion, the king respectfully asked: ‘May you be blessed! Who are these two youths, equal to the gods in valor?’
गजतुल्यगती वीरौ शार्दूलवृषभोपमौ। पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षौ खड्गतूणीधनुर्धरौ। अश्विनाविव रूपेण समुपस्थितयौवनौ
Heroes whose gait rivals that of elephants, resembling tigers and bulls, with broad lotus-like eyes, bearing swords, quivers, and bows; in beauty, like the Aśvins, standing at the threshold of youth.
यदृच्छयेव गां प्राप्तौ देवलोकादिवामरौ। कथं पद्भ्यामिह प्राप्तौ किमर्थं कस्य वा मुने
Arrived on earth as if by chance, like immortals from the realm of the gods; how have they come here on foot, for what purpose, and whose are they, O sage?
वरायुधधरौ वीरौ कस्य पुत्रौ महामुने। भूषयन्ताविमं देशं चन्द्रसूर्याविवाम्बरम्
Heroes bearing excellent weapons, whose sons are they, O great sage? They adorn this land as the moon and sun adorn the sky.
परस्परस्य सदृशौ प्रमाणेङ्गितचेष्टितैः। काकपक्षधरौ वीरौ श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः
Resembling each other in stature, gestures, and movements; heroes with locks like crow’s wings, I wish to hear the truth about them.
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा जनकस्य महात्मनः। न्यवेदयदमेयात्मा पुत्रौ दशरथस्य तौ
Hearing these words of the great-souled Janaka, the immeasurable sage revealed: ‘They are the sons of Daśaratha.’
सिद्धाश्रमनिवासं च राक्षसानां वधं तथा। तत्रागमनमव्यग्रं विशालायाश्च दर्शनम्
He told of their residence at Siddhāśrama, the slaying of the rākṣasas, their untroubled arrival there, and the sight of Viśālā.
अहल्यादर्शनं चैव गौतमेन समागमम्। महाधनुषि जिज्ञासां कर्तुमागमनं तथा
The sight of Ahalya, her reunion with Gautama, and the coming here to test the great bow—
एतत् सर्वं महातेजा जनकाय महात्मने। निवेद्य विररामाथ विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः
All this, the illustrious sage Viśvāmitra reported to the noble Janaka, and then paused.
thumb|एकपञ्चाशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे एकपञ्चाशः सर्गः ॥१-
Hear now the fifty-first sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa.
तस्य तद् वचनं श्रुत्वा विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः। हृष्टरोमा महातेजाः शतानन्दो महातपाः
Hearing those words of wise Viśvāmitra, Śatānanda, radiant and ascetic, felt his hair stand on end.
गौतमस्य सुतो ज्येष्ठस्तपसा द्योतितप्रभः। रामसंदर्शनादेव परं विस्मयमागतः
Śatānanda, Gautama's eldest son, shining with austerity, was filled with great wonder just by seeing Rāma.
एतौ निषण्णौ सम्प्रेक्ष्य शतानन्दो नृपात्मजौ। सुखासीनौ मुनिश्रेष्ठं विश्वामित्रमथाब्रवीत्
Beholding the two princes seated comfortably, Śatānanda spoke to the foremost sage, Viśvāmitra.
अपि ते मुनिशार्दूल मम माता यशस्विनी। दर्शिता राजपुत्राय तपोदीर्घमुपागता
O tiger among sages, did my illustrious mother, long devoted to austerity, appear before the royal prince?
अपि रामे महातेजा मम माता यशस्विनी। वन्यैरुपाहरत् पूजां पूजार्हे सर्वदेहिनाम्
Did my illustrious mother, of great splendor, offer Rāma the worship due to all beings, with forest gifts?
अपि रामाय कथितं यद् वृत्तं तत् पुरातनम्। मम मातुर्महातेजो देवेन दुरनुष्ठितम्
Was it told to Rāma, what happened long ago—what my glorious mother suffered at the hands of the god?
अपि कौशिक भद्रं ते गुरुणा मम संगता। मम माता मुनिश्रेष्ठ रामसंदर्शनादितः
O Kauśika, was my mother, the best of sages' wives, united with my teacher, after seeing Rāma?
अपि मे गुरुणा रामः पूजितः कुशिकात्मज। इहागतो महातेजाः पूजां प्राप्य महात्मनः
O son of Kuśika, did my teacher honor Rāma, the great-souled one, who came here and received worship?
अपि शान्तेन मनसा गुरुर्मे कुशिकात्मज। इहागतेन रामेण पूजितेनाभिवादितः
O son of Kuśika, did my teacher, with a peaceful mind, receive honor and greeting from Rāma, who came here?
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः। प्रत्युवाच शतानन्दं वाक्यज्ञो वाक्यकोविदम्
Hearing these words, the great sage Viśvāmitra, skilled in speech, replied to Śatānanda.
नातिक्रान्तं मुनिश्रेष्ठ यत्कर्तव्यं कृतं मया। संगता मुनिना पत्नी भार्गवेणेव रेणुका
O best of sages, nothing has been left undone by me; the wife was reunited with the sage, as Reṇukā with Bhārgava.
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः। शतानन्दो महातेजा रामं वचनमब्रवीत्
Hearing these words of wise Viśvāmitra, Śatānanda, of great splendor, spoke to Rāma.
स्वागतं ते नरश्रेष्ठ दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोऽसि राघव। विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य महर्षिमपराजितम्
Welcome to you, best of men! By good fortune you have come, O Rāghava, led here by the unconquered great sage Viśvāmitra.
अचिन्त्यकर्मा तपसा ब्रह्मर्षिरमितप्रभः। विश्वामित्रो महातेजा वेद्म्येनं परमां गतिम्
Viśvāmitra, of immeasurable brilliance, is a brahmarṣi whose deeds are beyond thought, attained by austerity—I know his supreme state.
नास्ति धन्यतरो राम त्वत्तोऽन्यो भुवि कश्चन। गोप्ता कुशिकपुत्रस्ते येन तप्तं महत्तपः
There is no one on earth more blessed than you, Rāma, for the son of Kuśika, who performed great austerity, is your protector.
श्रूयतां चाभिधास्यामि कौशिकस्य महात्मनः। यथाबलं यथातत्त्वं तन्मे निगदतः शृणु
Listen as I recount, according to my ability and as it truly happened, the story of the great sage Kauśika; hear it from me as I narrate.
राजाऽऽसीदेष धर्मात्मा दीर्घकालमरिंदमः। धर्मज्ञः कृतविद्यश्च प्रजानां च हिते रतः
He was a righteous king, a subduer of foes for a long time, learned in dharma, accomplished in knowledge, and devoted to the welfare of his people.
प्रजापतिसुतस्त्वासीत् कुशो नाम महीपतिः। कुशस्य पुत्रो बलवान् कुशनाभः सुधार्मिकः
There was a king named Kuśa, son of Prajāpati, and Kuśa’s son was the powerful and supremely righteous Kuśanābha.