रसैः शृङ्गारकरुणहास्यरौद्रभयानकैः । वीरादिभी रसैर्युक्तं काव्यमेतदगायताम् ॥१-४-
This poem, filled with the sentiments of love, compassion, humor, fury, terror, heroism, and others, they sang.
तौ तु गान्धर्वतत्त्वज्ञौ स्थानमूर्च्छनकोविदौ । भ्रातरौ स्वरसम्पन्नौ गन्धर्वाविव रूपिणौ ॥१-४-
The two brothers, skilled in the science of music and in the art of intonation and modulation, possessed of melodious voices, appeared like incarnate Gandharvas.
रूपलक्षणसम्पन्नौ मधुरस्वरभाषिणौ । बिम्बादिवोत्थितौ बिम्बौ रामदेहात् तथापरौ ॥१-४-
Endowed with beauty and auspicious marks, speaking with sweet voices, they were like two images sprung from the very body of Rāma.
तौ राजपुत्रौ कार्त्स्न्येन धर्म्यमाख्यानमुत्तमम् । वाचोविधेयं तत्सर्वं कृत्वा काव्यमनिन्दितौ ॥१-४-
Those two royal sons, having mastered the entire noble and righteous narrative, rendered the whole poem, blameless in their recitation.
ऋषीणां च द्विजातीनां साधूनां च समागमे । यथोपदेशं तत्त्वज्ञौ जगतुः सुसमाहितौ ॥१-४-
In the gatherings of sages, twice-borns, and the virtuous, those two, knowing the essence, sang as instructed, with full concentration.
महात्मानौ महाभागौ सर्वलक्षणलक्षितौ । तौ कदाचित् समेतानामृषीणां भावितात्मनाम् ॥१-४-
Great-souled and greatly fortunate, adorned with all auspicious marks, those two, at some time, among the assembled sages of purified minds—
मध्ये सभं समीपस्थाविदं काव्यमगायताम् । तच्छ्रुत्वा मुनयः सर्वे बाष्पपर्याकुलेक्षणाः ॥१-४-
In the midst of the assembly, standing nearby, they sang this poem; hearing it, all the sages had eyes brimming with tears.
साधु साध्विति तावूचुः परं विस्मयमागताः । ते प्रीतमनसः सर्वे मुनयो धर्मवत्सलाः ॥१-४-
They exclaimed, 'Excellent! Excellent!' overcome with great wonder; all those sages, devoted to righteousness, were filled with joy.
प्रशशंसुः प्रशस्तव्यौ गायमानौ कुशीलवौ । अहो गीतस्य माधुर्यं श्लोकानां च विशेषतः ॥१-४-
They praised the two Kuśīlava singers, who were worthy of praise, saying, 'Ah, the sweetness of this song, and especially of the verses!'
चिरनिर्वृत्तमप्येतत् प्रत्यक्षमिव दर्शितम् । प्रविश्य तावुभौ सुष्ठु तथाभावमगायताम् ॥१-४-
Though these events happened long ago, they were presented as if before one's very eyes; the two entered and sang so well, embodying the story.
सहितौ मधुरं रक्तं सम्पन्नं स्वरसंपदा । एवं प्रशस्यमानौ तौ तपः श्लाघ्यैर्महर्षिभिः ॥१-४-
Together, they sang sweetly, with passion and accomplished melody; thus, the two were praised by the great sages renowned for their austerity.
संरक्ततरमत्यर्थं मधुरं तावगायताम् । प्रीतः कश्चिन्मुनिस्ताभ्यां संस्थितः कलशं ददौ ॥१-४-
As the two sang with even greater passion and extraordinary sweetness, a certain delighted sage, standing nearby, gave them a water pot.
प्रसन्नो वल्कलं कश्चिद् ददौ ताभ्यां महायशाः । अन्यः कृष्णाजिनमदाद् यज्ञसूत्रं तथापरः ॥१-४-
Another, pleased and of great fame, gave them bark garments; another gave a black antelope skin, and yet another a sacred thread.
कश्चित् कमण्डलुं प्रादान्मौञ्जीमन्यो महामुनिः । बृसीमन्यस्तदा प्रादात् कौपीनमपरो मुनिः ॥१-४-
One gave a water vessel, another great sage gave a girdle of muñja grass; another gave a staff, and yet another sage gave a loincloth.
ताभ्यां ददौ तदा हृष्टः कुठारमपरो मुनिः । काषायमपरो वस्त्रं चीरमन्यो ददौ मुनिः ॥१-४-
Another delighted sage then gave them an axe; yet another gave ochre robes, and another sage gave them a garment of bark.
जटाबन्धनमन्यस्तु काष्ठरज्जुं मुदान्वितः । यज्ञभाण्डमृषिः कश्चित् काष्ठभारं तथा परः ॥१-४-
One, filled with joy, gave them a matted hair band and a wooden rope; a certain sage gave ritual vessels, and another gave a bundle of firewood.
औदुम्बरीं ब्रुसीमन्यः स्वस्ति केचित् तदावदन् । आयुष्यमपरे प्राहुर्मुदा तत्र महर्षयः ॥१-४-
One gave a staff made of udumbara wood, while some offered blessings at that time; other great sages joyfully pronounced words of long life.
ददुश्चैवं वरान् सर्वे मुनयः सत्यवादिनः । आश्चर्यमिदमाख्यानं मुनिना सम्प्रकीर्तितम् ॥१-४-
Thus, all the truth-speaking sages gave them gifts, saying, 'This wondrous tale has been proclaimed by the sage.'
परं कवीनामाधारं समाप्तं च यथाक्रमम् । अभिगीतमिदं गीतं सर्वगीतेषु कोविदौ ॥१-४-
This is the supreme foundation of poets, completed in proper order; this song, sung by those skilled in all songs.
आयुष्यं पुष्टिजननं सर्वश्रुतिमनोहरम् । प्रशस्यमानौ सर्वत्र कदाचित् तत्र गायकौ ॥१-४-
It brings long life, generates strength, and delights all who hear it; everywhere, the two singers were praised whenever they performed.
रथ्यासु राजमार्गेषु ददर्श भरताग्रजः । स्ववेश्म चानीय ततो भ्रातरौ स कुशीलवौ ॥१-४-
On the streets and royal roads, the elder brother of Bharata saw the two Kuśīlavas, and then brought them to his own house.
पूजयामास पूजार्हौ रामः शत्रुनिबर्हणः । आसीनः काञ्चने दिव्ये स च सिंहासने प्रभुः ॥१-४-
Rāma, destroyer of enemies, honored the two who were worthy of honor; seated on a divine golden throne, the lord paid them homage.
उपोपविष्टैः सचिवैर्भ्रातृभिश्च समन्वितः । दृष्ट्वा तु रूपसम्पन्नौ विनीतौ भ्रातरावुभौ ॥१-४-
Surrounded by counselors and brothers, he saw the two brothers, handsome in form and well-mannered.
उवाच लक्ष्मणं रामः शत्रुघ्नं भरतं तथा । श्रूयतामेतदाख्यानमनयोर्देववर्चसोः ॥१-४-
Rāma said to Lakṣmaṇa, as well as to Śatrughna and Bharata: 'Let this story of these two, radiant as gods, be heard.'
विचित्रार्थपदं सम्यग्गायकौ समचोदयत् । तौ चापि मधुरं रक्तं स्वचित्तायतनिःस्वनम् ॥१-४-
He encouraged the singers to perform the tale, rich in varied meaning and expression; and they sang sweetly and passionately, with voices drawn from their very hearts.
तन्त्रीलयवदत्यर्थं विश्रुतार्थमगायताम् । ह्लादयत् सर्वगात्राणि मनांसि हृदयानि च । श्रोत्राश्रयसुखं गेयं तद् बभौ जनसंसदि ॥१-४-
They sang with perfect harmony of strings and rhythm, clearly conveying the meaning; their song delighted every limb, mind, and heart, and its melody, pleasing to the ear, shone in the assembly of people.
इमौ मुनी पार्थिवलक्षणान्वितौ । ::कुशीलवौ चैव महातपस्विनौ । ममापि तद् भूतिकरं प्रचक्षते । ::महानुभावं चरितं निबोधत ॥१-४-
These two ascetics, possessing the marks of royal birth, are also skilled singers and great in austerity. They are said to be wondrous even by me. Now, listen to the noble story of their mighty deeds.
ततस्तु तौ रामवचः प्रचोदिता- ::वगायतां मार्गविधानसम्पदा । स चापि रामः परिषद्गतः शनै- र्बुभूषयासक्तमना बभूव ह ॥१-४-
Then, prompted by Rama’s words, the two began to sing, following the proper method. And Rama, seated among the assembly, gradually became absorbed in the desire to listen.
thumb|पञ्चमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे पञ्चमः सर्गः ॥१-
Hear now the fifth chapter in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Bāla Kāṇḍa.
सर्वा पूर्वमियं येषामासीत् कृत्स्ना वसुंधरा । प्रजापतिमुपादाय नृपाणां जयशालिनाम् ॥१-५-
All this earth once belonged entirely to those kings, victorious in battle, beginning with Prajāpati himself.