श्रुतं मया महातेजो रामेण च महात्मना। सदस्यैः प्राप्य च सदः श्रुतास्ते बहवो गुणाः
'I have heard, O illustrious one, from Rāma the great-souled, and from the assembly, and having entered the hall, many virtues of yours have been heard.'
अप्रमेयं तपस्तुभ्यमप्रमेयं च ते बलम्। अप्रमेया गुणाश्चैव नित्यं ते कुशिकात्मज
'Your asceticism is immeasurable, your strength is immeasurable, and your virtues are indeed immeasurable, O son of Kuśika, ever.'
तृप्तिराश्चर्यभूतानां कथानां नास्ति मे विभो। कर्मकालो मुनिश्रेष्ठ लम्बते रविमण्डलम्
'My satisfaction with these wondrous tales knows no end, O lord; but, O best of sages, the time for duties draws near as the sun approaches its circle.'
श्वः प्रभाते महातेजो द्रष्टुमर्हसि मां पुनः। स्वागतं जपतां श्रेष्ठ मामनुज्ञातुमर्हसि
'Tomorrow at dawn, O illustrious one, you should see me again; O best of those who recite, you are welcome—please grant me leave.'
एवमुक्तो मुनिवरः प्रशस्य पुरुषर्षभम्। विससर्जाशु जनकं प्रीतं प्रीतमनास्तदा
Thus addressed, the eminent sage, having praised the best of men, swiftly dismissed Janaka, who was pleased and content at that time.
एवमुक्त्वा मुनिश्रेष्ठं वैदेहो मिथिलाधिपः। प्रदक्षिणं चकाराशु सोपाध्यायः सबान्धवः
Having spoken thus to the best of sages, the lord of Mithilā, Vaideha, quickly circumambulated him, together with his teachers and relatives.
विश्वामित्रोऽपि धर्मात्मा सहरामः सलक्ष्मणः। स्ववासमभिचक्राम पूज्यमानो महात्मभिः
And Viśvāmitra, righteous-souled, together with Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, returned to his own abode, honored by the great-souled ones.
thumb|षट्षष्ठितमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे षट्षष्ठितमः सर्गः ॥१-
Let the sixty-sixth sarga now be heard in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa.
ततः प्रभाते विमले कृतकर्मा नराधिपः। विश्वामित्रं महात्मानमाजुहाव सराघवम्
Then, at dawn, when the day was pure, the king, having performed his duties, summoned the great-souled Viśvāmitra, along with the Raghavas.
तमर्चयित्वा धर्मात्मा शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा। राघवौ च महात्मानौ तदा वाक्यमुवाच ह
Having honored him with rites prescribed by scripture, the righteous king then spoke to the great-souled sons of Raghu.
भगवन् स्वागतं तेऽस्तु किं करोमि तवानघ। भवानाज्ञापयतु मामाज्ञाप्यो भवता ह्यहम्
'Revered sir, welcome to you! What shall I do for you, O faultless one? Please command me, for I am to be commanded by you.'
एवमुक्तः स धर्मात्मा जनकेन महात्मना। प्रत्युवाच मुनिश्रेष्ठो वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः
Thus addressed by the great-souled Janaka, the righteous sage, skilled in speech, replied to him.
पुत्रौ दशरथस्येमौ क्षत्रियौ लोकविश्रुतौ। द्रष्टुकामौ धनुःश्रेष्ठं यदेतत्त्वयि तिष्ठति
'These two are the sons of Daśaratha, renowned kṣatriyas; they wish to see the excellent bow that is with you.'
एतद् दर्शय भद्रं ते कृतकामौ नृपात्मजौ। दर्शनादस्य धनुषो यथेष्टं प्रतियास्यतः
Show this, blessings to you, to the princes whose wishes are fulfilled; after seeing this bow, they may depart as they desire.
एवमुक्तस्तु जनकः प्रत्युवाच महामुनिम्। श्रूयतामस्य धनुषो यदर्थमिह तिष्ठति
Thus addressed, Janaka replied to the great sage: 'Let it be heard for what reason this bow is here.'
देवरात इति ख्यातो निमेर्ज्येष्ठो महीपतिः। न्यासोऽयं तस्य भगवन् हस्ते दत्तो महात्मनः
Devarata, renowned as the eldest of Nimi, the king, O revered one, received this as a trust placed in the hand of that great-souled one.
दक्षयज्ञवधे पूर्वं धनुरायम्य वीर्यवान्। विध्वंस्य त्रिदशान् रोषात् सलीलमिदमब्रवीत्
Long ago, at the destruction of Daksha's sacrifice, the mighty one strung the bow, and in anger shattered the gods, then spoke these words.
यस्माद् भागार्थिनो भागं नाकल्पयत मे सुराः। वरांगानि महार्हाणि धनुषा शातयामि वः
'Because you gods, seeking your share, did not allot me my portion, I will destroy your precious and divine limbs with this bow.'
ततो विमनसः सर्वे देवा वै मुनिपुंगव। प्रसादयन्त देवेशं तेषां प्रीतोऽभवद् भवः
Then all the gods, distressed, O best of sages, sought to appease the Lord of the gods, and Bhava became pleased with them.
प्रीतियुक्तस्तु सर्वेषां ददौ तेषां महात्मनाम्। तदेतद् देवदेवस्य धनूरत्नं महात्मनः
Pleased with all those great souls, he gave them this jewel of a bow, belonging to the great-souled Lord of the gods.
न्यासभूतं तदा न्यस्तमस्माकं पूर्वजे विभौ। अथ मे कृषतः क्षेत्रं लांगलादुत्थिता ततः
Then, as a trust, it was deposited with our ancestor, the illustrious one; and as I was ploughing the field, she arose from the furrow.
क्षेत्रं शोधयता लब्धा नाम्ना सीतेति विश्रुता। भूतलादुत्थिता सा तु व्यवर्धत ममात्मजा
While I was clearing the field, I found her, famed by the name Sita; she who arose from the earth grew as my daughter.
वीर्यशुल्केति मे कन्या स्थापितेयमयोनिजा। भूतलादुत्थितां तां तु वर्धमानां ममात्मजाम्
My daughter, born of no womb, was established as the prize for prowess; she who arose from the earth, growing as my own child.
वरयामासुरागत्य राजानो मुनिपुंगव। तेषां वरयतां कन्यां सर्वेषां पृथिवीक्षिताम्
Kings came, O best of sages, seeking her hand; all the rulers of the earth desired to win my daughter.
वीर्यशुल्केति भगवन् न ददामि सुतामहम्। ततः सर्वे नृपतयः समेत्य मुनिपुंगव
'O revered one, I do not give my daughter except for prowess as the bride-price.' Then all the kings, O best of sages,
मिथिलामप्युपागम्य वीर्यं जिज्ञासवस्तदा। तेषां जिज्ञासमानानां शैवं धनुरुपाहृतम्
Having come to Mithila, then, wishing to prove their strength, for those who sought to be tested, the bow of Shiva was brought forth.
न शेकुर्ग्रहणे तस्य धनुषस्तोलनेऽपि वा। तेषां वीर्यवतां वीर्यमल्पं ज्ञात्वा महामुने
They were unable to grasp that bow, nor even to lift it; seeing their strength to be lacking, O great sage,
प्रत्याख्याता नृपतयस्तन्निबोध तपोधन। ततः परमकोपेन राजानो मुनिपुंगव
The kings were rejected—know this, O ascetic; then, in great anger, O best of sages,
अरुन्धन् मिथिलां सर्वे वीर्यसंदेहमागताः। आत्मानमवधूतं मे विज्ञाय नृपपुंगवाः
All the kings, doubting their own prowess, besieged Mithila, feeling themselves insulted, O best of kings.
रोषेण महताविष्टाः पीडयन् मिथिलां पुरीम्। ततः संवत्सरे पूर्णे क्षयं यातानि सर्वशः
Overcome with great wrath, they afflicted the city of Mithila; then, when a full year had passed, all their resources were exhausted.