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.
येषां स सगरो नाम सागरो येन खानितः । षष्टिपुत्रसहस्राणि यं यान्तं पर्यवारयन् ॥१-५-
Among them was Sagara by name, by whom the ocean was dug; sixty thousand sons surrounded him as he journeyed.
इक्ष्वाकूणामिदं तेषां राज्ञां वंशे महात्मनाम् । महदुत्पन्नमाख्यानं रामायणमिति श्रुतम् ॥१-५-
In the line of those great-souled kings of the Ikṣvāku dynasty, this great tale arose, known as the Rāmāyaṇa.
तदिदं वर्तयिष्यावः सर्वं निखिलमादितः । धर्मकामार्थसहितं श्रोतव्यमनसूयता ॥१-५-
Now we shall recount this entire story from the beginning, accompanied by righteousness, desire, and wealth; it is to be heard without envy.
अयोध्या नाम नगरी तत्रासील्लोकविश्रुता । मनुना मानवेन्द्रेण या पुरी निर्मिता स्वयम् ॥१-५-
There was a city called Ayodhyā, famed throughout the world, which was built by Manu, the lord of men, himself.
आयता दश च द्वे च योजनानि महापुरी । श्रीमती त्रीणि विस्तीर्णा सुविभक्तमहापथा ॥१-५-
That great and splendid city stretched twelve yojanas in length and three in breadth, with well-divided main roads.
राजमार्गेण महता सुविभक्तेन शोभिता । मुक्तपुष्पावकीर्णेन जलसिक्तेन नित्यशः ॥१-५-
It was adorned with a great royal road, well laid out, always strewn with fresh flowers and sprinkled with water.
तां तु राजा दशरथो महाराष्ट्रविवर्धनः । पुरीमावासयामास दिवि देवपतिर्यथा ॥१-५-
King Daśaratha, the increaser of his great realm, dwelled in that city as the lord of the gods dwells in heaven.
कपाटतोरणवतीं सुविभक्तान्तरापणाम् । सर्वयन्त्रायुधवतीमुषितां सर्वशिल्पिभिः ॥१-५-
It was furnished with gates and archways, with well-divided marketplaces, filled with all kinds of machines and weapons, and inhabited by all artisans.
सूतमागधसम्बाधां श्रीमतीमतुलप्रभाम् । उच्चाट्टालध्वजवतीं शतघ्नीशतसंकुलाम् ॥१-५-
It was crowded with charioteers and bards, possessing unmatched splendor, with tall mansions and banners, and thronged with hundreds of engines of war.
वधूनाटकसङ्घैश्च संयुक्तां सर्वतः पुरीम् । उद्यानाम्रवणोपेतां महतीं सालमेखलाम् ॥१-५-
The city was surrounded on all sides by troupes of actresses and dancers, adorned with gardens and mango groves, and encircled by a great belt of śāla trees.