thumb|त्रिसप्ततितमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे त्रिसप्ततितमः सर्गः ॥१-
Hear now the seventy-third sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa.
यस्मिंस्तु दिवसे राजा चक्रे गोदानमुत्तमम्। तस्मिंस्तु दिवसे वीरो युधाजित् समुपेयिवान्
On the day when the king performed the supreme gifting of cows, the heroic Yudhājit arrived.
पुत्रः केकयराजस्य साक्षाद्भरतमातुलः। दृष्ट्वा पृष्ट्वा च कुशलं राजानमिदमब्रवीत्
He was the son of the king of Kekaya, the direct maternal uncle of Bharata; having seen and enquired about the king's welfare, he spoke these words.
केकयाधिपती राजा स्नेहात् कुशलमब्रवीत्। येषां कुशलकामोऽसि तेषां सम्प्रत्यनामयम्
The king of Kekaya, out of affection, has sent greetings of well-being; for those whose welfare you desire, he conveys that all is well.
स्वस्रीयं मम राजेन्द्र द्रष्टुकामो महीपतिः। तदर्थमुपयातोऽहमयोध्यां रघुनन्दन
O king, my maternal uncle, the lord of the earth, wishes to see his sister's son; for that purpose, I have come to Ayodhyā, O descendant of Raghu.
श्रुत्वा त्वहमयोध्यायां विवाहार्थं तवात्मजान्। मिथिलामुपयातांस्तु त्वया सह महीपते
Having heard that your sons have come to Mithilā for marriage, together with you, O king, I have come to Ayodhyā.
त्वरयाभ्युपयातोऽहं द्रष्टुकामः स्वसुः सुतम्। अथ राजा दशरथः प्रियातिथिमुपस्थितम्
I have hastened here, desiring to see the son of my sister; then King Dasharatha welcomed his dear guest.
दृष्ट्वा परमसत्कारैः पूजनार्हमपूजयत्। ततस्तामुषितो रात्रिं सह पुत्रैर्महात्मभिः
Having seen him, he honored him with the highest hospitality, worthy of worship; then, together with his noble sons, he spent the night there.
प्रभाते पुनरुत्थाय कृत्वा कर्माणि तत्त्ववित् । ऋषींस्तदा पुरस्कृत्य यज्ञवाटमुपागमत्
Rising again in the morning, having performed the rites, the wise king, placing the sages at the forefront, went to the sacrificial enclosure.
युक्ते मुहूर्ते विजये सर्वाभरणभूषितैः। भ्रातृभिः सहितो रामः कृतकौतुकमंगलः
At the auspicious hour of victory, adorned with all ornaments, Rāma, together with his brothers, performed the festive and auspicious rites.
वसिष्ठं पुरतः कृत्वा महर्षीनपरानपि। वसिष्ठो भगवानेत्य वैदेहमिदमब्रवीत्
Placing Vasiṣṭha at the front, along with other great sages, the venerable Vasiṣṭha approached and spoke to the king of Videha.
राजा दशरथो राजन् कृतकौतुकमंगलैः। पुत्रैर्नरवरश्रेष्ठो दातारमभिकाङ्क्षते
King Dasharatha, O king, together with his sons who have performed the festive and auspicious rites, the foremost among men, desires the giver.
दातृप्रतिग्रहीतृभ्यां सर्वार्थाः सम्भवन्ति हि। स्वधर्मं प्रतिपद्यस्व कृत्वा वैवाह्यमुत्तमम्
Indeed, all purposes are accomplished through the giver and the receiver; follow your own duty, having performed this excellent marriage.
इत्युक्तः परमोदारो वसिष्ठेन महात्मना। प्रत्युवाच महातेजा वाक्यं परमधर्मवित्
Thus addressed by the exceedingly generous and high-souled Vasiṣṭha, the illustrious knower of supreme dharma replied with these words.
कः स्थितः प्रतिहारो मे कस्याज्ञां सम्प्रतीक्षते। स्वगृहे को विचारोऽस्ति यथा राज्यमिदं तव
Who stands as my doorkeeper, waiting for whose command? What deliberation exists in my own house, as if this kingdom were yours?
कृतकौतुकसर्वस्वा वेदिमूलमुपागताः। मम कन्या मुनिश्रेष्ठ दीप्ता बह्नेरिवार्चिषः
Having completed all the festive preparations, my daughters have approached the altar, O best of sages, shining like flames of blazing fire.
सद्योऽहं त्वत्प्रतीक्षोऽस्मि वेद्यामस्यां प्रतिष्ठितः। अविघ्नं क्रियतां सर्वं किमर्थं हि विलम्ब्यते
I am now awaiting you, standing at this altar; let everything proceed without obstacle—why is there delay?
तद् वाक्यं जनकेनोक्तं श्रुत्वा दशरथस्तदा। प्रवेशयामास सुतान् सर्वानृषिगणानपि
Hearing those words spoken by Janaka, then Daśaratha brought in all his sons and the groups of sages.
ततो राजा विदेहानां वसिष्ठमिदमब्रवीत्। कारयस्व ऋषे सर्वामृषिभिः सह धार्मिक
Then the king of the Videhas spoke to Vasiṣṭha: 'O righteous sage, have all the rites performed together with the sages.'
रामस्य लोकरामस्य क्रियां वैवाहिकीं प्रभो। तथेत्युक्त्वा तु जनकं वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः
The marriage ceremony of Rāma, delight of the world, is to be performed, O lord. Having said 'So be it' to Janaka, the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha...
विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य शतानन्दं च धार्मिकम्। प्रपामध्ये तु विधिवद् वेदिं कृत्वा महातपाः
Placing Viśvāmitra and the righteous Śatānanda at the forefront, the great ascetic properly constructed the altar in the midst of the pavilion.
अलंचकार तां वेदिं गन्धपुष्पैः समन्ततः। सुवर्णपालिकाभिश्च चित्रकुम्भैश्च साङ्कुरैः
He adorned that altar all around with fragrant flowers, golden vessels, and decorated pots containing sprouts.
अङ्कुराढ्यैः शरावैश्च धूपपात्रैः सधूपकैः। शङ्खपात्रैः स्रुवैः स्रग्भिः पात्रैरर्घ्यादिपूजितैः
With bowls filled with sprouts, incense vessels with incense, conch vessels, ladles, garlands, and vessels for arghya and other offerings, duly honored.
लाजपूर्णैश्च पात्रीभिरक्षतैरपि संस्कृतैः। दर्भैः समैः समास्तीर्य विधिवन्मन्त्रपूर्वकम्
With vessels filled with fried grains and prepared rice, spreading even darbha grass as prescribed, with proper recitation of mantras.
अग्निमाधाय तं वेद्यां विधिमन्त्रपुरस्कृतम्। जुहावाग्नौ महातेजा वसिष्ठो मुनिपुंगवः
Having established the fire on that altar, preceded by proper rites and mantras, the illustrious sage Vasiṣṭha offered oblations into the fire.
ततः सीतां समानीय सर्वाभरणभूषिताम्। समक्षमग्नेः संस्थाप्य राघवाभिमुखे तदा
Then, bringing Sītā adorned with all ornaments, he placed her before the fire, facing Rāghava at that time.
अब्रवीज्जनको राजा कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनम्। इयं सीता मम सुता सहधर्मचरी तव
King Janaka spoke to Rāma, increaser of Kausalyā's joy: 'This is Sītā, my daughter, your companion in righteousness.'
प्रतीच्छ चैनां भद्रं ते पाणिं गृह्णीष्व पाणिना। पतिव्रता महाभागा छायेवानुगता सदा
'Accept her, good fortune to you; take her hand with your hand. She is devoted to her husband, greatly blessed, always following you like a shadow.'
इत्युक्त्वा प्राक्षिपद् राजा मन्त्रपूतं जलं तदा। साधुसाध्विति देवानामृषीणां वदतां तदा
Having said this, the king then poured water purified by mantras, as the gods and sages exclaimed, 'Well done, well done!'
देवदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषः पुष्पवर्षो महानभूत्। एवं दत्त्वा सुतां सीतां मन्त्रोदकपुरस्कृताम्
There arose a great sound of divine drums and a shower of flowers; thus, having given his daughter Sītā, sanctified with mantra-water...