कोशसंग्रहणे युक्ता बलस्य च परिग्रहे । अहितं चापि पुरुषं न हिंस्युरविदूषकम् ॥१-७-
They were adept in collecting revenue and managing the army, and would not harm an innocent person, even if he were an enemy.
वीराश्च नियतोत्साहा राजशास्त्रमनुष्ठिताः। शुचीनां रक्षितारश्च नित्यं विषयवासिनाम् ॥१-७-
Brave and ever-energetic, they upheld royal law and always protected the pure citizens of the realm.
ब्रह्मक्षत्रमहिंसन्तस्ते कोशं समपूरयन् । सुतीक्ष्णदण्डाः सम्प्रेक्ष्य पुरुषस्य बलाबलम् ॥१-७-
By not harming Brahmins or Kshatriyas, they filled the treasury, and imposed strict punishments after considering a person's strength and weakness.
शुचीनामेकबुद्धीनां सर्वेषां सम्प्रजानताम् । नासीत्पुरे वा राष्ट्रे वा मृषावादी नरः क्वचित् ॥१-७-
Among those pure and single-minded, all were discerning; nowhere in the city or kingdom was there anyone who spoke falsely.
क्वचिन्न दुष्टस्तत्रासीत् परदाररतिर्नरः । प्रशान्तं सर्वमेवासीद् राष्ट्रं पुरवरं च तत् ॥१-७-
Nowhere there was a wicked man or one who coveted another's wife; the entire kingdom and its chief city were peaceful.
सुवाससः सुवेशाश्च ते च सर्वे शुचिव्रताः । हितार्थाश्च नरेन्द्रस्य जाग्रतो नयचक्षुषा ॥१-७-
All of them wore clean garments, were well-dressed, observed pure vows, and, with wakeful discernment, sought the king's welfare.
गुरोर्गुणगृहीताश्च प्रख्याताश्च पराक्रमैः । विदेशेष्वपि विज्ञाताः सर्वतो बुद्धिनिश्चयाः ॥१-७-
They had acquired their teacher's virtues, were renowned for their valor, known even in foreign lands, and everywhere firm in their understanding.
अभितो गुणवन्तश्च न चासन् गुणवर्जिताः । सन्धिविग्रहतत्वज्ञाः प्रकृत्या सम्पदान्विताः ॥१-७-
They were all endowed with virtues, none lacking in merit, experts in the principles of alliance and conflict, and by nature possessed of prosperity.
मंत्रसंवरणे शक्ताः शक्ताः सूक्ष्मासु बुद्धिषु । नीतिशास्त्रविशेषज्ञाः सततं प्रियवादिनः ॥१-७-
They were able to keep counsel, skilled in subtle reasoning, always speaking pleasantly, and well-versed in the science of polity.
ईदृशैस्तैरमात्यैश्च राजा दशरथोऽनघः । उपपन्नो गुणोपेतैरन्वशासद् वसुन्धराम् ॥१-७-
King Daśaratha, faultless and endowed with ministers of such qualities and virtues, ruled over the earth.
अवेक्ष्यमाणश्चारेण प्रजा धर्मेण रक्षयन् । प्रजानां पालनं कुर्वन्नधर्मं परिवर्जयन् ॥१-७-
Observing his people through spies, protecting them with righteousness, he governed his subjects, always avoiding unrighteousness.
विश्रुतस्त्रिषु लोकेषु वदान्यः सत्यसंगरः । स तत्र पुरुषव्याघ्रः शशास पृथिवीमिमाम् ॥१-७-
Renowned in the three worlds, generous in speech, steadfast in truth, that tiger among men ruled this earth there.
नाध्यगच्छद्विशिष्टं वा तुल्यं वा शत्रुमात्मनः । मित्रवान्नतसामन्तः प्रतापहतकण्टकः । स शशास जगद् राजा दिवि देवपतिर्यथा ॥१-७-
He found no enemy superior or equal to himself; friendly to allies, respectful to vassals, and crushing thorns with his might, that king ruled the world as the lord of gods rules in heaven.
तैर्मन्त्रिभिर्मन्त्रहितै निविष्टै- ::र्वृतोऽनुरक्तैः कुशलैः समर्थैः । स पार्थिवो दीप्तिमवाप युक्त- ::स्तेजोमयैर्गोभिरिवोदितोऽर्कः ॥१-७-
Surrounded by those ministers, devoted, skilled, capable, and steadfast in beneficial counsel, that king attained brilliance, like the sun rising with radiant rays.
thumb|अष्टमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे अष्टमः सर्गः ॥१-
This is the eighth sarga (canto); listen. Thus is the eighth sarga in the Bālakāṇḍa of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa.
तस्य चैवं प्रभावस्य धर्मज्ञस्य महात्मनः । सुतार्थं तप्यमानस्य नासीद् वंशकरः सुतः ॥१-८-
Though he was so powerful, righteous, and great-souled, as he longed for a son, there was no offspring to continue his line.
चिन्तयानस्य तस्यैवं बुद्धिरासीन्महात्मनः । सुतार्थं वाजिमेधेन किमर्थं न यजाम्यहम् ॥१-८-
As he pondered thus, this thought arose in the mind of that great-souled one: 'Why should I not perform the Aśvamedha sacrifice for the sake of a son?'
स निश्चितां मतिं कृत्वा यष्टव्यमिति बुद्धिमान् । मन्त्रिभिः सह धर्मात्मा सर्वैरेव कृतात्मभिः ॥१-८-
Having firmly resolved, 'I must perform the sacrifice,' the wise and righteous king, together with all his accomplished ministers, made up his mind.
ततोऽब्रवीन्महातेजाः सुमन्त्रं मन्त्रिसत्तम । शीघ्रमानय मे सर्वान् गुरूंस्तान् सपुरोहितान् ॥१-८-
Then the mighty king said to Sumantra, the best of counselors: 'Quickly bring to me all those elders and priests.'
ततः सुमन्त्रस्त्वरितं गत्वा त्वरितविक्रमः । समानयत् स तान् सर्वान् समस्तान् वेदपारगान् ॥१-८-
Then Sumantra, swift in action, went quickly and gathered all those learned in the Vedas.
सुयज्ञं वामदेवं च जाबालिमथ काश्यपम् । पुरोहितं वशिष्ठं च ये चाप्यन्ये द्विजोत्तमाः ॥१-८-
He brought Suyajña, Vāmadeva, Jābāli, Kāśyapa, the priest Vasiṣṭha, and other eminent Brāhmaṇas.
तान् पूजयित्वा धर्मात्मा राजा दशरथस्तदा । इदं धर्मार्थसहितं श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥१-८-
Having honored them, the righteous king Daśaratha then spoke these gentle words, filled with righteousness and purpose.
तदहं यष्टुमिच्छामि शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा । कथं प्राप्स्याम्यहं कामं बुद्धिरत्रविचिन्त्यताम् ॥१-८-
'Therefore, I wish to perform the sacrifice as prescribed in the scriptures. How may I obtain my desire? Let your minds consider this.'
ततः साध्विति तद्वाक्यं ब्राह्मणाः प्रत्यपूजयन् । वसिष्ठप्रमुखाः सर्वे पार्थिवस्य मुखेरितम् ॥१-८-
Then all the Brāhmaṇas, led by Vasiṣṭha, honored the king's words, saying, 'Well spoken!'
ऊचुश्च परमप्रीताः सर्वे दशरथं वचः । सम्भाराः सम्भ्रियन्तां ते तुरगश्च विमुच्यताम् ॥१-८-
All of them, greatly pleased, said to Daśaratha: 'Let the materials be gathered and the horse released.'
सरय्वाश्चोत्तरे तीरे यज्ञभूमिर्विधीयताम् । सर्वथा प्राप्स्यसे पुत्रानभिप्रेतांश्च पार्थिव ॥१-८-
'Let the sacrificial ground be prepared on the northern bank of the Sarayū. O king, you will surely obtain sons as you desire.'
यस्य ते धार्मिकी बुद्धिरियं पुत्रार्थमागता । ततस्तुष्टोऽभवद् राजा श्रुत्वैतद् द्विजभाषितम् ॥१-८-
'Since this righteous resolve has arisen in you for the sake of a son,' the king was pleased after hearing these words of the Brāhmaṇas.
अमात्यानब्रवीद् राजा हर्षव्याकुललोचनः । सम्भाराः सम्भ्रियन्तां मे गुरूणां वचनादिह ॥१-८-
With eyes filled with joy and excitement, the king addressed his ministers: 'Let all the necessary preparations be made here for the ritual, according to the instructions of the elders.'
समर्थाधिष्ठितश्चाश्वः सोपाध्यायो विमुच्यताम् । सरय्वाश्चोत्तरे तीरे यज्ञभूमिर्विधीयताम् ॥१-८-
Let the consecrated horse, along with its preceptor, be released under proper supervision; let the sacrificial ground be prepared on the northern bank of the Sarayu.
शान्तयश्चापि वर्धन्तां यथाकल्पं यथाविधि । शक्यः प्राप्तुमयं यज्ञः सर्वेणापि महीक्षिता ॥१-८-
Let the pacifying rites also be performed, as prescribed and according to tradition; this sacrifice can be accomplished by any king who is able.