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.
नापराधो भवेत् कष्टो यद्यस्मिन् क्रतुसत्तमे । च्छिद्रं हि मृगयन्ते स्म विद्वांसो ब्रह्मराक्षसाः ॥१-८-
Let there be no grave error in this most excellent sacrifice, for the learned Brahmarakshasas always seek out any flaw.
विधिहीनस्य यज्ञस्य सद्यः कर्ता विनश्यति । तद्यथा विधिपूर्वं मे क्रतुरेष समाप्यते ॥१-८-
If a sacrifice is performed without proper procedure, its performer is immediately ruined; therefore, let this sacrifice of mine be completed strictly according to the rules.
तथा विधानं क्रियतां समर्थाः साधनेष्विति । तथेति चाब्रुवन् सर्वे मंत्रिणः प्रतिपूजिताः ॥१-८-
'Let the arrangements be made accordingly by those who are capable,' he said; and all the honored ministers replied, 'So be it.'
पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य तद् वाक्यं यथापूर्वं निशम्य ते । तथा द्विजास्ते धर्मज्ञा वर्धयन्तो नृपोत्तमम् ॥१-८-
Hearing the king's words as before, those twice-born, learned in righteousness, encouraged the noble king accordingly.
अनुज्ञातास्ततः सर्वे पुनर्जग्मुर्यथागतम् । विसर्जयित्वा तान् विप्रान् सचिवानिदमब्रवीत् ॥१-८-
Then, having received permission, all of them departed as they had come; after dismissing those Brahmins, he spoke to his ministers as follows.
ऋत्विग्भिरुपसंदिष्टो यथावत् क्रतुराप्यताम् । इत्युक्त्वा नृपशार्दूलः सचिवान् समुपस्थितान् ॥१-८-
'Let the sacrifice be performed exactly as instructed by the officiating priests,' said the tiger among kings to his assembled ministers.
विसर्जयित्वा स्वं वेश्म प्रविवेश महामतिः । ततः स गत्वा ताः पत्नीर्नरेन्द्रो हृदयंगमाः ॥१-८-
Having dismissed them, the wise king entered his own palace; then, going to his beloved wives, the king—dear to their hearts—
उवाच दीक्षां विशत यक्ष्येऽहं सुतकारणात् । तासां तेनातिकान्तेन वचनेन सुवर्चसाम् । मुखपद्मान्यशोभन्त पद्मानीव हिमात्यये ॥१-८-
said, 'Undertake the vow of consecration; I shall perform the sacrifice for the sake of a son.' By his exceedingly pleasing words, the radiant faces of those women shone like lotuses at the end of winter.
thumb|नवमः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे नवमः सर्गः ॥१-
Listen now to the ninth chapter in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा रहः सूतो राजानमिदमब्रवीत् । श्रूयतां तत् पुरावृत्तं पुराणे च मया श्रुतम् ॥१-९-
Hearing this in private, the charioteer spoke to the king: 'Let me tell you what happened in ancient times, as I have heard from the old tales.'
ऋत्विग्भिरुपदिष्टोऽयं पुरावृत्तो मया श्रुतः । सनत्कुमारो भगवान् पूर्वं कथितवान् कथाम् ॥१-९-
'This account, as instructed by the officiating priests, I have heard before; the venerable Sanatkumāra once told this story.'
ऋषीणां संनिधौ राजंस्तव पुत्रागमं प्रति । काश्यपस्य च पुत्रोऽस्ति विभाण्डक इति श्रुतः ॥१-९-
'In the presence of the sages, O King, regarding the coming of your son, it was told that there is a son of Kāśyapa named Vibhāṇḍaka.'
ऋश्यशृङ्ग इति ख्यातस्तस्य पुत्रो भविष्यति । स वने नित्यसंवृद्धो मुनिर्वनचरः सदा ॥१-९-
'His son will be known as Ṛśyaśṛṅga; he will always grow up in the forest, ever living as a sage among the woods.'
नान्यं जानाति विप्रेन्द्रो नित्यं पित्रनुवर्तनात् । द्वैविध्यं ब्रह्मचर्यस्य भविष्यति महात्मनः ॥१-९-
'That best of Brahmins knows no one else, always following his father; the great-souled one will observe a twofold discipline of celibacy.'
लोकेषु प्रथितं राजन् विप्रैश्च कथितं सदा । तस्यैवं वर्तमानस्य कालः समभिवर्तत ॥१-९-
'This is well known among people, O King, and always told by the Brahmins; as he lived thus, the destined time arrived.'
अग्निं शुश्रूषमाणस्य पितरं च यशस्विनम् । एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु रोमपादः प्रतापवान् ॥१-९-
At that very time, while he was serving the sacred fire and his illustrious father, the powerful Romapada became renowned.
अङ्गेषु प्रथितो राजा भविष्यति महाबलः । तस्य व्यतिक्रमाद् राज्ञो भविष्यति सुदारुणा ॥१-९-
A mighty king, celebrated among the people of Anga, will arise; but due to a transgression of that king, a most terrible calamity will occur.
ब्राह्मणाञ्छ्रुतसंवृद्धान् समानीय प्रवक्ष्यति व । भवन्तः श्रुतकर्माणो लोकचारित्रवेदिनः ॥१-९-
He will summon learned Brahmins and address them, saying: 'You are versed in sacred rites and know the customs of the world.'
समादिशन्तु नियमं प्रायश्चित्तं यथा भवेत् । इत्युक्तास्ते ततो राज्ञा सर्वे ब्राह्मणसत्तमाः ॥१-९-
'Instruct me in the proper discipline and expiation that should be performed.' Thus addressed by the king, all the eminent Brahmins replied.
वक्ष्यन्ति ते महीपालं ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः । विभाण्डकसुतं राजन् सर्वोपायैरिहानय ॥१-९-
Those Brahmins, accomplished in the Vedas, will say to the king: 'O ruler, by every means bring here the son of Vibhandaka.'