वधाय देवशतॄणां नृणां लोके मनः कुरु । एवं स्तुतस्तु देवेशो विष्णुस्त्रिदशपुंगवः ॥१-१५-
Turn your mind, O god, to the destruction of the enemies of the gods and of men in this world; thus praised, Vishnu, lord of the gods, foremost among the immortals—
पितामहपुरोगांस्तान् सर्वलोकनमस्कृतः । अब्रवीत् त्रिदशान् सर्वान् समेतान् धर्मसंहितान् ॥१-१५-
Honored by all the worlds, with Brahma at their head, he spoke to all the assembled gods, who were devoted to righteousness.
भयं त्यजत भद्रं वो हितार्थं युधि रावणम् । सपुत्रपौत्रं सामात्यं समन्त्रिज्ञातिबान्धवम् ॥१-१५-
Abandon fear, may good be yours; for your welfare, I will slay Ravana in battle—together with his sons, grandsons, ministers, counselors, kin, and allies.
हत्वा क्रूरं दुराधर्षं देवर्षीणां भयावहम् । दशवर्षसहस्राणि दशवर्षशतानि च ॥१-१५-
Having slain that cruel, formidable terror of gods and sages, I shall dwell in the world of men for ten thousand and one thousand years.
वत्स्यामि मानुषे लोके पालयन् पृथिवीमिमाम् । एवं दत्त्वा वरं देवो देवानां विष्णुरात्मवान् ॥१-१५-
I will remain on this earth, protecting it, for that time among humans; thus, granting this boon, the self-possessed Vishnu spoke to the gods.
मानुष्ये चिन्तयामास जन्मभूमिमथात्मनः । ततः पद्मपलाशाक्षः कृत्वात्मानं चतुर्विधम् ॥१-१५-
Then, considering his own place of birth among humans, the lotus-eyed one divided himself into four forms.
पितरं रोचयामास तदा दशरथं नृपम् । ततो देवर्षिगन्धर्वाः सरुद्राः साप्सरोगणाः । स्तुतिभिर्दिव्यरूपाभिस्तुष्टुवुर्मधुसूदनम् ॥१-१५-
At that time, he chose King Dasharatha as his father; then the gods, sages, Gandharvas, Rudras, and hosts of Apsaras praised Madhusudana with hymns of divine form.
तमुद्धतं रावणमुग्रतेजसं :::प्रवृद्धदर्पं त्रिदशेश्वरद्विषम् । विरावणं साधु तपस्विकण्टकं :::तपस्विनामुद्धर तं भयावहम् ॥१-१५-
That arrogant Ravana, fierce in energy, swollen with pride, hater of the lords of the gods, roaring, a thorn to ascetics—remove that terror, O savior of ascetics.
तमेव हत्वा सबलं सबान्धवम् :::विरावणं रावणमुग्रपौरुषम् । स्वर्लोकमागच्छ गतज्वरश्चिरं सुरेन्द्रगुप्तं गतदोषकल्मषम् ॥१-१५-
Having slain that roaring Ravana, fierce in valor, along with his forces and kin, come to the heavenly world, freed from all distress, guarded by Indra, and cleansed of all fault and sin.
thumb|षोडशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे षोडशः सर्गः ॥१-
Having filled the divine vessel with celestial porridge, holding it close like a beloved wife, with his broad arms he grasped it himself, as if it were a creation of illusion.
ततो नारायणो विष्णुर्नियुक्तः सुरसत्तमैः । जानन्नपि सुरानेवं श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥१-१६-
Then Nārāyaṇa Viṣṇu, appointed by the foremost of the gods, though already knowing, spoke these gentle words to the gods.
उपायः को वधे तस्य राक्षसाधिपतेः सुराः । यमहं तं समास्थाय निहन्यामृषिकण्टकम् ॥१-१६-
O gods, what is the means for the destruction of that lord of the Rākṣasas? By which I, adopting that means, might slay the tormentor of sages?
एवमुक्ताः सुराः सर्वे प्रत्यूचुर्विष्णुमव्ययम् । मानुषं रूपमास्थाय रावणं जहि संयुगे ॥१-१६-
Thus addressed, all the gods replied to the imperishable Viṣṇu: 'Assume a human form and slay Rāvaṇa in battle.'
स हि तेपे तपस्तीव्रं दीर्घकालमरिन्दमः । येन तुष्टोऽभवद् ब्रह्मा लोककृल्लोकपूर्वजः ॥१-१६-
For he, the subduer of enemies, performed intense austerities for a long time, by which Brahmā, the creator of the worlds and the ancient one, became pleased.
संतुष्टः प्रददौ तस्मै राक्षसाय वरं प्रभुः । नानाविधेभ्यो भूतेभ्यो भयं नान्यत्र मानुषात् ॥१-१६-
Satisfied, the Lord granted that Rākṣasa a boon: that he would have no fear from any being of various kinds, except from humans.
अवज्ञाताः पुरा तेन वरदाने हि मानवाः । एवं पितामहात् तस्मात् वरदानेन गर्वितः ॥१-१६-
Humans were disregarded by him at the time of receiving the boon; thus, made proud by the boon from the Grandfather, he became arrogant.
उत्सादयति लोकांस्त्रीन् स्त्रियश्चाप्युपकर्षति । तस्मात् तस्य वधो दृष्टो मानुषेभ्यः परंतप ॥१-१६-
He destroys the three worlds and even seizes women; therefore, his death is destined to come from humans, O scorcher of foes.
इत्येतद् वचनं श्रुत्वा सुराणां विष्णुरात्मवान् । पितरं रोचयामास तदा दशरथं नृपम् ॥१-१६-
Hearing these words of the gods, Viṣṇu, the self-possessed, then chose King Daśaratha as his father.
स चाप्यपुत्रो नृपतिस्तस्मिन् काले महाद्युतिः । अयजत् पुत्रियामिष्टिं पुत्रेप्सुररिसूदनः ॥१-१६-
And that king, of great splendor, was childless at that time; desiring a son, the destroyer of enemies performed the sacrifice for offspring.
स कृत्वा निश्चयं विष्णुरामन्त्र्य च पितामहम् । अन्तर्धानं गतो देवैः पूज्यमानो महर्षिभिः ॥१-१६-
Having made his decision, Viṣṇu, after consulting with the Grandfather, vanished from sight, honored by the gods and great sages.
ततो वै यजमानस्य पावकादतुलप्रभम् । प्रादुर्भूतं महद् भूतं महावीर्यं महाबलम् ॥१-१६-
Then, from the sacrificial fire of the performer of the rite, there appeared a great being, of incomparable brilliance, of immense strength and valor.
कृष्णं रक्ताम्बरधरं रक्तास्यं दुन्दुभिस्वनम् । स्निग्धहर्यक्षतनुजश्मश्रुप्रवरमूर्धजम् ॥१-१६-
He was dark, clothed in red garments, with a red mouth, resounding like a drum; his body hair and beard were glossy and tawny, and his hair was splendid.
शुभलक्षणसम्पन्नं दिव्याभरणभूषितम् । शैलशृङ्गसमुत्सेधं दृप्तशार्दूलविक्रमम् ॥१-१६-
Endowed with auspicious marks, adorned with divine ornaments, as tall as a mountain peak, possessing the valor of a proud lion.
दिवाकरसमाकारं दीप्तानलशिखोपमम् । तप्तजाम्बूनदमयीं राजतान्तपरिच्छदाम् ॥१-१६-
With the appearance of the sun, resembling a blazing flame, holding a vessel made of refined gold with silver lining.
दिव्यपायससम्पूर्णां पात्रीं पत्नीमिव प्रियाम् । प्रगृह्य विपुलां दोर्भ्यां स्वयं मायामयीमिव ॥१-१६-
Filled with divine porridge, the vessel was held close like a beloved wife, grasped with broad arms, as if it were a creation of illusion.
ततः परं तदा राजा प्रत्युवाच कृताञ्जलिः । भगवन् स्वागतं तेऽस्तु किमहं करवाणि ते ॥१-१६-
Then the king, with joined palms, addressed him: 'O Lord, you are welcome! What shall I do for you?'
अथो पुनरिदं वाक्यं प्राजापत्यो नरोऽब्रवीत् । राजन्नर्चयता देवानद्य प्राप्तमिदं त्वया ॥१-१६-
Then the man born of the Creator spoke these words again: 'O King, by worshipping the gods, you have now obtained this.'
इदं तु नरशार्दूल पायसं देवनिर्मितम् । प्रजाकरं गृहाण त्वं धन्यमारोग्यवर्धनम् ॥१-१६-
O tiger among men, take this divine pāyasa, made by the gods, which brings forth offspring, is blessed, and increases health.
भार्याणामनुरूपाणामश्नीतेति प्रयच्छ वै । तासु त्वं लप्स्यसे पुत्रान् यदर्थं यजसे नृप ॥१-१६-
Give it to your worthy wives, saying, 'Eat this.' Through them, O king, you shall obtain sons for whose sake you are performing this sacrifice.
तथेति नृपतिः प्रीतः शिरसा प्रतिगृह्य ताम् । पात्रीं देवान्नसम्पूर्णां देवदत्तां हिरण्मयीम् ॥१-१६-
The king, pleased, accepted with bowed head that golden vessel, given by the gods, filled with divine food.