शान्तया प्रययौ सार्धमृशष्यशृङ्गः सुपूजितः । अमुगम्यमानो राज्ञा च सानुयात्रेण धीमता ॥१-१८-
Ṛśyaśṛṅga, having been greatly honored, departed together with Śāntā, not detained by the wise king, along with his retinue.
एवं विसृज्य तान् सर्वान् राजा सम्पूर्णमानसः । उवास सुखितस्तत्र पुत्रोत्पत्तिं विचिन्तयन् ॥१-१८-
Thus, having dismissed them all, the king, his mind fulfilled, remained there happily, contemplating the birth of a son.
ततो यज्ञे समाप्ते तु ऋतूनां षट् समत्ययुः । ततश्च द्वादशे मासे चैत्रे नावमिके तिथौ ॥१-१८-
After the completion of the sacrifice, six seasons passed; then, in the twelfth month, on the ninth day of Caitra—
नक्षत्रेऽदितिदैवत्ये स्वोच्चसंस्थेषु पञ्चसु । ग्रहेषु कर्कटे लग्ने वाक्पताविन्दुना सह ॥१-१८-
When the star Punarvasu, presided over by Aditi, was ascendant, and five planets were in their exalted positions, with Jupiter and the Moon together in Cancer at the ascendant—
प्रोद्यमाने जगन्नाथं सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम् । कौसल्याजनयद् रामं दिव्यलक्षणसंयुतम् ॥१-१८-
As the all-honored Lord of the Universe was rising, Kausalyā gave birth to Rāma, endowed with divine marks.
विष्णोरर्धं महाभागं पुत्रमैक्ष्वाकुनन्दनम् । लोहिताक्षं महाबाहुं रक्तोष्ठं दुन्दुभिस्वनम् ॥१-१८-
He was half of Viṣṇu, greatly glorious, the joy of the Ikṣvāku line, with red eyes, mighty arms, red lips, and a voice like a drum.
कौसल्या शुशुभे तेन पुत्रेणामिततेजसा । यथा वरेण देवानामदितिर्वज्रपाणिना ॥१-१८-
Kausalyā shone with that son of immeasurable splendor, just as Aditi did with Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, among the gods.
भरतो नाम कैकेय्यां जज्ञे सत्यपराक्रमः । साक्षाद् विष्णोश्चतुर्भागः सर्वैः समुदितो गुणैः ॥१-१८-
Bharata, steadfast in truth and valor, was born to Kaikeyī, being a fourth part of Viṣṇu, endowed with all virtues.
अथ लक्ष्मणशत्रुघ्नौ सुमित्राजनयत् सुतौ । वीरौ सर्वास्त्रकुशलौ विष्णोरर्धसमन्वितौ ॥१-१८-
Then Sumitrā gave birth to two sons, Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna, heroes skilled in all weapons, each possessing half the power of Viṣṇu.
पुष्ये जातस्तु भरतो मीनलग्ने प्रसन्नधीः । सार्पे जातौ तु सौमित्री कुलीरेऽभ्युदिते रवौ ॥१-१८-
Bharata, of serene mind, was born under the star Puṣya, with the ascendant in Mīna; the sons of Sumitrā were born under the star Āśleṣā, with the ascendant in Karkaṭa, as the sun was rising.
राज्ञः पुत्रा महात्मानश्चत्वारो जज्ञिरे पृथक् । गुणवन्तोऽनुरूपाश्च रुच्या प्रोष्ठपदोपमाः ॥१-१८-
The king's four sons, great-souled, were born separately, each possessing virtues, fitting in form, and comparable in beauty to the twin stars Proṣṭhapada.
जगुः कलं च गन्धर्वा ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः । देवदुन्दुभयो नेदुः पुष्पवृष्टिश्च खात् पतत् ॥१-१८-
The Gandharvas sang sweetly, the groups of Apsarases danced, divine drums resounded, and a shower of flowers fell from the sky.
गायनैश्च विराविण्यो वादनैश्च तथापरैः । विरेजुर्विपुलास्तत्र सर्वरत्नसमन्विताः ॥१-१८-
With melodious singing and other harmonious instruments, those vast, jewel-adorned halls resounded splendidly.
प्रदेयांश्च ददौ राजा सूतमागधवन्दिनाम् । ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददौ वित्तम् गोधनानि सहस्रशः ॥१-१८-
The king gave gifts to bards, genealogists, and panegyrists; to the Brāhmaṇas he gave wealth and thousands of cows.
अतीत्यैकादशाहं तु नामकर्म तथाकरोत् । ज्येष्ठं रामं महात्मानं भरतं कैकयीसुतम् ॥१-१८-
After eleven days had passed, he performed the naming ceremony for his sons: the eldest, the great-souled Rāma, and Bharata, the son of Kaikeyī.
सौमित्रिं लक्ष्मणमिति शत्रुघ्नमपरं तथा । वसिष्ठः परमप्रीतो नामानि कुरुते तदा ॥१-१८-
Vasiṣṭha, filled with supreme joy, then gave names to Saumitri as Lakṣmaṇa and to the other as Śatrughna.
ब्राह्मणान् भोजयामास पौराजानपदानपि । अददद् ब्राह्मणानां च रत्नौघमलं बहु ॥१-१८-
He had the Brāhmaṇas, as well as the citizens and people of the land, fed; and he gave the Brāhmaṇas a great abundance of precious gems.
तेषां जन्मक्रियादीनि सर्वकर्माण्यकारयत् । तेषां केतुरिव ज्येष्ठो रामो रतिकरः पितुः ॥१-१८-
He performed all the rites of birth and other ceremonies for them; among them, Rāma, the eldest, was like a banner, bringing delight to his father.
बभूव भूयो भूतानां स्वयम्भूरिव सम्मतः । सर्वे वेदविदः शूराः सर्वे लोकहिते रताः ॥१-१८-
He became, once more, esteemed among beings like Svayambhū; all were learned in the Vedas, heroic, and devoted to the welfare of the world.
सर्वे ज्ञानोपसम्पन्नाः सर्वे समुदिता गुणैः । तेषामपि महातेजा रामः सत्यपराक्रमः ॥१-१८-
All were endowed with knowledge, all were adorned with virtues; yet among them, Rāma, of great splendor, was steadfast in truth and valor.
इष्टः सर्वस्य लोकस्य शशाङ्क इव निर्मलः । गजस्कन्धेऽश्वपृष्ठे च रथचर्यासु सम्मतः ॥१-१८-
Beloved by all people, pure as the moon, he was esteemed in riding elephants, horses, and in chariot-driving.
धनुर्वेदे च निरतः पितुः शुश्रूषणे रतः । बाल्यात् प्रभृति सुस्निग्धो लक्ष्मणो लक्ष्मिवर्धनः ॥१-१८-
He was devoted to the science of archery and eager to serve his father; from childhood, Lakṣmaṇa, increasing in fortune, was exceedingly affectionate.
रामस्य लोकरामस्य भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य नित्यशः । सर्वप्रियकरस्तस्य रामस्यापि शरीरतः ॥१-१८-
Lakṣmaṇa was always devoted to Rāma, the delight of the world and his elder brother; he brought joy to all, and even to Rāma physically.
लक्ष्मणो लक्ष्मिसम्पन्नो बहिःप्राण इवापरः । न च तेन विना निद्रां लभते पुरुषोत्तमः ॥१-१८-
Lakṣmaṇa, endowed with prosperity, was like an external vital breath; and the best of men could not sleep without him.
मृष्टमन्नमुपानीतमश्नाति न हि तं विना । यदा हि हयमारूढो मृगयां याति राघवः ॥१-१८-
When delicious food was brought, he would not eat without him; whenever Rāghava mounted a horse to go hunting,
अथैनं पृष्ठतोऽभ्येति सधनुः परिपालयन् । भरतस्यापि शत्रुघ्नो लक्ष्मणावरजो हि सः ॥१-१८-
Then Lakṣmaṇa would follow behind, armed with a bow, protecting him; and for Bharata, Śatrughna, Lakṣmaṇa's younger brother, did the same.
प्राणैः प्रियतरो नित्यं तस्य चासीत् तथा प्रियः । स चतुर्भिर्महाभागैः पुत्रैर्दशरथः प्रियैः ॥१-१८-
He was always dearer to him than life itself, and likewise beloved; thus, Daśaratha was cherished by his four illustrious sons.
बभूव परमप्रीतो देवैरिव पितामहः । ते यदा ज्ञानसंपन्नाः सर्वे समुदिता गुणैः ॥१-१८-
He became supremely delighted, like the Grandfather among the gods; when all were endowed with knowledge and adorned with virtues,
ह्रीमन्तः कीर्तिमन्तश्च सर्वज्ञा दीर्घदर्शिनः । तेषामेवंप्रभावाणां सर्वेषां दीप्ततेजसाम् ॥१-१८-
Modest, renowned, omniscient, and farsighted; among them, all were radiant and powerful.
पिता दशरथो हृष्टो ब्रह्मा लोकाधिपो यथा । ते चापि मनुजव्याघ्रा वैदिकाध्ययने रताः ॥१-१८-
Their father Daśaratha rejoiced, like Brahmā, lord of the worlds; and those tiger-like men were devoted to Vedic study.