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.
पितृशुश्रूषणरता धनुर्वेदे च निष्ठिताः । अथ राजा दशरथस्तेषां दारक्रियां प्रति ॥१-१८-
They were devoted to serving their father and established in the science of archery; then King Daśaratha began to consider their marriage rites.
चिन्तयामास धर्मात्मा सोपाध्यायः सबान्धवः । तस्य चिन्तयमानस्य मन्त्रिमध्ये महात्मनः ॥१-१८-
That righteous king, together with his teachers and relatives, began to ponder; as he was thinking among his ministers, that great-souled one,
अभ्यागच्छन्महातेजो विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः । स राज्ञो दर्शनाकाङ्क्षी द्वाराध्यक्षानुवाच ह ॥१-१८-
The great sage Viśvāmitra, of immense splendor, arrived; desiring an audience with the king, he spoke to the gatekeepers.
शीघ्रमाख्यात मां प्राप्तं कौशिकं गाधिनः सुतम् । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य राज्ञो वेश्म प्रदुद्रुवुः ॥१-१८-
Quickly announce to me the arrival of Kauśika, the son of Gādhi. Hearing that command, the attendants rushed to the king’s palace.
संभ्रान्तमनसः सर्वे तेन वाक्येन चोदिताः । ते गत्वा राजभवनं विश्वामित्रमृषिं तदा ॥१-१८-
All of them, their minds agitated by those words, went and approached the royal palace where the sage Viśvāmitra was present.
प्राप्तमावेदयामासुर्नृपायेक्ष्वाकवे तदा । तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सपुरोधाः समाहितः ॥१-१८-
They informed the king of the Ikṣvāku line that Viśvāmitra had arrived. Hearing their words, the king, along with his priests, became attentive.
प्रत्युज्जगाम संहृष्टो ब्रह्माणमिव वासवः । स दृष्ट्वा ज्वलितं दीप्त्या तापसं संशितव्रतम् ॥१-१८-
With joy, the king went forth to meet him, as Indra would go to Brahmā. Seeing the ascetic, blazing with radiance and firm in his vows—
प्रहृष्टवदनो राजा ततोऽर्घ्यमुपहारयत् । स राज्ञः प्रतिगृह्यार्घ्यं शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥१-१८-
The king, his face beaming with delight, then offered him water for welcoming. The sage accepted the arghya from the king, according to scriptural rite.
कुशलं चाव्ययं चैव पर्यपृच्छन्नराधिपम् । पुरे कोशे जनपदे बान्धवेषु सुहृत्सु च ॥१-१८-
He inquired of the king about his welfare and unchanging prosperity: in the city, the treasury, the country, among relatives and friends.
कुशलं कौशिको राज्ञः पर्यपृच्छत् सुधार्मिकः । अपि ते संनताः सर्वे सामन्तरिपवो जिताः ॥१-१८-
The virtuous Kauśika also asked the king if all his vassals and neighboring enemies had been subdued.