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.
दैवं च मानुषं चैव कर्म ते साध्वनुष्ठितम् । वसिष्ठं च समागम्य कुशलं मुनिपुङ्गवः ॥१-१८-
He asked whether both divine and human duties had been properly performed. Meeting with Vasiṣṭha, the foremost sage, he inquired of his well-being too.
ऋषींश्च तान् यथान्यायं महाभाग उवाच ह । ते सर्वे हृष्टमनसस्तस्य राज्ञो निवेशनम् ॥१-१८-
The illustrious sage also greeted the other seers there, as was proper. All of them, their hearts gladdened, entered the king’s residence.
विविशुः पूजितास्तेन निषेदुश्च यथार्हतः । अथ हृष्टमना राजा विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम् ॥१-१८-
Honored by the king, they took their seats as was fitting. Then the king, his mind delighted, addressed the great sage Viśvāmitra.
उवाच परमोदारो हृष्टस्तमभिपूजयन् । यथामृतस्य सम्प्राप्तिर्यथा वर्षमनूदके ॥१-१८-
The supremely generous king, rejoicing and honoring him, spoke: ‘Your arrival is like receiving nectar, like rain in a drought—
यथा सदृशदारेषु पुत्रजन्माप्रजस्य वै । प्रणष्टस्य यथा लाभो यथा हर्षो महोदयः ॥१-१८-
Like the birth of a son to one without children, like regaining what was lost, like the joy of a great fortune—
तथैवागमनं मन्ये स्वागतं ते महामुने । कं च ते परमं कामं करोमि किमु हर्षितः ॥१-१८-
So too, O great sage, I consider your coming as such. Welcome to you! What is your highest wish? What shall I do, so gladdened by your presence?
पात्रभूतोऽसि मे विप्र दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोऽसि मानद । अद्य मे सफलं जन्म जीवितं च सुजीवितम् ॥१-१८-
You are worthy of my reverence, O Brāhmaṇa. By good fortune you have come, O bestower of honor. Today my birth is fulfilled, and my life well-lived.
यस्माद् विप्रेन्द्रमद्राक्षं सुप्रभाता निशा मम । पूर्वं राजर्षिशब्देन तपसा द्योतितप्रभः ॥१-१८-
Because I have seen the lord of Brāhmaṇas, my night has become truly auspicious. Once called a royal sage, your brilliance was kindled by austerity.
ब्रह्मर्षित्वमनुप्राप्तः पूज्योऽसि बहुधा मया । तदद्भुतमभूद् विप्र पवित्रं परमं मम ॥१-१८-
Now you have attained the status of a Brahmarṣi, and are worthy of my manifold worship. This is a wondrous and supremely pure event for me, O Brāhmaṇa.
शुभक्षेत्रगतश्चाहं तव संदर्शनात् प्रभो । ब्रूहि यत् प्रार्थितं तुभ्यं कार्यमागमनं प्रति ॥१-१८-
By your presence, O lord, I have come into a field of merit. Tell me what purpose you seek, for which you have come.