अभिगच्छामहे सर्वे शुचयः पुण्यमाश्रमम् । इह वासः परोऽस्माकं सुखं वस्त्यामहे निशाम् ॥१-२३-
Let us all, pure in mind, approach this sacred hermitage; here our stay will be most excellent, and we shall pass the night in comfort.
स्नाताश्च कृतजप्याश्च हुतहव्या नरोत्तम । तेषां संवदतां तत्र तपोदीर्घेण चक्षुषा ॥१-२३-
Having bathed, performed their recitations, and offered oblations, O best of men, as they conversed there, the ascetics gazed upon them with eyes long practiced in austerity.
विज्ञाय परमप्रीता मुनयो हर्षमागमन् । अर्घ्यं पाद्यं तथाऽऽतिथ्यं निवेद्य कुशिकात्मजे ॥१-२३-
Recognizing them, the sages, filled with supreme joy, approached with delight and offered water for washing feet, water for welcome, and hospitality to the son of Kuśika.
रामलक्ष्मणयोः पश्चादकुर्वन्नतिथिक्रियाम् । सत्कारं समनुप्राप्य कथाभिरभिरञ्जयन् ॥१-२३-
Afterwards, they performed the rites of hospitality for Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, and having received due honor, they delighted them with pleasant stories.
यथार्हमजपन् संध्यामृषयस्ते समाहिताः । तत्र वासिभिरानीता मुनिभिः सुव्रतैः सह ॥१-२३-
Then, as was proper, those focused sages performed the evening prayers, joined by the resident ascetics and those of virtuous vows.
न्यवसन् सुसुखं तत्र कामाश्रमपदे तथा । कथाभिरभिरामभिरभिरमौ नृपात्मजौ । रमयामास धर्मात्मा कौशिको मुनिपुङ्गवः ॥१-२३-
There, in the hermitage of Kāma, they dwelt most happily; the sage Kauśika, righteous and foremost among ascetics, entertained the princes with delightful tales.
thumb|चतुर्विंशः सर्गः श्रूयताम्|center श्रीमद्वाल्मीकियरामायणे बालकाण्डे चतुर्विंशः सर्गः ॥१-
This is the twenty-fourth chapter. Listen.
ततः प्रभाते विमले कृताह्निकमरिन्दमौ । विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य नद्यास्तीरमुपागतौ ॥१-२४-
Then, at dawn, when the day was clear, the two destroyers of enemies, having completed their morning rites, approached the riverbank with Viśvāmitra leading.
ते च सर्वे महात्मानो मुनयः संशितव्रताः । उपस्थाप्य शुभां नावं विश्वामित्रमथाब्रुवन् ॥१-२४-
And all those great-souled sages, firm in their vows, prepared a fine boat and spoke to Viśvāmitra.
आरोहतु भवान् नावं राजपुत्रपुरस्कृतः । अरिष्टं गच्छ पन्थानं मा भूत् कालस्य पर्ययः ॥१-२४-
"Please board the boat, with the princes at the forefront; travel safely and let there be no delay caused by time."
विश्वामित्रस्तथेत्युक्त्वा तानृषीन् प्रतिपूज्य च । ततार सहितस्ताभ्यां सरितं सागरङ्गमाम् ॥१-२४-
Viśvāmitra, having agreed and honored those sages, crossed the river that flows to the ocean, together with the two princes.
तत्र शुश्राव वै शब्दं तोयसंरम्भवर्धितम् । मध्यमागम्य तोयस्य तस्य शब्दस्य निश्चयम् ॥१-२४-
There, he heard a sound, intensified by the agitation of the water; coming to the middle of the stream, he sought to ascertain the source of that sound.
ज्ञातुकामो महातेजाः सह रामः कनीयसा । अथ रामः सरिन्मध्ये पप्रच्छ मुनिपुङ्गवम् ॥१-२४-
Desiring to know, the mighty one, together with Rama and his younger brother, then, in the midst of the river, Rama questioned the eminent sage.
वारिणो भिद्यमानस्य किमयं तुमुलो ध्वनिः । राघवस्य वचः श्रुत्वा कौतूहलसमन्वितम् ॥१-२४-
What is this tumultuous noise of the water breaking apart? Hearing Raghava's words, filled with curiosity—
कथयामास धर्मात्मा तस्य शब्दस्य निश्चयम् । कैलासपर्वते राम मनसा निर्मितं परम् ॥१-२४-
The righteous sage began to explain the origin of that sound: 'On Mount Kailasa, Rama, a supreme lake was created by the mind.'
ब्रह्मणा नरशार्दूल तेनेदं मानसं सरः । तस्मात् सुस्राव सरसः सायोध्यामुपगूहते ॥१-२४-
'By Brahma, O tiger among men, this Mānasa lake was formed; from it, the river flowed forth and approaches Ayodhya.'
सरःप्रवृत्ता सरयूः पुण्या ब्रह्मसरश्च्युता । तस्यायमतुलः शब्दो जाह्नवीमभिवर्तते ॥१-२४-
'The sacred Sarayu, originating from the lake, sprung from Brahma's lake; this incomparable sound of hers reaches the Jahnavi.'
वारिसंक्षोभजो राम प्रणामं नियतः कुरु । ताभ्यां तु तावुभौ कृत्वा प्रणाममतिधार्मिकौ ॥१-२४-
'Born from the disturbance of the waters, Rama, offer your respectful salutation.' Then, both of them, exceedingly righteous, made their salutations.
तीरं दक्षिणमासाद्य जग्मतुर्लघुविक्रमौ । स वनं घोरसंकाशं दृष्ट्वा नरवरात्मजः ॥१-२४-
Having reached the southern bank, the two, swift in movement, proceeded; seeing a forest of terrifying appearance, the son of the foremost of men—
अविप्रहतमैक्ष्वाकः पप्रच्छ मुनिपुङ्गवम् । अहो वनमिदं दुर्गं झिल्लिकागणसंयुतम् ॥१-२४-
The descendant of Ikshvaku, unvanquished, questioned the eminent sage: 'Ah, this forest is formidable, filled with multitudes of crickets.'
भैरवैः श्वापदैः कीर्णं शकुन्तैर्दारुणारवैः । नानाप्रकारैः शकुनैर्वाश्यद्भिर्भैरवस्वनैः ॥१-२४-
'It is crowded with fearsome beasts and birds with harsh cries; with various kinds of birds, shrieking with dreadful sounds.'
सिंहव्याघ्रवराहैश्च वारणैश्चापि शोभितम् । धवाश्वकर्णककुभैर्बिल्वतिन्दुकपाटलैः ॥१-२४-
'Adorned with lions, tigers, boars, and elephants, and with dhava, ashvakarna, kakubha, bilva, tinduka, and patala trees.'
संकीर्णं बदरीभिश्च किं न्विदं दारुणं वनम् । तमुवाच महातेजा विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः ॥१-२४-
'Mixed with jujube trees—why is this forest so dreadful?' The great sage Vishvamitra, possessed of immense energy, spoke to him.
श्रूयतां वत्स काकुत्स्थ यस्यैतद् दारुणं वनम् । एतौ जनपदौ स्फीतौ पूर्वमास्तां नरोत्तम ॥१-२४-
'Listen, child of Kakutstha, to the reason for this dreadful forest. These two prosperous regions once existed here, O best of men.'
मलदाश्च करूषाश्च देवनिर्माणनिर्मितौ । पुरा वृत्रवधे राम मलेन समभिप्लुतम् ॥१-२४-
'Malada and Karusha, created by the gods, were here. Long ago, after the slaying of Vritra, Rama, Indra was overwhelmed by impurity.'
क्षुधा चैव सहस्राक्षं ब्रह्महत्या समाविशत् । तमिन्द्रं मलिनं देवा ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः ॥१-२४-
'And hunger, along with Brahma-hatya, entered the thousand-eyed one. That polluted Indra, the gods and ascetic sages—'
कलशैः स्नापयामासुर्मलं चास्य प्रमोचयन् । इह भूम्यां मलं दत्त्वा देवाः कारूषमेव च ॥१-२४-
'—bathed with vessels, removing his impurity. Here, upon the earth, they deposited the impurity and also Karusha.'
शरीरजं महेन्द्रस्य ततो हर्षं प्रपेदिरे । निर्मलो निष्करूषश्च शुद्ध इन्द्रो यथाभवत् ॥१-२४-
'Born from Indra's body, then they rejoiced; purified and freed from impurity, Indra became as he was.'
ददौ देशस्य सुप्रीतो वरं प्रादातनुत्तमम् । इमौ जनपदौ स्फीतौ ख्यातिं लोके गमिष्यतः ॥१-२४-
'Pleased, he granted the land a supreme boon; these two prosperous regions will attain renown in the world.'
मलदाश्च करूषाश्च ममाङ्गमलधारिणौ । साधु साध्विति तं देवाः पाकशासनमब्रुवन् ॥१-२४-
The Maladas and Karushas, bearing my bodily impurity, were praised by the gods, who said to the lord of the heavens, 'Well done, well done.'