Rama and Lakshmana travel with Vishvamitra to his ritual place

तथा वसिष्ठे ब्रुवति राजा दशरथः स्वयम् | प्रहृष्टवदनो राममाजुहाव सलक्ष्मणम् || १-२२-१

tathaa vasiShTe bruvati raajaa dasharathaH svayam | prahR^iShTa vadano raamam aajuhaava sa lakShmaNam || 1-22-1

When Vashishta said that way king Dasharatha with an air of satisfaction personally fetched Rama along with Lakshmana. [1-22-1]

कृतस्वस्त्ययनं मात्रा पित्रा दशरथेन च | पुरोधसा वसिष्ठेन मङ्गलैरभिमंत्रितम् || १-२२-२ सपुत्रं मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय राजा दशरथस्तदा | ददौ कुशिकपुत्राय सुप्रीतेनान्तरात्मना || १-२२-३

kR^itaH svastyayanam maatraa pitraa dasharathena ca | purodhasaa vasiShThena ma~NgalaiH abhimaMtritam || 1-22-2 sa putram muurdhni upaaghraaya raajaa dasharathaH tadaa | dadau kushika putraaya supriitena aMtaraatmanaa || 1-22-3

Rama is blessed for a propitious travel firstly by his mother Kausalya and then by his father king Dasharatha, thereupon the royal priest Vashishta rendered Vedic hymns blessing the journey, then Dasharatha well pleased in his heart of hearts kissed his son Rama on forehead and entrusted him to Vishvamitra. [1-22-2, 3]

ततो वायुः सुखस्पर्शो नीरजस्को ववौ तदा | विश्वामित्रगतं रामं दृष्ट्वा राजीवलोचनम् || १-२२-४

puShpa vR^iShTiH mahatI aasiit deva dundubhi niHsvanaiH | sha~Nkha dundubhi nirghoShaH prayaate tu mahaatmani || 1-22-5

Then on seeing the lotus-eyed Rama following Vishvamitra, dustless and pleasant for touch breeze blew. [1-22-4]

पुष्पवृष्टिर्महत्यासीद्देवदुन्दुभिनिःस्वनैः | शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषः प्रयाते तु महात्मनि || १-२२-५

vishvaamitro yayau agre tato raamo mahaayashaaH | kaaka pakSha dharo dhanvii tam ca saumitriH anvagaat || 1-22-6

When the great-souled Rama forged ahead there occurred an abounding downpour of flowers with the booming of divine drums, together with the boom and blare of drums and conch-shells of Ayodhya. [1-22-5]

विश्वामित्रो ययावग्रे ततो रामो महायशाः | काकपक्षधरो धन्वी तं च सौमित्रिरन्वगात् || १-२२-६

kalaapinau dhanuSh paaNii shobhayaanau disho dasha | vishvaamitram mahaatmaanam tri shiirShau iva pannagau | anujagmatuH akShudrau pitaamaham iva ashvinau || 1-22-7

Rama with jet-black hair-locks handling his bow followed Vishvamitra who walked ahead, while Lakshmana handling his own bow followed Rama. [1-22-6]

कलापिनौ धनुष्पाणी शोभयानौ दिशो दश | विश्वामित्रं महात्मानं त्रिशीर्षाविव पन्नगौ | अनुजग्मतुरक्षुद्रौ पितामहमिवाश्विनौ || १-२२-७

tadaa kushika putram tu dhanuSh paaNii svalaMkR^itau | baddha godha aMguli traaNau khaDgavantau mahaadyutii || 1-22-8 kumaarau caaru vapuShau bhraatarau raama laxmaNau | anuyaatau shriyaa dIptau shobhayetaam aninditau || 1-22-9 sthaaNum devam iva acintyam kumaarau iva paavakii |

Rama and Lakshmana, with two quivers each and two bows in their hands, and making all the ten directions of compass lambent followed Vishvamitra, as if three headed serpents followed Vishvamitra, and with their highly dynamic physiques and spiritedness they look as if like the Ashwin twin gods of unequal charm following Brahma, the Forefather. [1-22-7]

तदा कुशिकपुत्रं तु धनुष्पाणी स्वलंकृतौ | बद्धगोधांगुलित्राणौ खड्गवन्तौ महाद्युती || १-२२-८ कुमारौ चारुवपुषौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्ष्मणौ | अनुयातौ श्रिया दीप्तौ शोभयेतामनिन्दितौ || १-२२-९ स्थाणुं देवमिवाचिन्त्यं कुमाराविव पावकी |

adhyardha yojanam gatvaa sarayvaa dakShiNe taTe | 1-22-10 raamaa iti madhuraam vaaNiim vishvaamitraH abhyabhaaShata |

Those two youngsters with charming and bejewelled physiques are handling bows and swords and their fingers have leathern covers. Both the unreprovable brothers Rama and Lakshmana are highly resplendent and effulgent by their worth. While they are following Vishvamitra they looked like the sons of Fire-god, namely Skanda and Vishakha, following the great god with inscrutable potential, namely Shiva, and thus the brothers have made Vishvamitra to shine forth in even pose with god Shiva. [1-22-8, 9, 10a]

अध्यर्धयोजनं गत्वा सरय्वा दक्षिणे तटे | १-२२-१० रामेति मधुरां वाणीं विश्वामित्रोऽभ्यभाषत |

na shramo na jvaro vaa te na ruupasya viparyayaH || 1-22-12 na ca suptam pramattam vaa dharSha iShyanti nairR^itaaH |

And on going one and half yojana distance Vishvamitra addressed Rama in a harmonious voice calling, 'oh, Rama', on the southern riverbank of Sarayu. [1-22-10b, 11a]

गृहाण वत्स सलिलं मा भूत् कालस्य पर्ययः || १-२२-११ मंत्रग्रामं गृहाण त्वं बलामतिबलां तथा |

na baahvoH sadR^isho viirye pR^ithivyaam asti kashcana || 1-22-13 triShu lokeShu vaa raama na bhavet sadR^ishaH tava |

" "Take water, my boy, and like that you receive a group of hymns, bala and atibala from me, and let no time lapse. [1-22-11b, 12a]

न श्रमो न ज्वरो वा ते न रूपस्य विपर्ययः || १-२२-१२ न च सुप्तं प्रमत्तं वा धर्षयिष्यन्ति नैरृताः |

balaam atibalaam caiva paThataH taata raaghava || 1-22-14 na saubhaagye na daakShiNye na GYaane buddhi nishcaye | na uttare prati vaktavye samo loke tava anagha || 1-22-15

"On receiving these hymns neither tiredness nor fever, nor disfiguring of personality can effect you, nor the demons can charge you either you are sleeping or unvigilant. [1-11-12b, 13a]

न बाह्वोः सदृशो वीर्ये पृथिव्यामस्ति कश्चन || १-२२-१३ त्रिषु लोकेषु वा राम न भवेत्सदृशस्तव |

etat vidyaa dvaye labdhe na bhavet sadR^ishaH tava | balaa ca atibalaa caiva sarva GYaanasya maatarau || 1-22-16

"As it is none whosoever on earth can equal you in dexterity, Rama, and by reciting these hymns none can equal you in the three worlds. [1-22-13b, 14a]

बलामतिबलां चैव पठतस्तात राघव || १-२२-१४ न सौभाग्ये न दाक्षिण्ये न ज्ञाने बुद्धिनिश्चये | नोत्तरे प्रतिवक्तव्ये समो लोके तवानघ || १-२२-१५

kShut pipaase na te raama bhaviShyete narottama | balaam atibalaam caiva paThataH taata raaghava || 1-22-17

"My dear Raghava, if bala atibala hymns are practised, oh, impeccable one, none can equal you in the world by your handsomeness, calibre, erudition, by your discernment, and even in replying or rebutting you. [1-22-14b, 15]

एतद्विद्याद्वये लब्धे न भवेत्सदृशस्तव | बला चातिबला चैव सर्वज्ञानस्य मातरौ || १-२२-१६

kaamam bahuguNaaH sarve tvayi ete na atra saMshayaH |1-22-19 tapasaa saMbhR^ite ca ete bahu ruupe bhaviShyataH |

"On receiving these two teachings there will be none similar to you, for bala and atibala are the mothers of all knowledge. [1-22-16]

क्षुत्पिपासे न ते राम भविष्येते नरोत्तम | बलामतिबलां चैव पठतस्तात राघव || १-२२-१७

tato raamo jalam spR^iShTvaa prahR^iShTa vadanaH shuciH | 1-22-20 prati jagraaha te vidye maharSher bhaavita aatmanaH |

"Oh, best one among men, Raghava, if you go on reciting bala and atiblala hymns, my dear Rama, there will be no hunger or thirst to you. [1-22-17]

गृहाण सर्वलोकस्य गुप्तये रघुनन्दन | विद्याद्वयमधीयाने यशश्चाप्यतुलं भुवि | पितामहसुते ह्येते विद्ये तेजःसमन्विते || १-२२-१८ प्रदातुं तव काकुत्स्थ सदृशस्त्वं हि धार्मिक |

vidyaa samudito raamaH shushubhe bhiima vikramaH || 1-22-21 sahasra rashmiH bhagvaan sharadiiva divaakaraH | guru kaaryaaNi sarvaaNi niyujya kushika aatmaje | uuShuH taam rajaniim tatra sarayvaam susukham trayaH || 1-22-22

"And if these twin teachings are practised an inestimable renown will also accrue, oh, Raghu's legatee, these two hymns that possess brilliance are the daughters of Forefather Brahma, and oh, Rama of Kakutstha, I intend to impart these hymns to you, oh virtuous one, as you are the most eligible one, hence take the teachings that are kept safe from the world. [1-22-18, 19a]

कामं बहुगुणाः सर्वे त्वय्येते नात्र संशयः |१-२२-१९ तपसा संभृते चैते बहुरूपे भविष्यतः |

"Though all of these numerous qualities are undoubtedly available with you, that too in abundance, yet these hymns if ascetically nurtured will yield various results." Thus spoke Sage Vishvamitra to Rama. [1-22-19b, 20a]

ततो रामो जलं स्पृष्ट्वा प्रहृष्टवदनः शुचिः | १-२२-२० प्रतिजग्राह ते विद्ये महर्षेर्भावितात्मनः |

Then Rama on touching water to purify himself received those teachings from the contemplative soul Vishvamitra with gladness beaming on his face. [1-22-20b, 21a]

विद्यासमुदितो रामः शुशुभे भूरिविक्रमः || १-२२-२१ सहस्ररश्मिर्भगवान् शरदीव दिवाकरः | गुरुकार्याणि सर्वाणि नियुज्य कुशिकात्मजे | ऊषुस्तां रजनीं तत्र सरय्वाः सुसुखं त्रयः || १-२२-२२

Rama, the one with marvellous valiance, on obtaining those teachings performed all his duties of a student in respect of a teacher and then shone forth like the thousand rayed sun on a cloudless sky of autumn. Then those three very happily stayed on the riverbank of Sarayu for that night. [1-22-21b, 22]

दशरथनृपसूनुसत्तमाभ्यां तृणशयनेऽनुचिते सहोषिताभ्याम् | कुशिकसुतवचोऽनुलालिताभ्यां | सुखमिव सा विबभौ विभावरी च || १-२२-२३

Though both Rama and Lakshmana slept on an undeserving grass bed, nestled by the comfortable words of Vishvamitra that night is as though pleasant to the noteworthy children of Dasharatha. [1-22-24]