ततः प्रभाते विमले कृतकर्मा नराधिपः | विश्वामित्रं महात्मानमाजुहाव सराघवम् || १-६६-१
tataH prabhaate vimale kR^ita karmaa naraadhipaH | vishvaamitram mahaatmaanam aajuhaava sa raaghavam || 1-66-1
Then on performing morning time rites in the aurora of next morning, king Janaka invited great souled Vishvamitra, along with Raghava-s. [1-66-1]
तमर्चयित्वा धर्मात्मा शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा | राघवौ च महात्मानौ तदा वाक्यमुवाच ह || १-६६-२
tam ar.hcayitvaa dharmaaatmaa shaastra dR^iShTena karmaNaa | raaghavau ca mahaatmaanau tadaa vaakyam uvaaca ha || 1-66-2
On reverencing Vishvamitra and the noble souled Raghava-s according to the formalities envisaged by scriptures, then the virtue souled Janaka spoke these words, indeed. [1-66-2]
भगवन् स्वागतं तेऽस्तु किं करोमि तवानघ | भवानाज्ञापयतु मामाज्ञाप्यो भवताह्यहम् || १-६६-३
bhagavan svaagatam te astu kim karomi tava anagha | bhavaan aaj~naapayatu maam aaj~naapyo bhavataa hi aham || 1-66-3
Oh, god, you are welcome, oh, holy sage, bid me as to what I should for you, for I am biddable by you, indeed... [1-66-3]
एवमुक्तः स धर्मात्मा जनकेन महात्मना | प्रत्युवाच मुनिर्वीरं वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः || १-६६-४
evam uktaH sa dharmaatmaa janakena mahaatmanaa | pratyuvaaca munir viiram vaakyam vaakya vishaaradaH || 1-66-4
When said thus by the foreseer Janaka, [who can foresee as to why Vishvamitra came with Raghava-s this far, and thus asked him as to what next is to be done,] that sage Vishvamitra, for he is presager and wordsmith, [and who knows what is to be done next,] said these words in reply to that valiant king Janaka. [1-66-4]
पुत्रौ दशरथस्येमौ क्षत्रियौ लोकविश्रुतौ | द्रष्टुकामौ धनुः श्रेष्ठं यदेतत्त्वयि तिष्ठति || १-६६-५
putrau dasharathasya imau kShatriyau loka vishrutau | draShTu kaamau dhanuH shreShTham yat etat tvayi tiShThati || 1-66-5
These two are the sons of Dasharatha, well-renowned Kshatriya-s in world, and they are desirous to see that marvellous bow which has a place with you... [1-66-5]
एतद्दर्शय भद्रं ते कृतकामौ नृपात्मजौ | दर्शनादस्य धनुषो यथेष्टं प्रतियास्यतः || १-६६-६
etat darshaya bhadram te kR^ita kaamau nR^ipa aatmajau | darshanaat asya dhanuSho yathaa iShTam pratiyaasyataH || 1-66-6
You may show that bow, well bodes you, and on beholding that bow the desire of these two princes will come true, and they will go back as they like... [1-66-6]
एवमुक्तस्तु जनकः प्रत्युवाच महामुनिम् | श्रूयतामस्य धनुषो यदर्थमिह तिष्ठति || १-६६-७
evam uktaH tu janakaH pratyuvaaca mahaamunim | shruuyataam asya dhanuSho yat artham iha tiShThati || 1-66-7
But Janaka replied the great sage Vishvamitra when he was addressed thus, "I shall [firstly] tell by which reason that bow has its place here... [1-66-7]
देवरात इति ख्यातो निमेः षष्ठो महीपतिः | न्यासोऽयं तस्य भगवन् हस्ते दत्तो महात्मना || १-६६-८
devaraata iti khyaato nimeH jyeShTho mahii patiH | nyaaso ayam tasya bhagavan haste datto mahaatmanaa || 1-66-8
Oh, godly sage, there was a king renowned as Devaraata, sixth one from Nimi, [the originator of our lineage,] and this bow was handed down to him for custodial care by the Sublime Soul, Shiva... [1-66-8]
दक्षयज्ञवधे पूर्वं धनुरायम्य वीर्यवान् | रुद्रस्तु त्रिदशान् रोषात् सलीलमिदमब्रवीत् || १-६६-९
dakSha yaj~na vadhe puurvam dhanuH aayaMya viiryavaan | rudraH tu tridashaan roShaat sa liilam idam abraviit || 1-66-9
Once, during the devastation of the Vedic-ritual of Daksha Prajapati, the mettlesome god Rudra, rancorously outstretching the bowstring of this bow, said this to all gods, superciliously... [1-66-9]
यस्माद्भागार्थिनो भागं नाकल्पयत मे सुराः | वरांगाणि महार्हाणि धनुषा शातयामि वः || १-६६-१०
yasmaat bhaaga arthino bhaagaan na akalpayata me suraaH | vara aMgaani mahaaar.hhaaNi dhanuShaa shaatayaami vaH || 1-66-10
'Oh, gods, whereby you have not apportioned my portion [of oblations in Vedic-ritual s, as I am also the] desirer of such portion, [thereby] I will shred the highly revered heads of yours with this bow...' [So said Shiva to gods.] [1-66-10]
ततो विमनसः सर्वे देवा वै मुनिपुंगव | प्रसादयन्ति देवेशं तेषां प्रीतोऽभवद्भवः || १-६६-११
tato vimanasaH sarve devaa vai munipuMgava | prasaadayanti devesham teShaam priito abhavat bhavaH || 1-66-11
Then, oh, best saint Vishvamitra, all gods are truly dismayed, and on their supplicating, Bhava, namely Shiva, the God of Gods is gladdened... [1-66-11]
प्रीतियुक्तस्तु सर्वेषां ददौ तेषां महात्मनाम् | तदेतद्देवदेवस्य धनूरत्नं महात्मनः || १-६६-१२ न्यासभूतं तदा न्यस्तमस्माकं पूर्वजे विभो |
priiti yuktaH tu sarveShaam dadau teShaam mahaatmanaam | tat etat devadevasya dhanuu ratnam mahaatmanaH || 1-66-12 nyaasabhuutam tadaa nyastam asmaakam puurvaje vibho |
And that Sublime Soul Shiva gladly gave that bow to all of the great souled gods, and oh, godly saint, then those great souled gods gave this gem of a bow of Shiva, the God of Gods, to our ancestor [Devaraata,] for custodial care... [1-66-12, 13a]
अथ मे कृषतः क्षेत्रं लांगलादुत्थिता मम || १-६६-१३ क्षेत्रं शोधयता लब्धा नाम्ना सीतेति विश्रुता |
atha me kR^iShataH kShetram laaMgalaat utthitaa mama || 1-66-13 kShetram shodhayataa labdhvaa naamnaa siitaa iti vishrutaa |
Later, when I was ploughing the ritual field then raised by the plough [from the furrow is a baby girl... since she is] gained while consecrating the ritual-field, she is named as Seetha, and thus she is renowned... [1-66-13b, 14a]
भूतलादुत्थिता सा तु व्यवर्धत ममात्मजा || १-६६-१४ वीर्यशुल्केति मे कन्या स्थापितेयमयोनिजा |
bhuu talaat utthitaa saa tu vyavardhata mama aatmajaa || 1-66-14 viirya shulkaa iti me kanyaa sthaapitaa iyam ayonijaa |
Hers is a non-uterine birth as she surfaced from the surface of the earth, but fostered as my own soul-born girl and I determined [to give her in marriage to a bridegroom where his] boldness is the only bounty, [I receive in that marriage...] [1-66-14b, 15a]
भूतलादुत्थितां तां तु वर्धमानां ममात्मजाम् || १-६६-१५ वरयामासुरागम्य राजानो मुनिपुंगव |
bhuutalaat utthitaam taam tu vardhamaanaam mama aatmajaam || 1-66-15 varayaamaasuH aagamya raajaano munipuMgava |
Oh, eminent sage, as my daughter has surfaced from the surface of earth and has come of age, the kings, [having heard my declaration that the bounty for Seetha is boldness alone,] have come and besought for her... [1-66-15b, 16a]
तेषां वरयतां कन्यां सर्वेषां पृथिवीक्षिताम् || १-६६-१६ वीर्यशुल्केति भगवन्न ददामि सुतामहम् |
teShaam varayataam kanyaam sarveShaam pR^ithiviikShitaam || 1-66-16 viirya shulkaa iti bhagavan na dadaami sutaam aham |
To all of those kings who are beseeching for the girl, I have not given my daughter, saying that she will be given for a bounty of boldness... [1-6-16b, 17a]
ततः सर्वे नृपतयः समेत्य मुनिपुंगव || १-६६-१७ मिथिलामभ्युपागम्य वीर्यं जिज्ञासवस्तदा |
tataH sarve nR^ipatayaH sametya munipuMgava || 1-66-17 mithilaam abhyupaagaMya viiryam jij~naasavaH tadaa |
Then all the kings convoked and on arriving at Mithila, then they wanted to ascertain the calibre [of the bow, vis-a-vis their own...] [1-66-17b, 18a]
तेषां जिज्ञासमानानां शैवं धनुरुपाहृतम् || १-६६-१८ न शेकुर्ग्रहणे तस्य धनुषस्तोलनेऽपि वा |
teShaam jij~naasamaanaanaam shaivam dhanuH upaahR^itam || 1-66-18 na shekuH grahaNe tasya dhanuShaH tolane api vaa |
For them, those who wanted to ascertain the calibre of the bow, that bow of Shiva is fetched to their proximity, but they are incapable to joggle it, or even to catch hold of it... [1-66-18b, 19a]
तेषां वीर्यवतां वीर्यमल्पं ज्ञात्वा महामुने || १-६६-१९ प्रत्याख्याता नृपतयस्तन्निबोध तपोधन |
teShaam viiryavataam viiryam alpam j~naatvaa mahaamune || 1-66-19 pratyaakhyaataa nR^ipatayaH tan nibodha tapodhana |
Oh, great saint, on knowing the valour of those valorous ones as valueless, I countermanded them... oh, ascetically wealthy Vishvamitra, by that you may know [the sequel of it...] [1-66-19b, 20a]
ततः परमकोपेन राजानो मुनिपुंगव || १-६६-२० अरुन्धन् मिथिलां सर्वे वीर्यसंदेहमागताः |
tataH parama kopena raajaano munipuMgava || 1-66-20 arundhan mithilaam sarve viirya saMdeham aagataaH |
Then, oh, eminent sage, those kings beleaguered Mithila in a blind fury, since a self-mistrust bechanced among them all, about their own valour... [1-66-20b, 21a]
आत्मानमवधूतं ते विज्ञाय मुनिपुंगव || १-६६-२१ रोषेण महताविष्टाः पीडयन् मिथिलां पुरीम् |
aatmaanam avadhuutam te vij~naaya munipuMgava || 1-66-21 roSheNa mahataa aaviShTaaH piiDayan mithilaam puriim |
They surmised for themselves that they are brushed off by me, and they possessed by a high rancour, they strangled the City of Mithila... [1-66-21b, 22a]
ततः संवत्सरे पूर्णे क्षयं यातानि सर्वशः || १-६६-२२ साधनानि मुनिश्रेष्ठ ततोऽहं भृशदुःखितः |
tataH saMvatsare puurNe kShayam yaataani sarvashaH || 1-66-22 saadhanaani munishreShTha tato aham bhR^isha duHkhitaH |
Then elapsed is an year and in anyway the possessions for livelihood went into a decline, oh, eminent sage, thereby I am highly anguished [1-66-22b, 23a]
ततो देवगणान् सर्वांस्तपसाहं प्रसादयम् || १-६६-२३ ददुश्च परमप्रीताश्चतुरंगबलं सुराः |
tato deva gaNaan sarvaan tapasaa aham prasaadayam || 1-66-23 daduH ca parama priitaaH caturaMga balam suraaH |
Then I have assuaged the assemblages of gods by my ascesis and gods are also highly gladdened and gave me fourfold forces... [1-66-23b, 24a]
ततो भग्ना नृपतयो हन्यमाना दिशो ययुः || १-६६-२४ अवीर्या वीर्यसंदिग्धाः सामात्याः पापकारिणः |
tato bhagnaa nR^ipatayo hanyamaanaa disho yayuH || 1-66-24 aviiryaa viirya saMdigdhaa sa amaatyaaH paapa kaariNaH |
Then those evildoers and self-mistrustful kings while being drubbed [by the heaven-sent army, they have become] vigourless and broken, and they beat a hasty retreat... [1-66-24b, 25a]
तदेतन्मुनिशार्दूल धनुः परमभास्वरम् || १-६६-२५ रामलक्ष्मणयोश्चापि दर्शयिष्यामि सुव्रत |
tat etat munishaarduula dhanuH parama bhaasvaram || 1-66-25 raama lakShmaNayoH ca api dar.hshayiShyaami suvrata |
Oh, tigerly sage this is that supremely radiant bow, and oh, saint of sacred vows, I will show it, even to Rama and Lakshmana... [1-66-25b, 26a]
यद्यस्य धनुषो रामः कुर्यादारोपणं मुने | सुतामयोनिजां सीतां दद्यां दाशरथेरहम् || १-६६-२६
yadi asya dhanuSho raamaH kuryaat aaropaNam mune | sutaam ayonijaam siitaam dadyaam daasharatheH aham || 1-66-26
"If Rama strings the bowstring of that bow, oh, sage, I will offer my daughter, whose birth is non-uterine, to Dasharatha's Rama..." [So said Janaka to Vishvamitra.] [1-66-26b, c]
