srivalmikiramayanam - balakanda - sargad 39 snf 40

Sree MadValmiki Ramayanam

( Translation and Commentary by Scholar,   Sreeman Brahmasree Desiraju Hanumantharao ji

and  Sreeman Brahmasree K M K Murthy ji )

Sree MadValmiki Ramayanam

Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties

Chapter [Sarga] 39

Introduction

The ritual horse released by Emperor Sagara is snatched away by Indra in order to cause hindrance to the ritual. The ritual cannot proceed to culmination without the horse. Then Sagara orders his sixty thousand sons to search for that horse, asking them to dig earth to trace it, if it is not found on earth. And the princes will dig earth when they have not found the horse on earth, to the grief of beings living in netherworlds.

vishvaamitra vacaH shrutvaa kathaante raghuna.ndana |
uvaaca parama priito munim diiptam iva analam || 1-39-1

On listening the narration of Vishvamitra, Rama, the delighter of Raghu's dynasty is highly rejoiced, and at the end of the episode he spoke to sage whose glow is fire like. [1-39-1]

shrotum icChaami bhadram te vistareNa kathaam imaam |
puurvajo me katham brahman yaj~nam vai samupaaharat || 1-39-2

"I am interested to listen this episode exhaustively, oh, Brahman, let good betide you, how my ancestor Sagara had completed the Vedic-ritual, really. [1-39-2]

tasya tat vacanam shrutvaa kautuuhala samanvitaH |
vishvaamitraH tu kaakutstham uvaaca prahasanniva || 1-39-3
shruuyataam vistaro raama sagarasya mahaatmanaH |

On listening the words of Rama that are inclusive of his inquisitiveness, Sage Vishvamitra smilingly spoke to that descendent of Kakutstha, "oh, Rama, let the episode of the great-souled Sagara be listened vividly." Vishvamitra thus commenced to narrate that episode. [1-39-3, 4a]

sha.nkara shvashuro naama himavaan iti vishrutaH || 1-39-4
vi.ndhya parvatam aasaadya niriikSete parasparam |

"The father-in-law of god Shankara who is well-known by the name of Himavan sets eyes on Mt. Vindhya, which stands as loftily as Himalayas, and those two mountains peer at each other. [1-39-4b, 5a]

tayor madhye sa.mbhavat yaj~naH sa puruSottama|| 1-39-5
sa hi desho naravyaaghra prashasto yaj~na karmaNi|

"Oh, best one among men, Rama, that Vedic-ritual of Sagara came to pass in between those two mountains, namely Himalayas and Vindhya ranges, and oh, tigerly-man Rama, that area is renowned for Vedic-rituals, isn't it! [1-39-5b, 6a]

tasya ashva caryaam kaakutstha dR^iDha dhanvaa mahaarathaH || 1-39-6
a.mshumaan akarot taata sagarasya mate sthitaH |

.

"Oh, dear sire Rama, the grandson of Sagara and the son of exiled Asamanja is Amshuman, oh, descendant of Kakutstha, which Anshuman's bow will be unfaltering and who is a top-speeded chariot-rider, and he has escorted ritual-horse released. [1-39-6b, 7a]

Details regarding the release of horse are at Bala Kanda 1-14-1

tasya parvaNi tam yaj~nam yajamaanasya vaasavaH 1-39-7
raakSasiim tanum aasthaaya yaj~niya ashvam apaaharat |

"And on the day of a sacred function called ukthyam, Indra assumed the form of a demon and stole the ritual horse of the chief of the ritual, namely Sagara. [1-39-7b, 8a]

hriyamaaNe tu kaakutstha tasmin ashve mahaatmanaH ||1-39-8
upaadhyaaya gaNaaH sarve yajamaanam atha abruvan |

"While that ritual-horse of the great-souled Sagara is stolen, all the congregations of the Ritviks, the religious-teachers, then spoke to the chief propitiator, namely Sagara. [1-39-8b, 9a]

ayam parvaNi vegena yaj~niya ashvo apaniiyate ||1-39-9
hartaaram jahi kaakutstha hayaH ca eva upaniiyataam |

" 'Oh, Sagara,the descendent of Kakutstha, at this auspicious time the ritual horse is hastily diverted, you kill him who stole the horse, and let that horse be fetched. [1-39-9b, 10a]

yaj~naH cChidram bhavati etat sarveSaam ashivaaya naH || 1-39-10
tat tathaa kriyataam raajan yaj~no acChidraH kruto bhavet |

" 'This hindrance in Vedic-ritual will become inauspicious for all of us, thereby, oh, king, action may be taken as to how there can be no fault in proceedings of the ritual.' The religious-teachers of Sagara have advised him in this way. [1-39-10b, 11a]

so upaadhyaaya vacaH shrutvaa tasmin sadasi paarthivaH ||1-39-11
SaSTim putra sahasraaNi vaakyam etat uvaaca ha |

"On hearing the words of religious-teachers that king Sagara indeed spoke this much to his sixty thousand sons in that religious-council. [1-39-11b, 12a]

gatim putraa na pashyaami rakSasaam puruSarSabhaaH ||1-39-12
ma.ntra puutaiH mahaabhaagaiH aasthito hi mahaakratuH |

" 'Oh, sons, I do not envisage any way in for demons into this ritual, since oh, best ones among men, holy-sanctifiers who themselves are sanctified by the Vedic-hymns are conducting this glorious Vedic-ritual, isn't it. [1-39-12b, 13a]

tat gacChata vicinvadhvam putrakaa bhadram astu vaH ||1-39-13
samudra maaliniim sarvaam pR^ithiviim anugacChata |

" 'Oh, sons, you may therefore proceed to search for the horse and its thief on entire earth as far as it is garlanded by the ocean, and safety betides you all. [1-39-13]

eka ekam yojanam putraa vistaaram abhigacChata || 1-39-14
yaavat turaga sa.ndarshaH taavat khanata mediniim |
tam eva haya hartaaram maargamaaNaa mama aaj~nayaa ||1-39-15

" 'Oh, sons, let each prince advance searching one square yojana of earth, by my order you dig up the earth until the appearance of the horse, while searching for the stealer of that horse. [1-39-14b, 15]

diikSitaH pautra sahitaH sa upaadhyaaya gaNaH tu aham |
iha sthaasyaami bhadram vo yaavat turaga darshanam ||1-39-16

" 'As for myself, I will stay here only along with my grandson, namely Amsuman, and with the congregation of religious-teachers till the horse appears, as I am under vow of the ritual.' Thus Sagara instructed to his sixty thousand sons and stayed back at the ritual place. [1-39-16]

te sarve hR^iSTamanaso raaja putraa mahaabalaaH |
jagmur mahii talam raama pitur vacana ya.ntritaaH ||1-39-17

"Animated by their father's words those great-mighty princes enthusiastically proceeded onto earth's surface in the preliminary round of search. [1-39-1]

gatva tu pR^ithiviim sarvam adR^iShTaa tam mahabalaaH |
yojanaayaam avistaaram ekaiko dharaNii talam |
bibhiduH puruSavyaaghra vajra sparsha samaiH bhujaiH ||1-39-18

"But, oh, tigerly-man Rama, on going round the earth in its entirety those great-mighty princes did not find that horse, then as said by their father they mapped the earth to a unit of one square yojana for each of them, and each of them hollowed out each and every area on the surface of earth with their arms that have the touch of the diamonds. [1-39-18]

shuulaiH ashani kalpaiH ca halaiH ca api sudaaruNaiH |
bhidyamaanaa vasumatii nanaada raghuna.ndana ||1-39-19

"Mother Earth bewailed while she is ruptured with spears also that are similar to thunderbolts, besides with very gruelling ploughs. [1-39-19]

naagaanaam vadhyamaanaanaam asuraaNaam ca raaghava |
raakSasaanaam ca durdharSaH sattvaanaam ninado abhavat ||1-39-20

"Oh, Raghava, there emerged an unbearable rumpus from the serpents, asura-s, demons, and other beings living underneath the surface of earth, while they are killed during hollowing the earth. [1-39-20]

yojanaanaam sahasraaNi SaSTim tu raghuna.ndana |
bibhidur dharaNiim raama rasaa talam anuttamam ||1-39-21

.

"Oh, Rama, the legatee of Raghu's dynasty, thus sixty thousand square yojana-s of the earth is dug over, so as to make the earth's outermost plane as the unsurpassed rasaa tala, the sixth subterranean and the nethermost plane. [1-39-21]

evam parvata sa.mbaadham jambuu dviipam nR^ipaatmajaaH |
khananto nR^ipashaarduula sarvataH paricakramuH ||1-39-22

.

"Oh, the kingly tiger Rama, the sons of Sagara have endeavoured everywhere digging over the Jambu Island which is verily congested with mountains in this way. [1-39-22]

The jambu dwiipa is a continent according to Hindu mythology where the total continents listed are seven. jamb¨ plakÿ˜hya dvŸpau þ˜lmali× ca aparo dvija | kuþa× kraunca× tath˜ þaka× puÿkara× ca eva ca saptama× the seven continents are jambu- plaksha - shaalmali- kusha - kraunca - shaaka - puSkara, and jambu dwiipa is one among them.

tato devaaH sa ga.ndharvaaH sa asuraaH saha pannagaaH |
sa.mbhraa.nta manasaH sarve pitaamaham upaagaman ||1-39-23

.

"All the gods along with gandharva-s, asura-s, and reptiles who are distraught at heart for the plight of earth have approached the Forefather, Brahma. [1-39-23]

te prasaadya mahaatmaanam viSaNNa vadanaaH tadaa |
uucuH parama sa.mtrastaaH pitaamaham idam vacaH ||1-39-24

"They the gods who are very highly scared, and who are chap-fallen, then spoke this sentence to the great-souled Forefather Brahma on gaining his grace. [1-39-24]

bhagavan pR^ithivii sarvaa khanyate sagara aatmajaiH |
bahavaH ca mahaatmaano vadhyante jala caariNaH ||1-39-25

" 'Oh, god Brahma, the sons of Sagara are digging entire earth, thus aquatic beings and many great-souls are being destroyed. [1-39-25]

ayam yaj~na haro asmaakam anena ashvo apaniiyate |
iti te sarva bhuutaani hi.msanti sagara aatmajaH ||1-39-26

.

" 'This one is the destroyer of our ritual... this one has carried off our ritual horse...' thinking thus and suspecting everyone those sons of Sagara are torturing all the living beings.' Thus all the gods have appealed to Brahma." So said Sage Vishvamitra to Rama and others. [1-39-26]

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye baala kaaNDe ekona catvaari.mshaH sargaH

Thus, this is the 39th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.

Bala Kanda - The Youthful Majesties

Chapter [Sarga] 40

Intoduction

The ritual horse released by Emperor Sagara is snatched away by Indra in order to cause hindrance to the ritual. The ritual cannot proceed to culmination without the horse. Then Sagara orders his sixty thousand sons to search for that horse, asking them to dig earth to trace it, if it is not found on earth. And the princes will dig earth when they have not found the horse on earth, to the grief of beings living in netherworlds.

devataanaam vacaH shrutvaa bhagavaan vai pitaamahaH |
pratyuvaaca susa.mtrastaan kR^itaanta bala mohitaan || 1-40-1

"On hearing the words of gods, the esteemed Forefather Brahma spoke to them, who are very highly scared, and bewildered by the might of Sagara's sons for they are effectuating the end of all beings." Vishvamitra thus continued his narration.  [1-40-1]

yasya iyam vasudhaa kR^itsnaa vaasudevasya dhiimataH|
mahiShii maadhavasaya sa eShaa sa eva bhagavan prabhuH|| 1-40-2
kaapilam ruupam aasthaaya dhaarayatya anisham dharaam |
tasya kopaagninaa dagdhaa bhaviSya.nti nR^ipaatmajaa || 1-40-3

.

" 'To whom this Mother Earth belongs in all her entirety, he is that prescient Vasudeva, and she is also the consort of that Maadhava, and that Vishnu eternally props up Mother Earth. Hence, that reverential Vishnu donning the semblance of Sage Kapila will burn down the sons of emperor Sagara to ashes in a fire of fury. [1-40-2, 3]

The islands / continents on earth, dviipa-s, are 'jambu- plaksha - shaalmali- kusha - kraunca - shaaka - puSkara. And they are the seven continents. Some say the earth is having nine continents, yet some others prefer eighteen. However entire globe bhuu devi belongs to Vishnu as she is his another consort.

pR^ithivyaaH ca api nirbhedo dR^iSTa eva sanaatanaH |
sagarasya ca putraaNaam vinaasho diirgha darshinaam ||1-40-4

'Even the complete cleavage of the earth, and the complete ruination of Sagara's sons as well, are envisaged by the providentially farsighted ancients." So said Brahma to gods. [1-40-4]

This is the cosmic routine. Every day of Brahma is one kalpa and in each kalpa Brahma starts to create the universe afresh. Though it is just like the bygone creation it is anew, but the presiding souls of each object of the universe will change. If one soul presides the Sun or the Moon in this era, in the next era they attain a higher step in the ladder of 'snakes and ladders' called vaikunTha paali and a soul-in-wait takes up the job of that Sun or Moon, just as good as the promotions of officials. In this cosmic destruction even the gods or godlike entities will be destroyed if they tend to cause unnecessary ruination to the living beings anena bahu praõi upadrava k˜riõ˜m dev˜ api vadha up˜yam abhŸpsanti - daiva hat˜n˜m ca teÿ˜m avic˜reõa n˜so bhavatya eveti s¨citam -dk This is the same even in the case of Indra. Vishnu in His Trivikrama incarnation blesses the demonic Emperor Bali with such Indra-hood in some era, when Bali's sin is counted down, and when merit accrues.

pitaamaha vacaH shrutvaa trayaH tri.mshat arindamaH |
devaaH parama sa.mhR^iSTaaH punar jagmur yathaa aagatam || 1-40-5

"On hearing the words of the Forefather Brahma all the thirty three gods went away with utmost satisfaction, as they have came. [1-40-5]

The gods that have come to appeal to Brahma are said to be thirty-three in numbers. It is not that all the count of all the gods who have come. There are others besides the prominent groups of thirty-three god-groups. The thirty-three primary god-groups who have come here are aSTa vasu-s 'eight Vasu gods' ekaadasha rudraa-s 'eleven Rudra gods' ashvini dvaya twin brothers called 'ashvini-gods,' those that are mostly connected with the administration of earth.

sagarasya ca putraaNaam praadur aasiit mahaasvanaH |
pR^ithivyaam bhidyamaanaayaam nirghaata sama niHvanaH || 1-40-6

"When the sons of Sagara are digging the earth then there emerged an unbearable noise similar to the crashing of a thunder. [1-40-6]

tato bhittvaa mahiim sarvaam kR^itvaa ca api pradakSiNam |
sahitaaH sagaraaH sarve pitaram vaakyam abruvan || 1-40-7

.

"Then on hollowing the entire earth, and on making trips around her without finding the horse, all of the sons of Sagara have come together and on going to their father they spoke these words to him. [1-40-7]

parikraa.ntaa mahii sarvaa sattvavantaH ca suuditaaH |
deva daanava rakSaa.msi pishaaca uraga pannagaaH || 1-40-8
na ca pashyaamahe ashvam te ashva hartaaram eva ca |
kim kariSyaama bhadram te buddhiH atra vicaaryataam || 1-40-9

" 'Entire earth is trekked and mighty beings like gods, demons, monsters, evil-spirits, fiends, serpents, naga-s are also eliminated, but we have not seen the ritual-horse or its stealer. What we have to do next. Let a thought be given in this matter. Let safeness betide you.' So said those princes to their father Sagara. [1-40-8, 9]

teSaam tat vacanam shrutvaa putraaNaam raaja sattamaH |
samanyuH abraviit vaakyam sagaro raghuna.ndana || 1-40-10

"On hearing that sentence of his sons, oh, Rama, descendent of Raghu, that exalted king Sagara infuriately spoke these words. [1-40-10]

bhuuyaH khanata bhadram vo vibhedya vasudhaa talam
ashva hartaaram aasaadya kR^itaarthaaH ca nivartata || 1-40-11

" 'Let the earth be dug further, may safety be with you, and verily splitting open the surface of the earth you catch hold of the thief of the horse, and on achieving your purpose you may return to me.' In this way Sagara ordered his sons. [1-40-11]

pitur vacanam aasaadya sagarasya mahaatmanaH |
SaSTiH putra sahasraaNi rasaatalam abhidravan || 1-40-12

"On catching up the words of their father, the great-souled Sagara, his sixty thousand sons rushed towards the surface of the rasaa tala, the netherworld. [1-40-12]

The last but one mantle of the earth from its crust to its inner core, is called rasaa tala, in the seven-tier planes called, atala, vitala, sutala, talaatala, rasstala, paataala.. These are not hells.

khanyamaane tataH tasmin dadR^ishuH parvata upamam |
dishaa gajam viruupaakSam dhaaraya.ntam mahiitalam || 1-40-13

.

"While digging the earth there they beheld a mountain similar easterly elephant named Viruupaaksha, which is bearing the eastern side of earth's surface on its head. [1-40-13]

sa parvata vanaam kR^itsnaam pR^ithiviim raghuna.ndana |
dhaarayaamaasa shirasaa viruupaakSo mahaagajaH || 1-40-14

"Oh, Rama, the legatee of Raghu, that great easterly elephant Viruupaaksha is bearing the entire eastern earth along with its mountains and forests on its head. [1-40-14]

yadaa parvaNi kaakutstha vishramaartham mahaagajaH |
khedaat caalayate shiirSam bhuumi kampaH tadaa bhavet || 1-40-15

"On certain occasions, oh, Rama of Kakutstha, when that great-elephant moves its head desiring respite in tiresomeness then earthquakes will occur on earth. [1-40-15]

te tam pradakSiNam kR^itvaa dishaa paalam mahaagajam |
maanayanto hi te raama jagmur bhittvaa rasaatalam || 1-40-16

"They circumambulated the great elephant in supplication, oh Rama, and on worshipping that elephant which is the protector of easterly direction they proceeded to netherworld duly splitting the earth. [1-40-16]

tataH puurvaam disham bhittvaa dakSiNaam bibhiduH punaH |
dakSiNasyaam api dishi dadR^ishuH te mahaagajam || 1-40-17
mahaa padmam mahaatmaanam sumahaa parvatopamam |
shirasaa dhaaraya.ntam gaam vismayam jagmur uttamam || 1-40-18

"After splitting the eastern direction then they split opened the southern direction, and even in southern direction they beheld an elephant that is similar to a very great mountain, and that is sustaining southerly side of earth on its head, and on seeing that mammoth elephant of venerable character, namely Mahapadma, they went into an inordinate astonishment. [1-40-17, 18]

te tam pradakSiNam kR^itvaa sagarasya mahaatmanaH |
SaSTiH putra sahasraaNi pashcimaam bibhidur disham || 1-40-19

"On circumabulating that elephant Mahaapada in supplication, they the sixty thousand sons of great-souled Sagara scooped out the westerly direction. [1-40-19]

pashcimaayaam api dishi mahaa.ntam acalopamam |
dishaa gajam saumanasam dadR^ishuH te mahaa balaaH || 1-40-20

"Even in the westerly direction those great mighty sons of Sagara beheld an infinite and mountain similar elephant of western direction, called Sumanasa. [1-40-20]

te tam pradakSiNam kR^itvaa pR^iSTvaa ca api niraamayam |
khana.ntaH samupakraa.ntaa disham somavatiim tadaa || 1-40-21

"Circumabulating that elephant namely Sumanasa in western side, and even on asking about its well-being, then they reached the northern direction duly digging the earth. [1-40-21]

uttarasyaam raghushreSTha dadR^ishur hima paaNDuram |
bhadram bhadreNa vapuSaa dhaaraya.ntam mahiim imaam || 1-40-22

.

"In the northern direction, oh, Rama, they beheld Bhadra, a snow-white elephant with an auspicious body bearing northern side of this earth. [1-40-22]

samaalabhya tataH sarve kR^itvaa ca enam pradakSiNam |
SaSTiH putra sahasraaNi bibhidur vasudhaa talam || 1-40-23

"On touching that elephant reverently and also circumambulating it, those sixty thousands sons of Sagara further burrowed to the surface of the earth. [1-40-23]

tataH praak uttaraam gatvaa saagaraaH prathitaam disham |
roSaat abhyakhanan sarve pR^ithiviim sagara aatmajaaH || 1-40-24

"The sons of Sagara have then gone to the auspicious northeast direction, iishaana digbhaaga, Shiva sthaana, and all those sons of Sagara have tunnelled the earth rancorously. [1-40-24]

te tu sarve mahatmaano bhimavega mahabalaaH |
dadR^ishuH kapilam tatra vaasudevam sanaatanam || 1-40-25
hayam ca tasya devasya carantam aviduurataH |
praharSam atulam praptaH sarve te raghuna.ndana || 1-40-26

25, 26. mahatmaanaH bhimavega mahabalaha= great-souled ones, of terrible dash, great mighty

"But all those great-souled and great-mighty ones with terrible dash have seen the Infinite Vasudeva in the form of sage Kapila there in the northeast, and oh, descendant of Raghu, they have also seen the ritual-horse moving nearby that sage Kapila, thus all of the sons of Sagara obtained a matchless delight. [1-40-25, 26]

te tam haya haram j~naatvaa krodha paryaakula iikSaNaaH |
khanitra laa.ngalaa dhara naanaa vR^iksha shilaa dharaaH || 1-40-27
abhyadhaavanta sa.mkruddhaaH tiSTha tiSTha iti ca abruvan |

"The eyes of the princes are agitated in fury in construing the sage Kapila as the stealer of ritual-horse, and they furiously dashed towards him wielding crowbars, ploughs, and various trees and boulders, and shouting at him, 'stay, stay.' [1-40-27, 28a]

asmaakam tvam hi turagam yaj~niyam hR^itavaan asi || 1-40-28
durmedhaH tvam hi sa.mpraaptaan viddhi naH sagaraatmajaan |

"You the malicious one, you have indeed stolen our ritual-horse, and in fact, you should know that we who arrived here are the sons of Sagara.' Thus Sagara's sons shouted at sage Kapila. [1-40-28b, 29a]

shrutvaa tat vacanam teSaam kapilo raghuna.ndana || 1-40-29
roSeNa mahataa aaviSTo hum kaaram akarot tadaa |

"On hearing their words, oh, Rama, the descendant of Raghu, then sage Kapila is beset with high wrath, and he boomed a 'hum' sound at them. [1-40-29b, 30a]

tataH tena aprameyeNa kapilena mahaatmanaa |
bhasma raashii kR^itaaH sarve kaakutstha sagaraatmajaaH || 1-40-30

"Oh, Rama of Kakutstha, then that great-souled sage Kapila, rather Vishnu with unimaginable power, has rendered all of those sons of Sagara as heaps of ashes by virtue of his 'hum' sound." Thus Sage Vishvamitra is narrating the legend of Sagara to Rama and others. [1-40-30b, c]

iti vaalmiiki raamaayaNe aadi kaavye baala kaaNDe catvaarimshaH sargaH

Thus, this is the 40th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.

 

Sree Valmiki Ramayana

courtesy from

Sree Brahmasri Desiraju Hanumanta Rao ji

and  Sreeman Brahmasri K M K Murthy ji

 I Humbly bow to the  lotus feet of both of them

for the collection