Canto II (dvitiya-sarga)

atha dvitiyah sargah visvamitrasyagamanam tatkrtam rajabhinandanam caha- itthamkaram jnatavamstam kadapi- ksvakusrestham kausikarsih sametya | kurvannasirvadamuce sutapti- vamsaddhaya tvam vardhase bhupa ! distya || 1 || sasvat-prodyannabhinemisriyo'dya pratyaksam sad-vrttatam darsayantah | bhavyam sara bibhrate cakrasamyam vodhum rajyasyandanam nandanaste || 2 || tatra dvabhyam ramasya visistatamaha- ramastveko'sya trilokirathasya'- mogham cakram dharanaya prasiddham | navyam samsarambudhim yat sutarya martyam praptam prapayatyatmalokam || 3 || tasyavatarakaranamaha- jayyan kartum raksasan ravanadin naihksatryam ca ksmatalasyapanetum | srutva bhaktatrasamatrodapadi- tah samanyo naisa manyo'sti manyah || 4 || 32

CANTO II Arrival of Visvamitra and his blessings to the king: 1. On coming to know of the birth of Rama, the wise and great sage Visvamitra came to that excellent scion of Iksvakus (Dasaratha), and pronouncing blessings on him said: "Congratulations to you O King! for the growth in the family with the begetting of sons." 2. "O King! These excellent sons are like the wheels to carry (forward) the chariot of this magnificent kingdom of yours, who, with the ever-growing beauty, add to the glory of the kings of this type, as do the circumference and the navel to the wheel and who display their good conduct as does its well-roundedness the wheel." 3. Even one, Rama, is the well-known amogha-cakra (infallible cakra), which is capable of supporting the chariot of the three worlds. Even though a wheel, it comfortably takes across the ocean of the world which can be crossed by a boat, a person in distress, and brings him to his world. [It is the uniqueness of this cakra, that it serves as a boat for crossing this ocean and also grants liberation to mortals]. The reason for Rama's incarnation: 4. Having heard the fears of his devotees; to gain victory over Ravana and other demons, and to remove the Ksatriyalessness of this earth, he has taken this incarnation. Therefore, he must not be considered as 33

dvitiyah sargah sriramacaritabdhiratnam tena rajno dhanyatamaha- niscinto'dya tvam ca dhanyah prajesa ! yajnatmanam prapya ramam kumaram | tatastatah putramapyaiva yena''- tma vai putro'stiti vedah pramanam || 5 || rajno vinayamaha- martyesastutthaya prageva namro hari srutva tadvaco'vandatanghri | viryotkarsam varnayastasya coce yogindranam vah krpayah phalam tat || 6 || rajakrtam tatsatkaram putrahvanam caha- svamiva svargurum tam prapujya''- tithyam pradad bhaktimanatitheyah | manye saukhyadasane copaviste'- dhrsyanahuyatmajanityavadit || 7 || atha sadubhih padyairvisvamitrasya mahimanamaha- tisthatyagre yo manasvi tapasvi mandhateva'bhud virat purvakale | varcorasih sa tvidani dvijendrah sitamsurva bhati na ksatranathah || 8 ||

- Sriramacaritabdhiratna an ordinary mortal rather, he is to be revered (by all). 5. "O King! Having begotten Rama, who is nothing but sacrifice itself in the form of a son, you have become free from worries and are blessed. A father is a father only if he has a son, because he is the very image of the father. The Vedas provide the proof for this: 'atma vai putranamasi.' The humility of the king: 6. Seeing Visvamitra, the king was already up (left his seat) in all humility, and having heard his charming voice, paid obeisance to his feet; and describing the height of his effectiveness, spoke thus: "O Sage! That (the begetting of a son like Rama) is the fruit of the favour of the foremost of the yogins, like you. 7. Much in the same way the Lord of the Heavens, Indra worships Guru, the Divine Preceptor Brhaspati (with arghya, padya etc.) the devoted host King Dasaratha, honoured him (Visvamitra). The Revered One having taken his seat, the King summoned his sons who were invincible and said: Description of Visvamitra in six verses: 8. This high-minded and rich in penance seated in front, was a Ksatriya (warrior) like Mandhatr who was brilliant as the sun. Now he is a Maharsi (great sage) and a distinguished Brahmana, and not a Ksatriya and, hence, is like the moon. At first he was a Rajarsi (kingly sage) and now he is a Maharsi (great sage), when Rajarsi he was like the sun; when Maharsi he is like the moon. 35

dvitiyah sargah sriramacaritabdhiratnam buddhva ksatram tadbalam brahmavirya- ddhikkaraptam yah sadhikkaramaujjhat | manyam canyat svicakara prayatna- nitijnanam jitvarenaiva maitri || 9 || tigmajyotirjyotirabhyasnuteva'- man yaddehe brahmatejah samuhah | vaggumitvam cejjivavaktre'mitam syad mimamsankam saradasyam hi yayat || 10 || srikantenottarkyamanam, harena manjisthyeva preksitam krodhadrstya | sankatangaih sankyamanam vidhatra - trutyattaram yo navam dyam sasarja || 11 || nirbhisamko'bhut trisamkuh srito yam barhijrjvalajajvaladbrahmadeham | harsotkarsadhayipurnasu bale- nah sampraptah san yatha candrabimbam || 12 || visvamitrah samjnaya visvamitram putro gadheryacinam kamadhenuh | lam dhatum yo vyasmarat tyaktadanah so'yam vatsa ! vandyatam vandaniyah || 13 || 36

9. When he saw the defeat of Ksatriya power in the face of the Brahmanic power, saying: Shame on the Ksatriya power he left the Ksatriyahood (warriorhood) and with the power of severe penance, attained Brahmanahood. Those who are versed in polity would align themselves with the victorious only. 10. The skill in the Brahmanic lustre not finding full place in his body seemed to encompass the lustre of the sun as it were. If the skill in speech does not find full place in the mouth of Brhaspati, the mouth of Sarada with the Mimamsa as the hall-mark would come to have it. 11. He created a new heaven which Visnu considered superior, which Siva looked at with terrible anger and which filled Brahma with consternation. In such a heaven the stars would not break. 12. Him whose Brahmanic body was shining as the flaming fire, Trisanku resorted with no apprehension like deer the orb of the moon. 13. His name is Visvamitra. So do not think that he is not the friend of the world (visvamitra), rather, he is the Visvamitra or the friend of the whole world. His father is Gadhi. He is the very form of Kamadhenu in fulfilling the wishes of the supplicants. He has stopped accepting alms. La, which means 'to take' [la adane] has been forgotten by him. O children! he is that revered Rsi, pay obeisance to him. 37

rajakumaranam tadabhivadanamaha- matva vijna rajna ajnamitimam hardikya te purnabhaktya vinamrah | brahugrivanamamanemurasya''- huh svam svam ca smabhidhanam ca gotram || 14 || tasya svastivadamaha - kambusvetairdantarocirbhirasya- buddhambhojasrastanalopamanaih | grivasvesam haramaropayan so'- vocat svastyasirvacamsi prakamam || 15 || dvitiyah sargah atha visvamitrah tribhih padyai raksasopadravam nirdisan tannirasaya rajakartavyamaha- martyadhisam pratyavadidatha'sau hanim nitah smo vayam yatudhanaih | havyam bhavyam navyanavyam ca kavyam nuh kravyam va te balad bhaksayanti || 16 || mantrasprstam bhajanam dusayanti homadravyanyasu vidravayanti | rasyannam te nirasikurvate ca ko va dustaih sistayatno na dusyah || 17 || mantro nasyatyasu tannardanena hesyasvanam hesayevestagitam | vakye srote nasyati hyarthanasah so'yam vighno varyaurvisvarena || 18 ||

Honour by the princes: Sriramacaritabdhiratna 14. Those intelligent princes, having understood their father's wish, with fully devoted hearts, in humility having named their gotra, bowed to him bending their arms, neck and shoulders, prostrating themselves to pay their respects to him. 15. Putting garlands in their necks in the form of the rays of light, Visvamitra's face was as white as a conch resembling the drooping stalks of the blooming lotuses which were their faces. He pronounced lots of words of benediction. Description in three verses of the chaos caused by the demons, and the royal duty to put an end to it: 16. Visvamitra told King Dasaratha that demons were causing him immense harm. The havya (oblation) offered to the demigods, the grand nava-nava kavya being offered to forefathers, and also human flesh, is being forcibly eaten by them. 17. These demons desecrate our vessels sanctified by mantras. They remove sacrificial material and make the tasty food tasteless. Which is that noble practice which they do no harm? 18. Our mantras get mixed up by the hooliganism of these demons. As a song gets overpowered by the neighing of horses, with their interference in Vedic hymns, their very purpose is lost. This obstruction needs to be removed by Your Majesty. 39

gudhoktim tamagrahid rajamedha dhakka yadvad gananrttyorlaya''stham | jayyah kim te'vasyajayya dhiyeti trutyadvairyah prak tato'dhad dhrtim sah || 19 || raja manasi kartavyam vicarayati- raksa karya lokanathena loke'- rindagdhva prag vahninevaidharasim | dasyurdasyuh pavako'tho rnamso'- mah syuh sesa ityami netyacintat || 20 || tadajnam ca ramam nirdisati- ajnabharam tam maharserasahyam janano'ntah parthivascestayaiva | nutro rame pranjali pramauli badhopeksam tisthati nyasthata drak || 21 || tribhistadamtargatam siksam nirdisati- huh-sabdamstan manksu raksahsunastvam sujno'ranyad dravayeh kesariva | siksabodho'sya tvaya naiva haryo rah samguptah kimpaceneva vatsa ! || 22 || tatra laksmanena sahavasa ucita ityaha- sukhyedhi tvam laksmanenanuyato laksmivan yat syat sahayo jagatyam | labho bhuyan sahyatah saumya ma sma- . tah kantare tvam tato nihsahayah || 23 || dvitiyah sargah

19. With his sharp intellect, King Dasaratha grasped the actual meaning hidden in the soft speech of Visvamitra, just as the drum played in accompaniment by an accomplished artist, goes along in the rhythm of a dancer or singer. In this way the intellect that had lost its equanimity with the first feeling as to whether they, [the demons], can be conquered was replaced by the feeling that they can definitely be done so. The king ponders over his duties: 20. The one who is the master of the people has as his duty, the protection of his subjects by destroying enemies, just as the fire reduces wood to ashes. Whether it is thief, enemy, debt or disease, they have to be destroyed so that nothing is left of them. This is how the king thought. 21. Knowing in his heart of hearts the weight of the Great Sage's command unbearable, the king placed it quickly on Rama, impelled just by his actions, who was standing with his head bent, hands folded with no care of difficulties. The king's instructions to Rama: 22. "My son! You the wise one, drive away the dog-like demons from the forest with just the sound huh, much as does a lion. His instructions you should never forget like a miser his well-secured wealth. 23. O Gentleman! Laksmana will be with you, so you will gain happiness by his company for a person is content in this world by being in the company of a prosperous person. You will gain much by this company. Do not roam around in the forests with nobody by your side.

dvitiyah sargah sriramacaritabdhiratnam maharsisamgatya mahattvam raksonasascetyaha- sujnemusmin samgate vam mahattvam visvasya syad dirghatarsau hi mitre | kravyadoghastad yuvabhyam vilata''- mah sariro dasrakabhyamivograh || 24 || ramakrtam svikrtimaha- sa srutvaivam suprayogam vidhayau- mah samvyanjit svikrtim mamgalam ca satyam siddhim jalpitarthasya hista- mangikarah svastivak ca vyanakti || 25 || saramalaksmanasya visvamitrasya prasthanamaha- visvamitro'pyaptasusthityupayo bhakta srikau svasugadyopakaraih | tavapyaivam caitraradhavivapta'- ngah kamo drag lokanathat pratasthe || 26 || visvamitrasya vidyadanamaha- snigdhastabhyam pathyadat pathyavidyam dhanyo vidyavan balam catipurvam | vasya'varyaksuttrsau tena nanna'- rnahkamyantau tavabhutam kadacit || 27 || dvabhyam margagamanatisayamaha- prajnayeva svanvavayaprasutau tavatapsiccandarocirna candam | pasparseva svam cikirsuh pavitram van mandardram gandhavan gandhavahah || 28 || 42

24. You will have all the glory in the company of such an intellectual as Visvamitra. Just as mitra added to a rsi's name gets elongation, so with the rsi by your side, the above danger is going to disappear like a disease through the Asvins. 25. Having heard this, Rama gave his consent by uttering om, and along with this he also expressed auspiciousness of the undertaking. It is a fact that consent and the auspicious words assure the desired success of what has been spoken. 26. Visvamitra soon left Dasaratha taking along the two princes, who were adorned with bows and arrows. It appeared as though Kamadeva had regained his body from Lord Siva and was leaving in the company of the Spring Season (Vasanta-mitra), the month of CaitraVaisakha. 27. On the way, the affectionate. accomplished and learned in the Veda and other scriptures, Visvamitra taught them useful and magical arts like the Bala and Atibala which enabled them to control hunger and thirst. Then they were never attacked by the pain of hunger or thirst. 28. Knowing as it were that the two (Rama and Laksmana) were heirs in his family (they belonged to the solar dynasty) the sun did not cause them intense heat. The fragrant breeze in order to purify itself as it were touched (the princes) (blowing gently and cooling itsef with water). 43

dvitiyah sargah sriramacaritabdhiratnam piyusaugham kausika'syendumuktam namrau payam payamalaparupam | vartmatitam cakratustau sukhena ksayatyeva''bhasanairmargakhedah || 29 || visvamitrakaritam tadakadarsanamaha- visvamitro'darsayattavagastya- sapenaptam raksasam varsma yaksim | lavanyonam tadakakhyam caritraih ksodisthamapyugramurtya sthavistham || 30 || dvabhyam tadvadharthamaha- laksmivantam cavadad ramamittha- miksasvainam pinadantim nadantim | vanchatyesa'tum hi no'bhidravanti susmeva tvam tacchamim samharainam || 31 || bhanktum vighnan madrsam bhavyadhamno laksmim patum tvam dasasyandanasya | ksattribhuto raksanayeti duhkhau- nah sya idrk- satrunasajjagatyah || 32 || strivadhe ramasya papasankamaha- dharmajnasyetyuktimakarnya ramo matva narim pankamanke sasanke | jnah pujyenadisyamano'pi buddhya satyatanke tarkayatyeva kimcit || 33 || 44

29. From the moon-like mouth of Visvamitra flowed forth the mass of nectar of sweet words which was being drunk by the two princes on the way. In this manner, they covered the distance in happiness. In conversation the fatigue of the journey goes. 30. On the way, Visvamitra showed Tadaka to the two princes. She was formerly a Yaksi (a semidivine being) but owing to the curse of sage Agastya, had got transformed into a demoness. Her (earlier) grace had faded and she had become lean in character but fat in body, due to ferociousness. Description of her slaying in two verses: 31. Visvamitra said to glorious Ramacandra: "See! this big-toothed Tadaka is approaching us thunderously. She runs as if she is going to pounce on us and swallow us. So finish her off as does fire the sami tree (the tree which is said to contain fire)." 32. You have assumed the form of a Ksatriya in order to protect the good places of hermits like us and the royal fortune of Dasaratha. By destroying such enemies, may you be the remover of the troubles of the world. 33. Having heard the words of the sage who knew Dharma, Rama became apprehensive of committing a sin in the killing of a woman. Even when commanded by a respectable person a wise man bestows thought in matters of doubt. 45

dvitiyah sargah sriramacaritabdhiratnam sankanirakaranam tadakavadham caha- tyaktva kintudahrtairatmasankam samdhapannaih sadhudrstantamanaih | dhanvanyagneyasugam nyasyam vijna- scakri sukrambamivadhvamsayattam || 34 || tasya vaikunthagamanamaha- praksalyaivam raksasi sapapapam jagratpunya prapa vaikunthalokam | nam'hastisthed dvesino'pisayoge caryavrtteh kim punarbhaktibhajah || 35 || tena jananam santim prakatayati- hitva duhkham tadvanasthayino ye te samtustastustuvu ramamaryah | ramyah suddho'bhudaranyapradeso'- tah samcaro nirbhayo'bhujjananam || 36|| punah prasthanamaha- yaksimittham lokapidam ca sakam sakro vidhvamsyeva vairocanim tam | svikrtyajnam raghavah kausikasya jnanambhodherasramam pratyacalit || 37 ||

Description of the removal of doubt and the killing of Tadaka: 34. Having heard nice (appropriate) examples from Visvamitra, Rama understood his duty and his doubts were removed. He then destroyed Tadaka after mounting the Agnibana (fire arrow) on his bow, just as Visnu had destroyed Sukra's mother with his discus. Description of her going to Vaikuntha: 35. With her sin of curse washed away, and her punya (merit of good deeds) awakened, Tadaka repaired to Vaikuntha Loka (the heavens). In the company of the Lord, even an enemy's sins get washed, not to speak of the devotee who leads life in accordance with the instructions of the guru. 36. The sorrows of the noble forest-dwellers having been removed, they feeling satisfied, sang the paens of Rama. The forest region became pure and beautiful. Because of this, the movement of the people (therein) was without fear. 37. Just as Indra had killed Virocana's mother (Manthara), in the same way, with the destruction of Tadaka, Rama also destroyed the sorrow of the masses. Obeying the orders of Kausika Muni, who was the ocean of wisdom, he proceeded towards his hermitage. 47

dvitiyah sargah sriramacaritabdhiratnam tribhiryatravinodamaha- nasyadvijam daivamatrkyabhajam sampraptam ca ksmam nadimatrkatvam | pasyan padabjarpaneneti suta'- nnah sarthakyam prapa yajnatmatayah || 38 || suska suskaprantakaih palilabhya- cirbhatyoghaih kvapi yavyaisca tilyaih | vasyasvanto'pyesa vaprairakarsi yah samsiddheh ksetramatradbhutam kim ? || 39 || sakridanam krauncakapotasauka- mayuranam kautukam preksamanah | dhisnyam santerdragayanasramam te mandyam nayantyaptacetovinodah || 40 || asramapraptanam pujamaha- prajnayaitanagatanasramastha jatamodascakrurarghyadipujam | pasyanto'ntardhyatamistam drsa'dya'- tithyam ninyustam visesena ramam || 41 || ramakrtam vandanamaha- sa prag namribhuya bhuyo'ksarana- mah sthayivopakrame daivatanam | sriman ramo'vandataikaikasastan manya manam manvate manyamanaih || 42 ||

38. The barren land there, that depended upon rain and the mercy of the gods, now became the source of rivers, by the very arrival of Rama. Thus by producing cereals Rama proved his yajna-svarupatva i.e. he showed that he was a personified sacrifice (yajna-svarupa). 39. In some places the land was arid, and filled with water in some. It was stocked with cucumbers, sesame seed and barley. Proceeding thus, they reached a SiddhaKsetra, a divine area. 40. Looking at the frolic of krauncas, pigeons, parrots, peacocks and other birds, Visvamitra, Rama and Laksmana soon reached the hermitage, the abode of peace. With diversion people do not tire and reach their destination quickly. 41. Coming to know of their arrival, the sages of the hermitage felt happy and made honorific offerings to them. Being face to face with the very subject of their meditation, they offered special hospitality to Rama. 42. Like the first letter of the alphapet a the first of the gods, Sri Rama paid obeisance to the sages one by one in an extremely humble way. An honourable person adds to his own honour by honouring others.

dvitiyah sargah sriramacaritabdhiratnam yagarambhaya ramasya vijnaptimaha- dharadharivatha vagambudharam tapacchit so'mukta ramah prasange | riktikartasmyasramam yatudhanaih putro gadheradhvaram prastavitu || 43 || atha caturbhi ramakrtam raksah samharamaha- nissanke'tho tatra juhvatyabhite- succairmantran mantravitsutpathatsu | darpad raksamsyagurandhani yani- nah pragevodyanniva'han sa tani || 44 || raksah senah khelata khe lata va ksityastena preksitah svamina yah | ta banaughairdavatulyairgrhitva jivagraham patayamcakrire'dhah || 45 || vakram tasam nayakam ghorarupam loka'stokapattidanaikadaksam | kancid maricakhyamanyam subahum syannatrasyam raksasam praiksata'sau || 46 || dharmapetam tatra ramah subahu- mastrenagneyena purvam nipatya | syannam va'bhram banavatena sindhum pascanninye'nyam satam yojanani || 47 || 50

43. Just as the outburst of rain-filled clouds wipes out the heat of the summer, so did Rama the sorrows with the stream of his words at that moment. Said he: "I will make this hermitage devoid of demons. Let the son of Gadhi start the yajna". 44. With Visvamitra starting the yajna fearlessly and the mantra-knowing Rsis chanting the mantras loudly the proud demons came there blindly. As the rising sun destroys darkess, so did Rama the demons. 45. The huge army of demons which spread from the earth to the skies like a creeper, was thrown on the ground alive sportively and burnt by Rama's arrows which looked like a forest conflagration. 46. Rama saw a demon named Marica, who was of massive form and was expert at inflicting sorrows upon people. He was the chief of the demons's army. The other was Subahu from whose mouth flowed blood. 47. First Rama burnt the sinful Subahu by his fire-arrow. Thereafter, with an arrow that worked like wind, he sent the cloud-like Marica a hundred yojanas away to the shores of the sea.

tadupasamharamaha- riktam krtva raksasai raksinettham ramyo deso'kari siddhasramasya | ksitva ksitva te'pi dusta bhavabdhim taram taram tatprasadena muktah || 48 || raksoyuthonmatharupat sa nathah ksitya bharantat ksatattranatasca | tatparyena''sthapya dharmam ninaya svasya ksattribhutatam sarthakatvam || 49 || syannasyendustotrapiyusavarsa dharmatmanastustuvustam pratustah | matva'pipyat sva'mbujalin sa tamsca syandam syandam vagmarandam mukhabjat || 50 || svamakhamavikalam samapya sisya- janasahito'vabhrthadikam ca krtva | namati raghuvare sa tatkaniya- dvitiyah sargah syapi mumuce subhavak- khajam munindrah || 51 || candamsusitakiranaviva so'bhiramau rakso'ndhakaraparivaranivaranecchu | ksityam samam samuditau muditau niriksya tavantarasrayata kausika aptakamah || 52 || iti srikavirajasukavina srinityanandasastrina viracite ramanke sriramacaritabdhiratne mahakavye kamadhenunama dvitiyah sargah samaptah || 2|| 52

48. In this way, protector Rama made the sacred hermitage devoid of demons and beautified the region. Through his grace, Rama granted liberation from the world (made them cross the occean of the world) to the demons as he killed them. 49. Rama reduced the burden of the earth by killing hordes of demons and protected it from destruction He also re-established the Dharma assiduously. In this manner, he made his incarnation as a Ksatriya meaningful. 50. Nector began raining in the form of Rama's praises from the moon-like mouths of the upright and joyous sages. On the other hand, Rama knew that these sages occupied the lotus of his heart just like bees, and so he also let them drink the ambrosia which he let flow in the form of his sweet words. 51. Having brought to an end the sacrifice, sage Visvamitra had bath with his disciples as a ritual marking its completion. He spoke to Rama and his younger brother words which were garlands to them, while they bowed to him. 52. Knowing Rama and Laksmana to be the sun and moon risen together to banish the darkness of the demons from the earth, sage Visvamitra, with his desire fulfilled, fixed them in his heart. With this concludes the Second Canto of Sriramacaritabdhiratna of Nityananda Shastri called Kamadhenu. 53