Ramayana

by Manmatha Nath Dutt | 1891 | ISBN-13: 9788171101566

This page describes Chapter XXXVIII of the English translation of the Ramayana, one of the largest Sanskrit epics of ancient India revolving around the characters Rama, Sita and Ravana. It was orignally authored by Valmiki at least over 2500 years ago. This is the of the Bāla-kāṇḍa (Bala-kanda) of the Ramayana, which consists of 24,000 Sanskrit metrical verses divided oer seven books.

Chapter XXXVIII

Having said those words to Rāma, composed of melodious letters, Kauśika again spoke to Kākutstha, saying,

Formerly there was a king—lord of Ayodhyā-named Sagara. And it came to pass that righteous one, though eagerly wishing for children was without issue.

O Rāma, Vidarbha’s daughter, named Keśinī, was the elder wife of Sagara. And she was virtuous and truthful.

The second wife of Sagara was called Sumati, who was the daughter of Ariṣṭanemi and the sister of Suparṇa (Garuḍa).

And with those wives of his, that mighty king, coming to the Himavat, began to practice austerities on the mountain Bhṛguprasravaṇa.

When a full hundred years had been numbered, the ascetic that had been adored by means of these austerities, Bright, best of those endowed with truth, conferred a boon upon Sagara, saying.

O sinless one, you shall obtain glorious offspring; and, O foremost of men, you shall attain unparalleled renown among Man.

O child, one of your con sorts shall bring forth a son who will perpetuate your race; and the other give birth to sixty thousand sons.’

As that best of men was saying this, those daughters of kings, exceedingly delighted, propitiating him, addressed him with clasped hands.

Who of us, O Brāhmaṇa, shall produce a single son, and who many? This, O Brāhmaṇa, we wish to hear. May your word prove true!

Hearing this, the highly pious Bhṛgu said these pregnant words, ‘Do you unfold your minds. Who wishes for what boon, between a single perpetuator of the line, and innumerable sons, possessed of mighty strength, and furnished with fame, and endowed with high spirits?’

Hearing the ascetic’s words, O descendant of Raghu, Keśinī in the presence of the monarch chose, O Rāma, a single son to perpetuate the line.

And Suparṇa’s sister, Sumati, sixty thousand sons, high-spirited and furnished with fame.

Then, O son of Raghu, having gone round the saint and bowed down the head, the king went to his own capital, accompanied by his consorts.

And after a length of time, the elder, Keśinī, bore a son to Sagara, known by the name of Asamañja.

And Sumati, O foremost of men, brought forth a gourd. And when it burst open, out came from it sixty thousand sons.

And the nurses fostered them by keeping them in jars filled with clarified butter. And after a great length of time, they attained to youth.

And after a long lapse of time, Sagara’s sixty thousand sons attained to youth and beauty.

O foremost of men,[1] the eldest son of Sagara, taking those children, would, O descendant of Raghu, often cast them into the Sarayū, and in mirth behold them sinking in the waters.

Being thus evil-disposed, and injuring honest folks, and engaged in doing wrong to the citizens, he was banished by this father from the city.

Asamañja had a son possessed of prowess, named Aṃśumān. And he was beloved of all men and fair-spoken towards everyone.

O foremost of men, it came to pass that after a long time had gone by, that lord of earth Sagara made up his mind, saying, ‘I will sacrifice.’

Having determined upon it, that one versed in the Vedas set about it, in company with his priests.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The text has Naraśreṣṭhas, put for Asamañja. Evidently this is an error. I make it a vocative.

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