Sarga 18: The Four Princes Are Born
Kumara Janma
Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna are born to Dasaratha's queens and grow into accomplished, devoted princes; while considering their marriages, the king receives the sage Vishvamitra, who arrives seeking his aid.
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निर्वृत्ते तु क्रतौ तस्मिन्हयमेधे महात्मन:। प्रतिगृह्य सुरा भागान्प्रतिजग्मुर्यथागतम्।।1.18.1।।
Meaning
When the great king's horse-sacrifice concluded, the gods, having received their portions, returned as they had come.
समाप्तदीक्षानियम: पत्नीगणसमन्वित:। प्रविवेश पुरीं राजा सभृत्यबलवाहन:।।1.18.2।।
Meaning
His consecratory vows completed, the king entered the city with his queens, retinue, army, and vehicles.
यथार्हं पूजितास्तेन राज्ञा वै पृथिवीश्वरा:। मुदिता: प्रययुर्देशान्प्रणम्य मुनिपुङ्गवम्।।1.18.3।।
Meaning
The visiting kings, duly honored by Dasaratha, departed joyfully to their own lands after bowing to the foremost sage.
श्रीमतां गच्छतां तेषां स्वपुराणि पुरात्तत:। बलानि राज्ञां शुभ्राणि प्रहृष्टानि चकाशिरे।।1.18.4।।
Meaning
As those illustrious kings journeyed home, their bright armies shone forth, filled with joy.
गतेषु पृथिवीशेषु राजा दशरथस्तदा। प्रविवेश पुरीं श्रीमान् पुरस्कृत्य द्विजोत्तमान्।।1.18.5।।
Meaning
When the kings had departed, the glorious King Dasaratha entered the city, placing the foremost brahmins ahead of him.
शान्तया प्रययौ सार्धमृश्यशृङ्गस्सुपूजित:। अन्वीयमानो राज्ञाऽथ सानुयात्रेण धीमता।।1.18.6।।
Meaning
The duly honored Rishyasringa departed together with Shanta, accompanied by the wise king and his retinue.
एवं विसृज्य तान्सर्वान्राजा सम्पूर्णमानस:। उवास सुखितस्तत्र पुत्रोत्पत्तिं विचिन्तयन्।।1.18.7।।
Meaning
Having thus taken leave of them all, the king, his heart at peace, dwelt there happily, contemplating the birth of a son.
ततो यज्ञे समाप्ते तु ऋतूनां षट्समत्ययु:। ततश्च द्वादशे मासे चैत्रे नावमिके तिथौ।।1.18.8।। नक्षत्रेऽदितिदैवत्ये स्वोच्चसंस्थेषु पञ्चसु। ग्रहेषु कर्कटे लग्ने वाक्पताविन्दुना सह।।1.18.9।। प्रोद्यमाने जगन्नाथं सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम्। कौसल्याऽजनयद्रामं सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम्।।1.18.10।।
Meaning
Then, six seasons having passed since the sacrifice's completion, in the twelfth month, on the ninth day of Chaitra, under the star ruled by Aditi, with five planets exalted in their own signs, the moon in conjunction with Jupiter in the ascendant sign of Cancer, as the sun rose, Kausalya gave birth to Rama, lord of the world, adorned with every auspicious mark, worshipped by all the worlds — the illustrious son, half of Vishnu, who exalts the line of Ikshvaku.
विष्णोरर्धं महाभागं पुत्रमैक्ष्वाकुवर्धनम्।।1.18.11।।
Meaning
He was Vishnu's own half, in his glorious majesty, a son born to increase the line of Ikshvaku.
कौसल्या शुशुभे तेन पुत्रेणामिततेजसा।।1.18.11।। यथा वरेण देवानामदितिर्वज्रपाणिना।
Meaning
Kausalya shone forth with that son of measureless splendor, as Aditi once shone with Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt.