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.
Word-by-word (pada-artha)
Shloka 1.18.8
| Word | Devanagari | Meaning | Grammatical role |
|---|---|---|---|
| tataḥ yajñe samāpte tu | ततः यज्ञे समाप्ते तु | then, after the sacrifice had concluded | Locative singular (absolute) |
| ṛtūnām ṣaṭ samatyayuḥ | ऋतूनाम् षट् समत्ययुः | six seasons passed | Verb (aorist) |
| tataḥ ca dvādaśe māse | ततः च द्वादशे मासे | and then in the twelfth month | Locative singular |
| caitre nāvamike tithau | चैत्रे नावमिके तिथौ | in Chaitra, on the ninth lunar day | Locative singular |
Shloka 1.18.9
| Word | Devanagari | Meaning | Grammatical role |
|---|---|---|---|
| nakṣatre aditi-daivatye | नक्षत्रे अदिति-दैवत्ये | under the constellation presided by Aditi | Locative singular |
| sva-ucca-saṃstheṣu pañcasu | स्व-उच्च-संस्थेषु पञ्चसु | with five in their own exaltation | Locative plural |
| graheṣu karkaṭe lagne | ग्रहेषु कर्कटे लग्ने | planets, with the ascendant in Cancer | Locative plural/singular |
| vāk-patau indunā saha | वाक्-पतौ इन्दुना सह | along with the lord of speech (Jupiter) and the moon | Instrumental singular |
Shloka 1.18.10
| Word | Devanagari | Meaning | Grammatical role |
|---|---|---|---|
| prodyamāne | प्रोद्यमाने | as [the ascendant] was rising | Locative singular (absolute) |
| jagat-nātham sarva-loka-namaskṛtam | जगत्-नाथम् सर्व-लोक-नमस्कृतम् | the lord of the world, saluted by all worlds | Accusative singular |
| kausalyā ajanayat rāmam | कौसल्या अजनयत् रामम् | Kausalya gave birth to Rama | Verb (imperfect) |
| sarva-lakṣaṇa-saṃyutam | सर्व-लक्षण-संयुतम् | endowed with every auspicious mark | Accusative singular |
Scholar commentary
Shloka 1.18.8
valmikiramayan.net Prose Commentary
Desiraju Hanumanta Rao's prose rendering with embedded explanatory notes
The source lays out the precise astrological configuration marking Rama's birth -- the ninth day of Chaitra, star Punarvasu (ruled by Aditi), five planets (Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn) exalted in their own signs, Jupiter conjunct the Moon ascendant in Cancer -- citing the Dharmakuutam commentary's Sanskrit verse describing this configuration as indicating Rama's supreme merit, valor, and universal appeal, and separately quoting C.R. Sreenivasa Aiyangar's 1910 translation of the same passage for comparison.
1 of 16 traditions have commentary on this shloka. Traditions without a verse-specific commentary here are omitted rather than filled in.
Shloka 1.18.9
valmikiramayan.net Prose Commentary
Desiraju Hanumanta Rao's prose rendering with embedded explanatory notes
(Part of the birth-configuration passage -- see the fuller note at shloka 8.) The source also addresses the phrase 'half of Vishnu' (viSNoH artham) used of Rama here: it should be read as half of the fruit of the ritual (embodied as the dessert Kausalya consumed), not literally half of an illimitable, indivisible Vishnu -- flagging this as the origin of a long-running debate over whether Rama's incarnation is puurNa avataara (full), artha avataara (partial), or aMsha avataara (a fractional portion).
1 of 16 traditions have commentary on this shloka. Traditions without a verse-specific commentary here are omitted rather than filled in.
Shloka 1.18.10
valmikiramayan.net Prose Commentary
Desiraju Hanumanta Rao's prose rendering with embedded explanatory notes
(Continues the birth-configuration and 'half of Vishnu' discussion from shlokas 8-9 -- see the fuller notes there.)
1 of 16 traditions have commentary on this shloka. Traditions without a verse-specific commentary here are omitted rather than filled in.
Reference: 1.18.8-10 · Bāla Kāṇḍa