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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भरतो नाम कैकेय्यां जज्ञे सत्यपराक्रम:।।1.18.12।। साक्षाद्विष्णोश्चतुर्भागस्सर्वैस्समुदितो गुणै:।
Meaning
Bharata, of true valor, was born to Kaikeyi — the very manifestation of Vishnu's fourth portion, endowed with every virtue.
अथ लक्ष्मणशत्रुघ्नौ सुमित्राऽजनयत्सुतौ।।1.18.13।। वीरौ सर्वास्त्रकुशलौ विष्णोरर्धसमन्वितौ।
Meaning
Then Sumitra gave birth to two sons, Lakshmana and Shatrughna, heroic and skilled in every weapon, sharing Vishnu's essence.
पुष्ये जातस्तु भरतो मीनलग्ने प्रसन्नधी:।।1.18.14।। सार्पे जातौ च सौमित्री कुलीरेऽभ्युदिते रवौ।
Meaning
Bharata, of tranquil mind, was born under the star Pushya with Pisces ascending; Sumitra's twins were born under the serpent's star as the sun rose in Cancer.
राज्ञ: पुत्रा महात्मानश्चत्वारो जज्ञिरे पृथक्।।1.18.15।। गुणवन्तोऽनुरूपाश्च रुच्या प्रोष्ठपदोपमा:।
Meaning
Thus the king's four great-souled sons were born separately, virtuous and well-formed, resplendent as the paired stars of Proshthapada.
जगु: कलं च गन्धर्वा ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणा:।।1.18.16।। देवदुन्दुभयो नेदु: पुष्पवृष्टिश्च खाच्च्युता। उत्सवश्च महानासीदयोध्यायां जनाकुल:।।1.18.17।।
Meaning
The gandharvas sang sweetly and the apsaras troupes danced; celestial drums resounded and a rain of flowers fell from the sky, as a great, crowded festival arose in Ayodhya.
रथ्याश्च जनसम्बाधा नटनर्तकसङ्कुला:। गायनैश्च विराविण्यो वादनैश्च तथाऽपरै:।।1.18.18।।
Meaning
The streets were thronged with people, crowded with mimes and dancers, resounding with singers and every kind of instrument.
प्रदेयांश्च ददौ राजा सूतमागधवन्दिनाम्। ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददौ वित्तं गोधनानि सहस्रश:।।1.18.19।।
Meaning
The king gave worthy gifts to bards, panegyrists, and eulogists, and bestowed wealth and thousands of cows upon the brahmins.
अतीत्यैकादशाहं तु नामकर्म तथाऽकरोत्। ज्येष्ठं रामं महात्मानं भरतं कैकयीसुतम्।।1.18.20।। सौमित्रिं लक्ष्मणमिति शत्रुघ्नमपरं तथा। वसिष्ठ: परमप्रीतो नामानि कृतवान् तदा।।1.18.21।।
Meaning
When eleven days had passed, he performed the naming ceremony: the great-souled eldest was named Rama, Kaikeyi's son Bharata, and Sumitra's sons Lakshmana and Shatrughna — Vashishtha, greatly pleased, gave these names.
ब्राह्मणान्भोजयामास पौराञ्जानपदानपि। अददाद्ब्रह्मणानां च रत्नौघममितं बहु।।1.18.22।। तेषां जन्मक्रियादीनि सर्वकर्माण्यकारयत्।
Meaning
He feasted the brahmins, townsfolk, and villagers, and gave the brahmins an abundance of jewels, and performed all the rites following their birth.
तेषां केतुरिव ज्येष्ठो रामो रतिकर: पितु:।।1.18.23।। बभूव भूयो भूतानां स्वयम्भूरिव सम्मत:।
Meaning
Among them, the eldest, Rama, was like a banner delighting his father, and became beloved of all beings, honored like the Self-existent one.