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.
Jump to a shloka · 52 in this sarga
सर्वे वेदविदश्शूरास्सर्वे लोकहिते रता:।।1.18.24।। सर्वे ज्ञानोपसम्पन्नास्सर्वे समुदिता गुणै:।
Meaning
All were versed in the Vedas, heroic, devoted to the world's welfare, endowed with knowledge, and possessed of every virtue.
तेषामपि महातेजा रामस्सत्यपराक्रम:।।1.18.25।। इष्टस्सर्वस्य लोकस्य शशाङ्क इव निर्मल:।
Meaning
Among them, the greatly resplendent Rama, of true valor, was dear to all the world, spotless as the moon.
गजस्कन्धेऽश्वपृष्ठे च रथचर्यासु सम्मत:।।1.18.26।। धनुर्वेदे च निरत: पितृशुश्रूषणे रत:।
Meaning
He was skilled in mounting elephants and horses and in charioteering, devoted to the science of archery, and delighted in serving his father.
बाल्यात्प्रभृति सुस्निग्धो लक्ष्मणो लक्ष्मिवर्धन:।।1.18.27।। रामस्य लोकरामस्य भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य नित्यश:।
Meaning
From childhood, Lakshmana, enhancer of prosperity, was ever affectionately devoted to his elder brother Rama, delight of the world.
सर्वप्रियकरस्तस्य रामस्यापि शरीरत:।।1.18.28।। लक्ष्मणो लक्ष्मिसम्पन्नो बहि:प्राण इवापर:।
Meaning
Endowed with fortune, Lakshmana was dear to Rama as his own body, like a second self, an outer life-breath.
न च तेन विना निद्रां लभते पुरुषोत्तम:।।1.18.29।। मृष्टमन्नमुपानीतमश्नाति न हि तं विना।
Meaning
That best of men could not obtain sleep without him, nor would he eat even the choicest food without Lakshmana.
यदा हि हयमारूढो मृगयां याति राघव:।।1.18.30।। तदैनं पृष्ठतोऽन्वेति सधनु: परिपालयन्।
Meaning
Whenever Raghava mounted a horse to go hunting, Lakshmana would follow close behind, guarding him with his bow.
भरतस्यापि शत्रुघ्नो लक्ष्मणावरजो हि स:।।1.18.31।। प्राणै: प्रियतरो नित्यं तस्य चासीत्तथा प्रिय:।
Meaning
Likewise Shatrughna, Lakshmana's younger brother, was ever dearer than life to Bharata, and equally dear to him in return.
स चतुर्भिर्महाभागै: पुत्रैर्दशरथ: प्रियै:।।1.18.32।। बभूव परमप्रीतो देवैरिव पितामह:।
Meaning
Dasaratha, with his four beloved and illustrious sons, rejoiced as greatly as the grandsire Brahma among the gods.
ते यदा ज्ञानसम्पन्नास्सर्वैस्समुदिता गुणै:।।1.18.33।। ह्रीमन्त: कीर्तिमन्तश्च सर्वज्ञा दीर्घदर्शिन:। तेषामेवं प्रभावानां सर्वेषां दीप्ततेजसाम्।।1.18.34।। पिता दशरथो हृष्टो ब्रह्मा लोकाधिपो यथा।
Meaning
When they had grown endowed with knowledge and every virtue, modest, renowned, all-knowing and far-sighted, their father Dasaratha rejoiced in these radiant sons, as Brahma, lord of the worlds, rejoices in his own.