Sarga 31: Journey to Mithila
Mithila Yatra
With the sacrifice complete, the sages invite Rama to Janaka's court to see the wondrous, unliftable bow of Shiva; Vishvamitra bids farewell to the Siddhashrama's forest deities and sets out north with Rama, Lakshmana, and the sages, camping the first night on the bank of the Sona.
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अथ तां रजनीं तत्र कृतार्थौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। ऊषतुर्मुदितौ वीरौ प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना।।1.31.1।।
Meaning
Then, their purpose accomplished, the heroic Rama and Lakshmana spent that night there, joyful and gladdened in heart.
प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां कृतपौर्वाह्णिकक्रियौ। विश्वामित्रमृषींश्चान्यान् सहितावभिजग्मतु:।।1.31.2।।
Meaning
When dawn broke, having performed their morning rites, the two together approached Vishvamitra and the other sages.
अभिवाद्य मुनिश्रेष्ठं ज्वलन्तमिव पावकम्। ऊचतुर्मधुरोदारं वाक्यं मधुरभाषिणौ।।1.31.3।।
Meaning
Bowing to the eminent sage, blazing like fire, the two sweet speakers addressed him with gracious, gentle words.
इमौ स्म मुनिशार्दूल किङ्करौ समुपस्थितौ। आज्ञापय यथेष्टं वै शासनं करवाव किम्।।1.31.4।।
Meaning
Here we are, tiger among sages, your servants standing ready — command us as you wish, what shall we do?
एवमुक्ता स्ततस्ताभ्यां सर्व एव महर्षय:। विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य रामं वचनमब्रुवन्।।1.31.5।।
Meaning
So addressed by the two, all the great sages, with Vishvamitra at their head, spoke these words to Rama.
मैथिलस्य नरश्रेष्ठ जनकस्य भविष्यति। यज्ञ: परमधर्मिष्ठस्तस्य यास्यामहे वयम्।।1.31.6।।
Meaning
Best of men, King Janaka of Mithila is about to hold a most righteous sacrifice, to which we shall go.
त्वं चैव नरशार्दूल सहास्माभिर्गमिष्यसि। अद्भुतं धनुरत्नं च तत्र तद्रष्टुमर्हसि।।1.31.7।।
Meaning
You too, tiger among men, shall come with us; there you deserve to see a marvelous jewel of a bow.
तद्धि पूर्वं नरश्रेष्ठ दत्तं सदसि दैवतै:। अप्रमेयबलं घोरं मखे परमभास्वरम्।।1.31.8।।
Meaning
Best of men, it was given long ago in an assembly by the gods themselves — of immeasurable, terrible power, and most radiant at the sacrifice.
नास्य देवा न गन्धर्वा नासुरा न च राक्षसा:। कर्तुमारोपणं शक्ता न कथञ्चन मानुषा:।।1.31.9।।
Meaning
Neither gods, nor gandharvas, nor asuras, nor rakshasas, and certainly no human beings, are able to string it.
धनुषस्तस्य वीर्यं तु जिज्ञासन्तो महीक्षित:। न शेकुरारोपयितुं राजपुत्रा महाबला:।।1.31.10।।
Meaning
Wishing to test the power of that bow, many mighty princely kings have tried, but none has managed to string it.