sarga 11, bAlakAnDam
Individual verses with meanings
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Hari Om.
Let us begin the eleventh sarga of bAla kAnDam with offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
In this sarga, minister sumantra further narrates the prophecy of sage sanatkumAra about the way in which daSaratha will beget progeny and encouraged by these words emperor daSaratha approaches king rOmapAda to send his son-in-law RSyaSrnga to perform the yajna.
sumantra begins, “Oh king, please listen to me about the great story foretold by the best among celestial sages sanatkumAra. The sage spoke thus: in the lineage of the ikshvAku, there will be a righteous emperor by name daSaratha who would be famous for his adherence to truth. He will be in good terms with the king of anga province rOmapAda who would have a daughter by name SAnta. daSaratha would approach rOmapAda with a request to send the husband of SAnta to ayOdhya so that he can perform the sacrifice to beget progeny that would perpetuate his lineage. rOmapAda would think over the matter and send RSyaSrnga with daSaratha to perform the yajna. daSaratha would be delighted and relieved to hear rOmapAda’s approval and would accompany RSyaSrnga to ayOdhya. With folded hands daSaratha, desirous of performing the yajna, would request that best among brAhmins, RSyaSrnga to perform the yajna for him in order obtain children and attain the heavens. The emperor will have those wishes fulfilled by the yajna officiated by RSyaSrnga. The emperor would beget four sons of immense prowess who will bring glory to the lineage and would be famous all over the world.” Sumantra concluded narration of this prophecy by sanatkumAra in the kRtayuga and continued further.
Therefore, O emperor, please go to the anga kingdom with due protocol and personally bring the foremost among ascetics with due respect. Having heard the words of sumantra and taking permission from vasisTha, daSaratha started with his retinue to the place where the ascetic lived. Crossing rivers and hills on the way daSaratha’s retinue reached anga where RSyaSrnga resided and beheld the resplendent ascetic sitting by the side of king rOmapAda who was delighted to meet his friend and as per tradition and due honor welcomed the emperor daSaratha and his retinue. rOmapAda explained to his son-in-law RSyaSrnga about his special friendship and relationship with emperor daSaratha. Learning of the same, RSyaSrnga felicitated daSaratha duly. Thus, well honored, daSaratha stayed in the anga kingdom for seven or eight days enjoying the hospitality of rOmapAda and after that he spoke thus to the king of anga. “O king, it has been decided to hold an important sacrifice in ayOdhya. Would you please send your daughter SAnta along with her husband to ayOdhya to officiate? rOmapAda agreed and instructed RSyaSrnga to accompany daSaratha to ayOdhya along with his wife. The sage RSyaSrnga consented and was ready to go to ayOdhya. The kings rOmapAda and daSaratha were delighted and greeted each other with folded palms and embraced warmly. King daSaratha then set out for ayOdhya along with his retinue, RSyaSrnga, and his wife Santa. He sent swift footed messengers to reach ayOdhya ahead of them and instructed the citizens to clean up the city, deck it up, sprinkle with water on the ways, perfume it and erect flags to welcome the ascetic guest. The citizens were overjoyed and happily complied with the king’s orders.
daSaratha entered that well decorated city to the boisterous blowing of conches and trumpets and beating of auspicious drums with the ascetic RSyaSrnga in the forefront. The citizens were delighted at the sight of the celebrated sage entering their kingdom and being duly honored by their great king. Then the king daSaratha took the sage RSyaSrnga to the inner apartments and extended a warm welcome in a manner befitting the ascetic as enjoined in the scriptures. He felt satisfied at the advent of the sage and thought that he has accomplished the objective of honorably bringing the sage to officiate the yajna. The women of the inner apartments felt delighted to behold the wide-eyed SAnta along with her husband. Honoured by the king and other royal persona in SAnta dwelt there for some period along with RSyaSrnga enjoying the hospitality.
Here we conclude the eleventh sarga of the bAlakAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma
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