sarga 15, bAlakAnDam
Individual verses with meanings
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Hari Om.
Let us begin the fifteenth sarga of the bAlakAnDam with offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
In this sarga, RSyaSrnga commences the yajna called putrEshTi which is a sacrifice to beget sons. And then the focus shifts to the heavens where gods assemble to complain to lord brahma about the demon by name rAvaNa who is troubling them. On to the sarga.
Acceding to daSaratha’s request in the previous sarga to conduct a yajna so that he gets children, RSyaSrnga ponders for a while and tells him, O king so be it. I shall conduct the yajna by name putrEshTi which needs to be observed strictly as per the scriptures chanting the mantras laid down in the portion of vEdas by name atharva Siras. And with those words, RSyaSrnga began the putrEshTi yajna, which translates as sacrifice performed being desirous of begetting sons. With immaculate chanting of mantras, he poured oblations into the sacrificial fire and with appropriate chants of the mantras rendered perfectly. It was so well done that the dEvas, all the celestial beings at once presented themselves at the yajna to receive their share of offerings.
The dEvatas thus assembled, addressed the creator of the worlds, lord brahma and told him that the demon (or rAkshasa) by name rAvaNa who got certain boons by his grace has turned very oppressive by virtue of those boons. They said: “He inflicts misery upon the three worlds, hates the good and dhArmic people who are guardians of the earth and intends to assault indra, the lord of the dEvas. We are putting up with him in order to honour your boons conferred upon him. Further, he has become unassailable and tortures RshIs, yakshas, gandharvas and even demons. The elements are in awe of him, so much so that, the Sun doesn’t scorch him, the wind doesn’t blow him off and even the ocean stands still for fear of him. Therefore, O Lord, please find a way to eliminate him and relieve us of our fear and let the world function normally”. Lord brahma gave a patient hearing and then reflected on the matter for a while and then said “the means of destruction of rAvaNa has occurred to me. He asked this boon of me that he should not die in the hands of either gods or yakshas or gandharvas or demons. I conferred this boon which he desired. But he didn’t ask to be invincible in the hands of humans or animals because he looked down upon them as inferior beings. Therefore, I deem that he is fit to be destroyed by a man and by no other means!” The dEvas and Rshis were overwhelmed with joy at this pronouncement of lord brahma. As this discussion unfolded, the highly effulgent lord vishNu, lord of all the worlds, wearing His yellows, adorned with conch, discuss and mace appeared on the scene. Seeing Him, the dEvas, yakshas, RshIs all prostrated in front of Him and hailed him with hymns. The lord assumed His high place in the presence of lord brahma and then the dEvas submitted to Him thus. “O lord vishNu, the dhArmic and the generous king of ayOdhya, daSaratha equals great Rshis in his lustre. He has three wives who are very embodiments of modesty, auspiciousness and fame. Desiring the benefit of the entire world, we pray unto you to manifest Yourself into four forms as the four sons of this great emperor. Assuming human form as the prince of ayOdhya, we desire that you slay the cruel and obstinate demon rAvaNa whose menacing and terrorizing ways with gods, Rshis, demigods, angels (i.e. apsaras) and all other people striving to safeguard dharma have caused havoc in the three worlds. We have assembled here and conferred on ways to eliminate his terror from the world. O Lord vishNu, You are all powerful, You are the tormentor of enemies, You are the supreme, You are our only refuge, have compassion on us and kindly resolve to be born in the world of men and eliminate the tormentor of Rshis and gods”.
Listening to the prayers and revealing His compassion for the dhArmic (righteous) dEvas led by the great lord brahma, lord vishNu said thus “Abandon your fear Oh dEvas, yakshas, gandharvas and Rshis. My blessings to you for your welfare. I shall vanquish that demon along with his family, friends, ministers and whoever supports him and relieve the ascetics and gods of their fear. After killing him, I shall dwell in the world of men and rule over the worlds for a period of eleven thousand years”. Thus having given his word relief to the dEvas and others, vishNu reflected upon the place He should descend on the earth and the wonderful and beautiful lord with lotus petal like eyes decided that He shall be born in the family of king daSaratha and was pleased to manifest in four forms. The gods were thrilled at this resolve of lord vishNu and sang praise of Him with celestial hymns. “Glory be to you o Lord. Kindly be born in human form and eliminate that frightful and dreadful demon, insolent rAvaNa who is verily a source of threat for the lord indra, the ascetics, and vexes the three worlds and makes them cry loudly (the name rAvaNa means one who makes rava –or sound). Please return to Your own abode in the heavens protected by indra after accomplishing the annihilation of rAvaNa along with his family and supporters.
Here we conclude the fifteenth 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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rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 