bAla kANDam, sarga 22 (1-22-bala-kandam-sarga-22)
The sage and the Saviours begin their journey
Individual verses with meanings
Hari Om.
Let us begin the twenty second sarga of the bAlakAnDam with offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
In this sarga, maharshi narrates rAma and lakshmaNa following sage viSwAmitra for the protection of the yajna.
Having listened to the reassuring words of sage vasisTha, daSaratha’s countenance lit up and happily he summoned rAma along with lakshmaNa. He along with his queens blessed rAma and lakshmaNa by sensing the fragrance of their mUrdhni (the region above forehead) while vasisTha and other priests recited the mantras that would bring all auspiciousness to the princes and drive away all the evil. He then submitted rAma and lakshmaNa to the care of sage viSwAmitra happily. As the lotuseyed rAma and lakshmaNa followed the sage viSwAmitra, the air blew gently causing comfort, gods caused a floral shower accompanied by drum beats and sounding of conches. The two valiant and valorous princes wielding their bows and quiver and looking resplendent appeared majestic like three-hooded serpents, their splendor illuminating all the directions and as they followed the divine sage they looked like the twin gods aSwinikumAras following lord brahma himself.
[thyAgarAja swAmi sings veDalenu kOdanDapANi in rAgam tODi to recollect this scene]
The two brothers, handsome beyond description, resplendent, young, well attired, unblemished, incomprehensible and elegant armed with bows, arrows and swords, their left arm and fingers covered by leather to protect them from the bow string and arrows looked verily like the sons of the firegod skandha and visakhu following the lord Siva.
After traveling for half a yOjana on the southern side of the river sarayu, viSwAmitra addressed rAma gently and asked him to take some water (perform Achamana) and prepare himself for receiving a collection of mantras including the highly potent bala and atibala, recitation of which will ensure there is no fatigue, no change in appearance, no hunger, no thirst and most importantly the demons can’t harm even if one is asleep or inattentive.
He then further says, O rAma, there is none equal to you in the three worlds in prowess, in decision making, in articulation, kindness and wisdom. The fountainhead of all mantras, this bala and atibala will further ensure that there is none equal to you in the three worlds either now or in future. O righteous rAma, these two mantras (sciences) are verily the daughters of the grandsire brahma and initiation into this will ensure you will feel neither thirst or hunger on the way. The obedient rAma did as directed, partook of water and received the sciences of bala and atibala from the supreme sage viSwAmitra who had experienced the supreme divine principle. Having received the two sciences from the brahmarshi rAma shone like Sungod in the clear autumn sky. Thereafter, it was evening and the three rested for the day. The princes made themselves comfortable on a bed of grass as the sage viSwAmitra kept chatting with them gently and made them feel at home.
Here we conclude the twenty second sarga of the bAlakAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
Next: bAla kANDam, 23rd sarga
Previous: bAla kANDam, 21st sarga
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 