Individual verses with meanings
Hari Om.
Let us begin the fiftieth sarga of the bAlakAnDam with offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
rAma and lakshmaNa along with sage viSwAmitra traveled northeast from the ASram of sage gautama and reached the yajna grounds in mithila soon. rAma was thrilled to see the excellent arrangements and the assembly of vedic scholars and priests, the crowd which came to catch a glimpse of the sacred yajna in hundreds of carts. rAma enquired where they could stay in this crowded place and viSwAmitra chose a calm and serene place with water source nearby for their camp.
King janaka of mithila, having come to know of the advent of sage viSwAmitra immediately proceeded humbly, preceded by his minister satananda, the son of ahalya and gautama to welcome him. Other priests immediately followed with all the paraphernalia involved in the worship and welcome of such eminent guests. viSwAmitra duly received king janaka with his retinue and conducted enquiries about the proper conduct of the yajna as also the welfare of sages, preceptors and priests. With folded hands the king janaka requested the sage viSwAmitra to occupy the high seat. As the venerable sage did so, the rest of the members of the royal entourage occupied seats appropriate to their ranks. King janaka then with all humility addressed the sage and said “today the gods have rendered my yajna successful and I have attained the merit of conducting the yajna by having your presence. I am highly gratified and obliged that you have graced this yajna along with other Rshis. I have learned that only twelve days remain for this yajna to be accomplished after which the gods shall be claiming their share of the yajna offerings. The king janaka then turned his gaze towards the accompanying princes rAma and lakshmaNa and humbly rolled off a barrage of questions with a curious smile –
“O sage! Who are these two valiant youngmen? They verily look like the twin gods aSwini kumAras dropped on the earth from the heavens. Their wide lotus leaf like eyes are bewitching! Their gait is like that of a mighty elephant and lion! Their presence is assertive like that of a tiger and bull! They wield bows, swords and a host of divine weapons. Who sons are they? Why did they come here by foot. They light up this country like the sun and the moon! These two curly haired young men resemble each other in their appearance as well as gestures! They look truly heroic and I am very curious to learn about them!
इमौ कुमारौ भद्रं ते देवतुल्यपराक्रमौ।।1.50.17।।
गजसिंहगती वीरौ शार्दूलवृषभोपमौ।
पद्मपत्रविशालाक्षौ खड्गतूणीधनुर्धरौ।।1.50.18।।
अश्विनाविव रूपेण समुपस्थितयौवनौ।
यदृच्छयैव गां प्राप्तौ देवलोकादिवामरौ।।1.50.19।।
कथं पद्भ्यामिह प्राप्तौ किमर्थं कस्य वा मुने।
वरायुधधरौ वीरौ कस्य पुत्रौ महामुने।।1.50.20।।
भूषयन्ताविमं देशं चन्द्रसूर्याविवाम्बरम्।
परस्परस्य सदृशौ प्रमाणेङ्गितचेष्टितै:।।1.50.21।।
काकपक्षधरौ वीरौ श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वत:।
Hearing the inquiry of the great king janaka, the supreme sage viSwAmitra presented the two young men as the princes of ayOdhya and the sons of emperor daSaratha. He then factually recounted the sojourn to the siddhASrama, demolishing the demons, redemption of ahalya and meeting with sage gautama. He then let janaka know that it is a supreme curiosity about the mighty bow in the household of king janaka which brings them here!
Here we conclude the fiftieth sarga of the bAla kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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