Sarga 31

अथ तां रजनीं तत्र कृतार्थौ रामलक्ष्मणौ। ऊषतुर्मुदितौ वीरौ प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना।।1.31.1।।

There, with their purpose fulfilled the heroes, Rama and Lakshmana, full of joy in their hearts spen...

प्रभातायां तु शर्वर्यां कृतपौर्वाह्णिकक्रियौ। विश्वामित्रमृषींश्चान्यान् सहितावभिजग्मतु:।।1.31.2।।

As the night dawned, both the brothers performed the morning rites and approached Viswamitra and oth...

अभिवाद्य मुनिश्रेष्ठं ज्वलन्तमिव पावकम्। ऊचतुर्मधुरोदारं वाक्यं मधुरभाषिणौ।।1.31.3।।

Sweettongued, they visited with folded hands the best of ascetics Viswamitra who was shining like a ...

इमौ स्म मुनिशार्दूल किङ्करौ समुपस्थितौ। आज्ञापय यथेष्टं वै शासनं करवाव किम्।।1.31.4।।

"O tiger among ascetics, we two are at your service. Command whatever you want and we shall execut...

एवमुक्ता स्ततस्ताभ्यां सर्व एव महर्षय:। विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य रामं वचनमब्रुवन्।।1.31.5।।

Addressed, thus by both of them, Viswamitra ahead of all the sages, spoke to Rama.

मैथिलस्य नरश्रेष्ठ जनकस्य भविष्यति। यज्ञ: परमधर्मिष्ठस्तस्य यास्यामहे वयम्।।1.31.6।।

"O foremost of men, Janaka, king of Mithila, is performing a great religious sacrifice. We shall go ...

त्वं चैव नरशार्दूल सहास्माभिर्गमिष्यसि। अद्भुतं धनुरत्नं च तत्र तद्रष्टुमर्हसि।।1.31.7।।

O tiger among men, come along with us. You ought to see there the wonderful jewel of a bow.

तद्धि पूर्वं नरश्रेष्ठ दत्तं सदसि दैवतै:। अप्रमेयबलं घोरं मखे परमभास्वरम्।।1.31.8।।

O best among men, this bow of immeasurable energy. dreadful and highly lustrous was bestowed on king...

नास्य देवा न गन्धर्वा नासुरा न च राक्षसा:। कर्तुमारोपणं शक्ता न कथञ्चन मानुषा:।।1.31.9।।

Neither devas, nor gandharvas, nor asuras nor human, are capable of stringing the bow by any means.

धनुषस्तस्य वीर्यं तु जिज्ञासन्तो महीक्षित:। न शेकुरारोपयितुं राजपुत्रा महाबला:।।1.31.10।।

Mighty princes and kings have failed to string it, in their attempt to know its strength.

तद्धनुर्नरशार्दूल मैथिलस्य महात्मन:। तत्र द्रक्ष्यसि काकुत्स्थ यज्ञं चाद्भुतदर्शनम्।।1.31.11।।

O best of men, O descendent of Kakustha, there you will see the bow that belongs to the magnanimous ...

तद्धि यज्ञफलं तेन मैथिलेनोत्तमं धनु:। याचितं नरशार्दूल सुनाभं सर्वदैवतै:।।1.31.12।।

O best among men, that excellent bow strong in the middle was offered by king of Mithila, Devarata a...

आयागभूतं नृपतेस्तस्य वेश्मनि राघव। अर्चितं विविधैर्गन्धैर्धूपैश्चागरुगन्धिभि:।।1.31.13।।

O Rama, that bow is worshipped in the king's palace as principal deity with various kinds of perfume...

एवमुक्त्वा मुनिवर: प्रस्थानमकरोत्तदा। सर्षिसङ्घ स्सकाकुत्स्थ: आमन्त्र्य वनदेवता:।।1.31.14।।

Having spoken thus, Viswamitra, the best of ascetics commenced the onward journey along with the Ka...

स्वस्ति वोऽस्तु गमिष्यामि सिद्वस्सिद्धाश्रमादहम्। उत्तरे जाह्नवीतीरे हिमवन्तं शिलोच्चयम्।।1.31.15।।

"(O ascetics of the forest) May you be safe. My purpose has been achieved in this Siddhaashrama. Fro...

प्रदक्षिणं तत: कृत्वा सिद्धाश्रममनुत्तमम्। उत्तरां दिशमुद्दिश्य प्रस्थातुमुपचक्रमे।।1.31.16।।

Thereafter, circumambulating the supreme Siddhasrama with reverence, they (Viswamitra and the prince...

तं प्रयान्तं मुनिवरमन्वयादनुसारिणम्। शकटीशतमात्रं तु प्रायेण ब्रह्मवादिनाम्।।1.31.17।।

As Viswamitra, the best of ascetics set out on his journey, expounders of the Vedas followed him, ne...

मृगपक्षिगणाश्चैव सिद्धाश्रमनिवासिन:। अनुजग्मुर्महात्मानं विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम्।।1.31.18।। निवर्तयाम...

Birds and beasts living in Siddhaashrama also followed the illustrious maharshi Viswamitra over a lo...

ते गत्वा दूरमध्वानं लम्बमाने दिवाकरे। वासं चक्रुर्मुनिगणाः शोणाकूले समाहिता:।।1.31.19।।

The sages travelled a long distance and halted on the bank of Sona at sunset.

तेऽस्तं गते दिनकरे स्नात्वा हुतहुताशना:। विश्वामित्रं पुरस्कृत्य निषेदुरमितौजस:।।1.31.20।।

The sages who possessed great splendour bathed and offered oblations to fire at sunset and sat in fr...

रामोऽपि सहसौमित्रिर्मुनीं स्तानभिपूज्य च। अग्रतो निषसादाथ विश्वामित्रस्य धीमत:।।1.31.21।।

Rama together with Lakshmana having offered respectful salutations to the sages, sat in front of the...

अथ रामो महातेजाः विश्वामित्रं महामुनिम्। पप्रच्छ नरशार्दूल: कौतूहलसमन्वित:।।1.31.22।।

Thereafter highly lustrous Rama, the best among men, filled with curiosity enquired of the great sag...

भगवन् कोऽन्वयं देशस्समृद्धवनशोभित:। श्रोतुमिच्छामि भद्रं ते वक्तुमर्हसि तत्त्वत:।।1.31.23।।

"O worshipful one, what could be the reason for this region shining with luxuriant groves? I wish t...

चोदितो रामवाक्येन कथयामास सुव्रत:। तस्य देशस्य निखिलमृषिमध्ये महातपा:।।1.31.24।।

A sage of excellent vows and rigid austerities, Viswamitra, urged by the words of Rama, described ...