Vishvamitra Enters the Assembly with Rama and Lakshmana
Vishvamitra enters the great assembly hall with Rama and Lakshmana. The gathered kings, sages, and citizens fix their gaze upon the two princes.
Bal Kand · Episode 47 / 59
Episode Text
राजकुअँर तेहि अवसर आए। मनहुँ मनोहरता तन छाए॥ गुन सागर नागर बर बीरा। सुंदर स्यामल गौर सरीरा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rājakuaṃra tehi avasara āe। manahuṃ manoharatā tana chāe॥ guna sāgara nāgara bara bīrā। sundara syāmala gaura sarīrā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
At that moment the princes arrived. It was as if loveliness itself had spread over their bodies. They were oceans of virtue, graceful, and excellent heroes. Their bodies were beautiful, blue-dark and fair.
राज समाज बिराजत रूरे। उडगन महुँ जनु जुग बिधु पूरे॥ जिन्ह कें रही भावना जैसी। प्रभु मूरति तिन्ह देखी तैसी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāja samāja birājata rūre। uḍagana mahuṃ janu juga bidhu pūre॥ jinha keṃ rahī bhāvanā jaisī। prabhu mūrati tinha dekhī taisī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
They shone in the royal assembly like two full moons among the stars. Each person saw the Lord's form according to the disposition in his own heart.
देखहिं रूप महा रनधीरा। मनहुँ बीर रसु धरें सरीरा॥ डरे कुटिल नृप प्रभुहि निहारी। मनहुँ भयानक मूरति भारी॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dekhahiṃ rūpa mahā ranadhīrā। manahuṃ bīra rasa dhareṃ sarīrā॥ ḍare kuṭila nṛpa prabhuhi nihārī। manahuṃ bhayānaka mūrati bhārī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The great warriors gazed upon the Lord's form as though the body itself were made of heroic sentiment (vīra rasa). The crooked kings were frightened at the sight of the Lord, as if they had beheld a dreadful form of death.
रहे असुर छल छोनिप बेषा। तिन्ह प्रभु प्रगट काल सम देखा॥ पुरबासिन्ह देखे दोउ भाई। नरभूषन लोचन सुखदाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rahe asura chala chonipa beṣā। tinha prabhu pragaṭa kāla sama dekhā॥ purabāsinha dekhe dou bhāī। narabhūṣana locana sukhadāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
The demons, who were there in kings' disguises through deceit, saw the Lord as death itself made manifest. The people of the city saw the two brothers as the ornament of humankind and the delight of the eyes.
नारि बिलोकहिं हरषि हियँ निज निज रुचि अनुरूप। जनु सोहत सिंगार धरि मूरति परम अनूप॥ २४१ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nāri bilokahiṃ haraṣi hiyaṃ nija nija ruci anurūpa। janu sohata siṃgāra dhari mūrati parama anūpa॥ 241 ॥
Meaning:
The women, their hearts filled with joy, looked at them according to their own tastes, as though beauty itself had taken on the most incomparable form and shone there.
बिदुषन्ह प्रभु बिराटमय दीसा। बहु मुख कर पग लोचन सीसा॥ जनक जाति अवलोकहिं कैसें। सजन सगे प्रिय लागहिं जैसें॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
biduṣanha prabhu birāṭamaya dīsā। bahu mukha kara paga locana sīsā॥ janaka jāti avalokahiṃ kaisẽ। sajana sage priya lāgahiṃ jaisẽ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
To the learned, the Lord appeared in cosmic form, with many faces, hands, feet, eyes, and heads. The people of Janaka's line saw Him in whatever way suited them, just as dear kinsfolk are pleasing to one another.
सहित बिदेह बिलोकहिं रानी। सिसु सम प्रीति न जाति बखानी॥ जोगिन्ह परम तत्त्वमय भासा। सांत सुद्ध सम सहज प्रकासा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sahita bideha bilokahiṃ rānī। sisu sama prīti na jāti bakhānī॥ joginha parama tattvamaya bhāsā। sāṃta śuddha sama sahaja prakāsā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Janaka and the queens saw Him as their own child, and their love cannot be described. To the yogis, He appeared as the supreme, all-pervading reality—peaceful, pure, equal, and self-luminous.
हरिभगतन्ह देखे दोउ भ्राता। इष्टदेव इव सब सुख दाता॥ रामहि चितव भायँ जेहि सीया। सो सनेहु सुखु नहिं कथनीया॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
haribhagatanha dekhe dou bhrātā। iṣṭadeva iva saba sukha dātā॥ rāmahi citava bhāyaṃ jehi sīyā। so sanehu sukhu nahiṃ kathanīyā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The devotees of Hari saw the two brothers as their chosen deities, the bestowers of every joy. The way Sita looked at Rama cannot be described; it is beyond speech.
उर अनुभवति न कहि सक सोऊ। कवन प्रकार कहै कबि कोऊ॥ एहि बिधि रहा जाहि जस भाऊ। तेहिं तस देखेउ कोसलराऊ॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ura anubhavati na kahi saka soū। kavana prakāra kahai kabi kōū॥ ehi bidhi rahā jāhi jasa bhāū। tehiṃ tasa dekheu kosalarāū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
She experiences it in her heart and cannot even express it herself; how then could any poet describe it? Thus, according to each person's disposition, everyone saw the Lord of Kosala in that same way.
राजत राज समाज महुँ कोसलराज किसोर। सुंदर स्यामल गौर तन बिस्व बिलोचन चोर॥ २४२ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rājata rāja samāja mahuṃ kosalarāja kisora। sundara syāmala gaura tana bisva bilocana cora॥ 242 ॥
Meaning:
The prince of Kosala, with his beautiful blue-dark and fair body, the thief of the eyes of the world, shines in the royal assembly.
सहज मनोहर मूरति दोऊ। कोटि काम उपमा लघु सोऊ॥ सरद चंद निंदक मुख नीके। नीरज नयन भावते जी के॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sahaja manohara mūrati dou। koṭi kāma upamā laghu soū॥ sarada canda nindaka mukha nīke। nīraja nayana bhāvate jī ke॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Both forms are naturally enchanting. Even the comparison with millions of Kamadevas is too small for them. Their lovely faces put the autumn moon to shame, and their lotus-like eyes delight the mind.
चितवनि चारु मार मनु हरनी। भावति हृदय जाति नहिं बरनी॥ कल कपोल श्रुति कुंडल लोला। चिबुक अधर सुंदर मृदु बोला॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
citavani cāru māra manu haranī। bhāvati hṛdaya jāti nahiṃ baranī॥ kala kapola śruti kuṃḍala lolā। cibuka adhara sundara mṛdu bolā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Their beautiful glances steal the heart even of Kama. They are so pleasing to the heart that they cannot be described. Their cheeks are lovely; earrings swing in their ears. Their chin and lips are beautiful, and their speech is soft and gentle.
कुमुदबंधु कर निंदक हाँसा। भृकुटी बिकट मनोहर नासा॥ भाल बिसाल तिलक झलकाहीं। कच बिलोकि अलि अवलि लजाहीं॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kumudabandhu kara nindaka hāṃsā। bhṛkuṭī bikaṭa manohara nāsā॥ bhāla bisāla tilaka jhalakāhīṃ। kaca biloki ali avali lajāhīṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Their laughter puts the rays of the moon to shame. Their brows are arched and their nose is lovely. On their broad foreheads the tilak gleams. Seeing their dark curls, even the rows of bumblebees feel ashamed.
पीत चौतनीं सिरन्हि सुहाईं। कुसुम कलीं बिच बीच बनाईं॥ रेखें रुचिर कंबु कल गीवाँ। जनु त्रिभुवन सुषमा की सीवाँ॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pīta cautanīṃ siranhi suhāīṃ। kusuma kalīṃ bica bīca banāīṃ॥ rekhẽ rucira kaṃbu kala gīvāṃ। janu tribhuvana suṣamā kī sīvāṃ॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Yellow head coverings adorn their heads, with flower-buds arranged between them. Around their throats are graceful conch-like lines, as though marking the boundary of the beauty of the three worlds.
कुंजर मनि कंठा कलित उरन्हि तुलसिका माल। बृषभ कंध केहरि ठवनि बल निधि बाहु बिसाल॥ २४३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kuṃjara mani kaṃṭhā kalita uranhi tulasikā māla। bṛṣabha kaṃdha kehari ṭhavani bala nidhi bāhu bisāla॥ 243 ॥
Meaning:
Beautiful necklaces of elephant pearls adorn their chests, and garlands of tulsi hang there. Their shoulders are like those of bulls, their bearing like that of a lion, and their arms are vast and full of strength.
कटि तूनीर पीत पट बाँधें। कर सर धनुष बाम बर काँधें॥ पीत जग्य उपबीत सुहाए। नख सिख मंजु महाछबि छाए॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kaṭi tūnīra pīta paṭa bāṃdheṃ। kara sara dhanuṣa bāma bara kāṃdheṃ॥ pīta jagya upabīta suhāe। nakha sikha mañju mahāchabi chāe॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Quivers are tied at their waists and yellow garments around them. In their hands are arrows and on their left shoulders, beautiful bows. Yellow sacred threads adorn them. From toenails to crown, every limb is lovely, covered with great splendor.
देखि लोग सब भए सुखारे। एकटक लोचन चलत न तारे॥ हरषे जनकु देखि दोउ भाई। मुनि पद कमल गहे तब जाई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dekhi loga saba bhae sukhāre। ekaṭaka locana calata na tāre॥ haraṣe janaku dekhi dou bhāī। muni pada kamala gahe taba jāī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing them, everyone became delighted. Their eyes were fixed; the pupils did not move. Janaka rejoiced on seeing the two brothers. Then he went and took hold of the sage's lotus feet.
करि बिनती निज कथा सुनाई। रंग अवनि सब मुनिहि देखाई॥ जहँ जहँ जाहिं कुअँर बर दोऊ। तहँ तहँ चकित चितव सबु कोऊ॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kari binatī nija kathā sunāī। raṅga avani saba munihi dikhāī॥ jahaṃ jahaṃ jāhiṃ kuaṃra bara dou। tahaṃ tahaṃ cakita citava sabu kōū॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
After offering his prayer, he told his story and showed the whole arena to the sage. Wherever the two excellent princes go, everyone there gazes in wonder.
निज निज रुख रामहि सबु देखा। कोउ न जान कछु मरमु बिसेषा॥ भलि रचना मुनि नृप सन कहेऊ। राजाँ मुदित महासुख लहेऊ॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nija nija rukha rāmahi sabu dekhā। kou na jāna kachu maramu biseṣā॥ bhali racanā muni nṛpa sana kaheū। rājāṃ mudita mahāsukha laheu॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Everyone saw Rama with their face turned toward him, each in his own way; yet no one could understand any special mystery. The sage said to the king, 'This arrangement of the arena is very beautiful.' Hearing the praise of the arrangement from a sage like Vishvamitra, who is free from desire, detached, and wise, the king was delighted and felt great joy.
सब मंचन्ह तें मंचु एक सुंदर बिसद बिसाल। मुनि समेत दोउ बंधु तहँ बैठारे महिपाल॥ २४४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
saba maṃcanha teṃ maṃcu eka sundara bisada bisāla। muni sameta dou bandhu tahaṃ baiṭhāre mahipāla॥ 244 ॥
Meaning:
Of all the platforms, one was especially beautiful, bright, and spacious. The king himself seated the two brothers there together with the sage.
प्रभुहि देखि सब नृप हियँ हारे। जनु राकेस उदय भएँ तारे॥ असि प्रतीति सब के मन माहीं। राम चाप तोरब सक नाहीं॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
prabhuhi dekhi saba nr̥pa hiyaṃ hāre। janu rākeśa udaya bhaẽ tāre॥ asi pratīti saba ke mana māhīṃ। rāma cāpa toraba saka nāhīṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the Lord, all the kings were defeated in their hearts, like stars when the full moon rises. Seeing His splendor, everyone became convinced that Rama alone would break the bow, beyond any doubt.
बिनु भंजेहुँ भव धनुषु बिसाला। मेलिहि सीय राम उर माला॥ अस बिचारि गवनहु घर भाई। जसु प्रतापु बलु तेजु गवाँई॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
binu bhaṃjēhu bhava dhanuṣu bisālā। melihi sīya rāma ura mālā॥ asa bicāri gavanahu ghara bhāī। jasu pratāpu balu teju gavā̃ī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing His beauty, everyone felt certain that even without breaking Shiva’s great bow, Sita would place the garland around Rama’s neck. In either case, our defeat is sure and victory will be Rama’s. Thinking thus, they said, “Brothers, go home, giving up your fame, might, strength, and radiance.”
बिहसे अपर भूप सुनि बानी। जे अबिबेक अंध अभिमानी॥ तोरेहुँ धनुषु ब्याहु अवगाहा। बिनु तोरें को कुअँरि बिआहा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
bihase apara bhūpa suni bānī। je abibeka aṃdha abhimānī॥ torehuṃ dhanuṣu byāhu avagāhā। binu toreṃ ko kũãri biāhā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
The other kings, blinded by folly and pride, laughed on hearing this. They said, even if the bow is broken, the marriage will still be difficult; without breaking it, who could possibly marry the princess?
एक बार कालउ किन होऊ। सिय हित समर जितब हम सोऊ॥ यह सुनि अवर महिप मुसुकाने। धरमसील हरिभगत सयाने॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
eka bāra kālau kina hoū। siya hita samara jitaba hama soū॥ ya suni avara mahipa musukāne। dharamasīla haribhagata sayāne॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Even if it were Death himself, once, we would conquer him in battle for Sita’s sake. Hearing this boast, the other kings, who were righteous, devoted to Hari, and wise, smiled.
सीय बिआहबि राम गरब दूरि करि नृपन्ह के। जीति को सक संग्राम दसरथ के रन बाँकुरे॥ २४५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sīya biāhabi rāma garaba dūri kari nr̥panh ke। jīti ko saka saṃgrāma dasaratha ke rana bā̃kure॥ 245 ॥
Meaning:
They said, Rama will remove the pride of the kings and marry Sita by breaking the bow that no one else can break. And as for battle, who can ever defeat the brave sons of King Dasharatha?
ब्यर्थ मरहु जनि गाल बजाई। मन मोदकन्हि कि भूख बुताई॥ सिख हमारि सुनि परम पुनीता। जगदंबा जानहु जियँ सीता॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
byartha marahu jani gāla bajāī। mana modakanhi ki bhūkha butāī॥ sikha hamāri suni parama punītā। jagadambā jānahu jiyaṃ sītā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Do not die in vain, merely boasting. Can hunger ever be appeased by sweets of the mind? Hearing our most pure counsel, take Sita in your heart as the Divine Mother of the world and give up the hope of winning her as your wife.
जगत पिता रघुपतिहि बिचारी। भरि लोचन छबि लेहु निहारी॥ सुंदर सुखद सकल गुन रासी। ए दोउ बंधु संभु उर बासी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jagata pitā raghupatihi bicārī। bhari locana chabi lehu nihārī॥ sundara sukhada sakala guna rāsī। e dou baṃdhu saṃbhu ura bāsī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Consider Lord Raghunath as the Father of the universe, and gaze upon His beauty with eyes full of tears. These two brothers are beautiful, bliss-giving, and filled with every virtue; they dwell in Shiva’s heart.
सुधा समुद्र समीप बिहाई। मृगजलु निरखि मरहु कत धाई॥ करहु जाइ जा कहुँ जोइ भावा। हम तौ आजु जनम फलु पावा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sudhā samudra samīpa bihāī। mṛgajalu nirakhi marahu kata dhāī॥ karahu jāi jā kahuṃ joi bhāvā। hama tau āju janama phalu pāvā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
Why leave the near ocean of nectar of divine sight and rush after the mirage, which is only a false desire to win Janaki as your wife? Go wherever you please and do whatever you like. As for us, we have today gained the true fruit of birth by seeing Rama.
अस कहि भले भूप अनुरागे। रूप अनूप बिलोकन लागे॥ देखहिं सुर नभ चढ़े बिमाना। बरषहिं सुमन करहिं कल गाना॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asa kahi bhale bhūpa anurāge। rūpa anūpa bilokana lāge॥ dekhaṃhi sura nabha caṛhe bimānā। baraṣahiṃ sumana karahiṃ kala gānā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Hearing this, the noble kings became filled with love and began to behold Rama’s incomparable beauty. Even the gods, mounted in their celestial cars, watched from the sky, showering flowers and singing sweetly.
जानि सुअवसरु सीय तब पठई जनक बोलाइ। चतुर सखीं सुंदर सकल सादर चलीं लवाइ॥ २४६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jāni suavasaru sīya taba paṭhaī janaka bolāi। catura sakhīṃ sundara sakala sādara calīṃ lavāi॥ 246 ॥
Meaning:
Then, recognizing the opportune moment, Janaka summoned Sita. All the clever and lovely maidens respectfully escorted her along.
सिय सोभा नहिं जाइ बखानी। जगदंबिका रूप गुन खानी॥ उपमा सकल मोहि लघु लागीं। प्राकृत नारि अंग अनुरागीं॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
siya sobhā nahiṃ jāi bakhānī। jagadambikā rūpa guna khānī॥ upamā sakala mohi laghu lāgīṃ। prākṛta nāri aṅga anurāgīṃ॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Janaki, the Mother of the universe, is a treasury of form and virtue, and her splendor cannot be described. All comparisons seem trivial to me, for they belong to ordinary worldly women and their bodily features. To use such worldly images for Rama’s own divine power would be to dishonor her and make oneself ridiculous.
सिय बरनिअ तेइ उपमा देई। कुकबि कहाइ अजसु को लेई॥ जौं पटतरिअ तीय सम सीया। जग असि जुबति कहाँ कमनीया॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
siya barania tei upamā deī। kukabi kahāi ajasu ko leī॥ jaũ paṭataria tīya sama sīyā। jaga asi jubati kahāṃ kamanīyā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Who would use those same comparisons in describing Sita and become known as a bad poet, earning disgrace? To apply such comparisons to Sita is to fall from the standing of a true poet and invite infamy. And if one tries to compare her with any woman, where in this world is there another lovely maiden like her?
गिरा मुखर तन अरध भवानी। रति अति दुखित अतनु पति जानी॥ बिष बारुनी बंधु प्रिय जेही। कहिअ रमासम किमि बैदेही॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
girā mukhara tana aradha bhavānī। rati ati dukhita atanu pati jānī॥ bisha bāruni bandhu priya jehī। kahia ramāsama kimi baidehī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
What need is there to speak of the women of the earth? Even among the women of the gods, who are far more divine and beautiful than we are, Saraswati is too talkative; Parvati is only half a woman, as she is half the body of Shiva; Rati suffers greatly because her husband is bodiless; and how can Janaki possibly be compared to Lakshmi, whose dear brothers are poison and liquor, born from the ocean?
जौं छबि सुधा पयोनिधि होई। परम रूपमय कच्छपु सोई॥ सोभा रजु मंदरु सिंगारू। मथै पानि पंकज निज मारू॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jaũ chabi sudhā payonidhi hoī। parama rūpamaya kacchapu soī॥ sobhā raju mandaru siṅgārū। mathai pāni paṅkaja nija mārū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
If beauty were an ocean of nectar, then the supreme, form-filled tortoise would be there as well. If beauty were the rope, Mount Mandara the ornament, and Kāma himself, with his lotus hand, were to churn it, then...
एहि बिधि उपजै लच्छि जब सुंदरता सुख मूल। तदपि सकोच समेत कबि कहहिं सीय समतूल॥ २४७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ehi bidhi upajai lacchi jaba sundaratā sukha mūla। tadapi sakocha sameta kabi kahahiṃ sīya samatūla॥ 247 ॥
Meaning:
Even when Lakshmi arises in this way as the very source of beauty and bliss, poets will still speak of her as equal to Sita only with great reserve and hesitation.