Summary
Dasharatha arrives at Mithila and Janaka receives him reverentially, as he belongs to a crowning dynasty, called Ikshvaku-s. Then, after the usual exchange of royal pleasantries and protocol, all of them stay in Mithila comfortably.
Chapter [Sarga] 69 – in Detail
tato raatryaam vyatiitaayaam sa upaadhyaayah sa baandhavah |
raajaa dasharatho hristah suma.ntram idam abraviit || 1-69-1
On the next dawn that heartened king Dasharatha who is with his teachers and his relatives then said this to his minister Sumantra. [1-69-1]
adya sarve dhana adhyaksaa dhanam aadaaya puskalam |
vraja.nti agre su vihitaa naanaa ratna samanvitaah || 1-69-2
Now let the chancellors [officer] of exchequers [treasury] draw ample riches, gems and numerous other items that are used in the marriage from bridegroom's side, all-inclusively, and let them travel in advance and let them be well-prepared for any exigency [situation]... [1-69-2]
caturanga balam ca api shiighram niryaatu sarvashah |
mama aajnaa samakaalam ca yaanam yugmam anuttamam || 1-69-3
Let the quadruple forces start off in a trice [a brief space of time] from everywhere at my order, and others shall start with unexcelled vehicles like palanquins, sedan chairs, litters [bed] etc., and with those that can be yoked with horses, like cabined-coaches and horse-carriages... [1-69-3]
vasistho vaamadevah ca jaabaalih atha kaashyapah |
maarkandeyah ca diirghaayuh risih kaatyaayanah tathaa || 1-69-4
ete dvijaah prayaantu agre sya.ndanam yojayasva me |
yathaa kaala atyayo na syaat duutaa hi tvarayanti maam || 1-69-5
Vashishta, Vamadeva, Jabali and Kashyapa, and the long-lived Maarkandeya, and Sage Kaatyayana... let these Brahmans travel in forefront... and let horses be yoked to my royal-cariole, and as the messengers of Janaka are hastening me arrange for the travel without time lapse... Thus Dasharatha ordered. [1-69-4, 5]
vacanaat ca narendrasya senaa ca catura.nginii |
raajaanam risibhih saardham vrajantam pristhato anvagaat || 1-69-6
On the word of that best king the fourfold opulence [wealth], and even the fourfold forces up to some extent followed rearward of the king who is going after the sages who are going afore of him. [1-69-6]
gatvaa catur aham maargam videhaan abhyupeyivaan |
raajaa tu janakah shriimaan shrutvaa puujaam akalpayat || 1-69-7
Traveling on a four-day-route Dasharatha reached the fringes [edge] of Videha kingdom, and on hearing this, the illustrious king Janaka arranged for welcome ceremonies at the outskirts of the city. [1-69-7]
tato raajaanam aasaadya vriddham dasharatham nripam |
janako mudito raajaa harsam ca paramam yayau || 1-69-8
Then the king Janaka who is by far gladdened went into a state of ecstatic elation [pathological euphoria] when he met the senescent [the state of being old] king and paladin [military] of people, namely Dasharatha, as the pace for the marriage celebrations is quickened because of the immediate arrival of Dasharatha. [1-69-8]
uvaaca vacanam shrestho narashrestham mudaa anvitam |
svaagatam te narashresthah distyaa praapto asi raaghava || 1-69-9
putrayoh ubhayoh priitim lapsyase viirya nirjitaam |
And the best one among men, king Janaka, gleefully said this commendable sentence to Dasharatha, the best legatee of Raghu, oh, king, a hearty welcome to you. Oh, legatee of Ragu, your arrival to my city is just by my providence [state or people]... you will now get delectation [delight or enjoyment] on seeing your sons who won accolades just by their valorousness in the act of raising and breaking Shiva's bow... [1-69-9, 10a]
distyaa praapto mahaatejaa vasistho bhagavaan risih || 1-69-10
saha sarvaih dvija shreshthaih devaih iva shatakratuh |
Providentially bechanced [befall] is the arrival of this great-resplendent and Godly sage Vashishta, who arrived here with all of these eminent Brahmans, like Indra himself with all Gods... [1-69-10b, 11a]
distyaa me nirjitaa vighnaa distyaa me puujitam kulam || 1-69-11
raaghavaih saha samba.ndhaat viirya shresthaih mahaatmabhih |
Providentially my hindrances are overcome by the arrival of Godlike sages, and providentially my lineage too is gloried owing to this hymeneal [marriage ceremony] engagement with noble-souled Raghava-s, who are the most valorous among all the valorous people... [1-69-11b, 12a]
shvah prabhaate narendra tvam samvarhtayitum ar.hhasi || 1-69-12
yajnasya ante narashrestha vivaaham risi sattamaih |
Because you are born in first and foremost Ikshvaku dynasty, hence you are the Indra of Indra-like kings on earth... and hence, it will be apt of you to initiate the celebrations of marriage tomorrow, and the marriage itself after the culmination of the Vedic-ritual in three or four days, and the date and time for the marriage, that which is agreeable to the best sages can be decided, and you can get it performed on that date, through those great sages... [1-69-12b, 13a]
tasya tat vacanam shrutvaa risi madhye naraadhipah || 1-69-13
vaakyam vaakyavidaam shresthah pratyuvaaca mahiipatim |
On hearing that sentence of king Janaka the sententious king Dasharatha replied the king Janaka from amongst the sages. [1-69-13b, 14a]
pratigraho daatri vashah shrutam etat mayaa puraa || 1-69-14
yathaa vaksyasi dharmajna tat karisyaamahe vayam |
Recipiency rests with the restitutor... so I have heard earlier. Hence, whatever you say, for you are the knower of probity [adherence to the highest principles and ideals] and nothing goes amiss in your astute [shrewd] thinking, that we will do... [1-69-14b, 15a]
tat dharmistham yashasyam ca vacanam satya vaadinah || 1-69-15
shrutvaa videha adhipatih param vismayam aagatah |
On listening that sentence of that affirmer of principles, namely Dasharatha, that which is conformable to the principles of marriages and familial glory, a thrill of joy came over the king of Videha. [1-69-15b. 16a]
tatah sarve muni ganaah paraspara samaagame || 1-69-16
harsena mahataa yuktaah taam nishaam avasan sukham |
Then, on the forgathering of sages from Vashishta's side with the sages of Mithila all the sages have attained extreme joy and they spent that night happily. [1-69-16b, 17a]
atha raamo mahaatejaa lakshmanena samam yayau || 1-69-17
vishvaamitram puraskritya pituh paadau upasprishan |
Then that most brilliant Rama, keeping Vishvamitra ahead, and strutting [to walk with a pompous and affected air] in step with Lakshmana, strutted to touch the feet of his father Dasharatha. [1-69-17]
raajaa ca raaghavau putrau nishaamya pariharsitah || 1-69-18
uvaasa parama priito janakena supuujitah |
On seeing his two sons, the super medalists in Raghu's dynasty, King Dasharatha is highly rejoiced and he resided in Mithila with a high contentment, for the reverence of Janaka is that high. [1-69-18]
janako api mahaatejaah kriyaa dharmena tattvavit |
yajnasya ca sutaabhyaam ca kritvaa raatrim uvaasa ha || 1-69-19
Even the great-resplendent Janaka on performing ritual acts according to scriptures for the Vedic-ritual on hand, and the preparatory rituals for handing out both of his daughters in marriage, went into the sleep of the just [righteousness], with his palm on his chest. [1-69-19]
iti vaalmiiki raamaayane aadi kaavye baala kaande eko na saptatitamah sargah
Thus, this is the 69th chapter in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, the First Epic poem of India.
Sriman Moola Rama Vijayate